[Congratulations, host, you've successfully shown the Weasley twins and Hufflepuff's model student Cedric the harsh realities of human nature.]
[As this is your first display of 'talent' at Hogwarts, you receive double points. Points +200]
The Great Hall descended into chaotic singing as Dumbledore magically conjured lyrics without sheet music, letting students sing as they pleased.
Wayne mouthed along while his mind raced.
Just casually tricking the twins and Cedric had earned him 200 points. Even without the first-time double bonus, that would still be 100 points. It seemed the upgraded system made earning points much easier now.
Back when he'd beaten up his entire class, he'd only gotten a little over 100 points.
Excellent. Hogwarts truly was his lucky charm.
If tricking the twins once earned 100 points, doing it every three days would...
'One guaranteed gold card per year?'
Wayne licked his lips—he had to admit, it was rather tempting.
Fred and George, who were still enthusiastically belting out the school song to the tune of the Funeral March, suddenly shivered as if they'd been targeted by something terrifying.
The school song came to an abrupt end, and Dumbledore was even moved to wipe his moistened eyes.
"Such is the power of music. Well then, it's time for bed now. Off to your dormitories, everyone."
The Sorting Ceremony had already ended past eight o'clock, and after an hour-long feast, Dumbledore's dismissal to sleep was perfectly reasonable.
The others scattered in a flurry, while the Prefects organised the first-years into orderly lines to lead them back to the Common Room.
Cedric blended into the group of first-years. "Wayne, how exactly do you plan to make this up to me?"
"I've no idea what you're talking about. Get a good night's sleep—you've got detention tomorrow, and that's going to be exhausting."
Cedric laughed bitterly. "Stop pretending. You definitely reported me to Professor McGonagall."
"This is my first time getting detention."
"Well, what am I supposed to say? 'Thanks for giving your first time to Fred and George'?" Wayne shrugged helplessly. "I didn't report you. Professor McGonagall found out on her own. Ask Hannah if you don't believe me—or Susan."
The two girls were nearby, eavesdropping on their conversation. When named, Susan instinctively nodded.
Realising something was amiss, Cedric pressed the girls for details. His face turned ashen upon hearing their account.
"I'm done for. Professor McGonagall must be furious with me. I wanted to join her Transfiguration Club, too."
"Don't worry," Wayne reassured him. "With Fred and George involved, you're just an accomplice at worst. She'll forget about it in a few days."
Cedric fell silent, resolving never to provoke Wayne again.
The boy seemed harmless, but beneath that façade lay a well of mischief.
The Hufflepuff Common Room was located in the school's basement, its entrance hidden among a cluster of large barrels in the corridor to the right of the kitchens.
One simply had to tap the middle barrel of the second row in Helga Hufflepuff's rhythm, and the lid would rotate open, revealing the passage.
Unlike Gryffindor and Slytherin, whose passwords changed frequently, or Ravenclaw, whose members had to rack their brains answering riddles to enter, Hufflepuff's approach was simple and practical.
This 'password' had remained unchanged since Hogwarts' founding.
Yet despite its simplicity, no outsider had ever breached the Hufflepuff Common Room—the only house with built-in 'facial recognition'.
Even if the rhythm was tapped correctly, the door wouldn't open for non-badgers. Instead, the barrels would spray vinegar of various flavours to repel intruders.
Rumour had it that some cash-strapped young wizards deliberately tapped the wrong sequence to collect the vinegar for sale.
One had to wonder which unscrupulous shopkeeper would buy it—the vinegar came in every imaginable flavour, and serving it to customers would be downright cruel.
The Prefects dutifully explained all this to the first-years, demonstrating the process three times before finally opening the Common Room door.
Ducking through the passage, they entered a vast, circular room. The Common Room had a low ceiling with a moderate temperature, simple yet comfortable, adorned with hanging and potted plants everywhere, giving off the feel of a woodland cottage.
Plush sofas and armchairs were scattered across the soft carpet. Wayne was quite satisfied with his entertainment environment for the next seven years.
Though it was technically a basement, there were still windows here, ensuring no shortage of sunlight.
The female Prefect walked over to the fireplace and pointed at the portrait hanging above it—a cheerful witch holding Hufflepuff's Cup.
"This is Lady Helga Hufflepuff. Thanks to her kindness, she took in many House-elves, sparing them from abuse and mistreatment.
"That's why Hufflepuff always receives preferential treatment in the kitchens. If you ever need anything, just help yourselves—don't hesitate to ask."
As she spoke, the Prefect's face was filled with pride. This was a privilege unique to Hufflepuff.
"Your politeness might make the House-elves think they haven't done their job properly—they'd blame themselves."
With the introductions over, the rest of the time was free for socialising.
True to Hufflepuff's nature, many older students warmly welcomed the first-years, pulling out snacks from all sorts of places to share.
They patiently answered the newcomers' questions and even offered plenty of their own advice.
Wayne was also chatting with Cedric about the school's staircases.
"Whatever you do, don't oversleep tomorrow. The staircases keep changing—if you take the wrong one, you'll be late.
"If it's the Head of House or Professor Flitwick's class, you might be fine.
"But if you're late for Transfiguration or Potions class..." Cedric shuddered, giving Wayne a look that said 'good luck'.
"That's not helpful," Wayne sighed. "I don't know the pattern of these blasted staircases."
"Alright then," Cedric thought for a moment. "Tomorrow at breakfast, first-years will get their timetables. Come out early, and I'll take you around first."
Wayne gave him a thumbs-up.
Classic Cedric—the epitome of a Hufflepuff.
'Just for being this helpful, when the Triwizard Tournament starts, I'll make sure you come out unscathed.'
As the conversation grew livelier, a few Prefects and older students even fetched juice and hot water from the kitchens. The feeling of being pampered like this was brilliant. Wayne couldn't help but admire his own choice of house.
Eventually, as drowsiness set in, the Common Room gradually emptied. Wayne passed through the round door and headed to his dormitory.