"So, it seems I did a good deed?" Malfoy stroked his chin.
"Yes, maybe she's even fallen for you," Pansy said with a hint of sourness.
"Ahem, do you think the smell in here is a bit strong?" Malfoy decided to avoid the topic and instead mentioned the unpleasant odor in the carriage.
Without being mentioned, Pansy hadn't paid much attention, but as soon as Malfoy brought it up, she immediately noticed the unpleasant smell in the carriage. It was a faint musty smell mixed with the scent of straw, making Pansy feel as if she were in a remote rural farm in England, and the occasional bumps only made her feel more nauseous.
"Air freshener!" Malfoy waved his wand, making the smell in the carriage more bearable.
It has to be admitted that the convenience wizards enjoy in their daily lives far exceeds that of ordinary Muggles. This is a fact.
Malfoy suddenly felt something lean against his shoulder. It turned out that Pansy had fallen asleep again. She was simply too tired today; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she was mentally and physically exhausted.
The carriage continued to rumble forward, ahead was a magnificent cast-iron gate, flanked by many stone pillars, one end with winged boars, two tall, turbaned Dementors stood guarding on either side of the gate, the surroundings were gloomy and dark, always giving people a depressing aura. As they passed, Malfoy lit up the Patronus in the carriage again. He sensitively felt that the two Dementors also retreated a few steps in disgust.
"Don't worry, you will soon find the belonging you deserve." Malfoy clenched his fists, having made the final decision regarding the fate of these inherently evil magical creatures.
The carriage embarked on a sloping driveway, the Thestrals pulling the carriage increased their speed, and many turrets and towers gradually approached them, until finally the carriage swayed and came to a stop.
He and Pansy slowly got out of the carriage and walked up the stone steps, past the huge oak door, and into the deep entrance hall. To take care of Pansy, Malfoy tried to slow down his pace. Through a small door, Malfoy looked into the hall and found that the interior was not particularly bright, as if the enchanted ceiling had malfunctioned.
"I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey first," Malfoy said to Pansy. He saw that Pansy's face was becoming increasingly pale, and it looked like she might faint at any moment, so it was safer to find the school nurse.
"Okay," Pansy nodded obediently.
After settling Pansy down, Malfoy finally had time to attend the Sorting Ceremony for the new students, but it was probably already over. They had wasted a lot of time just now.
Walking down the stairs and into the Great Hall, Malfoy glanced over and saw a sea of black pointed hats. The students' faces were illuminated by the candles floating above the tables. Sure enough, Professor Flitwick was now walking out of the hall with an old hat and a three-legged stool, which meant that the Sorting Ceremony was over.
Malfoy quietly and quickly walked towards the Slytherin table. Many students took off their hats to show their respect when they saw him. Some new students also followed suit and saluted their older classmates, even though they didn't know why they were doing it. Several people even stood up to give Malfoy a seat.
"The charm of prestige," Malfoy sighed silently in his heart, not knowing whether it was irony or some more complex emotion surging in his heart.
Professor Dumbledore stood up on the stage, preparing to speak, so all the students stopped their whispers.
Professor Dumbledore looked very old, but he could still be described as vigorous. He always gave the students and teachers an impression of energy. His hair and beard were several feet long, he wore half-moon spectacles, and his nose was quite crooked. Except for the new students, most Hogwarts students had great respect for him. Many of the new students had grown up listening to his legends.
"Welcome!" Professor Dumbledore said, his beard gleaming in the candlelight. "Welcome to Hogwarts for a new year! I have a few words to say to you all, one of which is very important and serious, and I think it's best to make it clear before you get muddled by this delicious meal."
After that, Dumbledore spoke about the Dementors stationed outside Hogwarts. Even though he was reluctant to have these evil magical creatures wandering around the school, it was, after all, an order issued by the Ministry of Magic. If he didn't want to fall out with the Ministry of Magic and maintain superficial harmony, he could only choose to endure it.
So, he specifically emphasized the importance of safety, reminded the prefects, and gave a warning look to several students who often violated school rules.
Percy Weasley straightened his chest and looked around, displaying the majesty of a prefect, leaving a deep impression on many students. Dumbledore looked around and found that no one was speaking, so he cleared his throat and began to speak next.
"More happily," he continued, "This year, I am very pleased to welcome two new teachers to join our ranks."
"The first is Professor Lupin, who has kindly agreed to fill the vacancy in the Defence Against the Dark Arts class."
Only scattered and not very enthusiastic applause sounded among the students, but the students who had been in the same carriage with him just now applauded enthusiastically because his Patronus Charm had protected everyone.
As for the other students, they were completely unaware of this. People are visual creatures. Compared to other well-dressed teachers, Lupin's attire seemed too shabby. Perhaps he could only surpass Snape in terms of neatness, which made many students have a bad first impression of him.
And Snape's gaze had been fixed on Lupin along the teachers' table, his eyes deep and dark. This was certainly not because Snape felt that their dressing styles might be somewhat similar, and thus developed a feeling of mutual appreciation. His waxy and gaunt face was filled with a distorted expression, which was a loathing that exceeded annoyance.
Since there is love me, love my dog, then there will be hate me, hate my dog.
If it can be said that the person Snape hated most among the four-person group was James, this point should not be denied. Then, it is normal for the remaining three to be hated along with them as members of the small group.
Back then, Lupin was entrusted with the important task of prefect by Dumbledore, but it seemed that he hadn't played much of a role in student relationships. James and Snape still hated each other, and they still dueled.
Of course, this dereliction of duty is best left unsaid. The grievances between these two are not something that can be resolved by simple mediation.
Anyway, Snape would not give Lupin a good look.
"As for the second teacher we have appointed," Dumbledore continued, "Well, I regret to inform you that our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Professor Kettleburn, retired at the end of last year to spend more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am pleased to say that none other than Rubeus Hagrid will be filling his vacancy. Hagrid has agreed to take on the teaching position in addition to his duties as gamekeeper."
Harry, Hermione, and Ron exchanged glances, feeling a little surprised. The previous unpleasantness between them was temporarily put aside. They applauded enthusiastically. Not long ago, Hermione and Ron were still arguing about Crookshanks' danger to Scabbers, but now they were all happy for Hagrid, putting aside their grievances.
So, the applause at the Gryffindor table seemed particularly intense.
"Wasn't that big guy once said to be the mastermind behind a murder case? It's a blessing that such a person can even be a gamekeeper. How can he be our teacher?" Students at the Slytherin table began to whisper. Such a reaction was naturally within Dumbledore's expectations.
"Silence," Dumbledore's voice was unusually loud, full of energy. "During this holiday, I had the honor of inviting Madam Maxime, Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Mr. Karkaroff, Headmaster of Durmstrang, to serve as notaries, and I invited Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge to re-evaluate and adjudicate, and finally concluded that the culprit in the case fifty years ago was someone else, and that Mr. Hagrid was innocent. Soon we will be able to get a notice of his innocence in The Daily Prophet."
"It's imaginable that the position of this news won't be very big." Ron was a little depressed. His father often complained about certain practices of the Ministry of Magic. This kind of self-defeating information would definitely be placed in the most corner and try not to take up space. For them, it was already the biggest concession. Ron immediately figured it out. In short, Hagrid's injustice was still cleared, which was a good thing for them.
The eyes of the few of them turned to Hagrid. He was blushing, staring at his big hands. His smile was hidden in his messy black beard. Hagrid also met their eyes and couldn't help grinning even wider.
Malfoy could only sigh. Hagrid's various aspects were not enough to support him as an excellent teacher, but it was also a matter of course since the headmaster had personally spoken.
"Well, I think the important things have been said," Dumbledore said, "Let the feast begin."
The golden plates and goblets in front of the students suddenly filled with food and drinks. They were extremely hungry and began to pick up the food in front of them and eat. The Great Hall echoed with laughter and the clinking of knives and forks. Perhaps the new teachers were not very satisfactory to them, and the arrival of the Dementors had cast a shadow over Hogwarts, but the excitement and anticipation of the start of school still made them temporarily ignore all of this.
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