Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 243 Sorting School and First Encounter with the "Celebrity"

Chapter 243 Sorting School and First Encounter with the "Celebrity"

In Hogwarts Great Hall, four long tables were filled with chattering students. Floating candles illuminated the hall warmly and brightly, filling the air with the enticing aroma of approaching food and the nervous anticipation of the new students. The magical dome on the ceiling displayed a deep night sky, with a few stars twinkling.

Karen, Wesley, Fabian, and Ernesto sat relaxed in the middle of the Ravenclaw table. As third-year students, the Sorting Ceremony was a familiar sight to them, and they observed it with the detached perspective of someone who had been there before.

"I wonder if there will be any particularly outstanding freshmen this year?" Wesley wondered, fiddling with the silver cutlery on the table as he glanced at the tense line of first-year students.

"Hopefully Ravenclaw can get a few more truly intelligent students," Ernesto said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the new students with a hint of disapproval.

Fabian smiled gently. "Every freshman needs time to adjust, Ernesto. I remember you didn't quite like Dean Flitwick when you first started your freshman year!"

Ernesto snorted, offering no comment, but the tips of his ears seemed to turn slightly red.

Karen's gaze landed precisely on a figure in the new student group: Ginny Weasley. She stood a little behind in the middle of the group, her fiery red hair standing out in the candlelight, her hands gripping her robes tightly, her small face tense, her eyes filled with nervousness about the unfamiliar environment and a hint of barely perceptible fear.

Karen confirmed that the diary wasn't on Ginny; it was likely in her luggage. Although Ginny's life energy fluctuated slightly due to tension, it remained bright and vibrant, showing no signs of being absorbed or contaminated. The corruption hadn't begun, or rather, the diary was patiently waiting for a suitable, vulnerable moment. This secretly relieved him, but also strengthened his resolve to dispose of this dangerous item as soon as possible. The plan could begin.

"Look, that must be the Weasley's youngest daughter that Karen was talking about!" Wesley also noticed the red-haired Ginny. "She looks like she's about to faint from fright."

"It's normal to be nervous when you're away from home for the first time and facing the Sorting Hat," Fabian said understandingly.

Professor McGonagall unfurled the long parchment scroll, and the Sorting Ceremony officially began. One name after another was called, and the new students stepped forward hesitantly, donning the worn-out hats. The Great Hall erupted in bursts of enthusiastic applause at times, and polite applause at others; the former were mostly from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, while the latter were largely from Ravenclaw and Slytherin.

Finally, "Ginny Weasley!"

Ginny took a deep breath and almost stumbled forward to sit on the high stool. The Sorting Hat covered most of her face and fiery red hair. The Great Hall fell silent; everyone stared at the hat. Those few seconds of silence felt like centuries to Ginny.

Then, the hat split open with its wide slit and shouted clearly and forcefully, "Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table erupted in thunderous applause and cheers, the Weasley brothers' voices especially loud. Ginny's face flushed instantly, and she practically jumped off her chair as she took off her hat, running quickly towards her cheering brothers and Harry at the Gryffindor table. Even Percy, unusually, smiled warmly to welcome his sister.

"Ha, I knew it!" Wesley slammed his hand on the table triumphantly. "The Weasleys are all Gryffindors!"

The Sorting Ceremony continued. Cullen's attention, however, was drawn more towards the faculty seating area. Headmaster Dumbledore, with his silver beard and white hair...

Their faces always wore the same kind and smiling expression: Professor McGonagall remained serious; Professor Snape had a gloomy face, as if the joy around him had nothing to do with him; Professor Flitwick stood on a high stool, greeting each new Ravenclaw student with a warm smile and applause; Professor Sprout was kind and approachable.

Then, Karen's gaze fell on the new face—Gidero Lockhart.

He sat prominently next to Professor Flitwick. Even seated, he maintained a ramrod-straight posture, as if ready to rise at any moment to receive cheers. He wore a magnificent robe, a bright blue like a forget-me-not, embroidered with intricate gold patterns, and a large, gleaming gold medal pinned to his collar. His dazzling blond hair was meticulously styled, revealing a radiant smile that had been carefully practiced, showcasing his eight perfectly aligned teeth. He waved continuously to the students, his smile becoming even brighter and his waves more expansive when students looked towards the faculty section, as if he were hosting a personal fan meeting.

Headmaster Dumbledore rose and began his opening address. His voice, gentle yet powerful, carried clearly to every corner of the Great Hall: "—Welcome to our new students, welcome to our returning students! Welcome back! Before we enjoy a delicious dinner, please allow me to introduce our new Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dumbledore." Before he could finish speaking, Lockhart had already stood up impatiently! It was as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

His movements were so exaggerated that he almost knocked over the chair behind him. He smiled broadly and waved to the audience again, as if Dumbledore were merely giving him an opening introduction.

"Professor Gilderoy Lockhart!" Dumbledore completed the introduction without batting an eye, as if Lockhart's attention-grabbing behavior was entirely expected.

Lockhart bowed slightly, his posture as elegant as if he were taking a bow on stage, before gracefully sitting down. Once seated, he maintained his signature smile, leaning slightly forward as if listening to Dumbledore's words, but his eyes constantly scanned the student seating area, especially those girls who were casting adoring glances at him.

At the Ravenclaw table, Karen and his roommates exchanged a knowing glance. That glance held a mixture of helplessness, disdain, and a knowing "I knew it" indignation.

“Look at that robe,” Ernesto said in a low voice, his tone laced with undisguised disdain, his grey eyes full of scrutiny. “It’s more ostentatious than the tassels on my aunt’s Victorian curtains. Did he empty every gold thread shop in Diagon Alley?”

Wesley nearly spat out the small sip of water he had just taken. He suppressed a laugh and said in a low voice, "Merlin's pants!"

His teeth are so bright they could be used as a light source! Even from this distance, they're dazzling! Do you think he needs to cast a glowing spell to sleep at night?

Fabian pushed up his glasses, looked at Lockhart's posture—which was trying hard to maintain "elegant listening" but was actually full of theatrics—and sighed with some disappointment: "Sigh—I just hope his teaching is like his appearance—uh—at least 'present'? Just not completely invisible." He had already put it very tactfully, clearly not having much hope for Lockhart's academic abilities.

Karen didn't speak, only shook his head slightly, a faint, sarcastic smile playing on his lips. His "Eye of Truth" remained fixed on Lockhart. In Karen's magical vision, the magical energy flowing within Lockhart was thin and scattered, flowing haphazardly, chaotic and superficial, like the smoke left after a cheap firework explodes—all show and no substance.

This feeble display of magical power formed a glaringly comical contrast to the "powerful wizard" and "adventure hero" image he was trying so hard to cultivate. Even more ridiculous was that his will to perform would unconsciously "tighten" this meager magical power, attempting to make it appear more "solid," only to make the chaotic flow of magic look even more clumsy and strained.

It's like a skinny person desperately trying to bulge out muscles that don't exist.

This sight confirmed all of Karen's suspicions. He withdrew his gaze, no longer wasting energy observing the magical "hollow vase."

"At least," Wesley added optimistically, watching Karen shake her head, "he can't be worse than Quirrell who was possessed by the mysterious man last year, right? Quirrell's garlic smell, his stutter, and the back of his head—" He made a disgusted face.

Fabian and Ernesto nodded subconsciously; this seemed to be the only comfort they could find. Even if he were a complete fool, he shouldn't be capable of releasing biological weapons anytime, anywhere like Quirrell.

Karen, upon hearing this, simply picked up his pumpkin juice and took a sip. He spoke softly, his voice low but clear enough to reach his three roommates: "Sometimes, the chaos and harm caused by pure stupidity and incompetence may not be much less destructive than pure malice. Malice may have a purpose, but stupidity—often has no limits."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly dampening the optimism that had just begun to rise in the three of them. Recalling Lockhart's earlier attention-grabbing act and Karen's confident expression, coupled with their trust in Karen's judgment, their hearts sank, and a stronger sense of foreboding washed over them for the upcoming Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

Dinner began and ended in this somewhat eerie atmosphere. Dumbledore, as usual, announced the important points for the new term.

As the final dessert disappeared onto the golden plate, Dumbledore announced that it was bedtime.

Students from each house filed out, heading along familiar routes to their respective common rooms. Karen moved with the Ravenclaws, her gaze sweeping one last time over the Gryffindor table. Ginny was surrounded by her brothers, seemingly more relaxed than when she first arrived, her face showing the excitement of first-timers and a touch of shyness.

Karen looked away, silently thinking: Tomorrow, I can't wait any longer.

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