Volume 1 Chapter 13 Hogwarts ~Hogwarts~
"Who is this?"
It wasn't Jon who asked the question, but Neville.
He seemed not to recognize the smiling old man who looked like a fat walrus and was brought back by Lily. He turned to the girl who had just called out and asked.
The senior girl introduced Neville.
"He is Professor Horace Slughorn. He taught us Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic in Hogwarts the semester before last. However, he left Hogwarts for a year last year due to important matters. Professor Dumbledore took time out to teach our Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic. I didn't expect Professor Slughorn to come back this year. He should have finished his work."
After Neville finished listening to her explanation, an expression of sudden realization appeared on his face.
"Before the fall of Hogwarts Castle, was he the head of Slytherin House? My father seemed to have mentioned him to me."
Jon listened to their conversation silently.
Of course he knew Slughorn. The deepest impression he had of this man was that in the original book, it was he who told Voldemort the information . He was also a man who was very afraid of death and cherished his life, but in the end he still stood on the side of justice.
His position in this world does not seem to have changed. Even though Hogwarts under Dumbledore's leadership has reached its current situation, he still comes here as a professor wanted by the Ministry of Magic.
As the night deepened, with the joint efforts of a group of students, they prepared a sumptuous dinner.
Dumbledore waved his wand and conjured up a long table and chairs on the beach that were large enough for everyone to sit, and students and professors took their seats.
By now, basically all the people on the carriage had gathered together, and Jon had the opportunity to count all the students in this exile school.
The academic system at Hogwarts was still seven years, and that had not changed. There were only five first-year students in his class, and even if the number of students in other grades was slightly larger, it was not that much.
There are only ten students in a grade at most , and at least five or six like John's class. There are only about forty or fifty students in the entire magic school.
Even in a society like the wizarding world, which has a relatively small population, this is a very pitiful number.
As for the professors in the school, they can be counted on one hand.
Lily Potter, who teaches Potions and also teaches some elective courses for senior students; Minerva McGonagall, who is the deputy headmistress and also teaches Transfiguration and Herbology; Filius Flitwick, who teaches Charms and Astronomy; Horace Slughorn, who just returned today and will probably continue in his previous position, teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic.
These four are all the professors who are currently teaching in Ma Che.
Also present were the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore , the Coachman, Rubeus Hagrid, and the Master, Argus Filch.
Of course, the number of teachers is far less than that in Hogwarts Castle in the original book, so both Lily and Professor McGonagall have to take on multiple roles.
But also because there are fewer students, their work intensity is actually not that busy, and they are not overwhelmed.
The jumping bonfires around illuminated the beach, and the soothing sound of the waves was like a symphony orchestra playing soft classical music, adding an elegance that was not there originally for the dinner.
The thing that students like most about Dumbledore as the headmaster is that he never gives boring speeches in happy occasions.
The old man, who was over 100 years old and had white hair and beard, raised the wine glass in his hand. He did not give a long speech or any touching speech, but just spoke in a loud voice.
"Thank you for the delicious food, so please enjoy it happily."
The wet and salty sea breeze cannot cover up the aroma of the food itself.
Although it was in Britain, the food at the dinner was certainly not just chips and fried fish. Jon had never tasted the cooking of the house-elves, but he thought the onion soup, grilled fish and mashed potatoes made by the senior students were also very delicious.
"...I've always heard from George and Fred that the most annoying person on the carriage is that Filch."
The freshmen naturally sat together at the long table. While eating grilled sausages, Ron quietly used his eyes to indicate to them where the unfriendly-looking carriage manager was sitting.
"He always likes to use chicken feathers as a token of authority, and he never has a good face towards people. It seems that he wants to hang up and whip those who have made only the slightest mistake!"
Ron has three older brothers who all go to school at Hogwarts, so he obviously knows more about the school than Neville.
During the meal, he was the one telling the other freshmen all the interesting stories about the carriage that he had heard from his brother.
The dining table was filled with laughter. Even though they were now a group of fugitives wanted by the Ministry of Magic, there was not much depression or dullness among these young boys and girls who should have been full of vitality.
This proves that Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix really protected them very well. Even if the situation was difficult, they had to keep the seeds of hope.
Old wands stained with blood and faith will appear in the wooden cabinet in the principal's office, but their significance in this world is far from disappearing with the deceased.
Instead, it was picked up again by tender hands and walked forward on a road full of thorns, with no visible future but full of hope.
After the dinner, Dumbledore told the students about some changes in the new semester.
"I am very happy that five new students have joined us. At the same time, our old friend Professor Slughorn has dealt with some of his own personal affairs and has returned to us to continue his position as the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic."
"Tonight marks a new beginning for us and there is no better time to celebrate."
He held the knotty wand in his right hand and raised it high into the sky. A cluster of joyful ribbons gushed out from the tip of the wand. His bright blue eyes looked at the students at the long table, and a happy smile appeared on his face, which was full of traces of time.
"So why don't we have a song?"
This sentence was like a secret code known to everyone except Jon and the other freshmen.
Everyone on both sides of the long table, professors and students, stood up from their chairs, and the freshmen also stood up with confused looks on their faces.
"Hogwarts~Hogwarts~"
The old principal started the song with his bright voice, and the students below sang the song in unison.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts.
Please teach us knowledge.
Whether we are bald old men
Or a child who broke his knee.
Our minds can accept
Some interesting things.
Because now our brains are empty and filled with air.
Dead flies and trifles.
Teach us some valuable knowledge.
Give us back what we have forgotten.
Just do your best and we will take care of the rest.
We will study hard until we turn to dust.
..."
Jon had never heard this version of the Hogwarts school song. It was neither sad nor cheerful. It was like a seagull whose beach had been occupied and had no place to roost, circling sadly on the shore.
The singing was so melodious that he couldn't help but join in the chorus.
He looked up at the extremely bright night sky, thinking for no reason in his heart.
There is no ancient castle, no warm hall, no expected sorting ceremony, no magical ghosts, and nothing that should be there.
But here there is the sea, the starry sky, a carriage, and a group of loving people.
This seems... not bad .
