Chapter 361 Things that haven’t changed
The train slowed down and finally stopped.
Albert picked up Tom who was taking a nap, stuffed him back into the cage, and then rushed towards the car door with Fred, George and Lee Jordan.
Everyone went down to a dark and small platform. Although it didn't rain this time at Hogwarts, the cold night still made Albert tighten his robe.
In the dark, a lamp swayed above the heads of the students, and a familiar voice came from afar. Hagrid was greeting the first-year students. It was his task to take them across the lake.
“Let’s go!” Fred called to everyone to follow the crowd.
The four of them moved little by little with the flow of people. After crossing the dark platform, they walked a short distance, where hundreds of Yeqi carriages were waiting for them.
Albert picked an unoccupied carriage, and after the four people got on the carriage, the carriage followed the long motorcade and set off towards Hogwarts Castle.
Halfway, Fred, George and Lee Jordan were talking about Harry Potter again. Albert was too lazy to participate and leaned against the window, looking at the brightly lit castle in the distance.
The carriage finally stopped at the stone steps in front of the oak gate. Albert got off the carriage and climbed the stone steps. When he was about to enter the castle, he saw Professor McGonagall calling him by the oak gate.
“Mr. Anderson.”
George and others who were chatting with Fred stopped and looked over curiously.
Professor McGonagall also stopped Katrina and motioned for the two of them to follow him.
She led the two of them into the room next to the auditorium, closed the wooden door, and after making sure that no one was eavesdropping, she took out two timers from her pocket and handed them to them respectively.
"This is a time turner. Wear it around your neck, and one turn represents one hour." Professor McGonagall warned, "Once it exceeds five times, that is, it returns to five hours at a time, it will cause harm to the body. Bad effect."
“Come again and again, I know how to use it.” Albert nodded to show that he knew.
Katrina next to her glanced at Albert and agreed to show that she understood.
"Very good." Professor McGonagall did not forget to remind again before leaving: "Don't let others know, and don't use it for things other than studying."
“We promise.” Albert and Katrina said in unison.
"Okay, you go to the banquet, I'm going to welcome the new students." Professor McGonagall said and strode away.
Albert put the time turner into his leather bag and walked towards the auditorium with Katrina.
Fred, George and Lee Jordan had already left a space for him in the front row. The front row was very popular at this time, and everyone wanted to see the legendary Harry Potter up close.
"That should be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." Albert's eyes fell on the chair. Next to Snape was a young man with a ridiculous scarf on his head. His face seemed slightly nervous. Got to be pale.
"Professor Quirrell." Percy said without thinking about the news he had just received from Nearly Headless Nick.
“It seems far less reliable than the first two Defense Against the Dark Arts professors.” Albert said softly, “By the way, have they found Professor Smith?”
"Unfortunately, no." Percy had obviously forgotten about Professor Smith from last year. "Almost the entire UK has been searched, but still no one has been found."
“Everyone says he might have been murdered,” Lee Jordan muttered.
“The risk of being a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is really high, I hope this person can resign smoothly.” Albert sighed duplicitously. After seeing Professor Quirrell with a ridiculous scarf on his head, Albert guessed that Voldemort must have possessed the back of his head.
Did Dumbledore really not notice?
This is really hard to say!
If he hadn't known something in advance, he probably wouldn't have noticed this. He would have just thought it was ridiculous that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had a scarf wrapped around his head.
However, when Harry Potter, Voldemort and Dumbledore actually attended the banquet together, it was an inexplicable joy to think about it.
"The matter is not as serious as you said. Although no Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has been able to teach for more than one year in recent years, many professors have not had any serious accidents." Percy comforted.
“It is undeniable that this course is indeed a bit evil.” Albert muttered in a low voice, “I think if Professor Quirrell does not resign in advance, there is a high probability that something will happen to him.”
“Stop cursing him.” Fred stretched out his hand to cover his face.
“I think if anything happens to Professor Quirrell, it’s probably because of what you just said.” George couldn’t help but complain.
The auditorium suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked at the freshmen who had just entered the auditorium, trying to find the figure of the legendary Potter.
Albert found it. Knowing the information, it was actually easy to find. Next to the red-haired Weasley, the slightly thin black-haired boy with glasses was Harry Potter.
The whispers in the auditorium began to stop, and soon there was complete silence.
Then, the sorting hat in front of the freshmen began to sing:
You may think I’m not pretty,
But never judge a book by its appearance.
…
…
Because I am a thinking magic hat!
It was another new song, and this time the Sorting Hat actually bowed to the four dining tables one by one after singing.
Albert felt his face twitching and raised his hands to applaud with the others.
After the applause died down, Professor McGonagall began to call the names. The first was a little blond girl named "Hannah Abbott" who was sorted into Hufflepuff.
As for the little girl who helped Neville find the toad, it turned out to be Hermione Granger, and as expected, she was sorted into Gryffindor.
“I thought she would be sorted into Ravenclaw,” Lee Jordan muttered under his breath.
"The boy who lost the toad was also sorted into Gryffindor." George turned his head and looked at Albert. He felt that it was better not to compare predictions with Albert.
"I thought he would be in Hufflepuff." Fred turned to look at Albert and asked, "How did you know he would be in Gryffindor."
“guess.”
When Professor McGonagall called Malfoy, Fred said with disgust: "This guy will definitely be sorted into Slytherin."
Sure enough, as soon as Malfoy's head touched the hat, the Sorting Hat called out Slytherin.
“You know him.” Albert asked knowingly.
"The children of the Malfoy family are very annoying. Their family looks down on Muggle-born wizards. In fact, I really want to know what he will use to look down on you." George suddenly laughed maliciously: " I think you can totally despise him.”
Albert glanced at Malfoy, who was welcomed by the Slytherin students, and muttered: "A little brat who was spoiled by his family."
“I like your comment.” Fred gave a thumbs up.
“Harry Potter!”
When Professor McGonagall called out this name, there was a sudden buzzing and murmur in the auditorium.
“Is she calling Harry Potter?”
“Is it that Harry Potter?”
In order to get a clear look at the legendary Harry Potter, the restaurant was crowded with people. Many people craned their necks to get a glimpse of Potter. Some students even stood up and looked over there.
This scene gave Albert a sense of star-chasing déjà vu.
After a moment, the Sorting Hat called out Gryffindor.
The Gryffindor table immediately erupted in the loudest cheers.
Percy, who was sitting in the front row, stood up and shook hands with Harry, looking like a leader.
“Look, in Gryffindor.” Albert said softly.
Neither Fred nor George heard him, they were shouting: "We have Potter! We have Potter!"
However, Albert noticed Lee Jordan's "really accurate" mouth shape.
He looked back at the guest of honor seat, and his eyes fell on Dumbledore. The headmaster was slightly raising his wine glass, seemingly satisfied that his savior was not crooked.
(End of this chapter)