Chapter 7 Freshman Admission
Before the train completely stopped, Hagrid's voice was heard urging them to get off. Della, Harry and Ron followed the instructions of a bespectacled senior student and got off the train. The quaint sign that came into view read "Hogsmeade" station. The freshmen looked around curiously, but Harry was the only one who excitedly pulled Ron over when he saw Hagrid.
Everyone was amazed at Hagrid's tall figure, Ron's voice was particularly loud. Della didn't keep up with them. She saw the girl named Hermione looking at her. When their eyes met, they smiled politely, and then they greeted each other naturally and walked together.
Harry, who was walking in front with Hagrid, looked back and saw Della and Hermione, who had fixed his glasses with a spell, having a friendly conversation. He turned around and continued walking with Ron with relief.
All the first-year students had to take a small boat across the Black Lake to enter Hogwarts. Except for Hagrid who occupied a small boat by himself, the other little wizards shared a frail-looking wooden boat with four people. Della, Hermione, Harry and Ron formed a team very tacitly, and they carefully stepped into the boat that was swaying with the waves.
Although Hermione beside her looked calm, she held Della's hand tightly, increasing the strength of her hand with each sway of the boat. Ron and Harry in front were holding small lanterns, and exclamations were heard from time to time. The expression on Ron's face could be fully imagined. Della and Hermione each smiled and looked at the huge castle in front of them with lights on, looking at Hogwarts where they would stay for seven years.
After the boats docked one after another, the freshmen walked into the castle in a team, walking up one quaint staircase after another under the orange light. At the corner of the stairs, Della saw an older woman standing very solemnly, seemingly waiting for them. Everyone quickened their pace and stopped in front of Professor McGonagall, who was wearing a dark green robe, a pointed wizard hat, and a smile on her face.
As he trotted over, the annoying light-blond guy who had been glaring at her all the way bumped into Della quickly and gave her a provocative arc in response, his face still as arrogant as ever, as if he had never been scared by a snake before.
Della staggered and looked at Malfoy with displeasure as he ran to the front and leaned against the stairs. She didn't say much, but just pressed Maggie's shoulder through her robe in a soothing manner.
"Welcome to Hogwarts."
The serious-looking professor in front of her began to speak, talking about the house divisions that Della had learned from Quasi, and also about grades and the house cup. Just as she finished talking about the house cup, a boy shouted "Liv!".
Then Della saw a slightly chubby boy running up to the professor and picking up a croaking toad from under his feet. The atmosphere became stagnant, and as the boy whispered an apology, the little wizards present all laughed a little.
"In a little while, the Sorting Ceremony will begin."
The professor seemed to add something speechless, then turned around and tried to leave. At this time, the bad boy with light blond hair raised his hand and said loudly:
"Professor! What should we do if someone breaks the school rules before we are even sorted into houses?"
Professor McGonagall stopped turning and looked at the blond boy who was speaking. She guessed that it was the Malfoy child. When he saw her turn around, he immediately pointed at Della with malicious intent.
"Professor, that girl has a snake on her! She should be expelled!"
"This is allowed by Headmaster Dumbledore!" Della immediately retorted.
"Is that Miss Riddle?" Mag looked at the pretty black-haired girl and asked calmly.
"Yes Professor, I am Della Doreen Riddle, Professor, my Maggie is very well behaved."
"Let me see your snake, miss."
Now everyone's eyes turned to Della, which made her a little embarrassed. She blushed and patted her shoulders. The pure gray Maggie slid out from Della's collar obediently and coiled around Della's shoulders, looking very obedient.
Although most of the sounds were gasps, Della also heard quite a few exclamations, which gave her uneasy heart some comfort.
"She did get the principal's permission, and she promised the principal that she would not let the snake hurt anyone." Mag was as calm as ever. She looked at the girl and the snake as she spoke, nodded, and turned to leave.
Draco's pale face turned red. He stared at Della and the snake fiercely. Della just glanced back at him and turned her eyes away. However, the seemingly docile blue-gray little snake kept responding to his gaze, making him feel as if he was being mocked by the snake.
Draco completely lost his mind. He shouted at Della in a sharp voice that had not yet entered the voice change period, "You dirty mudblood! Your snake is as disgusting as you are!"
In response, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Draco turned around and saw Professor McGonagall looking down at him with a frown. He blushed and turned his head away. Professor McGonagall's eyes moved, and then she turned to everyone and said:
"Everything is ready inside, follow me."
Della noticed that Draco turned around and glared at her hatefully, but Hermione beside her held her hand soothingly, and Harry also turned around and looked at him worriedly. Della smiled at them, and Maggie got back into her clothes again. She took Hermione's hand and followed the team forward.
The quaint door slowly opened as Professor McGonagall walked in. The long table inside was crowded with seniors who were looking at them curiously. The new wizards had no time to pay attention to the focused gazes. Instead, they looked curiously at the starry sky above the lobby that looked very real. If it weren't for the floating candles in their sight, Della would really feel like she was under the starry sky.
Hermione beside her tilted her head slightly and said to her, "This starry sky is not real. It's the ceiling that was created by magic. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History of the School."
"Is that so? Hermione, you're awesome!" Della responded to Hermione's words very cooperatively.
"Please wait here."
The distance between the four long tables was quickly passed, and Della watched Professor McGonagall step onto the wooden platform and turn around to speak to them.
There were people sitting on three sides of the wooden platform. Della looked around curiously. The most conspicuous one was of course the white-bearded Dumbledore who had looked for her before. The big Hagrid was also very conspicuous. There was also Professor Quirrell, whom she had met in the bar. He was leaning on the table with one hand and looking at them.
Della felt that he was looking at her, and that gaze made her uncomfortable, so she stopped her curious gaze and just focused on looking at Professor McGonagall in front of her.
"Before the ceremony begins, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words to everyone."
Dumbledore, who was sitting on a special chair behind her, stood up and spoke with a serious look.
"I have a few things to announce at the beginning of the school term." Dumbledore paused before continuing, "First-year students, please note that our school strictly prohibits any student from entering the Dark Forest, which is the Forbidden Forest."
"Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, asked me to remind you that the corridor on the right side of the third floor is also a restricted area."
Following the hand gestures of the old man who was speaking slowly on the stage, Della turned around and found a man with a droopy face standing at the door. His head was completely bald, and the messy black curly hair on both sides made him look even more ferocious. Looking down from his somewhat ragged clothes, Della also saw a cat with pointed ears and red eyes.
That cat is very beautiful, Della commented silently.
"If you don't want to die miserably, don't go."
Dumbledore's gentle tone continued, and Della turned her head and continued to look at him. With a "thank you", Dumbledore's few words ended.
Hearing this, Professor McGonagall unfolded the scroll she had been holding in her hand. She took a look at it and said to the little wizards who were looking at her, "Students who have reported their names, please come to the front and I will put the Sorting Hat on your head." As she spoke, she picked up the hat that looked very worn and showed it to everyone.
"Then decide which college you're going to," she continued, looking at the list in her other hand. She called out one by one, and then Della heard a familiar name, "Hermione Granger!" McGonagall shouted loudly.
Hermione beside her let out a small breath, blinked her eyes, walked forward and whispered to herself not to be nervous.
As Hermione walked forward, Ron's voice came from the other side. Although he might want to speak to Harry in a low voice, he obviously had no awareness of his own volume. Della clearly heard him say, "I'm telling you, there's definitely something wrong with his brain."
Harry said nothing, and nodded to Ron politely. Della thought, Ron was really a bit rash. Then she continued to look at Hermione, who had put on her hat and looked nervous.
Della watched in amazement as the wrinkles on the hat moved like a human face. She could easily draw a mouth and eyebrows on the hat. Della watched the eyebrows move in a V shape, as if they were considering something, and then she shouted loudly:
"Gryffindor!"
The long table behind her immediately burst into cheers, followed by warm applause. Hermione seemed very satisfied with the result. She happily jumped off the footstool and walked down the long table. At the invitation of the class leader, she sat in the seat reserved for freshmen in the front.
"Draco Malfoy!"
The golden nuisance walked up.