Chapter 13 13 Hogwarts Hogwarts

Chapter 13 13. Hogwarts~Hogwarts~

"Who is this?"

The question was not asked by Jon, but by Neville.

He seemed to not recognize the smiling old man who looked like a fat walrus and Lily brought back. He turned to the girl who just called out "Professor Slughorn" and asked.

The senior girl introduced Neville.

"He is Professor Horace Slughorn. Last semester, he taught us Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic in Hogwarts. However, he left Hogwarts for a year due to important matters last year. Our Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic were taught by Professor Dumbledore. I didn't expect Professor Slughorn to come back this year. He should have finished his business."

After Neville finished listening to her explanation, a look of realization appeared on his face.

"Did he serve as the head of Slytherin College before the fall of Hogwarts Castle? My father seems to have mentioned him to me."

Jon listened to their conversation silently.

He naturally knew Slughorn. The thing that impressed him most was that he told Voldemort the information about the Horcrux in the original book, and he was also a person who was very afraid of death, but in the end he still stood on the side of justice.

His position in this world did not seem to change. Even though Hogwarts led by Dumbledore had reached the current situation, he still came here to be a professor wanted by the Ministry of Magic.

As the night deepened, with the cooperation of a group of students, they prepared a sumptuous meal.

Dumbledore waved his wand and conjured up a long table and chairs on the beach that were enough to seat everyone, and students and professors took their seats.

By now, basically everyone in the carriage had gathered together, and Jon had the opportunity to count all the students in this exiled school.

The school system of Hogwarts is still seven years, which has not changed, and there are only five first-year freshmen in his class. Even if the number of people in other grades is slightly larger, it is not much more.

There are only ten students in a grade at most, and the fewest are five or six like John and his class. The total number of students in the entire magic school is only forty or fifty.

Even in a society like the magic world, which is not very populous, 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 seniors; Minerva McGonagall, who is the deputy headmaster and teaches Transfiguration and Herbology; Filius Flitwick, who teaches Charms and Astronomy; Horace Slughorn, who just came back today and should continue to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic.

These four are all the professors who have teaching work in the carriage now.

Others include the headmaster Albus Dumbledore, the coachman Rubeus Hagrid, and the carriage manager Argus Filch.

The number of teachers is of course far less than the number in the Hogwarts Castle in the original book, so both Lily and Professor McGonagall have multiple positions.

But also because there are fewer students, their work intensity is not so bad, and they are not so busy that they don't have to touch the ground.

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 before.

What students like most about Dumbledore as the headmaster is that he never gives boring speeches on occasions that make people feel happy.

The old man, who is over a hundred years old and has gray hair and beard, raised the wine glass in his hand. He didn't make a long speech or a touching speech, but just said loudly.

"Thank you for the delicious food you prepared, so please enjoy it happily."

The wet and salty sea breeze could not cover the aroma of the food itself.

Although it was in the UK, the food at the dinner was certainly not just chips and fried fish. Jon had not tasted the craftsmanship of those house elves, but he thought that the onion soup, grilled fish and mashed potatoes made by those senior students tasted very good.

".I've always heard from George and Fred that the most annoying person on the carriage is 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 carriage manager was sitting.

"He always likes to use chicken feathers as a token of authority, and he never has a good face for people. It seems that he wants to hang up and whip those who have made only a small mistake!"

Ron has three older brothers who all go to school in this Hogwarts, so he obviously knows the situation in the school much better than Neville.

During the meal, he has always been telling other freshmen about the various interesting things he heard from his brothers on the carriage.

The table was full of laughter. Even though they are now a group of fugitives wanted by the Ministry of Magic, there is not much depression or dullness among these young boys and girls who should be full of vigor.

This proves that Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix really protect them very well. Even if the situation is difficult, the seeds of hope must be retained.

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 a tender hand, and walked forward on a road full of thorns and no future, but full of expectations.

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 returned to us to continue to serve as the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic."

"Tonight will represent a new beginning for us. There is no time more worth celebrating than this time."

He held the knotty wand in his right hand and raised it high to the sky. A cluster of jubilant ribbons gushed out from the tip of the wand. The bright blue eyes looked at the students on the long table, and the face full of traces of time showed a happy smile.

"So why don't we have a song?"

This sentence is like a secret code that everyone knows except Jon and other freshmen.

Everyone on both sides of the long table, whether professors or students, stood up from their chairs, and the freshmen also stood up with a blank look on their faces.

"Hogwarts~Hogwarts~"

The old headmaster started the song with his bright voice, and the students below sang the song in a uniform tune.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts,

Please teach us knowledge,

Whether we are bald old men

or children with broken knees,

our minds can accept

some interesting things.

Because now our brains are empty, full of air,

dead flies and trivialities,

Teach us some valuable knowledge,

Give us back what we have forgotten,

You just need to do your best, and leave the rest to us,

We will study hard until we turn into dust.

"

Jon had never heard this version of the Hogwarts school song. It was neither sad nor cheerful, just like a seagull with no place to rest on the occupied beach, circling sadly on the coast.

The singing was very melodious, and he couldn't help but join 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 house-style, no magical ghosts, and nothing that should be there.

But there is the sea, the starry sky, the carriage, and a group of loving people.

This seems... not bad.