Chapter 35: First Day at Hogwarts (Edited)

"Indeed, if you can answer the knocker's question, the entrance to the common room will open. Of course, if you cannot answer, there's no need to feel embarrassed. In fact, it's a very common situation; often there are several, or even dozens, of Ravenclaw students stuck outside the common room, discussing the knocker's question together. By the way, in almost a thousand years, aside from Ravenclaw students, no one else has managed to pass through this door."

Once inside the common room, the prefect introduced them to the Ravenclaw Head, Professor Flitwick, the Ravenclaw ghost, the Grey Lady, and explained Ravenclaw's relationship with the other three houses. Then, they announced that they were free.

Bell shared the room with four other male students.

Overall, living conditions at Hogwarts were quite pleasant; after all, magic made everything very convenient. The room was spacious, with five beds and furniture such as wardrobes, desks, and chairs, but there was still plenty of free space, preventing it from feeling crowded.

Listening to the other students in the room getting excited as they discussed the Sorting Ceremony and talked about Harry Potter, Bell had no intention of joining the conversation. After responding casually a few times, he went to shower and then quietly lay on his bed.

'Finally, I can have a moment of peace,' thought Bell, sighing deeply.

Bell's thoughts were in a state of chaos, with memories of his encounter on the train that day, his moments with Shanna, and a variety of magical knowledge. He didn't feel like sorting out his thoughts at the moment, so he let his mind wander aimlessly, lying in silence, unaware of when he slipped into sleep.

...

The next morning, Bell woke up early as usual, around 6 in the morning. After a quick personal hygiene routine, he stealthily left the room.

The Ravenclaw common room was located in a tower on the west side of the castle. The room was decorated mainly in shades of blue and bronze, giving a sense of freedom and comfort. Around the common room, there were shelves filled with books, symbolizing Ravenclaw's thirst for knowledge and eagerness.

From the common room window, Bell had a panoramic view of the Black Lake, the Forbidden Forest, and the towering mountains in the distance. It was a beautiful sight, but the perception of it varied depending on the observer's mood. At that moment, everything seemed lonely and desolate to Bell: the empty field, the dark lake, and the mist-covered Forbidden Forest, all had an aura of loneliness and cold.

For the first time in many years, Bell didn't get up for morning training. Instead, he stood by the common room window, staring out into the horizon, with a blank mind and no particular thoughts.

He didn't know if an hour or two had passed, but gradually, other students began to wake up, and the common room filled with activity.

The sounds of other students awakened Bell from his reverie. Regaining composure, he left the common room and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Breakfast was plentiful, but Bell wasn't accustomed to having bread and milk for breakfast. He had always considered sweet foods to be more of a treat than a proper meal. So, he chose to eat some sausages before most students began to fill the Great Hall.

New students had bad luck this year as they started classes on their first day at Hogwarts and had little time to acclimate to their new life.

Bell checked his schedule and realized that Hogwarts' demands for first-year students were quite relaxed. They only had to attend an average of four hours of classes each day, and the rest of the time was free for them. It's worth mentioning that many Ravenclaw classes were shared with Gryffindor, including Transfiguration, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and History of Magic.

The first class of the day was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. Although it was early, Bell decided to head to the Transfiguration classroom immediately since he had nothing else to do at the moment.

On the way to the classroom, Bell observed everything in the castle, such as the portraits on the walls, the moving suits of armor, and the shifting stairs. As he did so, he also reflected on his life.

Bell came to the conclusion that he couldn't continue like this; decadence wouldn't solve anything. Instead of sinking into melancholy, he had to strive to learn magic and become stronger. This brief separation from his sister was just a necessary step for a better reunion in the future.

Bell took a deep breath and slapped his face with determination.

"It's decided, from now on, I will get up and not let myself be defeated," thought Bell.

Bell straightened his back, tried to look more energetic, and after not thinking about those foolish things, he walked forward with large strides.

Since there was still more than an hour before class, the Transfiguration classroom was empty. Bell found a corner and sat down, taking out a book titled "Ultimate Transformation" and began reading it attentively.

Unaware, he looked up and saw the room filling with students. His dormitory mates were chatting in pairs, Hermione was sitting at the front going through her materials for the umpteenth time, and a gray tabby cat silently observed the students from the desk.

Bell vaguely remembered that his Transfiguration professor was Professor McGonagall, who could transform into a tabby cat. He stared at the tabby cat for a while and didn't notice any trace of magic. Undoubtedly, Professor McGonagall was a skilled Animagus.

The bell to start the class rang, and right after, Harry Potter and his good friend Ron Weasley rushed into the classroom.

"Thank goodness Professor McGonagall hasn't arrived yet, or we'd be in trouble. That old lady is very strict," panted Ron to Harry.

As long as they didn't get caught, it wouldn't be considered late. So no problem!

However, before they could finish the conversation, the cat on the desk transformed into Professor McGonagall.

('Д`)

Ron was petrified after speaking ill of the professor and being caught in the act.

"Is this how you use magic? Is there no privacy left in the magical world?"

However, Professor McGonagall didn't seem to see any issue with their behavior. She scanned the room, especially stopping at the students who had spoken ill of her before, making them pale and tremble. Then, finally, she turned her gaze to Harry and Ron, who were frozen in their places.