People in Hogwarts, holding scripts and systems

Harry glared at Blaise fiercely, and Neville quietly asked why Ginny was here.

Harry's eyes were still fixed in the direction of Blaise and Avro, "Did he see you cast the Bat Hex?"

"Almost." Ginny tugged at her robes and followed Harry and the others back down the aisle. "Do you remember Zacharias Smith? He always pestered me with questions about the Ministry of Magic, so I cast a curse on him..."

"Well done, Ginny." Harry stared at the back of Blaise's head, who was obviously pleased. He said excitedly, "It's much better than some people who are famous because of their relatives!"

Harry didn't try to suppress his voice, and Blaise could hear the sarcastic remarks of his so-called rival outside even from the corner.

"But I can't get involved in my mother's affairs..." Blaise continued to lie in Afro's arms, saying sullenly.

Afro stroked the boy's hair lovingly, "Brace, everyone is independent, you just need to be yourself."

If Harry knew that his sarcasm gave his rival an opportunity to act pitiful, he would be furious!

Too bad he didn't know.

"Can we come to the Room of Requirement after the opening ceremony?" Blaise asked suddenly.

Afro looked at him in confusion. Blaise smiled and continued, "I got some news. Draco and Nott will also be there."

Afro lowered her head and thought for a while, and felt that it was unlikely that Dumbledore would look for her after the opening ceremony, so she had some time.

"Okay, I'll see you in the room if you ask me."

After they left the carriage, Afro discovered sadly that they had been forgotten at the station.

"Can't that big guy Hagrid count the people before leaving?" Blaise pulled out his wand angrily and embarrassedly, and whispered a spell to illuminate their surroundings.

"Looks like we have to walk to Hogwarts." Ginny had no smile on her face. She rubbed her forehead with a headache, hoping that Dean could take her luggage downstairs.

Neville stared in disbelief. He looked at the dark night and the deserted platform.

"Walk? How far are we from the school?"

The cool night breeze blew in their faces, and Harry opened the invisibility cloak and put it on himself and Aphrodite.

"I'll probably miss the Sorting ceremony." Avro said sadly. She thought that without Harry eavesdropping on Draco's story, she would be able to avoid being late.

They walked silently on the muddy ground, and there was no other sound except the rustling sound.

When she finally saw the gate of Hogwarts, Afro breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're finally here." Snape, with a gloomy face, sneered through the iron chain of the door and pulled out his wand and knocked twice on the locked door.

"Very good, not only are you late, but you haven't put on your school robes yet." Snape stepped back a few steps to let the group of careless little wizards in, then slammed the door shut. "Let me think about how many points should be deducted?"

The malicious look paused when it touched Brace who was hiding in the team.

"But I don't think any college would be deducted points just after the start of the school year." Snape walked in front with a kerosene lamp emitting orange-yellow light, and changed the subject, "So--"

"You're lucky."

Harry was surprised by Snape's kindness. He thought that even if they were not given detention, they would at least be deducted 20 or 30 points.

But he just let it go so lightly.

It is somewhat doubtful.

There won't be any other tricks, right?

There was laughter and the sound of clinking cups and plates coming from the hallway, and the open door was right in front of them.

"Leave now and go back to the Great Hall!" Snape stood by the door and shouted at them.

Neville shook himself off and ran towards the Gryffindor table without stopping. Ginny and Blaise hesitated for a long time before running away too.

Only Aphrodite stared at Snape seriously for a while, until Harry tugged at her sleeves twice.

"Thank you, Professor Snape."

Snape was stunned for a moment, then snorted coldly and left holding his long cloak.

Aphrodite and Harry hurried past the long tables and squeezed in between Ron and Hermione.

"You missed the Sorting Ceremony." Ron reached out and took a large piece of chocolate cake and put it on Avro's plate. "The Sorting Hat said those strange things again."

While they were still discussing the Sorting Hat and Slughorn, Dumbledore stood up from behind the staff table, opened his arms and smiled kindly.

"Good evening, friends!" his voice echoed throughout the hall. "Welcome to the new students. Filch, the caretaker, asked me to tell you..."

"…Students who wish to join the Quidditch team please go to your captain to sign up."

At this point, Dumbledore seemed to wink at Harry twice.

"We are delighted to welcome a new professor this year - Slughorn."

Slughorn stood up and waved to everyone.

"My old colleague and old friend has agreed to resume his old position as the professor of Potions."

"Potions?" Harry, Ron and Hermione repeated in unison.

Shocked voices and discussions came from every corner of the auditorium.

Dumbledore tapped his goblet twice and raised his voice above the noisy hall, "Professor Snape will be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Snape did not stand up, but just raised his arm lazily to indicate that he heard.

The discussion in the hall became louder. Everyone knew how determined Snape was to become the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, but he had never succeeded.

"Professor Snape can finally get what he wished for this time." Afro looked towards the faculty table and raised his glass to Snape from a distance.

Harry could clearly see the obvious, visible happiness on that face.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, seemingly unaware of the sensational news he had just announced.

"Everyone knows that Voldemort and the Death Eaters are causing trouble again. The current situation is very dangerous. Hogwarts has strengthened its defenses, and I hope that each of you can abide by the safety regulations..."

Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over every student, and the hall was as silent as dead water.

He clapped his hands with a smile and continued, "Well, let's say 'good night' again!"

The chair made a harsh rubbing sound on the floor. Afro was not in a hurry to leave. She was waiting for Blaise.

The young wizards squeezed out of the hall, they were still discussing Snape and Slughorn.

"Afro, aren't you going back to the lounge?" Ron saw that the crowd had gone far away, but the girl was still sitting in the chair motionless.

Before Afro could answer, an arrogant voice came from the side.

"Of course she has a date with me."