The young wizard standing at the door had golden brown hair and unusually pale skin, under the light, one could vaguely see blue veins.
He was wearing a brand new black school robe with no extra decorations, standing with an arrogant posture.
Being scrutinized by many students and teachers, he did not show fear or embarrassment but waved openly and said happily to everyone, "Hello!"
Many students from Gryffindor instinctively waved back, and the Hufflepuffs smiled friendly, while the Slytherins and Ravenclaws continued observing.
Professor McGonagall frowned and glanced around, waiting for the students to quiet down before saying, "Follow me, Mr. Johnson."
The two walked forward, and Filch was there setting up a small stool, while Professor McGonagall took the Sorting Hat from Dumbledore's hand.
Carrel had already learned about the sorting process from Professor McGonagall before entering the hall, he took the dirty hat and clicked his tongue disdainfully before putting it on his head.
The pointy hat slightly twisted on his head, seemingly quite troubled.
As time ticked by, Vid heard Ron Weasley mutter, "Has the hat broken down? It's over a thousand years old after all…"
As if to prove itself, before Ron's words were finished, the Sorting Hat shouted loudly, "Gryffindor!"
Immediately, the Gryffindor table erupted in enthusiastic applause, the Weasley Twins slapped the table and shouted, "I knew it! He looks like a Gryffindor!"
Harry clapped vigorously—his own sorting had also taken a long time, encountering a student who made the Sorting Hat struggle, made him feel a sense of kinship.
Yet Carrel held onto the hat without letting go, as if unaware that the ceremony was over, until Professor McGonagall forcibly snatched the hat from his hand.
"Oh, you nasty boy!" The Sorting Hat said angrily, "He almost tore me apart!"
Professor McGonagall suppressed her anger, not wanting to scold the newcomer on the first day, said sternly, "Mr. Johnson, you may sit at the Gryffindor table!"
"Okay, Professor." Carrel responded, pretending to be obedient.
Professor McGonagall eyed him deeply, picked up the hat and stool, and left briskly.
Carrel found an empty seat and sat down, shaking hands with nearby students, but before introductions could be made, a sumptuous dinner appeared on the table, with more variety than usual.
The students cheered and began to feast.
Fred leaned out and grabbed a piece of beef, cheerfully saying to Carrel, "Nice job, challenging Professor McGonagall right when you arrive—why did you hold onto the Sorting Hat?"
"Just chatting with it." Carrel said with a smile, "It's the first time I've seen such a clever hat, it seems to be able to see through people's brains."
The Gryffindors weren't concerned about this topic.
Angelina said, "Hi, I'm also a Johnson—Angelina Johnson. I've been at Hogwarts for so long, it's the first time I've seen a transfer student—which school were you at before?"
Carrel said, "I'm from the United States."
"Is it Ilvermorny?" Percy displayed his knowledge, "I heard that school is modeled after Hogwarts, also divided into four houses. Which house were you in?"
"I didn't study at Ilvermorny." Carrel explained, "I was learning under a teacher."
"Oh, mentoring? Not many people do that nowadays…" Percy nodded understandingly.
Harry softly asked Ron next to him, "Are there many magic schools besides Hogwarts?"
"Of course, we're not the only country, right?"
Ron counted, "I know the United States has Ilvermorny, France has Beauxbatons, and Scandinavia has Durmstrang, all well-known magic schools."
"I know Durmstrang." Harry said, "I remember Malfoy wanted to go to that school."
"Yes, because they teach Dark Magic…" Ron shook his head and said, "Even if I were paid, I wouldn't go there."
"Dark Magic…" Harry was mildly stunned.
"Brazil has one called Cast—Castro something." Ron couldn't quite remember, he explained, "Bill has a Brazilian pen pal who graduated from that school."
"Castelobruxo." Fred corrected beside him, then said, "Also, I heard Africa has a Uagadou School of Magic, they're adept in self-transfiguration…"
The students' discussion shifted to the world-famous magic schools, Harry was enlightened, it was the first time he knew there were so many schools different from Hogwarts.
Midway through the meal, Carrel asked Fred beside him, "I know we're Gryffindor, which table is Ravenclaw's?"
Fred pointed behind him with his thumb, "Just next to this one—the bronze and blue one. Yellow and black is Hufflepuff, and the last one is the deceitful and cunning Slytherin! They'll bother you for no reason, be sure to fight back hard!"
Carrel didn't listen closely to his words, he turned and looked around the Ravenclaw table, the identical school robes seemed to blur the people's appearance.
He asked again, "I heard Vid Gray is in Ravenclaw, where is he sitting?"
"Hm? Vid? Are you his fan?" Fred looked up and searched, pointed, "He's over there—the one with black hair."
Carrel looked over, finally finding his target among the crowd.
At that moment, Vid seemed to sense their gaze and looked up, the two locked eyes.
Two years apart, both had grown much, but their appearances hadn't changed much.
Then, Carrel joyfully raised his hand and shouted loudly, "Vid!"
Everyone looked over, yet he completely ignored those gazes, picking up his dinner plate, he walked down the aisle in the middle of the table.
Michael raised an eyebrow, watching the transfer student carrying his plate over, and said cheerfully, "It's been a long time!"
Vid glanced at the teacher table which was also watching, silently exhaled, and said, "It's been a long time."
Carrel looked at Michael and said, "Hello, can I switch seats with you?"
Michael sneered, "No."
"Alright." Carrel wasn't disappointed, shrugged, and asked the student on the other side, "Hello, can I switch seats?"
It was a lower-year boy, who was already nervous sitting beside Vid, immediately nodded and picked up his plate, running to the end of the table.
Afterward, Carrel sat comfortably, casually taking another piece of bread.
"Honestly, I thought the UK was a culinary hell! Didn't expect the Hogwarts food to be decent."
Carrel took a bite of bread, seeing Vid still staring at him, he asked bluntly, "Why the face, Vid? Don't you welcome me? I missed you a lot when I was in the United States!"