As the senior students walked inside, Percy turned back to introduce the new students: "Everyone, please pay attention. We enter and exit the Gryffindor Common Room using a password—the password for this term is the 'Nectar-eating Bird' I just mentioned. If you can't remember the password, the Fat Lady won't open the door for you—and you'll have to spend the night outside. Got it?"
The new students looked serious and noted down what Percy said.
After all, no one wanted to spend the night outside just because they forgot the password. That would be awful.
Harry and his dormmates returned to the dormitory, chatting and laughing. He sat on his bed, propped his pillow up against the headboard, leaned back against it, and dangled a leg over the side of the bed.
"If you ask me, Dumbledore is really losing it. He actually let Lockhart, someone like him, be a professor." Ron was still a bit indignant.
"Who says otherwise?" Seamus also complained: "I've always thought this guy's name doesn't match his reality. He's just a novelist. What does he know about Dark Magic? What does he know about Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"You said it right, Seamus." Ron agreed: "Look at the way those girls look at him. Tsk tsk... I really don't know what's so admirable about him."
"Maybe he's like Quirrell?" Harry suddenly said: "Just like Quirrell, lacks any real ability, only talks about irrelevant things in class, like encounters with Ghouls, or what's inside that turban full of garlic—"
"No worries," Neville said: "I think the teaching level of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher doesn't really matter to us; after all, we're members of the Dueling House, it's Harry we need to listen to for guidance—you know, my grandma was so pleased with my performance at school that she took me to buy a new magic wand as a reward."
"Why?" Ron asked with interest: "Wasn't your grandma always insisting you use your father's wand?"
"Yes." Neville looked a bit downcast: "Grandma wants me not to forget my dad's bravery—but I told her, I said that my spellcasting has considerably improved after changing my wand, so Grandma went to ask Mr. Olivander, and after getting a definite answer, she stopped insisting and took me to get a new wand."
"Sorry, mate." Ron patted Neville's shoulder: "I'm sorry I brought up something upsetting."
"Oh, it's okay, it's okay, Ron." Neville patted Ron's hand: "That's all in the past. I need to practice my spells well so that in the future, I can be someone useful on the battlefield against the Death Eaters and Dark Wizards—at the very least, I have to avenge my parents."
"Yeah, revenge!" Ron nodded seriously: "Burn those Dark Wizards to ashes!"
"Oh, I'm afraid that won't work." Neville suddenly said: "That's something Seamus would have to do—"
"Hahahahaha..." Everyone laughed, both at Neville's sudden sense of humor and at Seamus.
"What is our learning plan this year? Professor?" After enough laughter, everyone turned their attention to Harry.
Harry thought for a moment and told them: "This year's plan for you is to learn how to fight—real combat, not just limited to dueling... Also, the Dueling House will welcome several new friends this year."
"New friends?" Everyone became interested: "Are they from Gryffindor? Who are they?"
"They're from Hufflepuff." Harry shook his head and said: "That class prefect from Hufflepuff, quite a handsome guy named Cedric Diggory, is quite interested in our Dueling House. He actually came to our compartment on the train before the vacation to talk about it. I think it's great because we also need more people to learn together, so we can improve by exchanging ideas, don't you agree?"
"You're the boss, we'll follow your lead." Everyone said together.
"Let's have a show of hands to vote," Harry said, "Hermione and Ron already agreed on the train, now it's up to you guys."
A show of hands is a tradition, a rule set during Harry's time in the Phoenix Society.
"I have no objection." Neville raised his hand.
"I agree as well." Seamus also raised his hand.
"That's five to zero, unanimously passed." Harry said with a smile: "Alright, now that the serious stuff is done, it's time for us to relax..."
Saying that, he took out his wallet.
"I've always thought that excellent people deserve the best enjoyment—look, here's the Butterbeer." Harry took out five cups of Butterbeer, a non-alcoholic beer-flavored drink: "And some magical snacks I bought from France—both from the Muggle World and the Magic World. The amazing thing is, the French Magic World has many unique snacks that aren't available in the United Kingdom."
"Like what?" Ron asked while chewing a bag of spicy beef tripe.
"Like the beef tripe you're chewing on." Harry said, "The French have a way with beef tripe—I think we could have the house-elves at Hogwarts learn from them, and we could improve our flavors, don't you think?"
"I think it's a good idea." Seamus said with a smile: "Having the same dishes all the time does get a bit monotonous; we should definitely develop some new types of dishes—"
"Perhaps the house-elves at Hogwarts will do that?" Neville said: "I remember Grandma once mentioning that Hogwarts has a hidden menu—you can order dishes once you're in the Hogwarts kitchens, anything from French to Italian, Indian, or even Mexican cuisine can be made."
"Mexican?" Ron put down the shrimp sticks in his hands, "Where's that? I know France, Italy, and India, but I have no idea where Mexico is."