After inspecting the entire train, the Aurors left with the Dementors.
What?
Were you expecting the Dementors to scare the little wizards, and for Audrey to display her divine might, showing the majesty of the Dementor Queen and turning the tide?
Tsk tsk tsk...
Thinking too much. Audrey also has an idol image to maintain, okay?
Do you think the title 'Dementor Queen' is cool?
"Ah, my idol is actually a Dementor! Unfollowing, unfollowing!"
—Do not underestimate the notoriety of Dementors in the wizarding world. Didn't you see wizards using "you really ought to receive a Dementor's Kiss" as the most vicious curse?
Audrey wouldn't dare expose her relationship with Dementors in public...
Delayed by the Aurors for an hour, the little wizards were already starving by the time they arrived at the school.
Even worse, they had to wait for the first-years to finish the "Path of the Founders."
At 7:30 PM, the group of little carrot heads finally arrived at the castle. Professor McGall led them in like a mother duck leading her ducklings.
The first-years were all apprehensive, no exception for any year—the wizarding world using the Sorting Ceremony to scare new students seemed to have become a customary tradition.
Until the Sorting Hat once again sang the opening song using the melody of Audrey's song, the little wizards realized that as long as they put on that dirty-looking hat, they could be sorted successfully.
They immediately relaxed. After all, a hat with the same musical taste as them must be a good hat. Biting off half their heads—such a thing would absolutely not happen!
The Sorting Hat began sorting.
...
"Astoria Greengrass...
Slytherin!"
Daphne smiled and waved vigorously, watching her sister walk towards the long table.
Draco applauded politely, completely unaware of how important this little girl was to him.
"Kamo Tsuruko!"
Audrey looked up in surprise. She remembered this name.
A girl of Asian descent, about fifteen years old, walked up.
"No way, another older first-year?"
"No, I've heard of this person. She seems to be a student from Mahoutokoro School of Magic in Japan. Because of her parents' job transfer, she transferred to our Hogwarts this year!"
"..."
"Hmm... very talented,"
The Sorting Hat's voice sounded in Kamo Tsuruko's mind.
"From a prominent wizarding family, pure blood... oh, and extremely strong ambition!"
"Slytherin!"
Kamo Tsuruko stood up, put the Sorting Hat back on the stool, bowed respectfully to the hat, and then walked with mincing steps towards the Slytherin table.
She was greeted with applause and smiles, and Kamo Tsuruko responded with the same smiles and bows.
She came directly to Audrey's side, her face slightly flushed, looking somewhat excited.
"Senior Astley! Do you still remember me?"
"Of course I remember, Tsuruko," Audrey shook hands with her. "Where is your Mr. Tocci?"
Audrey had met Kamo Tsuruko when she held a concert at the Nippon Budokan six years ago. What left a deep impression on Audrey was that cute Demiguise—Mr. Tocci.
Kamo Tsuruko covered her heart with one hand and her mouth with the other, looking incredulous:
"You really remember me! Mr. Tocci was left on the train! I heard the school will send him to my dormitory!"
Audrey nodded. "Sit anywhere!"
"Yes, Senior!"
The small interaction on the Slytherin side didn't affect the school opening procedure; the Sorting Ceremony continued.
"Luna Lovegood!"
"Ravenclaw!"
Applause rang out from the Ravenclaw table.
...
"Ginny Weasley!"
"Gryffindor!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the Gryffindor side. George and Fred clapped until their palms turned red, and even Percy couldn't help but stand up.
...
...
Even though Professor McGall and the Sorting Hat sped up the process, the Sorting Ceremony still took quite a while.
So when the feast began, the little wizards, almost mad with hunger, ate frantically, completely disregarding their image.
Of course, there were exceptions.
"Audrey, are you on a diet?"
Isaline noticed there was only a bowl of light cabbage soup in front of Audrey.
Audrey glanced at her and tapped the table. The next moment, an identical bowl of soup appeared in front of Isaline.
"Don't talk, drink it first."
The original version of Boiled Cabbage uses high-quality stock made from hens, ducks, ham, scallops, pork knuckles, etc. But Audrey's version also added lamb, pufferfish, and goose barnacles! Although this soup looked clear to the bottom, the taste... only those who drank it knew.
"Mmm..."
Isaline covered her mouth. Okay, Audrey's taste in food was indisputable.
In fact, neither Isaline nor Audrey were very hungry. After all, they had already eaten on the train—right inside Audrey's suitcase.
"Yes, You Didn't Repeat a Year"
Dragon Flame Roast Meat (Norbert: I'm still a child!), worth tasting!
But compared to this Boiled Cabbage in front of them, it was vastly inferior.
Seeing everyone had eaten enough, Dumbledore clapped his hands, and all the food on the tables vanished.
He stood up:
"Another new semester. First-years, please note that the Forbidden Forest next to the school is very dangerous; do not enter without permission. Do not cast spells in the school corridors, and do not wander inside the school at night. Otherwise, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, would be happy to have a chat with you, and a professor will put you in detention."
After the Arjonia Rolle incident last school year, Filch once faced the danger of being kicked out of the school. Parents wouldn't tolerate a caretaker with evil thoughts towards female students.
However, in the subsequent investigation, people were surprised to find that Mr. Filch was actually quite innocent. Throughout the process, he was controlled by Miss Rolle using a Body-Bind Curse, completely unable to move!
How could a Squib resist a wizard? Even if it was just a sixth-year witch.
In Filch's description, Miss Rolle merely "used some necessary means to ensure neither side got hurt."
But in reality, under the influence of Amortentia, Arjonia's actions could no longer be described with the word 'crazy'.
One had to know, Filch lay in the Hospital Wing for a full two days afterward!
It was evident that Filch's testimony was still biased towards Miss Rolle. Who knew what this old man was really thinking?
Dumbledore continued, "Everyone knows today that a heinous dark wizard has escaped from Azkaban." He glanced in Audrey's direction. "All students, please pay attention to safety. Do not go to Hogsmeade village alone. If anything happens, report to a professor immediately!"
"Now, prefects, please lead everyone back to the common rooms. Good night everyone!"
The opening ceremony finally ended.
Students returned to their houses, and professors returned to their rooms.
Crack!
"Yo, Professor Dumbledore!"
Audrey was obviously in an excellent mood. Contrary to her usual behavior, she greeted Dumbledore extremely enthusiastically.
"Audrey," Dumbledore frantically turned the letter in his hand face down. "Can you not..."
"No!"
Audrey said with a playful smile, "Being able to Apparate in, why should I use the main door? Since I'm a wizard, I should naturally have a wizard's style!"
If not for convenience, who would return to the wizarding world!
"Alright, what's the matter this time?"
Audrey plopped down opposite Dumbledore, pulling the chair forward close to the desk. She crossed her hands and rested her chin on them: "I formally inform you, Professor Dumbledore!"
"Minister Crouch checked all the Ministry decrees from last year and did not find that order you mentioned about me having to pass all O.W.L. subjects to advance to the sixth year!"
"So, I am now a sixth-year student!"
A trace of surprise flashed across Dumbledore's face. He suddenly began to suspect if the little girl before him had pulled Minister Fudge down and replaced him with someone obedient just to avoid repeating a year.
But he had long been prepared. Audrey's unwillingness to repeat a year was just a matter of face. If she wanted face, give it to her; it wasn't a big deal.
"Yes, yes, it seems you don't have to repeat the year,"
Dumbledore smiled,
"It's just that the registration for this year's O.W.L. exams has already closed, and the school has already registered for you."
Audrey smiled indifferently. "That's fine. Getting 'O's in all twelve subjects is also a decent achievement!"
"But, Audrey,"
Dumbledore's wise eyes looked straight at her through his half-moon spectacles,
"To graduate from Hogwarts, one must undergo two full years of advanced study after the O.W.L. exams. So although you didn't repeat the year, you still have to graduate in '95."
This rule didn't exist before today, but as the Headmaster of Hogwarts, what he said went.
...Audrey was speechless.
Wasn't this the same meaning as repeating a year?
This was just phrasing it differently, right?
But not having it recorded in Hogwarts: A History and not being laughed at by classmates seemed acceptable?
"Fine," Audrey nodded. "Let's leave it at that."
Although still unhappy, it was a fact that she had failed one exam.
Audrey didn't know that O.W.L.s actually had retakes.
But why would Dumbledore give her a chance to retake it?
"Alright, since we've reached a consensus on this issue, then Audrey,"
A smile appeared on Dumbledore's face. Maybe it was an illusion, but there was more or less a hint of ingratiation in it.
"When do you plan to return Fawkes to me?"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]