Vizette read the question aloud: "I am here without knowing it, and if I abandon it, I will surely die?"
"Is it air? It's everywhere yet hard to detect. Without air, you'll lose your life; it's a certain death."
The eagle statue seemed to come alive, stretching its broad wingspan.
The bronze gate slowly opened, revealing a marble spiral staircase inside.
"Perfect answer, and the explanation is perfectly reasonable." Penelope Clearwater clapped her hands. "This is our way of life! Welcome to Ravenclaw!"
They ascended the marble spiral staircase to the top, where they found an incredibly bright and spacious circular lounge.
The lounge's dome was painted with a sky full of stars, which complemented the clear crystal floating in mid-air.
The snow-white marble walls, the deep blue carpets and curtains, and the antique and dignified bronze decorations together created a solemn and tranquil main tone for the lounge.
Several desks, benches, and armchairs were arranged in the lounge, and bookshelves filled with thick books were placed in the niches on the wall, creating an atmosphere of a cultural salon.
An arched window was also opened in the wall, and the starlight outside the window was exceptionally clear, like flickering lights adorning the sky.
The older students easily found a spot, either reading a book or looking up at the clear crystal in the sky, as if they were emptying their minds.
Many freshmen were eager to climb to the window and enjoy the dazzling night sky.
Penelope Clearwater clapped her hands and said, "Professor McGonagall must have told you that the college is your home, and you'll be staying here for seven more years!"
"The most important thing now is to get you back to your dorms. I saw quite a few of you dozing off earlier. You must be exhausted after all this commotion all night."
She first led the girls to the other side of the lounge, heading towards the girls' dormitory.
On the other side of the lounge stood a statue, which was very tall and its top almost touched the dome.
The statue depicted a beautiful woman dressed in a silk veil, wearing a magnificent crown, with her long hair almost reaching the ground, giving her an ethereal and otherworldly feel that made people hesitate to approach.
The base was inscribed with a description of the statue: Rowena Ravenclaw, whose exceptional intelligence is the greatest treasure of mankind.
Just as the freshmen were starting to doze off again, Penelope Clearwater finally returned to the lounge and led them to the boys' dormitory.
She suddenly stopped and pointed to a double door, saying, "This is the washroom. If you want to wash up later, come here..."
Although the lounge occupied only one tower of the castle, it was surprisingly spacious, with at least three spiral staircases and several dormitories for resting.
"This is your dormitory. I won't go in... By the way, the stairs in the girls' dormitory are magical. If a member of the opposite sex enters, those stairs will turn into an oily slide."
A freshman quickly asked, "Then why were you able to get in here? Is it a privilege of the class leader?"
"Of course not, the prefect's privileges don't include that." Penelope Clearwater shook her head. "The most reliable explanation is that the school's founders believed girls were more reliable than boys."
...
The dormitory space was also very large, and each person had their own four-poster brass bed and wardrobe, as well as a desk and chair set for each person.
The four-poster bronze bed was draped with a deep blue curtain, on which an eagle pattern was embroidered with bronze thread.
A thick blue carpet was laid on the floor, and it felt soft and plush underfoot.
The voice on the train hadn't lied; the suitcase had already been delivered to the dormitory.
This place looked like it had been cleaned up by the house-elves.
Not only were the suitcases arranged, but bedding and pillows were also laid out, and the air was filled with the smell of sunshine.
The other freshmen were so tired that they collapsed onto their beds and fell asleep without even saying hello.
"Coo coo coo!"
Thor the owl called out, his claws constantly scratching at the bird perch, as if he was expecting something.
"You must be feeling cooped up, right?" Vizette smiled slightly and opened the birdcage.
Thor eagerly flew onto the suitcase and pecked at it with his sharp beak.
"Don't disturb them!" Vizette quickly picked up Thor and opened his suitcase to take out a large, thick cloth bag.
Inside were the snacks he had bought from the witch.
"Are you sure you can do it?" He stroked Thor's crest feathers. "Or should I ask where the owlery is and find a companion to help you?"
"Goo!" Thor let out a long groan, striking a pose of confidence.
"Alright." Vizette smiled slightly, sat down at the desk, and unfolded a piece of parchment.
He pondered for a long time, until the ink on the quill tip dried up, but he did not write anything.
He had never actually written a letter to anyone before, and for a moment he didn't know where to begin.
Even with the help of the Guardian Meditation Method, he still felt that his thoughts were confused.
Where should I begin? From King's Cross Station? Or from the journey across the lake to the castle?
"Goo?" Thor bowed and pecked Vizette on the chest.
"That hits the nail on the head. You seem to have truly learned from Luna." Vizette dipped the quill in ink again, the nib spreading a blot of ink on the parchment…
-------------------------------------
Snape, with a stern face, knocked on the door and, without waiting for a response, pushed open the door to the headmaster's office.
"A boy who survived a terrible ordeal, an Obscurial, a baby Cerberus... This year's Hogwarts is certainly lively! Headmaster Dumbledore, don't you think?"
Dumbledore placed the Sorting Hat on the table and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it's quite lively."
"Heh…" Snape gave a stiff hum, his voice extremely cold. "I really didn't expect that Hogwarts would become so 'safe' when I came back from my vacation."
He deliberately dragged out the word "safe".
His eyebrows shot up. "I'm pondering a question: how exactly do you plan to protect Harry Potter? Is it simply a matter of preventing the prophecy from coming true?"
"You actually approved the enrollment of someone who could lose control of his emotions at any moment and turn into the Obscurus, so that he could be classmates with Harry Potter?"
"Severus, calm down. How about a cup of tea?" Dumbledore sat back down and produced a tea set. "My suggestion is that you take a look at The Quibbler."
"The Quibbler has become quite interesting recently, discussing a lot about Obscurials and how to get along with them. As far as I know, the response to these episodes has been quite good."
"But as far as I know…" Snape finally sat down, "the editor of The Quibbler is Xenophilius Lovegood, and the Obscurial also has that surname."
"Yes." Dumbledore brewed a pot of tea. "Xenophilius's actions clearly indicate that he approves of Vizette. In addition, I have discovered something interesting."
Snape glanced at the teacup and continued, "Also about that Obscurial?"
"Yes, that's what the Sorting Hat told me." Dumbledore tapped the table. "Could you tell us more about it?"
"That kid is no ordinary person…" The Sorting Hat suddenly tore open. "I think I can see what he's thinking, but I also think I can't."
"It's a really strange feeling! I think he's very approachable... I don't mean to say he's an old-fashioned person... I mean..."
It took it a while to choose its words. "I can see you from that child's perspective."
"This is so much fun! I love this feeling, and I love this child."
Snape frowned, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You mean..."
...
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