บท 24: Hogwarts, Please Graduate Soon, Ch 24
"Congratulations, host, you've successfully shown the Weasley twins and Hufflepuff's model student, Cedric, the darker side of human nature."
"Since this is your first display of 'talent' at Hogwarts, you receive double points—+200 points."
As chaos unfolded in the Great Hall, Dumbledore magically conjured lyrics but had no sheet music, allowing the students to perform freely.
Wayne pretended to follow along with the words while his mind raced with thoughts.
After tricking the twins and Cedric a bit, he had earned two hundred points.
Even without a bonus for a first-time achievement—ugh, a first-time double points—that would still be one hundred points.
It seemed that after the system upgrade, earning points had become much easier.
Previously, he had to fight the entire class just to earn just over a hundred points.
Hogwarts was indeed his lucky place.
If tricking the twins earned him a hundred points, if he could do this once every three days, wouldn't he easily earn a whole stack of gold this year?
Wayne licked his lips; he had to admit, it was quite tempting.
Fred and George, caught up in singing the school song to the tune of "Funeral March," couldn't help but shiver, as if stared at by something terrifying.
....
The school song concluded hurriedly, and Dumbledore was so moved he wiped away tears.
"This is the power of music! Now, it's time for bed, everyone return to your dormitories."
With the Sorting Ceremony wrapping up after eight o'clock, and after an hour of dinner, it wasn't unreasonable for Dumbledore to send everyone off to sleep.
Everyone rushed out, while the prefects organized the new students, leading them back to the common room.
Cedric mixed in with the first-year group.
"Wayne, how are you going to make it up to me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Get a good night's sleep; we have to go to CJB tomorrow. That's going to be physically demanding."
Cedric laughed in exasperation: "Cut the act! You definitely told Professor McGonagall!"
"This is the first time I've been in detention."
"Uh, what should I say? Thank you for letting Fred and George have my first?"
Wayne shrugged helplessly: "I didn't tell; Professor McGonagall figured it out herself. If you don't believe me, ask Hannah or Susan."
The two girls had been eavesdropping nearby, and upon being mentioned, Susan instinctively nodded.
Cedric realized the situation was worse than he thought. He asked the two girls for details, and his face turned pale upon hearing them.
"This is bad; Professor McGonagall is definitely angry with me. I still want to join her Transfiguration club."
"Don't worry," Wayne reassured him, "with George and Fred involved, you'll be seen as an accomplice at worst. In a few days, Professor McGonagall will probably forget about it."
Cedric fell silent, resolved to never provoke Wayne again.
This guy seemed harmless but was full of mischief.
....
Hufflepuff's common room was located in the basement of the school, behind a cluster of large barrels on the right side of the kitchen corridor.
All one had to do was tap the second barrel in the middle of the second row in Helga Hufflepuff's rhythm, and the lid would rotate to reveal a passageway.
Unlike Gryffindor, whose passwords changed constantly, and Ravenclaw, who had to solve riddles to enter, Hufflepuff's methods were straightforward and practical.
This 'password' had been in use since Hogwarts was founded and had never changed.
Yet, such a simple code meant that no outsiders had ever entered the Hufflepuff common room; it was the only house with "facial recognition."
Even if someone knocked in the correct rhythm, unless it was a Hufflepuff, the door wouldn't open. Instead, vinegar with various scents would spray out from the barrel to deter intruders.
It was said that many young witches and wizards, when low on money, would deliberately knock incorrectly and then sell the vinegar they collected.
One could only wonder which unscrupulous shopkeeper would buy such stuff; the vinegar could have any flavor, and giving it to customers could be quite a scam.
The prefects dutifully explained all this to the first-years and demonstrated the process three times before finally opening the common room door.
They ducked through the passage, entering a large circular room.
The common room had a low ceiling, a comfortable temperature, and a simple yet cozy atmosphere, with plants hanging or placed throughout, evoking a woodland cottage vibe.
Soft rugs covered the floor, accompanied by many plush sofas and chairs.
Wayne was very pleased with his future entertainment environment for the next seven years.
Though it was in the basement, there were windows that let in sunlight.
The female prefect stepped up to the fireplace and pointed to a portrait hanging above it, depicting a cheerful witch holding a gold cup.
"This is Lady Helga Hufflepuff; her kindness allowed her to rescue many house-elves from abuse and mistreatment."
"That's why Hufflepuff always receives special treatment in the kitchen. If you need anything, you can just go to the kitchen next door; don't hesitate to help yourselves."
As she said this, pride was evident on the prefect's face.
This was a privilege unique to Hufflepuff.
"Your politeness might be seen by the house-elves as a sign they haven't done their job well; they might feel guilty."
With the introduction complete, the rest of the time was free for activities.
True to Hufflepuff spirit, many upperclassmen warmly welcomed the first-years, presenting them with snacks from various places.
They patiently answered questions posed by the newcomers and shared plenty of their experiences.
Wayne was discussing the school stairs with Cedric.
"Make sure you don't sleep in tomorrow. The school stairs keep changing—if you step in the wrong place, you'll likely be late."
"If it's for the Headmaster or Professor Flitwick's class, it's one thing."
"But if you're late for Transfiguration or Potions..." Cedric shivered and shot Wayne a look of foreboding.
"What good does telling me do?" Wayne said helplessly, "I don't know the pattern for these crazy stairs."
"How about this?" Cedric pondered, "Tomorrow at breakfast, the new students will get their schedules. You should come out early, and I'll take you around."
Wayne gave him a thumbs-up.
Just as expected of you, Cedric—a true Hufflepuff.
With your eagerness, I'll make sure you stay safe when the Triwizard Tournament starts.
As they continued chatting, several prefects fetched juice and hot water from the kitchen, and the experience of being pampered like this was incredibly pleasant.
Wayne couldn't help but admire himself for choosing the right house.
By the time everyone started feeling sleepy, the common room slowly emptied, and Wayne made his way through the circular door to his dormitory.
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