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Chapter 16: “Academic Exchange”
Chapter 16: “Academic Exchange”
Chapter 16: “Academic Exchange”
Sean’s heart beat fiercely, and a weird feeling in his heart struck. He hurriedly lowered his head and took a sip of pumpkin juice. The girl was still staring at him when he raised his head again, but the feeling dissipated.
Sean raised his cup, smiled at her, and greeted her. However, he thought in his heart that he would stay away from this senior in the future.
After everyone filled their stomachs, the rest of the food disappeared from the table, and the plates were empty. After a while, pudding, ice cream in all flavors, apple pie, fruit tarts, chocolate muffins, fried jam doughnuts, marmalade pudding, strawberries, jelly, and rice pudding appeared.
For Sean, most desserts in the UK have too much sugar.
Seeing that Cotton smeared another layer of cream on the dessert, Sean had a bit of a toothache. That thing must be sweet. As the feast came to an end, Dumbledore stood up again.
“Now that everyone is finished. Before you go, let me give you a few things to keep in mind for the new semester.” The hall suddenly fell silent, leaving only the slight crackling sound of candles burning.
“First-year students, note that the forest area on the school grounds is forbidden for any students to enter. Some of our senior classmates should also keep this in mind.” Dumbledore’s eyes swept around the Gryffindor table.
“Mr. Filch also wants me to remind everyone not to use magic in the corridor between classes.”
“The vetting of Quidditch players will be held in the second week of this term. Students who are interested in participating on their own team, you can contact Ms. Hooch.”
After saying this, Dumbledore’s expression became a little serious. He waved his right hand lightly, and a column of fiery red letters appeared in the air.
[Nurmengard.]
“Some of you may already know it. But yes, we have reached an academic exchange plan with Nurmengard School of Magic.”
The originally quiet hall suddenly became noisy, and the students all started to discuss it.
“That gossip actually came true? God, when I think of those students in Nurmengard, I’m going to get sick.” Cotton was complaining to the others.
“Can you tell me why?” Sean turned his head to the side and asked softly, and Hermione on the side approached curiously.
“Oh, are you from a Muggle family?” Cotton showed a stunned look, and then his face became ugly.
“Since its establishment, Nurmengard has promised to become the most outstanding magic school in the new era. I don’t know what agreement the principals reached, and the Triwizard Tournament, which was originally suspended, was restarted again. The number of participants in each school increased, and the organizer added Nurmengard.”
In Cotton’s words, Sean learned that after the establishment of Nurmengard, they not only madly recruited students from other schools but also kept advocating “the new generation of wizards’ elite education”.
However, the three European schools, which were originally the main competitor, failed miserably in the newly hosted Triwizard Tournament. In the following decades, Nurmengard won almost all the championships, while Hogwarts won only several of them.
For decades, there have been more and more students in Nurmengard. While Hogwarts in England is still thriving, but Durmstrang in Germany is now close to bankruptcy. It is said that the entire Durmstrang school may not have many students compared to the first-year student in Hogwarts.
Another reason why Nurmengard makes Hogwarts so hostile is magic. According to Cotton’s words, those guys in Nurmengard use dark magic. They are ruthless, completely disregarding their companions’ safety, and even more ruthless towards their enemies.
The Triwizard Tournament was held at Hogwarts last year. One of the three students at Hogwarts was from Ravenclaw. He was cursed by the opponent during the game and spent the rest of his time spent in the St. Mungo Hospital.
The students who came to Hogwarts didn’t even apologize at all and even blatantly provoked them. A lot of conflict broke out between the two schools.
“They are just a group of monsters in wizard robes.” This was Cotton’s final comment.
Sean nodded thoughtfully. No wonder the two who came to recruit students were fighting when they met. The tension between the two schools was indeed not small.
Cotton raised his head and glanced at the teacher’s table, complaining, “I still have to communicate with those guys academically. I really don’t know what Professor Dumbledore thinks.”
Dumbledore was calm and didn’t even stop the noise in the auditorium. He didn’t extend a hand until the discussion subsided a little.
“This is a long and well-thought plan,” the words Nurmengard fade away in front of him, “they will come to Hogwarts after the semester is over, and I hope everyone can get along with the guests from afar.”
He paused, “And do show the glory of being a Hogwarts student.”
Although many students muttered a few words in secret about their dissatisfaction, all the students straightened their backs.
“And finally, I would like to remind everyone that those who do not want to suffer an accident or die in pain. Please do not enter the corridor on the right on the third floor.”
Sean frowned. Voldemort didn’t appear, but was Dumbledore still protecting the Sorcerer’s Stone? From whom is he hiding it? Grindelwald? Or his followers?
Dumbledore smiled again, “Now before everyone goes to bed. Let’s sing the school song together!” Sean noticed that the smiles of the other teachers seemed to freeze.
Dumbledore didn’t take out his wand. He waved it lightly. Nurmengard’s font disappeared, and the flames recomposed a large paragraph of lyrics in mid-air.
“Everyone chooses their favorite tune,” said Dumbledore. “Get ready and sing!”
“Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now they’re bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we’ve forgot,
Just do your best, we’ll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.”
Everyone sang the school song in unison. Only the Weasley twins continued to sing along with the slow melody of “Funeral March.” Dumbledore conducted followed the last two notes with them, and when all of them were done singing, he applauded greatly.
“Music,” He said, while wiping his eyes, “are more glamorous than anything we’ve done here. Now it’s bedtime. Everyone, please proceed to your own dorms.”