George couldn't resist firing back when Percy brought up some awkward moments from the previous year.
Percy, amused, said, "Isn't that because you two were too mischievous?"
"I think they call that 'what goes around comes around,'" Percy added with a smirk.
Fred jumped in, "Yes, yes, our honorable Mr. Prefect, do you want me to hand you your favorite toilet brush? You used it with such enthusiasm back then."
Percy shot Fred a sharp look, clearly unamused.
Watching the brothers bicker, Harry grew curious about their past. But something even stranger caught his attention, the way they addressed Mr. Wilson.
"Uh... why do you call Mr. Wilson 'big brother,' but Ron calls him 'Mr. Uncle'?"
George laughed and explained, "If you want to blame someone for that, it's Ron - he's just slow to catch on. We started calling him that before Brother Alex became Ginny's godfather, and we never bothered to change it.
Actually, Bill and Charlie went to school with Big Brother. Well, they didn't end up working at the Wilson's Arcane Alchemica with him, though."
George's expression suddenly turned silly again.
"I remember Big Brother told Bill and Charlie about it, but both wanted to go their own way. Bill was introduced to Gringotts by Big Brother, and Charlie went off to Romania to raise dragons. One of the shareholders of the dragon farm is an old friend of Big Brother's. If it weren't for him, I doubt we'd have eaten so many dragon meat sausages."
Percy, as the eldest, explained all this seriously to his younger brothers.
The three Weasley brothers chatted about their past adventures, while Harry and Ron listened with interest, occasionally exchanging surprised glances.
'So Mr. Wilson was quite impressive when he was younger,' Harry thought, glancing curiously at the handsome but quietly dignified man at the front desk.
However, his attention was soon drawn away by the gloomy, long-haired wizard standing beside him.
"It hurts!"
As Harry and Snape's eyes briefly met, a dull pain suddenly pulsed from the scar on Harry's forehead.
At the same time, the glowing mark on his chest flickered faintly, small electric arcs crackling across its surface.
Harry jolted awake instantly.
When he looked away, the pain slowly eased, though the glow on his chest continued to emit a subtle discharge.
"I didn't expect Senior Quirrell to have traveled to Albania this year," Harry said, watching as Alex chatted with Quirrell about recent events. "I remember there are dense, untouched jungles there. According to my sources, many dark creatures like vampires and werewolves live in those areas."
Quirrell turned slightly with an awkward smile and said, "I just... ran into a few vampires, so I've been studying ways to protect myself."
He nodded toward the garlic-scented hood he wore.
Alex puckered his lips in disbelief.
"You're really relying on that garlic hood to keep vampires away?"
Then, reaching into his robes, he pulled out a talisman.
"How about I give you this Sun Amulet? I crafted it using the 'Holy Light Magic' I learned from the Holy See. It works wonders against dark creatures, it's incredibly effective."
Quirrell blinked, surprised by Alex's generosity.
He had been speaking casually, never expecting such a gift.
Still, in his current condition, he couldn't just accept it, especially when Alex emphasized how deadly it was.
"N-no, thank you. I'll keep studying on my own," Quirrell stammered nervously.
"Alright, but don't hesitate to ask if you need it," Alex said kindly, understanding that Quirrell wanted to pursue his research independently.
Just then, Dumbledore, who had been observing the time, turned toward Alex.
Alex nodded in acknowledgment, as if confirming a plan.
Then Dumbledore called out, "Attention, everyone!"
Dumbledore cleared his throat as he approached the podium.
"Dinner is almost over, but before we get to my favorite part, the school song, Professor Alex Wilson has a few announcements to make."
The students exchanged curious whispers.
It was the first time anyone besides Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall had spoken at the opening ceremony.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Alex calmly stepped up to the podium, and his clear, sharp voice filled the auditorium.
"Listen carefully. After dinner, the fifth-year prefects will be responsible for escorting students back to their respective common rooms. Sixth- and seventh-year prefects will remain behind. Also, no one is allowed to eat before 7 a.m. tomorrow. At that time, everyone must gather in the auditorium outside the entrance hall, dressed in summer training clothes."
With that, Alex returned to his seat, leaving the students in stunned silence.
Dumbledore smiled and took the podium again.
"I'm sure you all heard Professor Wilson clearly. Please follow his instructions. Now, let's move on to the long-awaited school song..."
Later, as they walked back to Gryffindor's common room, Fred shook his head and muttered, "What? Gathering early tomorrow morning?
Hogwarts has never done that before. I have to say, Brother Alex really knows how to surprise us."
Harry, trailing behind the twins, looked puzzled.
"Do you think Professor Wilson plans to make this a regular thing, or is it just for tomorrow?"
George shrugged with a helpless smile.
"How would we know? Maybe the sixth- and seventh-year prefects can tell us. But honestly, if this becomes a habit, send me to see Merlin right away."
Percy, who had already started calling Alex "professor," added seriously, "Stop joking around. If the professor made this arrangement, he must have his reasons."
Fred and George exchanged a glance and then snickered, clearly amused by Percy's sudden respect for Alex.
Harry felt that every minute of today was completely new and exciting.
He had made a new good friend in Ron, spotted Malfoy carrying another legendary item, and even saw the scary lightning-shaped spaceship.
The sorting ceremony had been fascinating, and the bearded but interesting headmasters left a strong impression.
Most of all, the mysterious and stern Alex Wilson caught his attention.
No one really knew what Alex had told the sixth and seventh-year prefects that night, but they didn't return to the common room until very late.
The next morning, Harry woke up slowly after being nudged by others.
When he rubbed his eyes and sat up, he saw Neville, who shared the same dormitory, already dressed and looking worried.
"Wake up! The meeting Uncle Wilson mentioned is almost time. We can't be late!" Neville said as he ran off to gather the others.
Harry immediately became alert.
Of course, they had to meet early on the first day, no time to waste.
He quickly got out of bed, hurriedly changed, and helped Neville hurry the others.
By around seven o'clock, the four of them followed the bustling crowd to the courtyard in front of the castle.
There, they saw Alex already dressed in a tactical uniform, holding a clipboard on the steps of the front hall, staring coldly at the group of young wizards who were about to be late.
Even so, only most of the students managed to gather on time; a small number were either just waking up or still making their way over.
At that moment, hundreds of young wizards filled the courtyard in a chaotic jumble.
Many weren't fully dressed yet, their faces looking tired and worn from having no time to wash up, with some standing there rubbing sleepy eyes.
Harry and a few of his roommates arrived and quickly spotted the twins along with other familiar Gryffindor students.
They stood together, somewhat aimless, staring blankly at the professor standing on the steps.
"It's almost time," Alex announced, pulling out a pocket watch to check.
Then he called out, "Alright everyone, line up by house, seven rows per house, and arrange yourselves by grade. Prefects, follow the instructions I gave you yesterday and keep everything organized."
He glanced toward the castle exit and added, "From now on, anyone who's late must stay to the side with me and isn't allowed to wander without permission. Gemma, you're in charge of watching over them."
"Understood, Professor!" replied Gemma Farley, the seventh-year prefect from Slytherin and cousin to Joy Farley.
She stepped forward to gather the latecomers as they trickled in.
Meanwhile, prefects from the sixth and seventh years in the other houses quickly moved to organize their own students, shouting orders to line up.
They clearly had received Alex's training the night before and were well-prepared.
Since these prefects had lived and worked closely with Alex at school, they understood his methods well and carried them out efficiently, with no room for complaints.
After all, this was the same person who had singlehandedly brought Slytherin to the top; no one dared question his authority.
Thanks to the prefects' swift commands, the courtyard soon divided into four orderly groups: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin.
Each group arranged themselves by grade, from youngest to oldest, and even their heights were neatly ordered.