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The events at the Quidditch World Cup were a matter of far-reaching influence for adult wizards, but for the young wizards of Hogwarts, they were merely a small episode, a minor bit of spice in school life.
After all, not every young wizard thought about their future before graduation.
To them, the matter was less attention-grabbing than what would happen two days later.
Yes. Two days later, Hogwarts would begin again.
Harry and the others had now reached their fourth year at Hogwarts. Their school life at the castle was already halfway over.
The old castle in Godric's Hollow was once again handed to Pipilu and Luxixi to manage. The two old wizards had formally become the castle's housekeepers and decided to spend the rest of their lives there in a half-retired state. For people who had drifted for most of their lives, stability and a decent living environment were probably good choices.
After putting away their textbooks and packing the things they needed into their luggage one by one, the young wizards arrived at King's Cross on time as usual.
This time, the passage did not mysteriously close. No house-elf blocked the way. No detestable Dementors attacked them on the road. Everything went smoothly, and they reached Hogsmeade Station without incident.
They boarded the carriages that only second-years and above could ride and set off toward the castle.
This time, in addition to the usual six-person group, there was also a young witch with a dreamy, drifting air.
Luna Lovegood.
She was the barefoot young witch they had met wandering around the castle at night in their second year.
Now she had passed the test and become a member of the disciplinary group.
She was discussing something with Hermione.
Judging from their conversation, however, it was not especially pleasant.
Hermione was a thorough rationalist. She approached everything from logic and spoke with facts. For example, when catching a criminal, she would rely on evidence. Luna belonged to the type with astonishing intuition. She specialized in not being reasonable. Much of the time, she acted on what she felt. If catching a criminal, she would directly name the culprit and follow her instincts.
Fortunately, their different philosophies did not affect their friendship. Their shared experiences at Hogwarts had built a strong emotional foundation between them.
They were each other's closest female friend.
The creatures pulling the carriages were magical creatures called Thestrals.
They had a strange trait: only those who had seen and understood death could see them. Because of this, they had once been considered omens of misfortune.
It was said that they brought all kinds of terrible disasters to those who saw them.
In truth, ill omen and disaster had nothing to do with Thestrals themselves. They were like Absol in Pokemon, blamed for disasters they merely sensed or appeared before.
They were black, skeletal, horse-like creatures with dragon-like heads and enormous bat wings.
To be fair, Dudley thought they had a unique kind of beauty.
Although they looked so thin that only bones remained, their strength was far greater than that of ordinary horses. Even Hippogriffs could not compare.
Unfortunately, even Thestrals could not carry Dudley in flight.
The carriage Dudley sat in required a full five Thestrals to pull it. Other carriages needed only one.
Even so, their speed was still slower than the others.
By the time Dudley and the others reached Hogwarts, it was already very late. Among the upper-year students, aside from the first-years arriving by boat, they were the last to arrive.
The castle corridors were wet everywhere. Because they were made of smooth marble, walking on them felt slightly slippery.
It was Peeves. The fellow was holding water balloons and throwing them everywhere.
A routine prank. He liked doing this most.
Professor McGonagall was so angry that she shouted at him, but she had no particularly good method to deal with him.
"Stop! Stop! The first-years will arrive soon."
But what was Peeves? He would not abandon a prank just because of first-years.
Mainly, Peeves's nature was truly strange. He was neither human nor ghost nor magical creature. He was almost as old as Hogwarts itself and one of the castle's most mysterious beings.
Sometimes one could deal with him using methods meant for ghosts, and a small spell could subdue him. Sometimes, however, methods used on ghosts were useless, and even Dumbledore had no way to handle him unless Peeves chose to humor him. Otherwise, no one could do anything, as if he had been granted an invincibility charm.
He was not called the most troublesome existence in Hogwarts for nothing.
Clearly, today's Peeves was in one of those invincible moods. Even Professor McGonagall could not do anything to him.
Peeves launched a perfect water balloon attack and soaked a nearby young witch completely.
Her miserable appearance made Peeves cackle strangely.
Fortunately, he was not some leering creep. In front of him, wizards and witches were all the same.
Just as Peeves was about to throw a second water balloon, a voice sounded behind him.
"Mr. Peeves, what are you doing?"
Hearing that voice, Peeves froze. By instinct, he hid the water balloon behind him.
Unfortunately, his body was transparent, and the balloon in his hand was too large. He could not hide it at all.
"Oh, it is Mr. Dursley."
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
Peeves laughed awkwardly, sounding somewhat guilty.
Dudley did not waste words with him and went straight to the point.
"The prank ends here. Is that all right, Mr. Peeves?"
"Everyone likes an obedient and sensible Peeves."
"All right, all right. Since Mr. Dursley says so."
Unwillingness flashed across Peeves's face, but he still listened.
Dudley's words were even more effective on Peeves than the Bloody Baron's. Many young wizards wanted to know the reason, but unfortunately, Dudley had never told a second person.
Peeves released the water balloon with obvious regret. The balloon fell straight down and happened to smash into Ron's face, as he had been stretching his neck upward to watch.
Poor child. He had only wanted to watch the show, but in an instant, he became soaked.
Ron: ???
What the...
Hadn't they agreed there would be no more pranks?
After Peeves promised not to make trouble again, Professor McGonagall, who had rushed over, finally sighed in relief. As for Ron's final accident, she chose to ignore it. That was what he got for standing directly beneath Peeves. She waved her wand, cleaned the water from the floor, and walked to the doors to wait for the new first-years.
The Great Hall was still the Great Hall, magnificent and bright. Countless lit candles floated overhead, and the enchanted ceiling showed the view outside.
Only one seat at the staff table was empty. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was not there.
When Professor Lupin had told everyone last year that he could not teach them for a second year, many young wizards had expressed regret.
After all, he had been the most reliable Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in the past three years.
Well, substitute teacher Dudley did not count.
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