The Hogwarts Express was already parked there, a crimson steam locomotive that was belching out thick smoke, and through the smoke, many Hogwarts students and parents on the platform looked like black ghosts.

"See you at school. ”

"See you at school. The two parted on the platform and went looking for their friends.

"Phoenix. Draco walked over with two inseparable henchmen, walking in good spirits and with his head held high.

"Hello, Draco. ”

"Did you hear that? They changed the statutes, and this year Hogwarts is going to have a Triwizard Tournament, and this year is definitely interesting. Draco couldn't wait to tell Phoenix the news.

"That's right. But they don't plan to let anyone under the age of seventeen compete. That's good news for Durmstrang, they learn magic in their senior grades, it's more aggressive, you know. Phoenix revealed in advance that very few people knew the news, and Draco immediately shouted.

"And they did—" But just then, the whistle blew, interrupting him from what he was saying.

"Get in the car, I really don't understand why you can't get there somewhere faster, but luckily you're all early. Phoenix grumbled, boarded the train, and closed the door.

"I understand that my father really thought about sending me to Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts. He knew the principal of that school. Alas, you know what he thinks of Dumbledore, in Durmstrang there is no admission to those who are inferior to the scumbags at all. But my mother didn't want me to go to school that far. Father said that Durmstrang took a much more reasonable approach to the dark arts than Hogwarts. Durmstrang's students are really learning the dark arts, unlike us, learning some kind of tattered defense. ”

"But, Draco. I've ever found out you've gotten 'excellent' grades in tattered defenses. Phoenix quipped him.

"I'm not serious, you know. He argued.

"I think so. ”

When they came to their cubicles, everyone was basically there. The window seat was reserved for him, and there was no one on the opposite side, so it was convenient for him to put his feet on it, which was his preferred way of sitting. Dense raindrops crackled against the glass windows, making it difficult for them to see outside.

"You don't want to participate. Melinda was a little incredulous.

"Absolutely, this kind of game is more fun than Quidditch, isn't it?" Phoenix asked rhetorically.

"You watch the Quidditch World Cup and it doesn't change at all. Melinda looked at him helplessly.

"There's a change, it's still beautiful. I decided to go to every final when I had time in the future. Phoenix waved his hand, "But this is not at the same level as Triwizard Tournament, at least not at school level Quidditch." ”

"But how do you get past their age barrier?" Draco kept thinking about the question, "If Dumbledore makes a move, there's not much hope of getting by, is there?"

"What? there's an age limit this time?" Melinda had apparently just learned the news.

"Then you can see. ”

The train kept moving north, and the rain was getting heavier and heavier. The sky was dark, and the windows were covered with moisture, so lanterns were lit in broad daylight.

In the afternoon, several of their friends came to visit them, all of whom were PA members to inquire about what they were going to study this semester. Draco, as is customary, went to Harry and made room for them.

"So this semester, we're going to learn more profoundly. Does anyone know who the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is this semester?" Phoenix asked, looking at everyone.

"I heard it was, Mad-Eyed Moody. Philip shrugged and took a bite of the cake.

"Moody?"

"It's an Auror, and he captured a lot of dark wizards back then. As he got older, he became more and more suspicious, didn't believe in anything, and saw dark wizards everywhere he went. He retired after the difference between a normal handshake and a premeditated murder. Melinda answers the question.

"I remember. What Phoenix remembered was not what she said. Alastor Moody: A famous Auror, one of the early members of the Order of the Phoenix, and an old friend of Dumbledore. It seems that Dumbledore is also on alert, and this term is the last peace.

For the rest of their journey, they kept guessing what the Triwizard Tournament would do. As they changed into their robes, the rain didn't stop, but it was getting heavier, and when the Hogwarts Express finally slowed down and stopped at the dark Hogsmeade station. There was rumbling thunder in the air, and they got off the train, bowing their heads and squinting in the pouring rain. The rain fell so hard that it was like buckets of cold water pouring over their heads.

Melinda shuddered, and Phoenix put her arms around her and cast a waterproof spell. Little by little, they moved their feet with the flow of people, and walked past the dark platform. Outside the station, a hundred of Nightkira's carriages were waiting for them. Phoenix, Melinda, and Nott were all dried, and Draco was soaking wet.

Moments later, with a violent jolt, the long wagon set off along the path to Hogwarts Castle, crackling and splashing along the way. The carriage passed through a gate flanked by winged boar sculptures and drove down a wide driveway, shaking violently due to the strong winds. Phoenix leaned against the window and saw Hogwarts getting closer, many of the lighted windows gleaming dimly behind the thick curtain of rain. Their carriage came to a halt at the foot of the stone steps in front of the two oak gates, and just then a bolt of lightning pierced the sky, and the people in the carriage in front of them had hurried up the stone steps and ran into the castle. They jumped out of the carriage and ran up the stone steps in three steps and two steps, and did not lift their heads until they entered the deep foyer of the cavern. Torches are lit in the foyer, and the marble staircase is magnificent.

The auditorium is still as splendid and magnificent, and it has been specially decorated for the banquet of the new school. Hundreds of candles float above the table, illuminating golden plates and goblets. The four long college tables were already filled with twittering students. At the top of the auditorium there is a fifth table, where faculty members sit one by one, facing their students.

"Oh, how do you keep yourself from getting wet?" Draco grumbled, trying to dry his clothes.

"Waterproof and moisture-proof, you stupid. Brace said with sarcasm. As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the auditorium opened, and everyone immediately fell silent. Professor McGonagall led the long line of first-year students to the top of the auditorium.

If Draco was soaking wet, it was nothing compared to these first-year freshmen. Look at them as if they were not on a ferry, but swimming from the lake.

They stood in a row along the staff's desks, paused and faced the whole school. They were shivering because they were cold and nervous.

At this point, Professor McGonagall placed a three-legged stool on the ground in front of the freshmen, and placed a tattered, dirty, patched wizard's hat on top of the stool. The first-year students stared at it in amazement. Others looked at it too. For a moment, there was silence in the auditorium. Then a crack near the brim of the hat opened like a mouth, and the hat suddenly began to sing:

That was more than a thousand years ago.

I've just been woven into shape,

There are four famous wizards,

Their names have survived to this day:

Brave Gryffindor, from a barren swamp,

Beautiful Ravenclaw, from the tranquil riverside,

Merciful Hufflepuff, from the open valley,

Shrewd Slytherin, from that quagmire.

They share a dream, a wish,

At the same time, there is a bold plan,

To nurture young wizards into talents,

Hogwarts School was founded in this way.

These four great wizards

Everybody builds his own college,

They are in the students they teach

There are different ideas about the talent valued.

Gryffindor believes that the bravest of the people

deserves the highest reward;

Ravenclaw felt that the minds were the smartest

Always the most promising;

Hufflepuff felt that the most diligent and hard-working

to be the most qualified to enter the college;

And power-hungry Slytherins

I like ambitious teenagers the most.

The four great wizards in their living years

personally pick out the proud protégé,

But when they sleep in the Nine Springs,

How do you select the best in the student pool?

It was Gryffindor who came up with the solution,

He plucked me off his head,

The Big Four have all injected me with thoughts,

From now on, it is up to me to pick and evaluate!

Okay, put me on the head,

I've never looked at it,

I want to look at your mind,

Determine which house you belong to!

After the Sorting Hat was finished, the auditorium burst into applause. At this point, Professor McGonagall unfolded a large roll of parchment.

"When I call someone's name, they put their hat on their head and sit on a stool," she said to the first-year students, "and when the hat announces the house, they go and sit at the corresponding table." ”

"Can't they just have a different mode of transportation for us to come to school? so that we don't have to go hungry every year for the opening ceremony. "Phoenix brings up the old question again. Licking his lips, he was hungry.

"yes, so you can sleep lazily and sleep until noon. Melinda whispered to him as she welcomed a boy named Baddock to Slytherin.

Finally, with the cries of Kevin Whitby being sorted into Hufflepuff, the sorting ceremony ended. Professor McGonagall picked up the Sorting Hat and small stool and took them away.

Professor Dumbledore stood up. He looked at all his classmates with a smile and opened his arms in a welcoming gesture.

"I have only two words to say to you," he said, his voice echoing through the Great Hall, "Eat!"