The atmosphere of learning at Hogwarts was usually quite relaxed, especially during mealtimes. Amidst the laughter and chatter, the lively welcoming feast finally came to an end.
After Maca polished off a few more servings of dessert from the second round, the plates on the table vanished through magic, leaving them looking as pristine as they had at the beginning.
At this moment, Professor Dumbledore stood up again, and the room immediately hushed.
"Now that everyone has eaten and drunk their fill, I believe I should say a few words. At the beginning of this term, there are a few matters I'd like to address." Dumbledore paused, his gaze sweeping over the Weasley twins at the Gryffindor table. "First-year students, take heed: the forest on the grounds is strictly off-limits. And for some of our older students, this is a rule you should remember well."
"Furthermore, Administrator Filch has asked me to remind everyone not to use magic in the corridors between classes."
"The Quidditch trials will take place during the second week of this term. Any student with aspirations to join their house's team should get in touch with Madame Hooch."
"Lastly, I must inform you all that those who wish to avoid accidents, misery, and an unpleasant death should refrain from entering the fourth-floor corridor on the right-hand side."
Upon hearing this, a few people chuckled, seeming to think that this was another one of Dumbledore's jests. However, the majority did not laugh, for Dumbledore had never made light of danger.
Maca pondered that this was probably related to the Philosopher's Stone, though he couldn't quite remember the specifics of the setup. Besides, what did it have to do with him? Compared to the challenges that were either guarding against Voldemort or honing Harry's skills, he was evidently more intrigued by the Philosopher's Stone itself.
Of course, that thing was basically out of the question – he had no intention of being pressed into the ground and rubbed by Dumbledore's thumb.
Overall, Maca didn't want to get involved in the events of this school year. He felt there was too little time for his studies, barely enough to go around! He'd be better off not causing any trouble for those three-headed lions.
"Now, before we retire for the night, let us sing the school song together!" Dumbledore exclaimed, and almost all the teachers grimaced.
Dumbledore flicked his wand lightly, and from it emerged a long, golden ribbon that wafted through the air, forming lines of text that danced above the high table like a serpent.
"Choose the tune you like," Dumbledore said. "Ready, sing!"
The entire staff and student body – well, most of them – joined in singing with gusto. Maca opened his mouth, realizing he couldn't possibly pull off such an awkward feat, so he awkwardly opened and closed his lips, pretending to sing along amidst the cacophony of voices.
When Dumbledore announced that it was time to retire, Maca finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yet, just thinking about having to do this about six more times in the future, he felt a touch of moisture gathering in his eyes.
"Alright, let's go! First-year students, follow me. I'll lead the way," the older student who had chatted with Maca earlier suddenly stood up beside him, speaking with a warm smile.
Wasn't he Cedric? Maca only vaguely remembered the name and couldn't recall the last name, but he had some impression of this dashing, justice-oriented prefect.
"Though he doesn't seem as handsome as I expected," Maca muttered under his breath, a voice only he could hear.
"What's up? Little Maca, what are you looking at?" The Charlotte senior who had been talking to him before walked up to his side, speaking in a hushed tone. "That's Darren Creevey, a sixth-year prefect. He's been the boys' prefect for Hufflepuff since last year."
"Uh," Maca hesitated, realizing this deviated from his memory somewhat, "...I was just wondering, who's Cedric? I've heard about him before starting school. He seems like a really good person."
Charlotte nodded with a sudden realization and then smiled, saying, "Cedric? Absolutely, if a couple more years go by, he'll surely be a popular choice for prefect."
Maca followed Charlotte's gesture and saw a handsome, charming young man who immediately caught his attention. Earlier at the table, Cedric had been sitting at the other end of the long table, which explained why Maca hadn't noticed him.
Ah, that's how it is – there's an age restriction for prefect appointments. Cedric hasn't become the boys' prefect for Hufflepuff yet!
"And... the girls' prefect?" Maca asked, observing the lonely figure of Darren as he walked away.
"Oh, that would be me!" Charlotte grinned, patting Maca on the shoulder. Then, she lowered her voice, saying, "I'm not really comfortable with leading others, so I usually delegate those responsibilities to Darren. He seems quite eager to take them on."
Looking at the pretty senior by his side who couldn't keep a straight face, Maca shook his head helplessly.
Hufflepuff's new students followed the amiable senior, Darren, through a side corridor on the first floor and descended all the way down to the basement beneath Hogwarts.
"That there is Hogwarts' kitchen. If you get hungry at night, you can go there and get something to eat. The house-elves would welcome your visit," Charlotte pointed with her chin as they passed a still-life painting of fruit, "Just give the pears on top a little scratch, sometimes they smile back, quite endearing."
The entrance to Hufflepuff's common room was close by, but looking at the almost wall-high stack of barrels with iron bands, Maca found himself baffled.
"I'm sure everyone has noticed, this is a pile of disordered barrels," Darren chuckled, "And our entrance to the Hufflepuff common room is hidden within these barrels."
"Of course, I don't mean you have to open the lids and climb inside. Ernie, the barrel you picked is too small." Darren stopped Ernie from attempting to 'self-destruct,' then continued, "Please pay attention, our Hufflepuff common room entrance is the only one at Hogwarts with an anti-intruder charm. Opening it is quite simple – just take out your wand, then tap the bottom of the second row of barrels in the middle with the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff,' and the lid will automatically twist open."
While explaining, Darren pulled out his wand, and he tapped a couple of times on the bottom of certain barrels. Immediately, the two lids spun open in opposite directions, and the whole barrel stack shifted, creating an irregular doorway right before the eyes of the new students.
Seeing the commotion and awe among the group, Darren wore a proud smile. After waiting a moment, he continued.
"However, please take note of one thing: our Hufflepuff common room entrance is the only one at Hogwarts with an anti-intruder charm. If you tap the wrong lid or get the rhythm wrong, unauthorized intruders will be doused in a magically enhanced vinegar from several barrels above."
At this point, Darren shrugged, "Trust me, that's a sensation you won't be eager to experience. The smell of that vinegar is tough to get rid of, and you can detect its teeth-gritting sourness from over two hundred meters away."
Upon hearing this, Ernie immediately shuddered all over, harboring immense gratitude for Darren, who had prevented him from "self-destructing" earlier.
"Charlotte, if someone else learns about this method, wouldn't it render it useless?" Maca inquired with some confusion.
"This is one of Hufflepuff's biggest secrets. No one would want to divulge it," Charlotte spread her hands, "Our common room and dormitories in Hufflepuff have never been seen by outsiders for over a thousand years. We know how to hide – how to protect ourselves, just like our house emblem."
Maca raised his head, looking at the crest on the common room wall. The badger on it emitted a subdued glow, displaying modesty and composure.
"Hufflepuff: Loyalty, Patience, Fairness, Hard Work," Maca murmured the words engraved on the plaque below the emblem. His initial confusion from the Sorting Hat reappeared on his face, "If it were me, would I reveal the method to enter here when necessary?"
Regarding this question, he didn't have much confidence himself.
Hufflepuff's common room was a circular, low-ceilinged room with a faint earthy fragrance.
Here, magic illuminated the space with sunlight during the day and a scattering of star-like lights during the night.
Through the round windows, one could see swaying grass and dandelions. Many places adorned gleaming copper decorations, and numerous plants either hung from the ceiling or sat on the windowsills. Professor Pomona Sprout, in charge of Herbology, would bring the most interesting specimens to decorate this cozy room, which was not overly large.
Everyone here, whether sitting or standing, relaxed and made themselves at home, just as if they had arrived at their own abode. Hufflepuff was the largest house at Hogwarts, yet it was also the most united. Throughout the centuries, hardly anything had changed, surprising the other houses time and time again.
After a while, the new students gradually made their way to the dormitories to rest. It had been a busy day, and these badgers were utterly worn out.
In the night, Maca leaned against his bed, reopening his textbook and reading once more. His roommates were all asleep, yet he didn't feel particularly drowsy.
In these past two months, he had basically adjusted to a regular schedule, but tonight he found it hard to fall asleep. His mind kept replaying everything he had seen today. Although he appeared calm, that didn't mean his heart was equally at peace.
While he read word by word, line by line, his brain hardly retained any of it. It wasn't until the deep of the night that he quietly drifted off, still wearing his outer cloak.