In Lockhart's eyes.

A bunch of fresh leeks ready to be harvested.

He took a deep breath and smiled even brighter: "My dear students, are you surprised as to why the professors are here?"

"I have some very unfortunate news to tell you. Perhaps Hogwarts is in danger and needs me..."

"Professor Lockhart." Professor McGonagall interrupted him with a cold face, "We'd better not delay the students' opening dinner."

"Now."

"All students line up and wait for the professor to check."

Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape.

Two serious faces.

No one dared to disobey them.

McGonagall waved her wand, and invisible magic surged and passed through them, while Snape was holding something like a glass gyroscope.

When a little wizard walked past, the thing began to flash and spin rapidly.

Snape stared at them expressionlessly.

The young wizards trembled and took out a few things from their robes. They were all dark magic items that were not very dangerous.

While the two professors were busy.

Lockhart was surrounded by little witches like a peacock. The charming wizard was teaching them some beauty magic.

How to make your hair soft and smooth, how to make your skin delicate and smooth.

Even manicures, teeth beautification, fresh breath...

Hermione poked her head in.

These spells all sound very useful.

The two professors had gloomy faces as they checked all the young wizards. There were quite a few dark magic items, with Slytherin being the worst hit, and Ravenclaw having even more than Gryffindor.

Surprisingly, the Weasley brothers did not have any dark magic items on them.

The little badgers were the most well-behaved, and only one fourth-year witch was found to be carrying a dark magic item—and she didn't do it on purpose, as it was a gift from her boyfriend at Durmstrang.

When Snape took away the amulet with a dark face, she burst into tears.

Porter is over there.

You go find him!

Most of the first-year wizards are confused and nervous.

Harry looked over and noticed one of them. He asked Ron, "That red-haired girl, is she your sister?"

"Yes, our youngest sister." Ron nodded and smiled, "She adores you very much."

"It's a pity that I haven't been able to see you."

Hermione tutted.

Harry frowned. "She's a little nervous."

"After all, this is what happened when she first entered school." Ron spread his hands. "George and Fred did a lot of scaring her during the summer vacation."

"You exaggerated that, too?" Harry added.

Ron was stunned and waved his hands: "I'm just describing the facts - Harry Potter was sorted into Gryffindor only after he pulled out the sword of Gryffindor."

Hermione said unhappily: "Then your little sister is probably worried about whether she can go to school now."

Harry said nothing more.

He looked at Ginny twice more - her nervousness was different from that of other little wizards. She was afraid of something, afraid that someone might find something...

Did the Weasleys come into contact with Malfoy when buying books that day?

but……

Professor McGonagall walked past her without moving.

Professor Snape passed by without moving the spyglass in his hand.

Harry paid no further attention.

Lockhart's chattering and the occasional exclamations from the little witches were annoying.

"Our proud Professor Lockhart, Professor McGonagall and I have finished the examination. Now, immediately, we must go back to the castle!" Snape gritted his teeth and walked to the group of witches.

He glanced over coldly.

The little witches retreated reluctantly.

"Severus, you should..." Lockhart waved his hand regretfully.

"We're not yet on first-name terms," ​​Snape interrupted.

"Well, Professor Snape." Lockhart was not embarrassed at all, "We should be more tolerant of young wizards."

"Perhaps." Snape said coldly, "But we shouldn't be more lenient with an adult wizard."

"Professor Lockhart, there are other things we need in the castle." Professor McGonagall rarely spoke up for Snape, "We don't have extra time to show you how popular you are among the little witches."

The three of them left in a hurry, carrying with them a pile of confiscated dark magic items.

"I suddenly find Professor Snape quite handsome." Ron sighed.

"Shampoo." Harry said.

Ron was stunned.

"The smell of hair oil has faded a lot," Harry added.

Ron sniffed his nose: "You can smell this too?"

"But it's not the shampoo I gave him." Harry nodded, "Don't you like that kind? I have to choose carefully for Christmas."

Ron hesitated.

He felt that no matter which shampoo Harry chose, Snape would not like it.

But before he could say anything, Hermione and Harry had already followed the other students down another muddy path. He hurriedly followed them and put the idea behind him - forget it, what does it have to do with him whether Snape likes it or not?

At the end of the path, there were carriages parked.

"Looks like we're going to take a carriage." Hermione said in a pleasantly surprised tone, "I've never ridden in one of these things before."

Ron climbed onto the carriage: "Fred said this is a carriage pulled by invisible horses. If you reach out your hand, you can touch them."

Hermione slowly and tentatively extended her hand.

"It's a Thestral," Harry explained, his eyes softening. "A magical creature that can only be seen by those who have seen true death."

Ron and Hermione froze and began to feel sad for Harry.

"Harry, those things are all in the past..." Hermione pursed her lips and spoke weakly to comfort him.

"It's a pity you can't see it." Harry sighed, "It's really beautiful, but a little thin."

A witcher may be able to live without a sorceress friend, but he cannot live without a close horse.

They were both stunned again.

Too bad I forgot that Harry's thinking is different from that of ordinary people.

They got into the carriage.

Harry was thinking about how to tame Dumbledore so that he would allow him to take a Thestral away. He still lacked a lot of equipment to become a qualified witcher.

For example, a good horse.

The carriage was jolting.

On the way, the magical atmosphere when the first grade entered school surged again, deepening the mark left before.

Entering the castle, the young wizards were discussing today's events in a lively manner - it was unusual for professors to be so serious about this.

Some black magic gadgets are not uncommon.

Senior students will inevitably be exposed to some of this - whether as exam content or out of their own interest.

In the restricted book section, there are some books on dark magic, some of which are quite profound.

Before this, everyone kept it a secret as long as it wasn't exposed to the professor.

Is it because of what happened to Qi Luo last year?

They discussed the reasons enthusiastically.

The chattering of discussions gradually died down until Professor McGonagall led the young wizards in. After the hat sang the song, each first-year student was assigned to a college.

Harry walked over eagerly and took the hat in his hand.

"Harry!" The Sorting Hat was very excited. "Finally we meet again. You missed me too, didn't you?"

"Summer vacation is so boring. Dumbledore is always busy, and the portraits of the previous headmasters don't want to chat with me."

"Even Fox, who is about to enter his next reincarnation, has no time to play with me... I mean, he doesn't even have the energy to bully me."

Harry tucked it into his robes. "No, I just want the Sword of Gryffindor."

Fighting against Professor Flitwick, that sword made of stone was not as convenient as the sword of Gryffindor.

"Can't you say something nice?" The Sorting Hat poked Harry's waist with its tip. "At least trick this old hat and make me happy. Maybe I can provide you with more in the trial..."

"etc!"

"What are your clothes and why are they so hard?"

Harry forked up a sausage. "It's leather armor, made from the skin of that troll."

"This is a school!" the Sorting Hat exclaimed, "You look like you're going to a battlefield. Gryffindors don't even wear armor."

"Yes, this is Hogwarts." Harry nodded.

The Sorting Hat snorted, "The safest place in the world."

"You mean the kind of security you had last year when a troll, a Voldemort, a hood, or a bunch of Voldemorts got in?" Harry swallowed the sausage in his mouth.

The Sorting Hat was speechless.

"You have been in the office this year, so you should have heard some rumors?" Harry continued, "Although Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape have conducted inspections."

"but……"

He hadn't finished his words, and the Sorting Hat made a tut and fell silent.

Hermione frowned, looking a little worried, and lowered her voice: "Harry, you mean, it is very likely that something will happen this year?"

"Malfoy, I mean Draco Malfoy may be a fool," Harry replied, "but his father certainly isn't."

Ron agreed: "My father said that Lucius Malfoy was very cunning. He completely cleared his identity as a Death Eater."

"He couldn't have failed to notice that Dobby was missing," Harry put down his fork, "and yet he was in the mood to fight Mr. Weasley."

Ron stubbornly said, "He was beaten!"

"He is no match for my father."

"And I have a hunch." Harry shook his head, "Hogwarts may not be as safe as Hagrid said."

Hermione frowned.

"Why is it British food tonight?" Harry sighed, his face clouded with worry, "Aren't French and German food good?"

Ron agreed wholeheartedly and munched on two sausages.

After dinner.

Dumbledore stood up and did not mention Dobby or explain why he confiscated dark magic items. He just gave a brief introduction to Lockhart.

By the way, let me bring up the old-fashioned rules of Hogwarts.

No spellcasting in the corridors or entry into the forbidden forest is allowed.

That night.

Harry put on his invisibility cloak and sneaked into the Forbidden Forest. He had to make sure if there were any changes in the activity patterns of the Bicorns after a summer vacation.

Good news, no changes.

He could begin preparing to hunt this most crucial magical creature.