Chapter 212: Second branch

When the familiar Hogsmeade Lake appeared, the black ripples on the lake rippled in front of Jon.
On the high hillside on the other side of the lake stood a towering castle. The top of the castle was lined with spires, and windows shone with light in the dark night.
When seeing this familiar sight, a smile appeared on the corners of Jon's mouth.
"Each boat cannot exceed four people!" Alastor Moody, who was on crutches, said in his husky voice, deep.
Then he got into a boat by himself, and motioned for a first-year student to go up too... The poor boy looked at Moody's eyes, full of fear, and looked trembling all over.
Jon also boarded a boat, and then a boy and a girl, two first-year students came on board.
"Are you also a freshman?" the little girl asked curiously.
"No..." Jon shook his head: "I'm an exchange student."
The little girl didn't seem to understand what the word "exchange student" meant. She turned around, whispered a few words in the little boy's ear, and then separated a little from Jon.
"Be careful around!" Mad-Eye Moody commanded loudly, "Go ahead!"
A group of small boats slid across the mirror-like lake and drove forward.
Many first-year freshmen are very excited, sometimes staring at the huge castle high into the sky and sometimes at the bottom of the water.
"Look, there is a big guy there!" For example, the little Jon's boat screamed happily when she saw a giant squid.
Jon naturally wouldn't have any fuss, after all, he could swim in this lake in February this year.
Soon, the fleet reached the bottom of the cliff, and the castle of Hogwarts seemed to stand above them.
Led by Mad-Eye Moody, they lowered their heads through a cave... Jon deliberately buried his head very low so as not to be hit.
Finally, along a dark tunnel, they seemed to come to the base of the castle and stopped at a place similar to an underground dock.
"Follow me, watch your surroundings!" Mad Eye Moody ordered severely.
Many first-year freshmen were so scared they looked around... but they didn't see anything.
Jon smiled and quickly followed Moody's pace, and they passed a path of gravel and small pebbles.
Climbing up a tunnel in the rock, they finally reached a flat and damp grass not far from the castle.
After the stone steps, is the gate of Hogwarts.
...
"There are few people who can walk this way twice like me!" Jon thought secretly.
Professor Alastor Moody walked at the forefront of the team. He first took a vigilant look at his surroundings, and then waved aside with his crutches... Finally, he knocked on the Hogwarts door with his crutches.
The door slammed open.
"Come in one by one!" Moody said anxiously, "Hurry up!"
Hearing Moody's words, the first-year freshmen hurriedly picked up their pace...Looking at them, they didn't look like new students at all, but like a badly disciplined boy scout.
The scene here is still similar to Jon’s imagination... The luxurious marble fence, the stone walls are surrounded by flaming torches, and the ceiling is so high that you can barely see the top...
Following Professor Moody, they went all the way to a small empty room on the other side of the hall.
Jon once thought that Mad-Eye Moody was going to conduct the sorting ceremony... But after he brought the first-year freshmen here, he immediately returned to the original road, while holding a speculum in his hand, looking around.
Then, the door of the small empty house was opened.
Professor Minerva McGonagall walked in. She looked several years younger in the red plaid robe she wore at the Christmas ball last year.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Professor McGonagall said: "The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you go to the restaurant, you must first determine which college you enter each..."
She briefly introduced the Hogwarts sorting ceremony.
At the same time, Professor McGonagall walked to Jon's side: "Mr. Patrick?"
"Yes, Professor!" Jon nodded quickly.
"In Hogwarts' tradition, exchange students must perform a sorting ceremony with freshmen, no exceptions!" She explained a little.
"I understand, Professor!"
With the departure of Professor McGonagall, many freshmen look worried... It seems that the intimidation of the branch is also a fine tradition of Hogwarts.
Many students from wizarding families began to talk about the content of the sorting ceremony...their answers are also varied, such as fighting a troll, taking an exam with a high elimination rate, or using a magic wand The hat becomes a rabbit...
Next, the appearance of the ghosts also surprised the first-year students.
Especially Barrow, the man covered in blood, and the neurotic Lady Grey, made the first-year freshmen avoid them... But other ghosts are still very enthusiastic, such as Nick and the almost headless Nick and Fat monk, several first-year freshmen chatted with them very happily.
The atmosphere in the cabin finally eased somewhat.
But Professor McGonagall came back at this time, and she led the freshmen out of the hall.
Their atmosphere became tense again... Jon was walking in the middle of the team, his tall figure still looked quite conspicuous.
...
As he entered the hall, Jon took a closer look at the teachers' bench.
Dumbledore sat on the golden high-backed chair in the middle of the long staff desk, wearing a dark purple robe covered with silver stars, and a matching hat; Mad-Eye Moody also sat in the teacher In the banquet, he was in a lonely position on Dumbledore's right.
Jon also easily recognized the pink toad~EbookFREE.me~Dolores-Umbridge’s short and fat figure, short taupe hair and the iconic pink dress. All are very conspicuous.
But there is not much time to continue to observe, because they need to lean against the teacher's seat and face all the students at Hogwarts in a row.
Professor McGonagall held a stool in his hand, and put an old wizard hat on it.
The Sorting Hat sang loudly:
"I was still wearing a new hat a long time ago, when Hogwarts hadn't been built yet..."
...
"Hogwarts is in danger, and the enemies outside the school are watching.
We must unite closely within us, otherwise everything will fall apart from within..."
...
As the singing of the Sorting Hat ended, all four long tables began to talk.