Fortunately, Dumbledore was probably just acting on a whim—or perhaps he had been keeping an eye on Harry. After their eyes met, the old man casually nodded and smiled before shifting his gaze elsewhere.
After the Sorting Ceremony, the feast continued for quite some time. Although Brian ate silently and voraciously, he still met many people through Harry and Ron's enthusiastic introductions. The identical twins turned out to be George and Fred Weasley, and their older brother was Prefect Percy.
The Weasley family sure knows how to reproduce! Brian couldn't help but think to himself.
Only after the feast ended did Dumbledore wave his wand, making all the leftovers disappear. In an instant, everything on the tables vanished without a trace.
So I won't have to go hungry now that I'm a wizard? Brian was amazed. It was his first time witnessing such advanced magic—it felt both novel and exciting. That is, until George and Fred explained the Hogwarts kitchens and how to sneak food in at night. At that moment, Brian realized that magic wasn't all-powerful after all.
Dumbledore then stood up again to announce a few important reminders and notices for the term. It seemed more like he was trying to amuse the students—George and Fred were already whispering excitedly, likely planning some mischief.
That said, Old Dumbledore didn't drone on like some long-winded official. He wrapped everything up in four or five minutes, straightened his crooked wizard hat, waved his wand, and declared loudly, "And now, let us all sing the school song together!"
Golden ribbons floated out from his wand, writhing like snakes and forming glowing words in midair. Brian noticed the expressions of the professors—most of them looked exasperated, except for a short, goblin-like one, whose face showed clear disappointment. Apparently, he'd been hoping to conduct the performance.
With a wave of the wand, everyone began to sing—each in their own rhythm and tune:
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.
The chaotic, mismatched melodies were somehow stitched together in this absurd song. Brian was nearly moved to tears by the cacophony.
The Weasley twins dragged their version out dramatically to the tune of The Wedding March, long after others had finished.
At last, Dumbledore declared the feast over, and the prefects began leading the students out. Brian followed the Gryffindors through the chattering crowd and out of the Great Hall. They navigated hidden corridors and spiraling staircases that seemed to shift and move with a will of their own, finally arriving at the highest floor.
The hallway there was lined with magical portraits—each of them whispering and conversing among themselves.
Percy marched ahead, stopping only at the end of the corridor where a portrait of a plump woman in rich clothing hung on the wall. She moved and asked solemnly, "Password?"
"Dragon dung," Percy replied.
The Fat Lady nodded and swung aside, revealing a round hole in the wall. One by one, the students climbed through and entered the Gryffindor common room.
The room was enormous. Its walls glimmered faintly, as though dusted with gold. One wall had a large recessed alcove with a glowing crystal embedded in it, and the scarlet banner of the Gryffindor lion floated proudly in midair.
Bright crystal lamps lit the four corners, while a gentle scent of pine resin wafted from a fireplace burning softly in the corner.
Several low, square tables were arranged at the center, each surrounded by cozy sofas. The fabric looked incredibly soft—some students had already sunk into them and waved as the newcomers entered.
Percy gestured toward a stairway on the left. "Girls' dormitories are up that way," he said.
Neville reluctantly bid Hermione goodbye, then followed Percy and the other boys through a different door.
The Gryffindor dormitories housed five students each. The spacious room had five four-poster beds with red curtains, each with luggage already placed beside it.
Harry and Ron were assigned to the next dormitory, which meant Brian wouldn't be able to drag them into any late-night trouble. For now, that was a relief—he was here to learn magic, not to play around. After all, what was a nearly thirty-year-old soul, living a second life, doing messing around with children?
Most of the boys were completely worn out. If Percy hadn't still been standing there, they probably would've collapsed straight into bed.
Seeing their exhaustion, Percy gave one last piece of advice. "Tomorrow's Monday, so be sure to get up early. Explore Hogwarts a bit and, if you can, ask an older student to show you to your classes—you'll get lost otherwise. This place is more mysterious than you can imagine. Finally, welcome to Gryffindor, first-years!"
Everyone thanked him, and once he left, they quickly chose beds, changed into pajamas, washed up, and drifted off to sleep. Soon, only the sound of soft breathing filled the dorm.
The bed closest to the window had been left for Brian—not that he minded. It offered a bit of privacy, which suited him just fine. He had many secrets.
The whirlwind of events that evening had left him drained. He still couldn't comprehend how his once-quiet, lazy life had turned into... this.
Even being sorted into Slytherin might have been better than Gryffindor! Brian leaned against the windowsill, gazing out at the moonlit landscape, pondering his next steps.
The moonlight lit the bluestone paths of Hogwarts, and above the nearby Black Lake, a few owls glided silently through the sky. Brian lowered his eyes to the patches of green grass growing between the flagstones below, occasionally spotting a firefly drift past.
A gentle breeze rustled the broad leaves of the trees on the grounds. Just outside the window, a strange plant with tiny clustered leaves danced like clouds in the wind, filtering the cool air and dim moonlight.
"One step at a time, I guess," Brian muttered to himself as sleep began to pull him under. "But… Hogwarts, here I come."