As soon as he entered the Great Hall, countless gazes shot toward Ethan like heat-seeking missiles.
In the vast Great Hall, it became completely quiet within a few breaths! Pairs of eyes stared straight at Ethan, necks nearly twisted off, no one speaking, no one moving.
This scene was downright eerie.
If before they looked at him with the gaze of looking at a person, now they stared at Ethan as if looking at a new species.
What kind of magical creature was this? Why was it wearing human skin to attend school?
With a sweep of his gaze, Ethan found the reason.
At the front of the Great Hall, a line of large words with colorful firework effects floated in mid-air:
[Congratulations to the following students for passing the selection! Officially becoming members of the triennial Secret Realm Tracking Challenge!]
And at the very top was his name: [Ethan Vincent]!
Ah, so his selection had been discovered.
Before it was just rumors, and some people didn't believe it. They said, "If Ethan, a first-year wizard, can pass the selection, I'll do a handstand and eat dung on the spot!"
But now that the school had posted an official announcement, not believing it would just be self-deception.
Shock, confusion, fear, jealousy, admiration... Various emotions focused on Ethan. Bathed in gazes from all directions, he pleasantly curved his lips.
His reputation was increasing.
In the pin-drop silent Great Hall, Ethan spread his arms and slowly spoke:
"Nothing is impossible. I am a miracle!"
As his words fell, as if echoing him, a majestic eagle suddenly flew up from behind the platform. Screeching as it soared straight up, spreading wide and sharp feathers, circling and dancing above everyone's heads.
Finally, it disappeared into Ethan's name floating in mid-air.
"Wow..."
Students quietly exclaimed, looking at where the eagle had vanished, unable to recover for a long time. This scene would probably be etched in their memories for life.
Ethan noticed Professor Flitwick at the staff table secretly putting away his wand and winking at him slyly.
What a good professor.
Ethan couldn't help but feel warmth in his heart. Maybe he should ask Professor Flitwick to be his guidance teacher? Only, he wondered if Professor Flitwick could accept research into living portraits... Involving souls and memories, those were very dangerous magics.
At this moment, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up from the staff table, walked to the owl podium, and smiled at Ethan:
"Congratulations, Mr. Vincent, on becoming the youngest contestant of this century."
Ethan raised his head, a smile blooming on that handsome face, immediately attracting countless girls' gazes.
"Don't worry, Headmaster Dumbledore," Ethan said confidently. "After this competition, I'll make Hogwarts a true legend!"
"..."
Dumbledore felt that as long as Ethan restrained himself a bit, it would be enough to become legendary. A first-year wizard competing was already very attention-grabbing! He had a bad premonition... As if Hogwarts' carefully cultivated reputation was about to be ruined...
But after all, this was competing against elites from various schools. Ethan shouldn't have much room to perform, right?
"Good, very spirited."
Dumbledore smiled, wisely choosing to skip this topic. "Let us applaud this excellent little warrior."
After several seconds, sparse applause finally followed Dumbledore's lead from below. It wasn't that the students weren't giving Ethan face, but most were still in a daze and hadn't recovered.
"Merlin," Ron mechanically clapped his hands, murmuring, "Being praised by the headmaster in first year, I'm starting to think Ethan is the real Chosen One..."
Harry quickly chimed in: "I'd be more than happy with that."
He fantasized in his heart: if Ethan were the real "Boy Who Lived," Voldemort could just roll over and surrender directly.
Nearby, Hermione bit her lip, looking at Ethan who was the center of attention. So strong, too strong. Was this what a genius was like?
If she and Ethan both got "Outstanding" on an exam, it was purely because "Outstanding" was the highest grade possible for Ethan. Hermione couldn't even imagine catching up to Ethan.
But... even if she couldn't catch up, she would spend her whole life chasing. She, Hermione Granger, would never admit defeat!
Brilliant light shone in Hermione's eyes, her fighting spirit high.
"At the Ravenclaw table, Prefect Robert's smile was harder to suppress than a champagne cork. As prefect, he had already gotten the first-hand news. First-year Ethan Vincent had passed the selection!"
If anyone said Ravenclaws only knew how to study and were a bunch of bookworms bad at practice, he'd slap this achievement right in their face! This made Robert walk with swagger all weekend. He had shown off thoroughly in front of the other house prefects!
Bringing glory to the ancestors!
Even Lady Ravenclaw, one of the four founders, would jump out of her coffin upon hearing this amazing good news!
Robert selectively ignored the fact that, except for Ethan, all other contestants had ended up in the hospital wing.
At the Slytherin table, the atmosphere was somewhat different. Most people gloomily stared at Ethan, as if he had stolen their glory. Who would have thought... this first-year brat had actually passed the selection. And no one knew how he did it. Just like real "magic," it was simply miraculous.
"Draco, your family's investments are always spot-on," Blaise Zabini said half-seriously, half-mockingly beside Malfoy.
Malfoy glanced at him sideways, lips curving: "So what?"
You want to curry favor but don't even have the connections!
Following Ethan, he was proud, he was honored! Could your master do this?! Fully displaying the thick-skinned talent of the Malfoy family.
"...Heh," Zabini was angered into laughter, saying coldly, "Then I'd like to see just how far the Malfoy family can go following that mudblood!"
After speaking, he whipped his head around and started whispering with Pansy.
What they didn't notice was that Slytherin's prefect, Gemma Farley, coldly withdrew her gaze. In those usually proud and cold eyes appeared a strange fluctuation.
Ethan Vincent...
...
On the platform, Dumbledore also praised the other contestants equally.
"...Each selected member may designate any professor to be their special guidance teacher. There are specializations in different fields... it doesn't have to be your own House head. You can fully consider what kind of magic you want to use in the official competition."
While speaking, Professor Snape proudly raised his chin, taking a sip of coffee to cover his expression, glancing sideways at Ethan.
While other professors were still hesitating, he had already struck first and secured Ethan. Although he didn't expect Ethan to win the championship, top ten was still worth hoping for.
"I really wonder who Ethan will choose as his guidance teacher," Ron whispered. "Given Ethan's thought process, he wouldn't choose Professor Snape, would he?"
Harry stuck out his tongue: "I'd rather choose Professor Quirrell..."
Before he finished speaking:
Bang!
A figure suddenly crashed into the Great Hall doors. Everyone's attention was immediately drawn over. They were surprised to see Professor Quirrell, who had been bedridden since Halloween.
The shock and devastation from Halloween had made him even thinner. His cheeks were completely sunken, his robes hanging loosely on his body. His face was deathly pale, with dark circles around his eyes.
Like a patient who had suffered some major blow and hadn't truly rested in a long time. Making the purple turban still tightly wrapped around his head appear even more enormous.
According to the Weasley twins' gang, Quirrell had put a Sticking Charm on his turban and wouldn't even let Madam Pomfrey remove it to treat him.
At the staff table, Professor Snape frowned. For some reason, he suddenly had an ominous premonition.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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