After Eating, Jeremy and the other first-year followed Prefect Sinclair toward the tower on the west side of the castle, climbed the high spiral staircase, and entered the common room after answering the riddle posed by the eagle-shaped bronze knocker.
"Ravenclaw does not have many rules; just follow the school regulations. However, for the sake of camaraderie among classmates, please try not to be rowdy or loud in the dormitories and common room, and do not engage in private duels. If I catch you, I will be merciless."
Prefect Sinclair faced the first-years and spoke with serious sincerity.
He paused, then softened his expression and said, "Alright, first-years. Your names are on the plaques outside your dormitory doors, your luggage has been placed in your rooms, and your timetables are on your respective bedside tables. Go back and unpack. Classes start tomorrow. Do not be late."
Jeremy followed the crowd toward the dormitories and quickly found his room.
Upon entering, his other roommate, Jack Taylor, had already begun unpacking his luggage. After exchanging greetings, Jeremy walked over to his own bed.
Thick, soft mattress, fluffy quilt and pillow, heavy, light-blocking curtains. Jeremy was very satisfied.
During his time as Jeremy, sleeping had been very difficult; he always had to remain vigilant against enemy attacks, and even within the village, there was always the possibility of an attack by spies.
Moreover, within the Hyuga clan grounds, he was a Branch House member without parents. Even though his skills were decent, he was still bullied by the Main House and Branch House members with connections.
It was funny to say, but within the Hyuga clan grounds, he even had to set up three different sleeping locations, surround them with explosive tags, and wake up every two hours to check his surroundings with the Byakugan.
He slept better out on missions. At least then, he could somewhat trust his companions.
He had lived that way for seven or eight years. No wonder Jeremy was so overjoyed when he realized he could happily spend his school years at Hogwarts.
Jeremy threw himself onto the bed, bouncing up and down with the mattress's springiness, letting out a satisfied sigh.
Chirp!
Perry, in his cage on the bedside table, chirped to urge his young master. Jeremy quickly opened the cage to let Perry fly a few laps around the dormitory and stretch his wings, then took out pet food and fresh water, placing them on the windowsill to feed him.
After Perry ate and drank his fill, he urged Jeremy to open the window. With a light leap, he spread his wings and flew off toward the Owlery.
Jeremy was not worried about him. Hogwarts had a dedicated Owlery for students' pets to rest in, and the house-elves could understand the owls' needs and would take care of him.
Jeremy picked up the timetable from his bedside and looked it over. He saw that first-years did not have many classes; most days only had three classes, Thursday had four, and there were few subjects: only Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, Flying, and Astronomy.
Jeremy did not understand why first-years had to study Astronomy. He only remembered that during Harry's third-year Astronomy class, he had discovered the large dog that was Black transformed in the tower. Aside from that, Astronomy class did not seem very significant.
But he recalled that the acceptance letter required a telescope, which was probably for Astronomy.
It really was more relaxed abroad. Happy education, Jeremy thought.
First class started at nine in the morning, and classes generally ended by three-thirty in the afternoon. There were rarely evening classes, and no classes on Saturdays and Sundays. This kind of easy pace was rare.
But that was fine. He needed time to practice jutsu. No matter what, he would not give up on the great aid of chakra. He needed to quickly resume his taijutsu and jutsu training. Within the first week, he would familiarize himself with the environment and find a place in the castle to practice.
Having made up his mind, Jeremy went to the bathroom to wash up, organized his belongings, previewed the textbook for tomorrow morning's Potions class, then drew his bed curtains and went to sleep early.
Jack Taylor had originally wanted to chat with Jeremy a bit more to strengthen their bond as roommates, but when he saw Jeremy actually previewing the textbook, he suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
Mom, you didn't tell me that Ravenclaw's little witches and wizards had to work this hard starting from day one.
Jack Taylor tearfully opened his book and began to preview, resolving to write a letter to his dear mother before bed to properly complain to her.
The next day at six-thirty in the morning, Jeremy woke up naturally. Noticing Jack was still asleep, Jeremy quietly got up to wash.
Breakfast in the Great Hall had not started yet. He planned to take a walk near the edge of the Forbidden Forest and see if he could find a secluded spot to practice jutsu.
However, Jeremy was not very hopeful. Practicing outdoors would inevitably be seen by someone, which would attract more people pointing fingers at him. Therefore, his first choice was the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor.
Jeremy gradually walked out of the castle gates, crossed the lawn, and headed toward the Forbidden Forest.
Before long, he spotted a wooden cabin.
As Jeremy approached the cabin, a few low, deep dog barks came from inside. Hagrid's voice sounded from behind the cabin: "Fang, be quiet. What is it? Someone's here? Oh, hello there, little witch or wizard. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds."
Hagrid, covered in dirt, walked out while speaking and enthusiastically greeted Jeremy upon seeing him.
Jeremy replied, "Hello, Hagrid. I'm Jeremy Pringle. You can call me Jeremy. I woke up too early and came out for a walk."
Hagrid chuckled, clapped his hands together, patted the dirt off his clothes, opened the door, and invited Jeremy inside.
Jeremy followed him in and saw a black dog with graying fur around its muzzle lying in a cotton bed by the fireplace. The black dog lazily lifted its head to glance at Jeremy, then lay back down to rest.
"That's Fang, a beautiful little lady. Sadly, she's not a magical creature, and she's gotten old. It won't be long now before I lose my little lady."
Hagrid introduced Fang to Jeremy, but he started to tear up before he even finished.
Knowing Hagrid was a sincere soul, Jeremy consoled him indirectly: "It's truly good to pass away from old age. I've seen many stray dogs in the Muggle world. People despise them, and Muggle governments even send people to catch them and send them to meet the Muggle Merlin. With you here, Fang has no threats. I think she'll be very happy to pass away in your arms."
Hagrid was comforted and broke into a smile, roughly rubbing his large hand over Fang's head a few times.
"Thank you, Jeremy. A lot of people just tell me to accept that Fang's old. Only you understand me. I just want these dear little furry ones to live well. It doesn't matter how I am."
"These are rock cakes I baked myself. Have a taste. And tell me, what are you really here for? I know little witches and wizards are curious. You couldn't have just come for a simple walk."
Jeremy smiled. Who said Hagrid wasn't clever?
He picked up a rock cake, not daring to take a bite, holding it in his hand, and said, "Hagrid, I like reading under the trees in the forest. I wanted to find a quiet place to study. You know..."
Before he could even finish asking, Hagrid bluntly interrupted him: "No, absolutely not. Headmaster Dumbledore said students are forbidden from entering the Forbidden Forest. I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds, and I will never bend the rules."
Jeremy pressed curiously, "Not even at the very edge? Somewhere I can see the cabin? Isn't the edge safe either?"
Hagrid took a sip of hot butterbeer and explained to Jeremy, "The magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest have contracts with Hogwarts. Students are not allowed into the Forbidden Forest without reason. If they enter, the magical creatures have the right to do anything to the students."
"The edge of the Forbidden Forest starts right behind my cabin at the vegetable patch. You could say my cabin here is the boundary. You are not allowed past this point. That's why I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds."
Hagrid lowered his head, gave Jeremy a playful wink with his tiny eyes, and looked somewhat proud.
"I was personally appointed by Headmaster Dumbledore. I'll guard this place for him."
Jeremy replied sincerely, "I believe you're the best. Thanks for having me, Hagrid. I need to head back to the castle for breakfast."
When he returned to the castle, Jack, who had barely managed to find Jeremy, quickly pulled him to sit down. He hadn't seen him since early morning and had started to think Jeremy had gotten lost.