New Birth

Liu Lang and his companions stood in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, surrounded by a bustling crowd of new students and parents.

Numerous floating candles were suspended from the ceiling of the hall, casting their warm light across everyone's faces and illuminating their varied expressions.

Liu Lang took a deep breath, absorbing the magical atmosphere lingering in the air, feeling a mix of excitement and tension in his heart. After all, magic had been a childhood fantasy of his.

"Let's go, let's get sorted first," Liu Lang whispered to Liu Fei'er, and the two walked side by side toward the long table in the center of the hall. Ah Zeng and Ah Sun followed closely behind, with Ah Zeng tightly clutching a thick book on Potions, her eyes betraying a hint of unease.

The Sorting Ceremony began. Professor McGonagall stood on the high platform, holding a roll of parchment and reading out the names of the first-years. Liu Lang and Liu Fei'er were called shortly after; they stepped forward and placed the Sorting Hat upon their heads.

"Hmm... fascinating, very fascinating," the Sorting Hat muttered quietly on Liu Lang's head. "You possess courage, and you have intellect as well, but there seems to be an even greater purpose hidden within your heart... Well then, Gryffindor!"

Liu Lang let out a sigh of relief, took off the hat, and walked over to the Gryffindor table. Liu Fei'er was sorted into Ravenclaw; she glanced at Liu Lang with a trace of disappointment, but nonetheless smiled as she headed toward her own house table.

Ah Zeng was sorted into Hufflepuff, while Ah Sun, owing to his special status, was assigned a spot in the faculty section. He stood quietly in the corner, silently observing everything happening in the Great Hall while plotting how to accomplish his mission.

After the Sorting Ceremony concluded, the welcoming feast officially commenced. The long tables were laden with an array of delicious food. As he ate, Liu Lang stealthily observed Hermione Granger. She was sitting alongside Harry and Ron, engaged in a discussion about something. Liu Lang pondered quietly to himself on how he might approach her to fulfill his objective.

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded right beside his ear: "Hey, you're new here, aren't you? I'm Fred, and this is George."

Liu Lang looked up to find a pair of twins looking at him with cheeky grins. He nodded, a sudden thought sparking in his mind—perhaps he could obtain some assistance from them.

"Hello, I'm Liu Lang," he said with a smile.

"Liu Lang? Sounds like an Eastern name," George asked curiously.

"Yes, I come from China," Liu Lang replied.

"Blimey, that really is a long way," Fred patted him on the shoulder. "Welcome to Gryffindor; we're easily the most entertaining house around here."

Liu Lang chuckled, inwardly feeling fortunate to have run into these two pranksters. Perhaps they could help him integrate into this world more swiftly.

When the feast ended, the students filed back to their respective dormitories. Liu Lang lay in bed, replaying the day's events over and over in his mind. He knew the days ahead would be full of challenges, but he had to persevere—both to complete his mission and to return to the real world.

Early the next morning, Liu Lang rose promptly, preparing for his first class. The moment he stepped out of his dormitory, he spotted Liu Fei'er waiting for him in the corridor.

"How was it? Did you sleep well last night?" Liu Fei'er asked with concern.

"Not bad, and you?" Liu Lang answered with a smile.

"I'm a bit nervous, considering what we have to do..." Liu Fei'er said in a low voice, a flicker of worry in her eyes.

"Don't worry, we'll definitely find a way," Liu Lang comforted her. "Come on, let's head to class first."

The two walked toward the classroom together, meeting up with Ah Zeng along the way. She was still hugging that same Potions textbook and looked rather exhausted.

"Didn't you sleep well last night?" Liu Lang asked.

"Yeah, I was studying some potion recipes, hoping it might help with our mission," Ah Zeng replied.

"Hard work," Liu Lang nodded. "Let's do our best together."

Their first class was Charms. Professor Flitwick stood on the podium, waving his wand and teaching everyone how to perform the Levitation Charm. Liu Lang listened intently, mentally noting every single detail. Perhaps he could learn to wield magic in this world.

After class, Liu Lang decided to seek out Hermione. He made his way to the library and, sure enough, found her sitting in a corner, deeply engrossed in a book.

"Hi, Hermione," Liu Lang walked up and greeted her with a smile.

Hermione raised her head, looking at him with mild surprise: "You are... Liu Lang?"

"Yes, I'm new here," Liu Lang sat down across from her. "I heard you're the brightest student in our year, and I was hoping to ask you a few questions."

Hermione smiled, a trace of pride flashing in her eyes: "Of course, I'd be happy to help."

The two began discussing magical theory, and Liu Lang found that Hermione's knowledge was indeed exceptionally profound. He rejoiced inwardly, thinking that through this approach, he might gradually grow closer to her and accomplish his mission.

Meanwhile, Liu Fei'er was also striving to get close to Harry. She had joined the Quidditch team as a substitute Seeker. Although her flying skills were not particularly remarkable, she hoped this avenue would draw Harry's attention.

As for Ah Zeng, she spent entire days immersed in the Potions dungeon, discussing various potion recipes with Professor Snape. Her hard work soon bore fruit; Snape acknowledged her talent and even permitted her to assist in brewing some advanced potions.

Ah Sun silently swept and tidied the castle, keeping a watchful eye on every nook and cranny. He knew that while his task seemed simple on the surface, in a world steeped in magic, any minor detail could turn out to be the crucial turning point.

Days passed by, and Liu Lang and his companions gradually integrated into life at Hogwarts. Every day they exerted themselves toward completing their mission, yet deep in their hearts, they never forgot the threat posed by Nallo.

One evening, Liu Lang stood alone on the Astronomy Tower, gazing up blankly at the starry sky. He knew the crisis in the real world still persisted, and they had to find a way to augment their strength as swiftly as possible.

"What are you thinking about?" Liu Fei'er's voice drifted from behind him.

Liu Lang turned his head to see her looking at him with a gentle smile.

"Thinking about our mission," Liu Lang sighed. "Time is running out; we must accelerate our progress."

"I know," Liu Fei'er stepped up beside him and said softly. "But we've done our best, haven't we?"

Liu Lang nodded, though an underlying sense of unease still lingered in his chest. He knew Nallo would not grant them much time, and they had to discover a breakthrough as soon as possible.

At that exact moment, a flash of brilliant light streaked across the sky. Liu Lang and Liu Fei'er looked up simultaneously to see a shooting star trace a line across the nocturnal sky.

"Make a wish," Liu Fei'er said with a smile.

Liu Lang closed his eyes and prayed silently in his heart: "I hope we can successfully complete our mission, return to the real world, and thwart Nallo's ambitions."

The shooting star vanished into the night sky, and as Liu Lang opened his eyes, he felt a renewed surge of strength within him. He understood that no matter how many hardships lay ahead, they had to persevere.

"Let's go, we have classes tomorrow," Liu Fei'er tapped him on the shoulder.

Liu Lang nodded, and together they descended the Astronomy Tower and returned to their respective dormitories.

Deep in the quiet of the night, only faint glows of light remained scattered throughout the Hogwarts castle. Lying in bed, Liu Lang reviewed his experiences of the recent period in his mind. He knew the days ahead would prove even more arduous, but he was already prepared.

"No matter how difficult it gets, we will never give up," Liu Lang told himself silently in his heart.

Early the next morning, Liu Lang rose early to embrace the new challenges awaiting him. He knew that only through unremitting effort could he forge his own power within this magic-filled world.

"Keep going, Liu Lang," he told himself, before striding boldly out of the dormitory.