THE ALCHEMIST OF HARRY POTTER

"Well, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song together!" Dumbledore announced cheerfully, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. He raised his wand, and with a casual flick, golden words unraveled from the tip like a ribbon, forming the lyrics in midair for all to see.

The Hogwarts Choir, led by Professor Flitwick, appeared at the front, their voices harmonizing as the first notes filled the Great Hall. A few students in the front row held large toads, their occasional croaks adding an unintended percussion.

As Dumbledore waved his wand, students and teachers alike joined in, each at their own tempo, creating a cacophony of mismatched melodies.

Albert moved his lips silently, pretending to sing along. He had read about this moment in Hogwarts: A History and knew that the professors, seated at the head table, were not particularly fond of the school song. Professor Snape, in particular, looked like he had swallowed something sour.

Nearby, Fred and George Weasley sang the lyrics to the tune of the Funeral March, drawing amused glances from their fellow first-years. Their slow, deliberate pace stretched the song out long after most students had finished.

"…We will study hard until our heads are full of dung," they sang dramatically.

Albert resisted the urge to cover his face, pretending he didn't know them.

When the last, lingering notes finally faded, Dumbledore clapped his hands together and beamed.

"Bedtime!" he declared. "Off you go!"

The feast had officially ended. At once, the students surged toward the exits, creating a bottleneck near the doors.

Albert now understood why the first-years were led out separately—without guidance, someone was bound to follow the wrong house and end up in an unfamiliar common room. He could already imagine a confused Gryffindor accidentally trailing the Hufflepuffs to their basement dormitory.

"This way, first-years!" called a tall boy with a Gryffindor badge.

It was Percy Weasley, the house prefect. He expertly maneuvered the newcomers through the throng, guiding them out of the Great Hall and up the grand marble staircase. As they climbed, the first-years from other houses branched off in different directions, led by their own prefects.

The corridors were dimly lit, illuminated by flickering torches. Portraits lined the walls, their subjects whispering amongst themselves or offering greetings as the students passed. Some paintings moved aside, revealing hidden passageways, while others merely observed with mild curiosity.

Albert had expected to take the moving staircases, but instead, Percy led them through a winding route, avoiding the trick steps that could trap an unsuspecting student.

"Watch out for that one," Percy warned as Lee Jordan's foot suddenly sank into a vanishing step.

Albert reacted quickly, grabbing Lee's arm and pulling him free.

"Thanks," Lee muttered, brushing off his robes. "Honestly, what's with all these weird traps?"

"They're remnants of Hogwarts' old defenses," Albert explained. "Now, they just make the castle more… unique."

"More like hazardous," Lee grumbled.

They continued upward, their legs growing sore from the endless climbing. Finally, they reached the eighth floor and followed a long corridor to a large portrait of a plump woman in a pink silk dress.

"The Fat Lady," Albert whispered, recognizing her from his reading.

"Password?" she inquired.

"Nonsense," Percy announced.

The portrait swung open, revealing a circular hole.

"You'll need to remember the password," Percy told them. "It changes regularly, and without it, you can't get in."

He stepped aside, allowing the first-years to clamber through into the Gryffindor common room.

The room was warm and inviting, with cozy armchairs arranged around a roaring fireplace. Bookshelves lined the walls, and several older students lounged on the sofas, chatting as they watched the newcomers enter. A few waved in welcome.

"You're lucky—tomorrow is Saturday, so no classes," Percy said. "Take the time to explore. Hogwarts is more complicated than you think. If you don't want to get lost, learn the layout early."

He pointed toward two staircases. "Girls' dormitories are that way. Boys, follow me."

The boys descended a narrow spiral staircase, passing several wooden doors along the way. Percy stopped to indicate the bathrooms, explaining that they were shared among the year groups.

Albert soon found his own dormitory, marked with his name. Inside, four four-poster beds were arranged neatly, each with thick red curtains for privacy. Trunks and luggage had been placed beside them.

Albert's roommates were Fred and George Weasley, along with Lee Jordan.

He smiled as he pulled out his pajamas, changing while stifling a yawn.

"Well, here's to the next seven years," he said with a grin.

"To mischief and magic," Fred added.

"To Hogwarts," George agreed.

"And to surviving the moving staircases," Lee muttered.

They all laughed.

"I'm planning to explore the castle tomorrow," Albert said, retrieving a small camera from his trunk. "Anyone interested?"

"Definitely. Wake me up," Fred and George said in unison.

Lee nodded. "Wouldn't miss it."

"Good night, then."

Albert lay back on his bed, staring at the canopy above. He always had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places. The others, however, drifted off almost instantly, exhausted from the excitement of the day.

Reaching into his pocket, Albert pulled out a small enchanted notebook and flipped to a page tracking his exploration progress—3% so far. He made a mental note of the places he wanted to visit tomorrow.

Scrolling through a list of spells he had yet to master, he felt the familiar temptation to spend his stored magical energy on leveling up his abilities.

Old gaming habits die hard, he mused, resisting the urge.

With a deep breath, he closed the notebook, letting his thoughts wander. He remembered the first time he had read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in his past life. Now, he was living it.

But this isn't just a dream.

As sleep finally claimed him, Albert knew—this was real.