The Great Hall of Hogwarts gleamed brighter than usual tonight, its enchanted ceiling reflecting a sky streaked with the last light of dusk. Floating candles hovered gently above long, polished house tables, their soft flicker casting dancing shadows across the excited faces of seventh-year students. The chatter was electric, a mix of curiosity, anticipation, and the usual competitive banter between houses. Tonight wasn’t just any evening—it was the New Student Banquet, a rare occasion where the school welcomed fresh faces into each house, and rumors had been swirling for weeks about who would join them.