The boats came to a stop against a long strip of concrete-- a cement pier with stairs on the end that lead up to the castle. The stone torches lit ablaze the moment the boats stopped, filling the area with a warm orange glow.
Hagrid was the first to get out of his boat, being the only one in a boat alone. That's most likely for safety measures. Hagrid is twice, maybe two and a half times, the size as himself.
The thought alone was a tad unnerving. However, Hagrid's friendliness quickly calmed the Rune. "Up and at 'em! We can't keep the others waitn' for too long, now."
Kids all around them began getting out of the boats as instructed. They were more careful getting out than they were when getting in earlier. Part of the reason was because they didn't want to get more wet than they were before-- if they weren't already soaked, that is. The other part was because the water was a lot deeper. It wouldn't be ideal to fall in, especially if you can't swim well or at all.
Rune looked to the boys before carefully getting up. "How about I get out first?"
Fixing his robes over his shoulders, his hands grabbed onto the stony ledge and Rune hoisted himself up without waiting for an answer from the other three. The moment both of his feet were firmly stationed on the solid ground, a warm breeze brushed by his legs as if they were suddenly blown by a large hair dryer. The warm breeze worked like one too, his socks and shoes becoming dry in an instant.
Rune smiled to himself and turned to look at the other three. "There's magic that'll dry you off when you get up here!" Excitement laced his tone when he spoke his announcement.
The two partially soaked boys' eyes widened at the sound of being dry. They first looked to each other before jumping up and scrambling to get out of the boat first. The rushed actions caused the boat to rock messily back and forth, causing water to fly up on the sides. "Hey! What're trying to do? Flip me over?!" Draco's angered, yet slightly fearful, voice nagged the other two boys who were safely onto the pier.
They pushed themselves to their feet to feel the same warmth Rune had felt earlier. It showed more with their clothes lightly moving in the warm winds. The two immediately relaxed on the spot.
Rune rolled my eyes with a slight grin, turning to reach his hand out to the blonde, who took his hand with irritated grumbles to slip past his lips as he was tugged up to the pier. Since he wasn't wet at all, there was no warm breeze to greet him. Instead, he used his hands to fix his robes and tie, "Idiots..." He huffed with a small glare to be thrown in Crabbe and Goyle's direction.
Rune couldn't help but laugh a little at his reaction, causing the glare to move into my direction. It didn't last long after it had gotten to Rune, however. He instead wore his more neutral expression.
"This way, first years!" Hagrid had made his way by the stairs now, rounding up the rest of the eleven, or those who were almost eleven, year olds.
The four of them rushed up to join the group that had began walking up the flight of stairs. Rune could feel his heart drumming in his ears with each step he took. The place was even more beautiful up close-- it made him anxious about seeing how grand the inside would be. It was hard not to get your expectations high with how the outside, alone, appeared.
A few kids were a bit out of breath when they got to the top of the steps and to a large door leading inside. "Alright. This is where I leave ya. You'll follow tha' stairs to yer left. Professor McGonagall will meetcha at the top." The half giant pushed the large door open easily with one hand.
Inside revealed a large stair case that lined the towering walls. Lining the walls were paintings that-- that moved! Rune eyes went agape as the heads of the people within the paintings turned to look at the new generation of students with smiles or observing eyes. A few even waved their greetings as the children begin to enter the tower.
The large door's closing echoed, leaving them all alone to climb the stairs. The chatter immediately started. Some spoke about the wonders of the castle they were in now while others talked to their friends- or whoever was closest- about whatever they pleased. "Even more stairs?" Draco groaned quietly to himself as he began the climb alongside Rune.
The other two boys were walking behind them. He definitely was one of the ones who seemed winded when they finished climbing the first flight of stairs, so it was easy to tell why he was complaining about climbing more.
It wasn't a big problem for Rune.
Living out on the farm made it difficult for him NOT to get high stamina. That and most of his attention was on the amazing sights around him. "It's not too bad. Besides, it's expected that this place was going to have a lot of stairs-- it's huge!" Rune gestured to the tower they were climbing as he said that last part.
Of course, this was only a small portion of the castle, but that only proved his point even further. Rune looked back at him, gently nudging his side, "May as well get used to it, yeah?"
"Yeah, whatever..." The boy shook his head to himself, looking up ahead of him. Despite his words, he did seem a little less agitated, if that counts for anything.
It was certainly better than him having a grumpy frown on his face. Rune smiled a little to himself in success, keeping close to the group of kids until a lady came into view at the top of the stairs.
Just behind her were large double doors-- ones that were twice the size of the ones we came in. She was tall and slender with a pointed witches hat on top of her head. Her appearance resembled that of a strict yet caring grandmother.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," The lady's voice was warm, though it didn't lack the ability to be stern for even a second, "The start-of-term will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts."
A family away from family...
Rune had never had one of those before. Not with so many people, that is. He had a few friends over the years and have been to their houses. Their families were nice and Rune had been invited over as a family friend once or twice. They weren't ever anything big though, and the friendships didn't often carry on as he grew older.
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TO BE CONTINUED.....