(Third person POV)
"Right, then. First years, this way, please!"
Hagrid walked along the carriages of the train while shouting and asking the first years to follow him.
"Come on, now, first years, don't be shy."
Noah and his companions followed the towering half-giant with others. They soon came to the lake shore.
Noah saw the castle with its full glamour. He felt that all those books were not boasting when they said the castle was enchanting. He agreed with them, not because the castle looked beautiful, but because he could see the sheer amount of mana swirling around the castle. 'Dumbledore is really selfish,'- he chuckled.
"Right, then. This way to the boats. Come on, now, follow me. Four-person per boat."
Hagrid woke the first years from their stunned state. A little squad consisting of a naive-looking Scamander, awkward witch Lawrence, a little bossy West, and courageous Weasley looked at Noah. The first to speak was Bill:
"It's alright. I will find another seat."
"No, you sit with them, Bill. I will find another one."
Cliste also seemed to say something, but she just pursed her lips and looked to the side. Lia didn't say anything.
Noah chuckled at their antics: "No need."
He touched the boat with his wand, and it started to literally expand much to the shock of the little wizards and witches. Hagrid saw it but didn't say anything after seeing the demiguise clinging to the leg of the boy.
'There is no need to scold them. He seems to be a good boy.'
After this little incident, everyone took their seats. Some enthusiastic kids came to take the same boat as the talented wizard, but they left soundlessly after seeing Lia's expression.
The boats moved silently and carried them across the face of the literally black lake. Its surface was smooth today. Moon and stars reflected a bit on it. However, the ones on the boat didn't have time to admire it. Their eyes reflected the orange lights of the castle.
As they came nearer to the cliff castle stood on, Noah felt the mana of the castle enveloping them.
[Congratulations, host, for binding successfully to your first mana node. You are rewarded with part of the map of leylines and mana nodes of this universe.]
Opening the host in his mind, he saw that it had the same outline as the map of the United Kingdom.
'It seems I should find the rest of the magic nodes by myself. But looking at this fragment of the map, I can see a pattern. Magic nodes are mostly situated in abandoned forests, ruins, and historical places. I wonder what can I do with them.'
Seeing their leader in deep thought, others in the boat didn't disturb him and silently observed the miraculous scene in front of them. They wanted to remember this scene for their whole life.
****
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door wide. An enormous entrance hall was revealed to them. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out,
and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor and into a small empty
chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall.
"The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will
have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.
The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose
house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house
becomes yours.
The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."