After their departure, Neville and Hermione didn't return until the train had already started moving. Neville was visibly excited, albeit a bit incoherent, causing John to be momentarily confused. However, Hermione, with a tone of clarity, informed John, "Harry Potter, the boy who's known as the savior in the stories, is also on this train."
Reflecting on her encounter with Harry Potter, Hermione couldn't help but lift her chin in a somewhat prideful manner, remarking, "The so-called savior didn't seem all that remarkable to me."
Neville, however, was quick to defend Harry, saying, "But my grandmother always said that Harry Potter was the one who defeated You-Know-Who and saved the wizarding world."
This sparked a debate between the two, while John, upon hearing this, realized the significance of the moment he had missed - the iconic meeting of these three young wizards on the train. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret for not witnessing it firsthand.
The journey continued for several hours, and by the time they arrived at Hogwarts, it was already dark. At Hermione's urging, John had changed into his school uniform robe, which, coupled with his natural appearance, lent him an air of mystery.
As they disembarked, John caught sight of Hagrid's towering figure through the window, easily identifiable by the lantern he held aloft in the darkness. The sight of Hagrid's immense stature was a source of amazement for the first-year students, while the older students filed out in an orderly manner, led by the prefects.
Among the crowd, John noticed a boy with distinctive red hair standing next to Harry - unmistakably a Weasley. Led by Hagrid, the group of first-year students made their way towards Hogwarts, crossing the Black Lake by boat. During this time, John reminded Neville, "Have you managed to find your toad yet?"
Neville, momentarily taken aback and having been distracted by the excitement of seeing Harry, realized he had yet to find his toad, Trevor. The realization brought him to the brink of tears, given that they were now all aboard the boat and Trevor was still missing. John, however, remained calm, remembering that Neville's toad would eventually turn up at the gates of Hogwarts. This curious incident from the movie had always intrigued John, leading him to wonder if Trevor possessed some magical creature lineage, given the mysterious circumstances of his disappearance and reappearance.
As they neared the castle, Hagrid's booming voice instructed them to "Look down," causing Hermione and Neville to duck instinctively, though John did not. They soon realized that the warning was unnecessary for anyone other than Hagrid, given his size.
Upon their arrival at Hogwarts, the ancient and mysterious castle loomed before them, its presence magnified by the darkness of the night. The first-year students ascended the steps, each one rich with history, to be greeted by Professor McGonagall. Her stern demeanor was accentuated by a black pointed wizard's hat, adding an air of authority.
With a slight nod to Hagrid, Professor McGonagall welcomed them, saying, "Welcome to Hogwarts." At that moment, John received a system prompt, signaling the start of his first year at Hogwarts with a mission to complete. As he absorbed this information, a transparent panel appeared before him, displaying his current magical abilities and skills, a reminder of the journey and challenges that lay ahead in this new and magical world. John had dedicated a month to mastering the magic unlocking spell, achieving level 3 proficiency. This advanced level allowed him to unlock even the safe his father had secretly hidden from his mother, revealing a pistol inside, to which he added a level 1 thermal weapon attribute. Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall was introducing the four Hogwarts houses, but John, already familiar with this information, paid little attention. The scene shifted when Neville, spotting Leffe on the stairs, shouted in surprise and dashed towards him, causing a ripple of laughter among the young wizards and leaving Neville to sheepishly rejoin the group.
As McGonagall departed to attend to the sorting ceremony, Draco Malfoy, with his slicked-back hair, displayed an immediate fascination mixed with rivalry towards Harry Potter. "It seems the rumors on the train were true. Harry Potter has arrived at Hogwarts," he remarked, flanked by his loyal followers, Crabbe and Goyle. Introducing himself with a blend of pride and arrogance characteristic of pure-blood nobility, Malfoy's demeanor was exactly what Ron Weasley despised, prompting a sneer from Ron that was quiet yet audible to Malfoy.
Malfoy, recognizing Ron as a member of the Weasley family, mocked him for his hand-me-down robes, a sore point for Ron given his family's financial constraints and the necessity to reuse his older brothers' clothing. Malfoy then turned his attention to Harry, attempting to ingratiate himself by insinuating the superiority of certain wizarding families and offering his friendship as a guide to navigating those social waters. John, observing this exchange, felt a surge of discomfort at Malfoy's words, which disparaged any wizard not of pure blood.
Harry, however, firmly rejected Malfoy's offer, valuing his ability to discern right from wrong on his own. This refusal left Malfoy momentarily embarrassed, a moment John witnessed with a shake of his head, thinking, "Little Malfoy, friendship isn't won like this."
As John moved closer to Neville, with Hermione following, concerned that John's anger might lead to a physical altercation on their very first day, her worries proved unfounded. McGonagall soon returned, leading them into the Great Hall, a magnificent space lit by hundreds of floating candles and featuring the night sky above. The hall was divided among the four houses, each represented by their colors: Gryffindor in red and gold, Ravenclaw in blue and gray, Slytherin in green and silver, and Hufflepuff in yellow and black. The large hourglasses displaying the house points caught the attention of the newcomers as they made their way in.
Hermione, chattering excitedly about "Hogwarts: A History" next to John, left him feeling somewhat overwhelmed by her enthusiasm. It was clear that the first day at Hogwarts was going to be full of surprises and new experiences for all of them. John and the other two couldn't help but feel sympathy for Hermione in the beginning. Childhood often comes with a fragile sense of self-esteem. Fortunately, John was no longer a child, and he certainly didn't harbor any resentment towards Hermione. Instead, his attention was captivated by the kind, elderly man with a white beard. This man was not just the headmaster of Hogwarts; he was a towering figure in the wizarding world. Known as the pinnacle of magical power, he was a figure even the two Dark Lords feared. He stood as a stabilizing force in the magical community, the one who could summon a phoenix—the esteemed White Lord of the wizarding world, Albus Dumbledore.
John's inquisitive gaze did not go unnoticed by Dumbledore. The old man, who had always shown endless patience for his students, caught John's eye and responded with a playful wink.
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge