Perhaps due to the inertia of the world's will, the famous scene of searching for Leif still happened.
Kind Hermione chose to accompany Neville to find his pet. In response, Ian said that he would stay in the compartment to prevent the lost Leif from suddenly returning, ensuring it didn't get lost again.
Are you kidding? Ian knew that given his situation, if he went door to door greeting everyone like this, wouldn't he be saying he had too many good days?
Ian had already experienced the power of being surrounded by girls in Madam Malkin's robe shop.
After watching the two leave, Ian leaned back on a bench and took a nap, enjoying the long-lost tranquility. After all, he got up too early in the morning, so he still needed to take a nap at noon to regain his energy.
However, things often go against one's will. This small cubicle received 17 guests who came in within an hour.
There were 5 Ravenclaws, 4 Slytherins, 5 Gryffindors, and 3 Hufflepuffs.
It is worth mentioning that 16 of them were girls who had been planning to come and chat with him for a long time. Ian simply rejected all these enthusiastic girls politely and clearly.
He knew that the purpose of his coming to Hogwarts was to learn magic that would allow him to survive in the apocalypse, not to fall in love, have a girlfriend, or experience life.
As for the remaining boy, he was Gryffindor's new fifth-year prefect, Percy Weasley.
He came here to convey Professor McGonagall's order. Professor McGonagall had left in a hurry and forgotten to tell Ian that he also needed to take the boat to Hogwarts with the younger grades.
Ian had no objection to this; there was nothing shameful about it. Any new student going to Hogwarts for the first time had to take a small boat, simulating the journey of the Big Four.
This is not only a tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years but also a ritual magic to obtain the protection of Hogwarts.
In the following time, after dealing with these visitors one after another, Ian finally became quiet.
This continued until Neville, with the help of Hermione, found his toad and successfully brought it back to the compartment without any strangers visiting during the process.
With the announcement on the train broadcast and the obvious deceleration, it was indicated that the journey was approaching its end.
"The train has stopped, and we can get off!"
Ian looked at Neville, who was a little nervous and confused, and had to remind him.
As the train arrived at the station, the originally empty aisle was filled with little wizards who walked out of the compartments one after another.
Fortunately, Ian and the other two were sitting at the back, so they didn't have to squeeze in the crowd. At the moment, they just walked slowly and leisurely along with the flow of people.
Hogsmeade Station is also the last stop of the Hogwarts Express, a very small and old platform.
"First years! First years come over here, Harry—Harry, come over here!"
Ian and the other two, squeezed at the edge of the platform, heard the sound and looked over. They saw a giant with a big beard and a height of at least 10 feet, more than three meters.
The giant was shouting loudly to the crowd, holding high a revolving lantern that was only available in the Middle Ages. The orange magic flame in the lantern was extremely clear in the dark night.
The only one with such a body size at Hogwarts is the half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, known as the gamekeeper.
After many twists and turns, the three finally got through the crowded crowd and came to Hagrid's side. It is worth mentioning that there were already many well-known first-year wizards standing in this open space, including Harry, Ron, Malfoy, and others.
Hagrid was also talking to Harry with a smile on his face. When everyone was gathered, he carried the retro revolving lantern—about the size of an adult's arm—and led the freshmen along a steep and narrow path on the left side of the station.
"Hermione, if you're scared, you can hold onto my arm."
The steep path after the rain had become increasingly slippery. Ian looked at the cautious girl in front of him and couldn't help but remind her.
"Turn this corner and you'll see Hogwarts soon!"
About fifteen minutes later, Ian heard Hagrid, who was leading the group, turn around and loudly remind them.
Sure enough, as they walked to the end of the path and turned a corner, the dense woods on both sides that had previously blocked their view disappeared.
What appeared before everyone's eyes was a huge black lake.
At the end of the lake, on a rocky hillside, a towering medieval castle exuding a mysterious atmosphere stood quietly there.
The castle was dotted with spires, and lights shone through the open windows, like bright stars twinkling in the dark night.
The main building of the castle looked particularly majestic and tall against the backdrop of the Black Lake.
This dreamlike scene, like something out of a fairy tale, made all the little wizards, including Ian, who saw Hogwarts for the first time, look amazed and shocked.
Yes, including Ian. Even though he had seen this castle more than once in his previous life, that was only limited to the screen.
The difference is like looking at pictures of the universe through a mobile phone and lying in the wilderness looking up at the stars. It is a completely different feeling.
"No more than four people per boat!"
Hagrid now pointed to the lakeside, where rows of small boats with their own magic lights were lined up. He told the freshmen they must take these small boats to cross the Black Lake to Hogwarts for the first time.
There were a lot of small boats, so it was not required that every small boat must be fully loaded with four people. Many little wizards rode in pairs or threes.
"Set off!"
After all the little wizards had successfully formed teams, with a light shout from Hagrid, all the boats drifted quickly and orderly towards Hogwarts without any operation.
…
Ian sat on the boat, enjoying the cool breeze after the rain and admiring the beautiful scenery along the way.
After the boat passed through a dark tunnel under the cliff, it gradually slowed down and docked next to the pier.
"Alright, everyone follow me; we'll be at the castle gates soon!"
Hagrid led the way with a revolving lantern in his hand, and they walked along a winding gravel path for about a quarter of an hour with difficulty.
Finally, they arrived at a flat meadow in the shadow of the castle.
Not far in front of them was the main door of Hogwarts Great Hall, a tall door made of oak.
Hagrid walked up and knocked on the door three times. The door opened immediately, and a tall, black-haired witch in a light green robe appeared in front of everyone with a stern face.
The visitor was none other than Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor House, whom Ian was familiar with.
"All the first years are here, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take care of the rest."