As soon as Hermione and Norway stepped out, the carriage fell silent.
Zhao Lun, who had been pretending to sleep on the cushion, actually dozed off. It wasn't until sounds stirred the air again that he awoke.
Neither of their faces bore a smile, and it was clear they hadn't achieved much.
"Back already? You don't look happy. Did something unpleasant happen?"
Zhao Lun, in a way they didn't understand, pulled out a damp towel, wiped his face, and then made the towel vanish.
Norway and Hermione's eyes widened in surprise, unable to comprehend what kind of magic this was.
"Why the silence?"
Having taken a nap, Zhao Lun felt refreshed, as if an endless well of energy had been restored within him. He was in high spirits.
"Well, we ran into one... no, make that three people who weren't exactly pleasant."
Seeing Zhao Lun's miraculous 'magic', Hermione's foul mood lifted instantly, her attention fully absorbed by the new spell.
"By the way, where did the towel go? Is that also magic?"
Norway and the others stared at Zhao Lun, puzzled. It didn't seem like a magical item, and there was no magic they knew of like that. They were eager to know the answer.
"Heh, guess."
Zhao Lun flashed them a mischievous smile before ignoring them.
The brief interruption passed, and everything fell back to calm. After a while, Hermione and Norway went out again, returning only when night had fallen.
The dark night sky revealed the outlines of distant mountains and dense forests, while the train seemed to slow its pace.
"I just asked the conductor, he said we'll arrive soon."
"You should hurry up and change into your robes," Hermione said as she opened her suitcase to pull out the clothes she needed to change into.
"Do we need to turn away?"
Zhao Lun asked as he retrieved his robe, moving faster than anyone else, making Norway envious. Norway, struggling with a messy suitcase, finally found his own after much effort.
"No need for all that trouble, just turn around," Lavender replied casually as she changed clothes.
Zhao Lun and Norway turned their backs, quickly donning their robes.
"We'll reach Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage in the carriage; staff will take care of it and deliver it to the school later."
A voice echoed through the carriage, and the previously quiet compartment quickly became lively.
Everyone in Zhao Lun's carriage had finished changing.
Hearing the announcement, Hermione, Norway, Lavender, and Hannah stood up nervously. Zhao Lun, feeling their agitation, had to take a deep breath to calm his racing heart.
Hogwarts, the cradle of wizarding growth... what secrets does it hold?
The train gradually came to a halt.
The prefects maintained order as the students squeezed toward the doors. After much effort, they finally disembarked onto a dark, cramped platform.
The biting cold wind made the students, freshly stepped off the warm train, shiver. The air was frigid, and inhaling it left a discomfort in their noses.
At that moment, a dim light above their heads flickered, swinging from side to side.
"First-years, gather over here! Hey! Harry, are you alright?"
A familiar voice shouted.
Following the sound, they saw a large man in a moleskin coat with a fluffy face. Even in the dim light, he was easily recognizable.
Zhao Lun recognized him—it was Hagrid.
He was currently talking to a skinny, bespectacled boy in a rare moment of relaxation.
"Hi, Hagrid!"
Zhao Lun walked past him, greeting him.
"Alan, I've received your gift. Thank you, it was delicious. Follow me. First-years, all of you, come with me."
Hagrid had to break off in the middle of his conversation to lead the new students forward.
"Do you know him?"
Hermione, walking behind, asked curiously.
"Hagrid took me to Diagon Alley during the holidays. The one who invited me to Gryffindor, the one I mentioned on the train—he's the one."
Zhao Lun explained while observing the situation.
"Really? He seems like a good person."
Hermione looked at Hagrid, giving instructions among the crowd, impressed by him.
"Be careful, don't trip."
The path was narrow and steep, and the first-years stumbled along. Norway nearly lost his footing.
"My toad's gone missing again."
Norway muttered in frustration.
"…." Zhao Lun didn't know what to say, and neither did Hermione.
They continued walking.
"You'll soon see Hogwarts, and I'm sure you'll remember this moment forever."
From his voice, it was clear Hagrid had a deep affection for Hogwarts.
The students, inspired by his words, quickened their pace.
The narrow path suddenly opened into a broad view, revealing a vast black lake. A huge castle, with many turrets and towers, stood between two towering mountains. The windows of the castle glowed faintly under the starry sky.
The students gasped in awe—finally, they had arrived.
There were small boats along the shore, waiting to ferry them across the lake. The boats disturbed the still water, rippling waves reflecting weak lights in the darkness.
"One boat can only hold four people," Hagrid pointed to a line of small boats docked at the shore.
Zhao Lun climbed into a nearby boat, followed by Hermione and Norway, while Hannah and Lavender had already boarded another boat.
Zhao Lun recognized the people on the other boat— it was the boy who had been talking to Hagrid, along with a red-haired boy, and Lavender sitting beside him. Another girl, a Black student, was also with them.
"Is everyone aboard?"
"Alright, let's go!"
Hagrid, seated alone in his boat, waited for all the students to board before setting off.
The boats moved in unison, leaving no need for paddles.
"Duck your heads!"
As they passed a cliff, Hagrid's voice rang out. Soon, they disembarked at an underground dock and began climbing a rocky, cobblestone path upward.
"Hey! Whose toad is this?"
Hagrid, inspecting the boats, found Norway's toad.
"Thank you, that's mine," Norway said, happily retrieving the troublesome creature.
Guided by Hagrid's lantern, the students walked through a tunnel to an oak door. Hagrid raised his massive fist and knocked three times on the door.
The door swung open immediately, revealing a tall, serious-looking woman in emerald green robes—Professor McGonagall.
"Professor McGonagall, the first-years are here."
Hagrid, rarely formal, acknowledged her.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here."
Inside was a grand hall, large enough to fit all the students, with space to spare. Colorful banners hung from the walls, and the arrival of the students caused a great commotion. Once they had dispersed, the hall returned to its usual calm. The students clustered in a distant corner, looking around curiously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts."
Professor McGonagall gave a brief welcoming speech.
Zhao Lun stood in awe, as if dreaming. He didn't hear her words, only taking in the surroundings and recording the scene with his Light Mind.
"…The Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly. I suggest you tidy yourselves up."
She glanced at the strap hanging from Norway's left ear and paused briefly on a red-haired boy's nose before leaving.
The two excited students, oblivious to Professor McGonagall's words, continued to look around.
Whispers spread through the students.
Suddenly, the sound of shuffling feet came from behind as one by one, ghosts appeared, causing some students to scream in fright.
Zhao Lun looked at these ghosts, unfazed. They felt familiar and comforting to him. He recorded the scene with his Light Mind, analyzing the ghosts he had seen earlier. Comparing them to those outside, Zhao Lun realized that the ghosts here were more lively, more aware.
Outside, ghosts, except for a few, were absent-minded and fragile like bubbles, fading away soon after. Some even turned malevolent, leaving behind terrifying legends.
"What's going on with Hermione's shaking hand?"
Zhao Lun snapped out of his Light Mind, noticing Hermione seemed unusually excited.
"No, look above! Those floating candles must be enchanted. They look just like the stars outside—this is what I read about in Hogwarts: A History."
Finding something familiar from the book made Hermione beam with pride.
The hall was enormous, enough to accommodate all the students, with extra space. The candles above, as Hermione said, resembled the night sky.
The students formed a line and approached the front, where a tattered hat— the Sorting Hat— sat. It was patched up, worn, and filthy. Then, the hat began to sing:
"You may think me plain and dull,
But don't judge by looks alone,
If you find a hat more grand,
I'll gladly eat myself whole.
You may make your hats shiny,
Or turn your tall hats smooth,
But I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,
Far superior in truth.
Any thought you hide within,
Shall be known to my keen eye,
Try me on and I will tell you,
Which house you belong to, by and by.
Perhaps you belong in Gryffindor,
Where courage lies deep within,
Their boldness, spirit, and gallantry,
Make Gryffindor above the rest!
Or perhaps you belong in Hufflepuff,
Where loyalty and honesty dwell,
Their resilience and hardworking nature,
Never fearing toil or spell.
If you're sharp and quick of mind,
Then perhaps you'll end up in Ravenclaw,
With wit and wisdom in your soul,
You'll surely do well with their law.
But if you have the courage to scheme,
To wrestle with shadows and fear,
You may belong to Slytherin,
Where ambition and cunning thrive here.
In each house, there's a place for you,
The Sorting Hat knows your heart,
It only takes a moment to decide,
Where your adventure will start!"
The students were mesmerized by the hat's performance.
"It's real!" Hermione whispered.
"Is it really?" Zhao Lun asked curiously. The hat seemed to possess an uncanny awareness of each person's heart.
He had a feeling, a strong one—if he had to choose a house, it would be Slytherin. He wasn't sure why, but the more he watched, the more it felt like a path in front of him.