Golden dawn light rippled like water, sweeping away the thin mist shrouding the peaks of the verdant mountains. Hogwarts, standing on the cliffside and wrapped in clouds and fog, came in and out of view.
Early that morning, the quiet of Hogsmeade Station, staffed by only two or three attendants, was broken by a train that was not on the schedule.
The goblins moved swiftly. Within a dozen minutes, they had unloaded the large wooden crates sealed with magic from the train and loaded them onto the carriages usually used by young wizards.
After raising their heads and whinnying twice, the Thestrals began pulling the creaking carriages toward Hogwarts.
After chatting briefly, Remus, Percy, Penelope, and the workshop workers boarded the returning Hogwarts Express.
Before reaching Diagon Alley Station, they had plenty of time to rest and ease the strain of the past two days.
Meanwhile, Amosta alone escorted the entire convoy toward Hogwarts.
The convoy did not stop at the great iron gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Instead, it drove straight onto the grounds and halted only at the Marble Staircase before the castle, where Professor McGonagall and Hagrid had long been waiting with the House-elves from the kitchens.
The sight of more than twenty carriages, each carrying massive heavy crates, lined up neatly before the entrance was truly spectacular. At the very least, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid both looked stunned.
"Ah, Amosta!"
Professor McGonagall hurried down the stairs and came to Amosta's side as he neatly jumped down from the roof of a carriage and brushed the morning dew from his hair.
"Are these all...?"
Professor McGonagall reached out and touched one of the crates. Even the wrinkles on her face seemed to relax considerably.
"Mm—"
Amosta stretched, looking utterly at ease.
"That's right. Most