"I know very little too. The Wizarding Supremacy Party rose to power more than a decade ago, and its leader was the infamous Dark wizard—Gellert Grindelwald. The Wizarding Supremacy Party he led carried out many terrorist attacks across Europe. That man was truly terrifying."
"He was incredibly, unbelievably powerful. I heard he nearly burned all of Paris! Merlin's beard, it was a blessing we had Professor Dumbledore. For some reason, that man had never set foot in the British magical world. There were also rumors that Grindelwald had a hand in the Muggles' war, though that had never been confirmed."
Tom listened with great interest. Being able to nearly destroy a city through one's own power alone—that was the kind of strength he yearned for. But someone like that was actually afraid of Professor Dumbledore? It seemed the professor was even stronger.
I really hope I can become someone like that too...
His friend continued chattering away, while Tom's thoughts drifted farther and farther. One moment, he imagined himself becoming even more powerful than the professor; the next, he worried that the professor would distance himself because of those "trophies." He only came back to his senses when the train slowly pulled into the station.
"Tom! Hurry up and get off! I called you several times..." Ian rolled his eyes speechlessly. He had no idea what his friend had been thinking about; his expression kept changing. If he did not snap out of it soon, Ian would have had to take action. What a pity...
"Sorry, Ian. Let's get off."
Tom rose and followed the crowd off the train. The dim sky made it impossible to see the path beneath his feet. He stumbled all the way to the lakeside before finally breathing a sigh of relief. Following the guide's instructions, he and Ian boarded a small boat.
Turning his head toward the pitch-black lake, Tom suddenly felt nervous. He had waited so long, and today he was finally entering Hogwarts. He would spend the next seven years here. As the boat gently swayed, Tom looked through the faint light at the ancient castle gradually coming into view.
Bathed in moonlight, the castle carried an even more mysterious and shadowy air. To Tom, Hogwarts possessed an inviolable sense of sanctity. After disembarking, the new students followed the tunnel until they reached a massive oak door.
Tom saw the guide ahead knock on the door. It opened quickly, and Tom's eyes lit up, his gaze fixed firmly on the professor who appeared.
"Thanks for your hard work, Og~ Leave the rest to me!"
Dumbledore winked at Tom, who had been staring at him the whole time. This little fellow looked as though he could bore two holes into him. Dumbledore adjusted his crooked nose, then called out and led the shivering new students through the entrance hall into a slightly smaller room.
"Welcome to Hogwarts~ You will soon undergo the Sorting Ceremony..."
As Tom listened, he felt someone tug at his sleeve. He turned and glanced at Ian, who had started getting scared again, then helplessly pulled his sleeve from Ian's hand. "Ian... you really do not need to worry so much. The school will not let us get hurt."
Shivering again, Ian pointed at the wall beside them. If he had not seen wrong just now, a head had emerged from there. "It's not that. Over there..."
Following the direction of his finger, Tom's heart skipped a beat. Why were there so many ghosts at Hogwarts? He was a little frightened, but not too much. When a group of ghosts passed through his body, Tom felt as though he had fallen into a pool in winter.
Dumbledore, who had left at some point, returned to the room and led the young wizards into the Great Hall.
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