Hogwarts, Hogwarts

The conflict with Malfoy was only a minor interlude. Sean and Hermione spent the rest of their time together quite pleasantly. Hermione had probably never met someone her own age who was so patient. Once she got started, she could not stop talking, and Sean was even a little worried about the girl's throat.

Though he kept smiling and listening to her, Sean could not help but sigh inwardly. Hermione was simply too talkative.

After a discussion about "how students from Newmontgard get to school," Sean felt the train beginning to slow.

He glanced out the window. Deep purple mountains covered the woods at their feet, and night had fallen.

"I think we should change into our robes," he said, rising to his feet.

Once they had changed into their plain robes, a voice rang out through the train.

"The train will arrive at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be delivered to the school for you."

Hermione clutched her robe tightly and swallowed nervously. She looked enviously at Sean's calm expression. This new friend of hers was even two months younger than she was, yet he possessed a composure and steadiness far beyond his age.

"Sean, have you thought about which house you'll be sorted into?" the girl asked softly.

Sean thought for a moment before replying, "I think all four houses are excellent. Slytherin has ambition and aspirations, Gryffindor has courage and daring, Ravenclaw possesses great wisdom and cleverness, while Hufflepuff seems to represent mediocrity in many people's eyes. But I think that is precisely a reflection of their loyalty and generosity."

Hermione's mouth hung slightly open. She felt as though he had said everything, yet nothing at all.

Sean smiled. "Of course, if I had a choice, I still wouldn't want to go to Slytherin."

A trace of amusement flashed through Hermione's eyes, but she still asked curiously, "Why? Didn't you say every house was excellent?"

"A house's excellence can't conceal its students'... prejudice." He shrugged helplessly. "Coming from a non-magical family, while I'd be happy to experience Slytherin's glory, I don't want to spend seven years guarding against my classmates' ill intentions every day."

Hermione nodded in agreement. Malfoy and his group had already proven that perfectly.

As they spoke, the train gradually slowed before finally stopping at the platform. Sean shielded Hermione through the crowded throng and onto the platform.

The cold night air of the Scottish Highlands made him shiver. Before he could steady himself, Sean accidentally bumped into someone's shoulder.

"I'm terribly sorry."

A small head beneath a black pointed hat turned and glanced up at him, then continued inward with the flow of people.

"Aren't new students supposed to wait here?" Hermione looked curiously at the silver-haired girl.

Sean smiled awkwardly and whispered, "She's a third-year senior."

Hermione's eyes widened at first, then she shrank back in embarrassment. "She didn't hear me, did she? Oh no, was that terribly rude of me? What if I get sorted into the same house as her..."

"It's fine. She probably won't mind... right?"

As he spoke, a booming voice echoed across the platform. "First-years! First-years, over here!"

Sean looked toward the voice. It belonged to a burly giant. His face was almost completely hidden beneath a wild tangle of long hair and thick beard, but beneath it, one could still see a pair of eyes gleaming like black beetles.

Hagrid... Sean could not help but smile.

Rubeus Hagrid held up a lantern and called for the new students to gather around him. In the meantime, three children made their way to stand before him.

"Hey, Hagrid!"

"Oh, Harry, blimey, you've grown so much! Last time I saw you, you were just a little thing. Hey, Neville, and Ron too. How are you?"

Harry, Neville, and Ron seemed to have formed a new trio, and they were greeting Hagrid now.

"They must be new students from magical families, right?" Hermione said.

"Probably." Sean nodded, but his attention had shifted elsewhere. The platform had been too noisy earlier for him to notice, but now he realized there seemed to be quite a few more students. There were probably over a hundred first-years alone.

Was this one of the changes too...? he thought as he walked.

"Hey, Sean!" Harry greeted him upon seeing him.

"Harry, it's good to see you again." He smiled and nodded.

"You definitely remember Neville. This is Ron." Harry pointed to the red-haired Weasley as he introduced him.

"Ron, nice to meet you."

"This is Hagrid. He's Hogwarts's Keeper of Keys and Grounds."

"Hello, Mr. Hagrid. I'm Sean Wallop." Sean greeted him as well. To be honest, because of his exceptionally high Magical Creature Affinity, he was far more enthusiastic about Hagrid now.

"Oh, hello there, lad. Nice ter meet yeh." Hagrid bent down and shook Sean's hand with his massive palm—or rather, it would have been more accurate to say that he squeezed Sean's little paw.

Hagrid flashed a hairy smile. For some reason, he felt that this refined Young Wizard made an excellent first impression.

After exchanging greetings, Hagrid saw that all the new students had gathered and raised his lantern as he headed inward.

"Come on! First-years! Stay close behind me!"

The moment Hagrid turned, Sean keenly noticed a pink, broken umbrella tucked inside his coat.

That was Hagrid's wand, wasn't it? Sean frowned. Did that mean Hagrid had still been framed by Tom Riddle and expelled from school during his own student days?

Worth noting...

Lost in thought, they followed Hagrid, slipping and stumbling as they seemed to make their way down a steep, narrow path. In the darkness, one of the new students beside them stumbled and was about to fall.

"Careful." Sean reacted swiftly and caught them. Once they had regained their balance, he immediately let go.

"Thank you very much," the person said in a muffled voice.

Seeing this, Hermione pulled out her wand. "Lumos."

A faint glow lit up. It was only a small ball of light, but at least they could see where they were stepping.

"Beautiful spell," Sean said with a smile.

After stumbling onward for a while, the view suddenly opened up before them, and everyone cried out in amazement.

Across the pitch-black lake stood a forest of towers. The majestic castle was brightly lit, its windows gleaming beneath the stars.

"Get in the boats, no more than four to a boat... Everyone ready? Let's go!"

Hagrid sat alone in one boat, leading the others across the lake.

After passing beneath the cliff and through the curtain of ivy, they came ashore on a stretch of gravel.

Looking at the ancient, solemn castle before him, Sean stood before the enormous oak doors and slowly broke into a grin. His smile grew brighter and brighter, while the excitement in his heart surged ever higher.

At last, Hogwarts.

Thanks to Desperate Two Hundred and Fifty, Qingxi Ming, Xuanmie Fengchen, Yaheng Yue, A Bag of Rice Must Carry Several Floors Spicy Heavenly Conquest, Shiyu Feiye, Great Emperor Ha, Spaced-Out Little Wen, I Refuse to Believe There Are Still Existing Ones, Half-Believing Half-Doubting, Cat-Loving Jerry, and all the other generous supporters for their tips.