Arrival at Hogwarts

Sean was seeing a Chocolate Frog Card for the first time, and naturally, so were the young wizards in Compartment Two.

Naturally, the conversation once again turned to the cards.

"Wow! Derwent Shimpling!"

"Do you know him?"

"I don't, but I deeply admire what he did."

Hermione raised her eyebrows and took the card from Justin's hand.

"Derwent Shimpling,

ate an entire Venomous Tentacula on a dare and survived, though his body remained purple."

After reading the last line, Hermione turned her head and glared at Justin.

"Idiot."

"Well, you're right."

Justin did not argue at all, and both their gazes fell on Hermione's card.

"Godric Gryffindor,"

Hermione lifted her chin, a broad smile curving her lips.

"One of Hogwarts's founders. One of the Houses was named after him."

"That's amazing. I read about him in Hogwarts: A History. The book said he even left a sword at Hogwarts."

Justin praised him from the bottom of his heart. Hermione narrowed her eyes, clearly pleased.

While they were talking, the train had long since left London and was racing through pastures dotted with cattle and sheep.

For a while, neither of them spoke. They watched the vast grasslands and rolling hills flash past their eyes. Occasionally, they could see a few people riding fine horses, dressed in white riding outfits and looking like white flowers in an Oil Painting.

"I'm telling you, he really is quiet."

Hermione did not mention a name, but Justin knew perfectly well whom she meant.

"Not necessarily."

Justin smiled. Dimples appeared on his face, making him look especially comforting.

"Sean, please get rid of this Pumpkin Pasty. Help me out."

Then, a slender hand flashed out and vanished.

"Thanks."

A few seconds later, the voice came from behind a thick, dark brown book.

The dimples on Justin's face deepened.

"My mother told me that people who are truly capable tend to be very quiet.

Even if a mountain fell right in front of them, it wouldn't frighten them. But they're often not very lucky..."

Justin's gaze fell meaningfully on Sean's pilled coat and his focused face.

"Mother said I always needed friends like that.

Her advice helped me find my friends at Samfield School.

The facts proved that she was right. I think we'll be good friends for life.

We promised each other that even if we attended different schools, we would never lose touch.

Oh, if you're interested, I'd be happy to share the letters between us."

As Justin spoke, he opened his suitcase.

Besides the items on the school supply list, the most eye-catching things were the letters stacked neatly inside.

Scattered beside them were several photographs, apparently pictures of Justin with his friends.

Just as Hermione was examining them in surprise, a tearful voice suddenly rang out.

"Trevor! Where are you?"

A round-faced boy squeezed into the compartment and asked timidly,

"Sorry, have you seen my Toad?"

By then, the train journey was already two-thirds over.

Sean's concentration was broken by the train's warm, dim lights.

He rubbed his eyes. He was now the only one left in the compartment.

After taking in the darkening sky, he was about to change into his wizard robes.

But when he closed One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, he found a note.

It read:

Sean, we went to help a young wizard named Neville look for his Toad. If you want to come, you can find us in the corridor.

Sean thought for a moment, then wrote a few words on the back of the note:

The train is about to arrive. Remember to change clothes.

After writing it, Sean picked up his school robes and opened the compartment door.

The corridor was extremely noisy, far louder than before. Perhaps the young wizards in the compartments had become familiar with one another, so they were speaking much more loudly.

As Sean passed one compartment, he happened to hear an argument inside.

"Daisies, sweet cream, and sunshine, turn this silly fat old rat yellow."

It was a young boy's voice.

"Are you sure that's really a spell?"

A little girl asked.

"Doesn't look like much, does it?

I've tried a few simple spells at home, just for practice, and they all worked.

So, I mean,

watch this.

Reparo."

Sean roughly understood what was happening. Just as he was about to go over, he saw a platinum-haired boy stride out of a compartment, followed by two young wizards who looked like bodyguards.

Without thinking, Sean knew what was about to happen.

Sure enough, mocking words soon rang out.

"If I were you, Potter, I'd be very careful.

You ought to be more polite, or you'll end up on the same path as your parents.

They didn't know what was good for them either. If you hang around with trash like the Weasleys or Hagrid, you'll be affected."

What a venomous mouth.

Sean silently passed judgment and headed for the changing room without looking back.

Soon, shouting came from that tense compartment again.

Sean could guess it at once. Scabbers had probably bitten Goyle and helped Harry out of the situation.

If he remembered correctly, was this the only time Peter Pettigrew had ever helped Harry?

When Compartment Two was once again filled with young wizards, the train's rumbling had reached its loudest, and the scarlet steam engine slowly began to decelerate.

Outside,

beneath the dark purple sky, they could see only a stretch of mountains and forest.

Hermione and Justin could not hide the excitement in their eyes.

The three of them got off the Hogwarts Express one after another and arrived at a tiny, pitch-black platform.

From far away, they could see a giant holding a lantern. At a glance, he looked like one of those man-eating monsters from fairy tales.

The night chill seeped in.

But this time, Sean did not shiver. The clothes he wore were no longer donated, hole-ridden, pilled garments.

They were Hogwarts's plain robes and lining.

They were warm.

Following Hagrid through the forest, all the young wizards let out a resounding,

"Wow—"

Justin's cry was the loudest, drawing repeated glares from Hermione.

"Forgive me, Hermione, but Eton College wasn't so easy to give up.

My decision wasn't wrong. Look at this castle, those floating lights, and the moving statues...

If my mother saw This scene—I mean, she'd be proud of me."

They crossed the Black Lake in small boats, entered the boathouse, and climbed the cliffside stairs.

The young wizards stopped before the entrance hall of the Great Hall, then listened to Professor McGonagall explain the House Sorting.