School Is Your Home

The train slowly came to a stop.

Hogwarts Station had finally arrived.

At this time, the prefects from each house were standing by the train doors. They had to watch over all the new students as they got off safely, so the little ones would not trip or bump into anything.

"Let's go."

Vinson Wright adjusted his robes.

The journey to Hogwarts had been fairly pleasant for Vinson. Of course, the gift he received at the end of the journey made him even happier.

[Exploration Quest: Arrive at the school aboard the Hogwarts Express (1/1), quest completed. Reward: Teleportation Charm.]

[Teleportation Charm: Teleportation is divided into Apparition and Disapparition. It can instantly transfer the caster's body to the destination, unaffected by any barrier. If the caster's magic is sufficient, they can teleport to anywhere in the world.]

"...Okay."

Cedric took a deep breath, looking somewhat nervous.

Just as Vinson and Cedric followed a group of new students in line off the train, a loud voice began echoing throughout the station.

"First-years, come over here!"

"First-years, don't be shy! Get off the train quickly!"

"First-years, gather here at once!"

The new students followed the voice and looked toward the person who had called out. A tall figure carrying an oil lamp appeared before them, startling many of the new students.

"That's Hagrid!"

Cedric quickly recognized him!

The man's build was simply too distinctive. There was probably no one else like him anywhere in the British wizarding world—the gamekeeper of Hogwarts, Rubeus Hagrid.

"My father and Hagrid are good friends..."

Cedric quietly introduced him to Vinson. "You may have seen him at The Leaky Cauldron before. I heard he really likes Fantastic Beasts..."

"Has Mr. Wright arrived?"

Hagrid's booming voice rang out again. Holding up his oil lamp, he shouted at the group of new students, "Where is Mr. Vinson Wright? Has anyone seen Vinson Wright?"

"Is something wrong?"

Vinson Wright walked over.

"Well..."

Hagrid's massive body quickly approached. When he reached Vinson's side, he could barely contain his excitement, making the group of new students stare at him fearfully!

However, Hagrid glanced at the surrounding new students and forcibly suppressed his excitement. After coughing, he put on a composed expression. "All first-year students, follow me. We're taking boats over here. Hurry up and keep up!"

The little ones hurried after him.

After all, the enormous man looked truly frightening.

Hagrid led the young wizards to the edge of the Black Lake. Flat-bottomed boats were moored there, with rows of lanterns placed along the shore.

"Four people per boat."

Standing on the shore, Hagrid instructed the young wizards as they boarded. At the same time, he handed each boat a lantern. "This is your guide lamp. Make sure you hold it securely and place it at the bow..."

"...Yes."

The young wizards climbed onto the flat-bottomed boats with trembling hearts.

Hagrid carried his own lantern and sat alone in a boat to lead the way. He slowly raised his palm, and the ripples on the surface of the lake began to surge rapidly!

Following Hagrid's movements...

The flat-bottomed boats slowly moved forward...

Every little one stayed as still as possible. They felt that if they moved even slightly too much, the small boat would overturn straight into the Black Lake.

But...

Soon, they had no time to pay attention to that.

A castle standing atop a mountain came into view.

The castle was ancient and imposing, its brilliant lights illuminating the magnificent buildings packed across the mountaintop. It instantly drew the eyes of every young wizard.

"That's Hogwarts!"

Excitement appeared on the faces of the young wizards.

The expressions of everyone present were almost identical.

Even the Weasley brothers, Fred and George, who were known by their parents as troublemakers, had eyes filled with shock at the sight of the castle.

The young wizards' faces were filled with anticipation.

Every one of them was eager to enter this grand and magnificent school!

However, Hagrid remained dutifully focused as he guided them to shore at the boathouse dock, allowing them to walk up the steps outside the castle toward the entrance hall of Hogwarts.

While standing at the boathouse dock and putting away the small boats, Hagrid watched the young wizards leave. A nostalgic smile spread across his mouth.

The young wizards climbed the steps along the path.

As Cedric surveyed the school, he explained its history to his friend. "It's a tradition for new students to enter Hogwarts by boat. The route we're taking now is the same route the four Founders of Hogwarts once took when they entered Hogwarts Castle..."

"...Mm, I know."

Vinson Wright nodded hesitantly.

When Vinson Wright had first seen Hogwarts, he had also been deeply shocked. He was even more astonished by what he had gained from this trip across the lake to Hogwarts.

[Exploration Quest: Reach Hogwarts Castle by boat across the Black Lake (1/1), quest completed. Reward: Magic Spell, Water Prison.]

[Water Prison: No incantation is required. The caster can use magic to freely control water and transform it into a water prison. If the caster's magic is sufficient, they can control the sea and raise a world-destroying tsunami out of thin air, turning any building into a water prison.]

This magic...

Wasn't it overestimating him a little?

Vinson Wright felt that he probably would not be able to accomplish that in his entire lifetime. In fact, he felt that if his magic became strong enough in the future to control Hogwarts' Black Lake, that would already be enough.

Soon.

The young wizards entered the castle.

The young wizards climbed the stairs inside the castle, chattering about the magnificence and grandeur of Hogwarts. Their voices brought a little liveliness to the quiet castle.

This was the first time they had seen such a luxurious and magnificent castle.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, everyone."

A witch wearing a wizard's hat stood at the entrance of the hall to welcome them.

The somewhat elderly-looking witch watched as the little ones stopped. A kindly smile appeared on her face. She gently clapped her hands, quieting the young wizards present.

"All right."

The witch gestured toward the doors behind her. Her voice gradually grew louder as she introduced what was about to happen to all the new students.

"In a moment..."

"All of you will pass through these doors..."

"The other students are waiting in the Great Hall to welcome you and celebrate together."

"However, before you take your seats, you must be assigned to your houses."

"Hogwarts has four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. During your time at school, your house will be much like your home..."

"...Professor."

A voice suddenly emerged from among the young wizards, asking, "Is the school our home, or is our house our home?"

"..."

The question left the witch silent for a second.

However, after that second passed, a conflicted expression appeared on the witch's face before vanishing without a trace. She smiled and answered the question.

"Both."

The highest-ranking witch at Hogwarts gently spread her arms and smiled at all the young wizards present. "Whether it is Hogwarts or the house you are about to join, both are your homes."

"Thank you, Professor. I have no more questions."

The gray-haired boy who had asked the question politely nodded.