Everyone Wanted to Be Friends with You
As dusk fell, the steam train finally came to a stop at Hogsmeade Station.
Then, just as expected—and just as Annie already knew from previous years—the first-years were led by the hulking Hagrid, who was as big as a Giant. They went down a steep, narrow path, crossed a small wood, and finally reached the lakeside, where they saw the enormous Hogwarts Castle standing tall on the far shore, dark and imposing.
Next, once four students had climbed aboard each boat, the seemingly enchanted vessels silently glided across the dark lake toward the castle.
During all this, neither Annie nor the little "panda" Tibbers she was keeping under control caused any trouble.
It wasn't that she didn't want to. She just wasn't in a hurry!
After all, she first had to make sure she got into Hogwarts and became a first-year student without a hitch. After that, she'd have plenty of time and chances to have fun with the students and professors around the castle.
Soon!
While the sleepy-eyed Annie was nodding off, Hermione and the two other girls beside her were excitedly looking around and exclaiming over everything. At last, the boats crossed the lake and followed a low, tunnel-like waterway beneath the cliff where the castle stood, bringing them to a sort of boathouse beneath the castle.
Then, after everyone had disembarked, the group followed Hagrid to a huge, ancient oak door.
"..."
Once they arrived, Annie perked up at once. She knew the show was about to begin.
She was already quite familiar with the castle. She'd spent a long time here before and had explored practically every corner, so she knew the great door in front of them led into the Entrance Hall, with the Great Hall just beyond