Arrival at Hogwarts

With food in front of him, Flag's attention was completely diverted. As he sampled foods unavailable in the Muggle world, he narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

The fields racing past the windows grew more desolate, and the neat farmland had vanished. In its place came woods, winding rivers, and dark green hills.

It was not until darkness had fully fallen that Ron and Flag finally stopped their endless debate—over whether Quidditch or football was better!

In this regard, Harry was absolutely a good listener, provided one ignored the hands constantly fiddling with Chocolate Frog cards.

"Put on your robes, quickly. I asked some experienced upperclassmen—we'll be there soon." Allen pushed open the compartment door and urged the group, who had hit it off at once.

Unable to endure the force of two chatterboxes gathered together, and curious about the train, Allen had gone out for a look around.

During that time, he ran into Hermione, who was helping Neville search for his Toad, as well as Malfoy, who had been looking for Harry.

Allen used Accio to find Neville's Toad. As for Malfoy, Allen simply avoided him. He had not been a teacher for many years and had no desire for too much involvement with the arrogant Malfoy.

"Allen, you're back! What a pity you weren't here just now. We had a fight with Malfoy. If you'd been there, we would've beaten them to a pulp," Ron complained.

Harry and Flag, who knew Allen's Strength well, nodded vigorously in wholehearted agreement. Even the PE teacher had praised Allen's Strength.

Allen neither agreed nor disagreed. If Malfoy truly provoked him, he would not mind teaching the unruly boy a lesson.

They quickly took off their outer clothes and pulled on black robes.

Ron's robes were a little short, exposing his sneakers beneath the hem. Allen thought robes like Ron's were quite good—convenient for movement.

"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be delivered to the school for you." The announcement echoed through the train.

"We're almost there, Allen. The wizarding world... I-I'm a little nervous."

Flag spoke dryly, having completely lost the animated energy he had displayed while discussing food.

He was not the only nervous one. Harry clutched his stomach, looking distinctly unwell, while Ron's face had gone pale beneath his freckles.

Allen stuffed their remaining sweets into their pockets, crammed their discarded clothes haphazardly into the suitcase, and followed the stream of people in the corridor surging forward.

The train slowed, then finally came to a halt.

The passengers shoved and jostled as they crowded toward the doors and descended onto a tiny, pitch-black platform.

The night chill made Harry, pressed close against Allen, shiver.

Then a lamp swung above the students' heads, and Allen heard a rough voice shouting, "First-years! First-years, this way! Harry, over here! How are you?"

Above the sea of bobbing heads, Hagrid's bearded face wore a Smile.

"Come on, follow me! Any more first-years? Watch your step! All right, first-years, follow me!"

The new students followed Hagrid, slipping and stumbling as though they were making their way down a steep, narrow path.

Allen adapted well enough, even having the spare energy to steady Harry and pull Flag along.

Ron's shorter robes clearly have an advantage at a time like this. Look at how much steadier he is than the other first-years, Allen mused aimlessly.

Everything on either side of the path was pitch-black. Everyone remained silent, creating the atmosphere of a horror film.

"Turn this corner, and you'll see Hogwarts for the first time."

Hagrid called back. This was followed by a ringing chorus of "Ooh!" At the end of the narrow path, a black lake suddenly spread out before them.

On the high slope across the lake stood a magnificent castle, its countless turrets rising skyward and its windows glittering beneath the stars.

"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid shouted, pointing at a fleet of small boats moored along the shore.

Allen nimbly claimed a boat. Ron immediately followed, while Harry and Flag helped each other aboard.

"Everyone in?" Hagrid called, taking a boat all to himself.

"Then off we go!" The fleet of boats immediately glided across the glassy lake.

Everyone fell silent, gazing at the enormous castle towering into the clouds.

As they approached the cliff where the castle stood, it seemed to loom directly above their heads.

"Duck!" Hagrid shouted as the first boats neared the cliff face.

Everyone lowered their heads as the boats carried them through a curtain of ivy covering the cliff's front and into a hidden, open entrance. The young wizards discovered that Hagrid was actually the only one who truly needed to duck.

They followed a dark tunnel that seemed to lead beneath the castle, eventually reaching something like an underground dock before climbing onto a patch of gravel and small pebbles.

Next, Hagrid knocked open the castle doors with his enormous fist. Professor McGonagall, dignified and stern, led the new students into a very small room at the far end of the entrance hall.

Professor McGonagall introduced Hogwarts' four Houses and informed them that the Sorting Ceremony would soon take place.

It was clear that the young wizards were terribly nervous. Those from the Muggle world were completely bewildered, with no idea what sort of challenge awaited them. Even the new students from wizarding families seemed not to have received any information from their relatives. Everyone appeared unwilling to spoil this journey of the heart, which was also a rare opportunity for growth.

"How can they accurately place us in the right House?" Harry asked.

Flag also wanted to know the answer and turned to look at Allen.

"There's no need to worry. It's not as though they'll expel us," Allen reassured him.

"Probably through some kind of test. Fred said it's very harmful to us, but I think he was joking." Ron looked terrified.

Allen did not explain much. They would find out soon enough. It would not be difficult for them; the difficult part was Allen.

He was about to face the hat that could see through a person's thoughts and potential. He did not know whether it would discover the system, or whether its magic was powerful enough to see through his Secret.

For this, he had practiced throughout the summer, focusing on Occlumency.

A master of Occlumency could make others see only the parts he wanted them to see. Allen still needed to consider what he could allow the Sorting Hat to see.

Just as Allen was immersed in his thoughts, Harry beside him suddenly leaped three feet into the air. Several loud screams came from behind them—it was ghosts.

Allen should have been surprised and curious too, since he had never seen ghosts before. Yet immersed in Occlumency, he merely glanced at them a few times before calmly closing his eyes and focusing again.

As the ghosts drifted through the walls, Professor McGonagall returned.

"Now, form a single line," Professor McGonagall told the first-years. "Follow me."

The Sorting Ceremony was about to begin!