27

By the time they reached the station, the sky had already gone dark.

A long, shrill train whistle forced everyone back to their seats to pack their belongings. Sherlock finally breathed a sigh of relief. Hogwarts staff would keep Pyros and his luggage separately, then deliver them to their House common room after the Sorting Ceremony.

"Come on, Camilla, we're here!" Sherlock beckoned to the little golden snake sulking on the table. Though she was still cross with him, Camilla obediently curled around his wrist, like a golden bracelet.

"Wow~!"

Fred and George exclaimed. Ever since their younger brother Ron had received Percy's unwanted rat, Scabbers, he had been practicing Whispering Word Spirit—the spell invented by Sherlock—at home, but he had never succeeded.

Through the train window, they could see a burly giant in the distance, holding a lantern that swung back and forth in his hand.

Sherlock left the compartment, with George and Fred following close behind.

"All first-year students, follow me! Watch your step!" The giant's voice was deep and booming, and when he suddenly shouted, it sounded like thunder.

"Master Sherlock, that's Hagrid, my parents' friend. He's a great guy—the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. He has a stone hut by the Forbidden Forest. Maybe we can visit him often at Hogwarts. That would be fun!"

Before Sherlock could say anything, a chorus of mocking snickers came from nearby.

"Tsk, tsk! So the Weasley Family's home was modeled after Hagrid's hut. Only your parents could be friends with that kind of freak. Don't you agree, Master Sherlock?"

Sherlock shot the boy a glare. Whenever he watched the Harry Potter series, Sherlock often felt that the Weasley twins were probably the most good-natured pair of brothers in the whole story. They loved jokes, but they were kind-hearted and generous.

"Shut up, Rupo Adams! Don't disgrace your family. Parents are all worthy of respect, and you're just a child with no right to insult others."

Sherlock sometimes truly could not stand how arrogantly these children from pure-blood families behaved. That was why, whenever Draco visited Mephisto Manor, Sherlock always liked correcting his extreme pure-blood views, though with little effect. After all, Draco could not possibly live at Mephisto Manor every day.

"Yes, Master Sherlock!"

Rupo Adams was a descendant of the Adams Family. The two had met at several banquets, and Rupo's father was one of Fumengde's dubious drinking companions.

"Pfft!"

Seeing Rupo put in his place, George and Fred snickered happily. At the same time, they were grateful that Sherlock had stepped forward to reprimand someone who insulted their parents.

Rupo, meanwhile, glared viciously at the twins. He did not dare offend Sherlock, but the Weasley Family... heh.

"Everyone, get in! Hurry up—we can't be late for the ceremony."

In his booming voice, Hagrid told the freshmen that they would not be crossing the long stone bridge like the older students. Instead, the new students would take small boats that seated four people to Hogwarts Castle.

This time, Fred and George did not continue crowding around Sherlock, because they had been shoved aside by a group of overbearing children from pure-blood families.

Among them were Rupo Adams, Dandeni Lestrange, and Fimiya Prince.

Leaving aside the fact that one of them was from the Lestrange Family, that beautiful, delicate-looking black-haired girl was actually from the Prince Family. Wasn't Severus Snape's mother from the Prince Family?

And judging from the looks of it, all three were clearly from pure-blood families.

"Hello, Master Sherlock. I'm Dandeni. I've long heard of your great reputation."

"Uh... hello."

"I'm... Fimiya... Fimiya Prince."

"Hello, Fimiya. You're very beautiful." Seeing how shy the girl seemed, Sherlock could not help teasing her. Sure enough, at his compliment, her entire face turned as red as an apple.

She had black hair and black eyes, yet the features of a beautiful Western woman, making her look like a mixed-race girl. Could the Prince Family really have some Eastern blood? Come to think of it, Snape's black hair had always looked slick and glossy.

"Haha, look at Fimiya acting all quiet. I've never seen—"

"She's putting on an act. Usually, she's as fierce as a tiger."

Rupo and Dandeni burst out laughing, but to Sherlock's astonishment, Fimiya kicked them both into the water, one after the other, before returning to her shy, upright sitting posture.

If Sherlock had not used magic to fish them out and dry them off, they really would have been late for the Sorting Ceremony.

After entering Hogwarts Castle, they found a tall witch in dark green robes staring sternly at them.

"Professor McGonagall, these are this year's new students."

"Very well. Thank you, Hagrid."

Professor McGonagall's green eyes swept over everyone present. All the new students shrank their necks, as though icy blades were shaving across their scalps.

But Sherlock alone knew that Professor McGonagall was a very kind person.

Following Professor McGonagall, they passed stone walls lined with blazing torches. The ceiling was so high that they could barely see its top. Directly ahead stood a magnificent marble staircase leading upward.

As they walked across the stone floor, Sherlock could already hear the hum of hundreds of voices coming from the door on the right. The students from the other years had presumably already arrived.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said. "The start-of-term feast will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must first be sorted into your respective Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, because during your time at school, your House will be like your home at Hogwarts. You will attend classes with the other students in your House, sleep in your House dormitories, and spend your free time in your House common room.

"The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own glorious history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. During your time at Hogwarts, excellent conduct will earn points for your House, while any rule-breaking will cost your House points. At the end of the year, the House with the highest score will win the House Cup, a great honor. I hope that whichever House you are sorted into, you will bring it glory."