Crossing the Lake

Several hours later, night fell. Outside the train windows, it was pitch-black, impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. Even Ron and Hermione, who were usually so lively, gradually quieted down.

Chu Yang closed his book as well and began organizing his luggage, neatly putting the books he had taken out back where they belonged.

He had long grown accustomed to taking trains away from home for school and was thoroughly familiar with the process. Besides, this was a direct train, so there was no need to worry about missing his stop. There was nothing to be nervous about.

Accompanied by the train whistle's wail, the train slowly pulled into a simple station. It was not large, and its facilities looked somewhat old, but it had been kept very clean.

The greenery and streetlamps on either side of the tracks made the station feel warm and charming, easing some of the first-years' nerves.

Under the streetlamps, Chu Yang saw the giant Hagrid walking toward them through the train window.

The darkness made him look even more imposing!

Nearly as tall as the train itself, the giant held a lantern in one hand and loudly called out to the new students, "First-years, come over here! Hurry up, don't be shy! The welcome feast is waiting on you!"

At once, the new students got off the train. All their luggage was left aboard; someone would deliver it to the school later.

Harry and Ron got off the train and immediately went over to greet Hagrid before following closely behind him. Chu Yang, meanwhile, lagged a few steps behind, blending into the crowd.

His meeting with Harry Potter had been accidental.

Chu Yang had no intention of carrying that chance encounter any further.

He did not want to get involved in the conflict between the main characters and Voldemort. It was troublesome, time-consuming, and offered no benefit whatsoever.

Really, who in real life would rush to do something so thankless and exhausting?

Instead of wasting his time on that, Chu Yang would rather find somewhere quiet and study magic in peace.

After all, as the protagonist, Harry Potter would definitely defeat Voldemort in the end. Whether Chu Yang helped or not made little difference.

He had to improve his abilities as quickly as possible so that, the next time he entered the Soul Palace, he could help his other selves.

After all, freeloading once was enough. Doing it any more than that would be a little rude.

Just as Chu Yang thought they would gradually drift apart, a little tail appeared behind him.

"Chu Yang, can you tell me what year's material you've actually taught yourself up to?" Hermione stared at him with wide, round eyes like a little squirrel.

The crowd surged around them. To avoid getting separated, Hermione gripped Chu Yang's sleeve with one hand.

Chu Yang felt rather helpless.

Hermione's pride was truly strong. Back home, she had always been the first to show off whatever knowledge she had learned.

But this time, in terms of learning, Chu Yang had completely crushed her.

Given her personality, she would not simply give up.

Chu Yang calmly made up a lie. "Actually, I haven't read as many books as you think. Other than the first-year textbooks, the rest are just books related to Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"You already know about my family situation. Even if I wanted to read more, I couldn't afford extra books. Even my tuition is being paid by Hogwarts."

After he mentioned his family circumstances, Hermione indeed stopped pressing him. Instead, she comforted him, "Chu Yang, you don't need to worry about books. Professor McGonagall told me that Hogwarts' library has a very extensive collection. You can borrow many books there."

Chu Yang smiled. "Thank you for the reminder, Miss Granger."

Hermione waved her hand and returned his smile. "No need to be so formal. Just call me Hermione."

As soon as they finished speaking, the group had reached the lakeshore. Hagrid stood on the bank, constantly waving his arms and directing the students toward the boats.

"Three or four people per boat at most! Use your heads—if you're heavier, pick a boat with fewer people!"

The new students began boarding. But the waves knocked the boats back and forth, and for a group of eleven-year-olds, getting into them took some effort.

Hermione looked at the unsteady little boat and immediately hesitated. Then Chu Yang pressed down on the bow, and the boat became as steady as if it had been nailed to the surface of the lake.

"Wow, you're so strong!" Hermione looked at Chu Yang in surprise. Then she cautiously put one foot into the boat, braced both hands on its side, and carefully climbed in.

There was also a rather large boy standing awkwardly on the shore. It seemed no one else particularly wanted him in their boat, afraid he would take up too much room.

The boy gave Chu Yang an embarrassed smile.

"Come on. The three of us are just right." Chu Yang tilted his head, signaling for the boy to board. The boy sat down with obvious relief.

After Chu Yang boarded last, the boat began moving without anyone pushing it. A spell had clearly been cast on it beforehand.

"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger." Hermione introduced herself generously to the quiet boy.

"H-hello, I'm... Neville Longbottom." The pale, chubby boy named Neville was so nervous that he began to stammer.

The boat drifted farther and farther from shore, and the surrounding light grew dimmer.

The black lake was so still that it made one's skin crawl, while a silent fear spread like ripples across the water.

The lantern in Hagrid's hand was nowhere near enough to dispel the fear of a group of eleven-year-old children.

Frightened, Hermione pressed tightly against Chu Yang's side and refused to let go of his robe.

Out of kindness, Chu Yang had to remind her, "If you keep holding onto me like this, then if I fall into the lake, I'll drag you down with me."

Hermione decisively shook her head. "You're so smart. The chances of you falling in are very low. Holding onto you is safer."

Chu Yang: "..."

From a nearby boat drifting past, complaints rang out continuously. "I really don't understand why we can't ride carriages like the older students. Why do we have to cross the lake by boat? What if something happens?"

Hagrid, at the very front, heard the complaints and helplessly turned around. "Don't worry, everyone. Traveling by boat is very safe. In all these years at Hogwarts, not a single student has died while crossing the lake."

Hagrid's explanation did not reassure the children. Instead, the complaints only grew louder.

Hermione, who had been frightened just moments ago, immediately perked up. In a spirited voice, she explained, "Crossing the lake by boat is a Hogwarts tradition for new students. It imitates the scene when the Four Great Wizards first arrived here to establish the school."

"The purpose is to remind later generations not to forget their original aspirations, and to remember the hardships under which Hogwarts was founded."

As Hermione explained, the new students' complaints abruptly stopped, and the hot-blooded passion within them blazed to life!