Arriving at Hogwarts

Elshiona Greengrass coming over was completely unexpected to Xiwen. He hurriedly waved his wand to help her stow her luggage on the rack, then invited her to sit down.

Elshiona naturally sat beside Xiwen and greeted Abraxas familiarly.

Xiwen helplessly put away Magical Theory and discussed Hogwarts with the two of them, thinking he probably would not get another chance to read on the train.

As a streak of red appeared on the horizon, the Hogwarts Express slowly pulled into Hogsmeade Station with the sound of its whistle.

"First-years, over here—" A booming voice rang through the entire train. "Leave your luggage alone. You'll find it in your dormitories after the Sorting."

The three of them got off the train and headed toward the voice.

A strange, scruffy-bearded man stood beside the train—though calling it standing was a bit of a stretch. His entire left arm was missing, and only half of his right leg remained. He barely supported himself with a crutch under his right arm and his still-intact left leg, looking as though he might topple over at any moment.

After counting heads and seeing that all the first-years had arrived, the strange man introduced himself. "My name is Silvanus Kettleburn. I'm the Hogwarts gamekeeper and your Care of Magical Creatures professor. You may choose that subject as an elective in your third year."

Abraxas turned to Xiwen and whispered, "He doesn't look very reliable. I doubt I'll choose that class in third year."

Xiwen replied, "Third year is still two years away. We'll see when the time comes. Maybe this professor is unexpectedly reliable."

Elshiona stood to Xiwen's left. Hearing that, she glanced at the two of them and said, "School hasn't even started, and you're already gossiping about a professor?"

"Quiet!" Professor Kettleburn shouted. His voice was so loud that Xiwen thought he had no need for a Sonorus Charm at all. "Now, everyone follow me. Don't fall behind!"

He led them down a steep, narrow path, with dense forest on either side.

Perhaps the silence of the woods was oppressive. The whole way, not a sound could be heard as the young wizards nervously followed Professor Kettleburn.

After several minutes of quiet walking, the professor suddenly said, "Once you round this bend, you'll see Hogwarts."

They rounded the bend with excitement, and at the end of the narrow path, a black lake suddenly stretched before them. On the high slope across the lake stood a majestic castle.

The castle loomed in the night. Its spires rose one after another, while lights from countless windows shimmered against the stars above. A streak of sunset that had not yet fully faded added a purplish-red edge to the castle, making it seem even more mysterious and imposing.

The young wizards were too awestruck to speak. Only Professor Kettleburn, already accustomed to the sight, chattered away as he explained Hogwarts's history to the first-years.

"More than nine hundred years ago, Hogwarts's four great founders—Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff—came here by boat just as we are doing now. That's why every year's first-years must travel to the castle by boat. We are retracing the founders' path..."

A little farther north was a small dock. The water reflected the rippling glow of the sunset, and more than a dozen little boats swayed faintly on the lake.

When they stopped by the shore, Professor Kettleburn checked the numbers again and nodded in satisfaction.

"All first-years are here, so listen carefully to the rules. Hogwarts first-years must cross the Black Lake by boat to enter Hogwarts Castle. Each boat holds no more than four people. Do not casually touch the lake water while aboard. There are all kinds of powerful magical creatures in it..."

After explaining the precautions, he motioned for the young wizards to board freely.

Xiwen and the other two climbed into a boat. Other first-years sat in groups of two or three in the remaining boats, and few of the boats were filled to capacity. Some even sat alone in a boat with plenty of room left over. It was clear that the tense situation in the Muggle World and the unrest in the wizarding world had ultimately had a considerable impact on Hogwarts's enrollment. This year's intake seemed especially small.

Xiwen also noticed that the freckled girl Abu had driven away earlier was sitting alone in one of the boats. Professor Kettleburn seemed to notice her helplessness as well. Leaning on his crutch, he hopped into her boat and startled her.

"Set off!" Professor Kettleburn stood at the bow, flourishing his crutch with high spirits as he directed all the boats away from shore.

The boats lined up in a row and glided automatically toward the castle. Hogwarts Castle drew closer and closer.

"Duck!" As the first boats neared the cliff, Professor Kettleburn shouted. Everyone lowered their heads as the boats carried them through a curtain of ivy covering the cliff face and into a hidden, open entrance. They followed a pitch-black tunnel, seemingly entering beneath the castle, before finally arriving at something like an underground harbor.

After disembarking at the harbor, they found a long stone stairway behind the dockhouse that led up to the castle on the cliff.

As they climbed the stairs, Abraxas kept panting and complaining that the castle had been built too high. In contrast, Xiwen continued climbing with an unchanged expression, even supporting the pitiful-looking Elshiona beside him.

To be fair, the reputation of a close-combat mage trained at Kamar-Taj was no exaggeration. Even after coming to this world, Xiwen had never neglected physical training. This amount of exercise was practically nothing to him.

Most of the young wizards had no mood left to admire Hogwarts Castle as it drew nearer. Only after they reached the castle's oak doors, drenched in sweat, did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Professor Kettleburn knocked three times on the door. It slowly opened, revealing a spacious entrance courtyard.

The entrance courtyard was square, surrounded by a ring of marble corridors.

The young wizards followed the professor through the corridor and across the broad entrance courtyard. Ahead stood a pair of double doors, through which they could vaguely see brilliant lights and countless students in school robes.

Professor Kettleburn handed them over to an elderly witch standing at the far end of the entrance courtyard. She wore blue robes and a pointed wizard's hat. Then he limped through the double doors with his crutch.

The elderly witch, whose hair was entirely white, looked kindly at the first-years before saying, "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am your Deputy Headmistress, Galatea Melesi. Perhaps you have already noticed my name on your acceptance letters."

Professor Melesi smiled at the panting young wizards, waved her wand, and everyone immediately felt lighter, as though all their exhaustion had been swept away. Seeing them recover, she continued.

"The start-of-term feast will begin shortly. Before that, however, you will be assigned to your respective Houses. The Sorting Ceremony is very important. Your House will be your home at Hogwarts."

"The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each has a glorious and long history, and each has produced exceptionally talented witches and wizards. During your time at Hogwarts, following the rules will earn your House points, while breaking them will cost points. At the end of every year, the children of the House with the highest score will be awarded a shared honor—the House Cup. I hope each of you will bring glory to your House."

As she spoke, she led the first-years into an empty room nearby. As Xiwen and the others neared the doors, they could still hear the roaring voices from within.

"The Sorting Ceremony will begin in front of the entire school in a few minutes. You may take this opportunity to straighten your clothes."

Professor Melesi gave the sweat-soaked young wizards a meaningful look, then left the room.

"Did your families tell you how the Sorting works? No matter how much I asked, my mother wouldn't tell me. She said there would be a surprise when the time came." Xiwen asked Abu and Elshiona, who were standing beside him.

Abu shook his head and said indignantly, "I don't know either. Damn it! They clearly know, but they refuse to tell us."

"My mother was afraid I'd worry, so she told me a little." Elshiona said. "There's a hat... Ah!"

Elshiona screamed and fiercely grabbed Xiwen's arm, startling both Xiwen and Abraxas.

"What the... what the hell!"

Before Abu could finish his question, a group of translucent ghosts drifted through the walls into the room.

Xiwen watched with interest as the ghosts seemed to drift carelessly past the young wizards. Some even passed straight through their bodies. But anyone paying closer attention would notice that many of them—well, many of the ghosts—would occasionally glance sideways at the frightened reactions of the young wizards before secretly smiling in satisfaction.

"Your expression is so weird, Xiwen!" Elshiona patted Xiwen from beside him and said with a strange look. "Other people are either scared or curious when they see ghosts. Why do you have that look on your face?"

"Ahem... Do I?" Xiwen coughed awkwardly.

Just as the first-years in the room were thrown into chaos, Professor Melesi pushed open the door and walked in.

She smiled as she watched the ghosts who had "happened" to pass by bid the young wizards farewell and drift through the walls toward the Great Hall, then motioned for the first-years to follow.

"Let's go, let's go!" Xiwen took the chance to change the subject, tugging the displeased Elshiona along as he followed their Deputy Headmistress.

Professor Melesi led the first-years out of the room, through the Great Hall's entrance hall, and through the double doors into the Great Hall.

The older students sat at four long tables. Thousands of candles floated overhead, brightly illuminating the entire Great Hall. The tables were covered with glittering gold plates and goblets. At the front of the hall, another long table stood on a raised platform, where all the professors were seated.

Professor Melesi led the first-years onto the platform and had them stand in a row facing the older students.

Then she took a pointed wizard's hat from the end of the teachers' table. The hat looked weathered, tattered, filthy, and covered in patches. Professor Melesi placed it on a four-legged stool set in the middle of the Great Hall.

Suddenly, a slit near the brim sprang open, and an unpleasant voice startled the young wizards!

The slit opened and closed like a mouth, and the hat began to sing an untuneful song:

You may think I'm not much to look at

But never judge a thing by its appearance

If you can find a finer-looking hat

I'll gladly eat myself without resistance

You can make your round hats black and glossy

And keep your silk hats smooth and shining

But I am Hogwarts's magical testing hat

Naturally superior to all your hat designs

Any thought hidden deep within your mind

Cannot escape this sharp-eyed magic hat

Put me on and you will not be lost

I'll tell you which House you ought to have

Perhaps you belong in Gryffindor

Where courage is held in deep esteem

Their daring, boldness, and open hearts

Have brought Gryffindor its brilliant gleam

Perhaps you belong in Hufflepuff

Where folk are loyal, just, and kind

Hufflepuff students are steadfast and strong

Unafraid of toil or troubles of any kind

If your mind is clever and bright

Perhaps wise Ravenclaw will be your home

Those learned, thoughtful people are unmatched

There they will always meet their own

Perhaps you will enter Slytherin

Where friendship may be yours to share

The wizards there often harbor great ambition

And show their brilliance at any cost or dare

Come and wear me! Do not fear or stray!

Do not lose yourself to panic or alarm!

With me, you will surely come to no harm

For I am a thinking magical hat!

Xiwen was certain that few first-years cared what the Sorting Hat had actually sung. They were nervous beyond belief, staring anxiously at the many older students seated at the four long tables.

The students at the long tables watched the first-years with great interest, as though they saw in them their own past selves before their Sorting. The professors also greatly enjoyed the young wizards' expressions, occasionally chatting with those beside them and laughing heartily.