First Entering Hogwarts Castle

"Once we turn this corner, you'll see Hogwarts for the first time."

After walking for about twenty minutes, Jerry heard Hagrid, who was leading the way, turn around and call out loudly to them.

Sure enough, when they reached the end of the path and turned the corner, the dense woods that had been blocking their view on both sides vanished.

Before them lay a vast, black lake.

On the high slope at the far end of the lake stood a majestic medieval castle steeped in mystery. Its towers rose one after another, and its windows glittered beneath the starry sky.

Especially against the backdrop of the Black Lake, the castle appeared incomparably enormous, drawing looks of amazement from every Little Wizard, Jerry included.

When he had watched the films in his previous life, Hogwarts Castle had seemed quite magnificent, but after all, it had only been trapped inside a tiny television screen.

It was like seeing the universe and its planets on television versus truly standing in the universe yourself—the feeling was definitely different.

To put it more plainly, looking at a beauty on paper and looking at a living, breathing beauty were completely different experiences too.

Now, standing beside the Black Lake and witnessing that mysterious Hogwarts Castle with his own eyes, Jerry finally understood why Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was so famous in the Wizarding World.

Surely every Wizard who had studied at Hogwarts would never forget the shock of seeing Hogwarts Castle for the first time.

"No more than four people per boat!"

At that moment, Hagrid pointed to a row of small boats moored by the lake, each carrying its own magical lantern, and told the Little Wizards that they would need to take them across the Black Lake to Hogwarts.

The Little Wizards began forming groups and boarding the boats.

There were plenty of boats, so they did not all need to be filled. Many of the Little Wizards went in groups of two or three.

Jerry, Hermione, and Neville naturally climbed into the same boat.

"Set off!"

Once all the Little Wizards had formed their groups, Hagrid, sitting alone in a small boat, gave a low shout.

Without anyone doing anything, all the boats carrying the Little Wizards drifted swiftly toward Hogwarts Castle, propelled by the waves of the Black Lake.

So this was rowing without oars—relying entirely on the waves.

Looking at the neatly lined-up boats moving forward on their own, Jerry could not help making the sarcastic remark to himself.

"Jerry, do you know why we have to take boats to the castle?"

Hermione, sitting beside him, suddenly lifted her little chin and asked Jerry.

Clearly, Hermione's fondness for "showing off" her knowledge had flared up again.

Children their age might have found that irritating, but as an adult, Jerry only felt that having someone explain things to him for free was a wonderful thing.

"I really don't know."

Jerry answered honestly.

He genuinely did not know why the Little Wizards took boats to Hogwarts. That was simply how it had been shown in the films, though in the later ones, they seemed to travel by carriage instead.

But when he watched those films, all his attention had been on the amazing magic. Who would care about whether they rode in carriages or boats?

Seeing that Jerry did not know, Hermione immediately perked up and began explaining:

"I read in Hogwarts, A History that first-year students taking boats to the castle is actually a traditional ceremony meant to commemorate the school's founders!

Look, each boat has four seats, symbolizing the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And the route we're taking now is the very route the four founders took when they found the site of Hogwarts Castle!"

"So that's how it is. You really do learn something new every day!"

After Hermione's explanation, Jerry realized that it really was true. What surprised him even more, though, was how many extracurricular books this little girl had read during a single month of summer vacation.

She truly deserved to be called Miss Know-It-All. Ordinary people could hardly compare.

And so, while listening to Hermione's various bits of knowledge beside him and enjoying the unique scenery of the Black Lake, Jerry crossed the lake in the small boat.

They passed through a pitch-black tunnel beneath the cliffs, gradually slowed down, and stopped beside the underground dock of Hogwarts Castle.

"Alright, everyone, follow me. We'll be at the castle gates soon!"

Hagrid carried his magical lantern at the front. After Jerry and the other Little Wizards got off the boats, they gathered together and followed behind him.

They then made their way up a path paved with gravel and small pebbles for another arduous half hour before finally arriving at a flat, damp lawn beneath the castle's shadow.

Before them stood a huge oak door—the main gate of Hogwarts Castle.

Hagrid stepped forward and knocked on the door three times. It immediately opened, and a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes appeared behind it, her expression stern.

She was none other than the person Jerry knew well: the head of Gryffindor, McGonagall.

"First-year students, McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here."

After hearing their brief exchange, Jerry watched Hagrid leave first while McGonagall led them onward.

Crossing the steps beneath the oak door, they entered the entrance hall on the first floor of the castle.

"It's huge!"

Jerry heard Harry and Ron, who had come up beside him, exclaim in wonder, and he nodded in agreement.

Though it was only an entrance hall, perhaps it had been enlarged with an Undetectable Extension Charm. It looked exceptionally spacious, especially the ceiling, which gave the strange illusion that it stretched beyond sight.

The stone walls around the hall were lined with blazing torches, illuminating the entire space brightly. Directly opposite them was a luxurious marble staircase, which presumably led to the second floor.

From the doorway on the right side of the entrance hall came the faint hum of hundreds of people talking. Jerry guessed that it was the Great Hall on the first floor, where the Sorting Ceremony would soon be held.

There was a small room on the left side of the entrance hall. McGonagall was now leading them across the bluestone floor toward it.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but before you enter the Great Hall and take your seats, you must first..."

Inside the small room, McGonagall first greeted the Little Wizards, then gave them a general explanation of the upcoming Sorting Ceremony, the four Houses, points, the House Cup, and related matters.

However, she did not explain in detail what the Sorting Ceremony was based on or the specific process of Sorting, because the Little Wizards would soon find out for themselves.

Once she had finished, she told the Little Wizards to straighten their clothes in the small room and wait for the Sorting Ceremony, then left temporarily for the Great Hall.