Hogwarts

Just then, a smiling woman opened the compartment door. "Anything from the trolley, dears?"

She spotted the lunchbox in front of Will and looked surprised. "Oh, your family must love you very much."

The other three immediately reached into their pockets. After a moment's thought, Will bought some Chocolate Frogs too. He planned to save them for Hogwarts. He wasn't an old bee like Dumbledore, but sometimes he needed something sweet to lift his spirits.

Food did lift everyone's spirits. The compartment quickly grew lively, and even Neville stopped stammering quite so much.

Will soon finished his lunch. He waved his wand and cast Scourgify.

[You have cast spells repeatedly. You have grown more proficient with a spell. Charms experience +1]

Oh, nice! Another point of experience.

Though it seemed to put even more pressure on Hermione...

Childhood friendships were simple. The four had already grown comfortable together and sat chatting over snacks while Will prepared to rest for a bit before returning to his book.

"Oh, I got one." Neville chewed his Chocolate Frog and pulled out a card. "It's Hengist of Woodcroft. Does that mean I should go to Hufflepuff? Oh—"

Halfway through his sentence, a Chocolate Frog leg gave his mouth a vicious kick.

"Come to think of it, I forgot to let Trevor out for some air again." Only then did Neville remember his pet toad. He felt around in his pocket, and his face quickly fell.

"He's gone again! I've lost him again! He's always trying to get away from me."

Hermione seemed unable to bear seeing Neville like that. "I'll help you look. He should still be on the train."

"Thank you, Hermione." Neville looked ready to cry with gratitude.

"Actually, the Summoning Charm should bring Trevor back," Will pointed out.

Some people said the Summoning Charm couldn't summon living creatures. In fact, it could. In The Goblet of Fire, Harry had used Trevor as a practice target while preparing for the First Task. And in the seventh book, a wizard had used the charm to catch fish.

"So, Will, you've already learned the Summoning Charm?" Neville asked hopefully. Will nodded.

"I can try to summon Trevor for you, but it might not work. First, you'll have to describe exactly what he looks like."

"No problem. Trevor's grayish-black, and his back is covered in bumps..." Neville had described an ordinary toad. Will could only give it his best shot.

"Accio Trevor!" Will waved his wand and waited, but nothing happened. An awkward silence settled over the compartment. He waved his wand again, trying to recall what Trevor had looked like in the films.

Those images were hazy now. After all, he had seen them in his "previous life."

This time, though, the spell worked. A gray toad came flying down the corridor. Several young wizards stared openmouthed, as if they had just seen a magical creature.

Splat! Everyone in the compartment realized something had struck the door.

"Trevor!" Neville opened it. Poor Trevor had been knocked unconscious and lay belly-up in the corridor. Neville hurriedly scooped him up. Will noticed that as Neville carried Trevor inside, Sylvia and Hermione both leaned back at the same time.

"Thank you, Will. Thank you for finding Trevor." Neville stuffed the unconscious toad into his pocket and thanked Will over and over.

"Once you get to Hogwarts, you should learn the Summoning Charm properly," Will told him. "It'll make finding Trevor much easier."

"I'll definitely learn it!"

After Trevor's return, the four chatted for a while before Will went back to his book.

He had experience to grind, after all.

[You have gained new knowledge of Curse Studies. Curse Studies experience +1]

[You have gained new knowledge of Curse Studies. Curse Studies experience +1]

Outside the window, mountains and grasslands drifted slowly past, and the sun began to sink. Will was lost in the pleasures of knowledge and experience when a pale hand suddenly waved in front of his eyes.

Will looked up, puzzled.

"Would Mr. Future Ravenclaw mind stepping out for a moment? The ladies need to change into their robes," Sylvia said, looking him in the eye.

Only then did Will notice how dark it had grown. They must be nearing Hogwarts. He and Neville stepped out into the corridor.

About ten minutes later, they were allowed back in. Sylvia and Hermione had put on their wizard robes, transforming from English girls into young witches. Then it was Will and Neville's turn to change.

Will replaced his casual clothes with a black satin outfit before pulling his wizard robe over it. Some wizards wore robes without trousers, but Will couldn't stand the idea.

Two minutes later, Will opened the compartment door and let a slightly surprised Sylvia and Hermione back in.

Soon, the driver's voice echoed through the train.

"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be taken to the school for you."

The train slowed and finally stopped. The others had just stood up when Will stopped them.

"Let everyone else squeeze out first. We'll go last. Relax—it's not as if the train will take us back, is it?"

So the four watched the passengers jostle toward the doors and spill onto a small, dark platform. Will couldn't help thinking Hogwarts paid far too little attention to certain things.

The Scottish Highlands were always cold. Even in September, the temperature here was below ten degrees. Will could see his breath in the air. Fortunately, he had dressed warmly.

"First-years! First-years over here! Harry, this way! How are you?" Hagrid called, holding a lantern. The heavily bearded man then led the students down a dark path.

"Come on, follow me. Any more first-years? Watch your step. Right, first-years, follow me!" The young wizards followed Hagrid downhill along a steep, narrow path, slipping and stumbling as they went.

Darkness pressed in on both sides of the path. Will could tell Sylvia and Hermione were edging closer to him. Neville didn't edge closer—he was already following half a step behind Will, so closely that he nearly stepped on Will's shoes several times.

None of the young wizards spoke in the dark. Then they rounded a bend.

"Wow...!" At the end of the narrow path, a black lake suddenly opened before them. Across the water, a magnificent castle rose from a high hillside, its many towers and windows glimmering beneath the stars.

They had reached Hogwarts.