Brats Come to No Good End

"Once we round this bend, you'll get your first look at Hogwarts," Hagrid called back.

At the end of the narrow path, a shimmering black lake suddenly spread out before them.

A crude wooden dock stood by the lake, with a line of small boats moored beside it.

The boats bobbed gently on the water, still some distance from the dock. It didn't look very safe.

That meant the young wizards had to take a big step over or jump into the boats.

"No more than four people per boat!" Hagrid shouted, pointing at them. "We don't have much time. Get aboard!"

Hannah patted Kyle on the back and whispered, "Put me down."

The first-year students boarded the boats in groups of two and three.

Hannah had just climbed down from Kyle's back and was about to jump over herself when her body suddenly rose into the air.

Eh? Eh? Eh?

Hannah suddenly found herself cradled in Kyle's arms like a princess. Her mind went blank, and her hands instinctively wrapped around Kyle's neck.

Hermione snorted and turned away.

Out of sight, out of mind... Out of sight, out of mind... she kept telling herself.

The boats moved without wind, gliding across the mirror-smooth black waters toward the castle ahead. Seeing Hannah still clinging to him, Kyle couldn't help clearing his throat. "You can get down now."

Coming to her senses, Hannah hurriedly let go, her face turning so red it seemed ready to bleed.

Why had I been so shameless just now?! the little blonde girl regretted inwardly.

On a wooden boat beside them, Malfoy glared venomously at Kyle, who radiated the smug air of a winner in life, and secretly drew his wand.

First, there was the grudge over Thousand Years of Death. And today, he had pinned him down again...

If I don't avenge this, how can I call myself a man?!

"Tarantella!" Malfoy suddenly flicked his wand toward Kyle.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Kyle tilted his head aside. Malfoy's spell skimmed past his cheek and struck the lake some distance away, splashing up a small burst of water.

Seeing Draco attack another student aboard the boats crossing the lake, Hagrid roared, "You Malfoy brat! What do you think you're doing?!"

Draco ignored him and fired another spell at Kyle, which Kyle easily dodged.

Kyle stood up in the boat. "Draco, can I take that as a provocation?"

On the boat opposite, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy also stood up, all drawing their wands and aiming them at Kyle.

The three behind Kyle wanted to stand as well, but Kyle pressed them back down.

"I'm enough on my own."

Remembering how brutally Kyle had beaten four people by himself on the Hogwarts Express that afternoon, the other three obediently sat back down.

Goat—Ram—Dragon—Tiger!

Kyle rapidly formed four Hand Seals.

Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!

Four screams gradually faded over Black Lake.

Considering that overturning their boat would only force Hagrid to fish them out, Kyle chose not to capsize it. Instead, he sent all four of them to shore ahead of schedule.

As for whether Malfoy and the others, their wizarding robes soaked through, would catch cold, that was none of Kyle's concern.

As the boats continued onward, towering Hogwarts Castle drew closer and closer. When the leading boats neared the cliff, Hagrid shouted, "Duck!"

All the young wizards lowered their heads, except Kyle, who remained unmoved.

Because among everyone present, Hagrid was actually the only one who needed to duck.

If even the young wizards had to lower their heads, Hagrid would probably have to crawl to make it beneath the cliff.

The boats carried them through a curtain of ivy covering the face of the cliff and into a hidden, open entrance.

They followed a dark tunnel that seemed to lead beneath the castle, eventually reaching something like an underground dock before climbing onto a patch of gravel and small pebbles.

Then, by the light of Hagrid's lantern, they climbed through a tunnel in the rock and finally reached a flat, damp lawn beneath the castle's shadow.

They climbed a flight of stone steps and gathered before a huge oak door.

The four from Malfoy's boat had already been waiting in front of the oak door for quite some time.

Water dripped continuously from their wizarding robes, while their wet hair clung to their faces. The four shivered from the cold, and the droplets on their faces made it impossible to tell whether they were lake water or tears.

As the culprit, Kyle even gave them a kindly smile as he passed by, completely unconcerned by the venomous looks they shot him.

Hagrid raised one enormous fist and knocked three times on the castle doors.

Alohomora—Physical Version!

The doors immediately swung open. Professor McGonagall, dressed in emerald-green robes, stood before them.

"The first-years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.

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

Professor McGonagall pulled the doors wide open, and the young wizards filed through the oak doors into the castle's Entrance Hall.

Torches blazed along the stone walls surrounding the Entrance Hall. The ceiling was so high that its top was nearly impossible to see, while a magnificent marble staircase stood directly ahead, leading up to the upper floors.

They followed Professor McGonagall across the stone-paved floor as she led the first-years into a small empty room at the far end of the hall.

Everyone crowded in at once, packed shoulder to shoulder as they nervously examined everything around them.

Everyone except Kyle.

Having lived here for more than four months, Kyle was already as familiar with the place as could be.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said.

"The start-of-term feast is about to begin. But before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must first be sorted into your respective Houses."

"The Sorting Ceremony is a very important ritual, because during your time here, 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, good 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 most points will win the House Cup. It is a great honor. I hope that no matter which House you are sorted into, you will bring honor to it."

"In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will take place before the entire school. I suggest that while you wait, you tidy yourselves up and make yourselves presentable."

Her gaze paused on Malfoy and the other three, whose clothes were completely soaked, and she frowned.

Following the direction of Malfoy and the others' stares, Professor McGonagall spotted the culprit mixed in among the young wizards. There was no need to think about it—this had to be the Little Demon King's work.

Professor McGonagall could no longer be bothered to deal with it. Let Grindelwald's old rival worry about Grindelwald's child.

She took out her wand and gave it a gentle wave. A warm gust of air appeared from nowhere, enveloping the four soaking-wet young wizards and quickly drying their clothes.

"When everything is ready on the other side, I'll come and get you," Professor McGonagall said. "While you wait, please remain quiet."

The older catgirl turned and left the room.