The Birth of the Iron Hat King!
Back on the train, quite a few new students had already noticed Argus, a powerful yet elegant boy.
They had instinctively followed his instructions and quietly formed two lines.
There was even less need to mention the pure-bloods led by Draco and Pansy. In previous years, these young pure-blood wizards had been the biggest troublemakers.
Now, Argus had long since won them over. Not only had they refrained from troubling Hagrid, they had even helped him maintain order.
"If only you could always help me gather the new students."
Hagrid sighed.
He had done this job for years, but today was the first time he had assembled all the new students so easily.
He had even gotten them into perfectly neat lines!
Nothing like this had ever happened before. Just gathering everyone together had been good enough.
Every time, it had been like herding sheep. Once he had hustled the whole noisy crowd to Hogwarts Castle, his job was done.
Under Hagrid's guidance, everyone reached the dock and boarded the little boats bound for the castle.
Ripples spread across the tranquil lake. By the light of the torches, they could clearly make out strange, unknown creatures swimming beneath the water.
A splash startled Hermione aboard the boat.
"Argus, what's that?"
"A Giant Squid. It's mentioned in Hogwarts: A History. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"What about that one?"
"Giant squid. You can't see them very clearly right now, but when the weather's clear, they sunbathe by the lake. You can go and touch their tentacles."
"Hogwarts is even more magnificent than I imagined! Look, Argus! Is that a tower?"
Hermione kept letting out squeals, pointing at the various buildings and asking Argus questions.
Even if she was a future Minister for Magic, she was still only an eleven-year-old girl encountering the magical world for the first time.
She instinctively relied on the boy beside her.
Splash!
Amid the sounds of flowing water, Argus and the others disembarked, passed through a long, narrow passage, and headed toward the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
[Congratulations on entering Hogwarts School for the first time, host. Achievement earned: Hogwarts New Student] [Achievement point reward: 50]
Reward points as soon as I arrive? Nice!
Once the plot officially kicks off, won't I be raking them in?
Secretly delighted, Argus entered the castle before he knew it.
A woman wearing emerald-green robes and a black witch's hat was already waiting outside the Great Hall.
Her bearing was much like Vinda Rosier's.
It was an elegance honed and cultivated by the passage of time.
The difference was that Vinda possessed an innate air of nobility, while the woman before him was rather stern.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!"
"Now, in a little while, you will pass through these doors and join your fellow students."
"Before you take your seats, however, you must first be sorted into your Houses."
Professor McGonagall's gentle voice rang out as she continued introducing things to the young witches and wizards before her.
"The four Houses are Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
"While you are at school, your House will be your home. Good behavior will earn your House points, while any violation of school rules will cost your House points."
"At the end of the year, the House with the most points will win that year's House Cup."
Having finished, Professor McGonagall murmured another remark.
"This year's young witches and wizards are quite well behaved. Unlike previous years, when they were a complete shambles."
"I had Argus helping me this time! Otherwise, I couldn't have managed so many of them!"
Hagrid came over, patted Argus on the shoulder, and introduced him to Professor McGonagall.
"Thank you, Argus. You've saved me quite a bit of trouble." Professor McGonagall looked at him approvingly.
Argus smiled modestly. "I can't take all the credit. It was the result of everyone working together."
"What a modest child. I do hope you're sorted into Gryffindor. With you there, they would certainly quiet down considerably."
As Professor McGonagall spoke, she noticed where Argus stood.
He was right in the center, with Draco, Pansy, Theodore, and the others loosely surrounding him.
She could not help sighing and shaking her head.
"Though, by the look of things... you're more likely to be sorted into Slytherin."
"Evil Slytherin!"
Ron's muttered remark drew countless glares.
Professor McGonagall frowned slightly and spoke loudly.
"Get ready, everyone. Follow me inside!"
As the doors slowly opened, a magnificent dining hall filled with British style appeared before them.
Students from the various Houses filled the long tables.
The professors' seats were somewhat farther away, and Argus immediately noticed the white-haired, white-bearded old man sitting in the very center!
The Old Bee, Dumbledore!
The culprit who had caused his father to imprison himself in Nurmengard!
"Argus, look at the sky! It's an enchanted ceiling. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History!"
Hermione gazed around in wonder, her eyes brimming with amazement.
"Hermione, what you should be thinking about right now is which House you're going to."
"You'll have plenty of time to look at the ceiling!"
Argus replied calmly. His mind was currently full of the groundwork he had laid on the train.
Through his conversation with Harry on the train, he could be certain that Hermione would never enter Gryffindor as she had in the original story.
Based on his understanding of Neville, there was little chance of him still choosing Gryffindor either.
The only one he needed to watch was Harry!
That old bastard Dumbledore had acted too early, leaving Harry with a deep impression of Gryffindor. Even Argus could not guarantee that Harry would firmly refuse.
"Please wait here for a moment, everyone. Before the ceremony begins, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."
Professor McGonagall stood on the raised platform and stepped aside to reveal Dumbledore in the center.
As though beyond his control, Argus's gaze fixed directly on him.
His level-seven Occlumency activated instinctively!
Dumbledore was much the same. He had noticed Argus the moment he entered.
When Argus's name had first appeared in the Book of Admittance, he had hesitated for a long time before finally choosing to send the owl.
He had thought the boy would choose Durmstrang.
He had never expected...
The same blond hair, the same blue eyes, the same support from those around him-it could not help reminding him of that old acquaintance from years ago.
"Professor Dumbledore? Professor Dumbledore?"
Noticing Dumbledore's distraction, McGonagall quietly prompted him.
"My apologies, young witches and wizards. Please forgive an old man for letting his mind wander."
"I have a few start-of-term notices to announce."
Dumbledore stood up, shifting his gaze away from Argus.
"First years, please note that all students are strictly forbidden to enter the Forbidden Forest. In addition, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that the corridor on the right-hand side of the third floor is also out of bounds."
"If you do not wish to die a most horrible death, do not go there."
"Thank you!"
"When your name is called, please come forward!"
Professor McGonagall took out a sheet of parchment, stood behind the Sorting Hat, and read out the first name!
"Hannah Abbott!"
Argus turned his gaze forward.
A blonde girl walked up to the stool and placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
"Hufflepuff!"
At the Sorting Hat's shout, excited cheers immediately erupted from the Hufflepuff table.
A system notification then sounded in Argus's mind.
[Congratulations on witnessing the first student being sorted, host. Achievement earned: The Birth of the Iron Hat King] [Achievement point reward: 50]