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Kyle and Cedric looked away at the same time. In tacit understanding, neither of them looked at each other again, but started to change their robes.
Kyle turned his head and glanced out the window. At this moment, the sky outside had become very dark. No wonder it felt so cold.
Fortunately, the rain had stopped, otherwise he would have to take an umbrella.
The train slowed down and finally stopped.
After ten hours, the journey finally reached its end.
Kyle checked his robe and wand again, and after confirming that there was no problem, he followed the bustling crowd out of the train and came to a small, dark platform.
This place is really shabby, with weeds growing all around it. The station sign is badly faded, and the words "Hogsmeade Station" on it are very blurry. If you don't look carefully, you can't recognize it at all.
There wasn't even a decent tile here, and it had just rained, so Kyle stepped into mud as soon as he got out of the car.
"Cleaned up."
Kyle waved his wand at his shoes and carefully moved to a relatively clean area.
Who would believe it if I told others that the platform of this thousand-year-old prestigious school is in such a dilapidated state?
If it wasn't called Hogwarts, and if the headmaster wasn't called Dumbledore, it would be impossible to recruit anyone just based on this platform.
At this time, Kyle also saw Kanna.
The little girl stood trembling in the crowd. Even from such a distance, Kyle could see her pale face. It was obvious that she was frightened by the scene before her.
Perhaps because she noticed someone was looking at her, Kanna subconsciously turned her head and saw Kyle.
For a moment, she stumbled over as if she had found a life-saving straw.
Kyle reached out and helped Connor, who was about to fall, without saying anything. He just took out his wand again and waved it at her robe.
"Cleaned up."
The girl didn't even look at the road when she ran, and she was covered in mud.
After doing all this, he smiled and patted the little girl on the shoulder and comforted her: "Don't be afraid, it's safe here, someone will come to pick us up soon."
"Yeah." Kanna lowered her head and responded softly.
At the same time, an oil lamp appeared above their heads.
"First years! First years, come over here!"
Surrounded by first-year wizards, Hagrid's burly figure was particularly conspicuous. Coupled with his messy hair and full beard, he scared many of the little wizards as soon as he appeared.
Kyle even heard crying.
Although Kanna didn't cry, she wasn't in good shape either. She grabbed Kyle's arm tightly, making him grimaced in pain.
But seeing Kanna's horrified look, Kyle was too embarrassed to pull it out directly and could only hold it in.
He also didn't understand how an eleven-year-old girl could be so strong.
"My name is Rubeus Hagrid, the keeper of the keys to Hogwarts." Hagrid waved to the crowd and said, "Follow me, first-year students. Watch your step. I will take you to Hogwarts by boat."
Kyle was the first to follow, bringing Kanna to the dim light, which was also the brightest place around.
At this time, Connor calmed down a lot. She quickly let go of Kyle's arm and blushed as she stammered, "I'm sorry."
Unfortunately, her voice was too soft, and there were always noises of other people startling around, so Kyle didn't hear clearly what she said and just nodded subconsciously.
……
In order to take care of the first-year wizards, Hagrid walked very slowly, and it took the group more than twenty minutes of stumbling and falling before they finally finished the steep and narrow path.
After passing the last bend, Hagrid turned to look at everyone, and pointed forward with a smile on his face: "Come on, you will see Hogwarts for the first time soon, don't be distracted, this is the most beautiful scenery in the wizarding world."
What followed was a series of gasps and screams.
Kanna stood beside Kyle, staring blankly ahead, muttering to herself, "So beautiful...!"
At the end of the path is the famous Black Lake. On the towering hillside across the lake stands a majestic castle.
The castle is full of spires, which shine against the bright moon, making it seem as if it is built on the clouds.
The windows on the castle that are shining with lights are the stars that dot the sky.
It is so beautiful, like a miracle.
Even Kyle was stunned.
He once suspected that the reason why the Hogsmeade platform was in such a dilapidated state was to set off the scene before him.
"Alright, freshmen, let's prepare the ferry. Don't keep the professors waiting too long." Hagrid pointed to a group of small boats parked by the lake and said loudly, "Remember, no more than four people can be on each boat."
Kyle and Connor boarded the nearest small boat, and were followed by two unfamiliar first-year wizards, also a boy and a girl.
Judging from their looks, they must have been extremely excited. Even after getting on the boat, they kept muttering that they must write a letter to tell their families about this scene.
"Are you all on board?" Hagrid, sitting alone in a small boat, turned back to confirm: "Well then... let's go!"
Instantly a fleet of boats moved forward across the lake, past low cliffs, through the ivy that covered the cliffs, and finally into a dark tunnel.
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 16 Join if you can’t beat him
Kyle had always been curious about how the Hogwarts freshman boat moved.
He had always thought it was magic, but now he was a little skeptical.
Because Kyle observed for a long time, but still did not find any traces of magic on the boat.
There was also Hagrid, a half-blood giant nearly four meters tall, who looked much heavier than the four first-year wizards, but the draft of his boat was exactly the same as that of the other small boats, which was obviously abnormal.
Of course, it is possible that these boats were cast with more advanced and hidden magic, or simply some kind of alchemical item, but Kyle still prefers to believe that there is something holding up the boats under the lake.
"The giant squid?"
He stuck his head out and took a look under the water, but unfortunately the visibility in the Black Lake was too low at night and he could see nothing except his own reflection.
……
Soon, the boat left the tunnel and docked at a place similar to an underground dock.
Everyone got off the boat and followed Hagrid up a cobblestone surface, eventually arriving at a flat, wet patch of grass under Hogwarts Castle.
Then everyone followed the stone steps and came to a huge oak door.
"Welcome to Hogwarts."
After Hagrid finished speaking, he turned around, raised his huge fist, and knocked on the castle door three times.
The door opened in response.
An elderly cat in an emerald green robe… ahem, a black-haired witch was standing in front of the gate.
I have to admit that some people have a silent aura when they appear, just like the head teacher who appears at the back door window of the classroom. Anyone who sees them will subconsciously shut their mouth.
The same goes for Professor McGonagall.
As soon as she showed up, the noisy discussions around her suddenly stopped.
Even Hagrid became more reserved and said seriously, "First years are here, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. Leave this to me."
Professor McGonagall glanced at everyone, then opened the door and led everyone into the castle.
The stone walls surrounding the castle were all lit with blazing torches. A wave of heat blew in, dispelling the cold outside and making many little wizards who were shivering with cold feel more at ease.
To their right was a closed door, and Kyle could clearly hear the buzz of voices inside.
However, Professor McGonagall did not stay here, but took them to an empty room at the other end of the hall.
"First of all, welcome to Hogwarts."
As everyone looked around, Professor McGonagall skillfully delivered her annual opening remarks.
"The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you take your seats in the hall, you must first determine which house you will be admitted to. Sorting is a very important ceremony because during your time at school, the house is like your home in Hogwarts..."
Although he was already well aware of the situation, Kyle still listened very carefully.
He had to be serious, because he was standing in the first row, right under Professor McGonagall's nose. If he was absent-minded at this moment, his life at Hogwarts would be difficult in the future.
Besides, this is a famous scene, and there is only one chance, so Kyle naturally doesn't want to miss it.
At this time, Professor McGonagall had finished talking about the House Cup and began to introduce the four houses.
They are... Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.
Or to put it more simply, a reckless man, a foodie, a top student, and a pureblood.
When he said this, all the little wizards around listened very attentively, their eyes full of longing, and from time to time they would glance in the direction of the auditorium, as if they couldn't wait to rush in the next second.
It can be seen that this is what they are most looking forward to.
……
"In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will be held in front of the entire school. I suggest that you tidy yourself up and look more energetic while waiting."
"I'll come pick you up when it's ready." Professor McGonagall glanced at everyone and said, "Please keep quiet while you wait."
I have to say that Professor McGonagall's last sentence was a bit redundant. After she left the room, the silent mode around her was instantly lifted.
A group of little wizards gathered together, excitedly discussing what might happen next.
"How are we going to divide the houses? Do we choose by ourselves?" a little witch asked nervously.
This is also the issue that everyone is most concerned about.
"Maybe there will be some kind of test, just like Smeltings School." A young Muggle-born wizard turned his head and looked at his companions and said loudly: "When I received the letter from Hogwarts, I had already been admitted to Smeltings School, but I still chose here... I mean, Professor McGonagall persuaded my mother. She insisted that I go to Smeltings School."
This is a way to show off achievements, but unfortunately the effect is not good.
After all, everyone is concerned about the branch affairs now. Who would care about Smelting Middle School? Moreover, some people here don’t even know what Smelting Middle School is.
"I think the deans select their own students." Someone said confidently, "Ilvermorny is like that, except they use statues. My father is friends with the Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation at the Ministry of Magic, and he told me so."
This is from Show Dad.
However, compared with previous tests, his words were obviously more convincing and he instantly gained a large number of supporters.
This made him very proud. He held his head high and told everyone he met how great his father was.