After sending off that troublesome pair, the carriage fell silent again. Neither of them was in the mood to continue sightseeing. Shar picked up his book, while Noelle simply leaned back in her seat and fell into a deep sleep. Unbeknownst to them, the sky outside the window had quietly darkened.
“Attention, students, the train will soon arrive at Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train; we will be responsible for delivering it to the school.” The train driver’s voice echoed through the train, breaking the tranquility of the carriage.
Noelle was startled awake by the announcement. “Oh no, I overslept! Shar, why didn’t you wake me up? And how have you already changed into your uniform?”
Shar winked with a smile. “You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn’t bear to wake you. Changing clothes is quick; I’ll wait for you outside.”
The chill from the platform rushed in the moment the train doors opened, and the new students huddled together like frightened chicks.
“I thought my dad was tall enough for a Wizard, but I didn’t expect this one to be even bigger. Shar, do you know who he is?”
Noelle looked at the over three-meter-tall Wizard in front of her, somewhat shocked. He was wearing an oversized coat made of unknown animal fur, his messy beard almost covering half his face, and he carried a lamp almost as tall as a small Wizard.
“He is Rubeus Hagrid. I was also quite surprised the first time I met him. Hagrid is the Gamekeeper of Hogwarts and is very kind-hearted. He and my father are good friends, and they have a very close relationship.”
Harry chimed in from the side, a joyful smile on his face, clearly delighted to see Hagrid again. He pushed his way to the front, his glasses askew, and waved vigorously at the Giant.
Hagrid smiled and waved towards Harry’s position.
“Come on, all first-year students, follow me, and watch your step.”
Hagrid led a group of young Wizards, sliding and stumbling along a steep and narrow path.
On the way to the Black Lake, the dark forest appeared exceptionally deep and mysterious. This environment, coupled with the slippery path, caused the young Wizards to either stumble inadvertently or lose their balance and fall to the ground, leading to occasional gasps and soft complaints from the group.
Noelle impatiently crushed a frosted clod of earth under her foot. Seeing this, Shar immediately understood and spread his palm, where a cluster of flames transformed into a flapping robin.
The bird’s flight path left an orange light band, suspended above the young Wizards’ heads like Christmas lights.
“Merlin’s socks!”
The young Wizards reached out to touch the light band, surprised to find that the cold had been filtered into a minty coolness, and waves of warmth dispelled the night’s chill.
The light band spread out like ripples in a pond, even the tip of Hagrid’s beard shimmered with golden light.
The young Wizards felt the sudden warmth, and their faces lit up with surprised expressions. Harry, full of curiosity, reached out directly to touch the shield, experiencing this wondrous magic.
Malfoy, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to show off this magic from his friend Shar to those around him, his words full of smugness.
This warmth and light not only dispelled the cold of the winter night but also quietly brought the new students closer together.
However, for Professor McGonagall, who was at that moment gazing across the lake, awaiting the arrival of the first-year students, the forest on the opposite shore seemed to be ablaze.
“That is truly impressive,” she murmured.
“Goodness, this is magnificent, thank you so much… you little Wizard from the House of Leideloss, I hope I got that right.”
Hagrid, enveloped in the warm aura, looked like a warm sun. He thanked Shar heartily, his voice full of joy.
“Shar Ryderos, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Just call me Hagrid,” Hagrid said cheerfully, waving his hand at Shar.
“Alright, new students, we’re here!” he called out, turning to the young Wizards behind him.
At the end of the narrow path was a wide, Black Lake. On the high slope across the lake stood a majestic Castle, its spires numerous, and windows twinkling under the starry sky.
Hogwarts, how beautiful.
“Shar, come on, we need to get on the boat.” Noelle tugged at a dazed Shar and got onto a boat with a fluffy-haired young Witch she had just met.
“Is everyone on board?” Hagrid shouted, taking a boat by himself.
“Alright then, let’s go!”
All the small boats gently shuddered, and without anyone rowing, silently glided across the mirror-smooth lake, moving forward.
“Hello, I’m very grateful for your very warm magic. May I ask what kind of magic this is? I haven’t read about this kind of magic in any of the books I’ve seen. Sorry, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Hermione Granger, also a first-year student this year. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
The girl with messy hair excitedly asked Shar what kind of magic it was, her face full of curiosity about magic.
“Shar Ryderos, and this is my cousin Noelle. As for what this magic is called… you can just think of it as a warm little magic.”
After hearing the young Witch’s introduction, Shar scrutinized her for a moment, nodding inwardly. It was indeed Hermione from his memories, just as curious about magic, with the same prominent front teeth and curly hair.
“The surname Lederos… I remember it. It’s mentioned in ‘A History of Magic’. The book said your family needs to condense runes to cast spells, but I didn’t see you… Oh my God! Could you be the legendary Child of Nature?” Hermione meticulously searched her memories about the Lederos Family, then suddenly exclaimed.
“Shar, it looks like you’ll be famous very soon,” Noelle said to Shar teasingly after hearing Hermione’s words.
“I was a bit excited when I first awakened, but now I’m starting to feel a bit embarrassed…” Shar covered his face helplessly.
“Heads down!” Hagrid’s booming warning suddenly rang out, interrupting their conversation.
Everyone quickly ducked, and the small boats silently glided through a dense curtain of ivy covering the cliff, entering a hidden and spacious cave entrance.
Finally, they gently docked at a place resembling a port, and the young Wizards stepped onto the riverbank covered with gravel and small pebbles.
Immediately after, a huge door swung open, and a tall Witch in a vibrant green robe with dark hair stood majestically in the doorway.
Her stern face made all the young Wizards involuntarily hold their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Professor McGonagall was counting the numbers with her gaze, and her eyebrows subtly arched half an inch when she saw the lingering elemental glow around the new students.
“First-year students, Professor McGonagall.”
“Thank you, Hagrid. I’ll take them from here.”
She pulled the door wide open, and the entrance hall was large enough to accommodate all the first-year students.
The stone walls were surrounded by rings of blazing torches, illuminating the entire space, while the towering ceiling seemed to connect with the night sky.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the stone floor to a small, empty room at the other end of the Great Hall. They all crowded in, shoulder to shoulder, nervously observing everything around them.
“Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but before that, a crucial ceremony awaits you: the Sorting Ceremony,” Professor McGonagall solemnly announced.
“Sorting is not only an important event tonight, but it will also determine your home during your academic life at Hogwarts. Each House will become your second home during your time at school. You will study and live with your Housemates in the House’s exclusive dormitories and share valuable leisure time in your respective House common rooms. Therefore, please be prepared.”
Professor McGonagall briefly introduced the names, history, and points system of the school’s four Houses. After the introduction, she promptly left the compact room to make final preparations for the upcoming Sorting Ceremony.
Noelle took advantage of Professor McGonagall’s departure to poke Shar in the lower back: “Do you want to deliberately lose to me in the Sorting Ceremony later?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?” Shar looked bewildered.
“A duel, of course. Dad said the winner gets to choose their preferred House, and the loser has to listen to the winner, going wherever they’re told.”
Noelle conjured a pile of Alchemy gadgets from his silver ring as if by magic.
Shar quickly scanned them; there were over a dozen offensive and curse-type items. Although their power wasn’t very strong, if one accidentally got hit, it would be quite unpleasant.
There was even a humiliating item that caused incontinence. You’re truly my dear sister, so were you threatening me just now? Were these things prepared for me?
“Huh? A duel? My father told me it was chasing the Golden Snitch. I’ve been practicing my flying skills all summer,” Harry said, looking very dejected, his hands trembling.
“George and Fred told me it was fighting a Troll…”
“My father said…”
“My mother told me…”
The young Wizards exchanged the versions of the Sorting Ceremony they had heard from their elders at home. Everyone’s face showed unease, as they felt they could not possibly cope with these descriptions.
They all looked at Shar in unison, thinking that since his magic was so powerful, his words should carry more authority.
Shar felt the expectant gazes from around him and a mischievous thought suddenly arose in his mind.
