Setting Off for School, First Arrival at Hogwarts
After returning to the wizarding world, Baelon had been staying in a room at the Leaky Cauldron arranged for him by Professor McGonagall.
Time flew by amidst magic practice and quiet rest, and in the blink of an eye, it was September 1st—the day Hogwarts began.
In the early morning, Tom Abbott arrived at the Leaky Cauldron early to prepare to send his daughter, Hannah, to the station.
Seeing Baelon alone, he warmly invited him to join them.
The three of them walked together toward King’s Cross Station.
The atmosphere on the way was relaxed, with Baelon and Hannah occasionally chatting, sharing their slight anticipation for the new school, talking and laughing like friends, natural and casual.
After arriving at the station, Tom Abbott gave the two of them a few instructions before turning to leave.
Baelon and Hannah walked side-by-side between platforms nine and ten, passing through the wall leading to the wizarding world together.
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters instantly revealed itself before their eyes.
The scarlet Hogwarts Express was puffing out white mist, and the noisy crowd, hooting owls, and rolling trunks formed a lively and vibrant scene.
Baelon gave his wand a casual wave, easily casting a Silent Levitation Charm, and his trunk followed steadily by his side.
This scene happened to be caught by a young Witch not far away who was clutching a thick stack of books and had bushy brown hair; she clearly paused, a look of distinct surprise appearing in her eyes as her gaze lingered on Baelon and the floating luggage for a long time.
The two didn’t linger in the crowded carriages, walking all the way to the last and most remote compartment of the train.
Baelon sat down by the window, and Hannah naturally sat opposite him, the two continuing to chat casually with relaxed smiles.
Not long after, there was a soft knock on the door.
Neville Longbottom stood at the door awkwardly, so nervous that he couldn’t even speak coherently: “S-sorry…
is there still a seat here…”
“Come in, there’s a spot,” Baelon said, tilting his chin.
Neville thanked him quickly and sat down cautiously beside Baelon.
But as soon as he sat still, his expression changed drastically, and he began searching frantically, his voice carrying a sob: “My toad…
Trevor is gone!”
He was so anxious that he crawled under the seat, completely panicked and at a loss.
The compartment door sounded again; it was the brown-haired young Witch from the platform who had been carrying luggage and books.
She quickly scanned the compartment and immediately noticed the frantic and helpless Neville.
She didn’t say much, first walking to the empty seat next to Hannah, gently placing her trunk on the floor, and neatly arranging the stack of thick books in her arms in the corner of the seat, her movements efficient and orderly.
After finishing all this, she turned around and spoke in a crisp, serious tone: “You lost something?
I’ll help you look.
Stay here and don’t move; I’ll go ask around the forward carriages.”
With that, she turned and left quickly.
The compartment fell silent.
Hannah softly comforted Neville, and Baelon also cracked a casual joke to make him less nervous: “Don’t worry, a toad can’t run far.
Maybe it’ll crawl out on its own in a bit.”
Hannah gave a soft laugh at the joke, and the atmosphere eased considerably.
A little while later, the young Witch returned, shaking her head gently: “I didn’t find it.
I’ll go check the carriages further ahead.”
She hurried off again, too serious to give up.
When she returned to the compartment again, there was clearly still no result.
“I’ve asked through most of the carriages, and no one has seen it yet.
When the train starts, I’ll go tell the Prefects.”
She sat down next to Hannah, who immediately gave her a gentle smile and took the initiative to speak: “I’m Hannah Abbott.
Are you a first-year too?”
“Yes, I’m Hermione Granger.”
“I saw you on the platform just now,” Hannah said with a smile.
“You have so many books.”
“I’ve read all the set textbooks in advance,” Hermione replied frankly, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
“Especially ‘Hogwarts: A History’; I think it’s particularly important.”
At the mention of this, her eyes brightened a bit.
“I’ve read a little bit of it too,” Hannah said softly.
“It mentions the Four Founders and many ancient stories.”
“It’s more than that,” Hermione immediately followed up seriously.
“The book also writes about the Castle’s secret passages, the school rules, and the past headmasters…
especially Albus Dumbledore.
He is one of the greatest Wizards of our time, and his deeds are written about in many books.”
Mentioning Dumbledore, her tone held clear admiration.
Neville also chimed in softly: “M-my gran also says…
Headmaster Dumbledore is very powerful.
It’s just…
I didn’t quite understand that ‘A History’ book.”
“It’s normal not to understand it; much of the content is very ancient,” Hermione explained naturally.
“But it allows us to truly understand Hogwarts, rather than just coming here for classes.”
As she spoke, her gaze turned gently toward Baelon again, her tone carrying sincere curiosity:
“When we were on the platform, I saw you use a Silent Levitation Charm.
‘The Standard Book of Spells’ says that Non-verbal spells require strong concentration.
How did you practice it?”
“Just by trying a few more times,” Baelon’s tone was relaxed.
“Whether the incantation is spoken aloud isn’t important; controlling the magic is key.”
Hermione listened very intently, as if noting down an important piece of experience: “That’s right.
I was focusing too much on pronunciation and gestures before, and instead neglected the control.”
“Then do you think…
we’ll be sorted into the same house?” Hannah asked with some anticipation.
“I don’t know,” Hermione shook her head honestly.
“But no matter which house it is, we have to study magic well.
I’m looking forward to Charms Class and Potion Class the most.”
“I-I’m afraid I won’t be able to learn it…” Neville fidgeted with the hem of his clothes uneasily.
“No one knows how from the start,” Baelon smiled faintly.
“If even a toad dares to go on its own adventure, what are we afraid of?”
At these words, both Hannah and Hermione couldn’t help but laugh out loud, and even Neville himself sheepishly pursed his lips.
Outside the carriage, sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting dappled spots of light on the windowsill.
In the compartment, the four of them chatted about everything from school history to the headmaster, and from magic courses to the upcoming Sorting Ceremony.
The topics unfolded naturally, and the atmosphere was relaxed and warm.
No one was being intentionally polite, and no one felt like a stranger.
Just then, the train gave a slight jolt and slowly started moving.
The platform outside gradually receded, the buildings of London were left behind, and vast stretches of emerald green fields came into view.
Baelon’s fingertips inadvertently brushed the pouch in his arms; inside, his Golden dragon hatchling was still sleeping quietly.
The train traveled through rolling green mountains and twilight for a long time.
The light outside gradually dimmed, and the horizon was stained with layers of light purple and deep blue dusk.
Unknowingly, the time approached eight or nine o’clock at night, and in the distant dark mountains, a few warm lights finally appeared.
The night was as dark as ink, the starlight was faint, and the wheels of the Hogwarts Express came to a complete stop.
The chill of eight or nine o’clock in the evening, wrapped in the dampness of the mountain forest, brushed gently against their faces.
“Right then, come on, kids, everyone out!
Easy now, don’t push!”
The clamor on the platform gradually rose as Baelon, Hannah, Hermione, and Neville picked up their luggage and followed the flow of people out of the carriage.
The old wooden platform creaked slightly underfoot, and the dark woods around them rustled in the wind.
Only a cluster of brilliant lights atop a distant mountain was breathtakingly beautiful—that was Hogwarts Castle.
Just then, a voice that made ears tingle slightly but was exceptionally honest and kind boomed in the darkness:
“Firs’-years!
Firs’-years over here!
Right, this way, don’t fall behind!”
The speaker was an unusually tall Giant, more than twice as tall as any Wizard present.
His messy long black hair and thick beard covered most of his face, leaving only a pair of warm, bright eyes shining under the oil lamp.
He held a Giant lantern in his hand, its light casting a warm yellow circle in the night.
It was Rubeus Hagrid.
The first-years gathered around, and Baelon’s group of four also joined the line.
Hagrid called out gruffly, leading everyone along a dark path by the shore.
The small path underfoot was slippery and steep.
“Watch your step, now!
It’s a bit rough!
When you get on the boats later, everyone watch your heads!
Don’t go bumping ’em!”
As the line moved forward quietly, a burst of contemptuous and arrogant laughter drifted over from not far away.
A pale boy with a pointed chin and meticulously combed blonde hair was standing with his arms crossed, scanning the crowd with a condescending look.
He immediately spotted a red-haired boy standing next to Harry.
Beside him were two large boys who looked like lackeys; they were Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.
“Tsk tsk, I wondered who it was, turned out to be a Weasley.” Malfoy drawled, his mockery undisguised.
“Old robes, can’t even afford a new wand, can you?
Just as I thought, poor is poor.”
The object of his ridicule was Ron Weasley.
Ron’s face turned beet red instantly, and he clenched his fists, but he refrained from lashing out due to the setting.
Malfoy’s gaze soon turned to Harry Potter, and his expression immediately shifted to a calculated, affected elegance.
“You must be Harry Potter.
I’ve heard much about you.
I’m Draco Malfoy.”
Saying this, Malfoy extended his hand, waiting for Harry to show friendliness.
Harry just looked at him calmly, his tone cold and firm: “I think I can tell who the right sort are for myself.”
Malfoy’s hand froze in mid-air, and his face turned extremely ugly in an instant.
He gave a cold snort, withdrew his hand, glared fiercely at Harry, and let out a highly disdainful sneer, glancing at the embarrassed Ron before turning away with Crabbe and Goyle.
This scene was fully witnessed by Baelon, Hermione, Hannah, and Neville standing nearby.
Hermione’s brow was furrowed, clearly repulsed by Malfoy’s arrogance and rudeness;
Hannah pursed her lips slightly, showing a look of disapproval;
Neville hunched his shoulders a bit in fear;
Baelon remained calm, merely watching the conflict without any emotional ripples.
Hagrid shouted at this point: “Never mind those ill-mannered lads, everyone keep up!
Into the boats!
Four to a boat!”
A long row of small, mastless wooden boats was moored by the shore, just enough to seat four people.
Baelon, Hannah, Hermione, and Neville happened to share one.
The little boat gave a gentle rock as it left the shore, cutting through the mirror-like black lake water.
The lake reflected the lights of the Castle on the hilltop, looking like a field of scattered stars.
The boats glided silently across the lake, soon reaching the stone dock beneath the Castle.
“Everyone out, keep up!”
Hagrid was the first to jump ashore, leading everyone up a steep, narrow, and seemingly endless flight of stone steps.
The steps were cold and rough, winding upward as if leading straight to the clouds.
Everyone followed quietly; even the noisiest students held their breath—the majesty of Hogwarts had already quietly enveloped everyone’s hearts.
After climbing the stone steps and passing through a heavy oak door, the group stepped into a brilliantly lit, torch-lined, and incredibly spacious corridor.
Beneath their feet were smooth, polished flagstones, and the walls around them were built of massive stone blocks.
The air was thick with an ancient, quiet, and solemn atmosphere.
At the end of the corridor, a massive set of double doors was tightly shut.
Everyone stopped.
The doors slowly opened.
A Witch dressed in emerald-green wizarding robes, with a tall posture and a serious yet not unkind expression, stood before the door.
She wore square glasses, her hair was done in a meticulous bun, and her gaze was sharp and calm.
Just by standing there quietly, she made all the chattering first-years fall silent instantly.
It was Professor Minerva McGonagall.
She calmly scanned all the first-years before her, her voice clear, steady, and pleasant:
“Welcome to Hogwarts.”
Professor McGonagall paused slightly before continuing:
“Hogwarts has four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.”
“From tonight on, your house will be your home within the school.
House points will be tallied at the end of the year; those who perform excellently will win honor for their house, while violating discipline will result in point deductions.”
“Now, form a line and follow me.”
The first-years immediately formed a quiet single-file line.
Hermione instinctively straightened her back, her expression serious;
Hannah gently adjusted her collar;
Neville nervously clutched the hem of his clothes, struggling to keep up with the line;
Baelon stood in the line, his expression calm, his gaze fixed on the doors that were about to open, leading to the Hogwarts Great Hall.
The Sorting Ceremony was about to begin.