Hermione gave Neville an appreciative look when he asked the question.
She had been about to ask the same thing, but now he had saved her the trouble.
“Diviners rarely divine their own fate,” Caelan said with a helpless shrug.
“So I don’t know which house I’ll be sorted into either.” “You’re so smart, maybe you’ll end up in Ravenclaw…” Neville got halfway through his sentence before noticing Miss Granger’s expression shift across from him.
He hastily veered off course.
“…Or Gryffindor, of course.” Only then did Hermione’s glare soften back to normal.
She didn’t want to be separated from Caelan.
Neville let out a quiet sigh of relief in his heart.
He didn’t think he was being particularly quick-witted—Hermione’s look had just been utterly terrifying.
“Honestly, any house is fine.
Just being able to attend Hogwarts makes me lucky enough.” “It definitely won’t be Slytherin,” Hermione reasoned with a solemn face.
“You’re far too kind and friendly.
You’re nothing like them.” As she spoke, she cast a glance outside the compartment, seemingly looking toward the people who had spoken so rudely earlier.
“That’s true,” Neville agreed.
In his eyes, even though Caelan wore shabby clothes, he was gentle, kind, and always gave off a reliable air.
He spoke so pleasantly that people couldn’t help but trust him.
A wizard as polite, gentle, and friendly as him was rare, even among the ancient pure-blood families.
So there was no way he would be sorted into Slytherin.
Outside, the train wound past twisting rivers and grassy hills.
The orange-red sun hung in the sky like a cooked egg yolk, trembling as it was slowly swallowed whole by the horizon.
The train was nearing its stop.
“We should get into our robes.
Ladies first.” Caelan and Neville stepped out of the compartment, turning their backs to the door and using their bodies to block the glass.
A few minutes later, Hermione finished changing and opened the door.
“Your turn.” Neville and Caelan walked inside and began changing.
Really, it was just throwing their robes on over their clothes.
Although the standard uniform included a pointed black hat, few students actually wore them.
Just as they finished, Neville began pacing frantically around the compartment.
“Trevor’s gone again!
He’s gone again!
I lost him again—he always tries to run away from me.” Neville looked like he was on the verge of tears.
“Don’t worry.
I guarantee you’ll find him at Hogwarts,” Caelan said, feeling a bit helpless.
Trevor really was a master of vanishing acts—he was gone in the blink of an eye.
If Caelan recalled correctly, Neville was always either looking for Trevor or on his way to look for Trevor.
If this freedom-loving toad could lend even a fraction of its courage to its owner, Neville would probably end up as the bravest student in Gryffindor.
“Really?” “Of course.
I saw it in a divination.
Don’t worry.” [Silver Tongue: Proficiency +1] Naturally, there had been no actual divination.
Caelan simply remembered that Trevor would turn up on the boats to Hogwarts.
As for why, he had no idea.
He could only say that Trevor spent his whole life running, yet never truly escaped—perhaps the tragic fate of a pet toad.
“What happened?” Hermione asked, poking her head in from outside.
After Caelan briefly explained, Hermione joined in comforting Neville until he slowly calmed down.
“Honestly, Neville, you should learn the Summoning Charm.
That way, if Trevor goes missing, you can just summon him instead of searching everywhere.” Neville wiped his eyes on his plain robe.
“I will definitely learn the Summoning Charm!” While they were talking, a voice echoed through the train.
“We will reach Hogwarts in five minutes.
Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be brought to the school for you.” The train slowed gradually before coming to a complete stop.
After a long journey, the young witches and wizards had finally arrived at their destination.
“Aren’t we getting off?” Neville asked, watching a lamp bobbing back and forth on the platform.
“No rush.
We’ll head down once the crowd thins out,” Caelan said calmly.
He had never liked jostling through crowds.
About six or seven minutes later, they stepped off the train onto a dark, cramped platform.
To be honest, Caelan found it puzzling.
Since wizards possessed spells like Scourgify, why did some things still look so dilapidated and covered in dust?
The lantern Neville had seen earlier drifted toward them.
As it drew closer, the young students realized it was carried by an extraordinarily tall giant walking toward them.
“Woah—” a red-haired boy gasped at Hagrid.
“Firs’-years!
Firs’-years over here!” Hagrid’s massive frame, paired with his wild hair and bushy beard, made quite a few of the young students nervous.
Although Hermione didn’t look frightened, she still subtly tugged at the corner of Caelan’s robe.
“C’mon, follow me—any more firs’-years?” Hagrid’s rough voice boomed out, sounding even deeper in the night air.
“Mind yer step, now!
Right then, firs’-years, follow me!” Led by Hagrid, the new students stumbled down a steep, narrow path.
To accommodate the first-years, Hagrid walked very slowly, taking over twenty minutes to cover a distance that usually took three or four.
Rounding a final bend, the students heeded Hagrid’s call of “No more’n four to a boat!” and boarded the small boats bound for Hogwarts.
Hermione, Caelan, Neville, and an unfamiliar classmate boarded the same boat.
Across the mirror-flat surface of the Black Lake stood a towering cliff.
Perched atop it was Hogwarts Castle, looking as though it were built right in the clouds, possessing a dreamlike beauty.
Under the bright moonlight, the castle’s outline shimmered softly.
The warm glows from its windows resembled stars scattering across the night sky.
A bright lamp sat at the bow of each boat, trailing shimmering ribbons of light across the Black Lake as they moved.
The young wizards and witches stared up at the majestic castle looming almost directly over them, holding their breath in awe.
Recovering from the sight, Hermione noticed Caelan staring intently at their boat and asked curiously, “What are you looking at?” “I was just wondering…
Hagrid is so heavy, yet the boat he’s in has the exact same draft as ours.
Could there be magic on these boats?” “Maybe…
these boats are alchemical items.
Crossing the lake to Hogwarts is a tradition for new students,” Neville chimed in.
“My gran told me…” As they admired the scenery and debated the origins of the boats, Hagrid’s voice called out: “Heads down!” The students all ducked.
The boats carried them through a curtain of ivy covering the cliff face, along a pitch-black tunnel to an underground harbor beneath the castle, and finally onto a shore of gravel and pebbles.
After the students stepped ashore, Hagrid raised his lantern to inspect the empty boats.
“Oy, whose toad is this?” Hagrid boomed, lifting the lantern.
“Trevor!” Neville cried out, rushing over to Hagrid.
“Thank you, sir!” “Thank you, Caelan,” Neville said, clutching Trevor tight.
“Now I really believe I’ll be sorted into Gryffindor.” Chris Nott watched Neville walk over holding his toad.
With a look of disgust, he shoved him.
“Piss off, you disgusting freak.” “Sorry…” Neville stammered out an apology as Caelan steadied him.
The guy who pushed him pushed his luck further.
“How could someone like you ever be sorted into Gryffindor?
You coward.
The Longbottom family really has no one decent left.
If I were you, I’d take a boat straight back home.
Otherwise, you’ll probably get assigned to clean the toilets.” Listening to Chris Nott’s relentless mocking, Neville bit his lip, his face flushing crimson.
“Caelan’s divination was accurate!
I really did find Trevor.
I believe I’ll definitely be sorted into Gryffindor.” The commotion quickly drew the other students’ attention.
They crowded around, jeering, laughing, and whistling.
“Is that so?” Chris followed Neville’s gaze to Caelan.
“You’re the one playing mystic?” Taking in Caelan’s worn clothes, Chris sneered.
“No wonder you’re pulling your Muggle tricks here.
Looks like even the Weasleys are richer than you.” The crowd erupted into laughter.
Ron looked around and let out a dissatisfied grunt.
“Even if he’s not wrong about the money, I really want to punch him in the face.” Harry grabbed Ron and whispered, “Isn’t that against the school rules?” “We haven’t even been sorted yet.” “Fair point.
Go ahead then.” Before Ron could step forward, Caelan spoke up unhurriedly.
“My good sir, we’re all going to be classmates.
Is there any need for such harsh words?
I’d be very pleased if you would apologize to Mr.
Longbottom.” “Like I care if you’re pleased!
Why should I apologize to him?
Look at what a coward he is—there’s no way he’s getting into Gryffindor.” “What’s going on here?” Having finished inspecting the empty boats, Hagrid heard the noise and came over with his lantern.
The egging-on crowd parted to clear a path for him.
“Nothing, just dusting off his collar,” Caelan said, reaching out to pat Chris’s collar.
The gesture looked so much like he was about to choke him that Chris hastily took two steps back in fright.
“Alright, come along then,” Hagrid said, pushing to the front of the crowd to lead the way.
“Hmph.
We’ll see about that.” Chris flicked his sleeves and turned to leave, only to have his sleeve caught by Caelan.
“And what if Mr.
Longbottom actually gets sorted into Gryffindor?” The onlookers pressed closer again, and a few who knew Chris cheered and egged him on loudly.
“Tell him, Chris Nott!” “What are you scared of?” “Make a bet with him!” Chris looked around at the crowd and yanked his sleeve back.
“If he really makes it into Gryffindor, I’ll apologize to him.” *He’s not stupid enough to swallow the bait whole,* Caelan thought.
“You’re quite good at setting terms.
An apology was the price earlier.
The price just went up.” Caelan turned to block his way.
“If Mr.
Longbottom gets sorted into Gryffindor, you pay me ten Galleons and apologize to him.” Chris glared at Caelan without saying a word.
“Scared, Mr.
Nott?” Caelan stepped aside and addressed the crowd.
“It seems we have a real coward here.” The crowd cheered, and the atmosphere grew lively.
“I’m not falling for your tricks!
Just you wait!
Get out of my way!” Chris shoved past a few people and stomped away.
Caelan felt it was a bit of a shame.
He had thought the guy would act like some braindead villain, getting worked up by a simple provocation and making the bet.
What a wimp—how boring.
In Caelan’s eyes, money not made was money lost.
The young students booed at Chris’s retreating back.
“Thank you, Caelan.
The Nott family produced quite a few Death Eaters, some of whom were caught by my parents, so he’s always looking for trouble,” Neville whispered, stepping up to Caelan’s side.
“You should be careful around him.” Caelan nodded.
Having enjoyed the show, the young wizards and witches turned back to follow Hagrid toward Hogwarts Castle.
Hagrid led them up to a massive oak door, raised a huge fist, and knocked three times on the entrance to the castle.
The door swung open.
A whole new world opened before Caelan.