Obviously, the news that there was a special disabled child among this year’s new students had become known to everyone after an afternoon of brewing.
Vera turned a deaf ear to these discussions, calmly pushing her wheelchair behind Hagrid.
Harry and Hermione closely followed beside her, casting dissatisfied glances at those who peeked at them from time to time.
Vera had no doubt that if those whisperers got any closer, Harry might rush straight over and continue to argue with her fists.
Showing weakness, but used to solving problems with fists?
It seemed a bit different from the pitiful dependent she had initially envisioned?
Tilting her head to look at Harry beside her, Vera was lost in thought.
“First-year students, follow me!” Hagrid held up the oil lamp high, leading everyone down a steep and narrow path: “Watch your step! This path is a bit slippery!”
Vera pushed the wheelchair, carefully controlling her speed.
This rugged mountain road was not friendly to a wheelchair, and just as she was considering whether to use magic assistance, Harry had already spontaneously walked behind her and grasped the handles of the wheelchair with both hands.
“We’ll take turns pushing you.” Harry said softly, glancing back at Hermione.
Hermione nodded immediately as well.
Vera wanted to refuse, but seeing their serious expressions, she ultimately acquiesced: “Thank you.”
Soon, the end of the path opened up, and a Black lake appeared before everyone.
High on the hillside across the lake stood a towering Castle, with numerous spires on the Castle, and window after window glowing warmly under the starry sky.
“That’s Hogwarts!” Hagrid proudly announced, “No more than four people per boat! Be careful not to fall into the lake; although the Giant Squid is friendly, the water is very cold this season!”
Harry, Hermione, and Vera naturally got into the same boat, with Nox squatting at the bow, staring alertly at the pitch-Black lake surface.
A fleet of small boats immediately glided forward across the mirror-like lake surface.
Harry gazed spellbound at the growing Castle, whispering: “It’s even more beautiful than I imagined…”
Hermione’s voice was trembling with excitement: “Look at those towers! The highest one must be the Astronomy Tower! And the greenhouses over there! I saw them in *Hogwarts: A History*!”
Vera quietly gazed at the ancient Castle, a strange feeling welling up in her heart.
This would be the place where she would live for the next seven years, and also the main stage of the original story.
The fleet of boats slowly sailed into the tunnel beneath the cliff and finally stopped at an underground pier.
Hagrid led the new students ashore and soon arrived at the huge oak doors in front of the Castle.
The heavy doors swung open at once, and a tall, stern-looking Witch in emerald-green robes stood there.
She wore square glasses, and her hair was pulled back into a tight bun.
“First-year students, Professor McGonagall,” Hagrid said.
“Thank you, Hagrid, I will take them from here,” her voice was crisp and decisive.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” Professor McGonagall looked at them, “The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your respective houses. The Sorting Ceremony is a very important ceremony…”
Just as she was speaking, Nox suddenly jumped down from Vera’s lap and slipped silently through the doors.
“Nox!” Harry gasped softly, wanting to hurry after it.
Vera gently pressed down on her hand, “It’s fine, it knows what to do.”
Professor McGonagall continued to explain the traits of the four houses and the House Cup scoring system.
The new students listened nervously, with a few already beginning to tremble.
“What should I do? I don’t know anything yet,” Harry listened to Hermione rapidly reciting spells she had learned nearby, whispering anxiously into Vera’s ear.
Seeing the terrified expressions of the new students around her, Vera couldn’t help curving her lips upward, gently patting her hand in reassurance.
“When your name is called, please step forward and put on the Sorting Hat for sorting,” Professor McGonagall said finally, “Now, please tidy yourselves up, and we will go in shortly.”
She turned and pushed open the doors, leading the new students into the magnificent Great Hall.
Harry couldn’t help letting out a sharp gasp—
Thousands of floating candles illuminated the entire Great Hall, where four long tables were filled with students.
Above the tables was a magical ceiling dotted with stars, and Hermione was excitedly whispering behind them about its wonders.
At the very front was the staff table, where many Professors had already taken their seats.
Quite a few ghosts were also intermingled among the students, shimmering with a faint, silvery light.
But what drew the most attention was a patched, frayed pointed hat resting upon a four-legged stool.
Just as the new students marched forward, the hat suddenly twisted, a wide slit opened like a mouth, and it began to sing.
After it finished singing, the entire hall erupted into thunderous applause, and Professor McGonagall stepped forward, unfurling a long roll of parchment. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Whosever name I call, they shall put on the hat, sit upon the stool, and await sorting,” she said, “Hannah Abbott!”
A rosy-faced little girl with two golden braids stumbled out of line and placed the hat upon her head.
“Hufflepuff!” the hat announced loudly.
The Hufflepuff table erupted into warm applause and cheers.
Vera waited quietly, noticing that Harry’s hands were gripping the edges of her robes so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
“Relax,” she said softly, “It’s just putting on a hat.”
Harry managed a forced smile, “I know, it’s just… I don’t know which house I’ll qualify for.”
“Go to wherever you want,” Vera gently took her hand and comforted her in a soft voice, “Don’t forget what I said on the train.”
Harry blinked, barely nodding, but still didn’t look very well.
The Sorting Ceremony continued, with one new student after another being sorted into their respective houses.
Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor.
As she ran toward the cheering table, she turned back to make an encouraging gesture toward Harry and Vera.
After several more people, Professor McGonagall finally called out: “Harry Potter!”
The Great Hall instantly fell silent, immediately followed by whispers even louder than before.
“Potter? Is that Harry Potter?”
“She’s really here…”
Harry took a deep breath, glanced back at Vera, and stepped forward to put on the hat.
After a long while, the Sorting Hat shouted out: “Gryffindor!”
The Gryffindor table erupted into deafening cheers, with the Weasley twins shouting, “We’ve got Potter!”
Blushing, Harry ran over to sit beside Hermione, not forgetting to cast a worried glance back at Vera.
Vera gave her a slight nod in acknowledgment.
“Vera Black!”
When this name was called, the Great Hall once again fell into an eerie silence, with everyone’s gazes focusing on the silver-haired girl in the wheelchair.
Vera calmly wheeled herself forward, putting on the Sorting Hat with the help of Professor McGonagall.