When someone became completely immersed in something, time often passed without notice.
That was exactly what had happened to Adam.
Ever since boarding the Hogwarts Express, he had remained quietly seated by the window, reading one book after another without interruption.
Occasionally, he would glance outside at the passing scenery, but most of his attention remained focused on the thick magical text resting in his hands.
As a result, he barely noticed how quickly the journey passed.
Only when a loud voice echoed through the train did Adam finally snap back to reality.
“We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes!
Please leave your luggage on the train.
It will be delivered to the school separately!” Adam blinked and slowly closed the book in his hands.
“Already?” He stood up and stretched lazily.
Crack.
A series of soft popping sounds came from his stiff shoulders and back.
Across from him, a fluffy white creature lifted its head sleepily.
“Meow~~~” It was Fou-Fou.
The small white cat had spent most of the trip sleeping comfortably on the seat opposite Adam.
Fortunately, no other students had entered the compartment during the journey, allowing Adam to enjoy several peaceful hours of quiet reading.
“We’re almost at Hogwarts,” Adam said softly while reaching for his wand.
“Time for you to go back inside your cage.” With a casual flick of his wand, the cage resting on the floor floated gently upward and landed on the seat beside him.
“Meow~~~!” Fou-Fou immediately let out a deeply dissatisfied cry.
The little creature clearly hated staying inside the cramped cage.
Its long ears drooped unhappily while its fluffy tail swished back and forth in protest.
Adam chuckled helplessly.
“Don’t worry.
I won’t keep you in there for long.” He gently rubbed Fou-Fou’s head several times before finally placing the reluctant creature inside the cage.
Only then did Adam put on the black Hogwarts robes he had purchased from Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions.
The train gradually slowed.
Outside the windows, darkness covered the countryside.
A few moments later, the Hogwarts Express came to a complete stop.
The train doors opened immediately.
Students poured onto the small platform in noisy groups, dragging luggage and chattering excitedly.
The cold night air instantly swept over them, causing many first-year students to shiver.
Then, above the crowd, a lantern suddenly appeared.
A booming voice echoed through the darkness.
“First years!
First years over here!” Adam looked toward the voice.
A giant of a man stood holding the lantern high overhead.
With his enormous size, thick beard, and rough coat, the man was impossible to mistake.
Rubeus Hagrid.
Hagrid waved energetically toward the nervous students.
“Come on now!
First years this way!” The young wizards quickly gathered around him.
Adam followed quietly behind the crowd.
The group walked down a narrow path until they reached the edge of a dark lake.
Several small boats floated quietly near the shore.
“Four to a boat!” Hagrid shouted.
Students hurriedly climbed aboard.
Adam entered one of the boats alone, setting Fou-Fou’s cage beside him.
Soon, the boats began moving across the lake by themselves.
The cold wind brushed across the water as the students stared around nervously.
Then suddenly— The castle appeared.
A massive, brilliantly illuminated structure rose atop the mountain ahead of them.
Golden lights shone from countless windows while towering spires stretched into the night sky.
Gasps instantly erupted from the students.
“So beautiful…” “Incredible…” “Is that Hogwarts?!” Even Adam, who already knew what Hogwarts looked like, couldn’t help admiring the sight personally.
The ancient castle possessed a kind of overwhelming majesty that pictures could never truly capture.
The boats carried them beneath a stone bridge and finally arrived at the shore below the castle.
After climbing a long staircase, the students gathered before enormous wooden doors.
There, waiting for them, stood Minerva McGonagall.
She still wore the same stern and serious expression Adam remembered from Diagon Alley.
It honestly felt as though smiling was physically impossible for her.
After handing the students over to Professor McGonagall, Hagrid departed quietly.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward and surveyed the nervous first years.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” she said calmly.
Her voice was clear and authoritative, instantly silencing the crowd.
“In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join the rest of the students inside the Great Hall.” “But before taking your seats, you will be sorted into your respective houses.” She paused briefly before continuing.
“The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.” As Professor McGonagall explained the house system and the House Cup competition, many students listened nervously.
Others looked excited.
Some appeared terrified.
Adam, meanwhile, stood quietly near the back of the group while listening casually.
Once the explanation ended, Professor McGonagall returned inside the Great Hall temporarily, leaving the first years alone in the corridor.
The moment the adults disappeared, the nervous whispers immediately began.
“What do you think the Sorting Ceremony is?” “My brother said it’s dangerous!” “I heard students have to fight a troll!” “No, my cousin said you have to duel professors!” “Someone told me people can actually die during it…” Adam nearly laughed out loud after hearing the increasingly ridiculous rumors.
Wizarding families truly had too much free time.
Just to scare first years, they had somehow managed to keep the real Sorting Ceremony completely secret for generations.
Honestly impressive.
“Adam!” A familiar voice suddenly called out excitedly.
Adam turned toward the source of the voice.
Hermione Granger hurried toward him with a bright smile.
Beside her stood two boys.
One of them had messy black hair and bright green eyes behind round glasses.
The other was tall, thin, covered in freckles, and possessed unmistakable bright red hair.
Adam recognized both immediately.
Harry Potter.
And Ron Weasley.
“I was looking for you on the train earlier,” Hermione said.
“I thought you hadn’t come.” Adam smiled faintly.
“I was reading and didn’t leave my compartment.” Hermione nodded before gesturing toward Harry.
“You already know Harry, right?” Harry immediately recognized Adam as well.
“It’s you!” He looked genuinely happy.
“You were the one who helped me find Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.” Ron blinked in surprise.
“You two already know each other?” Harry nodded quickly.
“At King’s Cross Station, I couldn’t figure out how to get through the barrier.
He helped me.” Then Harry turned toward Adam again.
“I didn’t get a chance to thank you properly before.” “Thank you.” His voice sounded sincere.
Adam waved casually.
“It was only a small favor.” Still, Harry looked grateful.
Unlike many others who stared at him because of his fame, Adam had treated him completely normally.
Harry appreciated that more than he could explain.
Just as he was about to continue speaking, another voice suddenly interrupted.
“So the rumors on the train were true.” A pale blond boy stepped forward confidently.
“Harry Potter really has come to Hogwarts.” The moment the name “Harry Potter” was spoken aloud, many students nearby immediately reacted.
Whispers spread rapidly through the corridor.
“That’s Harry Potter?” “The Boy Who Lived…” “Look at his scar!” Students from wizarding families stared openly at Harry with curiosity and excitement.
The blond boy approached calmly with two large boys standing behind him.
One looked wide like a gorilla.
The other appeared equally intimidating but slightly dumber.
“This is Crabbe,” the blond boy announced arrogantly.
“And this is Goyle.” Then he lifted his chin proudly.
“And I’m Malfoy.
Draco Malfoy.” Draco Malfoy.
The moment Ron heard the name, he snorted loudly.
Unfortunately, Draco heard him immediately.
“Think my name is funny, do you?” Draco said coldly.
His gray eyes shifted toward Ron dismissively.
“No need to ask who you are.” “Red hair.
Hand-me-down robes.” “You must be a Weasley.” Ron’s face immediately reddened with anger.
Among the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families, the Weasleys were famous for one unfortunate reason— They were poor.
Very poor.
Draco crossed his arms arrogantly before turning back toward Harry.
“You’ll soon learn that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter.” His tone carried obvious superiority.
Clearly, he had grown up deeply influenced by pure-blood ideology.
To Draco, blood status determined worth.
Adam suddenly laughed.
A clear, amused chuckle escaped him.
Draco’s face darkened instantly.
“What are you laughing at?” Adam looked directly at him.
“Nothing,” he said calmly.
“I just find your statement ridiculous.” Draco narrowed his eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Adam’s expression remained perfectly relaxed.
“If pure-blood families were truly superior,” he said lightly, “then Azkaban wouldn’t be filled with so many pure-blood criminals.” Silence.
Complete silence.
Not only Draco, but many nearby students froze in shock.
No one had expected someone to openly say something like that.
Especially not in front of so many children from old wizarding families.
But the worst part was— Adam wasn’t wrong.
That was precisely why nobody knew how to respond.
Give me more motivation!