The train slowly came to a stop at the platform. Rain poured down in torrents, drumming on the ground and splashing up in rings of water.
Everyone else had already returned to their compartments to pack and change clothes. Theo stood up, ready to get off, but was stopped by Michael's outstretched hand.
"Wait a bit," Michael said. "The doorway must be completely jammed right now."
Even through the glass, they could hear the sounds of students shouting and urging each other in the corridor.
Theo sat back down, but he was fidgety, like he had a hedgehog under him. He kept standing up to look outside. After a while, seeing that the crowd in the corridor had thinned out, he quickly said:
"Most people have already gotten off. Let's go too, quickly."
Ryan smiled and got up, followed by Wade.
Michael sighed and said to Wade, "Honestly, I'd rather wait until everyone's gone before getting off. It's not like the school's going to leave us behind on the train."
"Alright, up you go," Ryan said, pulling him up from the seat.
Wade pulled a raincoat from his pocket, gave it a shake, and it returned to its original size. He asked Michael, "Want a raincoat?"
Michael had been the only one soaked through when they got on the train earlier—it was obvious he didn't bring an umbrella.
Michael grinned. "I've been practicing my Transfiguration lately. Let me show you something."
He picked up a Chocolate Frog wrapper from the table, pointed his wand at it, and chanted a transfiguration spell.
Moments later, the wrapper gradually expanded and turned into a teal-blue cloak adorned with golden patterns.
Ryan, waiting by the door, gave a thumbs-up. "Nice!"
Michael raised an eyebrow and said as he put on the cloak, "I hope you're complimenting my Transfiguration skills, not just the pattern on this cloak."
He walked ahead, and Wade, following behind, couldn't help but laugh — on the back of the cloak was a goofy-looking frog.
At the carriage door, there was still a small crowd waiting. Wade held back a bit longer before finally stepping out.
Once on the pitch-black platform, he understood why the students were moving so slowly — quite a few upper-year students were holding up leaf or flower-shaped umbrellas, deliberately strolling along the platform, showing off the results of their Transfiguration spells!
"Wade, they've stolen your idea!" Michael said angrily.
"Come on, hurry up," Ryan urged. "I'm freezing."
On the walk from the platform to the Thestral-drawn carriages, Wade noticed some people's Transfiguration wasn't quite up to par.
The freshly transformed leaf umbrellas had already drooped. When too much rain pooled in the center of a leaf, it would suddenly tilt to the side, dumping cold rainwater all over the student beneath it from head to toe.
Michael laughed out loud while also tightening his cloak nervously.
It wasn't just pouring rain — strong winds were blowing as well. Rain whipped in from all directions, making any umbrella useless.
Luckily, the Chocolate Frog manufacturer had some integrity. The wrapper had a wax coating, making it waterproof. By the time the carriage wobbled its way to Hogwarts, Michael's cloak was still intact.
No one paused at the front steps. Wade jumped out of the carriage and quickly climbed the stairs into the castle. After crossing the entrance hall and stepping into the warm Great Hall, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
He greeted Theo, then took off his cloak and headed to the Ravenclaw table, shrinking the cloak and putting it away as he walked.
Just as he found an empty seat and sat down, a chorus of surprised cries came from the entrance. Moments later, Harry and the others came rushing into the Great Hall, completely soaked, followed by several screaming fifth-year girls.
"Hey, you lot — what happened in the entrance hall?"
As they walked through the aisle between the long tables, Fred called out curiously.
"Peeves is throwing water bombs!" Ron said furiously. "It's just our rotten luck…"
They sat down at the Gryffindor table with their backs to Wade. Their socks must've been soaked too — every step they took made a loud squelching sound.
Harry was pulling off his shoes and pouring water out of them when a boy suddenly rushed over to him and said excitedly, "Harry, guess what? My little brother got in too! His name's Dennis!"
Wade's fingertips trembled slightly. He turned to glance at the boy.
Colin Creevey. He and his brother were both devoted fans of Harry Potter. If he remembered correctly, both of them had died in the final battle.
They hadn't even reached adulthood when they were killed.
"Hey, Colin," Michael turned around and said with a grin, "Didn't bring your camera? Aren't you going to take a rare shot of 'Soaking Wet Harry Potter'?"
"Oi, Michael!" Harry shouted.
"Great idea!" Colin's eyes lit up. He looked eagerly at Harry, holding up his camera. "Can I take one? Just one?"
"Thanks, but no, Colin," Harry said firmly, shoving his cold, wet sneakers back on.
As they were speaking, the doors of the Great Hall suddenly opened, and Professor McGonagall led a group of first-years inside. The students immediately quieted down and turned to look.
The kids looked like they'd been pulled straight out of a lake — shivering all over. One of them was even wearing Hagrid's mole-skin coat and was excitedly gesturing to Colin.
"I fell in the lake!" he mouthed happily.
As Professor McGonagall led the new students to the front and pulled out the Sorting Hat, Harry reached out and tugged on Wade's sleeve.
Wade turned around and saw Harry whisper, "Help us out, Wade. We're all soaked to the bone."
Back on the train, Michael had enthusiastically told them all about Wade's self-invented warm-air drying charm. After all, if there's a way to dry your clothes, who'd want to keep wearing cold, soggy ones clinging to their skin?
"Oh, Harry," Nearly Headless Nick floated over warmly and said, "If you need, I can bring over a couple of candles for you."
Harry's mouth twitched. Hermione quickly cut in, "Thank you, Nick, but I think we need something a bit faster."
She was twisting the soaked hem of her robes in frustration. Her hair was still dripping wet, looking more like seaweed just pulled from the ocean.
Wade smiled, drew his wand, and gave a flick of his wrist. "Ventus Calidus."(Warm breeze.)
A gust of warm air spiraled out from the tip of his wand, sweeping over Harry and Hermione like a wave, then quickly spreading across the entire Great Hall.
Amid the whooshing wind, the Sorting Hat—who was just about to start its song—opened its mouth wide and its fabric was puffed up by the rushing warmth.
Several girls let out surprised squeals as the hair that had been plastered to their faces instantly fluffed up and softened. Professor McGonagall's pointed hat suddenly flew off her head but was swiftly caught by her quick reflexes.
At the Slytherin table, Malfoy's neatly combed hair puffed up like a dandelion, while Pansy beside him ended up looking like a poodle.
On the staff table, Professor Snape's robes suddenly billowed open before he promptly forced them back down. He shot Wade a sharp, furious glare.
Dumbledore, however, reacted quickly—he pressed his hand down over his beard just in time to prevent it from blowing into disarray, then closed his eyes contentedly, enjoying the breeze.
Above them, the floating candles flickered wildly but stayed lit. A few startled bats flitted across the ceiling.
Moments later, the whirlwind faded, and the Great Hall fell completely silent. The first-years looked down in amazement at their now-dry clothes, and more than a few Muggle-born kids had eyes that sparkled with wonder.
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⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- 200+ Chapters
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