The crimson steam train weaved through the wild hills.
*Clack—*
*Clack—*
A slight vibration traveled up from the iron rails to the spine. Faint whispers drifted through the corridor, filling the compartment with a drowsy atmosphere.
All of these elements made Dawn sleep soundly.
It wasn't until the train jolted to a sudden stop that he, rolling slightly from inertia, slowly opened his eyes.
He turned his head and glanced out the window.
The sky was already growing dark.
The clouds rolled and unfurled; the setting sun burned the evening winds hot, and the heavens were dyed golden like amber. Yet what spilled over the mountains and forests was a deep red afterglow.
The train gradually slowed down.
Dawn rose from his seat, took out his black robe, and put it on. He left the remaining luggage in the compartment—it would be delivered to the school—and bent down to pick up the toad cage.
Before leaving the compartment, he glanced at Aemon and Abel, who were still stuck to the wall, and smiled in a good mood.
"The magic should last another ten minutes. Don't worry, you'll have enough time to clean up before we arrive... but just a friendly reminder, don't touch anything I left behind."
With that, he slammed the door shut with a bang, leaving the two of them to their own devices.
The corridor was already crowded.
People were jostling and pushing.
Dawn waited for a moment to avoid the thickest part of the crowd.
......
He stepped down from the train onto a small, dark platform.
The distant forest loomed in shadows.
Mist drifted thick in the air.
Dawn scanned the surroundings but didn't see any silver mist that would signify the presence of magic. Perhaps the concentration wasn't high enough.
However, he did spot a familiar figure up ahead—green eyes, messy black hair—Harry Potter, whispering something to a red-haired boy, Ron.
Nearby, a platinum-blond boy was pointing at them, laughing loudly with two large, burly boys behind him.
That should be Draco Malfoy—Harry Potter's long-standing rival at school. As for the two thugs behind him, they were Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Dawn amused himself by picking out faces he recognized among the crowd.
Just then—
Hermione suddenly squeezed her way over and appeared by Dawn's side.
"Thank goodness, you finally came out!"
She patted her chest in relief, then anxiously peeked behind him.
"Where are those two? Oh no! You didn't leave them hanging, did you?"
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," Dawn said offhandedly, then looked at Hermione. "Is that the only reason you came to find me?"
"Of course not!"
Hermione shot him a glare.
"Listen! I'll pretend not to know what happened in the compartment. But once we're at school, you absolutely cannot pull anything like that again! If you do, I won't cover for you. I'll report everything to the professors!"
She grabbed at her hair in frustration, clearly having wrestled with herself before deciding to give him this warning.
Dawn pulled the corners of his mouth into a half-smile, staying silent.
Hermione grew even more irritated at his nonchalant attitude, "Hey! I'm serious! Do you know that breaking school rules at Hogwarts could get you expelled?"
Dawn sighed and met Hermione's furious gaze.
"Miss Granger, I'm guessing… you probably don't have many friends, do you?"
Hermione's angry words suddenly froze.
"You... you're talking nonsense! Of course I have friends!"
"Is that so?"
Dawn easily pierced through her defense.
"In Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet isn't a very likable character. She often meddles in others' affairs, even when her intentions are good."
"...Are you saying I'm meddling?!"
Hermione flushed with anger and grievance.
"Is it wrong for me to care about you?"
She was genuinely worried he might get expelled—that was why she had come to warn him. Yet he treated her kindness like it was some kind of offense!
Dawn chuckled.
"Relationships between people are complicated. Only children believe that goodwill will always be repaid with goodwill."
"What did you just say?!"
Hermione was almost trembling with fury. His lofty tone, his lecturing posture—everything about him made her blood boil.
"You keep calling others 'children,' but aren't you a child yourself?"
"But..." Dawn smiled provocatively. "I've read far more books than any of you."
And just like that, the conversation died.
Hermione choked on her words, unable to find a rebuttal.
He had defeated her in the one area where she prided herself the most—and he had done it utterly and completely.
How infuriating! What a terrible person!
Hermione clenched her fists, staring at the mocking curve of his mouth, itching to smack him with her wand.
......
Hermione fell into a sullen silence.
In that quiet moment, a lantern swung through the mist in the distance, its light bobbing above the heads of the young wizards.
"First years! First years, over here! Hey, Harry, this way! You alright, lad?"
A booming voice grew closer.
Dawn spotted a towering figure—close to twelve feet tall—with a thick beard emerging through the fog.
He recognized him immediately—Rubeus Hagrid. The Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, and one of Harry Potter's most important friends.
Dawn tapped his wand against himself, casting a spell to shield from the damp chill.
Then he followed the crowd, winding down a steep, narrow path.
"Hey! Are you just going to leave like that? They're still not out yet!" Hermione called after him, momentarily stunned as he drifted away.
But there was no answer.
Biting her lip, she glanced between the shrinking figures of the first years and the train behind her. She was just about to turn back when—
Aemon and Abel stumbled out of the train, disheveled and gasping for breath.
"That bastard Dawn! I swear I'll get even with him!" Aemon growled while tugging at his rumpled collar.
Children seldom remember fear unless it sears deeply into their hearts.
For Aemon, being pinned to the wall was an unforgettable humiliation. He silently vowed to himself that he would train hard and one day make Dawn pay.
Abel gave a helpless chuckle beside him.
"Let it go. We weren't exactly innocent either," he said, trying to calm his friend down.
They hurried to catch up with the others, not even noticing Hermione standing nearby.
Hermione, seeing them unharmed, finally relaxed and hurried after them.
........
"Just around this bend, and you'll see Hogwarts! Keep your eyes wide open, kids! I wager you'll never forget it!"
Hagrid shouted cheerfully as he brushed aside a branch blocking the path.
The group responded with an excited chorus.
They rounded the last turn.
The space suddenly opened up before them. A massive black lake stretched out, dotted with small boats bobbing gently at the water's edge.
On the far shore, high atop a steep hill—
Stood a magnificent castle.
Its towers pierced the sky, each window glowing with different colors against the darkness.
Above it all, the heavens seemed drawn close, the lighter clouds draping down like silky ribbons, brushing against the starlit towers.
It was like something out of a dream.
Dawn found himself momentarily dazed.
At last—Hogwarts.
He couldn't help but whisper the name in his heart.
_________________
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