At dawn, Hogwarts Castle shed the most terrifying aspects of its overnight transformation, though it still retained the peculiar charm created by blending the styles of the seven schools.
As instructed, every student had changed into a neat school uniform, and the air was filled with a festive mixture of nervousness and excitement.
The day's lessons had been deliberately shortened.
By the time the afternoon sunlight turned soft and golden, the entire school, students and staff alike, had gathered in orderly lines on the vast lawn between the Castle and the Black Lake under the direction of the professors, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their guests.
Professor McGonagall's stern gaze swept across the crowd, and everyone she looked at immediately fell silent.
"Weasley, straighten your hat," she ordered sharply. "Miss Patil, remove that ridiculous thing from your hair."
Parvati frowned unhappily and removed the large butterfly ornament from the end of her plait.
"First-years to the front... no pushing..."
The sky was a clear blue, and a gentle breeze rippled across the surface of the Black Lake, making the sunlight shimmer upon the water.
The students stood in lines according to House, talking quietly among themselves as their eyes repeatedly scanned the sky and the lake, guessing how the visiting delegations would arrive.
Headmaster Dumbledore stood at the very front, his long silver-white beard fluttering gently in the breeze and a warm smile on his face.
Suddenly, a deep, piercing horn blast sounded from the north, shattering the tranquillity of the afternoon.
"Look! In the lake!"
A Gryffindor student cried out, pointing a trembling finger towards the centre of the Black Lake.
The previously calm water began churning violently, sending enormous waves into the air as though the lake had become a boiling cauldron.
A massive mast adorned with tattered sails and tangled aquatic plants slowly emerged from the centre of the enormous whirlpool, like a sea monster awakening from the depths.
It was the same peculiar ship as before, resembling a ghost vessel that had lain at the bottom of the sea for centuries. Its wooden hull was riddled with holes and looked as though it might collapse at any moment, while a faint phosphorescent glow shone through its portholes.
"Merlin's beard..."
Seamus Finnigan murmured, "Even though this isn't the first time I've seen it, I still have to ask. Is it really not going to sink?"
Ron watched the enormous ship approach the shore and muttered, "Don't be ridiculous, Seamus. It's magic."
As the ominous-looking vessel slowly docked, a procession of people wearing heavy fur cloaks emerged.
The man leading them wore a distinctive silver-white fur cloak. His face was pale, and his smile appeared strained.
It was Igor Karkaroff.
The Durmstrang students followed silently behind him. Their expressions were serious, carrying a cold hardness that seemed ill-suited to their age.
After disembarking, they did not immediately approach the welcoming party. Instead, as though acting upon a prior agreement, they all turned their attention towards the southern sky.
"What's that? A coloured cloud?"
A Ravenclaw girl asked, narrowing her eyes.
No sooner had she spoken than everyone saw a brilliantly coloured "cloud" drifting across the sky.
As it drew closer, they realised that it was an enormous magical carpet, its edges decorated with intricate geometric patterns. Dozens of young men and women wearing brightly coloured robes stood upon it.
Sunlight spilled across the carpet, causing it to shimmer with iridescent light.
"It's Uagadou!"
Hermione whispered excitedly, nearly bouncing on the spot.
"The book said they travelled by magic carpet?" Harry asked without looking away from the smoothly gliding "cloud."
"The book didn't say," Hermione replied, shaking her head.
"Then how do you know?" Ron asked casually.
"Because I can see that the magic carpet is full of Black people," Hermione replied irritably, causing Harry and Ron to pull faces.
"I bet they've enchanted the carpet so that it looks like an ordinary cloud to Muggles!" Hermione speculated confidently.
Many of the young Wizards let out genuine exclamations.
"That's a much more cheerful entrance than that broken-down ship."
"Quiet, Mr Finnigan."
Professor McGonagall fixed Seamus, who was staring open-mouthed, with a stern glare, and he quickly closed his mouth.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione almost simultaneously recalled what Mr Weasley had said at the campsite before the Quidditch World Cup:
"It's always the same. Whenever people gather together, they can't resist showing off a little..."
As the Uagadou magic carpet arrived, the clouds on the horizon were split apart by an even more brilliant display of colour.
A gigantic rainbow serpent, its scales reflecting countless colours, glided gracefully through the clouds, winding its way across the sky.
A faint, ancient melody filled with the richness of the earth and the vastness of the ocean drifted through the air.
The students stared wide-eyed. None of them had ever seen such an enormous and beautiful serpent.
"That's Ukarlo School of Magic," Sagres explained quietly. "They travel on a rainbow serpent."
"It looks... like one of those glowing jelly sweets..." a first-year student murmured dreamily.
"I suspect that, in its eyes, you are the glowing jelly sweet."
Snape's low voice sounded nearby, carrying his characteristic brand of humour.
The young Hufflepuff's face immediately went pale, and he shrank back.
From the western sky came the clear, melodious ringing of bells.
Twelve sleek horses marked with glowing runes approached gracefully, pulling an enormous and ornate carriage.
The carriage was surrounded by a faint mist that sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight.
"Beauxbatons!"
The crowd stirred once again.
"How beautiful..." Parvati Patil exclaimed sincerely.
Amid the commotion, another strange phenomenon appeared on the open ground before the Castle.
Several green shoots broke through the soil. Then, as though suddenly infused with life, their branches and leaves grew wildly, forming a towering tree in an instant.
Its branches twisted together like living serpents, rapidly creating a vibrant green archway.
Flames flickered within the arch, and a group of students dressed in emerald green and earthy colours emerged, carrying with them the damp scent of the rainforest and the freshness of growing plants.
"Castelobruxo students travel through botanical passages," Professor Flitwick explained to the young Wizards. "It's a highly advanced application of natural magic!"
Finally, a stirring drumbeat sounded from an unknown source.
In time with the drums, the clouds began to rotate, forming an enormous vortex in the sky.
At its centre, a Thunderbird surrounded by storms and lightning spread its massive wings.
Standing upon its broad back was a group of young men and women wearing school uniforms of deep blue and cranberry red, their expressions confident and spirited.
"Ilvermorny!" someone shouted.
"Good heavens, how can there be such an enormous Thunderbird?" a young Wizard murmured.
"Is it possible..."
Snape's flat voice sounded once more.
He glanced at the young Wizard who had asked the question, undisguised contempt on his face.
"...that it is merely a magical construct shaped like a Thunderbird?"
The young Wizard's face immediately turned red, while several others who had been wondering the same thing felt immensely relieved that they had kept their mouths shut.
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