The train pulled into the station. As soon as Hermione and Ginny stepped off, they anxiously scanned the crowd—but as expected, there was no sign of Harry or Ron.
Kai Adler disembarked shortly after, leaving his luggage behind in the carriage. According to Hermione, house-elves would deliver the students' belongings to their dormitories.
On the way, she took the opportunity to express her outrage over the enslavement of such intelligent beings.
Kai already knew a little about house-elves. Magical creatures with power rivaling or surpassing that of many wizards, they were bound to serve wizarding families through ancient magical contracts—servitude that spanned generations, only broken when granted freedom through the symbolic gift of clothing.
Watching Hermione's indignant expression, Kai merely smiled to himself. He had his reservations about her lofty ideals of freeing house-elves, but he wisely kept them to himself.
The class structure of this society was rigid, its institutions steeped in tradition. What could one impassioned Muggle-born witch truly change?
In the distance, a towering figure with wild black hair and a lantern in hand called out over the crowd.
"Welcome, young witches and wizards! It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm Rubeus Hagrid—Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts!"
"All first-years new to Hogwarts, this way!"
Hagrid's booming voice and massive frame made the younger students freeze nervously. He tried to soften the moment with a friendly grin, but his grizzled face made it more frightening than comforting. After a few awkward stares, he dropped the effort.
"Come on now, we haven't got all day!"
Hermione nudged Kai in the back. "That's your cue."
"I'm a second-year, remember? Not a first-year. I'll walk with you instead."
"Suit yourself," she said with a little lift of her chin, clearly pleased.
"Kai Adler?! Is Kai Adler here???"
Kai blinked. Hearing his full name shouted across the crowd made him grimace inwardly.
Hermione raised her hand with a giggle. "He's right here, Hagrid!"
"It must be that old man Dumbledore again…" Kai muttered under his breath.
Hermione gave him a light smack on the shoulder. "Show some respect. That's Professor Dumbledore—and your guardian."
"Yes, yes."
"Oh! There you are, lad!" Hagrid spotted him and waved. "Thanks, Hermione!"
As Hagrid's voice thundered across the platform, all eyes turned toward Kai. The young man sighed, schooling his expression into polite calm.
He stepped forward, posture poised and refined, and offered his hand. "Pleased to meet you. My name is Kai Adler."
"Well met, Kai!" Hagrid gently shook his hand, though even "gentle" nearly lifted Kai off the ground. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to bring you directly to the Great Hall. Says he wants to see to your Sorting personally. Seems he thinks quite highly of you."
Of course he does, Kai thought. That old man never does anything without a reason.
Still, he offered a mild, polite smile. "My family's elder was an old friend of the Professor's. One of those friends, you understand."
Hagrid blinked, then nodded slowly, catching the implication.
"Oh… I see. That kind of friend." He winked knowingly. "Say no more."
As they crossed the lake in small boats toward the looming silhouette of the castle, Hagrid's thoughts turned inward. Dumbledore hadn't spoken of any close companions since… well, since that man had been imprisoned.
A chilling thought struck him, and his gaze narrowed slightly.
Could this boy… be his descendant?
Oblivious to Hagrid's internal questioning, Kai stood at the bow of the boat, gazing across the water.
Through the mist, the towering silhouette of Hogwarts loomed—an ancient castle atop a craggy cliff, framed by forest and mountain, the lake rippling below.
"It's impressive, isn't it?" Hagrid said proudly. "Best school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world."
Kai silently agreed.
They passed under a boathouse and climbed a winding stair to the entrance hall. At the top of the steps stood a stern-looking witch in emerald-green robes.
Her black hair was tied in a tight bun, and square spectacles framed her sharp gaze. She looked every inch a disciplinarian.
"I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. You will address me as such. I am also the Transfiguration professor."
Transfiguration… Kai's eyes sharpened with interest.
His old guardian had once said: Transfiguration is a magic of extremes. For the weak, it is parlour tricks. For the strong—it is the reshaping of reality itself.
Even he hadn't claimed mastery over it.
"I won't teach you what I haven't mastered myself," the old man had said. "But you'll meet someone stronger than me. One day. He'll teach you."
If the greatest school in the world had anyone who fit that description—it could well be the woman before him.
Feeling someone's gaze, McGonagall looked down the stairs and met Kai's dark eyes.
She blinked in mild surprise—his striking features, rare among Hogwarts students, jogged a memory.
"You must be Kai Adler."
Kai resisted the urge to sigh. Again with the name.
He bowed his head politely. "Yes, Professor."
The young man's calm, practiced courtesy clearly made a good impression. McGonagall gave a rare smile.
"Professor Dumbledore has spoken of you. I'll see to your Sorting myself. Come with me."
Meanwhile, inside the Great Hall, Hermione sat eagerly at the Gryffindor table, glancing toward the doors.
He hadn't been sorted yet, so surely he'd go through the ceremony with the first-years, right?
She found herself wondering which House he'd land in.
He had the arrogance of a Slytherin… the intelligence for Ravenclaw… and maybe the appetite of a Hufflepuff?
But Gryffindor? Hardly. That boy couldn't be bothered to charge into anything.
As her thoughts ran wild, the great oak doors swung open. The first-years entered in hushed awe, marveling at the enchanted ceiling above.
Kai, however, stepped out of line without hesitation and walked straight toward Hermione.
With practiced ease, he plopped down beside her.
"This seat taken?"
She blinked. "What are you doing?! You haven't been Sorted!"
He gave her an innocent look. "I'm a second-year, aren't I?"
"That doesn't matter! You still need—!" She cut off as she spotted Professor McGonagall standing silently behind them.
Her eyes widened. "Professor—I'm so sorry—he just—!"
McGonagall studied them both for a moment, then gave a surprisingly warm smile.
"If he wishes to sit here, then he may."