Soon, they returned to their previous compartment.
For the rest of the trip, Jon and Astoria didn't say much about what had just happened.
Astoria's expression had returned to its usual innocent, dreamy self, as if the Dementors had never appeared. With a smile, she began asking about Dumbledore's visit to Jon's home.
"By the way, Jon, what did Professor Dumbledore ask when he visited your house?"
"Not much. He just chatted with my parents—and ate nearly a whole pound of desserts…"
"A pound?"
"Yeah! Can you believe it? He's ancient, but he's got a major sweet tooth—and an appetite to match!"
"That's unbelievable…"
...
About an hour later, the train finally arrived at Hogsmeade Station.
Getting off the train was complete chaos. Owl hoots, cat meows, even the croaking of toads filled the air...
Besides her suitcase, Astoria was also holding an owl cage, inside which a beautiful white owl was sleeping peacefully—the same one that had delivered a letter to Jon the day before.
"My grandmother gave her to me!" Astoria said with a blink. "I named her Jorgrin."
"Really? That's a nice name," Jon replied casually as he opened his umbrella.
The Hogsmeade platform was chilly, with cold rain pouring down.
"First-years, this way!" a familiar voice called out.
At the far end of the platform, Hagrid's massive figure was waving to the nervous new students, preparing to lead them on the traditional lake crossing.
"Remember this time last year?" Astoria whispered. "We were just as lost as they are—curious about everything at Hogwarts."
"Yeah," Jon nodded. "Didn't we even get into an argument around this time last year?"
The two of them exchanged a smile.
The rain was pouring. They followed the rest of the students down a rough, muddy path. At the end of the road, at least a hundred carriages were waiting.
Each was pulled by an invisible horse—or more accurately, an invisible Thestral. Jon and Astoria climbed into one of the side carriages, and soon, two more people squeezed in.
"Astoria, I finally caught up with you!" Daphne Greengrass said, slightly out of breath, completely ignoring Jon sitting beside her.
"Sister…" Astoria said softly. "And hello, Draco!"
"Jon, this is Draco Malfoy!" she quickly introduced.
"Draco, this is Jon Hart—my friend."
"Good evening, Astoria." Draco Malfoy straightened his posture, his pale blond hair flicking slightly as he lifted his chin. He only gave Jon a sideways glance.
Jon ignored him and sat quietly in his seat, just like usual.
The carriage set off, bumping along the muddy road.
Honestly, sitting in a carriage with three Slytherins wasn't the most comfortable thing.
But then Astoria gently took his hand.
...
The carriage continued along the muddy path.
Draco Malfoy was talking loudly. "The Quidditch World Cup is next June—it's being hosted here in England! My father managed to get some of the best box seats through special channels... My favorite team is—"
"No…" Jon couldn't help cutting in, grumbling, "Why are you all constantly talking about Quidditch?"
In the Hufflepuff common room, Zacharias and his group were always going on about Quidditch. In Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron, every few steps you'd hear boys gushing about it. Gryffindors weren't any different either…
Jon really didn't get it. Was there nothing else meaningful in these boys' lives?
"Because Quidditch is the most popular sport in the world!" Malfoy lifted his head proudly and looked down at Jon. "Hart, I bet you're terrible at it—that's why you don't get how fun it is!"
His gaze was full of unshakable contempt.
"Terrible?" Jon smirked. "Well… I was top of our flying class last year, if I recall correctly."
"Top?" Malfoy looked like he couldn't believe his ears.
"Yup!" Jon nodded. "Madam Hooch even insisted that I join the advanced flying class in second year."
"Advanced flying class?" Malfoy raised his voice. "I've never heard of that!"
"Of course you haven't." Jon wagged a finger at him. "Only students who achieve exceptional results in first-year flying get invited to the second-year advanced class."
"That's impossible!" Malfoy yelled, completely shocked.
"What's so impossible?" Jon said confidently. "Professor Dumbledore came to my house on July 15th. He personally gave me my flying class report card—first place. And he also gave me Madam Hooch's letter inviting me to the advanced class."
"What?" Malfoy looked utterly crushed.
"Hey, it's normal you wouldn't know," Jon said cheerfully. "After all, only top-performing first-years get told about the advanced class. Everyone else is usually kept in the dark."
"Potter!" Draco Malfoy suddenly growled.
"Huh?" Jon was caught off guard.
"Potter! He must've been in that advanced class too!" Malfoy snarled through clenched teeth. "That's why I couldn't beat him—even with my Nimbus 2001!"
"Pfft…" Astoria burst into giggles. "Oh Jon, you're too much!"
...
The carriage rumbled forward. Ahead stood a pair of magnificent wrought-iron gates, with the golden letters "Hogwarts" gleaming across the top.
They had arrived at the gates of Hogwarts. Jon saw two tall, hooded Dementors standing guard on either side.
Astoria began trembling again, and Jon quickly pulled her into a hug.
"It's okay," he whispered gently.
Thankfully, the chill didn't last long...
The carriage sped up on the sloping road, and soon, they arrived in front of the castle.