"That's incredible! How do they manage it?" Wyzett asked, his curiosity piqued. "It can't just be ordinary magic, can it? How do they know where we're staying?"
"Well, it's a bit complicated... Maybe it's some kind of magical creature?" Cho Chang mused, tilting her head. "Our best guess is that house-elves help move our luggage."
"House-elves?" The term was new to Wyzett.
"Mhm..." Cho stretched with a yawn. "They're about the same size and build as goblins, but they look much friendlier. House-elves usually live in old magical manors, doing all the chores and meeting their wizard masters' every wish—no questions asked."
"A proper house-elf is so discreet that most wizards never even notice them. I've never seen one myself."
The train began to slow, and a wave of noise swept through the carriage—shouts, laughter, and the occasional yelp of pain.
Many students, now dressed in their Hogwarts robes, rushed toward the rear of the train, drawn by the commotion.
"Sounds like Harry Potter is fighting someone!"
"Harry Potter? The Boy Who Lived? He's finally at Hogwarts!"
"Let's go! I heard it's someone from the Malfoy family—he's actually fighting the Savior!"
...
Wyzett stepped into the corridor and found it jammed with students pushing toward the back. "Absolutely mental," he thought. "It's like a mob at a pop concert..."
Night had fallen by the time the Hogwarts Express finally pulled into a small, uneven platform. There were no lanterns or torches glowing nearby, just the biting wind whistling through the darkness. Many students sneezed as they stepped off the train.
"This is where we part ways for now," Cho Chang said, waving to Wyzett. "You first-years have to follow tradition and enter Hogwarts from a different route."
"Follow tradition? Is it the Sorting Ceremony?" Wyzett asked.
"Nope!" Cho blew into her hands, rubbing them together for warmth. "You have to retrace the path the four founders took when they first discovered the castle. It's a bit rough, honestly."
"First years! First years, over here!" A booming voice echoed through the darkness. "Watch your step! Careful now! Quickly, over here!"
Wyzett turned and spotted a massive lantern bobbing in the distance, held aloft by none other than Hagrid.
"Oi! Wyzett! Finally found you!" Hagrid bellowed, waving his enormous hand. "Come on over! Stick close to me!"
With his towering height, Hagrid easily reached over the crowd and plucked Wyzett from the throng.
"Good to see you, lad! Had any trouble lately? The Daily Prophet has been minding its manners, I hope?"
"Not really," Wyzett replied. "Now that Harry's started at Hogwarts, all the news is about him. He's a legend in the wizarding world! I'll introduce you—Harry! Where are you?"
Thanks to his height, Hagrid was like a giant claw crane, effortlessly scooping up Harry.
Harry had brilliant green eyes and a mop of untidy black hair; he looked rather slight and pale.
As he was brought over, another familiar face squeezed through the crowd—Ron.
"We've met before!" Ron waved. "Back when we used the Floo Network, remember?"
"Of course I remember," Wyzett replied, smiling. "It's good to see you both."
Ron turned to Harry. "This is Wyzett—the one I told you about on the train!"
Harry's eyes lit up in recognition. "So it's you! When Hagrid took me to Diagon Alley, he always talked about you—said you'd helped him out loads."
"It was nothing, really," Wyzett insisted. "I just happened to be there at the time."
"Nothing? Not at all!" Hagrid interjected. "You didn't just help me, you helped Professor Dumbledore too!"
"Professor Dumbledore?" Wyzett looked puzzled.
"Oh... never mind!" Hagrid realized he'd said too much and hastily changed the subject. "We'd better get moving! Still a long walk ahead!"
The path to Hogwarts was rough and uneven, riddled with potholes. Without Hagrid's lantern lighting the way, it would have been easy to trip. Accidents were frequent—Hagrid often had to pause and haul fallen children back to their feet. But faced with his enormous size, none of the kids dared cry; at most, a few tears glimmered at the corners of their eyes.
"Good thing I managed to get to the front," Ron muttered. "There are plenty more trials ahead tonight!"
"What other trials?" Harry asked nervously.
"Well, Fred and George say the Sorting Ceremony is terrifying. We might have to fight a giant!"
"A giant?" Harry looked up at Hagrid. "Bigger than him?"
"No idea," Ron replied with a shake of his head. "But Fred said it'd be taller than Hagrid!"
Suddenly, Hermione's voice cut in. "Real giants are at least twenty feet tall. The shorter ones are actually looked down on."
"Oh..." Ron groaned, falling silent.
Harry seemed to agree, clamming up as well.
Just as Hermione was about to launch into a lecture, Hagrid's booming voice rang out again.
"Almost there! Just around this bend and you'll see Hogwarts!"
Moments later, Wyzett caught his first glimpse of the black lake. On the far shore, a steep hill rose, crowned by a magnificent castle bristling with towers.
It was pure Gothic: window after window glowed with warm, golden light, twinkling like stars against the night sky.
Wyzett exhaled slowly. He'd seen plenty of grand buildings on TV in his previous life, but nothing compared to standing here in person.
Especially with his Oculus Magicae—the castle blazed with silver-blue magic, so dazzling he could barely look at it. The whole structure radiated ancient power, like a treasure chest waiting to be opened, calling him to explore.
A flood of information surged into his mind, making him dizzy. He quickly switched to Custodis Meditatio (Guardian's Meditation), and the feeling faded.
At that moment, The Wizard's Practical Combat Guide in his mind flipped open on its own, revealing a map—Hogwarts and its surroundings, shrouded in mist. Only the castle, the lake, and a single path from the station to the water's edge were visible.
It was clear: to dispel the mist, he'd have to explore every corner of Hogwarts.
"Looks like life here won't be boring," Wyzett thought, smiling.
Hagrid pointed to a line of small boats. "Right then, everyone aboard! Four to a boat! We'll cross the lake to the castle!"
Wyzett climbed into a boat with Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
At Hagrid's signal, the boats set off, gliding swiftly toward the far shore.
"Trevor! Don't run!" Neville's frantic shout rang out as his pet toad made another bid for freedom, leaping straight into the water.
Ron watched the splash and murmured, "At least Scabbers isn't that rebellious—he'd never try to escape..."
Wyzett drew his wand. "Accio Trevor!"
With the help of Custodis Meditatio, his casting was even quicker this time.
Trevor barely touched the lake before a surge of magic yanked him from the water, sending him arcing through the air in a spray of droplets—straight into Neville's arms.
The other children gasped in amazement.
Harry and Ron stared, wide-eyed. "What kind of magic was that?!"
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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