The night air was so cold that the young wizards shivered, though Loren and Hermione were exceptions.
A lantern swayed above the students' heads, and a loud, cheerful voice called out:
"First years! First years, over here! Harry, this way—how are you?"
Through the sea of heads, Hagrid's bearded face broke into a smile.
Harry moved toward Hagrid while introducing him to the friends at his side.
"Come on, follow me. Any more first years? Watch your step—there we are! First years, follow me!"
They followed Hagrid down a steep, narrow path. Loren, with his night vision, and Hermione, with her glasses, could see the way clearly.
Harry, Ron, and Neville, unable to see well, stumbled and slipped, just like most of the other young wizards.
Loren drew his wand and cast, "Lumos," lighting the path ahead. The young wizards gasped at the spell, especially Ron, whose face turned red.
Hagrid, noticing the light and the murmuring behind him, glanced back to see Harry's friend wielding the spell. He gave Loren a smile, then turned back and led them on.
Not long after, Hagrid called out again:
"Round this bend, and you'll get your first sight of Hogwarts."
At once Loren extinguished the spell. The Hogwarts he longed to see was about to appear before his eyes.
The young wizards who had gasped when the light vanished were silenced instantly by the sight ahead.
"At the end of the narrow path lay a vast black lake. On the far side, high atop a mountain, rose a towering castle with turrets and towers, its windows glittering under the starry sky."
This was how the novel described Harry's first view of Hogwarts. But to Loren, the reality struck harder than the dry words on a page—it even felt more authentic than the version in the films.
"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid shouted, snapping Loren out of his awe.
Loren motioned for Hermione, Neville, Ron, and Harry to share one boat. He chose to sit with Draco and his two cronies, explaining that someone had to keep an eye on them, lest they go mad and harm someone.
Once all were aboard, Hagrid alone rowed a boat at the front, guiding the others forward.
The students fell silent, staring up at the castle that seemed to pierce the sky. Loren closed his eyes, feeling the castle's magic linking with the young wizards' own power.
It was a ritual: four to a boat, echoing the Four Founders of Hogwarts, sealing a magical contract with the school itself. The contract would help every young wizard grow in safety and strength, and in return, Hogwarts would draw power from their growth.
The ritual concluded only when the boats neared the cliffs, the castle no longer visible.
Opening his eyes, Loren saw Draco opposite him. Crabbe and Goyle cowered in silence at the stern, while Draco glared at Loren with burning hatred, muttering under his breath. Though quiet, Loren caught every word.
"Filthy Mudblood… I'll tell my father and have you expelled from Hogwarts."
Loren, unimpressed by Draco's veiled threats, muttered to himself:
"Does he even have a father? Harry wasn't lying then. Looks like Ron was right—the whole family must be mad. A father who never raised him, probably locked away in a wizarding asylum. Could it be he plans to unleash his father, like some rabid dog, to attack us? I'd better warn Harry and the others—they'd never beat a mad dog in a fight."
His words drifted quietly on the water, unheard by anyone else, though Draco's muttering was faintly caught instead.
Draco, however, had heard Loren. Rage surged in him, and with no thought for consequence, he lunged. Loren sidestepped easily, and Draco plunged into the lake. With a flick of his hand, Loren sent Crabbe and Goyle tumbling after him.
"Hagrid! Hurry! Draco's gone mad again—he dragged his cronies into the lake too! Everyone else, steer clear before he capsizes you! Hagrid, you'd better rescue him—someone your size won't fear his attacks."
At Loren's call, Hagrid quickly ordered the other boats to head for the dock and wait on shore, while he went after the floundering boys.
Before long, Hagrid returned, though his leather coat was missing. Behind him trudged the dripping Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle, wrapped in the huge coat, sullen and soaked.
Hagrid once again raised his lantern, leading the way through a tunnel in the cliff. The young wizards hurried close behind. Draco, his face twisted with rage, came last. His cronies had slipped free of the coat, edging away from him.
One look at Draco's state was enough—everyone believed he truly was unhinged, ready to attack at any moment.
Soon, Hagrid brought them before a vast oak door. He glanced back.
"Everyone look around—are we all here?"
Once assured, Hagrid lifted a massive fist and delivered three booming knocks—a physical version of "Alohomora."
The door opened wide, but it was not Professor McGonagall who appeared. Instead, it was Professor Snape, slick-haired and bat-like.
"The first years are here, Professor Snape," Hagrid said, his voice tinged with confusion—he'd meant to ask why McGonagall wasn't there, but Snape cut him short.
"That's enough, Hagrid. Your work is done. Leave the rest to me."
Snape's eyes swept over the young wizards, lingering longer on Harry's group, before fixing coldly on his godson. With a flick of his wand, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle were instantly dry, and Hagrid's coat floated back to its owner.
"Take your coat."
He spoke flatly to Hagrid, then turned and led the students into Hogwarts.
For Loren, stepping inside was electrifying. He craned his neck to take in the magnificent decorations—another dream scene made real.
The other young wizards, cowed by Snape's presence, kept their heads down and followed in silence, in sharp contrast to Loren's eager glances.
Snape led them past a door buzzing with voices, then turned sharply and brought them into a small chamber instead. The students filed in, pressing to the far side and leaving the doorway clear for him.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Before entering the school properly, you must undergo the Sorting Ceremony, which will decide the people you spend the next seven years with."
Light from the Great Hall spilled across Snape's back, his face lost in shadow. His emotionless tone, paired with the dim chamber, gave the impression they were in a vampire's castle, not a school.
"The four houses are Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor. While at Hogwarts, your behavior will earn or cost points for your house. At year's end, the house with the most points will win the House Cup."
Snape's explanation cut much shorter than McGonagall's would have.
"The Headmaster and professors are occupied and will need some time. You will wait here until someone comes to take you to the Sorting Ceremony. Now, Draco—come with me."
With that, Snape led Draco out. The room fell silent until they vanished from sight. Only then did the students exhale, the tension easing though no one dared speak.
"How will they know which house we belong in? They won't really send us against dangerous magical creatures, will they, Ron?"
Harry's voice was quiet, but in the hush everyone heard it, turning their eyes to Ron.
"I suppose… there must be a test of some kind. Fred said it was terribly painful, but I think he was joking."
Ron's cheeks burned as he spoke under their stares.
At once the students broke into chatter, the little chamber filling with nervous noise.
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