"Turn this corner, and you'll get your first glimpse of Hogwarts right away," Hagrid shouted back over his shoulder.
At the end of the narrow path, a shimmering black lake suddenly unfolded before them.
A crude wooden dock jutted out from the lakeshore, with a fleet of small boats moored alongside it.
The boats bobbed gently on the water's surface, still a short distance from the dock—looking anything but safe.
That meant the young wizards would have to take a big step or leap straight into the boats.
"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid bellowed, pointing at the vessels. "We're running out of time—let's get aboard!"
Hannah patted Kyle's back and whispered, "Let me down now."
The first-year students boarded the boats in twos and threes.
Hannah, who had just climbed down from Kyle's back, intended to jump across on her own—only for her body to suddenly lift into the air the next second.
Eh? Eh? Eh?
She found herself cradled in Kyle's arms in a princess carry, her mind going completely blank. Her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck.
Hermione let out a cold huff and turned her head away.
Out of sight, out of mind… Out of sight, out of mind… she repeated to herself over and over.
The boats moved on their own without wind, gliding across the mirror-smooth black lake toward the castle ahead. Glancing at Hannah still clinging to him, Kyle gave a light cough. "Time to get down."
Hannah snapped out of it and hastily let go, her face flushing red enough to drip blood.
How could she have been so improper! The golden-haired little loli inwardly berated herself.
On a nearby wooden boat, Malfoy glared venomously at Kyle, who radiated the aura of a total winner in life, and secretly drew his wand.
First the Thousand Years of Death grudge, and now today he'd been pinned down…
This grudge had to be avenged! How else could he call himself a man!
"Tarantallegra!" Malfoy snapped his wand sharply toward Kyle.
Kyle tilted his head as if he had eyes in the back of his skull. Malfoy's spell grazed his cheek and splashed into the lake nearby, sending up a small spray of water.
Seeing Draco attack a fellow student from a boat crossing the lake, Hagrid roared, "Malfoy boy! What in blazes are you up to?!"
Draco ignored him and fired another spell at Kyle, which Kyle dodged with ease.
Kyle stood up in his boat. "Draco, should I take that as a challenge?"
On the opposite boat, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy all rose as well, drawing their wands in unison and aiming at Kyle's side.
The three behind Kyle started to stand too, but Kyle pressed them back down.
"I've got this alone."
Recalling the brutal scene that afternoon on the Hogwarts Express where Kyle had single-handedly pummeled four people, the other three obediently sat back down.
Boar—Dog—Bird—Tiger!
Kyle rapidly formed four hand seals.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
Four screams echoed across the Black Lake, fading into the distance.
To avoid flipping their boat and forcing Hagrid to fish them out, Kyle didn't capsize it. Instead, he sent all four of them straight to the shore ahead of schedule.
Whether the four in their soaked wizard robes would catch a cold from the chill was none of his concern.
As the boats sailed on, the towering Hogwarts Castle drew closer and closer. When the lead boat neared the sheer cliff, Hagrid shouted, "Heads down!"
All the young wizards ducked—except for Kyle, who didn't budge.
Among everyone present, only Hagrid actually needed to lower his head.
If even these little wizards had to duck, Hagrid would probably have to lie flat to pass under the cliff.
The boats carried them through the curtain of ivy covering the cliff face and into a hidden, open entrance.
They followed a dark tunnel that seemed to lead underground into the castle, finally arriving at something like an underground harbor. They then climbed onto a surface of gravel and pebbles.
From there, they ascended a passage in the rock under the light of Hagrid's lantern, eventually emerging onto a smooth, damp patch of grass in the castle's shadow.
They climbed a flight of stone steps and gathered before a massive oak front door.
The four from Malfoy's boat were already waiting by the oak door.
Water dripped steadily from their wizard robes, their hair plastered wetly to their faces. The four shivered uncontrollably, the droplets on their faces indistinguishable as lake water or tears.
As the culprit, Kyle passed by them with a friendly smile on his face, paying no mind to the venomous glares shot his way.
Hagrid raised a massive fist and knocked three times on the castle doors.
Alohomora—physical edition!
The doors swung open at once. Professor McGonagall stood there in emerald-green robes.
"The first-years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take over from here."
Professor McGonagall pulled the doors wide open, and the young wizards filed through the oak doors into the castle's entrance hall.
The stone walls around the hall were lined with blazing torches; the ceiling soared so high it was almost out of sight. Directly ahead was a magnificent marble staircase leading upstairs.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagstone floor. She led the first-years to a small empty room at the far end of the hall.
Everyone crowded in, shoulder to shoulder, nervously scanning their surroundings.
Except for Kyle.
Having lived here for over four months, Kyle was more familiar with everything around him than anyone.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall.
"The start-of-term banquet is about to begin, but before you take your seats in the hall, you must first be sorted into your houses."
"The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be like your family within Hogwarts."
"You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
"Each house has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. During your time at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking will lose you points."
"At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the entire school. I suggest you smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you wait."
Her gaze lingered on the four utterly soaked students—Malfoy's group—and she frowned.
Following their line of sight, Professor McGonagall spotted the culprit mingling among the cluster of young wizards. No need to guess—this had to be the little demon king's doing.
Professor McGonagall couldn't be bothered to deal with it. Let the Grindelwald boy give his old rival's headache.
She drew her wand and flicked it lightly. A warm breeze appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the four drenched little wizards and quickly drying their clothes.
"I'll come fetch you once they're ready," said Professor McGonagall. "Please keep quiet while you wait."
The senior cat lady turned and left the room.
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