Around five in the afternoon, the train let out a heavy whistle.
Karmit knew they were close to the station.
Hermione left the compartment to change into her robes. Draco opened his trunk and took out both his own and Karmit's robes.
He changed quickly, then rushed to show off the dragon-shaped emblem on his chest to Harry Potter. Draco truly loved dragons.
As the train gradually slowed down, the platform beside Hogwarts came into view.
Karmit looked out the window.
He could faintly see the castle rising on the mountainside—magnificent, mysterious, like a bride waiting for him to lift her veil.
"Hogwarts… I'm coming," he murmured.
.....
In the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore was choosing what to wear for the evening feast. Robes that looked suspiciously like nightgowns were laid out across the bed.
To Karmit, they would have looked identical aside from color—but the old man adored them with unreasonable passion.
Just then, the Elder Wand resting beside him trembled lightly.
Dumbledore glanced over. "So, the children have arrived… Karmit Black, I wonder what surprises you'll bring to Hogwarts this year."
He gave the wand a gentle wave, and it stopped shaking.
Satisfied, Dumbledore resumed sorting through his flamboyant robes and casually popped a cockroach cluster into his mouth.
...
On the train, Karmit rested his palm against the inside of his robe—his wand was trembling too.
"Sensing the Elder Wand, huh? Don't worry. You'll face it someday. Just not today."
As if understanding his reassurance, the wand gradually fell quiet.
When the train finally stopped, the young witches and wizards stepped out into unfamiliar surroundings, instinctively glancing around.
A tall silhouette immediately caught everyone's attention.
"My goodness, he's huge!"
"So strong—who is that?"
Hagrid was long used to such reactions.
As a half-giant, he was actually small compared to others of his kind—even other half-giants, including a certain towering woman.
Harry spotted him and lit up. "Hagrid!"
Hagrid turned, smiled, and gave him a wink. His gaze then shifted to Draco beside Harry, and he paused. Why was Harry mixed up with a Malfoy's child?
He had work to do, though, and didn't ask.
"First years, follow me! Upper years—you know your way back to the castle!"
Laughing and talking, the older students dispersed. Each year had its own means of transport; they didn't need guidance.
Hagrid led the first years along the path toward the castle. Soon, they reached the edge of a lake where small boats were waiting.
"All right, four to a boat," Hagrid called. "Choose your groups and get in quickly. It'll be dark soon—we have to reach the castle before nightfall!"
Friends grouped together—some from home, some newly met on the train.
Hermione joined Karmit's group, making four perfectly. Draco and Harry took the oars, and the boats began drifting toward Hogwarts.
"I read in Hogwarts: A History," Hermione said, "that the castle sits on a cliff. One side faces the mountains, and the other is completely surrounded by the Black Lake.
Is… this the Black Lake?"
Draco's eyes widened. "The Black Lake? I heard there are monsters in it!"
Harry shivered. "M-monsters?"
"That's never been confirmed," Hermione replied. "Besides, aren't you likely to be sorted into Slytherin? Their dormitories are under the lake. You might see one up close."
Draco suddenly felt she made perfect sense.
"Which houses do you all want?" Draco asked. "My cousin said the Sorting considers personal preference too."
"If possible, I'd like Ravenclaw," Hermione said. "A sea of knowledge—that's where I belong."
Draco nodded. He agreed Ravenclaw suited her.
"What about you, Harry?"
Harry shook his head. "I haven't decided. I want Gryffindor… but I also want to be as strong as Mr. Black. Maybe Slytherin."
"Come to Slytherin, Harry!" Draco urged. "We could share a dorm!"
Harry scratched his head, torn.
Karmit watched their exchange with interest.
Would Harry choose courage or companionship? Right now, Slytherin seemed to have the upper hand—after all, bonds carried weight.
As he pondered, the boat sailed through a curtain of overhanging plants.
The scene ahead opened up.
Dusk had already fallen, and the new students gasped.
"That's Hogwarts?"
"It's beautiful!"
"We'll live here for the next seven years…?"
For the first time, the sacred heart of British wizardry—the mysterious cradle of countless great witches and wizards—revealed itself to them.
In the darkness, the castle shone brightly, each window a small beacon outlining the massive structure.
Even Karmit, having seen numerous ancient and towering castles, had to admit: The architecture of Hogwarts was just simply magnificent
Hagrid stood alone in his boat, smiling at their reactions.
"Welcome," he announced, "to Hogwarts!"
Gentle ripples spread across the Black Lake, and the plants along the water's edge swayed as if welcoming the young witches and wizards to their new home.
__________
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