đ 20+ chapters ahead on Patreon
The rain had stopped at some point without anyone noticing. The clouds split open, and the last light of the setting sun slanted in from the west, washing the carriage in a warm, gentle orange glow.
The outline of the Scottish Highlands had already come into view, with dark green ridges rising and falling softly in the deepening dusk.
A gentle female voice came over the train's speakers, informing them that the train would soon be arriving at its destination and asking all students to gather their belongings and prepare to disembark.
Regulus closed his notebook and slipped it back into his coat.
The train thundered along the tracks, the wheels striking the rails in a steady rhythm, "clatter, clatter, clatterâ," echoing through the carriage.
The train arrived precisely at seven in the evening.
The night sky was thick with stars; there was no moon, but the starlight was bright enough to illuminate the crowded platform below, heads packed close together, white steam curling and rising in the cold air.
Cold, damp air flooded into the carriage, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of the Scottish Highlandsâa strange, familiar blend of wet earth, pine needles, and something faintly magical.
"First years! First years, over here!"
A booming voice rang out across the platform as Regulus stepped down from the train with the flow of students.
The platform was packed. Older students streamed toward the waiting carriages, while the first years gathered around a towering figure holding up a lantern.
It was Rubeus Hagrid, gamekeeper and Keeper of the Keys, built like a walking mountain. The orange glow of the lantern lit up his thick beard and his broad, friendly smile.
"C'mon now, all o' yeh! Stick close, an' watch yer step!"
Regulus followed the line of first-years as they made their way down a steep, narrow path.
The path twisted through dense woodland; the stones underfoot were slick with moisture, and the darkness pressed in so tightly that they could only make out the outlines of the robes ahead of them and the occasional swing of lantern light flashing between the trees.
They rounded a bend.
The forest suddenly fell away, and the world opened up before them.
A vast, ink-black lake lay stretched out in silence, its surface smooth as glass, perfectly reflecting the star-filled sky.
And there, rising from the cliff on the far side of the lake, stood Hogwarts Castle.
Towers and spires rose upward like a forest of stone piercing the night. Warm yellow light glowed from countless windows, as though fallen stars had been caught and sealed within the ancient walls.
Under the starlight, the castle shimmered faintlyâancient, solemn, mysterious, like an old legend waiting to be stepped into.
The first-years drew in a collective gasp; some whispered in awe, while others grabbed at a friend's arm, barely able to contain their excitement.
Regulus stood at the edge of the lake, tilting his head back as he took in the sight of the castle.
He had read descriptions of it countless times in books and imagined it endlessly in his dreams. Yet the real Hogwarts surpassed every description and every vision, all of them combined. It was grander, more overwhelming, and far more unknowable than he had ever expected.
It was a dreamâŚ!
And it was the place where the dream began.
"No more'n four ter a boat!" Hagrid's voice pulled everyone back to reality as he pointed toward a row of small boats moored along the shore. They were wooden and narrow, without oars, yet they seemed ready to move on their own.
The first years began to group together and board the boats. Regulus climbed into one with three unfamiliar boys. One was red-haired, his face dotted with freckles, probably a Weasley. The other two were a black-haired boy with a tense, tightly drawn expression, and a blond boy who kept fussing with his collar as if it refused to sit right.
The boat slid silently toward the center of the lake.
The water was pitch black and unfathomably deep. Something moved beneath the surface, enormous shadows gliding slowly below them. Every so often, a curved back or fin broke through the water, catching the starlight with a cold, metallic gleam before sinking away again.
"That's the Giant squid," the red-haired boy whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and excitement. "My brother says it doesn't hurt anyone. It even saves little witches an' wizards who fall in."
The boat suddenly rocked, and everyone grabbed the sides at once.
Regulus stayed steady in his seat. He lowered his gaze to the lake, watching the shadows slide beneath the surface, watching the star filled sky ripple and shatter in the dark water.
Then he lifted his head and looked back to the castle, now looming closer and closer.
Through the brightly lit windows, he could already imagine the scene inside.
The four House tables laden with food, older students talking animatedly among themselves, professors at the high table leaning together in quiet conversation.
And at the far end of the hall, on a wooden stool, the tattered Sorting Hat waited, ready to sing the Hogwarts school song in its cracked, unpleasant voice and wandering tune.
The boats reached the shore.
They climbed a short flight of stone steps and stopped before a massive oak door; Hagrid raised his enormous fist and knocked three times.
The door swung open.
Professor McGonagall stood just inside. She wore deep green robes, her hair pulled back into a severe bun, her expression so stern it looked as though she were about to preside over a trial.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said, her voice clear and controlled, carrying effortlessly through the echoes of the hall. "Before you enter the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony, there are a few things you need to knowâŚ"
Regulus stood among the first-years as Professor McGonagall explained the House system, the House Cup, and the rules of discipline. His eyes drifted past the open doorway, drawn irresistibly inward.
Inside the hall, hundreds of candles floated in mid-air. Students filled the four long tables, silverware flashing in the candlelight, and the colors of their robes flowing together like rivers.
Scarlet and gold! Yellow and black! Blue and bronze! Green and silver!
At the staff table, he spotted familiar faces. Dumbledore sat at the center, his blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles warmly observing the noisy young witches and wizards.
Slughorn sat nearby, his large belly stretching his robes, his face split by a cheerful smile.
Tiny Professor Flitwick perched on his tall chair, chatting animatedly with the kindly Professor Sprout beside him.
Regulus's gaze slid to the Slytherin table.
Nearly everyone there sat with reserved posture, carefully maintaining an air of refined dignity.
At the Gryffindor table, James Potter sat bolt upright, eyes locked on the doorway.
Sirius sat beside him, not looking at the entrance at all, deep in conversation with Remus.
Lily Evans sat a little further down, speaking excitedly to a dark-haired girl beside her, her face bright with anticipation.
"Now then, form a single line," Professor McGonagall said. "And follow me."
The first-years nervously straightened their robes and lined up. Regulus found himself in the middle of the line, a sniffling girl in front of him, a boy behind him who would not stop trembling.
They walked into the Great Hall.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward them at once. Whispers rose and fell like a tide. Regulus could feel the scrutiny, curiosity, anticipation, and disdain in those gazes.
He walked on calmly, looking straight ahead.
At the far end of the hall, Professor McGonagall stopped beside a tall stool. Resting on it was a tattered, patched, pointed wizard's hat.
It suddenly twitched; a rip split open along the brim like a mouth, and it began to sing.
The song was ancient and rasping, telling the story of the four Houses and what set each of them apart. Regulus listened, yet his thoughts had already drifted away.
He thought of what had happened on the train. Of the shock on James's face. Of the awe in Remus's eyes. Of Peter's frightened shaking.
Of Sirius not speaking to him.
Of the stars beyond the window.
The song ended, applause rang out in the hall, and Professor McGonagall unrolled a long scroll of parchment.
"When I call your name," she said, "please step forward and put on the Sorting Hat."
The first name was called; a trembling girl walked up, the hat dropped over her head, and after a few seconds it shouted, "Hufflepuff!"
Cheers erupted from the yellow and black table.
One name after another. One House after another.
Regulus waited.
"Regulus Black!"
The whispers swelled instantly; almost everyone knew that name. Even Muggle-born students knew that his brother had broken five hundred years of Black family tradition by going to Gryffindor the year before.
Everyone was watching to see where this Black would go.
Regulus walked forward calmly and sat on the stool.
Professor McGonagall lowered the Sorting Hat onto his head.
It was enormous, blotting out his vision, sealing him in darkness.
Then a tiny voice spoke directly inside his mind:
"Hmm⌠another Black. Clever, very clever⌠far more mature than most your peers⌠what are you thinking about? Not power. Not glory⌠you're looking farther than that⌠much fartherâŚ"
Regulus kept his thoughts calm.
"Ravenclaw would suit your mind. You don't lack courage either, but you need knowledge⌠you need to gather it⌠so it would be best to go toâŚ"
The hat drew in a deep breath and shouted aloud, "Slytherin!"
The green and silver table burst into loud applause; Rabastan led it, clapping openly. Avery and Mulciber followed, their hands moving even as something complicated flickered in their eyes.
Boos came from the Gryffindor table, James leading them, though Sirius remained silent.
Regulus stood up and walked to the Slytherin table, taking a seat beside Rabastan.
"Welcome," Rabastan said.
"Thank you," Regulus replied.
Around him, the Slytherins leaned in, one after another, offering their hands.
The Sorting continued; Regulus saw other familiar names being called. He watched other first-years head toward their Houses.
But his attention was no longer on them.
He lifted his head and looked up at the enchanted ceiling of the hall, where the night sky was reflected exactly as it was outside.
The Milky Way stretched across it, stars scattered in endless number, deep and boundless.
...
...
đ¤â¨ Radahn_x | Patreon â¨đ¤
đ Early chapters available now
đ Extra content already unlocked
đ https://patreon.com/Radahn_x
[CHAPTER END]