By now, it was obvious that the news about a disabled child among this year's first-years had spread to everyone after an afternoon of brewing gossip.
Vera paid the whispers no mind and calmly pushed her wheelchair along behind Hagrid.
Harri and Hermione stayed close at either side of her, occasionally shooting displeased looks at the people sneaking glances their way.
Vera had no doubt that if the whispering students came any closer, Harri might very well march over and continue arguing with her fists.
So she looked weak, but had a habit of solving problems with her hands?
That was somewhat different from the pitiful little orphan Vera had first imagined.
Turning her head to look at Harri walking beside her, Vera fell into thoughtful silence.
"First-years, follow me!" Hagrid held his lantern high and led them down a steep, narrow path. "Watch yer step! It's a bit slippery!"
Vera carefully controlled the speed of her wheelchair as she went.
This rough mountain trail was hardly friendly to wheels. Just as she was considering whether to use magic to help herself along, Harri had already moved behind her of her own accord and placed both hands on the wheelchair handles.
"We'll take turns pushing you," Harri said softly, glancing back at Hermione.
Hermione immediately nodded.
Vera wanted to refuse, but after seeing the seriousness in their faces, she finally said only, "Thank you."
Before long, the path opened out, and a vast black lake appeared before them.
On the high slope across the water stood a towering castle, bristling with spires, its countless windows glowing warmly beneath the starry sky.
"That's Hogwarts!" Hagrid announced proudly. "No more than four ter a boat! Be careful not ter fall in—the giant squid's friendly enough, but the water's cold this time o' year!"
Naturally, Harri, Hermione, and Vera climbed into the same boat. Nox crouched at the prow, staring warily at the pitch-black water.
A whole fleet of little boats immediately set off across the mirror-still lake. Harri gazed at the castle drawing closer and whispered, "It's even more beautiful than I imagined…"
Hermione was so excited her voice was trembling. "Look at those towers! The tallest one must be the Astronomy Tower! And those must be the greenhouses over there—I saw them in Hogwarts: A History!"
Vera quietly watched the ancient castle, an odd feeling rising in her chest.
This would be the place she lived for the next seven years.
And the main stage of the original story.
The boats drifted slowly into a tunnel beneath the cliff and finally came to a stop at an underground landing. Hagrid led the first-years ashore, and before long they arrived at the enormous oak doors of the castle.
He raised his huge fist and knocked three times.
The doors opened immediately, revealing a tall witch in emerald-green robes. She wore square glasses, and her hair was pulled back into a severe bun.
"First-years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here." Her voice was brisk and efficient.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, looking over them. "The start-of-term feast will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony…"
While she was speaking, Nox suddenly leapt down from Vera's lap and slipped silently through the doors.
"Nox!" Harri whispered in alarm, about to chase after her.
Vera lightly pressed down on her hand. "It's all right. She knows what she's doing."
Professor McGonagall continued explaining the characteristics of the four houses and the point system for the House Cup. The first-years listened tensely, and a few had already started trembling.
"What do I do? I don't know anything yet," Harri whispered anxiously into Vera's ear as Hermione, beside her, rapidly began reciting the spells she had learned.
Looking at the general panic among the first-years, Vera couldn't help curling her lips in amusement. She gently patted Harri's hand in comfort.
"When I call your name, step forward and put on the Sorting Hat to be sorted," Professor McGonagall said at last. "Now, straighten yourselves up. We'll be going in shortly."
She turned and pushed open the doors, leading the first-years into the magnificent Great Hall.
Harri let out a sharp breath—
Thousands upon thousands of floating candles illuminated the hall. Four long tables were packed with students, and above them stretched a magical ceiling filled with stars. Behind them, Hermione was already whispering an excited explanation about how remarkable it was.
At the far front stood the staff table, where many of the professors were already seated.
Quite a few ghosts drifted among the students as well, glowing with faint silvery light.
But the most eye-catching object of all was the battered old pointed hat resting on a four-legged stool.
As the first-years lined up and moved forward, the hat suddenly twitched, a rip splitting open across it like a mouth, and it began to sing.
When it finished, the hall burst into thunderous applause. Professor McGonagall stepped forward and unrolled a long piece of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and wait to be sorted," she said. "Hannah Abbott!"
A rosy-faced little girl with two blonde braids stumbled out of line and put on the hat.
"Hufflepuff!" the hat cried.
The Hufflepuff table erupted in loud applause and cheers.
Vera waited quietly, noticing that Harri's hand was clenched white around the hem of her robes.
"Relax," Vera said softly. "It's only a hat."
Harri forced a smile. "I know, it's just… I don't know which house I'll fit."
"Go where you want to go." Vera lightly took her hand and said in a low voice, "Don't forget what I told you on the train."
Harri blinked and gave a shaky nod, though she still looked uneasy.
The Sorting went on, first-year after first-year being assigned to their house.
Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor. As she ran toward the cheering table, she turned back and gave Harri and Vera an encouraging gesture.
Several more names were called before Professor McGonagall finally said, "Harri Potter!"
The Great Hall fell instantly silent, only to explode a moment later into even louder whispers than before.
"Potter? Is that the Harri Potter?"
"She's really here…"
Harri drew in a deep breath, turned to glance at Vera, then walked forward and put on the hat.
After what felt like a long time, the Sorting Hat finally shouted, "Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table exploded in deafening cheers, and the Weasley twins yelled, "We've got Potter!"
Blushing furiously, Harri ran to sit beside Hermione, though she still remembered to turn back and cast Vera a worried glance.
Vera answered with a faint nod.
"Vera Black!"
When that name was called, the Great Hall fell once more into a strange, unnatural silence. Every eye fixed itself on the silver-haired girl in the wheelchair.
Vera calmly pushed herself forward and, with Professor McGonagall's help, placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
.....
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