Chapter 140 Caught up, the forced landing location is wrong
Returning to his compartment, Aaron closed his eyes to rest, quietly waiting for the train to arrive.
Actually, telling George and the others that Harry and Ronmight miss the Sorting Ceremony was just a whim; he just wanted them to be mentally prepared so they wouldn't be too disappointed if they didn't see them in the Great Hall.
About ten minutes later, the train slowed down with a whistle and stopped at Hogsmeade.
Students disembarked one after another, and the scene became particularly noisy.
"Prefect, this is my first time at Hogwarts," Colin said, looking at Aaron nervously. "Can... can I follow you?"
"Don't worry, someone will guide you new students."
Just as he finished speaking, a familiar voice rang out not far away.
"First Class new students, gather over here and follow me."
"Is that him?" Colin asked.
"That's right, Hagrid will lead the new students through the Black Lake in the traditional way, and then they'll arrive at Hogwarts Castle.
All in all, just follow him."
"Thank you, Prefect," Colin said with a smile, showing his teeth, and happily went to the Giant Hagrid.
"You didn't really need to look after him so much, did you?" Draco asked, puzzled. "Even if you didn't say anything, he would know what to do."
Aaron shook his head and said meaningfully, "Not every Muggle-born Wizard is as confident as Hermione. When everything feels foreign to them, what they need most is a little kindness, however insignificant.
Besides, this child is a bit too naive; I'd feel bad if I didn't help him."
"You're only one Class older than him, do you have to be so profound?" Draco said, speechless.
The two were in the Second Class, considered older students, so they didn't need to take a boat to Hogwarts Castle. Instead, after getting off the train, they followed another group of people and walked to the other side of the platform.
On a rough, muddy path, hundreds of empty carriages were parked, but there were only carriages, no horses to pull them.
"Are these... invisible horses?"
"You could say that! I heard Hagrid say the school keeps a herd of Thestrals specifically for pulling carriages." Aaronlooked at the empty space in front of the carriage, descriptions he had read in books surfacing in his mind.
Thestrals are a type of winged horse, tall and gaunt, with a dragon's head and a horse's body, and a pair of broad wings on their backs, possessing incredibly keen perception.
They can be tamed and will not betray, but the drawback is that only those who have witnessed death can see them.
Abey walked up to a carriage, its large eyes curiously examining the empty space between the carriages, as if it could see the magical creatures, Thestrals.
But before it could look for another moment, Aaron picked it up and took it to an empty carriage.
Draco followed, climbing into the carriage and closing the door, and the carriage automatically moved towards the Castle.
"You better settle down!
There are many people here, and it's easy to attract attention."
Abey gave a low growl and obediently lay in Aaron's arms.
Aaron's eye twitched slightly; he heard Abey's Dragon Language: Thestrals are not as good-looking as me, and they're all skin and bones.
The carriage passed through two wrought-iron gates, accelerated up a long ramp, and then swayed to a stop.
Arriving in front of the Castle, Aaron and Draco jumped out of the carriage.
"Boss, we're here."
Crabbe and Goyle ran up from behind, standing on either side of Draco like door guardians.
"Where did you two go?" Draco asked, annoyed. "When I passed your compartment just now, I couldn't find anyone. You've gotten bold, not even waiting for me."
The two exchanged glances, wanting to speak but hesitating.
After a moment of silence, Crabbe said sullenly, "Actually, we should have been in the compartment, but we accidentally fell onto the floor when we got off, so..."
Smack!
Draco slapped his forehead, utterly speechless.
But these were his followers, so he couldn't just lash out.
"Alright, don't dwell on such minor incidents.
You're Second Class students, after all; you still have to welcome the new Slytherins later."
Draco glared at the two, exasperated. "Let's go! I hope you'll be more reliable next time."
The four followed the crowd up the steps, passed through the majestic oak doors, and entered the spacious, deep entrance hall.
After that, they passed through a marble staircase and turned a few corners to reach the Great Hall.
Several Prefects led the students of their respective houses to their house tables, with the House Professors and other staff sitting neatly at the front.
Principal Dumbledore looked at a letter on the table, frowning slightly, lost in thought.
Professor Snape gave Aaron a deep look, a slight smile playing on his lips, then turned his face away expressionlessly, the epitome of aloofness and tsundere.
Just then, Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on an empty chair.
Perhaps a Class had passed, and it had become dusty again. Aaron, sitting at the front of the long table, saw it and, perhaps due to his obsessive-compulsive tendencies, felt an inexplicable urge to clean it.
The Sorting Hat seemed to sense something, opening its anthropomorphic eyes. "I warn you, put away any unwarranted thoughts.
This Class, I belong to the new students; don't tell me what to do."
"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person," Aaron said earnestly, then turned to Professor McGonagall. "Professor, could you give it a quick clean?
I imagine new students would instinctively resist a dirty hat!"
Sorting Hat:... "You're going too far! What about not telling me what to do?"
"It's not like I'm doing it myself," Aaron said as a matter of course. "Isn't this specifically entrusting someone else?"
"This..." Professor McGonagall hesitated, looking at the Sorting Hat, which had wrinkled into a bitter gourd, feeling a little reluctant. "Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
"Minerva, you're more sensible," the Sorting Hat said. "Unlike some people who don't know how to respect their elders, I am, after all, a magic item created by the four founders of the Houses; some necessary respect should always be given."
"That's right," Professor McGonagall said sheepishly. "It's considered an elder of the school."
"Hmph!"
Aaron shrugged dismissively. The four founders of the Houses—Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw—were they so impressive?
Perhaps they were indeed impressive, as these four Wizards were the pinnacle of the Wizarding World at the time, the favored children of that era.
But however impressive, now they were just dust; people who had already passed held no deterrence for him.
Furthermore, his Gaius ancestors were not necessarily weaker than the four founders. After receiving the baptism of a group of old immortals this holiday, his reverence for those great Wizards had greatly diminished.
Soon, the new students, including Ginny and Colin, also arrived in the Great Hall with Hagrid, curiously observing the Great Hall decorated with magic.
Hagrid walked straight to his seat and poured himself a full glass of beer.
"Ahem! New students, follow me." Professor McGonagall led them to the front of the Great Hall, then picked up the Sorting Hat and a long list. "Students whose names I call, please step forward; the Sorting Hat will sort you into the most suitable House."
The Sorting Hat grinned with the wrinkles on its brim, squeezing out a crooked smile. This was its happiest and most prominent moment of the year, holding sway over all the young Wizards.
Professor McGonagall, as usual, began calling names, and the new students sat one by one on the chair to be sorted.
Aaron watched quietly, hoping that a Wizard like him would splash water on the Sorting Hat's face.
The next moment, he frowned slightly, because he vaguely heard the roar of a car, which, if he wasn't mistaken, was scraping along the wall.
Besides that, he also heard sharp screams, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
Harry and Ron seemed to have arrived at the school successfully, but perhaps not so smoothly, otherwise they wouldn't have let out such screams.
"Should I report the situation to the Professors?"
Aaron looked at the teachers' table, hesitating for a moment, but he quickly decided to pretend he knew nothing.
On one hand, he had already done enough, helping as much as he could; from a friend's perspective, he had been perfectly benevolent. On the other hand, the Professors might not believe him, and if they did, it would be even worse.
Flying a car to Hogwarts, although not written in the school rules, was not something to be encouraged by any means. If they were caught, there would definitely be severe consequences.
At this moment, Harry and Ron were sitting in the Ford car, panting nervously.
Due to the long journey, the car was somewhat overwhelmed. Although it eventually reached its destination, the landing spot was a bit off, getting stuck in a large tree.
If it were an ordinary tree, it wouldn't matter, but this tree was called the Whomping Willow, a magical plant.
The Whomping Willow was furious by nature; anything that hit it would be severely thrashed by its branches.
With the Ford car stuck in it, it was like a fish on a chopping board.
The two, in a panic, had not yet reacted when several branches, as thick as pythons, came smashing down.