Passengers pushed and crowded toward the doors, stepping down onto a dark and narrow platform.
The chill of the night air made Harry, standing close to Lewis, shiver.
A lantern swayed above the students' heads.
Then a booming voice rang out:
"First-years! First-years over here! Harry! Over here—how are you?"
Above the sea of heads, Hagrid's bearded face appeared, smiling as he called out—though his "quiet" voice was anything but quiet.
Lewis thought the half-giant looked a bit slow-witted.
But most young wizards didn't think so.
They were intimidated by his enormous size.
After all, they hadn't read Harry Potter.
Following Hagrid along a narrow path, the view suddenly opened up—
A vast black lake lay before them.
On the far side, atop a high slope, stood a towering castle. Countless turrets rose into the night, and windows shimmered beneath the stars.
They had reached the lake.
A row of small boats waited at the shore.
The rocks along the Black Lake were slick with moss.
"Watch your step—don't slip!" Hagrid warned loudly.
The moment he finished speaking, two students nearly slipped straight into the water.
"Four to a boat!" Hagrid called out.
Ron, being quick, had already been pulled into a boat by others.
Lewis, agile as ever, claimed another.
Harry climbed in after him.
Neville and Hermione, recognizing Lewis as the one who had helped them earlier, followed without hesitation.
"Everyone aboard?" Hagrid shouted.
His massive frame forced him to take a boat alone.
"Right then—forward!"
At his command, the fleet of boats glided across the calm lake.
Lewis knew that merfolk lived in these waters.
Legend said mermaids were beautiful—
But the Black Lake's inhabitants were… an exception.
"Unique," to put it kindly.
There was also a mysterious giant squid said to dwell within the lake.
Some even claimed it was Godric Gryffindor, transformed by a blood curse.
"Turn this corner, and you'll get your first proper look at Hogwarts!" Hagrid's voice cut through Lewis's thoughts.
As they rounded the cliff, the castle came into full view.
Closer and closer—
Until its towering form loomed above them, magnificent under the glow of countless lights.
Hermione whispered, "Every first-year takes this route. It's meant to recreate the founders' journey when they first discovered the castle."
"Or perhaps there's a deeper meaning," Lewis replied.
With his understanding of Arcane Magic, he could sense something others couldn't.
A vast magical force radiated from the castle.
And between him and Hogwarts—
A faint connection was forming.
This tradition…
Was likely an ancient ritual.
By retracing the founders' path, students were forming a magical contract with the castle itself.
Becoming true members of Hogwarts.
As the boats approached the cliff beneath the castle, the structure seemed to hang directly above them.
"Heads down!" Hagrid shouted.
Everyone ducked.
The boats passed through a curtain of ivy covering a hidden entrance in the cliff.
Then into a dark tunnel—
Before emerging at what seemed like an underground dock.
From there, they climbed over stones and pebbles.
"Out! Follow me!" Hagrid called, raising his lantern.
The students disembarked and ascended a steep, winding staircase of over two hundred steps.
At the top lay an open courtyard surrounded by pillars.
At the far end stood the grand doors of Hogwarts.
Hagrid stepped forward and knocked with a fist the size of a sack.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The doors were thick—very thick.
They opened.
Standing there was a familiar face—
Professor McGonagall.
She introduced the four Houses and explained the upcoming Sorting Ceremony.
She also mentioned the House Cup and the importance of earning points.
Clearly, honor mattered a great deal here.
When she returned to the Great Hall, the students erupted into whispers.
Whether Muggle-born or pure-blood, everyone looked anxious.
Rumors about the Sorting spread rapidly.
The adults, it seemed, deliberately avoided explaining it—allowing the students to experience it for themselves.
"How do they decide which House we go to?" Harry asked.
"Well… whatever it is, they probably won't expel us," Lewis said lightly.
Ironically, that only made everyone more nervous.
Personally, Lewis had no intention of spoiling the mystery.
Watching others panic was… amusing.
"It's probably some kind of test. Fred said it's dangerous—but I think he was joking," Ron said, looking terrified.
Hermione had already begun reciting textbook knowledge under her breath, convinced there would be an entrance exam.
"Relax," Lewis said casually. "They won't test algebra or trigonometry."
Hermione shot him a glare.
As for himself, Lewis wasn't worried.
As a Psion, he possessed Conceal Thoughts, comparable to the best Occlumency when actively used.
In fact, he kept it active almost constantly.
He had too many secrets to risk exposure.
Even if it attracted Dumbledore's attention, that was preferable to having his reincarnation discovered.
Besides, the wizarding world wasn't short on prodigies.
And he had no particular interest in Gryffindor.
By carefully controlling Conceal Thoughts, he could allow others to see only what he wanted them to see.
So the question was—
What traits should he reveal?
Which House should he enter?
As Lewis pondered, Harry suddenly jumped.
Behind them, several students screamed.
Ghosts.
More than twenty of them burst through the walls—
Pearly white and translucent, drifting across the room as if merely passing by.
They whispered among themselves, pretending indifference—
Until the students' screams filled the hall.
Only then did they drift away, satisfied.
Right on cue, McGonagall returned—as if she had been waiting for that moment.
She calmed the students, then said firmly:
"Now, form a line—and follow me."
The Sorting Ceremony—
Was about to begin.