"It isn't exactly a secret." Roger thought for a moment, then added, "It's just that nobody talks about it anymore."
"Why?" Hermione immediately asked, her curiosity burning even brighter than before. Unfortunately, before Roger could answer, the Hogwarts Express arrived at the station.
A long whistle cut through the evening air, followed by the sound of carriage doors opening and students calling to one another. Outside the windows, voices urged the young witches and wizards to disembark, and the warm, crowded compartment suddenly filled with movement.
"All right, first-years, this way!" Hagrid shouted from outside, holding up a lantern. The half-giant was impossible to miss, even in the darkness, because he stood taller than the front of the train.
Older students opened compartment doors and reminded the first-years that they did not need to bring their luggage off the train. The school would take care of everything, which made Roger feel that Hogwarts was at least sensible in one important area.
"Come on, follow me!" Hagrid waved from the front, signalling for the young wizards to follow him down the platform and onto the path ahead.
To be honest, the road Hagrid led them down was terrible. It was dark, damp, uneven, and slippery, and although Hagrid carried a lantern, most of the light was blocked by his massive body.
If Roger had not had night vision, he suspected he would have slipped and fallen more than once. The other first-years huddled close together behind Hagrid, nervous and afraid of losing the group around a bend.
"Hermione, you know Lumos, right?" Roger whispered, pointing toward the wand in her hand.
"Of course." Hermione lifted her chin proudly, raised her wand, and chanted the spell. A moment later, a bright glow bloomed at the tip, pushing back the surrounding darkness.
The light soothed Neville's fear at once, and he no longer clung quite so tightly to Roger's school robes. Hermione's expression grew even prouder, like a little swan lifting her head after a perfect performance.
"These are basic first-year spells. If you preview them properly, you'll find they're not difficult at all." Hermione's tone was filled with obvious satisfaction, and she glanced sideways at Roger as if waiting for praise.
"I would, but my wand was confiscated." Roger shrugged, hoping his proper wand would be returned soon.
"Hmph, I don't believe that." Hermione turned her head, raised her wand higher, and walked forward.
In truth, Roger had brought his old wand just in case, and he could also cast some spells wandlessly. Unfortunately, his Lumos had unknowingly reached level three, and if he used it now, half the forest might light up. If Dumbledore or Voldemort happened to notice, that would be a problem.
Roger shook his head and reminded himself to study hard, improve steadily, and stop thinking about flashy tricks all the time. Let others shed blood and tears when necessary; he would help clean up the spoils afterward.
"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid finally led everyone through the rugged road, and small boats appeared before them at the dock, each one hanging with a dim lantern. The black water spread quietly beyond them, reflecting the faint light like polished ink.
"Four people, symbolising the four founders of Hogwarts," Hermione said confidently.
Roger nodded in agreement. He had also read the book Hermione was referring to and knew that the crossing symbolised the path the four founders had once taken.
"Are you familiar with the four Hogwarts houses?" Roger asked while sitting at the stern.
Before Hermione could answer her own question, Roger interrupted first. "Slytherin has many pure-blood wizards. They're clever, ambitious, and rather good at hiding sharp edges."
"Ravenclaw has many excellent students and plenty of clever young witches. Naturally, I love studying too." Roger spoke with a perfectly straight face. "Gryffindor students are brave and bold, while Hufflepuff has the largest number of young wizards. They're loyal, humble, and hardworking."
"Hermione, which house do you want to join?" Roger looked at her with interest. "Ravenclaw?"
"I… I don't know." Hermione hesitated, suddenly unsure. From Roger's description, Ravenclaw did sound rather suitable.
"Start simulation," Roger silently commanded as he closed his eyes.
The first result appeared in his mind. He told Hermione she was better suited for Ravenclaw, but at the Sorting Ceremony, Hermione was still placed in Gryffindor.
"Simulate again," Roger thought.
In the second result, he provoked Hermione into competing with him for first place in Ravenclaw. Hermione agreed, but the Sorting Hat still placed her in Gryffindor. In the next result, he reminded Hermione that the mysterious man was somehow connected to Gryffindor, and although Hermione was terrified, the Sorting Hat believed she possessed the courage of a lion.
No matter what Roger did, Hermione's entry into Gryffindor remained unchanged. Gazing at the magnificent castle complex in the distance, Roger had no choice but to acknowledge Dumbledore's control over Hogwarts.
Perhaps while Harry slept on the train, or perhaps even earlier, Dumbledore had already chosen the boy's teammates. The pieces were being moved before the players even realised they were on the board.
"Me? A coincidence?" Roger looked toward Neville at the bow of the boat. This forgetful boy was also a child once touched by prophecy.
"No one can stop the old man once he decides who belongs on Harry's team." Roger shook his head, suddenly realising how naive he had been.
The path of fate was far more solid than it seemed, and it could not be changed by a passing whim. Dumbledore was secretly pushing events forward, but wasn't Roger himself merely another drop of water drifting in the vast ocean of fate?
Some essays from his previous life claimed that the Sorting Hat could read souls and thoughts, assigning students according to what it found. Roger had not experienced it himself yet, so he could not judge whether that was true. As for Occlumency, his current foundation was too weak for him to learn it safely.
If an eleven-year-old wizard mastered Occlumency before even entering school, Dumbledore might very reasonably suspect that the child had been possessed by Voldemort. Roger had no interest in receiving a Killing Curse as a welcome gift.
The boat glided gently across the calm Black Lake, and Hogwarts Castle gradually came into view beneath the moonlight. The towering Astronomy Tower, steep rooftops, and brightly lit windows made the castle appear mysterious, solemn, and grand.
Neville sat at the bow with his mouth slightly open, staring at Hogwarts in pure excitement. For a moment, he even seemed to forget about Trevor.
"Hello. I'm Hermione." Hermione turned and greeted the other witch in their boat.
"Hello, my name is Elena." The girl looked up and gave Hermione a bright smile. The two of them held the guiding lanterns and marvelled together at the grandeur of Hogwarts Castle.
As for Roger, he did not particularly care whether Hogwarts was magnificent. What he cared about more was whether dinner would be enough to fill his stomach, because the long journey from London to the Scottish Highlands had left him tired and hungry.
Next time he went home, he would have to bring proper travel food, the sort that could be ready after adding hot water. Roger still had old habits from his previous life, especially the habit of drinking hot tea, but what bothered him most was not having enough familiar comfort food nearby.
When Christmas came, he wanted slow-cooked beef stew, buttery mashed potatoes, hot soup, roast meat, and fresh pastries from Bubble's kitchen. Just thinking about it made his stomach rumble loudly.
"Roger, I suspect you're hiding a dragon in your stomach." Hermione turned around at the sound and teased him mercilessly.
"Maybe there really is one hidden in there." Roger leaned back casually and gazed up at the brilliant starry sky. "Miss Granger, why do you keep giving me nicknames?"
"Sleeping Beauty, dragon belly…" Roger looked at Hermione and asked curiously, "What comes next?"
"Sleeping Beauty?" Elena turned to look at Roger, her face full of doubt.
After half a month of treatment with Blue Moon Essence, Roger's body had grown much stronger. Compared with Neville, however, he still looked rather thin. Even so, that did little to harm his looks, and his lazy posture at the stern gave him a languid air that drew attention whether he wanted it or not.
"Elena, I'll tell you a secret." Hermione leaned closer to the other girl and whispered the story of what had happened on the train.
Elena chuckled after hearing it, clearly surprised that someone had actually slept so deeply before even arriving at school. Hermione looked rather pleased with herself, as though she had gained a new ally.
"Miss Granger." Roger sighed, his plea utterly hopeless. "Could you please behave like a lady? I don't want that nickname spreading through Hogwarts."
"Hmph. A lady doesn't need to respect a man who doesn't understand gentlemanly manners." Hermione retorted at once and pulled Elena along, refusing to show the slightest guilt.
"Look, we've arrived at Hogwarts!" Neville excitedly interrupted them, his eyes fixed entirely on the castle. He had no idea what kind of battle had just taken place behind him.
"Neville, should we tell the professors your pet Trevor is missing?" Hermione looked at him in puzzlement, wondering why he did not seem worried at all.
"Trevor! Yes, Trevor is missing." Neville suddenly shouted, then muttered to himself with uncertainty. "Trevor usually comes back on his own."
This time, however, Neville was not entirely sure. Hogwarts and the station were separated by the Black Lake, and it would be exhausting for a little toad to hop all the way to school.
"Let's go." Roger gave him a reassuring look as the boat reached the shore. "Maybe Trevor will reach Hogwarts before us."
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