Chapter 64: 64
Chapter 64, "Carriage, Thestral":
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"Follow me, students!" a booming voice echoed.
Hagrid, resembling a wild man, stood on the dark platform, clad in a thick fur coat and holding a lantern, towering like a burly giant.
For students unfamiliar with Hagrid's demeanor, his appearance was truly imposing. The initially chattering students fell silent, following Hagrid as he led them along the platform.
Numerous dark carriages were parked in a wide open area, dim lights swaying from their sides. Some carriages rocked gently.
Students boarded the carriages one by one. Wade and his companions walked ahead when they heard a familiar voice calling out, "Hey, Wade, over here! This carriage is empty!"
They looked up to see Hermione, Padma, Parvati, and Neville seated together in a nearby carriage. It was Padma who had spoken, pointing to an empty carriage next to them, straw-covered.
Several climbed aboard, with Michael waving and asking, "Had a good holiday?"
"Great, except for the friend account issue," Hermione said. "I thought it'd be easier to discuss spells on the friends' account, especially while studying the Disarming Charm—"
"Oh, Hermione, let's save that for later, we haven't even started school!" Padma interrupted with a smile. "We can catch up on studies tomorrow."
Even as a Ravenclaw, Hermione's fervor for learning could be overwhelming.
"Let's meet at the library tomorrow afternoon," Wade suggested. "I need to borrow some new books."
Reluctantly, Hermione settled back, while Parvati beside her quietly breathed a sigh of relief—
Though no one pressured her to study, she often felt trapped, unable to comprehend or join in the discussions among top students.
Meanwhile, Neville hurriedly jumped out of his carriage, clutching his toad, Trevor, tightly, and squeezed into Wade's carriage.
"Hey, Neville, we've got enough people here!" Michael protested.
"Please, let me stay here. There are girls over there—" Neville pleaded softly, looking distressed as he pushed Michael into a corner, ignoring his protests.
Annoyed, Michael grumbled, "What's wrong with being near girls? The ones next to you are the prettiest twins in Hogwarts!"
Laughter from the girls followed Michael's remark.
Neville kept his head low, too embarrassed to see who was laughing, murmuring, "They're always laughing—it's so embarrassing being alone—"
"Seriously, Neville, you hopeless case!" Michael huffed, jumping out of the carriage without hesitation and joining the girls. Soon, he was chatting and laughing with Padma.
Neville breathed a sigh of relief, visibly relieved.
Wade and the others couldn't help but chuckle, while Neville scratched his head in embarrassment.
The carriage swayed as it moved along the uneven road, emitting a musty odor with a thick layer of straw beneath them.
"I've been wondering, the last time we took these carriages, why don't they have cushions?" Ryan asked.
They had also taken these carriages to Hogsmeade Station for Christmas. But on departure, they were with their schoolmates, leaving no chance for a reunion.
Theo guessed, "Maybe it's to preserve tradition—money shouldn't be an issue."
Anyone who had witnessed the scene at Hogwarts during regular meals wouldn't think the school couldn't afford a few soft cushions.
"A school that provides food, lodging, and tuition-free education—what more could we ask for? Think of it as a test for us!"
Wade remarked, waving his wand over the straw pile on their carriage. Instantly, the dry yellow straw transformed into plush cushions.
Several touched the cushions in awe, marveling, "Wow, the Transfiguration spell is so complex."
Under Wade's guidance, they excelled in Charms class, but Transfiguration often required their own efforts, as Wade couldn't instill firm beliefs or clear images in their minds.
"Do Muggle schools charge fees?" Theo asked curiously.
"Hmm," Wade recalled his elementary school days. "Public schools are mostly free, with minor fees for extras. But private schools cost at least £10,000 a year."
"Ten thousand pounds?" Theo looked bewildered. "How much is that?"
"About two thousand galleons," Wade explained.
Theo was astonished. "That's so expensive—Muggles must be wealthy!"
Even as a pureblood, Theo knew his family couldn't afford two thousand galleons annually for school—only families as affluent as the Malfoys could manage.
"Most Muggle kids attend public schools," Wade added.
"These school carriages are amazing, they move automatically. Are they magical too?" Ryan asked, catching Neville's glance but remaining silent.
"No, it seems there's an invisible horse pulling them," Michael leaned forward. "Listen carefully—"
They held their breaths, hearing faint sounds of hissing breaths, snorts, and the flap of wings in the air.
"An invisible horse—" Ryan frowned, recalling something from a book. "I think I've read about this creature—"
"They're Thestrals," Wade revealed.
"Yes!" Ryan exclaimed. "The Thestrals! Legend says only those who've witnessed death can see them—hence why we can't."
"—So, they're not invisible but imperceptible to most people?" Theo pondered aloud.
"Exactly," Wade confirmed, nodding toward the front of the carriage.
The skeletal black horse had white, pupil-less eyes and a dragon-like face. Meekly, it pulled the carriage forward, bat-like wings folded gently. Perhaps Ryan's voice had unsettled it, as it raised its head uneasily and quickened its pace.
The wheels creaked as they finally halted before the castle's stone steps.
Wade stepped off the carriage into the cold night air, his breath misting. He turned back, meeting the Thestral's pale, vacant gaze.
It was an eerie sensation.
No wonder ancient lore equated seeing Thestrals with encountering death, believing them omens of ill fortune.
"What are you waiting for, Wade!" Ryan clapped him on the back. "It's freezing today!"
The students trod through snow-covered steps, eager to enter the castle. In the corner of the entrance hall, Filch glowered at the children who'd tracked in muddy water.
Inside the brightly-lit Great Hall, house-elves prepared a sumptuous dinner. Dumbledore sat at the head table, smiling warmly at the new arrivals.
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