Chương 32: Chapter - 32 : Arriving at Hogwarts
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The train slowed to a stop at the station. It was already dark out, casting everything in shadow on the platform. I plucked my wand from my trunk and slipped it into the pocket of my robe. I didn't know if it was paranoia or if it was just some kind of wizarding instinct, but I didn't want to leave it behind as we left the compartment.
The platform was packed with students. Most of them were moving towards a line of carriages that seemed to pull themselves. At least I hoped they did, otherwise they weren't going anywhere, because nothing was hitched up to the front. The oldest students pushed and shoved their way through confidently, sending some of the younger students staggering. I pressed close to Harry to keep from getting trampled.
A lantern bobbed overhead and a welcome, familiar voice called, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Potters?" It was Hagrid, grinning at them in the light of his lantern. I beamed back, bolstered by the sight of a familiar face. "C'mon, anymore firs' years? Mind yer step! Follow me!"
Hagrid led our nervous huddled down a long, steep path. It was dark on either side of the path, and I suspected there were trees. I thought I heard rustling in the branches every now and then. Nobody talked much. I think we were all too nervous.
At the very least, I knew I was. Ron had explained to us all about the house system, and the different attributes each one had. From the way he explained it, it was basically a stamp on your forehead – or rather, a crest on your robes. If you were a Hufflepuff, you were nice and sweet to everyone you met. If you were a Ravenclaw, you were a brainiac, maybe a little arrogant, but not bad. If you were a Gryffindor, you were brave, a bit abrasive and bold, but good.
If you were a Slytherin you were a bastard. Period.
Turning it over in my head, I figured there was no way I'd be a Hufflepuff. I was nice enough – but only to select people, and never in public. I was far more likely to send you a card and a lovely gift the day after your birthday and pretend I'd forgotten than plan your surprise party. In short, while I was nice enough, you had to be on my good side for me to bother with any kindness.
I could see myself maybe being in Ravenclaw, I supposed. I wasn't stupid. In school I tended to get things pretty quickly. I liked to read. The fact that I'd already read a couple of my textbooks proved that I liked learning, and so did the gigantic pile of books I'd gotten at Flourish & Blotts. But it wasn't really top of the list for me, so maybe that wasn't good enough. And besides that, I only liked learning what I was interested in. I didn't crave knowledge for the sake of knowledge.
I could definitely see myself as a Gryffindor, and I was a little proud of that. They seemed to be the golden boys and girls of the school. I was gutsy and I had no problem setting people straight if they were doing something wrong. I didn't mind getting involved in situations, and I could definitely be a little abrasive every now and then. But Gryffindor also seemed to have the reputation of being more brawn than brains, which wasn't me. Sure, I'd hit a person, but I knew that ninety-nine point nine percent of the population was stronger than me, so that probably wouldn't be the best course of action if I was angry with someone.
A little alarmingly, I could also see a way I could be a Slytherin. Like I said, I was willing to throw punches, but I was far more likely to run verbal circles around a person before leaving them in the dust to try and work through the myriad of insults I'd just laid on them, just like I had with Malfoy. And as far as ambition – well, I couldn't deny I'd enjoyed the feeling of having one-up on the Dursleys far more than was probably healthy.
So really, all I'd ruled out was the nice house. Lovely. What did that say about my personality?
"You'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called. "Jus' around this bend here!"
"Oooh."
I wasn't quite sure what I'd expected Hogwarts to be. Obviously from the amount of people on the train I knew it was big, and from Hogwarts: A History I knew it was old. I think I'd expected more of a converted old manor house, like some kind of fancy private school.
What I got was an actual castle, the whole of it blazing with welcoming firelight. The windows gleamed like stars against the dark stone. It was across a gleaming black lake, sitting proudly atop a mountain. Turrets and towers pierced the sky, soaring into the air.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a small fleet resting on the shore. Harry, Ron, and I climbed into one boat and were followed by Neville, who was still sniffling worriedly about his toad. "Ev'ryone in? Forward!"
The boats took off across the lake at Hagrid's command, the castle looking over them. The boats moved along with barely a sound, cutting clean lines through the water. I reached over the side, dipping my hand in the water. It was delightfully cool. I tugged my head back into the boat and looked up.
"Heads down!" Hagrid called just before we reached a wall of ivy. We all obliged and slid through the vines and into a wide opening in the cliff. We sailed along a dark tunnel before we reached a sort of underground harbor beneath the school. We clambered out onto a shore or pebbles.
Hagrid checked boats as we climbed out of them, calling suddenly, "Oi, is this yer toad?"
"Trevor!" Neville said delightedly, holding out his hands for the frog. Hagrid handed Trevor over before leading us out of the harbor and onto the wet grass in the shade of the castle. We gathered around the huge oak doors. Hagrid looked around.
"Ev'ryone here? You, still got yer toad?"
When Neville nodded bashfully, Hagrid turned around and knocked three times on the doors. They swung open, revealing a tall, black-haired witch in stunning, emerald green robes. Her hair was pulled back into a strict bun and her face was stern.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said grandly, gesturing to us huddled on the steps.
We must have made for a pretty pathetic image, I imagined. A cluster of edgy eleven-year-olds drowning in our robes, shifting uncomfortably in the cool night air. I caught a boy next to me looking like he was about to wet himself in fear.
McGonagall observed us all imperiously, before nodding to herself, as if she'd reached some kind of conclusion about us.
"Thank you Hagrid," she said. "I'll take them from here."
McGonagall stepped aside, and we all took our first steps into Hogwarts.
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