章節 11: Arriving at Hogwarts
"ring... ring... ring..."
As the alarm clock screamed, Jon woke up from his sleep.
It is now 7:10 PM Greenwich Mean Time, and the sky is almost completely dark. Jon quickly took out Hogwarts' black cloak from his suitcase and put it on.
"In five minutes, the train will arrive at Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train, and we will deliver it to the school for you." A voice echoed on the train.
This was good news. He wouldn't have to carry such heavy luggage to school.
The train slowed down and finally stopped.
Jon squeezed his way to the exit, and passengers pushed and shoved, all heading towards the door, onto a small and dark platform.
"First-year students! First-year students, this way!" A loud voice came from the front.
Jon saw a conspicuous burly man in the crowd. His face was almost completely covered by his messy long hair and tangled thick beard, but one could still see his beetle-like eyes, shining under his hair.
"I am Hagrid, Rubeus Hagrid, the key keeper and gamekeeper of Hogwarts!" In the midst of the crowd, the burly man with a beard smiled, "Come on, follow me. Any first-year students here?"
"Watch your step, alright! First-year students, follow me!"
Although most of the first-year students followed behind Hagrid, they kept a certain distance from him because of his huge body and fierce face.
Jon followed Hagrid without hesitation. He knew that although Hagrid looked a bit fierce, he was actually a good man.
Next to Jon was a very strange girl with messy, waist-length white hair, very pale eyebrows, and bulging eyes.
"What a wonderful journey, isn't it?" She exclaimed, intoxicated.
"Yeah!" Jon nodded, although he didn't know where the wonderful part was.
They followed Hagrid, slipping and stumbling, seemingly walking down a steep and narrow path.
"After turning this corner, you will soon see Hogwarts for the first time," Hagrid shouted back.
At the end of a narrow path, a black lake suddenly opened up, causing almost everyone to exclaim in surprise, even Jon, who was mentally prepared.
"There, that's Hogwarts!" Hagrid shouted across the lake, pointing to the magnificent castle standing on the steep slope on the other side. The castle was dotted with numerous turrets and windows that twinkled under the starry sky.
"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid yelled loudly, pointing to a group of small boats moored on the shore.
Jon and the strange white-haired girl boarded one of the boats, along with two unfamiliar boys.
"Is everyone in?" Hagrid shouted, boarding a boat by himself. "Then let's go!"
The boats glided smoothly over the mirror-like surface of the lake, heading towards the distant castle. This was probably a ritual for new Hogwarts students, Jon thought, as he rowed the boat.
The four founders of Hogwarts, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, had arrived at the school by boat. Therefore, every new Hogwarts student had to take this journey.
The boats passed through the ivy curtains that covered the cliffs and arrived at a hidden entrance. They followed a dark tunnel that seemed to lead underground, and finally arrived at a place that resembled an underground dock. They climbed up a stretch of broken stones and pebbles and gathered in front of a giant oak door, illuminated by Hagrid's lantern.
Hagrid raised a pink, tattered umbrella and knocked three times on the door of the castle.
The gate was quickly opened.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Hagrid smiled and winked at the small wizard behind him, then continued to lead the way.
In front of them was a stone wall surrounded by burning torches; the ceiling was so high that it was almost impossible to see the top; and facing them was a luxurious marble staircase leading straight up to the floor above.
"Jon!" a small hand tugged at the cloak behind Jon.
"What is it?" Jon turned back when he heard the familiar voice and calmly said, "Miss Greengrass!"
Under the torchlight, Astoria Greengrass' face looked even paler than during the day.
Upon hearing that stiff form of address, her hand trembled slightly.
Astoria whispered softly, "Daphne...she really didn't mean to call you a mudblood, she was just..."
"Just slipped her tongue?" Jon's voice was unsympathetic. "Perhaps you call us that every day at home and today you just accidentally let it slip in front of people?"
"No...that's not it..."
Astoria wanted to explain further.
Hagrid's loud shout in front of them interrupted their conversation.
"Professor Snape, what are you doing here?"
A middle-aged man with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and wax-yellow skin came out of a small house on the slope and walked towards them.
Jon suddenly felt the gaze of Severus Snape fixed on him and quickly lowered his head.
He had just come through a door that was very close to where he was standing, and he might have even heard his conversation with Astoria.
Severus Snape stopped less than a yard away from Jon and slowly said, "I heard from Barrow that an extremely valuable Whomping Willow seems to have been injured by something, and I am going to take a look."
"Alright!" Hagrid nodded. "I am taking the first-year students to the sorting ceremony!"
After speaking, Hagrid continued to move forward, and Jon quickly followed with his head down.
He felt as if Snape's eyes were fixed on the back of his head until he was out of sight.
Hagrid led them to a very small room. The young wizards rushed in, jostling each other and nervously examining everything around them.
Professor McGonagall, dressed in a green robe, was waiting for them there.
"Hagrid, thank you. You can leave them to me now."
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