bdsm-fiction Chapter 5 Arrival at Hogwarts
Chapter 5 Arrival at Hogwarts
Seeing Cedric burying his head in the sand like an ostrich, Karen changed the subject: "George, Fred, how about we talk about Gryffindor?"
Fred immediately straightened up, his eyes shining: "Speaking of Gryffindor—"
"--That's the best house at Hogwarts!" George chimed in, the two of them acting out a duet.
"We represent courage and boldness," Fred said, waving his wand and drawing a golden-red spark in the air.
"The common lounge is in the highest tower," George said mysteriously, "and you can see the entire Black Lake and the Forbidden Forest."
Cedric, now recovered, added, "Each house has its unique strengths, and Hufflepuff values loyalty and diligence."
"What about Ravenclaw and Slytherin?" Cullen asked.
“Ravenclaw represents wisdom, and I think you might go there,” Cedric explained. “Slytherin, on the other hand, values ambition and lineage. However, every house has produced great wizards.”
George made a face: "Although Slytherin did produce the most dark wizards."
"George!" Cedric gave him a reproachful look. "This is not the time to instill prejudice in freshmen."
Karen nodded thoughtfully: "So, what standards are used for the sorting of schools?"
The three exchanged a knowing glance. "It's a secret."
"Every freshman must experience this firsthand," George added mysteriously. "Believe me, it will be an unforgettable experience."
Looking at the three of them working in perfect harmony, Karen chuckled to herself. Sure enough, this traditional, quirky sense of humor in the magical world has been passed down from generation to generation.
"But we can tell you about Quidditch, the best sport in the wizarding world!" George suddenly pulled a miniature golden snitch from his pocket, its wings flapping incessantly in his palm.
Over the next few minutes, the three enthusiastically described the rules of Quidditch, team composition, and various exciting moments to Cullen. Fred and George gesticulated wildly as they demonstrated how the Walker flew, while Cedric explained the importance of the Seeker in more detail.
"We've all joined our respective college teams," Cedric said. "Although we couldn't participate in official games during our freshman year, we started training a long time ago, and now that we're sophomores, we can finally join."
"I hope you like Quidditch too," George said, "that way we can play together. Of course, it would be even better if you were sorted into Gryffindor!"
The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and raindrops began to tap against the windowpane.
"We're almost there," Cedric reassured Cullen, noticing her excitement. "The feeling of seeing Hogwarts for the first time... is indescribable."
The train finally slowed down, and an announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Hogsmeade Station, all students please disembark."
The four of them packed their luggage and followed the flow of people toward the train door. The rain outside was pouring down harder, and the platform was soaked. As soon as Karen stepped off the train, the icy rain hit his face.
"First-year students! This way!" A loud voice cut through the rain. Karen turned her head and saw a giant at least three meters tall standing at the end of the platform. His thick black beard almost covered his entire face, and he was carrying a swaying oil lamp in his hand.
"That's Hagrid," George whispered in Cullen's ear, "the gamekeeper and key keeper, a really nice guy."
After parting ways with the three, Karen followed Hagrid toward the small boat on the Black Lake.
Hagrid led the new students down a steep, narrow path, which was muddy and slippery in the rain. Karen could see the surface of the Black Lake in the distance, rippling with countless waves from the raindrops.
"No more than four people per boat!" Hagrid shouted, pointing to a row of small boats on the lakeshore.
Karen and three other freshmen—a nervous blonde girl and two boys engaged in a heated discussion—boarded a small boat. The rain was pouring down, and Karen's robe was soaked through, clinging uncomfortably to her body.
"Dry as ever," he murmured, and gently waved his wand. A warm current flowed from the tip of the wand, instantly evaporating the moisture from his clothes and hair.
"Wow!" The blonde girl looked at him in surprise. "Where did you learn that?"
Karen said, "I saw it in a book."
"Flickering light," he uttered another spell, and the tip of his wand immediately glowed with a soft light, dispelling the surrounding darkness.
The young wizards on the surrounding boats all looked in surprise at the suddenly appearing point of light.
"You must be from a pure-blood family. I tried it at home, but I never succeeded," a boy on the ship suddenly said upon seeing Karen's magic.
"That's right, my mom said that teachers will teach these things at school, and only pure-blood families learn them in advance," another boy chimed in.
"I come from a Muggle family, and I taught myself all of this at home," Karen replied calmly.
The small boat began to move automatically towards the opposite shore of the lake, through the thick curtain of rain. Karen held up her glowing wand when suddenly, a huge dark shadow swept across the water, causing the boat to rock slightly.
"What is that?" a boy asked in terror.
"It's probably a giant squid," Karen guessed, recalling what he had read in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." "It's friendly."
Just then, the rain subsided slightly, and Cullen looked up, her breath catching in her throat—Hogwarts Castle stood atop a cliff across the lake, countless windows letting in warm light, its towers and spires piercing the night sky. Against the backdrop of the somber sky, the castle appeared even more mysterious.
It was far less grand than those skyscrapers, but it was the place Karen had always dreamed of.
"It's incredible, isn't it?" the blonde girl said softly, equally stunned by the sight before her.
After the small boat docked, the new students followed Hagrid up the stone steps to a huge oak door. Hagrid raised his massive fist and knocked three times on the door.
The door opened, and Professor McGonagall stood there, her green robe and tight hair giving her an air of quiet authority.
"Thank you, Hagrid. Leave the freshmen to me." Her voice was clear and strong.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid nodded and turned to leave.
Professor McGonagall stood before the oak gate, waved her wand, and the freshmen's soaked robes instantly became dry and clean.
Professor McGonagall then led them through the hall to a side door, which led to a small, empty room. They all rushed inside.
Welcome to Hogwarts.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it miraculously traveled to every corner.
"The opening banquet is about to begin." Professor McGonagall slightly raised her chin. "But before you enjoy the food, you must go through an important ritual."
She suddenly waved her wand, and several silver-blue sparks flew from its tip. Those sparks formed four lifelike animals in the air: a roaring lion, a lazy badger, a soaring eagle, and a coiled snake.
"The four houses of Hogwarts are," as she explained, the animal emblems exploded into dazzling fireworks in turn, "Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
Professor McGonagall then introduced the new students to the sorting system, the situation of each college, and the rules of the College Cup.
"Every college has its unique traditions and honors." Her gaze suddenly sharpened. "But remember, winning the College Cup isn't about belittling others, it's about surpassing yourself."
"The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin." Professor McGonagall turned, her robes slicing through the air with a clean, sharp line. "I suggest you—"
Her words were interrupted by a scream. A group of glowing white ghosts suddenly poured out of the wall, and Nick, who was almost headless, was gleefully showing his wobbly head to the freshmen.
"Silence!" Professor McGonagall's voice cracked through the air like a whip. The ghosts immediately fell silent and obediently floated to the side. The fat monk even made a zipping motion with his mouth.
"As I said," she took a deep breath and pulled a roll of yellowed parchment from her sleeve, "you will be assigned to your respective colleges in front of the entire school."
"Students whose names are called, please come forward and put on your Sorting Hats." Professor McGonagall unfolded the parchment. "Now, tidy your appearance."
The freshmen were thrown into chaos. Some frantically smoothed out the wrinkles in their robes, while others desperately combed their rain-soaked hair. Karen noticed a dark-skinned boy practicing a smile in the reflection of the brass doorknob, while another girl with thick glasses repeatedly wiped her lenses.
"Remember," Professor McGonagall concluded, her voice suddenly softening, "no matter where the Sorting Hat sorts you into, true belonging is never given by others, but created by yourself."
"Now, everyone line up and follow me."
Karen took a deep breath and followed the group toward the hall.