Kyle had always been curious about what propelled the first-year boats at Hogwarts. He had previously thought it was magic, but now he was having doubts.
After long observation, he had never detected any magical traces on the boats. More intriguingly, Hagrid — a half-giant nearly four meters tall who clearly weighed more than four first-year wizards combined — rode in a boat with the same draft as all the others. This defied normal physics.
While the boats might have been enchanted with advanced, concealed magic or were perhaps alchemical artifacts, Kyle preferred to believe something beneath the lake was supporting them.
"That Giant Squid perhaps?"
He peered down into the water, but the Black Lake's murky depths at night revealed nothing but his own reflection.
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Soon, the boats left the tunnel and docked in what appeared to be an underground harbor.
Everyone disembarked and followed Hagrid up a pebble-paved path to a flat, damp lawn at the foot of Hogwarts castle. They climbed the stone steps to reach a massive oak door.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." Hagrid turned and raised his enormous fist, knocking three times on the castle door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The door swung open at once.
A witch in emerald-green robes stood there, her black hair and stern demeanor rather reminiscent of an elderly cat... ahem, a distinguished witch.
Some people, it must be said, possess an innate ability to silence a crowd — like a homeroom teacher appearing at the classroom's back window. Their mere presence commands instant quiet.
Professor Minerva McGonagall was exactly such a person. The moment she appeared, all surrounding chatter ceased.
Even Hagrid's demeanor shifted to formal respect as he announced, "The first years, Professor Minerva McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here." Minerva swept her gaze over everyone before pulling the door wider and leading them into the castle.
Flaming torches lined the stone walls, their warmth bringing comfort to the shivering young wizards and driving away the outside chill.
To their right was a closed door, through which Kyle could hear the buzz of voices. However, Minerva led them past it to an empty chamber off the hall.
"First of all, welcome to Hogwarts."
As everyone took in their surroundings, she delivered her annual welcome speech with practiced ease.
"The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts..."
Although Kyle was already thoroughly familiar with all of this, he still listened attentively.
He had to pay attention — after all, he was in the front row, right under Minerva's nose. If he were to zone out now, his future days at Hogwarts wouldn't be very pleasant.
Besides, this was an iconic moment, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so he naturally didn't want to miss it.
By now, Minerva had finished explaining about the House Cup and began introducing the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.
Or to put it more simply: the brash, the foodies, the nerds, and the purebloods.
The young wizards listened intently, their eyes full of anticipation, occasionally glancing toward the Great Hall as if they couldn't wait to rush in.
It was clear this was what they were most excited about.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you." Minerva gave them one last look, "Please wait quietly."
It must be said that her last request was rather unnecessary — as soon as she left the room, the Silencio (Silencing Charm) was broken.
A group of young wizards huddled together, excitedly discussing what might happen next.
"How do they sort us? Do we get to choose?" Asked a young witch nervously.
This was indeed everyone's main concern.
"Maybe there's some kind of test, like at Smeltings." said a Muggle-born wizard, turning to his companion, "I'd already been accepted there when I got my Hogwarts letter, but I chose to come here instead — Professor McGonagall convinced my mum, who had been insisting I go to Smeltings."
This was clearly an attempt to show off his academic achievements, but it fell rather flat.
After all, everyone was focused on the sorting, and who cared about Smeltings? Most students didn't even know what it was.
"I think the heads of houses choose their own students." Someone declared confidently, "That's how they do it at Ilvermorny, except they use statues there. My dad's friends with the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation — he told me about it."
This student was clearly showing off his father's connections. Unlike the earlier mention of entrance tests, his words carried more weight and quickly gathered a following.
Emboldened by the attention, he began dropping references to his father at every opportunity, as if his parent were the Minister of Magic himself.
Just then, Kyle felt someone tugging at his robe sleeve and turned to find Kanna looking at him nervously.
"Kyle, do the heads really choose?" She asked anxiously, "What if none of the houses want me? Will I be expelled?"
"Don't worry, that won't happen." He said with a smile, "Think about it — Ilvermorny and Hogwarts are two different schools. How could they use the same sorting method? That would be rather tasteless."
"Oh, I see..." Kanna breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "So do you know how we get sorted?"
"Well... yes, I do." Kyle thought for a moment, then decided to tell the truth, leaning close to whisper in her ear, "It's nothing much — they just hit each person with the Avada Kedavra curse, and whoever survives gets to enroll. Don't worry, you definitely won't be expelled."
"..."
As luck would have it, a ghost happened to float past them at that moment.
Kyle turned and waved naturally, "Hello, senior! We're about to be sorted too — wish us luck!"
Though the ghost couldn't understand what the young wizard was saying, seeing someone greet him, he instinctively nodded in response.
Seeing this, the light in Kanna's eyes instantly vanished, and she stood there like a lifeless statue.
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