Hogwarts: Nagini captured at the start

Chapter 15 Arrival at Hogwarts

"Freshmen, first-year students, follow me!"

A rough, hoarse voice came from behind the lamp, and people realized that it was not a street lamp, but an oil lamp being carried by a giant!

As the crowd surged, Hagrid, the half-giant with a large beard, smiled and said, "Come on, follow along. Don't worry about the older students; they're taking a different route. Oh, watch your step and keep your belongings safe. It's dark, and it'll be hard to find if you lose them."

As soon as Hagrid finished speaking, a series of pitiful, aggrieved, and worried wails erupted from the crowd.

"Waaah... toad... toad, my toad, waaah!"

"Child, don't cry. Explain yourself clearly. What's missing?"

Neville was sobbing uncontrollably, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Suddenly, an arm appeared in the crowd, raised high and waving, gesturing for the half-giant to look in her direction.

"You lost something too, little girl?"

"No, I didn't. It was Neville who lost something. He lost a toad. I've told him at least three times not to believe the 'bad guy's' divination, but he just won't listen. The toad won't come back by itself; you have to go find it!"

A little girl with thick, fluffy brown hair and brown eyes spoke with her chin held high.

Robin, who has earned the title of "bad guy": Woman, I advise you not to stick your neck out, or you'll get slapped in the face!

Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

At this moment, the toad's croaking was especially loud!

Hermione's face flushed red. She never expected that her first attempt to stand up for herself would result in this.

Hagrid bent down, grabbed the toad that was trying to hop down the slope, squeezed through the crowd, and handed it to Neville. "Hey, kid, don't cry. Look, is this your toad?"

"Yes, that's it, thank you!"

Neville took the toad with great joy and excitement.

"Keep a close eye on it. If you lose it again, it won't be easy to find. After all, there are many areas at Hogwarts that have yet to be explored!"

"Everything's fine!"

After the little incident, Hagrid walked to the front of the crowd again, waving his thick arms and saying, "Come on, keep up, everyone keep up with me!"

The group followed Hagrid down the slope, where they slid and slid. At the end of the slope was a black lake with a dozen small wooden boats moored on its shore. On the opposite hillside stood a majestic castle with a pointed roof and fan-shaped windows that glowed with a warm yellow light.

"Is everyone here? We'll take a boat to the other side. Each boat can only hold four people at most. Children, get on the boat!"

Robin, Ron, and Harry boarded a ship, and Hermione followed.

After the magical little wooden boat started moving, Hermione stared at Harry's forehead, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. She wanted to strike up a conversation, but the lake was dark, the surroundings were quiet, and everyone had to duck to avoid the cliffs from time to time. She sighed and turned to gaze at the towering castle that seemed to reach into the clouds.

The wooden boat carried everyone away from a cliff, then through a canopy of hanging ivy, into a hidden yet extremely spacious entrance, and after passing through a dark tunnel, arrived at the underground dock!

"We've arrived at the dock. Everyone, disembark. Make sure you have all your luggage; don't forget anything!"

After the new students disembarked, Hagrid checked the empty boat to make sure no one had left any personal belongings behind, and then led everyone uphill.

In no time, they came to a flat, open meadow. After climbing a stone staircase, they arrived at a huge, heavy oak gate!

Boom!Boom!Boom!

Hagrid, the half-giant, raised his massive fist and pounded on the wooden door three times!

Luo Bin speculated that this was a knocking method he and the people inside the castle had agreed upon beforehand.

Squeak! Squeak!

After the oak door opened, a tall witch walked out. She wore a long emerald green robe, and a wide hat was worn askew on her black hair, which was styled in a bun. Her eyes were slightly downturned, and her lips were tightly pursed, which made her look extremely serious.

Many people in the crowd felt that the tall witch in front of them was difficult to get along with, and Harry was among them.

But Robin doesn't think so!

Admittedly, Professor Minerva McGonagall was a strict person who was ruthless when it came to deducting points from students' colleges, but she was also very fair and responsible. She was happy to impart all her knowledge to students who were eager for learning.

Moreover, although she appears stern, she is actually quite kind at heart.

"Professor McGonagall, all the first-year students are here!"

"Hagrid, thank you. Leave the rest to me. You can go in and take a seat!"

"Okay, I'll go in after the children go in!"

Professor McGonagall opened the oak door wide and led the new students into the castle.

The castle entrance hall is very large, and like Gringotts, burning torches hang on the stone walls on both sides!

Luo Bin heard a noisy commotion coming from the door on his right. He guessed that it was the auditorium on the first floor, the place where meals were usually served and various parties and banquets were held.

Professor McGonagall didn't lead the new students into the main hall. Instead, she led them into a small, empty room. Standing in the center of the room, her lips pressed tightly together, she said solemnly:

"Welcome to Hogwarts! The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you enjoy the sumptuous dinner, we will hold the Sorting Ceremony to determine which house you will be admitted to!"

"The school has four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has a glorious history and has produced great wizards who are renowned throughout the wizarding world."

"Therefore, no matter which academy you are assigned to, you will be able to acquire top-notch magical knowledge."

"During your studies at the school, if you perform well, your college will gain extra points; conversely, if you misbehave or violate school rules, your college will lose points."

"At the end of the year, the college with the highest score among the four will receive the College Cup, a very high honor!"

"Now, line up in three rows, straighten your clothes, and I'll come to pick you up in five minutes!"

After Professor McGonagall left, the freshmen chattered away like ducks that had been put into the water!

Some were worried that the school would set increasingly difficult hurdles for the Sorting Ceremony; some explicitly stated they didn't want to go to Slytherin, a house known for producing dark wizards; and some were reciting textbook knowledge verbatim.

Five minutes passed quickly. Professor McGonagall returned to the hut. She told the first line of students to go first, and then the second line to follow at the end of the first line.

The grand auditorium on the first floor is far more magnificent than the lobby!

As soon as Robin stepped into the auditorium, he was stunned by the ceiling. The dark ceiling space was twinkling with starlight, just like the night sky outside. Clearly, it had been enchanted.

Above the four long dining tables, countless candles floated in the air, illuminating the hall brightly.

On the stage in front of the auditorium, there was also a long table, which was the seating area for faculty and staff. Professor McGonagall led the new students to the faculty and staff seating area and had them stand in a long row facing the senior students!

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on the new students. A dozen or so grayish-white, semi-transparent ghosts floated above the four long dining tables, occasionally making whistling sounds to tease the students.

(End of this chapter)