Harry remembered Hagrid talking about Voldemort and the Death Eaters back in Diagon Alley, so he understood what Ron meant.
"If you ask me, that guy's definitely bad news," Ron added with clear disdain. "Alright, let's not let him ruin our mood. Look, there's a big lake ahead, is that Hogwarts?"
Harry asked excitedly, pointing ahead and pulling Ron forward.
Sure enough, after walking for a while, they finally reached the edge of the Black Lake.
Through the mist hanging over the water, the shadow of a massive castle perched on a cliff became visible.
"Everyone, get on the boats! Each one can hold up to four people!" Hagrid called out as he led the group to the shore.
One by one, the new students climbed into the self-piloting boats and started crossing the lake.
As they moved forward, the full view of the towering castle came into focus.
"Wow, is this really Hogwarts?" someone whispered in awe.
After stepping off the dock, the young wizards gathered together and looked up at the castle perched on the cliff, unable to hide their amazement.
"Don't just stand there in awe, let's go! Once you get closer, you'll see Hogwarts clearly, and I promise, your jaws will drop even more," Hagrid said with a warm smile.
Every year, what he looked forward to most was seeing the fresh-faced students' surprised expressions.
Suddenly, one first-year squinted up at the sky behind them and murmured, "Is that ship up there part of Hogwarts too?"
The wizard next to him glanced in the same direction, curious, and then suddenly exclaimed with wide eyes, "Look, there really is a ship! It's in the sky!"
The distraction caught everyone's attention, and all the young wizards quickly turned to look.
Their mouths dropped open in unison.
Across the Black Lake, the sky had turned wild, whipped by fierce winds and crackling with wilson's arcane alchemica, as if a thunderstorm was about to break loose.
From within the storm clouds, a three-masted ship surged forward like it was riding through roaring waves, pitching and rolling as if on the ocean.
The vessel shimmered with a clear, icy blue glow.
It had three vertical masts, one tall, two shorter, with each mast carrying three rows of neatly arranged square sails of varying sizes.
At the bow, a long ram jutted out, resembling the horn of a narwhal.
Smaller sails stretched between the foremast and the bow, and eight slender rams extended from both sides of the hull.
The ship's oars moved up and down rhythmically, like eight delicate dragonfly wings fluttering in the sky.
From a distance, the whole scene looked like a crystal-clear ghost ship bravely cutting through a stormy sea.
Flickering bolts of lightning danced between the sails and masts, giving off a fierce, almost threatening energy, but the ship still seemed strangely graceful and otherworldly.
As this "spaceship" drew closer to Hogwarts, the young wizards felt the overwhelming power it carried, and a few timid first-years even whimpered, calling out for their mothers with tears in their eyes.
"Is he really here just for work? Does it have to be such a big show?" one whispered nervously.
When Hagrid spotted the ship, he immediately recognized whose it was.
He didn't look particularly surprised, just gave a small, helpless smile.
"Alright, alright, don't just stand there staring. That ship isn't a threat to Hogwarts, and it won't harm any of you. Now come on, follow me back to the castle," he called out to the first-years.
It took a while for everyone to finally tear their eyes away from the strange spaceship.
"Ha... Hagrid, do you... know that ship? Is it from Hogwarts too?" Harry asked in a shaky voice, frozen in place.
While Hogwarts perched on the cliff felt grand and awe-inspiring, this spaceship was intimidating, like the sky itself might fall.
Harry's question sparked the curiosity of the other young wizards, and they all looked at Hagrid, Malfoy included.
"You'll find out soon enough. That ship's no big deal, it just happens to fly," Hagrid said, rolling his eyes as he waved everyone forward.
Under his constant urging, the group of students stumbled up the stone steps, but they kept glancing back every few steps.
The flying ship was getting closer and closer, clearly heading toward Hogwarts, and no one could take their eyes off it.
When they finally reached the castle's upper courtyard, Hagrid managed to herd them inside the entrance hall.
There, Professor McGonagall was waiting, looking impatient.
"Why did it take so long?" she asked, casting a glance at Hagrid as he led the new students in.
She'd been waiting for quite some time and was beginning to worry something had happened to them on the way.
"Didn't you see that thing in the sky? Getting these kids settled on that boat was no easier than herding a pack of hungry Tebo warthogs," Hagrid replied with a shrug.
"How could I miss it?" McGonagall said, shaking her head.
"The magic in the Great Hall to simulate the sky almost got wrecked. Everyone inside thought a storm was coming just now."
'I was already starting to regret inviting him back. Maybe I really shouldn't have.'
But Hagrid, ever the optimist, just chuckled and said, "Well, it's too late to regret now, isn't it?"
He explained that these first-year students would be handed over to her, and he had to head down to watch the boat for that guy.
He warned that the guy had a bad temper.
McGonagall shot Hagrid a sharp look and told him to hurry up.
"It's one thing to be almost late, but now you've nearly held up the sorting ceremony!"
Hagrid just smiled, rubbing his stomach, and mentioned that the guy had written to him about bringing some delicious food.
Then he turned and left.
McGonagall couldn't help but glance after him, muttering, "You really were bought so easily..."
She then faced the nervous first years, who were still a bit scared, and addressed them kindly.
"In a little while, you'll go through those doors and join the rest of the students. But before you take your seats, you must be sorted into a house, there's Gryffindor..."
She explained how the sorting ceremony worked, along with the rules about house points and the House Cup.
Of course, McGonagall wasn't sure if the first years were really listening; they'd just been through quite a scare, but she did her duty anyway.
Finally, she told them to wait patiently, then turned back toward the auditorium.
Without keeping the young witches and wizards waiting any longer, Professor McGonagall reappeared and led them into the auditorium.
The four long tables were already filled with students, and the first-years either glanced around nervously or looked up at the enchanted ceiling.
Above them, the sky was filled with flashing thunderclouds, mirroring the storm outside the castle.
Unlike a real thunderstorm, there was no booming sound, but the intimidating atmosphere still filled the hall.
"Merlin's beard, it was clear when we arrived, how did the sky change so fast? Maybe there's something wrong with the magic on the ceiling," some older students muttered among themselves.
Hearing this, the freshmen wanted to tell them that the real world outside the castle was even more frightening than the display above.
But before they could say anything, McGonagall, now standing at the front, interrupted to keep things moving.
"All freshmen, come here! Before the Sorting Ceremony begins, Headmaster Dumbledore has a few words to share!"
Dumbledore stood and spoke clearly, "Before we kick off the new school year, there are a few important reminders. First, except for certain classes, no student is allowed to enter the Forbidden Forest.
This year, some classes will take place near the forest, so be extra cautious."
He paused, then added, "Also, Mr. Filch has asked me to warn you that the corridor on the right side of the fourth floor is off-limits. If you don't want to end up in serious trouble, stay away from there."
Finally, Dumbledore announced with a smile, "And I'm pleased to inform you that 'Tactical Training' will be a compulsory course at Hogwarts this year!"
"See? We've got Tactical Training this year," Fred whispered excitedly to George from the crowd.
George nodded, understanding the implication.
"And it might even take place in, or near, the Forbidden Forest!"
After Dumbledore made his official announcement, a buzz of whispers spread among the young wizards in the audience.
Many of them had expected to join the new "Training Science" course this year, but no one had anticipated that it would include "tactical training."