Even before arriving at Hogwarts, many of the first-years had already noticed Lucien aboard the train.
Elegant.
Powerful.
Calm.
Without even realising it, the students instinctively followed his instructions and quietly separated into two orderly lines.
Normally, pure-blood students like Draco and Pansy would have been among the biggest troublemakers during the arrival ceremony.
But after spending the summer around Lucien, their behaviour had changed dramatically. Not only did they avoid causing trouble for Hagrid—
They actively helped maintain order.
Hagrid looked genuinely emotional.
"I wish yeh could help every year," he muttered while watching the students line up obediently.
He had been handling first-year arrivals for many years now.
Usually, gathering the children resembled herding terrified sheep through a storm.
Students wandered everywhere.
Someone always screamed.
Somebody inevitably fell into the lake.
And half the first-years ignored every instruction he gave.
But tonight?
The lines were neat.
Everyone stayed together.
No chaos.
Honestly, it felt miraculous.
Led by Hagrid, the first-years descended toward the lakeside docks before boarding the small boats that would carry them across the Black Lake.
The water rippled softly beneath the moonlight.
Strange shadows moved beneath the dark surface while torches reflected across the waves.
Hermione sat beside Lucien gripping the edge of the boat nervously.
"Lucien…"
She pointed suddenly toward the water.
"What was that?"
"A giant squid," Lucien answered calmly.
Hermione blinked.
"You recognised it immediately?"
"It's mentioned in Hogwarts: A History," he replied casually. "Perfectly harmless."
Almost immediately afterward, another large shadow moved beneath the water.
Hermione jumped again.
Lucien quietly fought back a smile.
"When the weather's warmer," he added, "the giant squid sometimes suns itself near the shore. Older students occasionally touch its tentacles."
Hermione's eyes widened with amazement.
"Hogwarts is even more incredible than I imagined."
Then she immediately pointed excitedly toward one of the distant towers.
"Lucien, look at that!"
Throughout the entire boat ride, Hermione continuously shifted between excitement and panic while asking endless questions about every visible detail around them.
And despite her future reputation as the brightest witch of her age—
At this moment, she was still simply an eleven-year-old girl seeing the magical world properly for the first time.
Without even noticing it herself, she had already begun depending naturally on the calm blond boy sitting beside her.
Soon, the boats reached shore.
Water splashed loudly as the first-years disembarked and followed the narrow stone passage leading upward toward Hogwarts Castle.
The moment Lucien crossed into the castle grounds, another system notification appeared.
[Congratulations to the host for entering Hogwarts for the first time.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Hogwarts New Student.]
[Achievement Points Awarded: 50.]
Lucien's mood improved instantly.
"Excellent," he thought calmly.
"The real storyline officially begins now."
If entering the school already awarded points, then the future opportunities here would probably become absurd.
The first-years eventually arrived before the entrance hall.
Waiting there stood a tall witch wearing emerald-green robes and a pointed black hat.
Professor McGonagall.
Her temperament reminded Lucien faintly of Vinda Rosier.
Both women possessed the same elegance sharpened through long experience.
But where Vinda carried natural aristocratic nobility—
McGonagall radiated discipline.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said calmly.
"In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your fellow students in the Great Hall."
Her sharp eyes swept across the gathered children.
"But before taking your seats, you will first be Sorted into your Houses."
She continued explaining steadily.
"The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
"Your House will become your family while you attend Hogwarts. Good performance earns House points. Rule-breaking loses them."
"At the end of the year, the House with the highest score wins the House Cup."
After finishing the explanation, McGonagall quietly glanced over the unusually orderly group of first-years before muttering almost unconsciously—
"They're remarkably well-behaved this year…"
Hagrid immediately grinned.
"That's thanks ter Lucien."
He placed one enormous hand proudly on Lucien's shoulder.
"He helped organise everyone."
McGonagall's eyes softened noticeably.
"Thank you, Mr. Grindelwald."
Lucien bowed politely.
"It wasn't my effort alone, Professor. Everyone cooperated together."
McGonagall looked increasingly pleased.
"A humble child as well."
Then her eyes drifted toward the students surrounding him.
Draco.
Pansy.
Theodore Nott.
Daphne Greengrass.
Without realising it, many of the pure-blood children had naturally gathered around Lucien like a central figure.
McGonagall noticed immediately.
After several seconds, she sighed faintly.
"…Though somehow I suspect you'll end up in Slytherin."
"Evil Slytherin," Ron muttered under his breath nearby.
Several students immediately glared at him.
McGonagall's expression sharpened.
"Enough."
Then she turned toward the massive doors.
"Follow me."
The doors slowly opened.
The Great Hall appeared before them in full splendour.
Floating candles illuminated four massive House tables while thousands of enchanted stars glittered across the magical ceiling overhead.
At the staff table sat numerous professors—
But Lucien noticed only one immediately.
White beard.
Half-moon spectacles.
Blue eyes hidden beneath calm wisdom.
Albus Dumbledore.
The man responsible for Grindelwald's imprisonment.
The man who defeated his father.
"Lucien, look at the ceiling!"
Hermione whispered excitedly beside him.
"It's enchanted exactly like Hogwarts: A History described!"
Lucien nodded absently.
His thoughts were elsewhere entirely.
Specifically—
Harry Potter.
After the train conversation earlier, Lucien already felt confident Hermione would never follow her original path toward Gryffindor.
Neville likely wouldn't either.
The only truly difficult target remained Harry.
Dumbledore had already influenced Harry deeply before school even started.
Convincing him completely would not be easy.
"Please wait here," McGonagall instructed the first-years. "Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words before the Sorting begins."
As she stepped aside, Lucien's gaze unconsciously locked onto Dumbledore again.
At the same moment—
Dumbledore looked directly back at him.
Level Seven Occlumency activated instinctively inside Lucien's mind.
Dumbledore had noticed him immediately upon entering the hall.
Blond hair.
Blue eyes.
Natural charisma.
And the subtle way other students unconsciously gathered around him—
The resemblance to Grindelwald in his youth felt disturbingly familiar.
When Lucien's name first appeared in the Hogwarts acceptance registry months ago, Dumbledore hesitated for a very long time before allowing the letter to be sent.
Originally, he assumed the boy would attend Durmstrang instead.
Unexpectedly…
"Professor Dumbledore?"
McGonagall quietly reminded him after noticing his distraction.
Dumbledore blinked once before smiling gently.
"My apologies."
"It seems old men drift into memories rather easily."
He stood slowly.
"I only have a few announcements before the feast begins."
His gaze briefly swept across the students.
"First-years should note that the Forbidden Forest is strictly prohibited."
"And Mr. Filch has also asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Unless, of course, you wish to die a particularly painful death."
Several first-years immediately turned pale.
Fred and George, seated further down the Gryffindor table already, looked delighted.
"Now then…"
McGonagall stepped forward holding a parchment list.
"Students whose names are called will come forward for Sorting."
She adjusted the Sorting Hat carefully before reading the first name.
"Hannah Abbott."
A nervous blonde girl hurried forward and placed the Sorting Hat onto her head.
After several seconds—
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The Hufflepuff table erupted into loud applause.
At the same moment, Lucien's system activated again.
[Congratulations to the host for witnessing the first Hogwarts Sorting.]
[Achievement Unlocked: Birth of the Sorting Ceremony.]
[Achievement Points Awarded: 50.]
....
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