Under Hagrid's lead, the first-year students soon reached the far side of the lake. Each of them carried a small lantern as they followed a rough, narrow path tangled with dense vines on both sides.
At the front of the group, Hagrid's huge voice rumbled through the dark as he told them how the four founders had come to this place long ago, and how they had discovered and established Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Ron," Harry whispered from the front of Leo's group, holding his lantern tightly while glancing around, "do you think what Hagrid said is true?"
The moment she heard a question, Hermione overcame part of her fear of the dark and immediately entered expert mode.
"According to Hogwarts: A History, Hagrid isn't wrong," she said quickly. "But I also read in Secrets of the Castle that Hogwarts wasn't created directly from nothing by the four founders. The original site was provided by Slytherin, then renovated by Lady Ravenclaw and Lady Hufflepuff. Finally, Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff each added their own designs, creating the world-famous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Ron leaned toward Harry and muttered sourly, "I think she's memorised every book."
Harry looked impressed instead.
"Hermione's amazing. I wish I could do that."
Leo, walking behind Hermione, heard everything and sighed inwardly.
This was reality, not the simplified impression left behind by stories. Ron was not stupid. He was a sensitive child who wanted Harry's attention and lived under the shadow of too many excellent older brothers.
On the train, whenever they discussed magic and spells, Ron had actually been the most practical and logical among the group after Leo.
A declining wizarding family was still a wizarding family. It had history, habits, and inherited knowledge. The Weasleys might be poor now, but they were not rootless.
Hermione was brilliant, but she was still a newcomer to the magical world. Ron had grown up surrounded by magic.
His problem was not lack of talent, but being born among people who constantly made him feel ordinary.
Sometimes, it was not that someone lacked ability.
It was simply that the people around them shone too brightly.
"Leo," Draco said from behind him, "are you truly Muggle-born?"
"Yes," Leo replied calmly. "My father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all Muggles. Three generations of Muggles. So how am I not Muggle-born?"
Draco lowered his voice.
"I don't believe it."
Leo heard him but ignored it.
He could guess what Draco was thinking. No young wizard was supposed to master silent magic in less than two months, especially without proper instruction.
If Draco wanted to imagine a hidden ancient family behind him, that was Draco's business.
Some misunderstandings were useful.
The more one explained, the messier things became.
While the group chatted, they passed through the winding, vine-covered path and reached a stone slope. Looking upward, Leo could see Hogwarts Castle towering into the clouds, its windows glowing warmly against the night.
Hagrid led the first years to a tall wooden door and told them to wait. A professor would soon come to bring them inside for the entrance ceremony.
After that, he hurried away.
The first years quickly gathered in small clusters and began whispering about the Sorting Ceremony.
"I heard from my cousin, who already graduated, that we have to play hide-and-seek with Acromantulas."
"No way. My neighbour's friend said we have to fight a troll."
"You're both wrong. My mum graduated from Ravenclaw, and she said the Sorting is a performance in front of the Headmaster and all the professors."
"No, you're wrong."
"No, you are."
Listening to the chaotic rumours, Leo felt both amused and helpless. Harry and Hermione looked especially lost, unable to tell which stories were true.
"Well, my father said—" Draco began.
"All right," Leo interrupted. "Enough wild guesses about what your father, your brother, or someone's neighbour's cousin said. We'll find out soon enough."
Then, seeing Harry and Hermione look toward him, Leo's expression became lively.
"But as far as I know, we'll be going underwater to fight mermaids."
Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Harry all stared at him in horror.
Draco believed Leo must know hidden information. Ron trusted Leo more than his brothers. Harry and Hermione thought Leo was too capable to lie about something important.
For different reasons, they all believed him.
Leo looked at their faces and felt deeply satisfied.
"All right, first years, quiet down."
Professor McGonagall opened the wooden door and stepped out, still wearing her green robes and pointed hat. Her stern gaze swept over the nervous young witches and wizards.
"I am Professor McGonagall, your Transfiguration professor."
She noticed the frightened expressions among them and immediately understood. Every year, older students and family members fed the first years ridiculous stories before the Sorting.
She did not correct them.
It was something of an unwritten tradition.
"Follow me."
Professor McGonagall led the first years through the door, up the stairs, and toward the Great Hall. Nobody spoke during the walk, whether because of her presence or because they were still imagining violent mermaids.
At the entrance, Professor McGonagall stopped and turned back.
"We are about to enter for the Sorting Ceremony. The Sorting Ceremony is an important part of the start-of-term feast. It will determine which house you belong to, and for the next seven years, that house will be your home at Hogwarts."
Her voice was clear and formal.
"You will study together, rest in the same dormitory, eat at the same table, and share your magical journey. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw are the four houses of Hogwarts, each with its own proud history."
The first years listened closely.
"Good performance in class, study, and daily life will earn points for your house. Misbehaviour and rule-breaking will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the House Cup."
Her gaze sharpened.
"House honour is your honour. Remember that."
Then she added, "Straighten yourselves up."
Professor McGonagall stood still and waited.
Because of Leo's earlier mermaid nonsense, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco were all still slightly distracted while adjusting their robes.
"All right," Leo said, a mischievous idea suddenly appearing. "I'll help."
He raised Judgment and began casting spells on them.
First came a cleaning charm.
The dust and wrinkles from travel vanished from their robes, leaving everyone fresh and neat.
Then came a beautifying charm.
Ron, Harry, and Draco's hair shifted into tidy, stylish side parts. Hermione's bushy hair softened into loose curls, the upper section combed back and held in place with a small braid made from her own hair.
Hermione touched her hair in surprise.
Before anyone else could react, a small girl with two golden braids stepped forward shyly.
"Um… could you make mine look like that too?"
"Of course, beautiful lady."
Leo smiled and waved his wand.
The little girl's hair became smooth and elegant, and several other girls immediately stared with longing.
"Me too…"
"Could you do mine?"
Soon, even some of the boys were looking at Ron and Harry's neat hairstyles with obvious interest.
Leo glanced at Professor McGonagall.
Instead of stopping him, she gave him a small smile and a subtle wink.
Leo nodded back, then excitedly began transforming the first years one by one.
A few minutes later, the entire group looked completely different.
Robes were clean. Hair was tidy. Faces looked refreshed. Even the nervousness in the crowd had eased somewhat because everyone was busy admiring one another.
Leo looked at his work and nodded to himself.
A true glamorous transformation.
"Now," Professor McGonagall said, "form two lines and follow me."
She turned around.
The great doors before her opened slowly on their own.
Beyond them lay a magnificent hall.
Thousands of bright candles floated in the air, casting warm light over four long tables filled with students. At the far end stood the staff table, where the professors sat watching the first years enter.
The entire Great Hall turned to look at them.
....
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