16 Hogwarts

Neville couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed onto the chair, still cradling Trevor in his arms. Artel, feeling a bit bored, let out a yawn and closed his eyes for a brief nap. Hermione, on the other hand, gazed out the window, lost in thought. After about ten minutes, exhaustion caught up with her, and she too fell into a deep slumber.

A sharp whistle roused Hermione from her sleep. As she woke up, she found herself leaning against Artel's shoulder. A blush crept across her face, and she quickly sat up.

Hermione cautiously raised her head and saw Artel rubbing his eyes, as though he had just awakened.

"My shoulders are sore," Artel grumbled while massaging them.

Hermione felt a twinge of embarrassment and muttered softly, "Sorry, I dozed off."

Artel adjusted his posture, "It's alright."

"Neville went to the restroom, and I think we should hurry to get to Hogwarts," she said.

Artel nodded, saying something, and then began to undress.

"You... what are you doing?" Hermione was too flustered to speak.

"Oh, we need to change into wizard robes," Artel replied casually. He set aside his suit jacket, retrieved wizard robes from a box, put them on, and stowed his suit in the box.

Hermione, still flustered, removed her coat, donned the wizard's robe, and sat down next to Artel.

"Your hat," she reminded him after a while.

Artel finally remembered and removed his hat. As Hermione looked at it, she noticed a faint glint at the brim, which startled her. She asked, "Is there something on your hat?"

Artel replied nonchalantly, "Oh, there are two blades sewn into the brim of the hat. It's a family tradition."

"What a peculiar tradition," Hermione mumbled, not quite understanding. Just then, the door swung open, and Neville returned.

"They say it's almost time for Hogwarts," Neville announced with excitement. Seeing that Artel and Hermione had already changed into their wizard robes, he quickly changed into his as well.

"Where's your toad?" Artel inquired, noticing that Neville wasn't holding Ralph.

Neville, in the midst of changing, froze for a moment and hastened his efforts. After finishing dressing, he rushed out, exclaiming, "Oops, I left it in the bathroom!"

Hermione couldn't help but express her doubt, "Can his memory really remember spells?"

Artel shrugged, indicating that he didn't know. Thankfully, Artel's timely reminder helped Neville locate Ralph before it strayed too far. With Leif safely in tow, they made their way to the train just in time.

The platform they disembarked on was dimly lit and small. The three of them stepped off the train.

"First-year students! First-year students over here!" a voice called out, and a light pierced the darkness. Artel spotted Hagrid, the gamekeeper and keeper of keys at Hogwarts, with his unmistakable giant stature.

"Hagrid!" a surprised voice came from ahead, and it was Harry Potter.

Hagrid, his bearded face beaming, waved at Harry and continued to call out, "First-year students, come this way!"

"My goodness! He must be at least three meters tall!" Hermione exclaimed as she got a clear look at Hagrid's face.

The first-year students followed Hagrid and ventured into the darkness. They walked along a path flanked by trees, the darkness and eerie atmosphere casting a sense of foreboding. Artel conjured a light to illuminate the area.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, Hagrid's voice echoed from up ahead, "Turn this corner, and you'll see Hogwarts!"

They quickened their pace, and after making the turn, they all gasped in awe.

Before them lay a vast lake, its inky surface mirroring the dark sky. On the opposite shore, a hillside rose, and atop it stood a majestic castle.

From a distance, the castle's lights dazzled, obscuring the stars and creating a breathtaking sight.

"Is that Hogwarts?" Hermione asked in a hushed tone.

"Yes, relax," Artel reassured her and gently tugged her forward.

Hagrid, meanwhile, continued to lead the way. "No more than four people to a boat, it's a tradition passed down for ages. First-year students must cross the Black Lake on a boat, just like the four great wizards who founded Hogwarts..."

Hagrid's words served as a reminder, and everyone boarded the boats without hesitation.

On Artel's boat, it was him, Hermione, Neville, and a girl who looked vaguely familiar to him. Hermione inquired, and the girl introduced herself as Lavender Brown.

The boat had been enchanted to move on its own. It carried them across the lake for about twenty minutes, passing through a curtain of ivy, navigating a dark underground tunnel, until they reached the underground entrance of the castle.

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