Chapter 27: Honestly, You Remind Me of My Dad

"Five more minutes until we arrive at Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train. We will transport it to the school for you."

The night had already fallen outside, with a deep purple sky stretching over the surrounding mountains and forests. The train gradually slowed down as a loud reminder echoed through the corridors.

"We should put on our uniforms now."

George removed his jacket and donned the black Hogwarts wizard robe. Luna, Ginny, and Colin quickly followed suit, changing into their uniforms as well.

When the train came to a halt, young wizards poured out, jostling and shoving each other in the narrow aisle, anxious not to miss anything. Some faces were squished comically in the crowd.

"Don't rush!"

Seeing the chaos, George decisively stopped Ginny and the other two from getting caught in the pushing crowd.

"The castle isn't going anywhere. There's no need to panic."

Unlike the others, George was curious and excited about Hogwarts, but he wasn't nervous or flustered. After all, he wasn't truly a child. His past experiences—crossing worlds, surviving soul fragmentation, and escaping deadly situations—had made him calmer than even most adults.

After about two minutes, the crowd thinned. George led the trio out of their compartment and towards the train's exit at an unhurried pace.

"Follow me. Make sure you don't end up with the upper years."

"George, honestly, you sometimes remind me of my dad. You feel... dependable," Ginny remarked, walking behind him.

"Actually, you're a bit more reliable than my dad," she added, thinking about her father Arthur's occasional bouts of impracticality.

Colin and Luna nodded in agreement.

Despite having spent less than a day with George, he had already left an impression as someone dependable. His steady demeanor, rarely showing surprise, his helpfulness with luggage, wiping their faces when they got messy with snacks, and covering them with his robe when they napped—all contributed to their trust in him. Even now, during the disembarkation, his presence made them feel as though everything would be fine as long as they followed him.

George smiled at their comments. To him, those actions were simply instinctual—things an adult would do for children they didn't mind being around.

His body in this world might be a child's, but it was challenging for him to pretend to be one. And honestly, he didn't see the need. Considering his backstory in this world, early maturity was reasonable and hardly a bad thing.

"First-years! First-years over here!"

A familiar voice suddenly rang out.

George turned to see Hagrid, the groundskeeper, holding a magical lantern and calling loudly at the station. At nearly three or four meters tall, Hagrid's towering figure stood out even in the crowded platform.

"Stick close to me."

After a quick instruction, George made his way through the dense crowd with ease, parting through the older students like a blade. In terms of strength, even seventh-years couldn't match him.

"Good to see you again, young boss!"

Hagrid bent down slightly to greet George, his expression warm and cheerful. He hadn't forgotten the little wizard who sold discounted potions to him in Knockturn Alley.

"Hello, Hagrid," George replied with a polite smile.

"You know Hagrid? Why does he call you 'young boss'?" Ginny whispered curiously into George's ear.

"I recognize him from when he came to buy potions. My foster father owned a potion shop, but he passed away recently," George said offhandedly.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. I hope you're not too sad," Ginny replied, her face filling with guilt. Luna and Colin also looked sympathetic.

"It's alright," George said with a smile. He resisted the urge to say that he was the one who had taken care of that "foster father" himself, knowing the truth would terrify the trio.

Once all the first-years—about thirty students—gathered, Hagrid led them along a narrow path to the edge of the Black Lake. There, they followed the tradition of traveling to the castle by boat.

George shared a boat with Luna, Ginny, and Colin. The magical boats moved without oars, propelled by enchanted winds.

The journey across the Black Lake was breathtaking. Even George, who prided himself on his composure, couldn't help but marvel at the towering Hogwarts castle rising into the clouds.

At one point, a small wizard fell into the lake out of sheer excitement. Fortunately, a giant squid quickly rescued them and placed them safely back into the boat. The Black Lake, as it turned out, housed numerous magical creatures.

Disembarking at the castle's underground dock, the first-years ascended a rocky tunnel to reach the grand entrance. There, Hagrid handed them over to a tall, black-haired witch in an emerald-green robe: Professor Minerva McGonagall, head of Gryffindor House and the Transfiguration teacher.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said crisply. "The start-of-term feast will begin shortly. However, before you enter the Great Hall, you must be sorted into your respective houses."

She led them into a small chamber off the Great Hall, where she briefly explained the four houses and the significance of the House Cup.

After McGonagall left, the first-years began whispering excitedly about the Sorting Ceremony. George found himself thinking about which house he might join.

Unlike Harry Potter, George knew the Sorting Hat wouldn't take extra time with him or allow him to choose. His placement would depend solely on the hat's magical assessment.

But it didn't matter to him. Each house had its own strengths, and no matter where he ended up, George was confident he'd be the best and brightest.

From this day forward, Hogwarts would witness the rise of its most talented and extraordinary wizard: George.