19. Those Children Who Are Still Waiting For The Owl

To the north, the sky gradually darkened.

No one except for Hermione, who had returned after leaving, came to disturb the box again.

The snacks Wayne bought were divided among the four of them, except for a few Bibi multi-flavor beans.

Fred used his hair to guarantee that these multi-flavor beans either smelled like boogers or cockroaches and should not be eaten.

But as night fell completely, they rubbed their stomachs and still felt a little hungry.

"Should be arriving soon?" Cedric guessed as he looked out the window at the dark sky.

Sure enough, after another half an hour, the train signal sounded.

"The train will arrive at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train and we will deliver it to the school."

"It's finally here, I feel like I'm so hungry that I could eat a cow," Fred complained. Several people stood up, took off their coats, and put on their robes.

It is now 6:30 in the afternoon, and the train has been traveling for nearly eight hours.

After traveling more than a thousand kilometers, they had arrived at the northwest border of the British Isles, the Scottish Highlands.

When Wayne thought about future generations, there was a fierce debate over Scotland's independence, and whether it was necessary to leave the Commonwealth whether or not.

I don't know if this school is successful in the British wizarding world.

With a sense of anticipation, Wayne walked out of the compartment door and got off the train.

It was a small, dark station.

Although it was still September, the weather here was very cold, with a chill. Many young wizards tightened their robes.

"Wayne, this way!" Hermione saw Wayne first and shouted. The boy walked over, and Neville had disappeared.

At this time, an oil lamp lit up. "Freshmen! Freshmen, come here, follow me!"

Seeing Hagrid's huge body, many freshmen trembled like quails and obediently followed him, just like a mother hen with her chicks.

They passed through a steep and narrow path, with darkness on both sides. Wayne felt a sudden force on his arm.

It turned out to be Hermione. The little witch said nothing and held onto his sleeve tightly.

"Are you afraid of the dark?" Wayne raised the corner of his mouth and looked sideways at the little witch.

"No!" Hermione said firmly. "I'm just a little nervous entering a completely unfamiliar environment. I'm eleven years old, who would be afraid of the dark!"

"Ouch!"

In front of them, the little wizard screamed in pain. A girl had fallen. The humid air made the road extremely muddy. Hermione quickly stepped forward and helped the girl up.

"Thank you," the girl said gratefully, but she started to cry again when she saw the dirt on her robe.

At that moment, Wayne pulled out his wand and whispered, "Clean up!"

Instantly, all the dirt on the girl's body vanished, and her robe became neat once again.

"Thank you!" The girl exclaimed excitedly, her eyes twinkling with delight. "You've mastered magic. It's truly amazing!"

"Not bad, Wayne," Hermione remarked, raising an eyebrow.

Just moments ago, she had encountered a young red-haired boy on the train who couldn't seem to cast a spell despite trying for a long time. Comparing Wayne's skillful technique to his, the difference was striking.

"After all, buying all those books wasn't in vain," Wayne smiled. "Let's hurry and catch up."

Both girls nodded and trailed behind Wayne. After walking for over ten minutes, they turned a corner and were met with a surprised chorus of "Oh."

There, at the end of the narrow path, was a black lake. On the other side, a cliff loomed, featuring a majestic castle with pointed spires and warm lights shining through the windows like stars.

Wayne, too, was captivated by the enchanting Hogwarts Castle and its mysterious atmosphere of the unknown.

In another world, countless children eagerly await an owl bearing a letter every day.

Now, Wayne has made their dream come true.

"Only four people are allowed in each boat!" Hagrid pointed at the small boats docked on the shore and boarded one by himself.

The wooden boat visibly sank under Hagrid's weight, raising concerns about its ability to handle the load of the massive giant.

Wayne and the others were the last to board, making it a party of three in their boat. They set off towards the castle, and the girl introduced herself.

Susan Bones.

Wayne recalled that this person was a character in the original book, and her family included influential officials from the Ministry of Magic.

"Lower your head!" Hagrid's yell reached them as the boat approached the cliff. Hermione and Bones quickly complied, but Wayne remained still.

It wasn't until they passed the vines that Hermione straightened up and asked in frustration, "Why didn't you obey earlier? What if there was danger?"

Wayne gazed at her with caring eyes. "Even if that giant was sitting up in the boat, he would still be taller than me. If he can pass through, why should I lower my head?"

Hermione's mouth gaped open, unable to find a retort at the moment, feeling both angry and embarrassed.

"Then why didn't you remind us?" she finally said.

Susan Bones vigorously nodded in agreement with Hermione.

Unacceptable.

Wayne waved his hand dismissively. "It would have only made you look more foolish if I reminded you, right?"

Finally, Hermione was left speechless.

Fortunately, the boat soon arrived, breaking the awkwardness. The group followed Hagrid, climbing a set of stone steps, and assembled in front of the massive oak door. After counting the number of people, Hagrid discovered that there was a considerable crowd. He raised his massive fist and knocked on the castle door three times.

The door creaked open, revealing Professor McGonagall standing before it, still clad in her emerald green robe. Many freshmen felt the weight of her presence and hesitated to even exhale.

"The first years are all here, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here."

McGonagall gestured for the door to fully open, and the young wizards filed into the foyer. The space was brilliantly lit and warm, with torches lining the walls every few steps.

A murmuring sound could already be heard from the right, but McGonagall led them to a small room on the opposite side of the hall.

Professor McGonagall introduced herself, explained that they would soon be sorted into different houses, and then exited the room, promising to return in five minutes.

This allocated time allowed the young wizards to straighten their clothing and steady their nerves.

Though the professor had departed, the air in the room grew even more stagnant.

No one spoke, and each person was palpably anxious.

Wayne surveyed his surroundings, muttering under his breath, his expression filled with worry.

His striking appearance made him particularly noticeable. Eventually, one of the young witches couldn't resist asking:

"What are you doing?"

Wayne took the bait.

His narrowed eyes, reminiscent of a sly fox, revealed his true intentions.