Chapter -37 Arriving at the Hogwarts.

Chapter -37.

Before long, the Hogwarts express pulled into Hogsmeade Station, and the excitement was palpable!

As they stepped off the train in their robes, they were greeted not by the picturesque scenery they had imagined, but by a small, dimly lit platform and a chilly autumn breeze that nipped at their cheeks.

"Here, put this on; it'll keep you warm!" Dudley said, taking off his scarf and wrapping it around Hermione's neck, who was puffing out little clouds of breath. He then draped his coat over her shoulders.

The coat was a bit oversized for Hermione, almost swallowing her whole, but it was cozy and warm.

"Thank you!" she said, her cheeks turning a shade of pink as she snuggled into the coat, pulling the collar tighter around her.

"First-year students! First-year students, come over here!" a familiar voice called out, accompanied by the gentle sway of a kerosene lamp. It was Hagrid!

He spotted Harry and was about to greet him, but paused when he noticed Dudley. "First-year students, follow me, and watch your step!" he instructed.

Soon, a group of eager little wizards gathered around him as he led the way down a steep, winding path, the lamp lighting their way. Dudley noticed that the older students were heading off in different directions; this path was just for the first-years.

"I read in 'A History of Hogwarts' that first-years have to walk the same path the four great founders took to learn their WIzarding spirit journey," Hermione chimed in, peeking out from her coat.

Dudley had skimmed through that book but hadn't really committed it to memory. That was the difference between him and Hermione; she had a knack for remembering all sorts of facts, while Dudley preferred to focus on what he found useful. He had already memorized everything about Potions and Herbology, while Hermione had just glanced at it.

For Dudley, this little trek was just a warm-up, but for the other first-years, it left them a bit breathless. Thankfully, it soon came to an end.

At the end of the narrow path, a stunning black lake appeared, and on the opposite shore stood a magnificent castle perched on a hillside, its towers reaching for the stars and windows twinkling like diamonds. It was Hogwarts!

Dudley couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at the sight of the grand castle. He had never lived in a castle before, and the thought of spending the next few years there was exhilarating.

"Hey, kids, hop in the boats! No more than four per boat!" Hagrid called out, pointing to a line of small boats waiting at the shore.

For the other young wizards, that meant sharing, but for Dudley, just his presence in the boat made it feel like it was full to the brim. So, he found himself in a little boat all by himself.

He had heard tales of magical creatures lurking in the depths of the lake, but he wasn't sure if they were true. Dudley stared into the dark water, feeling that Hogwarts was more than just a school; it was a treasure trove of adventure.

"Dudley, can I call you that?" Hagrid said, his voice a bit shaky as he leaned closer. "I'm really sorry about that day."

"Are you feeling better?" Hagrid asked, clearly still a bit awkward about the whole situation. Dudley remembered the incident vividly.

"It's all good now," Dudley replied casually, though he still had a small scar as a reminder.

Truth be told, Dudley didn't really hold a grudge against Hagrid. The whole mess had started when Hagrid had confronted Vernon, and later Dudley learned from Petunia that Hagrid had a history with Vernon. But Dudley could see that Hagrid wasn't a bad guy; he was just a bit rough around the edges.

"Really?" Hagrid said, his voice deep and sincere. "If you ever get the chance, I'd love to visit your house."

"Of course! I'll bring Harry along since you're friends with my aunt and uncle," Dudley replied, realizing how practical that sounded. He had checked out the Hogwarts map, and Hagrid's place was near the Forbidden Forest, which he figured he'd be visiting often, so it made sense to keep things friendly.

"Oh, that would be wonderful! I mean, I'd love that!" Hagrid stammered, his earlier rudeness forgotten.

After passing through a dark tunnel, they arrived at a dock-like area beneath the castle, where the small fleet of boats finally came to a stop. Professor McGonagall stood there, looking quite serious.

"Aight then, Professor McGonagall will guide you from here on," Hagrid introduced her.

"Thank you, Hagrid," she replied before turning to the young wizards. "Follow me."

With that, she opened a large door, revealing a stunning medieval-style castle interior. The walls were made of a sturdy gray stone that Dudley couldn't quite identify, but he could tell it was much tougher than regular stone. He tried to chip off a piece but couldn't even make a dent!

Torches flickered along the stone walls, and the ceiling soared high above, almost disappearing from view. 

In front of them was a grand marble staircase leading up. As they walked on the stone floor, Dudley could hear the buzz of voices coming from a door on the right, clearly filled with people. Following Professor McGonagall, they arrived at a small empty room at the end of the hall.

"I know! I read in 'A History of Hogwarts' that we need to be sorted into houses before we can officially start studying," Hermione whispered to Dudley.

Her voice was soft, but Professor McGonagall caught it and gave her an approving nod. "Well said, Miss Granger."

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began, clearing her throat. "The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but first, we need to sort you into your houses."

"Sorting is a very important ceremony because during your time here, your house will feel like home. You'll attend classes with your housemates, stay in the dormitories, and hang out in the common room together."

"The four houses are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."

Tl/N: If you want to read more [upto Ten chapters] while supporting me, you can join me on patreon.com/EmptyThoughts ;Thanks.

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Upcoming chapters :-

38. Are you really a wizard?

39.So, Slytherin it is then?

40. I'm going to teach him a lesson.