https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-14-It-s-a-Good-Habit-to-Close-the-Door/12538106/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-16-If-You-Can-t-Beat-Them-Join-Them/12538108/
Chapter 15: Hogwarts
Chapter 15: Hogwarts
Soon after, Connor left.
Kyle didn't take the sickles that were on the table. With a simple floating charm, he sent them back into Connor's pocket.
Kyle wouldn't take money from an eleven-year-old girl, even one who seemed to have a lot of it.
It was a matter of principle.
Well, at least not until after he returned from Dorset.
Cedric looked at the closed compartment door and then at Kyle, who seemed visibly relieved. He unconsciously said, "Umm, I'm your first customer, so I should get to try the potion too, right?"
"What are you talking about? Don't be ridiculous," Kyle said, waving his hand dismissively. "You're my best friend, a brother to me. You're not just some customer."
"Yeah," Cedric nodded. "So, about that trial potion..."
"No, that's only for customers."
"Huh?" Cedric stared at Kyle, his eyes twitching slightly.
This was the first time he had seen someone so blatantly justify preferential treatment and taking advantage of friends so shamelessly. Did he have no shame at all?
Cedric felt exhausted and decided to change the subject. He continued asking about Hogwarts.
And when it came to Hogwarts, they couldn't help but talk about Quidditch, as both of them loved the sport.
Naturally, the topic extended to professional Quidditch teams, but here, Kyle and Cedric had a disagreement.
Kyle favored the Wimbourne Wasps, while Cedric was a loyal fan of the Chudley Cannons.
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense.
Kyle and Cedric stared at each other, and in that moment, it seemed like an invisible spark was crackling between them.
Once an argument between fans started, there was no backing down. Neither of them would yield, and as time passed, the temperature in the carriage seemed to drop noticeably.
After about ten minutes, their standoff was interrupted by a sudden jolt of the train.
"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train, and we will deliver it to the school for you," a voice echoed through the train.
Kyle and Cedric simultaneously averted their gazes, tacitly agreeing not to look at each other again. Instead, they began changing into their robes.
Kyle turned to look out the window. It was already quite dark outside, which explained the chill he felt.
Fortunately, the rain had stopped; otherwise, he would have needed an umbrella.
The train slowed down and eventually came to a halt.
After a ten-hour journey, they had finally reached their destination.
Kyle checked his robe and wand one more time to ensure everything was in order. Then, he joined the bustling crowd and disembarked the train, arriving at a small and dingy platform.
This place was truly rundown. Weeds grew rampant, and the signpost was heavily faded, making the words "Hogsmeade Station" barely legible.
There wasn't even a decent tile on the platform, and because of the recent rain, Kyle stepped into a puddle of mud as soon as he got off the train.
"Scourgify," Kyle said, waving his wand at his shoes. He carefully moved to a spot that was relatively cleaner.
The platform of a millennium-old prestigious school was in such a state of disrepair; who would believe it?
If it weren't for the fact that it was called Hogwarts and that the headmaster was Dumbledore, no one would enroll based on this platform alone.
At that moment, Kyle also spotted Connor.
The little girl was shivering in the crowd, and even from a distance, Kyle could see her pale face, clearly frightened by the scene before her.
Perhaps sensing someone staring at her, Connor turned and saw Kyle.
"Scourgify."
The girl had been so focused on running that she hadn't watched where she was going, and now her clothes were splattered with mud.
Only after he had taken care of this did he smile and pat the little girl's shoulder in comfort. "Don't be afraid. It's safe here, and someone will come for us soon."
"Mm," Connor mumbled, her head lowered.
At that moment, a lantern appeared above them, illuminating the area.
"First-year students! First-year students over here!"
Among the group of first-year little witches and wizards, Hagrid's towering figure stood out. His unruly hair and bushy beard only added to his intimidating presence, frightening more than a few of the young students.
Kyle even heard the sound of crying.
Although Connor didn't cry, she was still visibly scared, clutching Kyle's arm so tightly that he couldn't help but grimace in pain.
However, seeing the terrified look on her face, Kyle didn't have the heart to pull his arm away and could only endure the pain.
He couldn't understand why an eleven-year-old girl would have such a strong grip.
"I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Key Keeper at Hogwarts," Hagrid said, waving to the group. "First-years, follow me, and watch your step. I'll take you to the boats that will take us to Hogwarts."
Kyle was the first to follow Hagrid, leading Connor into the dim lantern light, which was the brightest spot around.
At that moment, Connor had calmed down a bit. She quickly let go of Kyle's arm, her face reddening as she mumbled, "Sorry."
Unfortunately, her voice was too soft, and the constant noise from the other students drowned her out. Kyle didn't catch what she said and could only nod unconsciously.
...
To accommodate the first-year students, Hagrid walked slowly, and it took them over twenty minutes to navigate the steep and narrow path.
As they rounded the last bend, Hagrid turned to the group, a smile on his face, and gestured forward. "Come on, you're about to see Hogwarts for the first time. Don't be distracted; this is the most beautiful sight in the wizarding world."
Immediately, there were gasps and cries of amazement.
Connor stood beside Kyle, staring at the sight before them and murmuring, "It's so beautiful..."
At the end of the path was the famous Black Lake, and on the opposite shore, a lofty castle stood tall on a steep hill.
The castle's towers reached for the sky, and in the moonlight, it seemed as if it were built among the clouds.
The windows, glowing with warm light, were like stars dotting the night sky.
It was a breathtaking, divine sight.
Even Kyle was stunned.
He wondered if the Hogsmeade station had been left in such disrepair to highlight the beauty of this moment.
"Alright, newcomers, we're about to board the boats. Let's not keep the professors waiting." Hagrid pointed to the row of small boats docked by the lake. "Remember, no more than four people per boat."
Kyle and Connor boarded one of the closest boats, along with two other unfamiliar first-year students, a boy and a girl.
They seemed to be overcome with excitement, as they couldn't stop chattering about how they had to write home about this experience.
"Everyone on board?" Hagrid asked as he sat alone in a small boat. He turned back to confirm one last time. "Alright then... let's go!"
The fleet of small boats immediately set off across the lake, passing low-hanging cliffs and ivy-covered mountain cliffs before entering a pitch-black tunnel.
(End of Chapter)
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