Chapter 542: Hogwarts Dryer
Chapter 542: Hogwarts Dryer
The train came to a slow stop at the platform, and a torrential downpour pelted the ground, sending up splashes of water.
Everyone else had already returned to their compartments to gather their belongings and change clothes. Theo stood up to get off, but Michael held him back with a hand.
"Wait a bit longer", Michael said. "The compartment doors are probably packed with students."
Through the glass, they could hear the students in the corridor urging and shouting.
Theo sat back down, fidgeting as if a hedgehog were hidden under his seat. After a while, when the corridor finally cleared up, he quickly said:
"Most people have already left. Let's go."
Lavender smiled and stood up, followed by Wade.
Michael sighed and said to Wade, "I'd rather wait until everyone else is gone. The school won't leave us on the train."
"Come on, get up", Lavender said, pulling him up from his seat.
Wade pulled his raincoat out of his pocket, shook it, and it returned to its original size. He asked Michael, "Do you need a raincoat?"
When they got on the train, Michael was the only one soaking wet, clearly because he hadn't brought an umbrella.
Michael smiled and said, "I've been practicing Transfiguration lately. Let me show you."
He took a Chocolate Frog wrapper from the table, pointed his wand at it, and recited the Transfiguration spell.
A moment later, the wrapper gradually grew larger, transforming into a blue cloak adorned with golden patterns.
Lavender, waiting by the door, gave a thumbs up. "Looks great!"
Michael raised an eyebrow, draping the cloak over his shoulders. "I hope you're praising my Transfiguration, not just the patterns on the cloak."
As he walked to the front, Wade couldn't help but laugh—the back of the cloak was printed with a rather silly-looking frog.
When they reached the compartment door, they found a small crowd still gathered there. Wade waited a bit longer before finally stepping out.
Standing on the dark platform, he understood why the students were moving so slowly—many older students were holding leaf umbrellas or flower umbrellas, deliberately walking slowly along the platform to show off their Transfiguration skills!
"Wade, they're stealing your idea!" Michael said indignantly.
"Let's go", Lavender urged. "I'm freezing."
As they walked from the platform to the Thestral-drawn carriages, Wade noticed that some students' Transfigurations were not quite up to par. The leaf umbrellas, which had initially been sturdy, had become flimsy, and the accumulated rainwater in the center of the leaves caused them to tilt, drenching the students below.
Michael couldn't help but laugh, but he also tightened his grip on the wax-coated paper cloak, grateful for the manufacturer's consideration. By the time the carriage arrived at Hogwarts, Michael's cloak was still intact.
No one lingered at the entrance. Wade quickly climbed the steps, entered the castle, and walked through the Entrance Hall into the warm Great Hall, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
He and Theo greeted each other, took off their cloaks, and walked to the Ravenclaw Table, shrinking the cloaks and putting them away.
Just as they found a seat, a commotion at the door caught their attention. Harry and others, drenched, rushed into the Great Hall, followed by several shrieking fifth-year girls.
"Hey, what's going on in the Entrance Hall?"
As they walked down the aisle between the tables, Fred called out curiously.
"Peeves is throwing water bombs", Ron said angrily. "What a nightmare..."
They sat at the Gryffindor table, their backs to Wade’s side. With water in their socks, their steps produced a squelching sound with every move.
Harry was taking off his shoes to pour out the water when a boy immediately approached him, excitedly saying, "Harry, guess what? My brother is starting school too! His name is Dennis!"
Wade’s fingers trembled slightly as he turned to look at the boy.
Colin Creevey, and his brother, were both admirers of Harry Potter. If he remembered correctly, both of them died in the final battle.
They had made the ultimate sacrifice before they even reached adulthood.
"Hey, Colin", Michael turned around with a grin and said, "Didn’t you bring your camera? Don’t you want to take a precious ‘drenched Harry Potter’ photo?"
"Hey, Michael!" Harry shouted.
"Great idea!" Colin’s eyes lit up, looking eagerly at Harry as he raised his camera and asked, "Can I take one? Just one?"
"Thanks, but no, Colin", Harry firmly declined, slipping his cold, wet trainers back on.
As they were talking, the doors of the Great Hall suddenly opened, and Professor Mcgonagall led a group of first-years in. The students immediately fell silent, turning their attention to the newcomers.
The children looked as if they had been fished out of the lake, shivering from the cold. One of the first-years was wearing Hagrid’s mole skin coat, gesturing excitedly to Colin.
"I fell into the lake!" he mouthed happily.
When Professor Mcgonagall brought the first-years to the front and brought out the Sorting Hat, Harry stretched out his arm and tugged at Wade’s sleeve.
Wade turned around and saw Harry whisper, "Help us out, Wade. We’re all drenched."
On the train, Michael had enthusiastically explained Wade’s self-invented Warming Breeze Charm. If there was a way to dry their clothes, who would want to endure the discomfort of cold, wet clothing clinging to their bodies?
"Oh, Harry", Nearly Headless Nick approached, offering help, "If you need it, I can fetch you a couple of candles."
Harry’s mouth twitched, and Hermione interjected, "Thanks, Nick, but I think we need a quicker solution."
She wrung out the hem of her robes, her hair still dripping like seaweed freshly pulled from the water.
Wade smiled, drew his wand, and with a flick of his wrist, he cast, "Warming Breeze."
A warm wind spiraled out from the tip of his wand, sweeping over Harry, Hermione, and then spreading across the entire Great Hall.
In the rustling wind, the Sorting Hat, about to sing, opened its mouth, its body puffing up from the warm air. Many girls let out surprised squeals as their damp hair instantly became soft and fluffy. Professor Mcgonagall’s pointed hat suddenly flew off but was quickly caught by her.
At the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy’s neatly combed hair became like a dandelion, while Pansy Parkinson looked more like a poodle.
Professor Snape’s robes suddenly billowed out, then were quickly brought back under control, followed by a fierce glare at Wade.
Professor Dumbledore, however, reacted quickly, reaching up to hold his beard to prevent his meticulously groomed facial hair from being blown out of place. He then closed his eyes contentedly.
Above the Great Hall, the flames of the candles flickered but did not go out. Only a few bats seemed startled, flying across the ceiling.
After a moment, the wind died down, and the Great Hall fell silent. The first-years tentatively touched their now dry clothes, and several young wizards from the Muggle world had eyes that shone with amazement.
(End of Chapter)
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