Chapter 6: Arrival at Hogwarts

Hermione and Neville had practically walked the entire train from end to end, but the runaway toad was nowhere to be found. Fortunately, Neville had managed to pull himself out of the sorrow of losing his pet—well, perhaps not entirely, since he still looked glum, but at least he wasn’t crying anymore.

When Hermione stepped back into the compartment, she froze in surprise. “What’s all this?” she asked, eyeing the sudden pile of snacks on the table.

“A lady with a trolley came by a little while ago,” Wade said, gesturing to the feast before them. “Look—strawberry cream puffs, chocolate frogs, pumpkin tarts, cauldron cakes, and fruit punch. Help yourselves. Oh, Neville, want to try this minty toad?”

Neville took it, muttering “Lefu” under his breath as he bit into it. His eyes suddenly lit up. “Wow, this is delicious.”

Hermione didn’t hesitate. She sat down with a flourish and grabbed a slice of cake. “Thanks—perfect timing. I’m starving. By the way, you won’t believe this, but Harry Potter is just ten meters away in the next compartment. You know Harry Potter, right?”

“Of course,” Wade replied, peeling open a chocolate frog wrapper. “He’s mentioned in Important Magical Events of the Twentieth Century. But I think it’s best not to bother him. He lost his parents on the night he became a hero. If I were in his shoes, I’d rather not have that kind of fame.”

Hermione blinked. “You… you’re right. I hadn’t thought of that…”

Neville lowered his head, his fingers tightening slightly around the mint toad.

The sacrifice of the Potter family was legendary, but few knew the truth—during that time, Death Eaters, desperate to find the missing Voldemort, had captured and tortured Neville’s parents until they were driven mad.

The boy kept that darkness buried deep within him.

After a hearty meal, the three of them settled back, full and satisfied. Wade had expected to have plenty of snacks left over—after all, the train had been chugging along for hours, the sky had turned dark, and still, there was no sign of Hogwarts. The trolley lady had vanished without a trace, and dinner still hadn’t arrived.

“Is Hogwarts even in Britain?” Hermione grumbled, standing up in frustration. “I’m going to the front to ask the driver when we’re finally getting there.”

“Let’s go together,” Wade said, rising as well. He, too, was curious about the man who worked this train—only four times a year, if he remembered right. What kind of wizard would take on such a job?

Neville followed, still hoping to catch one last glimpse of his lost toad.

The train driver was an unremarkable man with brown hair and a thick beard, puffing on a pipe. Despite his rough appearance, he had a cheerful demeanor. When the three students confronted him, he just smiled and said, “Don’t worry—almost there. You’ll be dining in the Hogwarts Great Hall soon.”

Hermione nodded, satisfied, and returned to their compartment.

As they passed through the crowded train, Wade casually glanced into the other compartments—mostly unfamiliar faces. Only one stood out: the Weasley twins’ compartment, which was a whirlwind of laughter and loud cheers. They were clearly up to some prank or another, and their energy could be felt from afar.

Before they reached their own compartment, a sudden scream tore through the corridor. Three children stumbled past, one blond boy shoving Neville hard and snapping, “Move it! Get out of the way!”

“Hey!” Hermione didn’t manage to stop him, but she stamped her foot in anger. “Rude little—!”

Wade quickly reached out to steady Neville, who had nearly fallen.

“Thanks,” Neville said, voice quiet but grateful.

Wade shook his head. “You go change into your robes first,” he told Hermione. “We’ll wait outside.”

She nodded, swallowing her irritation, and marched into the compartment. After locking the door and drawing the curtain, she quickly changed. Then came Neville.

As they packed up their belongings and stowed them away, the train’s intercom crackled to life:

“Five minutes to Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train. We’ll deliver it to the school.”

The train slowed, then came to a stop at the platform.

Hundreds of students poured out like bees from a hive, swarming the narrow, dark platform, heads bobbing in a sea of movement. Hermione and Neville clung tightly to Wade’s back, their faces pale with nervous anticipation.

“First-years! First-years, follow me! Watch your step!” A towering figure, holding a lantern, bellowed in a deep voice from a distance.

Wade and the others pushed through the crowd. They noticed that older students were heading in a different direction—but no one dared to question the massive silhouette of Hagrid, the gamekeeper, who stood like a mountain among them.

The group wound through a dark path beneath the trees, and then, in the distance, they caught sight of the castle—imposing and majestic. Thousands of windows glowed with golden light, their reflections shimmering on the still, black surface of the lake, making the fortress look even more awe-inspiring.

“Wow—” The first-years breathed in unison.

Under Hagrid’s guidance, they boarded small boats and rowed across the lake. At last, they reached the foot of the castle. And there, in one of the boats, Hagrid spotted Neville’s lost toad.

Neville gasped with joy, snatching the creature from the water. Hagrid, meanwhile, raised his large hand and knocked three times on the massive front doors.

The doors swung open.

Standing there, stern-faced, was Professor McGonagall.

“Welcome to Hogwarts,” she said.

…

The Sorting Ceremony began.

Hogwarts had four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. A talking hat, according to tradition, sorted each new student based on their abilities and character. Wade already knew all this from his past life.

But over the past eleven years since arriving in this world, he’d forgotten much of the original story. Yet after realizing he was in the Harry Potter universe, he’d carefully recalled the most vivid moments—and recorded them in his own way.

Before registration, he’d thought long and hard about which house to join. The Sorting Hat valued talent, yes—but it also listened to the student’s own wishes.

Slytherin was out of the question. His parents were Muggles, and in a house that prized bloodline and family legacy, he’d be an easy target for ridicule. Wade wasn’t afraid of bullies—especially not children—but he had no desire to make things harder than they needed to be.

Gryffindor? He’d considered it, but ultimately decided against it.

With Harry Potter already there, Gryffindor would be a magnet for attention—every eye would be on the Boy Who Lived. And in the story, many Gryffindors had been shallow, easily swayed by rumors, turning on Harry without cause. That kind of behavior left a bad taste in Wade’s mouth.

Ravenclaw had its own issues—there were stories of bullying, mockery, especially toward students like Luna Lovegood.

Hufflepuff, on the other hand, was different. While most Hufflepuffs weren’t top scholars, they were kind-hearted, loyal, and trustworthy. And if people called them dull, so what? Wade knew his mind wouldn’t change because of a house name.

With his decision made, Wade carried himself with a calmness that set him apart from the younger students, who were still nervously whispering about fighting giant trolls.

After the Hat sang its song, Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a long scroll. One by one, the first-years were called. Some were sorted instantly; others made her pause, as if the Hat were weighing their choices.

Then, Wade heard it—his name.

“Hermione Granger!”

Hermione dashed forward and slipped the hat on her head.

A moment later, the Hat shouted, “Gryffindor!”

The Gryffindor table erupted in applause.

And then—

“Wade Gray!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end