https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-63-Family-Death-Eaters-and-the-Wizarding-Purists/12572302/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-65-The-House-of-Surprising-Requests/12572304/
Chapter 64: Carriage, Night Mares
Chapter 64: Carriage, Night Mares
"Follow me, students!" boomed a deep voice.
Like a wild man, Hagrid stood on the dark platform, awaiting them. He wore a thick fur coat and carried a lantern, his towering figure an imposing sight.
For students unfamiliar with Hagrid's true nature, his appearance was intimidating. The once-rowdy students immediately fell silent and trailed after him, walking along the platform.
In a spacious clearing, numerous black carriages awaited, each with dim lanterns hanging on either side, some swaying gently.
The students boarded the carriages, and as Victor, Neville, and the others walked together, they heard a greeting: "Hi, Victor, guys! There's room in this carriage!"
They looked up to see Hermione, Padma, Parvati, and Neville already seated together. It was Padma who had called out, gesturing to an empty carriage beside them, filled with straw.
One by one, they climbed into the carriage. Michael waved and asked, "How was your holiday? Did you have a good time?"
"It was great," Hermione replied. "Except for someone who never checks the friend book." She gave Victor a pointed look. "I thought it would be easier to discuss problems in the friend book! Especially when it comes to practicing disarming charms on our own—"
"Oh, Hermione, wait," Padma interrupted with a headache. "Not yet, okay? Let's talk about it tomorrow, after classes start. Can we just enjoy the rest of the break?"
Even as a Ravenclaw, Padma found Hermione's zeal for studying a bit frightening.
"See you in the library tomorrow afternoon, then!" Victor suggested. "I need to borrow some new books anyway."
Hermione reluctantly sat back, and Parvati beside her quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although no one was pushing her to study, being surrounded by academic discussions that she couldn't understand or participate in made her feel trapped in an invisible glass box, suffocating.
Taking advantage of their conversation, Neville jumped down from the carriage, clutching his toad, Trevor, and squeezed into Victor's carriage.
"Hey, Neville, we're already pretty full here!" Michael protested.
"Please let me stay," Neville pleaded, his face full of misery. "There are only girls over there—I can't handle it." Without waiting for a response, he squeezed Michael into the corner and refused to budge.
Michael, forced to sit awkwardly in the corner, grumbled, "What's wrong with being around girls? The girl sitting next to you is one of the prettiest in Hogwarts, and she's a twin, too!"
Laughter rang out from the girls' carriage, perhaps prompted by Michael's comment.
Neville, flustered and embarrassed, kept his head down, not daring to look at who was laughing. "They're always laughing," he mumbled. "It's too embarrassing. I can't handle being over there alone."
"Neville, you're hopeless!" Michael exclaimed in frustration.
Without hesitation, he jumped out of the carriage and made his way over to the girls' carriage. Soon enough, he was chatting and laughing with Padma, seemingly having put his previous discomfort behind him.
Neville breathed a sigh of relief, admiration evident on his face.
Victor, Anthony, and Gregory couldn't help but laugh, and Neville joined in, scratching his head sheepishly.
The carriage began to move, swaying gently as the road was not entirely smooth. The carriage had a musty smell, and the thick layer of straw beneath them made for an uncomfortable seat.
Ryan spoke up, "By the way, last time we rode these carriages, I meant to ask, why aren't there any cushions?"
During the Christmas break, they had taken these carriages to Hogsmeade Station on their way home, but as they had departed with their respective houses, they hadn't had the chance to ride together then.
Theo speculated, "Maybe it's a tradition—surely it's not because the school can't afford it?"
Anyone who had seen mealtimes at Hogwarts would know that the school could afford a few soft cushions.
"What more can we ask for when we're provided with food, accommodation, and no tuition fees? Let's just consider this a test of our endurance!"
As Ved said, he pointed his wand at the pile of straw in the carriage, and the withered straw immediately turned into thick cushions.
The others touched the cushions enviously and exclaimed, "Ah, Transfiguration is really difficult."
Under Ved's guidance, they had been performing well in their Charms classes, but Transfiguration was mostly up to individual practice, and Ved couldn't instill firm beliefs and clear imagery into their minds.
"Do Muggle schools charge fees?" Theo asked curiously.
"Hmm." Ved thought of the elementary school he had attended and replied, "Public elementary schools are basically free, with only minimal fees. But for private schools, it's at least ten thousand pounds a year."
"Ten thousand pounds?" Theo was astonished. "How much is that in Galleons?"
"About two thousand Galleons," Ved answered.
Theo whistled in surprise. "Wow, Muggles are really rich!"
Even though he was pure-blooded, his family wouldn't have been able to afford two thousand Galleons a year for his education—perhaps only a family like the Malfoys could afford such an expense.
"Most Muggle students attend public elementary schools," Ved added.
"Speaking of which, these school carriages are really nice; they can drive themselves. Are they also alchemical artifacts?" Ryan asked curiously. Neville suddenly lifted his head, hesitated with his lips parted, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
"No... I think there are invisible horses pulling them," Michael said, poking his head out. "Listen carefully."
They held their breath and listened intently. From the invisible creatures in the air came the sounds of "hissing" breaths, snorting, and the flapping of wings.
"Invisible horses..." Ryan frowned in thought. "I seem to have read about these creatures in a book somewhere..."
"They're Nightmares," Ved revealed.
"That's right!" Ryan exclaimed, slapping his palm. "They're Nightmares! Legend has it that only those who have witnessed death can see them, so that's why we can't!"
"So, they're not invisible, just invisible to us?" Theo furrowed his brows as he tried to make sense of the logic.
"Yeah, that's right," Ved agreed, nodding as he looked toward the front of the carriage.
The emaciated black horse had a pair of white, pupil-less eyes, and its face was as vicious-looking as a magic dragon. It obediently pulled the carriage forward, its enormous bat-like wings folded gently at its sides. Perhaps because Ryan's voice had been a bit loud, the horse became restless and tossed its head uneasily, quickening its pace slightly.
The wheels creaked as the carriage came to a stop in front of the stone steps leading to the castle.
Ved jumped down from the carriage. The night air was bitterly cold, and their breath turned into white mist. He turned back and met the gaze of the Nightmare, its eyes pale and hollow.
It was a strange feeling.
No wonder in ancient times, people equated seeing a Nightmare with seeing death, believing that Nightmares brought misfortune to those who laid eyes on them.
"What are you waiting for, Ved?" Ryan patted his back and stamped his feet. "It's freezing today!"
The students, eager to escape the cold, hurried up the steps and into the castle, their footsteps crunching on the snow. Around the corner in the entrance hall, Filch glared at the students for tracking mud and water into the castle.
The Great Hall was brightly lit, and the house-elves had prepared a sumptuous feast as always. Dumbledore sat at the teachers' table, smiling at the new students.
(End of Chapter)
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