"It was just taking off a coat..."
Watching Hermione leave with a red face, Ron muttered, "As long as she leaves, that's great."
Harry and Ron also began changing clothes with Sherlock.
He noticed Ron's sneakers, which indeed peeked out from under his robe hem just as Sherlock had predicted.
However, he was too nervous to pay attention to this now.
Ron's face was pale—he wasn't much better off.
After all, they were only eleven-year-old children. Suddenly leaving home to come to a completely unfamiliar place, it would be false to say they weren't nervous.
As for Sherlock—it was better not to think of him as a child.
The train gradually slowed down and finally stopped.
It was completely dark outside. As soon as the doors opened, the howling cold wind made all the young wizards shiver together.
Sherlock's physical condition was actually good among his peers, but having just recovered from a serious illness, he also found it unbearable.
Britain's cold and damp climate was fully displayed at this moment, leaving everyone shivering with cold.
Just then, a bright light appeared above everyone's heads, attracting the young wizards' attention, followed by a rough voice:
"First years! First years over here!"
A giant over three meters tall appeared directly in front of everyone.
Precisely because he was so extraordinarily tall, the lamp he held in his hand provided such a high light source.
Sherlock immediately understood that this person was Hagrid, whom Harry had mentioned.
However, Harry's description was still somewhat conservative. According to Sherlock's estimation, the man was at least three and a half meters tall.
This truly lived up to being the magical world—the tallest person in the Muggle world was only two and a half meters.
Though Hagrid had a big beard, he showed Harry a gentle smile: "Harry, come over here. How are you?
Come on, follow me. Any more first years?
Watch your step! Right then, first years, follow me!"
Under the giant Hagrid's leadership, the new students parted ways with the upper-year students, walking down a steep, narrow path.
The journey was pitch black and dark until they rounded a bend and suddenly had a clear view.
The young wizards couldn't help letting out gasps of amazement.
A black lake appeared before their eyes as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.
The calm lake surface rippled gently, appearing both quiet and mysterious.
Even more eye-catching was the high mountain across the lake.
A majestic castle stood on the mountainside with towering spires, windows twinkling under the starry sky, drawing everyone's gaze.
Hogwarts—they had arrived!
At this moment, all the young wizards unconsciously held their breath, quietly taking in this scene.
Until Hagrid spoke up to remind them.
To commemorate the four founders of Hogwarts School, first-year students would also cross the Black Lake by boat like the four founders when first entering the school, arriving at the castle.
This was also why the giant Hagrid had required the new students to follow him.
Since each boat couldn't hold more than four people, Harry and Ron naturally followed Sherlock, their big brother.
As someone who had already met them before school started, Hermione also joined them.
This made Ron roll his eyes again.
"Everyone in the boats? Forward!"
After confirming that all first-year students had boarded, Hagrid took a boat by himself to lead the way—of course, with his size, the boat couldn't fit a second person.
A fleet of small boats thus crossed the lake surface moving forward, immediately creating ripples on the calm lake.
Some gazed silently at the enormous castle reaching into the clouds, some tried to see if they could make their boats go faster, and others chatted while rowing about the future.
Sherlock's group of four was the latter.
Hermione took the lead: "How will they determine which house to sort us into?"
Harry shook his head: "Hagrid didn't say."
The books Sherlock had purchased similarly hadn't mentioned this matter, as if everyone consciously kept it secret.
So, the three looked at Ron together.
Being stared at by six eyes made Ron somewhat uncomfortable, so he quickly said:
"Through some kind of test—Fred said it would hurt us badly, but I think he was joking."
Sherlock shook his head: "He was definitely joking."
It was obvious when you thought about it—just an entrance test, similar to exams in the Muggle world. How could it possibly hurt students?
Ron was still somewhat worried: "I hope so—but anyway, Sherlock, someone as smart as you will definitely be sorted into Ravenclaw. I should go to Gryffindor."
Hermione beside them raised an eyebrow.
Sherlock just smiled without answering.
The time crossing the Black Lake was shorter than expected. While disembarking and clearing the empty boats, Hagrid even helped Neville find his toad, which made him overjoyed.
However, this joy quickly disappeared.
A tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes stood before the castle gates, completing the handover with Hagrid:
"First years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here."
Seeing her serious expression, everyone instinctively felt this woman was not to be trifled with.
This was Professor Minerva McGonagall, Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House.
When she saw Sherlock, a smile appeared on her serious face: "Hello, Mr. Holmes."
"Very pleased to meet you, Professor McGonagall."
The exchange between Sherlock and McGonagall surprised the nearby young wizards.
Hermione couldn't help nudging Sherlock with her elbow: "Holmes, how do you know Professor McGonagall?"
Her action made Sherlock once again confirm that this little girl had a naturally familiar personality. Seeing Harry and Ron's curious looks, he told them about Professor McGonagall's visit to answer questions and clarify doubts.
"I see."
The three satisfied their curiosity, then their attention was drawn to Professor McGonagall's words.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you enter the Great Hall, you must first be sorted into your houses..."
Compared to Ron, Professor McGonagall's introduction of the four houses was much more objective.
She particularly pointed out that each house had its own glorious history and had produced outstanding wizards.
The four houses had never been ranked high or low—regardless of which house one was sorted into, they were all part of Hogwarts.
After saying this, Professor McGonagall led the new students into the Great Hall, then left first to prepare for the Sorting Ceremony.
During this time, over twenty ghosts emerged from the walls in single file, causing quite a commotion and thoroughly frightening the new students.
Sherlock was extremely interested in these ghosts—this was something current science couldn't yet achieve.
He tried communicating with the ghosts, but they were talking among themselves and paid no attention to these first-year students.
Only a fat friar responded to him, expressing hope that he would be sorted into Hufflepuff, with the reasoning that the Fat Friar had once been in that house.
"No causal relationship at all."
Sherlock sighed, losing interest in further communication with the ghosts, and instead began observing the Great Hall.