The train gradually slowed to a complete stop at a dark, cramped platform. When the doors finally opened, excited students crowded and jostled against each other, creating chaos at the narrow doorway.
Sterling wisely remained in their compartment with Hermione and Neville until the worst of the crowd had passed, then they stepped off the train with ease.
The moment he left the compartment, Sterling's attention was immediately drawn to a flickering light source in the distance.
Was it a street lamp? The light wavered unsteadily. A lantern perhaps? Its height reached nearly as tall as two Sterlings stacked on top of each other. Even the tallest adults wouldn't carry a lantern at that impossible height.
The mysterious light slowly approached the platform, and Sterling felt genuinely surprised when he discovered the truth. It was an oil lamp carried by an extraordinarily tall man.
The giant figure appeared nearly two or three meters in height, sporting a wild, unkempt beard and rumpled clothing. Despite his intimidating size, his face seemed kindly familiar, and he was smiling warmly.
He raised the lamp high and called out in a booming voice, "First-year students! All first-years, come to me!"
"Wow, is this the person the school sent to meet us?"
Hermione quickly walked toward the towering figure while Sterling gently pulled Neville along, worried that his friend might step into a pothole since he rarely watched where he was going.
"I think this is actually brilliant. It's incredibly eye-catching. No new student could possibly ignore such an enormous guide."
Privately, Sterling suspected the man might possess non-human heritage, similar to Lady Maleficent's partial dragon bloodline. Perhaps he had giant ancestry?
But remembering the giants from the dream world that his fairy godmother had described, creatures towering higher than mountains themselves, Sterling remained uncertain about this theory.
"Oh! Harry! Come here, lad. Are you doing well?"
As they drew closer, Sterling realized the man's voice was perhaps a bit too loud for comfortable conversation. He observed the enthusiastic dark-haired boy who approached confidently. The legendary Harry Potter himself.
The famous savior... truly a figure straight from fairy tales.
Defeating a dark lord as a mere baby represented the perfect warrior archetype. Sterling felt genuinely curious about meeting him.
However, he refrained from rudely interrupting their conversation. Obviously, the giant man knew Harry personally. Private discussions between friends shouldn't be disturbed by outsiders.
"Are all the first-years gathered here now?"
The towering guide lowered his massive head, apparently counting the young wizards one by one, then clapped his enormous hands together to capture everyone's attention.
"Right then, follow me closely, and mind your step!"
He led the procession at the front, while Sterling and Neville found themselves at the very rear. Hermione had originally intended to move toward the front of the group, but seeing Neville's unsteady steps, she sighed and chose to remain with them at the back.
They travelled along a narrow, treacherous path filled with bumps, holes, and obstacles. Some damp sections were covered with slippery moss, and poor Neville nearly stumbled several times.
"Oh, Sterling, do you happen to know how the Sorting process works?"
Hermione suddenly asked, with Neville looking over expectantly as well. Sterling felt disappointed to let them both down, since none of the books he'd read had mentioned the specific procedure.
He shook his head apologetically. "No information available... though Professor McGonagall did suggest I'd make an outstanding Ravenclaw."
"Ravenclaw? That sounds wonderful, but personally I hope to be placed in Gryffindor. You know, Headmaster Dumbledore graduated from Gryffindor, and he's widely considered the greatest wizard alive today."
"But that doesn't necessarily mean Gryffindor represents the best House," Sterling replied thoughtfully. "Famous wizards have emerged from all four Houses throughout history... I believe the best House is simply the one that suits your individual personality."
Hermione nodded with genuine consideration.
"Uh... aren't we falling a bit too far behind him?"
Neville panted heavily, and Sterling supportively pulled him along.
"Neville, you definitely need more physical training. Look at Hermione, she's not even winded," Sterling commented. Hermione quietly picked up her pace in response.
"Turn this corner and you'll see Hogwarts for the very first time!"
Their giant guide waved enthusiastically ahead. Many young wizards responded with a collective, drawn-out "Ooooh" of wonder.
At the path's end appeared an enormous lake, its water dark as obsidian, as if a piece of the night sky itself had fallen to earth. Several small boats bobbed gently at the shoreline, moving rhythmically with the water's natural motion.
Most breathtaking of all was the magnificent castle standing majestically on a high cliff across the lake. Countless towers blended seamlessly into the star-filled night. Hundreds of windows glowed with warm, welcoming light, like earthbound stars guiding lost travellers safely home.
"No more than four people per boat!" The giant guide pointed toward the vessels, then climbed aboard the largest one by himself. Wisely, no other students attempted to join him.
Everyone seemed to instinctively accept that their enormous guide could easily support the weight of four young wizards.
"Hey! Neville, Sterling, climb in with us!"
Hermione had already claimed a boat and was waving enthusiastically toward them. A rosy-cheeked girl already seated in the boat nodded kindly in their direction.
After settling properly, they exchanged introductions. The friendly girl was Hannah Abbott, a young witch from an established wizarding family.
"Is everyone safely aboard?" Their guide scanned the flotilla of young wizards carefully, then thrust forward an enormous pink umbrella like a ship's mast. "Right then, off we go!"
All boats began moving simultaneously, leaving perfectly neat wakes across the mirror-like lake surface. Everyone fell into reverent silence, gazing upward at the brilliant stars and their shimmering reflections dancing on the water.
As they approached the towering cliff supporting the castle, Hogwarts appeared to stretch endlessly above their heads, growing more imposing with each passing moment.
"Duck your heads!" the giant guide shouted loudly. Everyone immediately lowered themselves. Sterling glanced at the distance between the cliff and water level, thinking only their enormous guide actually needed to duck, but seeing everyone else crouched low, he followed suit.
Trailing evergreen vines brushed gently over their heads. Despite Hermione's disapproving glance, Sterling playfully plucked off a single leaf, intending to keep it as a special bookmark.
Soon they landed on a shore of smooth pebbles and gravel. Their guide produced a long parchment scroll and methodically checked names one by one.
Sterling's sharp eyes caught a familiar flash of green as they disembarked. He pointed his finger deliberately, sending a thin magical thorn flying precisely across three boats to accurately hook back a small, moving lump.
Sure enough, it was the perpetually lost Trevor, who had been clever enough to follow an unknown young wizard all the way to Hogwarts.
Sterling patted Neville's shoulder as his friend hugged Trevor tightly, scolding the toad never to run away again. "See? I promised we'd find Trevor soon enough."
Their guide seemed satisfied that no student had fallen into the lake or been left behind, then led the group up through a tunnel carved into the rocky cliff face, emerging onto a flat meadow.
After climbing a series of ancient stone steps, an enormous oak door appeared before them. Sterling heard Hermione take a deep, nervous breath. They all understood that beyond that imposing door lay Hogwarts itself.
Their guide knocked three times on the heavy door with obvious familiarity, and it swung open without hesitation. Professor McGonagall, wearing the same elegant emerald green robes from Sterling's first meeting with her, stood with regal bearing at the entrance.
"The first-years have arrived safely, Professor McGonagall."
Their giant guide appeared somewhat shy and deferential in her presence.
Her sharp eyes quickly scanned the chattering group of students, then she nodded approvingly at their escort.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take responsibility from here."
Ah, so their guide's name was Hagrid. A perfectly good name, Sterling thought with approval.
Hagrid waved farewell toward the nervous new students, offering a particularly warm gesture to Harry Potter, then slowly disappeared into the thick darkness of night.
Professor McGonagall turned gracefully and opened the door wide. Beyond lay a magnificent entrance hall with towering stone walls lined with flickering torches. The ceiling stretched so high it vanished into shadow above. At the far end rose an impressive marble staircase.
From somewhere to their right came the sound of lively conversation and laughter. Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together purposefully and led the group to a small, empty chamber at the hall's far end. Looking at the nervous, crowded first-years gathered before her, she allowed herself a gentle, reassuring smile.
"Welcome to Hogwarts."