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Hofa's expression froze. His body went rigid. This girl was poison.
He took a deep breath. Silently put the Chocolate Frog back. His appetiteâcompletely ruined. Two lifetimes, and he'd never met anyone this arrogant. Worse than Draco Malfoy.
"You'll probably end up in Slytherin," Hofa said flatly.
He shoved snacks into his pockets. Done with this compartment.
"Impossible!" The girl laughed. "Eagles don't fly with snakes." Her owl shrieked.
"I'll only enter one house. Hogwarts' smallest. Where smart people belongâ"
"Whatever."
Hofa stuffed the last snack away. Walked to the door. Opened it. Closed it. Left.
No interest in her speech. He didn't know which house he'd join, but he knew which one to avoid. Wherever this girl wentâhe didn't want to be there.
He wandered the corridor, eating snacks. In the compartments, kids laughed and bonded.
Passing the Slytherin section, he spotted Tom Riddle holding court. That guy's charisma was real. Old clothes couldn't hide his natural magnetism.
Hofa felt a twinge of resentment. He hadn't made a single friend yet.
Made sense. Not from a wizard family. Not famous like Harry. Not handsome like Tom. Of course he'd be invisible.
After half an hour of wandering, things got awkward.
Hogwarts was close. Everyone pulled curtains and changed into robes.
Every compartment was full. Hofa looked at his jeans and T-shirt. Couldn't change in the hallway.
Going back? No way. He wouldn't face that silver-haired girl again.
Hofa jogged down the corridor. Searched for an empty compartment. Nothing workedâeither girls' compartments or packed ones.
He ran from rear to front.
Finally found one. A girl in black robes sat alone, reading.
Still a girl, but only one. Time was short. Hofa couldn't be picky.
He knocked on the glass.
She looked up. Calm glance.
Refined appearance. Round glasses, fair skin, short black hair, gray eyes, slender.
Hofa raised his robes apologetically. She understood. Closed her book. Stood. Opened the door.
Hofa entered. "Sorryâeverywhere else is full. Can I change here?"
She nodded. "Go ahead. We're almost there."
She pulled the curtain. Stepped out. Stood with her back to the door.
Hofa changed quickly. Opened the door. "Done. Thanks."
The girl nodded. Sat back down. Kept reading. No interest in chatting.
Faint floral scent filled the air. Probably her natural scent. Only pages turning.
After a quiet moment, Hofa's curiosity won. "Why are you alone when everywhere else is packed?"
"I'm reading. They don't want to disturb me."
Hofa looked at the yellow cover. War and Peace. He knew that book.
"War and Peace... You read Muggle books?"
"Of course." She glanced up briefly. Turned a page. "First-year?"
"Yes."
Hofa extended his hand. "Hofa Bach."
She nodded. Extended hers. "Miranda Goshawk."
Hofa paused. Goshawk?
That arrogant silver-haired girl had mentioned "Miller Goshawk."
"Do you have a brother named Miller?"
She looked up. Adjusted her glasses. Gentle smile. "Never heard of him."
"Oh."
Hofa shrugged it off.
He'd already forgotten that arrogant girl anyway.
Miranda pulled out her wand. Waved it casually.
Hofa's discarded clothes folded themselves into perfect squares.
She put her book away. "Don't bring your things. Someone will move them for us."
Miranda stayed calm and composed throughout. Not rushed. Not showing off. This was someone worth befriending.
In the last few minutes, Hofa and Miranda chatted. First-years mostly talked about houses. Miranda seemed indifferent about hers.
"Aside from common room locations, the houses are basically the same. Same classes," Miranda said.
"You seem to know a lot about Hogwarts."
Miranda smiled. "Family works here. I visited when I was three."
The surname Goshawk felt familiar.
Hofa checked his pocket. Sure enoughâon his acceptance letter, Adebe Goshawk's signature. Deputy Headmaster.
"Deputy Headmaster Adebe Goshawk. He's yourâ"
"My grandfather." Miranda sighed. "Can we not talk about this?"
Ten minutes later, darkness fell outside. The train pulled into a small, dark platform.
Young passengers pushed toward the doors.
Hofa and his new connection walked off together. Night's chill made him shiver. Old lanterns swayed overhead. He expected Hagrid. Didn't see him.
A one-eyed hunter sat on horseback. Turned. Shouted.
"First-years! Follow me!"
Must be the gamekeeper. Hagrid's predecessor.
Hagrid was probably nine now. Two more years until he'd attend.
Through the pitch-black forest path, the one-eyed keeper led chattering children to the dark lake. Rows of small boats waited.
Across the water, a magnificent castle rose on a high slope. Towers bristled. Windows sparkled under stars.
This Hogwartsâaside from different peopleâmatched the original descriptions exactly.
System.
Ding!
[Wizard Secret Realm DiscoveredâHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]
Complete 50% explorationâobtain [One-Third Spell Fragment]
(Contains unique energy. Collect three to upgrade one spell ability. Current: 2/3)
Complete 100% explorationâobtain [Knowledge of the Great God]
(Mysterious power. Unknown until possessed)
Hofa ignored the notification. Stared at the castle. Heart surging. Dreams coming true.
The keeper jumped off his horse. Grabbed his bow and lantern. "Four to a boat! No pushing!"
Kids noisily boarded.
Miranda sat beside Hofa. Two strangers sat across from them. He relaxed. That silver-haired girl hadn't followed. Best news ever.
Everyone settled. The boats moved automatically.
Kids pointed at scenery. Most were excited.
Hofa dipped his hand in the icy water.
The splashing felt refreshing.
Sudden sting on his finger. He looked. Jumped.
A tiny merperson coiled around his finger. Thumbelina-like face, fish tail. It sprayed water at him.
Hofa yanked his hand back. The merperson left.
Miranda smiled. "Scottish lake demon. Magical creature. Grows human-sized when mature. Lots here."
Hofa didn't put his hand back in.
Closer to the castle, everyone held their breath. Only water sounds remained. Through ivy-covered archways. Along a pitch-black tunnel beneath the castle. Finally reaching an underground dock. Then climbing gravel and pebbles.
Reached the other side. The foot of Hogwarts.
Maybe his imagination, but the school seemed much larger than expected. Dark walls stretched endlessly. The highest towers seemed to pierce clouds.
At the entrance, Hofa noticed something different. He remembered oak doors from the original. But these doors were black metal, carved with strange patterns and text. Ancient. Solemn.
Had things changed over half a century? Hofa wondered.
The doors opened automatically. Revealed marble stairs. The group filed in.
The one-eyed man dismounted at the entrance. Followed the first-years.
In the hall, he raised his hand. "Wait here. Don't talk."
His words had no effect. Kids clustered together. Of course they'd talk.
Everyone whispered and laughed.
Hofa wanted to talk to Miranda. She closed her mouth. Shook her head slightly. Signaled him not to talk like the others.
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