The train waited on the platform for a while, then a long, mellow whistle sounded.
The Hogwarts Express began to move.
Steam from the smokestack drifted backward.
The train pulled out of the station, heading toward boundless plains and fields.
Dylan watched the scenery outside the window. It was the season of vitality, and everything seemed full of life.
"Little first-year, we're going out to find some friends."
"Yeah, you can stay here and read quietly."
"It's your fault for being so noisy, you never shut your mouth."
"Like you're any better. I'm only picking up from where you stop."
Dylan ignored the pair of clowns.
The two redheads darted out of the compartment, off to find someone to play with.
Dylan took the chance to pull out his school robes and put them on.
Along the way, he would look out the window for a while, then lower his head and continue reading.
Until, at last, the Hogwarts Express began to slow.
Only then did the Weasley twins come back into the compartment to grab their things.
"Little first-year, you only brought that one backpack?"
They were returning after the holidays, so naturally they were not carrying much.
But how could a brand-new first-year like Dylan be traveling with so little?
"I already sent the heavier luggage to the school by Owl Post."
He was still just a kid; dragging a mountain of luggage around would only be making trouble for himself.
If he could mail it, he had no intention of carrying it personally.
In fact, if he were not worried about exposing his system,
he would have shoved every last one of his belongings straight into his items tab.
"I see." The twins both nodded.
The three of them stepped out of the compartment together and climbed down from the train.
A cold wind hit them at once.
The chill shot right up his sleeves.
Dylan shivered.
"Why is it so cold here?"
He lifted his wand and gave it a light flick.
"Thermo Enchantia!"
He cast a Warming Charm on himself.
Back home, he had studied quite a few spells already.
They might not be maxed out, but they were good enough to use.
With the spell's protection, the biting wind around him suddenly seemed to vanish. His whole body felt warm and comfortable.
Seeing this, George and Fred immediately crowded in on either side.
"Hey! Little first-year—come on, me too!"
"Hit me with one as well!"
Wedged between the two redheads and almost unable to breathe, Dylan helplessly flicked his wand again.
"Thermo Enchantia!"
"Thermo Enchantia!"
Two Warming Charms landed on the twins.
They let go of Dylan at once.
"Thanks for being so enthusiastic… I'm going to head over to where the first-years are gathering."
"Got it, got it."
"Go on, and don't forget to come find us at Hogwarts!"
The twins took off, plunging into the crowd to show off their newly acquired warmth.
Watching their retreating backs, Dylan shook his head helplessly, then walked toward Hagrid.
"Right, are all the first-years here? Then let's be off."
Hagrid's figure was massive.
Dylan was still a little startled at first sight.
No surprise there. Half-giant, and easily close to three meters tall.
He looked like he could literally sit on Dylan and squash him flat.
He glanced around. It was too dark and there were too many people for him to spot Harry and the others.
Hagrid raised the lantern in his hand and turned to lead the way.
The lantern's light was nowhere near enough to illuminate the whole group.
Dylan could not quite understand why they did not put up some magical lamps in all this pitch-black darkness.
The chubby boy in front was already stumbling, looking like he might plop down on his backside at any moment.
"Lumos!"
Dylan swished his wand, and a soft, gentle light bloomed at its tip.
The darkness around him retreated.
He was walking at the very back of the group, so his wandlight made it much easier for the students behind him to see.
Quite a few people gasped, then turned to him with grateful looks.
Led by Hagrid, the first-years passed through a patch of trees and came out on the shore of a lake as dark as ink.
Many of the young wizards tipped their heads back
to stare at the castle rising on the far side of the Black Lake.
Their eyes went wide.
Dylan looked over as well.
From this angle, Hogwarts looked towering and magnificent, its high spires stabbing straight toward the clouds.
The ancient stone walls were thick and solemn, faint lights shining from the windows to blend with the stars in the sky.
Dylan had to admit that, even with all his mental preparation, he still felt a pang of awe in this moment.
"So that's Hogwarts… It really is spectacular…"
A shy voice sounded at his side.
Dylan turned and saw a round little face.
"Hi, I—I'm Neville."
He looked a bit embarrassed, head tilted down slightly.
"Um, your Lumos spell helped me a lot just now. Otherwise I probably would've fallen several times. Thank you."
Neville… the one with the toad?
Dylan shook his head, a small, kind smile tugging at his lips.
"It's all right. I just wanted to light my own way too."
As far as he remembered, this timid kid was also the future swordmaster who could draw the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat.
"It's just that now that I'm here too, I wonder if that sword might recognize me instead."
Recently he had been researching how to control weapons with spells, trying to achieve something like the "sword-immortal" style from Shushan tales.
If he could get his hands on the Sword of Gryffindor to study, that would be perfect.
"What's your name?" Neville asked.
"Dylan."
"Nice to meet you, Dylan."
"…Nice to meet you."
Dylan could feel that this chubby boy wanted to make friends with him—or at least wanted to ask to share a boat.
But he was so shy that even opening his mouth was a challenge. His round face had already gone bright red without him noticing.
Dylan honestly worried he might pass out from holding his breath.
So he hurriedly broke the silence. "Neville, would you like to ride in the same boat as me? You're actually the first young wizard I've met."
Neville's eyes lit up instantly.
"Of course! I—I was just about to ask the same thing."
Dylan smiled.
They followed the line forward.
The Black Lake was terrifyingly dark.
It gave the feeling that if you fell in, you would sink endlessly into some bottomless abyss.
The closer they got to the water, the more nervous Neville became.
Dylan was not exactly comfortable with such deep water either. But with six max-level Dark spells in his pocket, he was not particularly afraid of whatever might be lurking below.
If anything dared to jump out and scare him, he would gladly spend 100 Galleons to make his spellcasting colorless, then fire off an Avada Kedavra on the spot.
"Our turn. Let's get in the boat."