"Follow me, students!" A deep voice resounded.
Like a wild man, Hagrid wore a thick fur coat, holding a lantern, waiting for them on the dark platform, like a towering giant.
To students unfamiliar with Hagrid's nature, his appearance was indeed intimidating. The originally noisy students immediately quieted down and followed Hagrid down the platform.
In a broad clearing, many pitch-black carriages were parked, with yellowish lights hanging on both sides of the frames, and some carriages swayed slightly.
The students gradually boarded the carriages. Vid and his companions walked forward, suddenly hearing a greeting: "Hey, Vid, guys, this carriage is empty!"
They looked up and saw Hermione, Padma, Pavarti, and Neville all sitting in the same carriage. It was Padma who spoke, pointing to an empty carriage next to them, covered with straw.
A few of them climbed into the carriage, with Michael waving first and saying, "Hello, did you have a good holiday?"
"Great, except for someone who never checked the Friendship Book," Hermione said. "I was thinking it would be easier to discuss topics there! Especially when practicing the Disarming Spell—"
"Oh, Hermione, wait, we're not officially back at school yet!" Padma said, stopping her with a headache. "Leave it for tomorrow, okay? School matters can wait until tomorrow."
Even as a Ravenclaw, she found Hermione's enthusiasm for studying a bit frightening.
"See you in the library tomorrow afternoon!" Vid suggested. "I happen to need to borrow a few new books."
Hermione reluctantly sat back, and Pavarti next to her secretly breathed a sigh of relief—
Although no one forced her to study, listening to the top students discuss topics she couldn't understand or participate in made her feel like she was trapped in an invisible glass dome, almost suffocating.
While they were talking, Neville jumped off that carriage in a panic, clutching his toad Leif tightly, squeezing into Vid's carriage.
"Hey, Neville, we're already packed here!" Michael protested.
"Please, let me stay here, it's all girls over there—"
Neville pleaded softly, looking miserable, but his body firmly squeezed Michael into the corner, refusing to leave.
Squeezed against the wall, Michael said angrily, "What's wrong with being with girls? Sitting next to you are the most beautiful girls at Hogwarts! And twins!"
Laughter rang out from the girls' side, possibly because they heard Michael's remark.
Neville awkwardly hung his head, not daring to see who was laughing, and muttered, "They're always laughing—it's too embarrassing, I can't stay there alone—"
Michael scolded exasperatedly, "Neville, you're such a hopeless fool!"
Seizing the moment before the carriage moved, he jumped off without hesitation, rushing toward the girls' carriage. Shortly he was on board, chatting and laughing with Padma.
Neville breathed a sigh of relief, looking very impressed.
Vid and the others couldn't help but burst into laughter, while Neville chuckled sheepishly, scratching his head.
The carriage rocked as it moved, the road was uneven, making the carriage bump. There was a musty smell inside, with a thick layer of straw beneath them.
Leian couldn't help but say, "I wanted to ask this last time we rode, why doesn't this carriage have any cushions?"
During the Christmas break, they also took these carriages to Hogsmeade Station, only that time they departed with fellow housemates, with no chance to gather like this.
Theo guessed, "Maybe it's a tradition—they can't possibly lack funds, right?"
No one who's seen how Hogwarts dines would think the school couldn't afford a few soft cushions.
"A school that provides food and lodging without charging tuition, what more can we ask? Let's just consider it a test for us!"
Vid said, tapping the straw pile with his magic wand, making the dry straw transform instantly into thick cushions.
They felt the cushions, envious, "Oh, Transfiguration can be really hard."
Under Vid's guidance, they performed well in Spell Class, but Transfiguration requires a bit more self-reliance, as Vid couldn't just implant firm belief and a vivid image into their minds.
"Do Muggle schools charge fees?" Theo curiously asked.
"Yeah." Vid thought of the primary school he attended, "Public primary schools are mostly free, only charging some minor fees. But private schools, at least ten thousand pounds a year."
"Ten thousand pounds?" Theo bewildered: "How much is that?"
"Roughly equivalent to two thousand Galleons," Vid said.
Theo was taken aback, "So expensive, Muggles must be wealthy!"
Even as a Pure-Blood, his family couldn't afford two thousand Galleons a year for education—it must take a fortune like the Malfoy Family to afford that.
"Most Muggle students attend public primary schools," Vid said.
"Speaking of which, these school carriages are really nice, running automatically, is this also an alchemy item?" Leian asked. Suddenly, Neville raised his head, muttering, wanting to say something but holding back.
"No—it seems they're drawn by invisible horses—" Michael leaned out, "Listen closely—"
They held their breath, listening intently. In the air, they could hear the hissing breath, the snorting sounds, and the flapping of wings from invisible creatures.
"Invisible horses—" Leian frowned, pondering, "I think I read about these creatures in a book somewhere—"
"They're Thestrals," Vid revealed the answer.
"Yes!" Leian exclaimed, clapping, "Thestrals! Legend has it, only those who have seen death with their own eyes can see them—that's why we can't see them!"
"—So, they're not really invisible, just unseen?" Theo frowned, deciphering the logic.
"Yeah, right."
Vid replied casually, nodding, looking toward the front of the carriage.
The skeletal black horse had a pair of white, pupil-less eyes, with a face frightening and fierce like a dragon. It placidly pulled the carriage, its massive bat wings gently folded by its sides. Possibly due to Leian's loud voice, it uneasily tossed its head, slightly quickening its pace.
The wheels creaked as they turned, finally stopping in front of the castle's stone steps.
Vid jumped out of the carriage. The night air was very cold, with every breath turning into a white mist. He turned back, meeting the Thestral's pale, empty eyes.
It felt extraordinary.
No wonder in ancient times, seeing a Thestral was equated with seeing death, believed to bring disaster to those who saw them.
"What are you waiting for, Vid!" Leian slapped his back, stomping his feet, "It's really cold today!"
The students stepped through snow, up the stone steps, eagerly entering the castle. In the corner of the entrance hall, Filch glared at the children bringing mud and water into the castle.
The Great Hall was brightly lit, with the House-Elves preparing a sumptuous feast as usual, with Dumbledore smiling at the students from the teachers' table.