The train whistle blared loudly as the scarlet steam engine began to slow.
Merlin was jolted awake by the sound, realising he had dozed off somewhere along the way. The compartment was dim, lit only by the faint glow of the corridor lamps outside, giving everything a dull orange glow.
Fred and George were sitting across from him, playing some kind of card game. Lee sat beside them, still immersed in the Charms textbook, his face scrunched in frustration.
"I didn't find any charm that can stun a troll," Lee muttered nervously.
Fred stifled a laugh. "Our offer still stands—thirty percent off on the dungbombs."
Lee's jaw tightened. He looked between the twins, then sighed through gritted teeth. "Alright, fine. I'll buy some. But make it fifty percent off."
The twins exchanged scandalised looks.
"No way," George said firmly. "Thirty is our limit, even for good friends. More than that, we'd be at a loss!"
"Then forget it," Lee said defeatedly. "I'll just surrender and go to Slytherin."
Both twins stared at him.
"Traitor," Fred said flatly.
"Absolute disgrace," George added.
Merlin cast a pitiful glance at Lee Jordan. Becoming the target of the twins' prank before even entering Hogwarts—one could only sigh at his luck.
Suddenly, a voice crackled through the train's intercom.
"In five minutes, the train will arrive at Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be delivered to the school for you."
George pressed his face against the window. "Finally! Look—lights ahead!"
Merlin leaned over to see for himself. Through the mist, he could just make out faint golden dots in the distance—the lamps at Hogsmeade Station.
The train whistle blew again, and the brakes screeched. Steam rolled past the windows, clouding everything outside.
"Let's go." Fred and George stood up in unison.
Everyone started talking at once. The corridor was packed, elbows bumping and feet dragging as students tried to get off. Merlin managed to pull on his robe before being shoved toward the door.
When he finally stepped outside, cold air hit his face. It smelled like wet soil and pine. The platform lights were dim, and the mist made everything look hazy.
"First years! First years over here!"
The voice came from the far end of the platform. A massive man stood there holding a lantern that could've passed for a streetlight.
'That's got to be Hagrid,' Merlin muttered inwardly.
Lee gawked. "He's enormous."
"Reckon he's the troll from the Sorting Ceremony," George said gravely.
Lee didn't reply, but his pale face gave away how terrified he was.
"First years this way!" Hagrid called, waving the lantern.
They followed him down a path that led away from the station. The ground was uneven and damp, and someone kept tripping behind them. The sound of water grew louder until the trees opened up to reveal a dark, still lake.
Dozens of small boats were waiting by the shore.
"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid shouted.
Merlin climbed into one with Lee, Fred, and George. The boat rocked a little, and Lee grabbed the side in panic.
"Careful," Fred said, laughing. "We don't want to swim there."
"Where are the oars?" Lee asked.
"There aren't any," Merlin said, watching the water. "They probably move by magic."
When every boat was filled, Hagrid yelled, "Forward!"
The boats began to move, gliding smoothly across the water. There wasn't a sound except for the gentle splash of waves and the whisper of wind.
Then, as they rounded a bend, Hogwarts came into view.
The castle stood high on a cliff, lights glowing from hundreds of windows. Towers rose into the sky, and the reflection of the castle shimmered across the lake's surface.
"Wow," Lee breathed.
Even Fred and George went quiet for once.
Merlin was also awed. He had the idea of exploring Hogwarts before, but looking at its enormous size, he felt like seven years wouldn't be enough to do it. It felt less like a school and more like a fortress.
They passed under a curtain of ivy and into a dark tunnel at the base of the cliff. The boats stopped at an underground landing, and Hagrid told them to get out.
"Up these steps," he said, leading the way.
The tunnel opened into a wide stone corridor lined with torches. The walls were damp, and the smell of wax and stone filled the air.
At the end stood a tall wooden door. Hagrid knocked three times, and after a moment, it opened.
A tall witch stood there with sharp eyes and a strict expression.
"Thank you, Hagrid," she said. "I'll take them from here."
"Right then. Good luck, first years," Hagrid said, smiling before walking away.
The witch looked over the group. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall. In a few moments, you will be sorted into your houses. Your house will be your family during your time here."
Her voice wasn't loud but carried easily across the room. "Please follow me."
They walked into a large hall lit by floating torches. Their footsteps echoed faintly off the stone floor.
McGonagall stopped before two tall doors. "The Sorting Ceremony will begin soon. Please wait quietly."
She went inside, leaving the first years standing together.
Merlin noticed Lee beside him shivering at the mention of the ceremony and let out a quiet sigh.
"Alright, there's no troll," he said. "Do you really think the professors at Hogwarts would make new students who don't even know a single spell fight a troll? That wouldn't be a test; it'd be suicide."
He couldn't help explaining. Lee just looked too anxious, and Merlin was afraid that his new friend might have a panic attack before the ceremony even began.
Lee blinked in surprise, but as he thought more, he did find some problems.
In fact, under normal circumstances, he would never believe such ridiculous speculations. But his mother worked at the Ministry, and some of her colleagues had told him the Sorting Ceremony could be "quite dangerous." So he believed the twins, who had explained things in more detail.
But now that Merlin pointed it out, it did sound a bit ridiculous. The professors surely wouldn't let something like that happen—at least not his idol Dumbledore, who was hailed as the most powerful wizard of all time.
Realising he had been tricked, Lee's face darkened. He turned toward the twins and glared. Under his stare, both of them quickly looked away, acting as if they didn't know him.
Just then, Professor McGonagall returned. "Form a line and follow me in."
The doors opened, and everyone followed her inside.
The Great Hall spread out before them, full of students sitting at long tables. Hundreds of floating candles lit the room, and above them, the ceiling looked exactly like the night sky—dark, endless, and full of stars.
At the front stood a small stool with an old, patched hat resting on it. It didn't look magical at all... until it moved.
The hat twitched, then a fold near its brim opened like a mouth. A moment later, it began to sing.
Its rough voice echoed through the hall, talking about courage, cleverness, loyalty, and ambition. The song rambled on like an old man who'd been around for too long but still enjoyed the attention.
When the hat finished, the students clapped politely. The hat gave a small twitch, almost like a bow, then went still.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward again with a parchment in hand. "When I call your name, please come up, sit on the stool, and place the hat on your head. The hat will announce your house."
She looked down at the list. "Alicia Spinnet!"
A small, nervous girl walked up. The hat had barely touched her hair before it shouted, "Gryffindor!"
Cheers rose from the table on the left. The girl smiled brightly and ran toward them.
One by one, more names were called. Sometimes the hat decided in seconds. Other times, it took a while, as if thinking deeply before announcing its choice.