"So beautiful."
Logan turned his head. Emma and Nate were standing right beside him.
He smiled but didn't answer, instead looking down at the dark surface of the Black Lake.
If he remembered right… there really were merfolk living in there, weren't there?
"All right, first-years—onto the boats!" Hagrid called out.
Logan stepped lightly onto one of the wobbling little boats.
The small fleet glided silently across the lake toward the distant castle.
Nate stared down at his reflection in the water, while Emma told him everything she'd read about the Black Lake.
But the second she mentioned merfolk possibly living beneath them, Nate's face went pale as he scrambled toward the middle of the boat.
Logan, who'd been watching the castle, nearly lost his balance and grabbed the edge.
"S-sorry, Logan!"
Nate panicked and apologized nonstop.
Logan waved it off and asked, "Where's your toad?"
Nate froze.
Right—he'd completely forgotten about it because of the train ride and all the discussion earlier.
Emma had the same expression. She'd forgotten too.
"I'm really sorry, Nate… I got caught up in talking." Emma whispered, guilt creeping in. She had promised to help him search.
"It's okay, really. I just… hope my grandma doesn't find out." Nate mumbled.
If she did, he could already imagine the Howler waiting for him at breakfast.
"Don't worry. You'll probably find it soon," Logan said casually.
He remembered clearly—in the movie, Nate found his toad right before entering the Great Hall.
So… how did the little guy manage to get there ahead of them?
Unless the rumors were true… and the toad actually had some kind of spatial magic talent?
Logan rubbed his forehead. He'd seen enough magical creatures to know such a thing wasn't impossible.
If that toad did have spatial abilities, its value would be through the roof.
Nate, misunderstanding the comment as comfort, lowered his head, already imagining how badly his grandma would scold him.
Emma briefly opened her mouth to ask Logan how he could be so sure—but after remembering their conversation on the train and how exhausting constant questions could be, she decided against it.
If it had been anyone else, she would've blurted her curiosity out immediately.
Logan, on the other hand, quietly observed everything around him.
This place was nothing like his home estate.
Thunk—
The boat bumped gently into the shore.
Hagrid stood up with his lantern and stepped off first. The first-years followed closely behind.
They walked along a wooded path, and when they looked up again, Hogwarts' massive front doors loomed before them.
The chatter among the students faded instantly.
Hagrid double-checked the headcount, then stepped forward and knocked heavily on the door.
Creak—
The doors swung open, revealing Professor McGonagall, her expression as stern as ever. Her eyes swept over the students before she gave Hagrid a brief nod.
"Professor McGonagall, I've brought the first-years," Hagrid said quietly.
"Thank you, Hagrid."
She turned back to the students. "Everyone, follow me. The opening feast is about to begin."
Just then, Nate spotted a familiar shape on the steps.
"Leo! There you are!" he cried, rushing forward.
The entire hall fell silent.
Nate slowly realized what he'd just done and looked up… right into Professor McGonagall's disapproving stare.
Tall, stern, intimidating—she suddenly looked a lot like his grandmother.
Nate flinched, stumbled backward, and squeezed himself back into the crowd.
McGonagall raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she pushed the doors open.
Inside was a grand entrance hall with a sweeping staircase. She led them into a side chamber with a glowing fireplace.
The warmth immediately chased away the lake's cold chill.
Nate looked at Logan with wide, sparkling eyes—Logan had been right.
Emma stared at the toad now safely in Nate's arms, astonished.
Logan simply stood quietly, ignoring their looks.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonagall said as she turned to the group.
"But before you enter the Great Hall, you must take part in a ceremony."
The whispering began immediately. Everyone knew what ceremony she meant—the Sorting Ceremony.
She continued as if she didn't hear any of it.
"Your House will be like your family here at Hogwarts. You'll study together. You'll live together."
"The Sorting determines which of the four Houses you belong to."
"Every House has produced brilliant witches and wizards. None is better or worse than the others."
She paused. "Please wait here. The ceremony will begin shortly."
With that, she stepped into the next room.
The moment she disappeared, chaos erupted.
"We're gonna fight a troll! Maybe a dragon!" Ron said, face white as chalk. "Fred told me—he swore it was true!"
Logan's mouth twitched.
A troll? A dragon? Even adult wizards avoided those. No way they'd throw a bunch of eleven-year-olds at them.
He knew it was an old prank older students used on incoming first-years—because they'd been tricked themselves.
But honestly… how could Ron buy something that ridiculous?
Around them, students whispered excitedly, but even Emma—coming from a non-magical background—didn't believe the story.
"What do you think it'll be?" she asked Logan softly.
Meanwhile, Nate looked like he was about to faint—clearly believing every word Ron said.
"No idea. But it's not going to be anything that insane," Logan said with a shrug.
As for "just wearing a sorting hat"… well, if he said that out loud, no one would believe him anyway.
Besides, when McGonagall turned earlier, Logan had spotted a quick hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
This was Hogwarts' classic welcome prank for new students.