The familiar Black Lake came into view, its dark ripples undulating before Jon.
On the opposite shore, a majestic castle stood atop a steep slope. Its spires pierced the night sky, and countless windows flickered with light. Seeing this familiar sight, a faint smile touched Jon's lips.
"No more than four people per boat!" Alastor Moody declared in his deep, raspy voice, leaning heavily on his cane. He then boarded a boat himself and motioned for a first-year student to join him. The poor boy stared at Moody with terror in his eyes, visibly trembling from head to toe.
Jon boarded a boat as well, followed by a boy and a girl, both first-years.
"Are you a first-year too?" the little girl asked curiously.
"No…" Jon shook his head. "I'm an exchange student."
The girl seemed unable to grasp the meaning of "exchange student." She turned away, whispered something in the boy's ear, then moved slightly away from Jon.
"Watch your surroundings!" Mad-Eye Moody bellowed. "Advance!"
A fleet of small boats immediately sliced through the mirror-like surface of the lake, moving forward. Many first-year students were thrilled, their eyes darting between the towering castle above and the depths below.
"Look! There's a big one over there!" The young girl on Jon's boat shrieked with delight upon spotting a giant squid.
Jon, of course, remained unfazed. After all, he had swum in these very waters back in February.
Soon, the fleet reached the base of the cliff, where Hogwarts Castle loomed directly overhead.
Led by Mad-Eye Moody, they ducked their heads to pass through a cave. Jon deliberately kept his head low to avoid bumping it.
Finally, following a pitch-black tunnel, they reached what seemed to be the castle's underground—a place resembling an underground harbor.
"Follow me, everyone! Watch your surroundings!" Mad-Eye Moody barked sternly.
Many first-years looked around nervously but saw nothing. Jon chuckled and hurried to keep pace with Moody as they traversed a narrow path of gravel and pebbles.
Climbing through a tunnel carved into the rock face, they finally emerged onto a flat, damp grassy area not far from the castle. Beyond the stone steps lay the gates of Hogwarts.
...
"Not many people get to walk this path twice like I have," Jon mused silently.
Professor Alastor Moody led the procession. He scanned the surroundings warily, waved his cane to the side, and finally struck the Hogwarts gates firmly with it.
The doors swung open with a loud bang.
"One at a time!" Moody urged impatiently. "Hurry up!"
At his command, the first-years quickened their pace. Their demeanor bore no resemblance to freshmen; they looked more like a poorly disciplined scout troop.
The sight before them was much as Jon had imagined—opulent marble walls encircled by blazing torches, ceilings so high they seemed to touch the sky.
Following Professor Moody, they made their way to a small, empty room at the far end of the hall.
Jon had briefly thought Mad-Eye Moody intended to conduct the Sorting Ceremony himself, but after bringing the first-years to this spot, Moody promptly turned back the way they came, holding a Sneakoscope and scanning the surroundings.
Then, the door to the small room opened.
Professor McGonagall entered in the same red plaid robes she'd worn to last year's Yule Ball—looking, strangely, a few years younger.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Professor McGonagall began. "The opening feast is about to commence, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must first determine which House each of you belongs to..."
She briefly explained the Hogwarts Sorting Ceremony.
At that moment, Professor McGonagall approached Jon.
"Mr. Patrick?"
"Yes, Professor!" Jon nodded promptly.
"Hogwarts tradition dictates that exchange students must undergo the Sorting Ceremony alongside first-years. No exceptions!" she explained.
"Understood, Professor!"
As Professor McGonagall departed, many first-years looked anxious. It seemed the fear of the Sorting Ceremony was another fine Hogwarts tradition.
Students from many wizarding families began whispering among themselves about what the ceremony involved. Their answers varied wildly—some said it required battling a troll, others claimed it was an exam with a high failure rate, or that you had to turn the hat into a rabbit with your wand.
Next, the sudden appearance of the ghosts made several first-years gasp.
Especially Bloody Baron, covered in blood, and the unnerving Grey Lady, who sent the students scrambling away. However, the other ghosts were quite friendly. Nearly Headless Nick and the Fat Friar, for instance, chatted warmly with several first-years. The atmosphere in the room finally began to ease.
But then Professor McGonagall returned, leading the first-years out toward the Great Hall. The tension rose once more. Jon walked near the middle of the line, his tall frame making him stand out easily.
...
As they entered the Great Hall, Jon took a careful look at the staff table.
Dumbledore sat in the golden high-backed chair at the center, clad in a deep purple robe adorned with silver stars and wearing a matching hat. Mad-Eye Moody was also seated there, occupying a solitary spot to Dumbledore's right.
Jon easily spotted the pink toad—Dolores Umbridge—her short, plump figure, ashy-brown hair, and signature pink outfit making her impossible to miss.
But there was little time for further observation, as they were required to line up facing all the students of Hogwarts, their backs to the staff table.
Professor McGonagall held a stool upon which rested an ancient wizard's hat.
The Sorting Hat began to sing loudly:
"Long ago, when I was brand new, Hogwarts hadn't even been built..."
...
"Hogwarts faces danger, with enemies lurking beyond its walls.
We must stand united within, lest everything crumble from within..."
...
As the Sorting Hat's song concluded, murmurs rippled across the four long tables.