"Ah, it looks like Beauxbatons is arriving," Agilbert said. "I really miss Madam Maxime; their school's brandy and champagne are excellent."
"I'm so glad we agree," Dumbledore said with a smile. "And the cider and vermouth, Madam Maxime always has the best."
Ilvermorny's students, led by a boy, lined up curiously, looking at Hogwarts, while some craned their necks to gaze at the massive carriage.
"Boom——"
With a ground-shaking crash, the powder-blue carriage landed, imprinted with Beauxbatons' emblem on the door.
A boy jumped down from the carriage, opened the spiral staircase, and stood respectfully to the side.
Then Madam Maxime came out, towering at a height comparable to Hagrid, yet with a striking, elegant, dignified appearance and a touch of pride.
Dumbledore stepped forward, saying, "Dear Madam Maxime——"
Madam Maxime extended a hand adorned with many jeweled rings. Dumbledore bent down and kissed her hand, saying, "Welcome to Hogwarts."
Madam Maxime glanced at Agilbert nearby and said, "I hope we're not late."
"Of course not," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Your arrival makes Hogwarts feel brighter."
Then Agilbert also kissed the lady's hand, but said, "We were the first to arrive... Hmm, only a tad bit earlier."
Madam Maxime raised an eyebrow; although she didn't care who was early or late, she felt displeased with Agilbert's boastful attitude.
"Hmm... Congratulations," Madam Maxime said indifferently, waving casually behind her, "My students."
A dozen students got off the carriage, dressed in exquisite silk uniforms, without cloaks, tightly wrapped in scarves against the chill. Even so, they shivered slightly in the cold wind.
The students first looked at Hogwarts and then at Ilvermorny's students beside them—Ilvermorny had two girls wearing skirts, shivering with blue faces in the cold.
"Is it just us here?" Madam Maxime asked.
"Yes, others could arrive at any moment," Dumbledore said. "Would you prefer to wait here to greet them or go inside to warm up?"
"What do you think, Madam?" Agilbert politely asked.
"Let's warm up a bit," Madam Maxime said. "But my horses——"
"Our Magical Creatures professor will gladly take care of them," Dumbledore gestured.
Standing among the professors, Hagrid was caught off guard, nudged on the shin by Professor Flitwick, making him take a few steps forward instinctively.
"I... I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Madam, I'll, I'll take good care of these lovely creatures."
He stuttered, feeling a warm flush on his cheeks, his ears turning red.
But no one noticed this under his thick, unruly hair.
Hagrid regretted wearing his rough homemade fur coat and dirt-stained shoes, and his beard was a mess.
Madam Maxime saw Hagrid's height and showed a surprised expression, then said normally, "Hello, Professor Hagrid. My horses need special care—they only drink pure malt whiskey, requiring daily rein checks, grooming, and fodder replacement."
"Understood," Hagrid said nervously. "I will... I'll care for them like my own children, I promise you!"
He reached for the reins, and perhaps due to their similar size, the Divine Talisman Horses felt familiar, craned their necks, and stepped back slightly before accepting Hagrid's hold.
Madam Maxime nodded assuredly and turned to her students, saying, "Come along."
Agilbert also gestured to Ilvermorny's students, and the crowd at Hogwarts made way for them to enter the castle.
The last pale blue silhouette hadn't disappeared from the entrance hall when a deafening roar pierced the sky. Everyone looked up to see a massive three-headed fire dragon dragging a long iron chain, the other end of which was attached to a black fortress-like chariot.
Many students screamed in fright; Beauxbatons' Divine Talisman Horses neighed in alarm, tried to drag the carriage away, but Hagrid held them firmly, just as the chariot landed with a thunderous crash.
All three dragon heads wore deep black bridles, nudging each other, with their mouths occasionally emitting hot smoke.
The crowd involuntarily stepped back several steps, with cries of pain from feet being stomped on echoing around. Vid quickly sidestepped, grabbing Anthony, who almost fell, while Terry landed on the ground with a thump nearby.
"What is that?" Michael asked nervously.
"Kodostorians," Vid said. "The Russian magic school."
"They actually tamed fire dragons to pull the carriage?" Anthony screamed.
"Calm down, kids," Professor Flitwick quickly said. "Maintain composure, that fire dragon won't harm you."
People glanced at him and then back at the towering fire dragon, feeling like one of its heads was even bigger than Professor Flitwick himself, finding his words particularly unconvincing.
Yet everyone finally settled down quickly.
The carriage door opened, and a burly wizard cloaked in white bear fur stepped down, holding a long staff.
"Good evening, Dumbledore!" the wizard boomed. "Hope all is well with you!"
"Very well, thank you, Ivan," Dumbledore said with a smile. "And you, I'm also delighted to see you, Gorinich."
The menacing three dragon heads lowered, looking at Dumbledore, its exhaled heat making the grass blades on the surrounding lawn curl.
Then a scene that earned Hogwarts students' admiration unfolded—Dumbledore actually reached out to pat the nose of the middle dragon head and said something in a language none understood.
The three-headed dragon nudged Dumbledore's palm with its nose, its vast eyes appearing gentle.
Vid unintentionally thought of some of Dumbledore's writings... like "Twelve Uses of Dragon Blood" or the like.
With the grand fire dragon ahead, hardly anyone noticed a group of twelve or so students exiting the chariot.
They were tall, wearing furry ushanka hats with ear flaps tied under their chins, faces masked, clad in heavy fur coats and animal skin boots, silently standing aside.
"Dumbledore, has Karkaroff arrived?" Ivan suddenly asked.
"Should be arriving soon," Dumbledore replied.
"Oh, I'll wait with you," Ivan said, standing beside Dumbledore, gesturing for his students to lead the three-headed dragon aside.