"Five minutes to arrival," a voice echoed through the corridor. "Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be delivered to the castle for you."
Outside the window, night had settled. Dark hills and dense forests slid past beneath a deep violet sky as the train slowed.
"We should change," Rowan said.
He slipped off his jacket and pulled on the black Hogwarts robes. Luna, Ginny, and Colin followed suit, suddenly all business.
When the train stopped, students surged into the corridor, shoving and stumbling in their rush to get out. A few were pressed so tightly their faces distorted against shoulders and elbows.
"Easy," Rowan said, stepping forward and blocking Ginny and the others with a steady arm. "No need to rush. The castle isn't going anywhere."
Unlike most of the first-years, he felt no panic. He was curious, even quietly excited, but not overwhelmed. He'd lived through things that made a crowded train corridor feel trivial by comparison.
After a minute or two, the crush thinned.
"Now," Rowan said. "Stay close. Don't drift toward the older students."
As they stepped down onto the platform, Ginny tugged lightly at his sleeve.
"Rowan," she said, hesitating, "you know… sometimes you feel a bit like my dad. Just really dependable."
She paused, then added thoughtfully, "Actually, maybe even more dependable."
Colin and Luna nodded in agreement.
They'd known him less than a day, yet Rowan had already become the steady presence. He carried luggage without comment, cleaned chocolate from their faces, and draped robes over them when they nodded off in the afternoon. Even now, standing in the dark with a lake nearby and strangers everywhere, being near him made things feel manageable.
Rowan smiled faintly. To him, it was just instinct. Adults took care of children. Pretending to be otherwise would have been harder.
"First years!" a booming voice called. "First years over here!"
Rowan looked up and spotted Hagrid immediately, lantern raised high. Even among hundreds of students, the towering gamekeeper was impossible to miss.
"This way," Rowan said, moving decisively into the crowd. He pushed through older students with ease, guiding the others straight to Hagrid.
"Well now, if it isn't the young shopkeeper!" Hagrid said warmly, bending down. "Didn't expect to see you here so soon."
"Good to see you again," Rowan replied with a nod.
Ginny leaned in, whispering, "Why did he call you a shopkeeper?"
"My guardian ran a potion shop," Rowan said lightly. "Hagrid visited once."
Ginny's face fell. "Oh. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"It's fine," Rowan said, smiling.
Once the group of first-years had assembled, about thirty in all, Hagrid led them down a narrow path to the edge of the Black Lake. There, small boats waited, four students to each.
Rowan took one with Luna, Ginny, and Colin.
The boats moved on their own, gliding smoothly across the water. As the castle rose into view, its towers lit against the night sky, even Rowan felt a quiet pull in his chest.
One student gasped too hard and toppled into the lake. A moment later, a massive tentacle surfaced and gently placed the soaked child back into their boat.
No harm done.
They docked beneath the castle and followed Hagrid through tunnels of stone until massive doors opened before them.
A tall witch in emerald robes stepped forward, sharp-eyed and composed.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said. "Before the feast, you will be sorted into your houses."
She led them into a small chamber and explained the four houses and the House Cup, then left them to wait.
The room filled with murmurs and nervous excitement.
Rowan considered the Sorting with detached curiosity. The Hat would decide. It always did.
Wherever he landed, it wouldn't matter.
He would make his mark regardless.