"He's the greatest white wizard," Luna said, her eyes falling on the card. "But recently his reputation seems to have declined a little... Do you believe Harry Potter?"
Leon looked up and met those wide eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"He says he saw Cedric Diggory get killed, and that Voldemort came back." Luna's voice remained calm, as if she were merely commenting on the weather. "People all say he's lying, that he's mad, that he just wants attention."
"To be clear, I'm Muggle-born, so I don't have the same fear of Voldemort that you all do. When I hear something like that, I usually choose to believe first and doubt later," Leon said. "What about you? Do you believe it? That the dead can return?"
Luna turned her gaze to the window. Night had fully fallen, and the glass reflected the two of them.
"After my mother died, everyone said she was gone. But I know she wasn't. She just went somewhere we can't see for now," she said softly. "So I believe him. Because there are some things only people who've experienced them can see."
The compartment fell quiet, with only the steady rhythm of wheels on rails filling the silence.
After a while, Luna spoke again. "You'll like Hogwarts. There are strange things there, waiting for people to discover them."
Leon looked at their blurred reflections in the window and nodded.
At last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade Station. The doors opened, and cold air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine needles and damp earth. Leon lifted his trunk and followed the crowd forward.
On the platform, an enormous figure stood out clearly beneath the dim lights.
"First years! First years over here!" Hagrid's rough voice boomed above the noise of the crowd. "Stay close to me, don't get lost!"
Leon watched those excited and nervous first years gathering around Hagrid and awkwardly stopped where he was.
"Are you a first year too?" Luna's voice came from behind him.
"I'm a fifth-year transfer student," Leon corrected. "But apparently I'm supposed to cross the lake with the first years."
Luna nodded. "Then I'll walk with you."
They followed a rough path downward. Everything around them was pitch-black, with only the lantern in Hagrid's hand swaying ahead and a few faint stars visible in the distance.
"Look, over there." Luna suddenly pointed toward the carriages ahead.
Leon looked up and saw only darkness and a few weak stars.
"What?"
"Thestrals," Luna said. "They're pulling the carriages. You can't see them?"
Leon looked more carefully, but still saw nothing. He shook his head.
Luna didn't seem surprised. "Only people who've seen death can see them. Once you do, you'll be able to."
Leon wasn't surprised that he couldn't see the Thestrals, because he had never truly witnessed or understood death.
Even in the game, the fifth-year transfer student only saw Thestrals after watching the carriage driver get torn apart by a dragon.
When they reached the lakeside, the first years began boarding the boats. Hagrid was counting heads, and when he saw Leon approaching, he waved.
"You're Leon, right? Professor Dumbledore told me about you. Fifth-year transfer, but tonight you're crossing the lake with the first years." He scratched his head.
"I'm going with Luna," Leon said.
He turned to look at her. She had already climbed into a small boat and was waving at him.
He stepped aboard and sat opposite her. The boat rocked gently as it left the shore and headed toward the middle of the lake.
The water was as still as a mirror, reflecting the night sky and the thousands of lights glowing from the distant castle. Those lights shimmered on the black surface like the radiance of another world.
"The first time I saw it, I was so excited I cried," Luna said softly. "It was so beautiful."
Leon said nothing. He stared at the castle in the distance—that building he had seen countless times in films and books—now standing quietly atop the rock with warm light shining from every window.
The little fleet glided across the lake, passed beneath a stone opening in the cliff, and entered a dark tunnel. The sound of water echoed off the rock walls, and the students all fell silent. Only the occasional nervous breath broke the hush.
At the end of the tunnel was an underground harbor. One by one, the boats docked, and under the guidance of the prefects, the students climbed the stone steps upward.
Passing through a heavy oak door, they finally entered the castle.
Leon followed behind the crowd, crossed the broad entrance hall, and arrived at the doors of the Great Hall. Two great oak doors stood shut, and behind them came the faint hum of voices.
A witch in emerald-green robes stood there with a stern expression.
"First years." She swept her gaze across the group of children, and her eyes paused on Leon for a brief moment. "And one fifth-year transfer student. I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts."
She had the first years form a line, then pushed the doors open.
Leon entered the Great Hall with the others.
Countless candles floated in the air, illuminating the four long House tables. The older students all turned in unison to look at the new arrivals. Above them, the enchanted ceiling reflected the brilliant starry sky outside.
At the staff table, an old man with half-moon spectacles and white hair was smiling at them. That was Dumbledore.
In one of the seats sat a woman who instantly made people feel disgusted just by looking at her. She was short and squat, with short curly mouse-brown hair topped by an ugly pink bow that matched the fluffy pink cardigan she wore over her robes. She had a pale, toadlike face and bulging eyes with heavy lids.
Dolores Umbridge.
Beside her sat a man with greasy black hair and a hooked nose. Leon recognized him at once. That was Severus Snape. His gaze swept over the line of new students, paused on Leon for a second, then moved away expressionlessly.
Professor McGonagall placed a three-legged stool at the front of the line, and on top of it she set an old, battered wizard's hat.
The hat began to sing.
It sang of the four Houses of Hogwarts: Gryffindor for bravery, Hufflepuff for loyalty, Ravenclaw for wisdom, and Slytherin for ambition.
Though I am destined to divide you,I fear that this may not be right.Though I must fulfill my dutyAnd split each year's new students into four,I fear such division may leadTo the very collapse I dread.
Oh, I know the danger, I can read the signs,And history has given us its warning.Hogwarts is facing peril,With enemies outside watching like hungry beasts.We must stand united within,Or everything will crumble from the inside.
I have spoken plainly to you,I have sounded the alarm...Now let the Sorting begin.
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