12. Hogwarts Express

The inside of the Hogwarts Express was buzzing with activity now that arrival at Hogwarts was imminent. Students were pushing each other down the aisle, dragging suitcases over their heads, and loud laughter and chatter filled the carriages.

Dante felt the Nyx on his arm move slightly and looked at it. The snake slithered silently in its robes, not making its presence known. Charlie sat across from him, looking out excitedly.

"I think we should put the robes on now," Charlie said, not taking his eyes off the view. "They said first years have to go in uniform."

Dante nodded, opened his bag and took out his Hogwarts robes. Charlie did the same excitedly, but struggled a little with putting the robes on in the confined space of the train. Dante, on the other hand, moved calmly as he changed, making sure the robes fit him perfectly.

"Are you ready?" Charlie asked, smiling.

Dante paused for a moment and nodded. "I think so."

Soon the train began to slow. From outside, the sound of raindrops mixed with the steam and screeching brakes. A wave of excitement spread through the carriages. Dante looked out the window and caught his first glimpse of Hogwarts Station.

As the train stopped, students streamed out one by one. Dante and Charlie packed their bags and walked down to the platform. The rain was coming down hard and the ground was covered in mud. People huddled together in their robes, trying to move forward. Just then, a deep voice was heard:

"Freshmen, over here! This way!"

Dante turned in the direction of the voice and saw a huge man. His fluffy beard almost completely covered his face, and his long hair fell over his shoulders. He was wearing a heavy cloak, and his broad body towered over the crowd like a mountain. He waved his big hands, beckoning the children to him.

Charlie whispered in awe: "Wow. Who is he?"

"Hagrid, I think," Dante said, remembering what he knew about the wizarding world. "The Keeper of Hogwarts."

Hagrid smiled at the students and said, "Come along! Time to go to Hogwarts! Walk carefully this way," he called.

Dante and Charlie mingled with the crowd and followed Hagrid with the other first years. The rain poured down steadily like a thin curtain, soaking their shoes in the mud. Dante thought for a few seconds, then raised his hand slightly and whispered a spell. Instead of falling on him, the raindrops began to flow sideways, as if from an invisible dome.

A few students around him looked at him in amazement. Charlie's eyes opened wide. "That's... that's great! Can you do this to me?"

Dante nodded slightly and cast the same spell on Charlie. Immediately, the rain began to slide off him and onto the ground. Charlie laughed with joy. "You should teach me that! It's awesome!"

The students made their way down the stony, muddy path to the edge of the lake. Hagrid raised his giant hand in the air and shouted in a booming voice, "Everybody in the boats! Four to a row! This is the first place you'll see Hogwarts from!"

Dante and Charlie made their way to a nearby boat. Another female student joined them. The water rippled slightly and the boats began to move as if guided by an unseen force.

As they slowly made their way through the rain to the middle of the lake, Dante looked up and ahead. It was then that he saw Hogwarts for the first time.

The majestic castle rose against the dark sky, thousands of windows glowing with lights. Its tall towers and stone walls looked like a dream through the mist. Raindrops danced in the light, creating a magical atmosphere.

Charlie took a deep breath. "Unbelievable..."

Dante continued to stare in silence. Hogwarts... his new home.

The boats, guided by the spell, made their way to the entrance of the great cavern beneath the castle. Hagrid helped the first ones ashore and pulled them out of the water. "Come on, everyone, line up! We're going in!"

The boats glided gently over the water, heading for Hogwarts. Persistent raindrops fell into the lake, forming countless rings on the surface. Dante felt a vague thrill of excitement as he admired the towering spires of Hogwarts. Charlie was equally mesmerized, holding his breath, unable to take his eyes off the massive castle.

"This place... It's amazing," Charlie whispered, his voice full of admiration.

Dante shook his head slightly. His eyes were caught by the lights dancing in the castle's tall windows. Hogwarts shone in all its splendor. No matter how lonely he felt, he knew that a different life would begin here.

The boats made their way to the entrance of the great cavern beneath Hogwarts. There was a landing stage, and the boats moved magically and docked gently. Hagrid helped the first students to the shore and pulled them out of the water.

"Come on, line up, everyone! We're going in!" Hagrid shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls of the cave.

Dante and Charlie climbed up onto the platform with the other students. Their footsteps echoed off the stone floor as they made their way through the cave tunnel. At the end of the tunnel were large iron doors, and Hagrid opened them with his hands, showing the students the inside of Hogwarts.

"You will now be greeted by Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said, gesturing through the door.

The students entered a huge stone corridor. Torches hanging from the ceiling cast a warm glow on the stone walls. At the end of the corridor, Professor McGonagall was waiting for them, her features slender and her posture firm. She was wearing a dark green robe and her hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She looked at the students over her glasses and then spoke with a serious expression.

"Welcome," she said in a clear voice. "Soon you will enter the Great Hall and officially become students of Hogwarts. But first, you must attend the Sorting Hat Ceremony to determine which building you will be placed in."

The students looked at each other with excitement. Some whispered in hushed tones, others rubbed their hands nervously. Charlie leaned over to Dante and whispered:

"Do you have any ideas? Which building do you want to go to?"

Dante shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

Charlie smiled and shook his head. "I think you should go to Gryffindor. House of the brave and adventurous! It would be fun."

Dante didn't smile, but he didn't want to dampen Charlie's enthusiasm. "We'll see," he said briefly.

Professor McGonagall arranged the students and opened the great doors, leading them inside. The moment they stepped into the Great Hall, their eyes widened in awe.

The hall was a true testament to the splendor of Hogwarts. The ceiling reflected the star-studded night sky, and hundreds of candlesticks magically floated in the air, illuminating the hall. The long tables were filled with upperclassmen, all watching the newcomers with curiosity. There were four large tables in the hall, each belonging to a different house: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.

Professor McGonagall pointed to an old and worn hat placed at the front of the hall. The Sorting Hat. Suddenly, the sewn brim of the hat moved and the hat began to speak.

"Ah, new faces, fresh minds, let's see which building you're best suited for..."

The students looked at each other in amazement. A talking hat! There were many more surprises to come in the wizarding world.

The Sorting Hat ceremony began. The students were called by name, and when the hat was placed on their heads, it was determined which house they belonged to. When it was Charlie's turn, the boy stepped forward excitedly as his name was called.

There was a moment of silence as McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head. The Sorting Hat thought for a few seconds, then announced loudly:

"Gryffindor!"

A huge cheer went up from the Gryffindor table. Charlie ran happily back to his seat. Dante watched the students silently, waiting for his turn. Most of them were anxious or excited

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