Chapter 13: The Hogwarts Blessing

When Ciel revealed that the terrifying "Devil's Parasite" was nothing more than ordinary watermelon seeds, the tension in the compartment instantly shattered. Neville and Hermione stared for a beat, then exploded into laughter.

Hermione laughed so hard she had to clutch her stomach, tears streaming from her eyes. "Oh, you should have seen Malfoy's face!" she gasped between giggles. "If he ever finds out, he'll want to crawl into a hole and never come out!"

Just then, the final whistle of the Hogwarts Express blew, a long, mournful cry that was answered by the rumble and lurch of the train beginning its long journey north. They sped away from King's Cross, the city suburbs giving way to the rolling green hills of the countryside.

Sometime later, the door to their compartment slid open, revealing a smiling witch pushing a trolley laden with magical sweets. "Anything from the trolley, dears?" she asked. "Chocolate Frogs? Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans? Liquorice Wands?"

The sight and sound felt strangely familiar to Ciel, a magical version of the snack vendors from his past life.

Suddenly, Neville let out a small cry of dismay. "Trevor!" he exclaimed, his face pale. He finally remembered what he'd forgotten. He began searching frantically under the seats and in his pockets. "He's gone! My toad, Trevor, he's gone!"

Tears welled in his eyes as a thorough search of the compartment yielded nothing.

"Don't worry, Neville," Hermione said immediately, her practical nature taking over. "He has to be on the train somewhere. And a toad is memorable; if anyone's seen him, they'll remember. Come on," she said, pulling him to his feet. "We'll ask in every compartment."

Neville gave her a grateful look, then turned to Ciel. "Are you coming with us?"

Ciel shook his head. "I'll stay here. What if Trevor remembers the way and comes back on his own? Or what if Malfoy and his goons come back looking for trouble and find him first? I can just imagine Crabbe and Goyle trying to swallow him whole."

The gruesome image flashed through Hermione and Neville's minds, and they both shivered.

"You're right," Hermione said grimly. "With those two, you never know. Okay, Ciel, you stand guard. We'll be back as soon as we find him."

She decisively led a worried Neville out into the corridor. Ciel watched them go, a faint, knowing smile on his face. The great, grinding wheels of fate, it seemed, were turning just as they should. Hermione was now on her way to meet Harry and Ron.

He could have gone with them, could have engineered a friendship with the saviours of the wizarding world. But the thought held no appeal. Befriending Harry Potter wouldn't help him plant things, and it would almost certainly draw the unwanted attention of Albus Dumbledore. Ciel just wanted to be left alone to tend his crops in peace. He had no interest in children's games of destiny.

He turned his attention back to his suitcase, pulling out another set of small pots and carefully planting more Goldfish Vine seeds. These magical herbs were the key to his future, the stepping stone to cultivating far more powerful plants. He would not neglect them.

Time melted away. He worked with a quiet, singular focus, the rhythmic rocking of the train a soothing backdrop to his task. One moment, the midday sun was streaming through the window; the next, when he finally looked up, the glass reflected the crimson glow of a spectacular sunset. The sky outside was already darkening to a deep indigo.

"Has it been that long?" he sighed to himself. "The Hogwarts Express… they should call it the Hogwarts Slow-Mo. I wonder when they'll get a high-speed rail." He shook off the thought and leaned against the window, basking in the last rays of sunlight, feeling his energy return. Then, it was back to work.

He was so absorbed that he barely registered the prefects' calls echoing down the corridor. "We'll be arriving in ten minutes! Please get into your robes!"

He carefully packed away his newly planted vines just as Neville returned, panting and dejected. Clearly, Trevor was still missing.

"Don't worry, Neville," Ciel said comfortingly. "He's just lost. You'll find him."

To his surprise, Hermione came back with Neville, not having gone off with Harry and Ron as he'd expected. When she heard the ten-minute warning, she let out a small shriek.

"We have to change! You two, hurry up! You have three minutes, then lock the door so I can change!"

After a flurry of activity, the train's whistle blew again as it slowed, finally coming to a stop at a tiny, dark station in the middle of the wilderness. They joined the stream of students pouring onto the platform.

It was just as he remembered from the stories. The towering, half-giant Hagrid stood holding a lantern, his voice booming over the crowd. "Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!"

While the older students took a separate path, Ciel saw his aunt making her way toward him through the crowd, her face lit with excitement.

"Ciel," she said, her voice warm with pride. "Go on now. Follow Hagrid. You'll be taking the same path the four founders took with the very first students of Hogwarts. As you travel it, you will receive the castle's blessing, a charm to ensure your studies go smoothly and to protect you from harm."

Understanding dawned on Ciel. He'd always wondered why the first-years had to take the long, roundabout route across the lake. It was a pilgrimage, a tradition imbued with ancient, protective magic. No wonder Hogwarts, for all its apparent dangers, was relatively safe. It explained how students could face a basilisk and not die instantly. It also tragically explained why Cedric Diggory had perished—the Triwizard Cup had ported him outside the blessing's protective range.

The knowledge settled a layer of security over Ciel's heart. He wouldn't have to live in constant fear. He could focus on his work.

Just as he was about to say goodbye to his aunt and follow Hagrid, Hermione stepped forward, gathering her courage.

"Professor," she asked, her voice trembling slightly with a mixture of nerves and academic curiosity. "I've read that there's a Sorting Ceremony when we arrive, but none of the books describe it. They all say it's a secret that can't be revealed. Please, can you tell us what it will be like?"

***

(End of Chapter)

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