The Admiral of Hogwarts

The path was not only narrow but also steep. Even though Hugo used the Lumos spell to illuminate the road ahead, it only made it slightly easier to walk. Many places were still slippery and bumpy. Venetto and Firefly, on the other hand, seemed to have better balance due to their years at sea, so they walked much more steadily than the others.

Besides Hugo, Venetto and Firefly also lit their wands. This inspired other young wizards, and many who had studied the textbooks beforehand also lit their own wands.

Although there was magical lighting, it barely illuminated the small area under their feet. The sides of the road were still towering shadows, which were likely dense forests. Because of the rough road, almost no one spoke along the way, and only an occasional sob could be heard from someone.

"Turn this corner, and you'll see Hogwarts for the first time," Hagrid called back. Then there was a loud "Ooh—!" At the end of the narrow path, a black lake suddenly opened up. On the high hillside across the lake stood a majestic castle with towering spires and windows that twinkled in the starlight.

Hugo also exclaimed like a country bumpkin. Although he had seen this scene in movies more than once in his previous life, when Hogwarts Castle really appeared in front of him, Hugo could still feel his extreme excitement.

"No more than four people per boat!" Hagrid shouted, pointing to a fleet of small boats moored on the shore. Hugo and his three companions got into a boat together. After they were seated, Hagrid's voice once again reached everyone's ears. "Everyone on board? Good… Forward, march!"

A fleet of small boats immediately sailed across the mirror-like lake, without oars or sails. However, at this time, the new students in the boat did not pay attention to this, but silently stared at the huge castle that rose into the clouds.

Hugo was no exception, but while looking at the castle that was getting bigger and bigger in his sight, he was still thinking about the rule that Hagrid had just said that a boat could not carry more than four people.

The rule that a boat cannot carry more than four people is not difficult to understand. After all, the rugged path that the new students take, plus crossing the Black Lake, are all, in a sense, to pay tribute to the four founders who built the school. So it is normal to limit the number of people that can sit on a boat.

However, Hugo was a little curious about how these boats determined the number of people sitting on them. According to his observation, these boats could easily accommodate five or six younger first-year students at a time. So it certainly wasn't based on weight.

"I think it should be based on the total magic power of the people sitting on the boat to determine the number of people on the boat," Venetto's voice sounded in Hugo's mind. "After all, wizards generally like to rely on magic to calculate many things to show their specialness, and have you noticed that these boats are very similar to another boat."

"You're talking about the boat Voldemort used to hide the locket," Hugo had felt a sense of familiarity after seeing these boats, but it wasn't entirely the feeling of the movie scene from his previous life coming true. Now, after Venetto's reminder, Hugo immediately understood.

"That's right," Venetto said somewhat proudly. "Don't you think the boats in these two places are very similar? And according to the original author's description and many sources, Voldemort has always had a special feeling for Hogwarts. So he was deeply impressed by these boats that brought him into the school, and even subconsciously imitated these boats when hiding his Horcrux."

"This is just a guess, and it's not necessarily true," Although Hugo said this, he also subconsciously believed in his heart that this should be the case.

"Everyone, duck down." At this time, Hagrid's voice came from the front, interrupting Hugo's thoughts. Hugo subconsciously lowered his head, only to find that the secret entrance opened in the cliff covered with ivy curtains was actually quite large. Among so many people in the boat, only Hagrid himself needed to lower his head.

Following this tunnel, everyone arrived at a place similar to an underground dock, and then climbed onto a ground of gravel and pebbles. After waiting for a few minutes, everyone, illuminated by Hagrid's lantern, climbed up a tunnel in the rocks to reach a flat, damp meadow under the shadow of the castle. Then they climbed up stone steps to a huge oak door.

"Everyone here?" After finally confirming that everyone had arrived, Hagrid raised a huge fist and knocked on the castle gate three times. The gate immediately opened to the left and right, and a tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes stood in front of the gate. This was Professor McGonagall, who had previously visited the Granger family.

This was a very serious-looking professor, so after she appeared, it was as if a cold wind swept through the entire hall. The chattering first-year students suddenly closed their mouths, and even lowered their breathing.

"First-year students, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.

"Thank you, Hagrid. Leave them to me here." Professor McGonagall nodded in response. Then she watched the big man pass by her and walk towards the hall.

Hagrid seemed to be walking in a hurry, because for normal people, a very serious colleague often gives people a sense of oppression. Not to mention that he had used magic illegally several times during the holidays, and the act of conjuring a pig's tail on Dudley's butt clearly violated the law, so, feeling guilty, he quickly ran to the hall after a simple handover when he saw Professor McGonagall.

However, McGonagall probably didn't know these things, so she still pulled the door wide open as in previous years, revealing the hall behind the door. This hall, which should be the entrance hall, was not small, and the ceiling was so high that it was almost impossible to see the top. Hugo felt that this entrance hall alone could fit his two-story house.

In addition to being large, this entrance hall also revealed a low-key luxury. Both sides of the entrance hall were stone walls, with burning torches hanging on them. The front was a luxurious marble staircase leading upstairs.

The first-year students followed Professor McGonagall along the stone-paved floor. Hugo could hear the buzzing voices of at least several hundred people coming from inside the door on the right.

But Professor McGonagall did not push open that door, but led them to a small, empty room at the other end of the hall. Everyone crowded in, rubbing shoulders and backs, nervously gazing at everything around them.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, "The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but before you go to the dining hall to take your seats, you must first determine which house you will each enter."

"Sorting is a very important ceremony, because during your time at school, the house will be like your home at Hogwarts. You will take classes with other students in the house, live in the house's dormitories, and spend your free time in the house's common room."

"The names of the four houses are: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own glorious history and has cultivated outstanding witches and wizards. During your time at Hogwarts, your outstanding performance will earn your house points, while any violations will deduct points from your house. At the end of the year, the house with the highest score will win the House Cup, which is a great honor. I hope that no matter which house you are sorted into, you will bring glory to the house."

"In a few minutes, the Sorting Ceremony will be held in front of the entire school. I suggest that you tidy yourselves up and look more energetic while you wait."

Professor McGonagall said here and glanced at the first-year students, finally urging: "I will come and get you when they are ready. Please be quiet while you wait."

After speaking, Professor McGonagall turned and left the room.