NOVEL NEXT Chapter 16: Punishment
The September nights in the Scottish Highlands were biting cold. As soon as Harry stepped off the train, a gust of chilly wind hit him square in the face, penetrating his bones.
"So cold," Ron said through chattering teeth.
"First-years, this way!" a familiar voice called out. "Come on over—oh, Harry, I see you! How are you doing?"
"It's Hagrid," Harry told Ron, waving high above his head. "Hagrid, I'm over here!"
Hagrid's towering figure was unmistakable. He waved back warmly and called out to the children, "Any more first-years? Come along, I'll take you all to the school."
This wasn't Harry's first time down this path. It was muddy and slippery, full of thorns—a trail said to have been walked by the founders of Hogwarts when they first established the school. It was meant to remind new students of the founders' hardships in building such a legacy.
A lesson in appreciating the past, so to speak.
"Just around this bend, and you'll see Hogwarts," Hagrid called out. "Ahead is the lake—we'll be taking boats across. Four to a boat, got it? You can figure out your groups now."
Harry grabbed Ron's arm. As he glanced back, Hermione appeared beside them with a small, chubby boy clutching a toad in his arms.
"Harry, Ron, this is Neville," Hermione introduced them. Then she turned to Neville, saying, "This is Harry—he's the one who found your toad."
"Thank you, Mr. Potter," Neville said shyly, his voice trembling with gratitude.
"No problem. Just call me Harry," Harry replied warmly, his smile radiant.
Neville felt as if Harry were a little sun, dispelling his fear and even the cold that seemed to cling to him.
"Shall we? The four of us in a boat?" Ron suggested, slinging an arm around Harry's shoulders and addressing Hermione and Neville.
"Sounds good," Hermione agreed, though she muttered under her breath, "I just hope we don't get expelled..."
"Relax, Hermione. We only used the Levitation Charm in Drama Studies. It's not like we cast..."
Harry trailed off, realizing that mentioning the Killing Curse might not be the best idea.
"Cast what?" Neville asked, puzzled.
"Alohomora," Harry quickly said, changing the subject. "Come on, let's keep up. We need to get on the boats."
None of them seemed suspicious—after all, at their age, they couldn't possibly know what the Killing Curse was.
The temperature on the lake was even colder than when they'd first stepped off the train, likely due to the damp air. The young witches and wizards huddled into their robes, trying to shield themselves from the biting chill.
Only when their boats reached the shore did they feel even a hint of relief.
Hagrid led them to the gates of the castle.
"Wait here," he said. "It won't be long before—"
Before he could finish, the massive doors swung open, revealing a stern-looking witch dressed in emerald green robes.
It was Professor McGonagall.
"All the first-years are here, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.
McGonagall nodded. "I'll take them from here, Hagrid. I'll lead them into the castle."
Hagrid waved at Harry before turning to leave.
"First-years, follow me," McGonagall instructed.
The new students followed her into the castle, eventually arriving in a small chamber.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she began. "The feast is about to begin, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must first be sorted into your respective houses. The sorting is an important ceremony because your house will be your home at Hogwarts. You'll attend classes, sleep in the dormitories, and spend your free time in the common rooms with your housemates.
"The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has a proud history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. During your time at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will bring glory to your house."
"In a few moments, the Sorting Ceremony will take place in front of the entire school. I suggest you take this time to tidy yourselves up and look presentable."
Her gaze lingered briefly on Neville's cloak before sweeping over Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, please come with me," she said. Then her eyes landed on Draco Malfoy. "And Mr. Malfoy as well."
Hermione's knees buckled.
"Oh no, Harry, oh no..." she whimpered tearfully. "We're going to be expelled..."
Draco overheard Hermione's sobs and let out a derisive laugh.
Harry glanced over and saw Draco silently mouthing the word "Mudblood" at Hermione.
That brat really needs a lesson, Harry thought. But first, he needed to figure out how to handle this situation.
"Hermione, don't worry," Ron tried to comfort her. "Even if we get expelled, you'll still have me and Harry by your side."
Hermione only cried harder at that.
The four were soon led into a small room.
Inside, four individuals were seated. Harry immediately recognized one of them—Dumbledore, whom he had seen on a Chocolate Frog card. To Dumbledore's left was a short man in formal attire with a bowtie, sitting next to a plump witch dressed simply, with a few green leaves adorning her robes.
On Dumbledore's right sat a wizard with greasy black hair and a hooked nose.
The hook-nosed man's eyes locked onto Harry, a flash of recognition followed by a cold, emotionless stare. Harry instinctively felt that this man didn't like him.
Did I offend him somehow? Harry wondered.
"The matter is quite clear," the man spoke first. "Mr. Potter cast a curse on a fellow student aboard the train, with Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley as his accomplices—"
Hermione let out a loud, despairing sob.
"Take it easy, Severus," Dumbledore interjected, his half-moon spectacles glinting as he looked at Harry with a smile. "Why don't we hear from Harry and his friends? It wouldn't be fair to judge based on one side of the story."
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