Hogwarts: Dumbledore reigned over the wizarding world

Chapter 13 Hogwarts
Teaching a Malfoy a lesson was just a small matter for Vaughn.

But for Hermione, it filled her heart with a strange feeling.

It's very strange, I've never had this before...

Seeing Vaughn approaching, she prepared many words of thanks, but for some reason, they turned into stammering sermons when she spoke: "You, you shouldn't have used spells to attack them. What if they report you to the school..."

Hermione felt a little regretful before she finished speaking.

But Vaughan didn't seem to care. He just smiled and said, "At least for the next few hours, they won't dare to get in the way again. I'm going back to the carriage to rest. See you later, Miss Granger!"

Merlin!
Hermione Granger, what the hell is wrong with your brain?
Hermione almost wanted to punch herself on the head. Seeing Vaughn leave, she finally said, "Thank you for just now. You, you can call me Hermione!"

Vaughn nodded, "Okay Hermione, you can call me Vaughn too."

As he spoke, he raised his wand again, just like when they first met many days ago, and the little magic trick brushed the girl's hair.

But this time they didn't float up, but became soft and hung on the girl's cheeks.

He smiled at her and said, "Don't listen to Malfoy's nonsense, you are actually very beautiful~"

"..."

Hermione felt that at that moment, the temperature of her head must have soared by 100 degrees, and her face was burning.

After teasing the little girl, Vaughn, whose mood was disturbed by Draco Malfoy, became cheerful again and hummed a little tune all the way back to the compartment.

Before he even entered, he heard Ron boasting, "...I found out it was Vaughn who taught Malfoy a lesson. I bet he cursed them. Did you see that? Malfoy's teeth are like a warthog's. Maybe he'll never be cured."

And Harry whispered tremblingly and excitedly: "What kind of curse is so powerful?"

"Who knows? Vaughn always does weird things and has a bad personality. I wouldn't be surprised even if he casts an Unforgivable Curse on Malfoy!"

Vaughn rolled his eyes, pushed open the door, and in the stunned gazes of the two men, took out his wand and pointed it at Ron.

"what--"

Ron screamed in fright, which scared Harry as well. Before he could react, he saw Ron had shrunk behind him.

His movements were so skillful that it made people feel distressed, but... why let him be a shield?

After scaring his brother, Vaughn didn't bother to pay attention to him anymore. He returned to his seat, found a potion book, and began to read it with relish.

Harry looked at Ron, whose face was as pale as Malfoy's, and smiled secretly with his hands covering his mouth.

Ron felt a little embarrassed, but didn't dare say anything. He could only glare at Harry angrily.

But soon, the two new friends gathered together again and started chatting quietly about topics of interest.

Nothing happened after that. Only the twins came to visit. They knew how to please the sponsor.

After greeting Harry, they said they had borrowed a camera from a senior student and were going to take pictures of Draco Malfoy's miserable condition and distribute them to all the students in the school for free.

To publicize their "dear brother's great achievements."

In the evening, the Hogwarts Express finally began to slow down. When it was completely dark, it stopped and a voice echoed on the train: "We have arrived at Hogwarts. Freshmen, please change into your robes as soon as possible and leave your luggage on the train. We will take it to your dormitories..."

More than ten minutes ago, Vaughn had helped Harry and Ron change their clothes.

The two stood nervously behind Vaughn. Harry kept rubbing his legs, and Ron's freckles turned white. The various legends about the Sorting Ceremony conjured up terrifying scenarios in their little minds. When the train finally stopped, Harry and Ron followed Vaughn almost instinctively, completely losing their ability to think.

It was not until everyone pushed and shoved and finally got down to a dark and small platform that the cold wind made them sober up a little.

Hagrid, the key keeper at Hogwarts, waved a lantern over the heads of the new students: "First years, are there any first years left? Come over to me... Oh, Harry, are you all right?"

Even Hagrid's smile couldn't warm Harry's heart. He saw Ron clutching Vaughn's robes tightly, so he grabbed hold of them too.

Vaughn glanced back at them and whispered, "Don't hold so tight!"

The two of them shook their heads desperately.

The senior students left quickly. Hagrid shouted a few more times to make sure all the freshmen had arrived. Then he held up the lantern and began to lead the way.

It was a steep and narrow path. It was pitch black and no one could see anything. No one dared to speak.

All they could see was a flickering light ahead, and they stumbled along, trying not to fall behind, until Vaughn raised his wand high:
"Lumos!"

The soft halo immediately dispelled the darkness, and the furry heads of the surrounding little wizards, like chicks that had found their mother hen, squirmed around Vaughn.

After walking for a while in silence and turning a corner, the narrow view finally became clear.

At the end of the path ahead, there is a black lake as wide as the ocean, extending all the way to the foot of the distant mountain. On that mountain stands a towering castle with undulating stone walls, towering spires, and windows lit with warm lights in the dark night.

Vaughn looked at the vista and had to admit, he was a little shocked.

Hagrid brought everyone to the lake and pointed to a row of docked boats: "Every four people in a boat, don't crowd, don't overtake!"

Vaughan took Harry and Ron onto the boat, and the little chickens around them also tried to squeeze in.

Unfortunately, Vaughn shouted, "Hermione? Hermione! Come here!"

Thankfully, it was night, so no one noticed that Hermione's face had almost flushed red. She tried to act nonchalant as she trotted onto the boat.

Ron glared at her the whole time, but Harry was glad to know everyone on this boat.

After all the little wizards were on board, Hagrid shouted loudly and all the small boats lined up in a row and automatically began to glide on the calm lake.

As they moved forward, they got closer and closer to the mountain and the castle towering under the night sky, until they reached the cliff below the castle. Everything above their heads seemed to be suspended in the sky. The visual shock made everyone hold their breath and no one spoke.

Hagrid led everyone off the boat, through a cobblestone path, a flight of stone steps, and then to a large door. He knocked on the door a few times with his huge fist.

After a moment, the door opened, revealing a figure familiar to Vaughn.

"First year, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid, leave it to me!"

Professor McGonagall still had that serious expression on her face. Under her stern gaze, all the freshmen unconsciously stopped their little movements and followed her obediently.

Only Vaughn looked around and observed the surroundings. They first passed through a doorway and a simple stone wall with many torches on the wall. There were shrine-like reliefs and stone statues along the wall, stacked up to the dome that was so high that the top was invisible.

It looks mysterious and solemn.

But after passing through here, what comes into view is an empty and luxurious hall, brilliantly lit, with marble stairs spiraling upwards, connecting to the deep castle floors above.

(End of this chapter)