A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

"I want to go to Gryffindor."

Draco felt a little embarrassed before he could finish speaking. Is the celebrity effect really that big these days?

"Ahem! Take my advice, don't go to that academy."

While you might not get into Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are also options. There's no need to choose the same house as Harry Potter just because you admire him.

"Alright, stop interfering in this matter. Colin is free to choose what he wants," Aaron said speechlessly. "Besides, there are some colleges he can't just go to whenever he wants."

"Alright!" Draco shrugged and said nothing more.

After all, the Sorting Hat determines the Sorting House, and Colin's ideas play a certain role in it, but not the absolute one.

Aaron stood up from his seat and looked out the window. In the dark clouds, there seemed to be a dark shadow rising and falling intermittently.

"What a mess! That car is probably at its limit."

"What are you looking at?" Draco walked over to Aaron and followed his line of sight, but he couldn't see anything.

"It's nothing," Aaron chuckled, then stepped out of the carriage. "I'll be back in a bit."

"Senior, what did he go to do?" Colin asked.

Draco didn't dislike this prospective Gryffindor student, but he didn't particularly like him either. He simply sat back down in his seat. "How should I know?"

Along the aisle, Aaron walked past each carriage, his gaze quickly sweeping over familiar and unfamiliar faces before finally stopping in front of one carriage.

"Hey Aaron, what brings you here?" Fred greeted him.

Aaron glanced at Ginny sitting by the window, then at Fred and George, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Um... isn't Percy here?"

“He’s in the prefect’s car,” George said. “He’s been like this ever since he became prefect.”

Aaron hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ginny and said, "Harry and Ron have something come up, maybe, possibly, perhaps, just maybe..."

"Is it really necessary to make such a long statement in one sentence?" Fred interrupted Aaron with a laugh. "Just say what you have to say."

"Okay! I think they might not make it to Ginny's Sorting Ceremony."

"what?"

The three of them were a little surprised.

“What could be more important than my sister’s Sorting Ceremony?” George asked, frowning.

"Is Harry Potter not coming either?" Ginny said with some regret.

Aaron nodded, without denying it.

“Which carriage are they in? Let’s go talk to them.” Fred stood up, and George followed suit.

"I'm just saying it's a possibility; maybe we can make it in time."

"And the train is about to stop; it's probably too late for you to find them now."

Aaron stood at the carriage door and blocked the two of them. If the mischievous twin brothers knew how Harry and his friends were traveling, they would probably try to join them halfway through the journey.

Chapter 140: Made it in time, but the crash landing location was wrong.

Back in his carriage, Aaron closed his eyes to rest, quietly waiting for the train to arrive at the station.

Actually, telling George that Harry and Ron might miss the Sorting Ceremony was just a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was a way to prepare them so they wouldn't be too disappointed if they didn't see them in the Great Hall.

About ten minutes later, the train slowed down with a whistle and stopped in Hogsmeade.

The students got off the bus one after another, and the scene became particularly noisy.

"Senior, this is my first time at Hogwarts," Colin said nervously, looking at Aaron. "Can...can I come with you?"

"Don't worry, someone will give you a beginner's guide."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a familiar voice rang out from not far away.

"First-year students, gather this way and follow me."

"Is it him?" Colin asked.

"That's right, Hagrid will lead the new students across the Black Lake in the traditional way, and then to Hogwarts Castle."

In short, just follow him.

"Thank you, senior." Colin smiled, revealing his teeth, and happily went to Hagrid the giant.

“You don’t really need to be so considerate of him!” Draco asked, puzzled. “Even if you don’t say anything, he’ll know what to do.”

Aaron shook his head and said meaningfully, "Not every Muggle-born wizard can be as confident as Hermione. When they feel unfamiliar with everything, what they need most is a little bit of kindness."

Besides, this child is a little too naive; I'd feel bad if I didn't help him.

"He's only a year older than me, why does he have to be so serious!" Draco said, speechless.

The two were second-year students, considered upperclassmen, and didn't need to take a boat to Hogwarts Castle. Instead, after getting off the train, they joined another group of people and walked to the other side of the platform.

On a rough, muddy path, hundreds of empty carriages were parked, but there were only carriages, no horses to pull them.

"Is this... an invisible horse?"

"I guess so! I heard from Hagrid that the school keeps a bunch of Night Kirins specifically for pulling carriages." Aaron looked at the open space in front of the carriage, recalling the description he had read in a book.

Night Horse is a type of Pegasus. It is tall and thin, with a dragon's head and a horse's body. It has a pair of broad wings on its back and possesses extremely amazing perception.

They can be tamed and will not betray you, but the only drawback is that only those who have witnessed death can see them.

Abe walked up to a carriage, his big eyes curiously scanning the space between the carriages, as if he could see the magical creature, the Night Kirin.

But before it could take a second look, Aaron picked it up and took it to an empty car.

Draco followed him into the carriage, closed the door, and the carriage automatically moved towards the castle.

"Just shut up already!"

There are many people here, and it's easy to attract attention.

Abe whimpered softly and nestled obediently in Aaron's arms.

Aaron's eyes twitched slightly as he heard Abe's dragon language: "Night Kirin isn't as good-looking as me; he's all skin and bones."

The carriage passed through two wrought-iron gates, sped up along a long ramp, and finally came to a shaky stop.

Upon reaching the castle, Aaron and Draco jumped down from the carriage.

"Boss, we're here."

Crabbe and Goyle ran up from behind and stood on either side of Draco like door gods.

"Where did you go?" Draco asked, somewhat annoyed. "I passed by your carriage just now and didn't see anyone. You guys are really bold, not even waiting for me."

The two exchanged a glance, hesitant to speak.

After a moment of silence, Crabbe said sheepishly, "Actually, we should have been inside the carriage, but we accidentally slipped and fell on the floor when we got off, so..."

Snapped!

Draco slapped his forehead, utterly speechless.

However, these are his followers after all, so he can't just take action against them.

"Alright, let's not dwell on this little incident."

They're second-year students, after all; we'll have to welcome the new Slytherin later.

Draco gave the two of them an angry look. "Let's go! I hope you'll be more reliable next time."

The four followed the crowd up the steps, through the majestic oak gate, and into the spacious and secluded foyer.

After passing through a marble staircase and turning a few corners, you will reach the auditorium.

Several class leaders led their students to sit at the long table belonging to their respective colleges, with the college professors and other faculty members sitting neatly in front of them.

Headmaster Dumbledore looked at a letter on the table, his brows furrowed slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Professor Snape gave Aaron a deep look, a slight smile playing on his lips, before turning his face away expressionlessly, his aloofness and arrogance shining through.

At that moment, Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on an empty chair.

Perhaps a year had passed, and it was covered in dust again. Aaron, sitting at the front of the long table, saw it and, perhaps due to his obsessive-compulsive disorder, felt an inexplicable urge to touch it.

The Sorting Hat seemed to sense something and opened its human-like eyes, saying, "I'm warning you, put away your inappropriate thoughts."

I'm a freshman this year, so don't tell me what to do.

"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person," Aaron said seriously, then turned to Professor McGonagall. "Professor, could you give it a simple cleaning?"

I think freshmen would instinctively resist a dirty hat!

Sorting Hat: ......

"Don't go too far. What happened to not interfering?"

“It’s not like I did it myself,” Alan said matter-of-factly. “I deliberately delegated it to someone else.”

"This..." Professor McGonagall hesitated for a moment, looking at the Sorting Hat, which was now wrinkled like a bitter gourd, and felt a little reluctant. "This isn't quite right!"

“Minerva, you’re more reasonable,” the Sorting Hat said. “Unlike some people who have no respect for their elders, I am, after all, a magical artifact created by one of the four great masters of the house. I should always be given the necessary respect.”

“That’s how it is,” Professor McGonagall said sheepishly. “It’s considered one of the academy’s elders.”

"cut!"

Aaron curled his lip dismissively. Are the four great houses—Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw—so great?

They were indeed remarkable, after all, these four magicians were the pinnacle of the wizarding world at the time, the chosen ones of that era.

But no matter how great someone was, they're just a handful of dust now, and those who have already died have no deterrent effect on him.

Besides, his ancestors in the Gaius family were not necessarily weaker than the four great wizards. After being baptized by a group of immortal old men during this holiday, his awe of those great wizards has been greatly diminished.

Soon the freshmen followed Hagrid to the Great Hall. The first-year students, including Ginny and Colin, curiously looked around the magically decorated Great Hall.

Hagrid walked straight to his seat and poured himself a full glass of beer.

"Ahem! Freshmen, come with me." Professor McGonagall led them to the front of the Great Hall, then picked up the Sorting Hat and a long list. "Students whose names I call, please come forward. The Sorting Hat will sort you into the most suitable house."

The Sorting Hat grinned, revealing a crooked smile through its wrinkles. This was its happiest and most prominent moment of the year, when it had all the young wizards in its grasp.

As was customary, Professor McGonagall began taking attendance, and the freshmen sat down one by one to be sorted into their respective schools.