American Comics: Starting with Muggle Wizards

"By the way, why didn't you bring Crookshan to school?"

Hermione returned a look that said "I'm an idiot."

"The school doesn't recommend bringing pets, and I'll be busy studying every day, so how will I have time to spend with Crookshanks?"

“Alright.” Harvey could understand, considering that Hermione was a little witch who would always love learning magic.

Time always flies when the four of them chat.

As Harvey got so bored he started to doze off, the Hogwarts Express finally began to slow down.

Harry Potter pointed out the window in surprise and exclaimed, "Look! It seems we're at school?"

Everyone turned to look in the direction Harry Potter was pointing.

The train slowly pulled into a village and stopped at the narrow, dimly lit platform.

In the dim light of the setting sun, one can vaguely see a magnificent castle atop the layered mountains of the Scottish Highlands in the distance.

"Is that Hogwarts Castle?"

Hermione muttered to herself.

The train hissed from its steam chimney and came to a complete stop.

One after another, little wizards ran off from the carriages.

"It's time for us to go."

Harvey cast the Levitation Charm on the suitcase again, got up, and was the first to step out of the carriage.

I had just settled down on the platform, waiting for Hermione and Harry Potter to arrive.

He happened to see older students skillfully boarding Thestrals and soaring into the sky towards Hogwarts Castle atop the cliff.

The Thestrals have sharp facial features, resemble horses in appearance, but possess a pair of black bat wings, making them a very special and magical creature.

It is special because only those who have witnessed death can see the appearance of a Thestral with their own eyes.

Hermione suddenly appeared from behind and patted Harvey on the shoulder.

"What are you looking at?"

Following Harvey's gaze, Hermione suddenly realized, "A carriage that can fly? That's not so strange, is it?"

Harvey smiled without explaining, "I really envy the older students who can take a carriage directly to the castle."

Hermione was confused. "Can't we ride in a flying car?"

Harvey shook his head, about to explain, when a loud voice rang out in everyone's ears.

"First-year students!"

"All first-year students, come here!"

Hermione looked left and right, but for a moment she couldn't find the source of the sound.

Finally, Harry Potter, dragging his suitcase off the train, pointed to a three-meter-tall giant not far from the platform and said:

“I know him. He’s Hagrid, the half-giant, the Keeper of the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts. He once took me to Diagon Alley to buy things for my enrollment.”

Harvey nodded. "Let's go then."

Hermione was amazed by the giant's height as she followed Harvey forward.

Neville followed behind Harry Potter, dragging his suitcase.

Not a moment.

Thirty or forty little wizards gathered around the tall giant carrying a dim, yellow lantern.

"Are all the new students here? Remember to stay close to me, the mountain path is a bit steep."

At this moment, only half of the fiery sun remained on the horizon, and the light at Hogsmeade Station was very dim.

The young wizards could barely see the path beneath their feet by squeezing next to the giant.

"Lumos!"

Harvey used the Illumination Charm, raising his wand to illuminate a large area nearby.

Hagrid couldn't help but look at him with surprise.

"This little wizard can use spells even before enrolling in school! He's truly amazing!"

Harvey continued on his way with a blank expression, as if the praise from others was nothing but fleeting smoke to him.

But the subtle curve of his lips that he inadvertently revealed clearly showed that he was secretly pleased with himself.

Hermione followed closely behind Harvey as they walked out of Hogsmeade Station and along a dirt road for several hundred meters until they reached a lake that was right next to a cliff.

Hagrid pointed at the small boat that was already moored on the lake and gave loud instructions.

"Each boat can carry a maximum of four people. Children must never put their hands into the lake water, as there are many dangerous creatures in Black Lake."

After explaining the precautions, the young wizards obediently boarded the boat.

With Hagrid's shout, "Let's go!"

A dozen small boats, without any wind, began to row towards the cliffs on the opposite shore of the lake.

The small boat slowly glided to the other side of the lake, to the dock on the edge of a steep cliff.

Hagrid disembarked and led the way into an underground tunnel paved with cobblestones.

Then, after crossing the flat, damp grass, they led the little wizard across a long staircase that seemed to lead to heaven.

The young wizards, exhausted from their journey, stopped panting in front of a tall oak door.

Chapter 24 Sorting Ceremony

After climbing the mountain for a long time, Harvey was exhausted and looked up.

Hagrid went up to the oak door and slammed it three times with a rude "bang, bang, bang!"

The oak door creaked open automatically.

Professor Minerva McGonagall, always elegant, stood in the doorway, dressed in a fitted wizard's robe.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, first-year students!"

Perhaps it was Professor McGonagall's serious expression that intimidated the group of young wizards.

Anyway, no one is responding right now; everyone is just breathing heavily.

Harry Potter and Neville, in particular, were exhausted after walking such a long way up the mountain with their suitcases.

Harvey then added casually, "Didn't you guys hear the announcement on the train saying that someone would help bring your luggage to school?"

At that moment, Harry Potter swore he had never met such a nasty fellow.

"Harvey, why didn't you say so sooner?"

Harvey shrugged. "I thought you guys would be happy to carry your own luggage, and the announcements are so loud, anyone who's not deaf should be able to hear them, right?"

Harry Potter took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger even though it was about to burst out.

"The sorting ceremony is about to begin. All freshmen, please come in."

After Professor McGonagall briefly explained the rules of the four houses and the scoring hourglass for the House Cup, she turned and walked towards the auditorium.

The young wizards lined up and followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall.

Upon entering the spacious hall, many upperclassmen dressed in brightly colored wizard robes sat quietly on either side of the long table, waiting.

Candles floated in rows above the long table, their light reflecting off the gleaming gold goblets and tableware.

The ceiling was enchanted, shining like the starry sky outside.

"The ceiling of the Great Hall is just as dreamlike as described in 'Hogwarts: A History'!"

Hermione remarked as she followed the group.

Harvey paid no attention to his surroundings, but instead used his peripheral vision to carefully observe Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who was sitting at the head of the table.

The kind old man with silver hair and a thick white beard that almost touched his neck seemed to notice Harvey's gaze.

He subtly nodded to Harvey in the queue.

Dumbledore's wise and loving gaze made Harvey a little uncomfortable.

He always felt that if this old man noticed him, nothing good would happen.

At this moment, Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in the center of the Great Hall, and also placed a patched pointed wizard's hat on the stool.

Professor McGonagall then took out a roll of parchment and adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses.

"Next, each freshman whose name is called, please come forward in an orderly manner, put on the sorting cap, and sit on the stool."

"The first one is—"

Professor McGonagall had only uttered half a sentence.

Under the tense gaze of all the young wizards, the Sorting Hat on the stool suddenly split open and began to sing in a strange tone.

"You may not think I'm pretty, but please don't judge a book by its cover~"

"If you can find a more beautiful hat than mine, I'll eat myself!"

"No thought you harbor can escape the Magic Hat's discerning eyes!"

"Because I am a hat with thoughts."

"Try wearing this on, and I'll tell you which college you should be assigned to..."

The Sorting Hat then went on to boast about the great achievements of the four founders of Hogwarts.

The Sorting Hat finally shut up, and Harvey, who was almost unable to resist plugging his ears with earplugs, felt a sense of relief at surviving a disaster.

Professor McGonagall's expression was also unpleasant. She narrowed her eyes and stared at the Sorting Hat, but ultimately said nothing.

She just wanted to try to skip the Sorting Hat singing process, but she still couldn't escape being punished by the Sorting Hat's terrible singing.

“Now, first freshman, Clark Kent, please come up.”

"What?" Harvey couldn't help but exclaim when he heard this name that represented invincibility.