Marvel's Hogwarts Wizard

Chapter 31 First Visit to Hogwarts Castle

"After you turn this corner, you'll see Hogwarts for the first time."

About twenty minutes later, Jerry heard Hagrid, who was leading the way, turn around and loudly remind them.

Sure enough, when they reached the end of the path and turned a corner, the dense woods that had been blocking their view on both sides disappeared.

What appeared before them was a vast, black lake.

At the end of the lake, on a high hillside, stands a majestic medieval castle exuding an air of mystery, its spire towering and its windows shimmering under the starry sky.

Especially against the backdrop of the Black Lake, the castle appeared exceptionally large, eliciting gasps of amazement from all the young wizards, including Jerry.

When I watched the movie in my past life, although I felt that Hogwarts Castle was quite magnificent, it was still just a small television screen.

Just like the universe you see on TV, the feeling of seeing the planets is definitely different from actually being in the universe and looking at it.

To put it more simply, the feeling of looking at a beautiful woman on paper is completely different from looking at a real, living woman.

Now, as Jerry stands by the Black Lake, witnessing the mysterious Hogwarts Castle with his own eyes, he truly understands why Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is so famous in the wizarding world.

Every wizard who has studied at Hogwarts must remember the awe they felt when they first saw Hogwarts Castle.

"No more than four people are allowed on each boat!"

At this moment, Hagrid pointed to a fleet of small boats with their own magic lamps moored by the lake and told the young wizards that they needed to take these boats across the Black Lake to Hogwarts.

So the young wizards began to form teams and board the ship.

There are many small boats, so not every boat needs to be fully loaded; many young wizards travel in pairs or groups of three.

Jerry, Hermione, and Neville naturally ended up sitting in the same small boat.

"Set off!"

Once all the young wizards had successfully formed teams, Hagrid, sitting alone in a small boat, gave a soft shout.

All the small boats carrying the young wizards drifted rapidly towards Hogwarts Castle, propelled by the waves of the Black Lake, without any manual intervention.

"This is truly like rowing a boat without oars, relying entirely on the waves!"

Jerry looked at the small boats lined up neatly and moving forward automatically, and couldn't help but mutter a complaint to himself.

"Jerry, do you know why we're taking a boat to the castle?"

At this moment, Hermione, who was sitting to the side, suddenly raised her chin and asked Jerry a question.

Clearly, Hermione's tendency to "show off" her knowledge was kicking in again.

People of the same age might find this annoying, but Jerry, as an adult, just thinks it's a great thing that someone is giving him free scientific knowledge!

"I really don't know!"

Jerry replied very honestly.

He really didn't know why the young wizards traveled to Hogwarts by boat, because that's how it was portrayed in the movies, although in later installments it seemed they traveled by carriage instead.

However, at that time, his attention was focused on the magical elements in the movie, and who would care about riding in a carriage or boat?

Seeing that Jerry didn't understand, Hermione perked up and began to explain to him:

"I read in 'A History of Hogwarts' that the first-year students take a boat to the castle, which is actually a ceremony to commemorate the founder of the house!"

"Look, the boat has four seats, symbolizing the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And the route we're taking now is the same route the four founders took to find the location of Hogwarts Castle!"

"So that's how it is! You really are always learning!"

After hearing Hermione's explanation, Jerry realized that it was indeed true. However, what surprised him even more was how many extracurricular books Hermione had read during the entire summer vacation.

All I can say is that she truly lives up to her reputation as a know-it-all; she's beyond the reach of ordinary people!

And so, while listening to Hermione's various scientific explanations, he admired the unique scenery of the Black Lake.

Jerry crossed the Black Lake in a small boat, passed through a dark tunnel under the cliff, gradually slowed down, and stopped beside the underground dock of Hogwarts Castle.

"Okay, everyone, follow me, we're almost at the castle gate!"

Hagrid walked ahead carrying the magic lamp, while Jerry and the other young wizards, after disembarking from the small boat, gathered together and followed behind him.

They climbed up a path paved with gravel and pebbles for another half hour before finally reaching a flat, damp meadow in the shadow of the castle.

In front of them was a huge oak door, which was also the gate of Hogwarts Castle.

Hagrid stepped forward and knocked three times on the door. The door immediately opened, and a tall, dark-haired witch in a bright green robe appeared behind it with a serious expression.

It was Professor McGonagall, the director of the Gryffindor Institute, whom Jerry knew well.

"Professor McGonagall, a first-year student."

"Thank you, Hagrid. Leave this place to me."

After overhearing their conversation, Hagrid left first, leaving Professor McGonagall to lead them on their way.

After crossing the steps beneath the oak door, the group entered the foyer on the first floor of the castle.

"It's huge!"

Jerry heard Harry and Ron walking over and exclaim in agreement, and nodded in agreement.

Although it was just a foyer, it seemed unusually spacious, perhaps due to the use of a space-enlarging spell, especially the ceiling, which gave the strange illusion that it stretched as far as the eye could see.

The stone walls around the entrance hall were covered with blazing torches, illuminating the entire hall. Directly opposite was a luxurious marble staircase, which should have led to the second floor.

From the door on the right side of the foyer, Jerry could faintly hear the buzzing of hundreds of people talking. He guessed that it must be the main hall on the first floor, where the Sorting Ceremony would be held later.

There was a small house on the left side of the entrance hall. Professor McGonagall was leading them towards the small house, walking on the bluestone slabs of the entrance hall floor.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! The opening banquet is about to begin, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must first..."

Inside the cabin, Professor McGonagall first greeted the young wizards, and then gave a general explanation of the upcoming Sorting Ceremony, the four houses, credits, the House Cup, and other related matters.

However, she did not explain in detail what the Sorting Ceremony was based on, or the specific process of Sorting, because the young wizards would find out soon enough.

After she finished speaking, she told the young wizards to tidy up their clothes in the hut and wait for the Sorting Ceremony, while she left for the Great Hall.

(End of this chapter)