Hogwarts: I Became the Third Dark Lord.

By the time the Hogwarts Express arrived at Hogsmeade Station, it was completely dark.

Before Wentworth could even get off the train, he saw a figure that looked like a giant standing outside the narrow window by the train corridor, holding a torch. The giant had a thick beard and messy hair.

Without a doubt, it was Haig.

This is yet another person to watch out for and someone to stay away from, Wentworth thought to himself as he followed the crowd off the Hogwarts Express.

However, after Wentworth and the others got out of the car, the first person to speak was not Hagrid. Instead, a witch wearing glasses walked out from behind Hagrid.

"Excuse me, is Ms. Ilona here?"

Rozier, disguised as Ilona, ​​slowly disembarked from the train, walked to the witch's side, and said with a smile:

"I'm here. Hello, I'm Ilona."

The witch also smiled and said:

"Hello, Ms. Ilona. I am Professor McGonagall, the Vice-Headmaster of Hogwarts. I am here to greet you on behalf of Headmaster Dumbledore. I am sorry that the Headmaster could not come in person, but as you know, today is the first day of school and there are many things waiting for him to attend to."

Ilona waved her hand dismissively and said:

“It’s alright, Professor McGonagall. The reason why Hogwarts has been considered the best magic school in the world for so many years is inseparable from the efforts of Headmaster Dumbledore and all the professors. As the headmaster, Dumbledore should be busy, shouldn’t he?”

Upon hearing Ilona's words, McGonagall smiled, but quickly suppressed it.

"Fred and George! You two, put down what you're holding! What are you trying to do?!"

McGonagall strode back aggressively and stood before the two identical twins, speaking angrily.

"Hey, professor, don't be nervous, they're just fireworks!"

"Yes, Professor, it's for the first-year students! You know, it's so dark for them on their way here! I'm worried they won't be able to see the road."

The twins said with smiles.

McGonagall, however, said without any hesitation:

"Put your things away! You should be glad the new semester hasn't officially started yet, otherwise I would have already deducted points from your grades!"

After McGonagall finished speaking, she turned to Ilona and said apologetically:

“Let’s go this way, Ms. Ilona. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. You know, these children…”

But for some reason, Wentworth always felt that when Professor McGonagall left with Ilona, ​​she seemed to glance at him from afar one last time.

As McGonagall and Ilona walked further and further away, the surrounding students gradually became noisy again.

"All first-year students, come to my class!"

Hagrid shook a bell in his hand and shouted loudly.

“Wentworth, I think we’ll have to part ways for a while. Remember what you said about how first-year students enter school differently from us? But that’s okay, I’ll be waiting for you in Hogwarts Castle.”

Cedric's voice came from behind Wentworth, and it sounded apologetic.

Wentworth quickly said:

"Okay, Cedric, I really hate to be apart from you for even a minute, but since this is a Hogwarts tradition, there's nothing I can do about it. I'll come to Hogwarts to find you as soon as possible!"

Cedric seemed somewhat moved by Wentworth's words, and even gave Wentworth a hug as he left.

Wentworth watched Cedric leave, then turned around and saw Cassandra looking at him strangely.

Chapter Fourteen: Before the Sorting

"You two, is this really the first day we've met?"

Cassandra asked with some curiosity, and after receiving Wentworth's affirmative answer, a strange smile appeared on Cassandra's lips.

"May Merlin bless you, no, may you all! If Merlin can accept that."

After Cassandra finished speaking, she followed Hagrid's footsteps and walked forward without waiting for Wentworth's reaction, leaving Wentworth stunned.

Soon, all the new students, led by Hagrid, walked through a winding path and arrived at a vast lake.

"Everyone, what you see before you is the Black Lake. We will be taking small boats across the Black Lake to Hogwarts Castle. Remember, four people per boat, four people per boat!"

Upon hearing Hagrid's words, Wentworth immediately peered curiously into the lake.

"What are you looking at?"

A freshman asked from behind Wentworth.

"I've heard there's a monster in Black Lake. Let's see if they'll welcome us!"

Wentworth's words caused many of the young wizards around him to instinctively take a step back. Many of the freshmen who were originally scrambling to be the first to board the ship subconsciously moved away from the direction of the Black Lake.

"Tch, a bunch of cowards! Get out of my way!"

Cassandra strode towards the lake and headed straight for the small boats moored there.

But after Cassandra boarded the small boat, no other freshmen were willing to follow her for a while. It was unclear whether Wentworth's words had intimidated them or Cassandra's aura was so strong that it made the other freshmen hesitate.

Seeing this, Wentworth had no choice but to walk up and sit down next to Cassandra. Finally, two more freshmen whose names were called by Hagrid walked up reluctantly.

Then, the group boarded a small boat and rowed to the other side of the lake.

When Hogwarts Castle first came into view, Wentworth couldn't help but stand up.

Under the starlight, Hogwarts was mysterious and magnificent. Although Wentworth had seen it countless times in the original books and movies in his previous life, the moment he saw it with his own eyes, Wentworth deeply felt the insignificance of language, because this ancient castle could not be described even a fraction of its beauty with words.

While Wentworth and the others were crossing the river, Ilona, ​​led by Professor McGonagall, arrived at the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts, where Dumbledore was already waiting for her.

After seeing Ilona off, Professor McGonagall hurriedly left. After all, compared to Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, as the deputy headmaster of Hogwarts, was the busiest person in Hogwarts.

Looking at the wizard she had fantasized about killing countless times, Ilona revealed a delicate smile.

“Hello, Headmaster Dumbledore, I am Ilona. It’s a pleasure to meet you. As the greatest white wizard of this era, I have imagined meeting you countless times.”

Dumbledore looked at Ilona with gentle eyes, and after a moment, he spoke:

"Hello, Ms. Ilona, ​​you must be tired from your journey. The opening banquet won't start for a while, would you like some honey candy first?"

Ilona waved her hand and refused:

"Thank you for your hospitality, Headmaster Dumbledore, but I think it's unnecessary. On the train, a generous student treated me to many sweets."

Dumbledore nodded, not pressuring the matter, and said with a smile:

"The students at Hogwarts are all warm and hospitable children. I think you will like it here! Ms. Ilona, ​​no, from now on I should call you Professor Ilona."

Ilona smiled just right, her face full of surprise, and said:

"So, I've been hired, Headmaster Dumbledore?"

Dumbledore nodded, indicating affirmation:

"Of course, Professor Ilona, ​​not everyone can resist my Legilimency when looking me directly in the eye. You will definitely become an excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"However, due to time constraints, we are unable to have the students purchase the books you specified. It seems you will have to continue using the previous Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. Is that alright?"

Ilona's smile widened even further as she spoke:

"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore. Actually, I don't need many teaching materials!"

"That's good, Professor Ilona."

"I advocate for practical combat!"

When Wentworth and Cassandra arrived at Hogwarts Castle by boat, Professor McGonagall was already waiting there.

"Welcome, everyone, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Once we enter the castle, we will begin with the Sorting Ceremony."

"As you all probably already know, Hogwarts has four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, named after the four founders of Hogwarts."

Wentworth listened to Professor McGonagall's introduction of Hogwarts from above, and couldn't help but purse his lips, muttering softly:

"What a completely uninteresting introduction!"

But Wentworth seems to have forgotten that cats have very sensitive ears, and Professor McGonagall is a well-known catgirl.

“Mr. Wentworth, if I’m not mistaken, you must be Mr. Wentworth? You seem to have a better idea for my introduction?”

Wentworth hadn't expected that Professor McGonagall would overhear his casual remark.

Wentworth was about to step forward and apologize when he suddenly remembered that his original plan was to stay away from Gryffindor and Slytherin, and the person in front of him was the head of Gryffindor.

Although this way of thinking is a bit wrong, as long as McGonagall doesn't like me, the Sorting Hat probably won't sort me into Gryffindor.

So Wentworth stepped forward without flinching and stood in front of all the new students, saying:

“Yes, Professor McGonagall, I do think your introduction to the four houses of Hogwarts is far too simplistic. This kind of introduction has probably been around for many years and has never changed. It’s really unoriginal. The Muggle world is changing rapidly, and the wizarding world should also continue to develop!”

Looking at Wentworth, who was speaking eloquently, McGonagall thought to herself: Dumbledore, this child is indeed of Grindelwald blood. He is destined to be a man who will bring about change in the wizarding world, just like his grandfather.

And now, he has become a student at Hogwarts.

Despite this thought, Professor McGonagall did not silence Wentworth. Although she was known for her strictness, Professor McGonagall was not a professor who forbade students from speaking.

"It seems you know quite a bit about the four houses of Hogwarts, Mr. Wentworth. If it were you, how would you introduce them?"

Professor McGonagall stood in front and looked at Wentworth as she asked.

Chapter Fifteen: A Unique Introduction to the Academy

Wentworth, who was initially a little apprehensive and worried that Professor McGonagall would tell him to shut up, couldn't help but admire that Professor McGonagall's popularity in the original work was not without reason, seeing that she didn't get angry.

But the reason I stepped forward this time was to leave a bad impression on Professor McGonagall, so I can only apologize.

"Professor McGonagall, which college would you like to hear about first?"

When Wentworth asked her, Professor McGonagall, as the Head of Gryffindor, did not hesitate for a moment and directly stated the name of her house:

"Let's start with Gryffindor then."

Seeing that Professor McGonagall had unsurprisingly named Gryffindor, Wentworth smiled slightly, turned around, and faced the direction of the new students.

Many years later, a Hogwarts student from the same year as Wentworth recalled this scene and said: That night, Wentworth, who had not yet officially enrolled, stood in front of the magnificent castle, starlight shining on his face, and all the new students were looking up at him, as if they were an army waiting for inspection!

At this moment, Wentworth didn't think that much. He simply cleared his throat and said: