As they approached Hogwarts, the tension from the encounter with Travers faded, replaced by a collective sense of wonder. Under Hagrid's guidance, the first-years gathered at the edge of the black lake.
"Everyone into the boats! No more than four to a boat, now," Hagrid bellowed over the chatter.
Alan, Charles, and Vivian claimed a boat, and were soon joined by another girl.
"Hi, I'm Aliana. Nice to meet you all," she said, offering a small smile as she settled in.
"Hello! I'm Vivian, and these are Alan and Charles. We ladies will take the comfortable seats, and the gentlemen can handle the rowing," Vivian announced. Without waiting for a vote, she effectively assigned the labor.
Alan and Charles exchanged a weary look but silently took up the oars. However, Alan soon realized the rowing was largely symbolic; the boats were clearly enchanted, gliding steadily along a predetermined path toward the castle.
"I heard that only first-years enter the school this way," Vivian whispered, her voice full of the rumors she seemed to collect like stamps. "They say it's to let us retrace the path of the four founders. Four to a boat, one for each founder. It's all very traditional."
Alan watched the massive silhouette of the castle grow larger against the night sky. He wondered what the founders had felt when they first saw these cliffs, but he didn't have much time for philosophy. The rest of the students were vibrating with excitement.
"Disembark here and follow me," Hagrid called out, his lamp swaying as he led them into the Boathouse.
From there, they climbed a long, winding stone staircase that hugged the side of the cliff. It was an exhausting trek, but finally, they reached the summit where the true scale of the castle became apparent. Hagrid led the breathless group into the entrance hall, where Professor McGonagall was waiting on the stone steps. Her dark green robes looked sharp in the torchlight.
When her eyes found Alan in the crowd, she gave him a pointed, stern look. It was clear that the news of his "adventures" in Knockturn Alley had already reached her office.
"The first-years are all yours, Professor," Hagrid said with a nod before heading off.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." McGonagall turned her attention to the sea of nervous faces. "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. I shall lead you into the Great Hall in a moment."
She proceeded to deliver a concise briefing on the Sorting Ceremony and the House Cup. She explained that their successes would earn points, while any rule-breaking would result in deductions. To the children around him, it sounded like a call to glory; they looked ready to charge into battle for their respective houses.
Alan suppressed a sigh. To him, they looked like a bunch of over-excited kids who didn't yet realize that earning points was a lot harder than losing them. He suspected most of them would be deep in the negatives by the end of the first week.
"Alan, are you nervous? I'm terrified," Vivian whispered, fidgeting with her robes. "What if it's an exam? I spent the whole summer doing absolutely nothing academic."
*You spent the whole summer gathering gossip,* Alan thought, though he offered her a few quiet words of encouragement.
Soon, Professor McGonagall returned and signaled for them to follow. They passed through the massive oak doors into the Great Hall. Alan noticed four giant hourglasses mounted near the entrance, each filled with different colored stones to track the house points.
The Great Hall was a masterpiece of magical architecture. It was so vast that the ceiling was invisible, replaced by a perfect enchantment of the night sky outside. Thousands of candles floated in mid-air, casting a warm, flickering glow over the four long house tables packed with older students. At the front of the hall stood a single wooden stool, upon which sat a patched, frayed wizard's hat.
As they approached, the hat began to sing. To Alan's ears, the voice was a discordant, tone-deaf howl that seemed to go on far longer than necessary. It was a performance that only a magical artifact could truly enjoy.
When the hat finally finished its song, the hall erupted in applause. Professor McGonagall stepped forward, unrolling a long scroll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will come forward, sit upon the stool, and put on the hat," she announced. "Aliana Hinkley."
The girl from their boat stepped up, her face pale. She sat down, and the hat was placed over her eyes. It sat in silence for a few seconds before shouting, "RAVENCLAW!"
The table draped in blue and bronze erupted in cheers. The ceremony continued with mechanical efficiency. Vivian was sorted into Slytherin, a result she had predicted given her family history. Charles went to Gryffindor, which surprised no one. Alan felt a pang of sympathy for Vivian, however, when Sampel Travers was also sent to Slytherin. Dealing with him in the common room was going to be a headache.
Alan was still questioning the logic of a talking hat deciding a child's future when McGonagall called the next name.
"Alan Wilson."