What's meant to happen will happen.

Chapter 16 What's meant to happen will happen.

Perhaps due to the inertia of the world's will, the famous scene of searching for Leif still occurred.

Kind-hearted Hermione chooses to accompany Neville on his search for his pet. Ian explains that he will stay in the cubicle in case the lost Rafer suddenly returns, thus preventing it from getting lost again.

Just kidding. Ian knows his own situation. Why would he go around knocking on doors to greet people? Wouldn't that be like having too many good days?

Ian had already experienced the power of being surrounded by women at Madam Malkin's Robes Shop.

After watching the two leave, Ian leaned back on the bench and took a nap, enjoying the long-lost peace. After all, he had gotten up too early in the morning and needed to rest for a while to recover his energy.

However, things don't always go as planned. In the next hour, this small cubicle received 17 guests in a row.

Five Ravenclaws, four Slytherins, five Gryffindors, and three Hufflepuffs.

It's worth mentioning that 16 of them were girls who had come to chat up him long ago. Ian politely but clearly rejected all of these enthusiastic girls.

He knew that his purpose in coming to Hogwarts was to learn magic that would allow him to survive in the apocalypse, not to fall in love, find a girlfriend, or experience life.

As for the remaining boy, he was Percy Weasley, the new fifth-year prefect of Gryffindor.

He came to convey Professor McGonagall's order. Professor McGonagall had left in a hurry and forgot to tell Ian that he also needed to travel to Hogwarts by boat with the younger students.

Ian didn't object to this; there was nothing shameful about it. Every new student going to Hogwarts for the first time had to take a small boat, simulating the journey of the four great masters.

This is not just a tradition that has lasted for thousands of years, but also a ritualistic magic used to gain the protection of Hogwarts.

After dealing with these visitors one by one, Ian finally had some peace and quiet.

This continued until Neville, with Hermione's help, found his toad and successfully brought it back to his cell, without any strangers visiting in between.

As the train's announcement was made and it began to noticeably slow down, it indicated that the journey was nearing its end.

"The car has stopped, we can get off now!"

Seeing that Neville looked a little nervous and confused, Ian had to speak up and give him a reminder.

As the train pulled into the station, the once empty passageway was filled with little wizards who came out of their cubicles one after another.

Fortunately, Ian and his two companions were positioned at the back, so they didn't have to squeeze into the crowd. They were simply strolling leisurely along with the flow of people.

Hogsmeade Station, also the terminus of the Hogwarts Express, is a very small and old-fashioned station.

"First-year students! First-year students, come this way, Harry~ Harry, come this way."

Ian and his two companions, who were huddled on the edge of the platform, looked up at the sound and saw a giant with a thick beard, who was at least 10 feet tall, or more than three meters tall, on the far left of the platform.

The giant was shouting loudly at the crowd, holding aloft a medieval-style lantern, its orange magical flames standing out clearly in the dark night.

With a physique like that, only the half-giant Rubeus Hagrid, known as the Hunting Grounds Keeper, could be found at Hogwarts.

After several twists and turns, the three finally made their way through the crowded throng to Hagrid's side. It's worth mentioning that there were already many well-known first-year wizards standing in this open space, including Harry, Ron, and Malfoy.

Hagrid was smiling and talking to Harry. Once everyone had arrived, he carried the retro lantern, which was about the size of an adult's arm, and led the new students along a steep and narrow path on the left side of the station.

"Hermione, if you're scared, you can grab my arm."

The steep path was even more slippery after the rain, and Ian, seeing the girl walking cautiously in front of him, couldn't help but remind her.

"Turn this corner and you'll see Hogwarts right away!"

About fifteen minutes later, Ian heard Hagrid, who was walking at the front and leading the way, turn around and loudly remind them.

Sure enough, as they reached the end of the path and turned a corner, the dense woods that had previously blocked their view disappeared.

What appeared before them was a vast black lake.

At the end of the lake, on a hillside covered with strangely shaped rocks, stands a majestic medieval castle exuding an air of mystery.

The castle is covered with spires, and the lights shining through the open windows are like twinkling stars in the night.

The castle's main building appears exceptionally magnificent and imposing against the backdrop of the Black Lake.

This fairytale-like scene left all the young wizards, including Ian, who were seeing Hogwarts for the first time, with expressions of amazement and awe.

Yes, that included Ian, even though he had seen the castle more than once in his previous life, but that was only on the screen.

The difference is like looking at pictures of the universe on your phone versus lying in the wilderness gazing at the stars – those are completely different experiences.

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

Hagrid pointed to the row of small boats with their own magical lights along the lake shore, telling the new students that they must take these boats to cross the Black Lake to Hogwarts for the first time.

There are many small boats, so it is not required that each boat must carry four people. Many young wizards ride in pairs or groups of three.

"Set off!"

Once all the young wizards had successfully formed teams, Hagrid gave a soft shout, and all the ships, without any manual operation, began to drift rapidly toward Hogwarts.

……

Ian sat on the boat, enjoying the cool breeze after the rain and admiring the beautiful scenery along the way.

After passing through a dark tunnel beneath the cliff, the small boat gradually slowed down and docked beside the pier.

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

Hagrid led the way with a lantern, and they trudged along a winding, gravel path for about fifteen minutes.

Finally, we arrived at a flat grassy area in the shadow of the castle.

Not far ahead was the entrance to the Hogwarts Great Hall, a tall door made of oak.

Hagrid stepped forward and knocked three times on the door. The door immediately opened, and a tall, dark-haired witch in a light green robe appeared before them with a stern expression.

The visitor was none other than Minerva McGonagall, the Vice-Headmistress of Hogwarts and Head of Gryffindor, whom Ian knew well.

"All the first-year students are here, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. Leave the rest to me."

New book, please add to your favorites and recommend it! Thank you to all the readers!

(End of this chapter)