At times like this, it's better to take down as many as you can.

Chapter 13 At times like these, it's better to take advantage of whoever you can.

Around 6 p.m., the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station in the Scottish Highlands, finally bringing an end to the journey that had lasted more than seven hours.

Ha! This is the Hogwarts Express?

Andy said he had never ridden such a slow train in his two lives.

"Don't we need to take our suitcases?" Hermione asked, puzzled, as Andy and Neville walked out empty-handed.

"Need not."

Andy explained, "They will bring our luggage to the dorm."

As I followed the crowd off the train, it was already completely dark outside.

The night sky was dotted with stars, and weeds grew all around. From time to time, the howls of wolves echoed from the distant forest, and crows perched on the bare trees on both sides, occasionally letting out a few eerie cries.

What a hellish train station.

Many of the young wizards were trembling with fear. Neville was on the verge of fainting, and Hermione was also looking very nervous, though she was trying to appear calm.

"Hey Andy, I was wondering where you'd been."

A familiar voice came from behind him. Andy turned around and saw Ron walking towards him with a thin, dark-haired boy.

"I arrived early, so I just randomly picked a carriage. And this is..." Andy asked.

"Hello, I am Harry Potter," said the dark-haired boy.

"I am Andy Collins." Andy nodded.

"Is it really you?"

Hermione looked Harry up and down, seemingly wondering how this thin boy had managed to save the magical world. "I've heard about you. I bought a few extra reference books: 'A History of Modern Magic,' 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts,' and 'Important Magical Events of the Twentieth Century.' You're mentioned in all of them."

Here we go again, Andy sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

"Mention me?" Harry was a little puzzled; he had no idea how he had become a big celebrity in the wizarding world. On the train, a guy named Draco Malfoy had even approached him, trying to force himself on him as a friend.

However, Harry rejected her.

But perhaps they didn't refuse.

Because a little boy named Draco doesn't seem to understand the meaning of the word "no".

Ron tugged at Andy's sleeve, gestured towards Hermione with his eyes, and asked in a very low voice, "How do you know her?"

"We met on the train; we were in the same carriage," Andy replied casually.

"My God, you can actually stand her?" Ron's face was full of disbelief.

"ah--"

As the group was still talking, a piercing scream suddenly came from not far away, as if they had been greatly frightened.

Has anyone died?

Andy looked over there curiously.

A burly man, at least ten feet tall, appeared in the grove of trees not far away. He walked slowly towards them, like a monster about to devour someone.

"First-year students, first-year students, come this way!"

The giant man, carrying a lamp, hovered above the first-year wizard's head. "Harry, come over here. Are you alright?"

Andy thought Harry might not be a good match.

Unless one focuses on her looks, most children might not feel comfortable interacting with Hermione.

The giant roared, "My name is Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts key keeper. First-year wizards, follow me. Any more first-years? Watch your step! First-years, follow me!"

The young wizards exchanged glances, seemingly seeking courage from each other. With one of the young wizards stumbling along behind Hagrid, the crowd finally began to move slowly forward with him.

"My God, he's so tall." Hermione moved closer to Andy, seemingly wanting to get firsthand information from him.

"Fluorescent lights!"

Andy waved his wand and whispered, "He might be a half-giant. But just keep it to yourself, don't tell anyone, they don't like that word."

The crowd moved forward slowly. Hagrid pointed ahead and turned back, saying, "After you turn this corner, you'll see Hogwarts for the first time."

At the end of the narrow path was a black lake, and on the high hillside on the opposite shore stood a majestic castle with spires and windows that twinkled under the starry sky.

"No more than four people on each boat!" Hagrid shouted, pointing to the small boats on the shore of the lake.

Andy, Hermione, and Neville boarded one boat, while Ron, seeing this, could only pull Harry onto another boat.

Andy noticed that a platinum-haired boy was with a chubby little boy, who had followed Harry and Ron onto the same ship.

"Hello, my name is Michael Corner." The last person on Andy's ship was a little boy with black hair.

"Hello!"

The group greeted each other.

Once the young wizards were all on board, all the small boats automatically headed towards the castle.

Everyone remained silent, gazing at the towering castle that seemed to reach into the clouds. As the small boat approached the cliff where the castle stood, it appeared as if the castle were perched high above everyone's heads.

"So beautiful!" Andy murmured.

Hogwarts Castle is quite stylish, especially considering its history spanning over a thousand years—even before enrolling, Andy was already looking forward to the next seven years of school life.

The small boat continued its journey, following a dark tunnel to the edge of a cliff, where it arrived at a place resembling a dock.

"Hey! Look, is this your toad?" The young wizards disembarked, and Hagrid found a golden-backed toad while checking the empty ship.

"Oh! Thank God!" Neville exclaimed with ecstasy.

"It did appear on its own," Hermione said, looking at Andy.

Andy tilted his head. "I bet Neville has forgotten he also keeps a toad."

Hermione gave Andy a reproachful look, but didn't say anything more, because she thought so too.

The group followed Hagrid and climbed a set of stone steps, where they stopped in front of a huge oak door.

"Is everyone here?"

Hagrid shouted, raised a huge fist, and knocked three times on the castle gate.

The gate slowly opened, and a tall witch in an emerald robe stood before the castle gate. Her expression was serious, and Andy immediately thought of his head teacher from his previous life.

She looks just like a ruthless nun.

"First-year student, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid's tone sounded like that of a submissive person.

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

Without Professor McGonagall making any move, the castle gates suddenly swung open, and the young wizards quietly followed Professor McGonagall inside.

Andy beckoned Hermione, Neville, Ron, and Harry over, then said in a voice just loud enough for Professor McGonagall to hear, "Fred and George told me that Professor McGonagall has a tabby cat..."

(End of this chapter)