𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘔𝘌𝘚𝘚𝘐𝘈𝘏 ━ 𝙃𝙥

CHAPTER FOUR

  ━ KAI STEPPED OFF THE TRAIN and onto a small wet platform, coated in the darkness of the night. The only light source came from the train and a small, oil lit lamp dangling from the hand of a man who was anything but.

"First years!" He yelled in a heavy cockney accent, "First years this way! Alright you four? Onto the boats now please!"

"Onto the what?" Ron yelped, "I think he said boats," Kai replied sarcastically, in a tone that wasnt sarcastic at all. "Fred said we went on carriges!"

"Well, he clearly lied, didnt he?" Huffed Hermione, taking a hold of Kai's elbow and Neville's, "Let's go so we aren't split up!" The only response she got was Ron's groan before marching off.

They followed the large man down a steep, narrow path coated in mud, slipping and sliding as they went. Neville sniffed his nose a couple times, mumbling about his lost toad. "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight of Hogwarts in a sec," The man called over his shoulder, "Just 'round this bend 'ere..."

The narrow path had opened suddenly on the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling amongst a starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

The man stopped at the docks beside a small fleet of boats, "No more then four to a boat," Hermione counted between them, "One- two- yes! Theres enough, we get to stay together," While Neville seemed to share her relief, Ron let out a sarcastic 'yippee' under his breath as they boarded.

"Everyone in?" Shouted the large man, "Right then - FORWARD!"

It was an almost uneventful journey across the lake, the two most exciting things being when they had to duck under a cliff and when Neville's toad - Trevor - jumped out of one of the large mans many pockets and straight onto Ron's head.

They climbed off the boats and began the trek up the old stone steps, crossing under four different archways as they went, each being held up at their end by a person and some kind of animal engraved at the sides. "The founders," Hermione whispered with baited breath, more to herself then Neville beside her, "Helga, Godric, Salazar and Rowena."

Finally, they reached the giant oak doors to the castle. The large man took a moment to do a head count of the eleven year olds, before quickly giving up half way and knocking on the doors thrice. They swung open. He grumbled something about hoping he hadn't lost any again before leading them in.

A tall, brown skinned witch with black hair freckled grey stood before them, stern faced. "Thank you, Hagrid, I'll take them from here," They entered the entry hall and a loud gasp rippled through the first years at the sheer size of it. Mcgonagall seemed to give them a moment as she checked the clipboard in her hands for any missing children. Kai saw his chance.

He quietly moved away from Ron's side and came up to the woman, she must have seen him approach from the corner of her eye and moved the clipboard to her side, "If you need the bathroom-"

"Professor, may I speak to you in private before we go in?"

Her poker face was as good as his as she stared at him for a moment, before silently gesturing to the side of the hallway, away from the group. "What can I help you with, Mr-?"

"Potter," He said, catching her eyes flicker, "But I don't want to use that name,"

"And why not?" She arched an impressively severe eyebrow.

"I just don't think it'd be a good idea. I'd  prefer not to spend my school years only being known for having dead parents, if that's all right by you," He said like it wasn't sarcastic, but they both knew it was. She exhaled softly, like she was somehow caught off guard, which was stupid to Kai. Why would anyone in his position not do this?