Echoes of the Twin Flame: The Girl Who Balanced the Storm (1)

Part 4 - First Night at Hogwarts

As we stepped off the train and onto the bustling platform of Hogsmeade Station, a booming voice called out, drawing everyone's attention. "First years! First years, come this way!" The man's voice carried a sense of authority, and his towering figure made the students around us gasp in astonishment. I turned to Hermione, my eyes wide with awe at the sight.

"Whoa, he's huge. Is he a giant?" I whispered to Hermione, wonder and curiosity in my voice. She nodded, her expression matching my amazement as we took in the mysterious figure calling us forward.

"Maybe. Come on," Hermione whispered back, reaching out to take my hand as she led me through the crowd of students toward the towering man. With Hermione's reassuring presence beside me, I followed her, joining the other first years.

The giant man smiled warmly as we approached. "Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Hagrid. I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. And as per tradition, all first years will be taking the boats to the castle gates. Come on," he said, gesturing for all of us to follow him toward the lake.

With a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation, we followed Hagrid.

The crowd of first years buzzed with nervous excitement as we followed Hagrid down a steep, narrow path. The night air was cool, and the distant lights of the Hogwarts castle twinkled in the darkness. My heart raced as we rounded a corner and saw a vast black lake stretching out before us.

"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid called out, gesturing to a fleet of small boats bobbing gently on the water. Hermione and I exchanged a glance, a mix of excitement and anxiety flickering between us. Without a word, we made our way to the nearest boat and climbed in, taking seats beside each other as two other first years joined us.

The boats rocked slightly as everyone settled in, but before I could even think about feeling uneasy, they began to move, gliding smoothly across the glassy surface of the lake. The only sounds were the soft lapping of water against the boats and the whispers of the other students around us.

I looked up, and there it was—Hogwarts castle, towering above us, its windows glowing with warm, inviting light. It looked like something out of a dream, and I felt a thrill of awe and anticipation wash over me. Hermione, sitting beside me, was staring up at the castle with the same wide-eyed wonder.

We drew closer and closer, the castle looming larger with each passing moment. The boats moved as if guided by an invisible hand, carrying us steadily toward the cliff where the castle stood. The moonlight reflected off the water, casting shimmering patterns across the lake's surface.

Finally, the boats glided to a halt at the foot of the castle, where a tunnel in the cliff face led to a hidden dock. One by one, we climbed out of the boats, our feet echoing on the stone floor as we gathered together. Hagrid was waiting for us, his lantern casting long shadows against the walls of the tunnel.

"Everyone here? Good. Follow me," Hagrid said, leading us up a flight of stone steps and through a massive wooden door that creaked open as we approached. My heart pounded with every step, knowing that we were about to enter Hogwarts, our new home.

We followed Hagrid through the massive wooden door, stepping into a vast entrance hall that was even more impressive than I had imagined. The ceiling was so high it seemed to disappear into the shadows, and the stone walls were lined with flaming torches that cast a warm, flickering light over everything. My heart thudded in my chest as I looked around, taking in every detail.

"First years, this way!" Hagrid called, his voice echoing off the walls. We hurried to keep up with him as he led us across the hall, the sound of our footsteps mingling with the excited whispers of the other students. Hermione squeezed my hand, her eyes wide with amazement, and I felt a rush of excitement as we headed toward the next part of our journey.