The Three Brothers: The Cure

Hoggy Warty Hogwarts

1st September 1991

Harry shivered slightly as he stepped onto the platform. He wasn't sure if it was the cold air or just his nerves. Perhaps a bit of both. He looked around the platform packed with students of all sizes—their black Hogwarts robes slightly shimmering in the dim light of old gas-style lamps—shuffling around to probably find their friends. One of the lamps—which Harry guessed was actually running on magic—was bobbing slightly. It took a moment for him to realise that it wasn't one of the platform lights but a lamp being held high by the already tall Hagrid.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" the booming voice of Hagrid echoed all over the platform. On noticing him, he gave Harry a slight nod. "All right there, Harry?"

"C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind your step, now! Firs years follow me!"

The first-year students began following Hagrid down a steep and narrow path. It was pitch dark; the path flanked by thick trees on either side. All the students were silent, sticking close so as to not get lost along the way.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

As he turned to look up where Hagrid was pointing, Harry found himself joining all the students in their collective awe of the sight in front of them. The path had opened onto the edge of a great black lake—a high mountain on the other side. Perched atop it, a massive castle, the many windows in its towers and turrets sparkling in the starry sky.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, drawing Harry's attention away from the castle of Hogwarts. Harry saw the fleet of little boats that Hagrid was pointing at. Harry and Ron entered one of the boats, trying to keep their balance as the small vessel rocked underneath them. The girl from earlier—Hermione—seemed to be eager to join them. But to her obvious dismay, two rather plump boys joined them instead. Harry let out a sigh of relief as he watched her go to another boat instead; he had found her a bit too overbearing when she had visited them earlier.

"Watch out for Trevor, Nev," said one of the new boys on the boat. Harry turned to look at him. He had a dark face and hair as black as his own, though they were styled differently. If Harry had to say, it looked like a poor imitation of a rock star's haircut—something that didn't suit the boy's face very well.

The other boy, who was checking his pockets for something, had short blond hair—the style old fashioned. He retrieved something out of his left pocket, holding it tightly in his hand. Harry recognised it as a toad; it must be the boy's pet.

Harry's wandering eyes locked with gaze with the black-haired boy—he just smiled casually, giving Harry a greeting nod.

"It's pretty sick, isn't it?"

It took a moment for Harry to realise that he wasn't talking about an actually ill person but instead referring to the castle they were headed towards. Harry turned around in the boat to take another look at it.

"Yes. It is," said Harry, his eyes taking in the glimmering lights in the castle that were being reflected in the dark water of the lake. Before Harry could add anything else, Hagrid's voice boomed again.

"Everyone in? Right then—FORWARD!"

The boats started moving at once, gliding across the lake, which seemed smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

As they silently approached the castle, Harry felt a weird sensation build up inside him. He remembered getting a similar feeling when he had entered Ollivander's at Diagon Alley—only this time it was much more potent.