Chapter Four: In The Same Boat
Ron was sorry to go – the compartment was warm and cosy, and the window was gradually steaming up with condensation.
By now, the corridor was full of chattering students. Harry grabbed Ron’s robe and flattened down his fringe nervously. Ron decided not to tell him that anyone could have guessed his identity from the colour of his eyes. It just didn’t seem fair. He could feel the train slowing down underneath his feet, and there was a slight jolt when it finally stopped, which meant that everybody bumped into each other. Harry and Ron balanced against each other, and Harry clutched his glasses. This close, Ron could see that they were stuck together with some brown stuff in the middle. It looked like resin or gum. Ron made a note to ask him about that when they were not so… crushed.
The doors finally opened and people streamed out onto the platform. It was cold and Ron felt himself start to shiver. Even with the robes, he was still freezing. At least Harry seemed cold too. A huge voice boomed out over the crowd.
“Firs’-years! Firs’-years over here! All right there, Harry?” A giant beamed down at them, before continuing to yell. “C’mon, follow me – any more firs’-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs’-years follow me!”
“That’s Hagrid,” Harry whispered. “The one who helped me get all my stuff. He’s really nice.”
“He’s huge,” Ron murmured, unsure whether he was scared or awed. “Bet he could knock Crabbe and Goyle down with one flick of his hand!”
“Yeah, he could probably throw Malfoy all the way to the other end of the country,” Harry agreed and they giggled slightly.
They were going down a steep path, so steep that it was almost vertical. Ron was glad that it was dark, since he had a feeling that if the other first years could have seen how steep the path was, a great deal of them would have refused to follow Hagrid. The Keeper of the Keys held out a great lantern, which was just enough to stop them from tripping over roots and stones.
“I think we must be in a forest,” Harry remarked. “Otherwise, there’d be more light.”
Ron considered. “Hmm, maybe – it’s probably coniferous, fir trees,” he added at Harry’s look. “Beech and oak trees would give a little light. Fir trees grow really close together, and they’re also really tall.”
The rest of the first years were whispering to each other. Ron could hear a familiar sniffle to their left, which meant Neville was somewhere nearby.
“Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a sec, jus’ round this bend here,” Hagrid told them.
True to his word, the next instant they arrived on the shores of a great lake. Hogwarts was on the other side, standing on top of a cliff. Its windows were glowing against the night sky. Ron smiled. It was just as everyone had said. Harry had a great big grin on his face.
Hagrid pointed to a fleet of small boats in front of them. “No more’n four to a boat!” he warned.
Ron and Harry hurried to the first one. It rocked a little as they got in, but seemed sturdy.
“Do you get seasick?” Ron asked Harry.
“Um – no, I was in a boat recently and I didn’t feel anything.”
“Good, Percy always gets seasick. It’s awful.” Ron wrinkled his nose. “I don’t know how he managed to survive this.”
“Oh look, Hermione, this one’s free!”
“Oh no,” Ron muttered, “please, not her-!”
“Hello,” Neville greeted, sitting down. The boat rocked and he squeaked in fright, clutching the side. “Is it safe? Only, the last time I was in a boat, it sprung a leak.”
“I’m sure the boat’s fine, Neville,” Hermione assured him, holding out her robes as she sat down. It was only then she saw Ron. Her lips thinned and they looked away from each other by mutual consent.
“No sign of your toad?” Harry asked politely. There were some muffled shrieks as the boats rocked, and lots of whispering as people tried to get boats with their friends.
“No,” Neville replied, his mouth turning down. “I hope he hasn’t gotten into the lake… Nan would kill me, he was a special present.”
“Does he always go missing?” Ron asked, tugging his robes around him to keep out the cold air.
“He was fine while we were at home, but I don’t think he liked the train,” Neville sighed. “He disappeared when I got onto the platform. That time, I found him in my robes, but now…”
“Everyone in?” Hagrid yelled, getting in his own, super-sized boat. “Right then – FORWARD!” He pointed what appeared to be a pink umbrella, and the fleet of boats moved off smoothly together. It was almost as if they were gliding rather than going through water. Everyone was too busy looking at Hogwarts to talk. Even Hermione Granger seemed fascinated by its size and splendour.
“Heads down!” Hagrid warned as they reached the cliff, and everyone obeyed him. Ron felt something gently slip over his head, and looking back, he realised that it was ivy. He caught Harry’s eye and they grinned tremulously at each other. The boats were now travelling through a huge tunnel of rock. Hermione gazed around.
“This must be centuries old,” she murmured. “I read in Hogwarts, A History that the Founders added the lake years after they actually built Hogwarts as a protection method, so that nobody could sneak up and attack from below.”
At that moment, they arrived in a huge cavern, and the boats lined up neatly beside each other. Ron tried to see if Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were in one of them, but the light was too dim. Pebbles crunched under his feet as he disembarked. Hagrid was checking each empty boat, possibly for leaks. He suddenly paused and reached inside one, then straightened up and pointed at Neville, who flinched back nervously.
“Oi, you there! Is this your toad?”
“Trevor!” Neville exclaimed happily, and almost skipped towards Hagrid. He took the small dark bundle from Hagrid’s massive hand and stroked him gently. Harry tugged on Ron’s sleeve and they followed Hagrid towards a path that were carved out of the rock. After a long and tiring climb, they emerged onto grass. Hogwarts towered over them. Harry was breathing quickly, but shook his head when Ron glanced at him. After a short flight of steps, the first years found themselves standing before great wooden doors. Hagrid turned and swept the lantern over them one last time. “Everyone here? You there, still got your toad?” he added, and Neville nodded, gripping Trevor tightly. Satisfied, Hagrid raised his fist and knocked on the door three times. The sound boomed inside, telling Ron that the Entrance Hall must be huge.
The doors swung open to reveal a tall, slender witch dressed in green robes. She had black hair scraped back into a bun and looked very strict. Ron wondered what she taught, and made a note to not cause any trouble in that class.
“Firs’-years, Professor McGonagall,” Hagrid announced.
McGonagall? Ron couldn’t believe it. McGonagall was the Head of Gryffindor House, but he would have put her down as a definite Ravenclaw. “Thank-you, Hagrid,” she replied calmly. “I will take them from here.”
