The familiar Hogsmeade Lake appeared in front of him, the black ripples on the surface of the lake, rippling in front of Jon.

On the high hillside on the other side of the lake rises a majestic castle with spires and windows that shimmer in the night.

When he saw this familiar sight, a smile appeared on Jon's lips.

"No more than four people per boat!" said Alastor Moody on crutches, in a deep voice in his hoarse voice.

Then he himself boarded a boat and motioned for a first-year student to go up as well...... The poor boy looked at Moody's eyes with fear and looked like he was trembling all over his body.

Jon boarded a ship, and two more first-year students, a man and a woman, boarded.

"Are you a first-year student too?" the little girl asked curiously.

"No......" Jon shook his head, "I'm an exchange student." ”

The little girl didn't seem to understand what the word "exchange student" meant, she turned away, whispered a few words in the boy's ear, and then distanced herself from Jon.

"Watch your surroundings!" Mad-Eye Moody commanded in a loud voice, "Forward!"

A small group of boats immediately rowed across the mirror-like surface of the lake and headed forward.

Many of the first-year students were very excited, sometimes staring at the huge castle high into the sky, sometimes looking at the bottom of the water.

"Behold, there's a big guy there!" said the little girl on Jon's boat, for example, screamed with joy when she saw a giant squid.

Jon wouldn't be making any fuss, after all, he had been swimming in the lake in February.

Soon, the fleet reached the bottom of the cliff, and the castle of Hogwarts seemed to rise above them

Led by Mad Eye Moody, they bowed their heads through a cave...... Jon deliberately buried his head low so as not to be hit.

Eventually, along a pitch-black tunnel, they appear to have come to the castle beneath the castle, where they dock at what resembles an underground dock.

"Come with me, watch your surroundings!" Mad-Eye Moody commanded sternly.

Many first-year students looked around in fright...... But they didn't see anything.

Jon smiled and hurried to keep up with Moody's pace, and they passed another path made of gravel and small pebbles.

Climbing a tunnel in the rocks, they finally reached a flat, damp meadow not far from the castle.

After the stone steps, the gates of Hogwarts are located.

......

"There aren't many people who have walked this route twice as much as I have!" Jon thought to himself.

Professor Alasto-Moody was at the front of the line, first taking a wary glance around and then waving his cane to the side...... Finally, he knocked the door of Hogwarts with his cane.

The door slammed open.

"Come in one by one!" Moody said anxiously, "Hurry up!"

Hearing Moody's words, the first-year freshmen hurriedly quickened their pace...... They don't look like freshly enrolled students at all, but like a poorly disciplined scout.

The scene here is still similar to what Jon had imagined...... Rich marble walls, surrounded by flaming torches, and ceilings so high that you can barely see the roof......

Following Professor Moody, they made their way to a small, empty room at the other end of the hall.

Jon thought that Mad-Eye Moody was going to direct the sorting ceremony...... However, after bringing the first-year students here, he immediately returned to his original path, while holding a speculum in his hand and shining around.

Then the door to the empty house was opened.

Professor Minerva-McGonagall walked in, looking several years younger in the same red plaid gown she wore at last year's Ball.

"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Professor McGonagall began, "the opening party is about to begin, but before you get to the dining hall and take your seats, you should first determine which house you are going to......"

She gave a brief introduction to the sorting ceremony at Hogwarts.

At the same time, Professor McGonagall walked up to Jon, "Mr. Patrick?"

"Yes, Professor!" Jon nodded hurriedly.

"Hogwarts tradition that exchange students must go through the sorting ceremony with the new students, no exceptions!" she explained slightly.

"I understand, Professor!"

With Professor McGonagall gone, many of the freshmen looked worried...... It seems that Sorting intimidation is also a good tradition at Hogwarts.

Many of the students from wizarding families began to talk about the contents of the sorting ceremony...... Their answers are varied, such as fighting a troll, taking an exam with a high elimination rate, or turning a hat into a rabbit with a wand......

Next, the appearance of the ghosts also frightened the first-year freshmen.

In particular, the bloody Barrow, who was covered in blood, and the nervous Ms. Grey, caused the first-year students to avoid them...... However, the other ghosts were quite enthusiastic, such as Nick and Fat Friar, who almost lost his head, and several first-year freshmen chatted happily with them.

The atmosphere in the hut finally eased a little.

Professor McGonagall returned, however, and she led the freshmen out of the hall.

Their atmosphere was tense again...... Jon walked in the middle of the line, his tall stature still standing out.

......

As he entered the hall, Jon took a closer look at the teacher's seat.

Dumbledore sat in the middle of the long faculty desk, wearing a dark purple robe covered with silver stars and a matching hat, and Mad-Eye Moody was also seated in the teacher's chair, in a lonely position to Dumbledore's right.

Jon was also easily recognizable by the pink toad, and Dolores Umbridge's short, chubby stature, short taupe hair, and signature pink outfit were all very conspicuous.

There wasn't much time to continue observing, though, as they had to line up with their backs to the teacher's chair facing all the Hogwarts students.

Professor McGonagall held a stool with an old wizard's hat on it.

The Sorting Hat sang loudly:

"I was wearing a new hat a long time ago, when Hogwarts hadn't built a ......"

......

"Hogwarts is in danger, and enemies outside the school are eyeing it.

We have to be united from within, or everything will fall apart from within......"

......

As the Sorting Hat's singing ended, the four long tables began to talk.