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Heavy is the Crown (Harry Potter) Chapter 44: Into Hogwarts
🕑 Added 2025-05-17 18:33:14 +0000 UTC[Third Person's PoV]
After Arthur and Lance finished changing into their Hogwarts robes, the girls were finally allowed back into the compartment. Gwyneth, however, was practically trembling with nerves. Her fingers twisted the hem of her sleeves, and she couldn't seem to stay still.
Now that Lance was in on the joke, he found himself more amused by the situation than anything else. The corner of his mouth twitched upward, but he chose to keep silent, deciding to maintain the ruse just a bit longer. It was far too entertaining to watch Gwyneth squirm.
Moments later, a voice echoed through the train, reverberating off the walls of the compartments: “We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes’ time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately.”
Arthur and Gwyneth let out a synchronized sigh—this meant one unfortunate thing: they'd have to coax their cats back into their cages. Their feline companions, who had just made themselves comfortable, were not going to be pleased. Leona, in particular, let out a long, dramatic yowl that made Gwyneth look as though she might burst into tears.
“I’ll bring you a warm meal after this is over, deal?” Arthur said gently, crouching beside the cage and trying to coax Cosmo in with a small treat. His voice was soothing, and surprisingly effective—for the cat at least.
The minutes slipped by faster than anyone expected. The train gradually began to slow, the familiar hum of its speed fading into the grinding rhythm of metal against metal. With a final screech and a jolt, it came to a complete stop.
Gwyneth took a deep breath and looked around at her friends—Merlin, Arthur, and Lance—each of them calm and collected as if they were heading into something completely ordinary, like a morning lecture instead of the start of what could be their end.
“I can’t be the only one that’s nervous!” she exclaimed, her voice slightly higher than usual. “Why are you all so calm?!”
Merlin was the first to respond. She opened the compartment door and turned back with a confident, almost smug grin. “Because I’m confident in my magic,” she said simply, and with a toss of her hair, she stepped into the hallway.
Lance followed, pausing only to glance over his shoulder at Gwyneth. “I know how to fight,” he added with a smirk before walking after Merlin.
Arthur lingered for just a moment longer. He turned to Gwyneth with a warm and reassuring smile, his eyes soft with encouragement. “Have more confidence in yourself,” he said, his voice low and kind. “You’ll do better than you think—I know you’ll succeed.”
Gwyneth’s cheeks turned a deep crimson as she watched him go. She quickly brought her hands to her face in an attempt to cool the heat blooming across her skin. “That’s not fair… That look is just not fair at all,” she muttered under her breath, lips curled into a flustered pout.
She hurried after them, weaving through the sea of students bustling to disembark. Unbeknownst to her, Merlin, Lance, and Arthur shared a quiet laugh as she caught up.
Soon, a booming voice called out above the crowd: “Firs’ years! Firs’ years over here! All right there, Harry?”
A massive, hairy man beamed down at the students, his wide smile unmistakable—Hagrid. His towering frame loomed over the sea of young witches and wizards, offering a presence that was equal parts intimidating and comforting.
Arthur’s eyes lit up when he spotted two very distinct heads of hair: one jet-black, the other a fiery ginger. Harry Potter. Ron Weasley. The Boy Who Lived and his best friend. Even in the throng of first-years, they were impossible to miss.
‘This is awesome! Hagrid is freaking huge! I can’t believe I’m actually seeing Harry Potter in person!’ Arthur was inwardly fanboying with the intensity of a supernova, but outwardly, he maintained the calm and dignified air befitting someone of noble lineage.
“C’mon, follow me — any more firs’ years? Mind yer step, now! Firs’ years follow me!” Hagrid called, motioning for the students to follow him along a narrow path descending into the darkness.
The path was steep, and the moonlight barely illuminated the stones beneath their feet. Arthur turned to Merlin, who was struggling slightly in her robe and muttering curses under her breath.
“Here,” he said, offering his hand like a true gentleman.
Merlin accepted it with a quiet, “Thanks,” and carefully lifted her robe to avoid tripping, allowing Arthur to guide her safely along the tricky terrain.
Lance, noticing Gwyneth’s similar struggles, offered his hand as well. She took it gratefully, her heart still pounding from earlier but soothed by the gesture. It was a small kindness, but one that made the path feel less daunting.
No one said much as they walked. The air was thick with anticipation and awe. Then Hagrid’s voice carried over the crowd once more:
“Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a sec,” he called, “jus’ round this bend here.”
As the group turned the corner, the narrow path gave way to an astonishing view. A chorus of gasps and murmured exclamations broke the silence.
Across a vast, glassy-black lake stood the castle—Hogwarts. Towering and majestic, it loomed against the night sky, its many turrets and spires bathed in golden light. The windows glowed warmly, casting shimmering reflections on the water below.
It was like something out of a dream.
Arthur’s heart swelled, and without thinking, he began to hum the iconic melody of “Hedwig’s Theme.” Merlin looked at him with a surprised chuckle.
“You’re such a nerd,” she said fondly.
“I know,” Arthur replied with a grin, his eyes still fixed on the breathtaking sight ahead.
“No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid bellowed, gesturing towards a fleet of small wooden boats bobbing gently at the water's edge.
Naturally, Arthur, Merlin, Lance, and Gwyneth claimed one for themselves, with the boys assisting the girls in first. Arthur led Merlin like a gentleman from a bygone era, while Lance quietly helped Gwyneth, who was clearly trying to suppress the jitters that were written all over her fidgeting hands.
“Everyone in?” Hagrid shouted, already seated alone in a much larger boat. “Right then — FORWARD!”
As if enchanted—which they most certainly were—the boats glided smoothly over the black mirror of the lake. The moonlight danced across the rippling surface, and the reflection of stars shimmered like diamonds scattered across ink.
“I heard there’s a giant sea monster that lives underneath the lake,” Arthur said casually, throwing a mischievous glance at Gwyneth.
“WHAT?!” she yelped, her voice rising far louder than intended. Heads from nearby boats turned to look at her in surprise. She instantly began trembling and reached out blindly for support, her hands latching onto the nearest anchor—which happened to be Lance’s arm.
Lance raised an eyebrow and glanced down at her clinging to him like a frightened kitten. “What are you doing?”
“I’m terrified,” she whispered, her eyes wide and glistening. “You said you knew how to fight… so protect me, okay?”
For a moment, Lance just stared at her. Then he shifted his gaze to Arthur, who was biting his fist to keep from bursting into laughter. Merlin wasn’t faring much better, already shaking with silent giggles.
Turning back to Gwyneth, Lance averted his eyes, his face stoic but his ears glowing red in the darkness. Despite himself, he let her cling to him for the rest of the ride across the lake.
As they neared the opposite shore, the boats drifted under a rocky overhang that marked the start of an underground harbor. The ceiling dropped low, and everyone ducked at Hagrid’s command.
The boats bumped gently against a stone dock, and the students began to disembark. The ground was uneven, littered with stones and moss. Hagrid’s voice echoed through the passage. “Oy, you there! Is this your toad?”
“Trevor!” Neville cried, rushing forward to reclaim his amphibious friend.
“That boy really needs to keep a hand on his toad,” Gwyneth muttered, her voice steadier now that she was on solid ground.
As she let go of Lance’s arm, he blinked and tilted his head slightly. A strange sense of disappointment bloomed in his chest, though he couldn’t quite place why.
Hagrid led them through a passage carved into the rock and up a steep, winding staircase that opened out to the castle grounds. The massive silhouette of Hogwarts loomed above them, glowing warmly with light from countless windows.
As they reached the towering front doors, Gwyneth took several deep breaths, her eyes scanning the crowd, mentally preparing herself, wondering who around her she would have to battle.
The doors creaked open, casting a pool of golden light across the stone. Standing there was a tall, stern-looking witch dressed in emerald-green robes and a no-nonsense expression.
“The firs’ years, Professor McGonagall,” Hagrid said respectfully.
“Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here,” she said, her voice calm and commanding.
Arthur’s eyes sparkled. ‘Oooooh~ One of my favorite professors from the books and movies!’ he thought, doing his best to maintain his noble demeanor on the outside.
Professor McGonagall opened the door wider, and the first-years filed in. The Entrance Hall was massive. Stone walls lined with flickering torches cast warm shadows, and an opulent marble staircase loomed at the far end, leading to the upper floors. The sounds of hundreds of chattering voices echoed from a room just off to the side.
McGonagall led the students into a small chamber off the main hall. They crammed in tightly, peering about anxiously.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” she began. “The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you may take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting Ceremony is an important tradition. While you are here, your House will become your family. You will attend classes together, sleep in the same dormitory, and spend your free time in the House common room.
“There are four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has a proud history and has produced exceptional witches and wizards. Your triumphs will earn you points, while breaking rules will lose them. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup—a great honor.
“I expect each of you to be a credit to whichever House you join. The Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly. I suggest you all tidy yourselves up while you wait.”
Lance leaned toward Arthur and gave him a side glance. “So you were telling the truth about this part.”
Arthur smirked and nodded confidently.
Lance then turned to Gwyneth, whose face had gone pale. She was swaying like she might faint.
Before he could say anything, however, a cold rush of air filled the room. A shriek echoed—and then laughter—followed by the sound of dozens of whispering voices. Ghosts began to drift through the walls, their semi-transparent forms chattering amongst themselves as they floated above the students’ heads.
Gwyneth gasped, wide-eyed.
Arthur leaned in, whispering loud enough for her to hear. “Those are the ghosts of students who failed the sorting and got accidentally killed during the tournament.”
Her head snapped towards him in horror. “H-HUH?!” She exclaimed letting out a whimper.
Merlin had to physically cover her mouth to stop the scream that was building in her throat. She hunched over, giggling so hard that tears filled her eyes.
Lance tried to hold it together but ended up snickering behind his hand.
Comments
Kent Louie Washington
Arrhur more evil than i thought, and I love it!
