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[HP] 27: A Textbook Case of Social Failure
🕑 Added 2025-07-10 03:48:33 +0000 UTC“There aren’t too many people, but it’s still a bit crowded when everyone’s bunched together,” Hermione said, looking dizzy from being jostled in the crowd. “And now it’s raining.”
Raindrops fell from the sky. Though it was only September, the rain brought with it a slight chill that made her shiver.
“I’ve got an umbrella,” Louis said, turning back to Hermione.
He tapped his tall hat and pulled out an umbrella from inside. “Let’s share.”
“You’re quite the considerate gentleman,” Hermione said with a giggle, lifting the hem of her robe as if performing a curtsy.
Louis slowly moved forward with the crowd. Compared to the other young witches and wizards getting drenched in the rain, he and Hermione were relatively comfortable.
That didn’t mean they were completely safe, though. Some kids were so focused on avoiding the rain that they didn’t watch their step and slipped into the muddy ground.
Hermione, worried about falling, ended up clutching the edge of Louis’s robes to steady herself.
As for Neville… he had been swept away by the crowd, and no one knew where he was now. Hopefully, Trevor wouldn’t end up flopping into the lake.
The first-years boarded small boats that, enchanted by magic, began gliding across the lake toward the castle on the opposite shore.
Under the night sky, the enormous castle loomed solemnly beneath the moonlight. The light spilling from its windows added a hint of warmth to its otherwise majestic and mysterious silhouette.
“Crossing the lake by boat is meant to recreate the path the founders took when they first established Hogwarts. It’s a way of honoring their legacy,” Hermione said, sitting next to Louis and nervously watching the water.
“Mhm. You got that from that book you recommended, didn’t you?” Louis said offhandedly.
“You read it?” Hermione looked pleasantly surprised. “I thought you were just humoring me and wouldn’t bother.”
“Why would you think I was just humoring you?” Louis asked.
“I… I can’t help but show off the things I’ve learned. I know it’s a bad habit, but it’s hard to fix. Back in the Muggle world, hardly anyone wanted to be friends with me, and even when I did make friends, they usually drifted away because of my personality.” Hermione looked downcast. “You and Neville are the fastest friends I’ve ever made… and the best.”
Louis looked at her lowered eyes and thoughtful expression, then said reassuringly, “Geniuses are often a bit different. But don’t worry—you can rest easy now. Our friendship is as sturdy as this boat. So stop worrying about the dark lake water. You’re not going to fall in.”
Hermione blinked. “How did you know I was nervous about the water?”
“Well, your face gave it away. Worse than when you were worrying about the nonexistent entrance exam back on the train,” Louis shrugged. “As a magician, I have to be good at reading people’s reactions. I’m very sensitive to facial expressions.”
“I don’t think normal magicians are as good as you,” Hermione whispered.
The boats reached the shore one by one. Under Hagrid’s supervision, the first-years jumped out onto solid ground. Louis hopped off first, then turned around and helped Hermione down.
In front of the massive doors of the castle, Hagrid pointed to the staircase leading to the Great Hall.
“Up those stairs. Your professor’s waitin’ for you at the top.”
With that, Hagrid left. Though the first-years no longer had a guide, the allure of the castle’s mysterious interior kept everyone in line. No one wandered off. They all followed the crowd obediently.
Well… not everyone. Some people always had to do something out of the ordinary.
Just as they were about to reach the doors of the Great Hall, the procession suddenly halted. A voice rang out: “Looks like the people on the train were right—Harry Potter really did come to Hogwarts.”
The voice sparked a buzz of excitement. Everyone craned their necks, trying to catch a glimpse of the legendary Boy Who Lived.
Hermione stood on her toes, straining to see ahead.
“What’s happening?” she asked, still wearing the same anxious expression as when she’d been worrying about the fake entrance exam. “Why did everyone stop?”
Thanks to his height—and the special visual power of the Sharingan—Louis could easily see what was going on at the front of the line. He could even make out the voices clearly.
“Seems like an awkward attempt at socializing,” Louis said to Hermione. “A spectacular failure, actually.”
“Socializing? Awkward? Failure?” Hermione struggled to understand how those three words could possibly go together.
“I’ll take you to see for yourself.” Louis winked and took Hermione’s small hand.
Hermione flinched in surprise, but before she could pull away, Louis was already dragging her through the crowd.
“Excuse me. Coming through. Mind your feet—yes, you.” Louis shoved forward with a surprising strength that didn’t match his lean frame. The tightly packed crowd parted before him like a herd being driven aside. The kids at the front felt as if a bull had just charged through them.
A fleeting shadow of the Ox Talisman flashed in Louis’s eyes, but his expression remained calm and collected.
In moments, Louis and Hermione had pushed through to the front of the line, earning a few disgruntled mutters along the way. They had arrived just in time to witness the scene up close.
A rather poised blond boy was speaking to a red-haired boy. The blond was unmistakably Draco Malfoy. Opposite him stood none other than the protagonist himself—Harry Potter—alongside his new friend, Ron Weasley.
“…Red hair, secondhand robes, and that face that looks like it never gets washed—I don’t even have to ask. You must be a Weasley,” Draco Malfoy sneered at Ron before turning his attention to Harry.
“People like you shouldn’t be hanging around with the wrong sort.” He held out his hand, radiating confidence.
Harry looked down at Draco’s elegant, outstretched hand—and shook his head.
“Sorry. I think I can figure out right and wrong for myself.”
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