Chapter 48: The Legend of the Four Founders

The sky darkened as the cold air and gathering clouds hastened the arrival of night.

"Found them!"

A towering half-giant, Hagrid, his face covered in a thick, unruly beard, raised his lantern high. A group of first-year students, huddled together, followed him as he made his way toward the Black Lake.

"Who are those two?"

"Are they first-years too? Why didn't they take the train with us?"

"Maybe they live near Hogwarts?"

The murmurs of curiosity spread as the young witches and wizards noticed Ian and Aurora crouching near the lake, playing with the water. The duo instantly became the center of attention, though none dared to approach them directly.

Hagrid, still gripping his small pink umbrella in one hand—an amusing contrast to his enormous frame—paused in front of them.

"You must be the two kids Dumbledore mentioned, right?"

Aurora tilted her head back to look at him properly. "If there's no one else here, I suppose he was referring to us."

Ian quickly stood, dusting off his pants. "Professor, you're finally here! We've been waiting forever."

Hagrid let out a hearty laugh, his thick beard shaking with the motion. "Sorry 'bout that! Had to go look for a lost student—took longer than I thought."

Without warning, he reached down and ruffled Ian's hair with one of his massive hands, practically engulfing the boy's entire head.

"And don't call me Professor, yeah? Just Hagrid. I'm only the Keeper of the Grounds—not a teacher or nothin'." He grinned. "Blimey, you're a tiny one! Cute little fellow."

Ian blinked, feeling the weight of that enormous hand. "All the same to me."

Hagrid straightened and clapped his hands together. "Right then! Time's runnin' out—let's get to the boats!"

Eager to help, he tucked his pink umbrella into his belt and, with little effort, grabbed both Ian and Aurora's luggage in one hand.

"Thanks, Professor Hagrid! You're a good man."

Ian trotted after him, looking completely at ease. Aurora, watching him with mild curiosity, seemed to register something—an observation she kept to herself.

The two fell in line with the other first-years, yet there was an unspoken divide. No one reached out to talk to them.

Most of the young witches and wizards had already begun forming friendships on the train. That initial journey—the hours spent sharing compartments, exchanging nervous excitement, and sneaking sweets—had set the foundation for their social circles. Ian and Aurora, having missed that experience, now found themselves outside those early bonds.

As they neared the docks, the first-years gasped in excitement.

Hogwarts loomed in the distance, its towering silhouette outlined against the deepening twilight. The Black Lake stretched between them and the castle, its surface like polished obsidian.

Hagrid raised his voice over the excited chatter. "Four to a boat! No pushin', no shovin'—safety first!"

With that, he unceremoniously tossed Ian and Aurora's luggage into an empty boat, effectively deciding where they would sit.

Ian barely had time to react before two girls stepped forward and climbed in opposite them. The two newcomers, though choosing to share the boat, sat noticeably apart, as if they weren't particularly close.

One of them, a warm-looking girl with bright, expressive eyes, was the first to speak. "Hello!"

Aurora offered only a small nod in return.

Ian, stretching his arms, let out a relieved sigh. "For a second there, I thought we'd have to share a boat with Hagrid."

Aurora turned her gaze to him. "Didn't you just call him 'Professor' and say he was a good man?"

Ian shrugged. "That's got nothing to do with it. He is a great guy—but I'd rather not test whether our boat can handle a half-giant's weight."

The logic was solid. Even the friendly girl nodded in agreement.

Just then, Hagrid clambered into a boat of his own.

"Alright, hold tight! We're headin' out!"

The moment his voice echoed over the lake, the boats began to move—gliding smoothly, almost unnaturally, across the water.

Ian squinted at Hagrid's boat, noticing something odd.

"That makes no sense."

Hagrid's sheer size should have caused his boat to sink significantly deeper than the others, yet it barely looked different from the rest.

A beat later, realization struck.

"But it's definitely magic."

It had to be some sort of alchemical enchantment—perhaps ancient boats reinforced with spells to stabilize weight and movement. Ian made a mental note: Alchemy class just got a whole lot more interesting.

The warm-voiced girl beside Aurora suddenly spoke again, this time directing her gaze toward her new companion.

"Your eyes are beautiful."

Aurora blinked, then replied in a neutral tone. "Thank you."

The girl smiled. "I'm Cho Chang. I hope we can be friends." She extended a hand.

Aurora hesitated for a moment before lightly shaking it. However, she didn't offer her name in return.

Noticing the awkward pause, Ian smoothly stepped in. "She's not much of a talker. Bit of a loner, really."

Aurora shot him a sidelong glance but said nothing.

Cho, however, only smiled. "Oh, I see."

Ian leaned forward, shaking her hand as well. "Ian. Unlike her, I talk plenty."

His gaze flickered over Cho's features—delicate, refined, the classic elegance of an Asian girl. He recalled she was supposed to be Harry Potter's first crush—not that it mattered much to him now.

At that moment, the second girl in their boat, who had remained silent until now, finally made her presence known.

She pulled out her wand. "Lumos."

A soft, white light flickered to life at its tip, casting a glow on her face.

The other students took notice, and soon, more wands lit up across the lake. Little orbs of light bobbed gently above the boats, illuminating the dark waters.

Cho, gazing at the distant castle, spoke with quiet excitement.

"Legend says the four founders of Hogwarts once crossed this very lake in small boats like ours when they came to establish the school."

She turned toward them, her eyes glinting with a storyteller's enthusiasm. "I heard that when new students cross the Black Lake for the first time, the Founders' blessings wash over them—purifying their magic."

Ian perked up. That sounded intriguing.

His fingers twitched, and he discreetly opened his personal status screen.

Nothing.

No change.

His excitement deflated instantly.

"Utter nonsense." He sighed. "Complete and total nonsense."

Cho simply laughed. "It's just a story—it doesn't have to be real."

Before Ian could respond, the silent girl with the glowing wand spoke again.

"I don't mind you chatting," she said coolly, her voice smooth but distant. "But instead of discussing fairy tales, perhaps you should focus on the real danger ahead."

A chill settled over the boat.

Ian, Cho, and Aurora exchanged glances.

Danger?

What danger could possibly be waiting for them at Hogwarts?