It was September 1st, in the year 999 of the Magic Era.
Whether in the magical or non-magical world, it was a day of mixed feelings.
The long summer vacation had finally ended, and a new semester had begun.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was no exception. The only difference was that, compared to two months ago, "Hogwarts" now referred not only to the campus area consisting of the castle, lake, forest, vegetable garden, and Quidditch pitch.
A row of low houses had been added to the open space between the school gate and Hogsmeade village.
However, the young wizards who had just arrived at the school in the dark of night didn't have the energy to pay attention to these subtle changes.
After traveling on the train for a whole day, most of them were exhausted.
The Hogwarts Express didn't provide afternoon meals. Under the combined effect of hunger, cold, and fatigue, even the older students had a tired look on their faces. As soon as the train came to a stop, the students jostled out of the carriages and headed towards the carriage stop outside the dark platform, eager to return to the warm and comfortable Hogwarts Castle.
"Well then, let's part ways here. See you in the school later..."
Aileenah stepped off the platform and tapped Hermione, Hannah, and Luna in turn with her wand. An invisible warm current flowed down from their heads like a waterfall, dispelling the chill of the Scottish Highlands at night.
It must be admitted that the Scamander couple were indeed remarkable wizards.
During the previous month's summer co-living, Aileenah learned a lot of magic from Tina Scamander, most of which wasn't in the textbooks, but practical magic that adult wizards had accumulated in their daily lives.
As for the Ministry of Magic's Trace detecting underage wizarding...
Gellert Grindelwald had removed it for her on the first day of summer vacation - in exchange for a bowl of hot, not-so-authentic "Nurmengard version" Hu spicy soup, which was a great deal for the old Dark Lord.
"Eh?! Separate? Why?"
Hannah frowned, asking with a puzzled expression.
"Aileenah, aren't you supposed to take the carriage to the castle with us?"
"The first years take boats across the lake, so..."
Hermione glanced at the plain wizard robe Aileenah was wearing, her eyes slowly sweeping from Aileenah's hand intertwined with Luna's, and nodded as if she understood something, a curious expression on her face.
"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own? You know what I mean..."
"Don't look at me like that! I've said it many times, I'm not directionally challenged!"
Aileenah glared at the smirking little beaver, her tone involuntarily softening a little, "It's just that my sense of direction isn't that great, and besides, Luna's here - there's no other way, Hagrid can't take the boats this year, you know."
As she spoke, Aileenah nodded towards a spot not far away.
In the sea of moving people, a figure more than three meters tall looked particularly conspicuous.
As the news of Tom Riddle being Voldemort spread, and the files of the "Chamber of Secrets Murders" at Hogwarts fifty years ago were accidentally leaked, many voices of sympathy and praise naturally emerged in the magical world. In an exclusive interview with *The Daily Prophet*, Hagrid was crowned the title of "the first warrior to resist the Dark Lord".
Naturally, the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts revoked all punishments against Hagrid, and after consulting with Dumbledore and Hagrid himself, made an exception to allow Hagrid to continue his studies at Hogwarts.
Therefore, at least today, Hagrid wasn't a Hogwarts gamekeeper, first-year guide, or key master.
According to the regulations of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hagrid should, like other older students, take the school carriage through the Hogwarts gates flanked by winged boar statues and enter Hogwarts Castle along the school avenue - just like any other fourth-year student in Gryffindor, with no special treatment.
And in contrast...
Aileenah raised her wand, elegantly pointing it at the sky.
"Explosionmaximum!"
Boom!
Accompanied by a thunderous roar, a brilliant firework suddenly bloomed in the sky above the station.
Immediately afterward, a huge Hogwarts crest of light and shadow appeared above the students' heads. In the brightly colored four-house crest, the animals symbolizing each house moved their bodies as if awakened from a dream, emitting a series of imposing sounds.
"First years! First years, come over here!"
Aileenah waved her wand, and a beam of light fell from the school crest in the sky, marking her location.
Compared to Hagrid's previous way of gathering the new students, Aileenah's method was obviously much easier to distinguish. It took about a third of the usual time for all of this year's incoming Hogwarts students to gather in front of Aileenah.
"Very good! Now let me see... Well, everyone should be here."
Aileenah tried her best to resist the urge to tiptoe and count the number of people, inconspicuously turning her head to look at the house elf near the Hogwarts Express on her right, and only continued speaking after it raised a lantern and shook it three times in a row.
"Now, first years, take out your wands!"
Not far away, Luna Lovegood was already standing at the steep, narrow downhill path.
As one of Aileenah's most trusted wings, although Luna could be a bit ditzy at times, at least she was quite capable when it came to finding her way, and after a year of getting along, she had also grown a lot in terms of acting skills.
Luna turned her head and asked earnestly in a low voice.
"Professor Caslana, what should we do next?"
"Relax, try to remember what you tried on the train, and say it with me..."
Aileenah replied with complete naturalness, looking around at the young wizards who were watching her, her eyes lingering for a moment on a little witch in the crowd who was about her size, imperceptibly giving her a slight glance.
Immediately afterward, Aileenah took out her wand, flicking her wrist skillfully, and clearly recited.
"Lumos! Lumos!"
Countless shimmering white lights flickered around the girl, flying around her like fireflies, dispelling the darkness in the station in just a few seconds, creating a dreamlike beauty.
As Aileenah cast her spell, the surrounding young wizards began to chant the incantation.
Unlike the scattered rays of light a year ago, this time almost all of the new students' wand tips flickered, and countless varying shades of shimmering white light gradually lit up. Everyone gathered together, forming a field as bright as moonlight.
And in front of them, on that rugged dark path, delicate marble steps gradually emerged as the light spread.
Stretching far away, towards the boats by the lake.
…………
In the distant tower of Hogwarts Castle.
"It seems that from today onwards, Hogwarts will have another tradition..."
Dumbledore stood on the windowsill, watching the field of moonlight that had suddenly lit up by the lake in the distance, and turned to look at Grindelwald standing behind him with a complex expression.
The old wizard's aging face showed a warm smile, and he shook his head with emotion.
"Come on, Gellert, the moonlight of Hogwarts has returned - and it's time for us to go to the school hall."