"Sorimus, T-Trevor, I can't find him. I can't find him anywhere."
Neville's eyes were so swollen they looked as though a troll had punched him in the face.
"Relax, you'll be seeing your toad again soon enough. Can you stop sniffling already?"
Sorimus led Hermione and Neville onto one of the boats at random and sat down. Once all the first-years had boarded, the little boats began moving on their own, gliding slowly toward the castle. Hermione and Sorimus sat at one end, while Neville sat at the other. The chubby boy took up a bit more room than most.
As Sorimus looked at the magnificent castle in the distance, even with two lifetimes behind him, he could not help whistling softly.
Yes, that very tune, Hogwarts' own grand and unmistakable theme.
"Ah, so that's Hogwarts Castle. I read about it in a book, and the ceiling in the Great Hall..."
Sitting beside him, Hermione had started chattering again, going on and on like a little old lady.
"All right, all right, Hermione, say a little less, would you? But have you really decided you want Gryffindor? Personally, I think Ravenclaw suits you better."
Sorimus hurriedly cut off Hermione before she could launch into another endless explanation.
"Hm? Why would you say that?"
Hermione turned to look at him, her furrowed brows full of confusion.
"How do you know Ravenclaw suits me?"
"All right, then let me tell you a few things that won't be written in the books you've read."
Sorimus decided that was preferable to sitting there listening to Hermione chatter on.
Gryffindor symbolizes courage, Slytherin symbolizes talent, Ravenclaw symbolizes wisdom, and Hufflepuff symbolizes loyalty. That was what A History of Hogwarts said. Well, it was not exactly wrong, only that some things in books could not be written too bluntly. Hermione did not understand that, but Sorimus certainly did.
Gryffindor was full of mischievous little demons. Its common room was always noisy, chaotic, and lively, and if you wanted to read or do homework properly there, you could forget it. Of course, if you were the sort of person completely immune to outside distractions, then none of that mattered. Compared with Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin were much better in that regard. The students in those two Houses were relatively more mature, and the atmosphere was more suitable for sitting down quietly with a book.
Ravenclaw had its own library. It was not nearly as large as the main Hogwarts library, but the books in Ravenclaw Tower had been left behind by Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Slytherin, meanwhile, did not have a library, but the area around the Slytherin common room had plenty of empty classrooms and secluded rooms hidden away nearby.
That suited Sorimus perfectly.
He had no desire to brew Potions or practice spells, then have to cross half the castle just to get back to a warm bed. One should remember that after curfew, the professors would know whether students were in their beds or not. Hufflepuff was underground too, and the kitchens were right beside the common room, but as for the Hufflepuff badgers...
Well, Sorimus could only say that they were all very friendly.
"So you see, Hermione, after spending this much time with you, I've got a rough understanding of you now. Do you really think you'd be able to adapt to Gryffindor's atmosphere? Surrounded by a group of young witches and wizards who treat recklessness as courage, who love sneaking around at night and getting into trouble, do you think you'd really get along with them?"
Sorimus turned his head and looked at Hermione.
"Watching those little troublemakers cause chaos and then lose points, do you think you could just ignore that? And besides..."
He smiled at her slightly.
"There's also Potions. Trust me, Professor Snape has no fondness for Gryffindors at all. He'll seize every opportunity to pick on them. If you really do go to Gryffindor, you'll have plenty to suffer through."
At that, Sorimus turned to Neville.
"Speaking of Professor Snape, Neville, I told you to revise Potions properly. Did you do it?"
Neville wore a blank expression. Only after hearing Sorimus's question did he seem to remember that he had forgotten something important.
"Er, I... I forgot."
Neville looked a little embarrassed, but there was no helping it. That forgetful brain of his had done him in again.
"Then I suggest you hurry up. Friday morning is a double Potions class. If you have questions, come ask me."
Sorimus then glanced at Hermione.
"Of course, if both of you end up in Gryffindor, I imagine Hermione would be willing to help you too, right?"
"Hm? Yes, of course. I'll help you, Neville."
Hermione was clearly still thinking over what Sorimus had just told her, and for a moment she reacted a beat too slowly. After hesitating a little, she ended up telling Sorimus about meeting the famous Boy Who Lived while helping Neville search for Trevor on the train.
"Oh, so you met the famous 'Saviour,' and that freckled boy from the Weasley family."
Sorimus noticed Hermione reach up and scratch at the freckles on her own face.
"Disappointed?"
He stood up. They had arrived.
"Not exactly disappointed, just..."
Hermione had not even finished speaking when a loud splash sounded behind them.
Sorimus spun around at once to see what had happened. He and Hermione had already stepped off the boat. Their end had been closest to the bank. Poor Neville had only just stood up, and before he could react, the boat had tipped over under his weight.
"Oh, for heaven's sake."
Sorimus hurried into the water and dragged Neville back onto the shore.
"At least be a little careful."
Feeling his shoes full of water and his robes noticeably heavier, then looking at the thoroughly drenched little chubby boy in front of him, Sorimus simply drew his wand and dried both of them on the spot.
"All right, first-years! Over here!"
A gigantic figure was calling to the new students from not far away.
"All right, Neville, let's go."
Feeling his feet turn dry again and his robes grow much lighter, Sorimus signalled for the other two to move.
"So, what were you saying? Hermione, go on."
Looking at Neville, now dry once more, Hermione could not help remembering how utterly bedraggled he had looked just moments ago. Magic really was incredibly convenient.
Hermione came from an ordinary family, and her understanding of the wizarding world was narrow and incomplete. But that did not mean she lacked basic judgment. She could already tell that among all the first-years, this boy named Sorimus was absolutely one of the most exceptional.
"Hermione?"
When she did not answer, Sorimus called her name again.
"Ah? Sorimus, I want to ask you something."
Hermione pressed her lips together. She looked a little embarrassed.
"From now on, could I come and study magic with Neville at your place? I'm a bit worried I won't be able to keep up with the schoolwork."
The moment Sorimus heard that, he understood.
The few spells he had cast along the way had dealt quite a blow to the little witch's confidence. They had made her feel that the gap between herself and children from wizarding families was much greater than it really was.
"I know what you're thinking, Hermione."
Sorimus led Hermione and Neville into line properly, standing where they ought to. Hermione stood in front of him.
"Don't overthink it. Most young witches and wizards are just like you. Before they come to school, they don't really know any magic either. Of course, if you want to come, you're welcome. Every week on..."
"Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I remember."
Hermione's memory was clearly much better than Neville's.
And she had already learned how to answer before he finished.