Chapter 27: Crossing the Lake

Hours later, night fell. Outside the train windows, the darkness was absolute, thick enough to obscure one’s own hand, and even the usually boisterous Ron and Hermione had fallen silent.

Chu Yang closed his book and began organizing his luggage, neatly tucking away the volumes he had been reading. He was long accustomed to the routine of taking a train to a distant school, and given that this was a private charter, there was no risk of missing his stop—nothing to be nervous about.

With a long, mournful whistle, the train slowed into a modest station. While the facilities appeared somewhat aged, the platform was kept impeccably clean. The greenery and streetlamps lining the tracks lent the station a cozy, charming atmosphere, helping to soothe the nerves of the arriving first-years.

By the glow of the lamps, Chu Yang spotted the giant Hagrid walking toward them. The night only made his massive frame appear even more imposing. Standing nearly as tall as the train itself, the giant held a lantern aloft, calling out to the new students: "First-years, over here! Hurry up now, don't be shy—the evening banquet won't start without you!"

The students disembarked immediately, leaving their luggage behind to be transported to the school separately. Harry and Ron stepped off the train, greeted Hagrid, and fell in right behind him, while Chu Yang hung back, blending into the crowd.

His encounter with Harry Potter had been entirely coincidental, and Chu Yang had no intention of fostering that connection. He had no desire to involve himself in the conflict between the protagonist’s group and Voldemort; it was troublesome, time-consuming, and offered no tangible rewards. Honestly, who in their right mind would go out of their way for such a thankless task? He would be far better off using that time to quietly study magic. Regardless, as the protagonist, Harry Potter was destined to defeat Voldemort in the end, so Chu Yang’s intervention was unnecessary. He needed to focus on honing his own abilities so that the next time he entered the Soul Palace, he would be in a position to help the "other versions" of himself. After all, getting a free ride once was enough; to ask for more would be impolite.

Just as Chu Yang thought he had successfully distanced himself from the others, he felt a small shadow trailing behind him.

"Chu Yang, tell me, exactly which year's curriculum have you managed to self-study up to?" Hermione looked at him with wide, round eyes, much like a little squirrel. The crowd was surging forward, and to avoid being separated, she kept a tight grip on his sleeve.

Chu Yang felt rather helpless. Hermione’s pride was immense; back home, she was always the first to show off the knowledge she had acquired. But this time, in terms of academic prowess, Chu Yang had completely overshadowed her. Given her personality, she wasn't about to give up so easily.

Chu Yang calmly spun a white lie. "Actually, I haven't read as many books as you think. Aside from the first-year textbooks, the rest were just some books on Defense Against the Dark Arts. You heard about my family situation earlier; even if I wanted to read more, I couldn't afford the books. Even my tuition is being covered by Hogwarts."

Once his family background was mentioned, Hermione stopped questioning him. Instead, she offered comfort: "Chu Yang, you don't need to worry about books. Professor McGonagall told me that the Hogwarts library has a vast collection. You can borrow as many as you like there."

Chu Yang smiled. "Thank you for the reminder, Miss Granger."

Hermione waved her hand, smiling back. "Don't be so formal. Just call me Hermione."

As they spoke, the group reached the lakeshore, where Hagrid stood, waving his arms and directing the students toward the boats. "No more than three or four to a boat! Keep an eye on the weight—if you're on the larger side, pick a boat with fewer people!"

The first-years began to board, but the water caused the boats to rock unsteadily, making it quite a challenge for the eleven-year-olds to climb in. Seeing the swaying boat, Hermione hesitated, until Chu Yang pressed his hand firmly against the gunwale, pinning the small craft in place as if it were anchored to the sea floor.

"Wow, you're so strong!" Hermione looked at him in surprise, then gingerly placed a foot into the boat, steadying herself with both hands before carefully climbing over.

A larger boy stood awkwardly on the bank, clearly unwanted by the others who feared he would take up too much space. He offered a sheepish smile at Chu Yang.

"Come on up, there's just enough room for the three of us," Chu Yang said, tilting his head to invite the boy aboard. The boy sat down, looking visibly relieved.

Once Chu Yang climbed in last, the boat began to move without any physical effort—clearly set in motion by a pre-cast spell.

"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger," she said, introducing herself to the quiet boy.

"H-hello, I'm... Neville Longbottom," the plump, fair-skinned boy stammered, clearly nervous.

As the boats drifted further from the shore, the light grew dimmer. The pitch-black surface of the lake was so unnervingly still that a silent, creeping dread began to ripple through the students. Hagrid’s lantern alone was not enough to dispel the fears of the eleven-year-olds.

Out of nervousness, Hermione pressed close to Chu Yang, clutching his robes tightly. For her own good, Chu Yang felt compelled to warn her: "If you keep pulling on me like that, and I happen to fall into the lake, you'll be dragged in with me."

Hermione shook her head decisively. "You're so smart, the chances of you falling in are very low. It's safer to just hold onto you."

Chu Yang: "..."

From a boat drifting nearby, a voice complained, "I really don't understand why we can't just take carriages like the older students. Why do we have to cross the lake in boats? What if something happens?"

Hagrid, at the front, heard the complaint and turned back, saying reassuringly, "Don't worry, everyone. The boats are perfectly safe. In all the years Hogwarts has been around, no student has ever died crossing the lake."

Hagrid’s explanation did little to appease the children, and the grumbling only grew louder. Hermione, who had been terrified moments before, suddenly perked up, her voice rising with enthusiasm as she explained: "Crossing the lake by boat is a tradition for incoming Hogwarts students. It’s meant to mimic the scene when the four great founders first arrived here."

"The purpose is to remind the next generation not to forget their roots, and to remember the hardships under which Hogwarts was founded."

As Hermione spoke, the grumbling ceased, and the "heroic" blood in the students' veins began to burn with fervor.