Chapter 21 - Hogwarts Express Ⅲ (2/2)
Severus just rolls his eyes and quietly murmurs, ”Ignore her, she tends to get rather pessimistic and paranoid, whenever she's nervous.”
The young witch sighs in relief at Severus's words as a loud booming voice says, ”Heads down!” Everyone heads duck down as their small boats pass through a curtain of poison ivy hanging overhanding from a cliff. The small boats pass through a hidden opening into a dark passageway for some time, before their boats gently arrive at an underground pier.
With care, they all climb out of their boats as Severus out of courtesy offer's Lily a hand down and does the same for the other witch. Of course, Severus wouldn't offer to do so for Rowan and given that Rowan had already nimbly leaped onto the pier, it would be a rather pointless action on his part.
”Stay close,” Hagrid says as he and his brightly lit lamp lead the way through the mountains. In the end, they finally emerge onto a neatly trimmed grassy area in the shadow of the castle. Hagrid leads them to a massive door in the nearby distance, before scaling the front door stone steps.
Hagrid turns on the top of the stairs and says, ”Everyone here?”
A chorus of voices replied, ”Yes!”
Relieved, Hagrid turns back to the door and knocks thrice onto the doors. The doors swing open to reveal the thirty-five old figure of Professor McGonagall with dark hair and sharp eyes that have the beginnings of crows' feet. Her sleek hair is tightly pulled into a bun as a pair of square glasses neatly sit on the bridge of her nose. Her elegant emerald-green robes gently flutter behind her in the night breeze.
Professor McGonagall face and demeanor are strict as ever as she coolly eyes Hagrid. Hagrid hastily says, ”The firs' years are all counted for and present, Professor McGonagall.”
”Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here,” Professor McGonagall said as she pulled the door open wide. The 1st years eyes widen at the size of the entrance hall that could fit an entire row of homes. The stone walls are lit with flaming torches with a ceiling so high that it can't be made out. Along the side is a magnificent staircase that faces them leads to upper floors.
Professor McGonagall motions for the children to neatly come in and form a line. Without any verbal instruction, the children neatly line up in a row as Professor McGonagall closes the door behind them. While everyone is amazed by the silver suits and the enormous brightly lit walls, Rowan eyes the castle with resigned eyes.
”So, this is where I will be spending the next few years of my life,” Rowan quietly thought to herself. ”Oh joy. Well, at least they have indoor plumbing. But what I wouldn't kill to have access to a cellphone and the web.” Rowan bitterly thought to herself, knowing full well that the internet so to speak won't happen for another ten years, before it starts to pick up.