At Hogwarts with Academic Master System

[Note: Read up to Chapter - 90 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]

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The scarlet steam locomotive chugged along between vast plains and shimmering lakes.

The view on the way to Hogwarts was stunning, so much so that Aris found himself in unusually high spirits.

If not for the scenery, he might've gone spare from the snail-paced crawl of the train.

"You lot best get your robes on, I reckon we're nearly at the station!"

A senior's reminder snapped everyone to attention. After hours on board, the train was finally beginning to slow.

Aris glanced out the window and spotted a small platform ahead, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun.

It gave off a quiet, almost ethereal sort of calm, like something out of a painting.

Clack, clack... clack—

The train gradually ground to a halt.

And then, he heard a deep, booming voice that was impossible to miss.

"First years, over 'ere! I'll be takin' you lot to the castle!"

That was Hagrid, no doubt about it.

Once Harry and Ron had stepped off, Aris tidied up his things and pulled out a small envelope. He gave a soft whistle, and moments later, a flash of red zipped into the coach, his dragon, Iris.

"Right, little one. Take this to Luna, yeah?"

He held the letter near the dragon's mouth, gently stroking her head.

"Make sure you're not seen, understand?"

"Wraa~"

Iris gave an affirmative chirp and affectionately nudged his hand.

Over the past month, she'd grown considerably, not just in size but in strength too.

Going by the stats on her growth chart, Aris figured she was already on par with him, if not more capable in some areas.

Iris gave a final nod, almost like she understood every word, then bounded up onto the windowsill.

With one smooth leap, she vanished out into the open air.

Just before disappearing entirely, Aris caught sight of a faint magical shimmer surrounding her form.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the red dragon faded from view, completely cloaked, even from the naked eye.

"The little fella's getting better and better with magic," Aris murmured approvingly.

The spell Iris had used was similar to a Disillusionment Charm, but not quite the same.

At the very least, it was harder to detect, and unlike standard wizard versions of the spell, it didn't fade with rapid movement.

The concealment stayed perfectly in place, even at high speed.

Satisfied, Aris hopped off the train.

As for the trunk and other things, Hogwarts staff would naturally sort all that out.

By the time the Sorting Ceremony was over, everything would be neatly waiting in his dormitory.

"Oi, Aris! Where've you been?"

Ron and Harry spotted him as he joined the cluster of first-years gathering nearby.

"Nothing much, just popped off to send a letter," Aris replied casually.

"Send a letter?" Harry tilted his head. "You use an owl, too?"

He'd clearly remembered Hedwig, the snowy owl Hagrid had bought him.

"Something like that," Aris said with a faint smile, keeping it vague.

By now, nearly all the new students had assembled.

Hagrid's booming voice rang out again up front:

"Right then, everyone with me! Stay close and no wandering off!"

"Where are we going?" Harry asked, craning his neck to see past the crowd.

"You'll find out soon enough," Hagrid said with a cheeky wink.

Just then, Ron leaned in and whispered, sounding a little nervous.

"I heard from Fred and George that new students have to go through some kind of test before they're allowed in!"

"They said it's part of the entrance requirements!"

"A test?" Harry frowned slightly, clearly unsettled by the idea.

Aris chuckled quietly to himself.

Ah, yes, more of the mysterious lore surrounding Hogwarts.

He knew full well that the Sorting Hat ceremony was all it took to be sorted into one of the four Houses.

There was no extra test before admission.

But clearly, the Weasley twins had been having a bit of fun winding up their little brother, and this gullible boy was really playing into it.

"Come on now, mind your step and follow me onto the boats!"

"Keep it orderly, no pushing or shoving!"

After making their way down a slick, winding path, the first-years found themselves at a small pier nestled beside the Black Lake.

A low mist hung over the water, giving the surface an eerie stillness.

In the distance, the soft glow of lights from Hogwarts Castle shimmered faintly through the fog.

There was something enchantingly mysterious about it all, a sense that a grand magical adventure was just beginning.

"I read in Hogwarts: A History that this tradition goes back a thousand years," Hermione Granger's voice piped up beside Aris. She'd wandered over at some point without him noticing.

"All the first-years cross the Black Lake to reach the castle. It's meant to recreate the journey the four founders took when they first came here. Apparently, they crossed this very lake before settling at Hogwarts!"

"You really do know a lot," Aris murmured.

"She's probably been buried in books since the day she got her letter," Ron muttered under his breath.

Aris gave him a curious look.

"Isn't that what everyone did?"

"Er..." Ron glanced awkwardly at Harry, and the two of them dropped their gazes sheepishly.

Not everyone had Hermione's studious drive, or Aris's, either, for that matter.

To most, preparing for school that early was unheard of.

Harry had tried to read a few books before arriving, but the content had been dense and confusing, so he'd quickly given up.

Otherwise, he wouldn't still be completely hopeless at casting even a single spell.

The little boats bobbed along the vast expanse of the Black Lake like fragile leaves drifting on water.

Surrounded by the chilly mist and the inky black depths, the first-years' excitement had clearly worn off.

Their earlier curiosity was quickly replaced by teeth-chattering and anxious glances. Most of them huddled together in the boats, shivering from the cold.

The flickering torches attached to the boats weren't much help; they barely lit up a foot ahead, and the fog made everything feel even more oppressive.

Then suddenly, from one of the boats near the centre of the group, a soft light lifted into the air.

"Lumos!"

A glowing orb of light, bright as the moon, rose steadily above the boat.

It floated gently to the front of the convoy, casting a calm, silvery glow over the entire flotilla.

With that, the darkness seemed to retreat a little. The cold didn't bite quite as hard.

The waters of the Black Lake shimmered faintly beneath the light, and the silhouette of the great castle up ahead became clearer.

"Aris, that was brilliant!"

Ron and Harry stood up slightly in the boat, eyes wide with awe.

They gazed at the floating light in pure admiration, like it was magic made manifest.

In that moment, the lake, the castle, the soft glow above them—it all felt like something out of a fairytale.

A myth come to life.

This was no ordinary place.

This was Hogwarts.

Not far off, Hagrid watched from his own boat, visibly impressed.

He knew full well that casting a proper Lumos charm like that, stable, bright, and floating, was far beyond most first-years.

The lad had talent, no doubt about it.

Draco Malfoy, meanwhile, stared at the figure basking in the glow of the light orb.

His expression was difficult to read.

Maybe there was a bit of jealousy there, but more than anything, it was something else, reluctant admiration.

Deep down, Draco knew he didn't have the mettle to make an enemy of Aris.

Everything about the boy's presence, his confidence, the effortless way he wielded magic—it left Draco feeling… small.

And somehow, certain that this was someone he'd never be able to outshine.

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Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!

[Note: Read up to Chapter - 90 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]