Chapter 826: Chapter 197: Gathering in Waves

"Woo————"

The crimson train emitted a long sound, spouting thick steam, and slowly pulled into the Hogsmeade Platform.

The train jolted suddenly and came to a standstill. The next moment, all the carriage doors slid open, and hundreds of wizards dressed in various styles disembarked from the train.

The Bulgarian Wizard, wearing an indigo silk robe, walked down proudly, while the Egyptian Wizard, wrapped in a camel wool cloak, wore golden jewelry, the sari of the Indian Witch fluttered in the wind, and the wizards from the Brazilian Rainforest wore emerald green cloaks with flowers that changed colors hanging around their necks.

"Make way! Please make way!"

A voice with a thick accent shouted loudly, and people nearby turned their heads, only to see two giant moose pulling a carriage, swaying along the path, and the shout surprisingly coming from one of the moose.

A few Russian Wizards in scarlet high-collared uniforms strode by, their bearpaw boots creaking on the wooden ground, with one of them having a sharp-eyed snow owl perched on his shoulder.

That familiar owl made Hagrid recall the scene of his first meeting with Harry, and the Half-Blood Giant showed a warm smile and shouted, waving his arm:

"Hogwarts welcomes all of you, please head this way, the carriages are waiting upfront!"

"Oh, Lord above!" A wizard in a white robe looked at Hagrid’s giant stature and couldn’t help but exclaim: "You’re really tall, sir!"

Hagrid chuckled heartily, suddenly remembering Madam Maxime’s angry voice—

"I just have a large skeleton!"

"Please follow me, ladies and gentlemen."

Outside the platform, hundreds of carriages awaited quietly, adorned with unprecedentedly luxurious decorations:

Silver thread outlined constellations on the black leather, exquisite wind chimes and lanterns hung on the sides of the carriage, thick yellow carpets lay beneath the seats, and even the spokes of the wheels were entwined with holly vines.

"Such beautifully decorated carriages, I wish my children would attend Hogwarts."

An elderly witch joked as she climbed onto the carriage.

"The carriage is indeed magnificent, but..." A young red-haired wizard couldn’t help but look around: "How does this carriage move? Do we need to cast a spell? Or like riding a broom..."

Before he could finish, there was a burst of kind laughter around.

"Child, the horses pulling the carriage are already here; you just can’t see them."

An old wizard with a goatee spread his hand in the air, and the red-haired wizard felt as if he was stroking something, though he could see nothing, only faintly hearing the sound of an animal snorting and wings flapping.

"These are Thestrals." A Peruvian Wizard kindly explained: "Only those who have witnessed death can see them."

"Hogwarts indeed..." The Kenyan Witch Doctor muttered enviously: "Even the horses pulling the carriage are rare Thestrals... and there are so many..."

One carriage after another was filled with guests, swaying and heading towards the castle not far away.

But not everyone rode the carriages provided by Hogwarts; some sat on their own Flying Carpets or brooms, some chose to walk leisurely, and others rode various peculiar magical creatures, including a wild boar.

On the way to the school, "pop" explosions were occasionally heard, the sound of wizards who did not take the Hogwarts Express but Apparated directly here.

Wizards from all directions were gathering towards Hogwarts, and to show support for their countries, many donned unique attire and wore extravagant jewelry.

At this moment, this ancient castle seemed like a miniature portrait of the entire Magic World, the voices of wizards chatting, laughing, and casting spells blended into a marvelous symphony.

Due to the popularity of Flow Mirrors, even though the wizards came from different countries and spoke different languages, they could happily communicate on the same topic, even using gestures if necessary.

...

In the Hogwarts Great Hall, most students knew that many spectators would arrive during the finals, but they had difficulty grasping it, while everyone enjoyed today’s extra lavish lunch with great excitement.

"Try this, Mom." Vid pushed a plate of colorful pudding towards Fiona: "We rarely see this at school; it’s only served at the Christmas feast."

Fiona scooped a spoonful into her mouth and instantly squinted happily: "Wow, it’s delicious! How is it made?"

"House-Elves use their unique magic to make the pudding softer and more fragile, adding a light touch."

Vid explained softly.

Ferdinand took a sip of pumpkin juice, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Nice texture... But you probably don’t like it?"

He knew well that his son entirely disliked the throat-cloying texture of pumpkin juice.

"I have this." Vid gestured to the juice in front of him, its clear green giving a refreshingly crisp vibe.

"Oh..."

Ferdinand glanced around, finding that the long table, including the adjacent tables, seemed to lack equally transparent drinks.

He instantly understood something, and let out a long "Oh~", feeling both amazed and pleased.

In elementary school, his son always seemed aloof and cold. Unexpectedly, at Hogwarts, he seemed to have unexpectedly brightened his friendship skills?

As the joyful lunch ended, Dumbledore stood up and tapped his glass, and everyone instantly quieted down.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes, I invite you all to the Quidditch Pitch to watch the final match. Now, champions, please proceed with Mr. Bagman to the sports ground for preparation."

Vid felt his mother’s hand suddenly grasp his tightly, the warm palm slightly trembling, and he got up to gently hug his parents. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"I’ll remember our promise; after the match ends, I’ll come home soon."

"Alright." Fiona said with tears in her eyes, striving to keep her voice light: "We’ll be in the front row cheering for you!"

"Take care and don’t push yourself." Ferdinand also patted Vid’s back, adding: "On the field, don’t overthink, try your best with what you can do... that’s enough."

"I understand."

Vid whispered, then hurriedly walked towards the hall’s entrance, where Mr. Bagman awaited the champions.

Before leaving, Vid glanced back, raised his arm in a wave, the sunlight streaming through the high window stretching his shadow long.