Boats

People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. You felt the cold night air going through your robes. Lamps came bobbing over the heads of the students lighting the area, You heard a large bellowing voice say: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" It was the large giant of a man you saw in diagon alley.

"You know Him?" you said to Harry who was stood next to you.

"Yeah, This is Hagrid he took me to diagon alley to get my school supplies and he saved me for the Dursleys." He said answering a lot of answers.

"C'mon, follow me -- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" Hagrid said

Slipping and stumbling, everyone followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of you. Nobody spoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice.

"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh!" From the students ahead

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black take. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Ron were followed into their boat by You and Hermione. "Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then -- FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over you as you sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. What you knew about the school is that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is considered to be one of the finest magical institutions in the wizarding world, though other notable schools included Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute. The sight was magnificent, looking over at the other students in the boats you felt someone touch your hand, As soon as you looked over at Hermione She retracted her hand quickly in a nervous manner her cheeks turning red, Now you were really close to Hogwarts.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried you through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking you right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. You wondered why the boy was so attached to a toad. It just seems odd. You thought to yourself.

You walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, Oak front door with the rest of the students.

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.