The Gamer: Multiverse Travel

As the train rumbled along, Daniel and Michael's conversation slowly dwindled, the excitement of their journey giving way to a comfortable silence. But soon, a loud shout broke through the quiet,

"We'll be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes! Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

The announcement pulled Daniel's attention back. 'Five minutes.' He hadn't realized how much time had passed, and before he knew it, the train came to a stop.

They stood, stretching their legs before heading toward the door of their cabin. The platform outside was bustling with energy, students anxiously glancing around, but then a booming voice echoed across the station,

"Firs' years! This way!"

Daniel paused. The voice was unmistakable, and when he turned, he saw the source, a giant man, towering over the crowd. His wild, bushy black hair and thick beard gave him a fierce appearance, but his beetle-black eyes had an odd warmth to them. The man was dressed in a moleskin coat and huge boots, his large hands waving to the group.

'This must be Hagrid,' Daniel thought, his curiosity piqued. As they made their way over, Daniel used Observe on him out of habit.

[Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds, Lvl ???]

'Still can't see the levels,' Daniel thought, but his attention quickly snapped back to Hagrid's deep voice,

"Firs' years! This way! Firs' years, any more firs' years?"

As the crowd began to thin and Hagrid saw no more students coming his way, he called out,

"C'mon, follow me, firs' years!" he barked and started leading them toward the shore of a lake.

Daniel's excitement mixed with awe as he saw a row of small boats waiting by the water. It felt surreal. The Black Lake stretched out before them, shimmering under the darkening sky.

"I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts," Hagrid said with a wide grin, as if introducing himself for the first time, though it seemed like most already recognized him.

The boats gently rocked in the water as Hagrid helped each of the first years aboard. Daniel felt the familiar coolness of the lake air as they set off across its surface, the distant flickering lights of the castle barely visible through the mist.

"Watch yer heads!" Hagrid suddenly shouted, ducking under a stone archway that they were sailing toward. The first years followed his lead, though none of them had the same issue with the low arch.

And then, they passed through it. The mist parted before them like a curtain unveiling a grand stage, and Hogwarts Castle loomed before them, towering, majestic, and magnificent. Its spires scraped the sky, glowing faintly against the inky night. Tiny windows twinkled like stars, and the whole castle seemed like something pulled from a dream. It was so much more magnificent than Daniel had ever imagined.

'So this is Hogwarts,' Daniel thought, taken aback by the sight. 'It looks much better than in the movies.'

The boats made their way to the shore, and Hagrid helped them out, urging them to follow him up a rocky path toward the looming gates of the castle. With each step, the castle grew even larger and more imposing.

When they reached the gates, Hagrid threw them open with ease, his enormous hands gripping the iron as though it weighed nothing. He led them into the castle, past suits of armor and portraits that seemed to watch them with eyes that flickered in the torchlight.

Finally, they reached a large door, where a woman stood waiting. Her sharp gaze swept over the group. She wore green robes, and her hair was tied in a tight knot, giving her a no-nonsense look. Daniel recognized her instantly from the stories and knew who she was, Professor McGonagall.

"Firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said, stepping aside.

"Thank you, Hagrid," McGonagall replied curtly, her eyes briefly scanning the group.

Hagrid nodded and turned to leave, his heavy steps echoing down the corridor as he walked away.

McGonagall looked at the students, her stern face softening ever so slightly. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall. The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin." Her voice was calm but authoritative, and she quickly began to line them up.

"Wait here," she said, and disappeared through the large doors into the Great Hall.

The moment McGonagall vanished behind the doors, a hum of nervous excitement filled the air. The first years couldn't help but whisper to one another, their anxieties mingling with curiosity.

"What do you think we'll have to do?" Michael asked, looking at Daniel for reassurance. Daniel opened his mouth to reply, but his attention was drawn elsewhere.

He pointed toward the doors, where silvery figures drifted by, ghosts. Their pale forms glided effortlessly through the entrance. One student jumped back in surprise. "Ehhh!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with fear.

One of the ghosts turned toward them, and with a booming voice, he greeted them. "Welcome to the Great Hall! I am Nearly Headless Nick, Gryffindor's ghost."

As Nearly Headless Nick floated in front of them, a handful of students turned their heads in curiosity. He went on to explain a bit about the Hogwarts ghosts and their roles at the school.

"I hope some of you will be sorted into Gryffindor," he said with a wink. "It's the best house after all." With that, he disappeared, leaving a lingering sense of awe behind him.

The students quickly returned to their conversations, though their chatter was a little quieter now. The door swung open again, and Professor McGonagall reappeared, ushering them into the Great Hall.

The room was grander than Daniel had ever imagined, with four long tables filled with students. Their eyes were all on the first years, and in the center of the hall, the Sorting Hat sat on a wooden stool.

McGonagall moved toward the Hat, her voice carrying as she explained its role. "The Sorting Hat will decide which of the four Houses each student will belong to."

One by one, she called up the first years. The sound of their names echoed in the hall, and Daniel couldn't help but feel a wave of nervous anticipation.

While McGonagall handled the sorting, Daniel let his gaze wander. He briefly glanced at the older students, observing a few of them before his attention shifted to the professors' table. He recognized most of their faces, but curiosity pushed him to use Observe on them anyway.

When his eyes landed on Professor Snape,

[???]

'What?' That was all Observe revealed.

Before he could think about it too long, Snape's eyes locked with his. Daniel's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. His pulse quickened, but his skills quickly forced him to calm down, pretending like he was just admiring the grandeur of the Hall. He broke eye contact and looked around, hoping his brief moment of tension went unnoticed.

'Shit, does he know?' Daniel thought, but then reassured himself. 'Don't worry, he doesn't necessarily know it was me.'

'I'm glad I didn't use it on Quirrell first.'

Suddenly, his name rang out through the hall.

"Daniel Wilson."

He stood up, a swirl of excitement bubbling inside him. 'I wonder which House I'll be in.'

As he made his way toward the stool, the Sorting Hat was placed gently on his head. The moment it touched his hair, a voice echoed inside his mind.

"Interesting..."