Soon after, the Hogwarts Express pulled into its final destination: Hogsmeade Station.
The group, now in their robes, got off the train. Instead of a charming view, all they saw was a dark, small platform and the frigid chill of an autumn night.
"This will keep you warm," Dudley said, unwrapping his scarf and tying it around Hermione's neck. He then draped a large coat over her shoulders. The coat was far too big for her; she was practically swallowed by it. But it was warm.
"Thank you," Hermione said, her cheeks faintly pink, as she pulled the collar of the coat tighter around her.
"First-years! First-years, over here!" A familiar, booming voice called out. A lantern swayed over the students' heads.
It was Hagrid. When he saw Harry, he started to go over to greet him, but he stopped short when he saw Dudley.
"First-years, follow me! Watch your step!"
Before long, a crowd of young wizards had gathered around him. He led the way with his lantern, and the students followed, slipping and stumbling down a steep, winding, and narrow path.
Dudley noticed that the older students had gone a different way after getting off the train. Only the first-years were on this path.
"I read about this in Hogwarts: A History," a little, fluffy head from inside the coat said. "First-years have to walk the path the four great founders of Hogwarts walked to learn their spirit."
Dudley had skimmed that part but hadn't committed it to memory. That was the difference between him and Hermione. Hermione would remember all sorts of useful and useless information, while Dudley was more selective, focusing only on what he considered beneficial. For instance, he had already memorized the contents of his Potions and Herbology textbooks, while Hermione had only read them.
For Dudley, the walk was nothing, barely a warm-up. But for the other young wizards, it left them huffing and puffing.
Fortunately, the path ended. The narrow trail opened onto the shore of a black lake. On a high slope across the water, a magnificent castle rose up, its many towers and windows sparkling under the stars. That must be Hogwarts.
It was a truly breathtaking building. From a distance, Dudley could feel its grandeur, and the thought of spending the next few years there made him a little excited. He'd never lived in a castle before.
"Right then, you lot! In the boats! No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid shouted, pointing to a fleet of small boats waiting on the shore.
For everyone else, it was no more than four to a boat. For Dudley, he lowered the boat as much as four people would have just by getting in. So, he took a boat all by himself.
He'd heard there were magical creatures in the lake and wondered if it was true. He stared at the dark surface of the water, lost in thought. For Dudley, Hogwarts was not just a school; it was a treasure trove.
"Du-Dudley... if I may call you that." Dudley's boat was close to Hagrid's. Hagrid seemed uneasy, and he lowered his voice. "I'm sorry, I mean, I shouldn't have... Is your backside feeling any better?"
Hagrid's words came out jumbled. The sight of Dudley swallowing a club whole had made a deep impression on him.
"It's fine now," Dudley said flatly. In truth, there was a small scar on his backside that he'd left on purpose, a little reminder to himself.
Fundamentally, Dudley didn't dislike Hagrid. The conflict that day had started because Hagrid had struck Vernon. Dudley had later heard from Petunia that Hagrid had been rude to Vernon because of some old unpleasantness between them. Vernon had also had run-ins with some of Harry's father's friends.
Hagrid was simple-minded, not a bad person at heart. Though, Dudley had learned that "simple-minded" wasn't always a compliment. That was a lesson his backside had taught him.
"Really... really?" Hagrid said in a deep rumble.
"If you're ever able, I'd like you to invite me to your home for a visit," Dudley said. "I'll bring Harry, too. After all, you're a friend of my aunt and uncle... if you don't mind."
Dudley admitted to himself that he was being quite calculating. He had looked at a map of Hogwarts, and Hagrid's hut was near the Forbidden Forest, a place Dudley planned to spend a lot of time. It was very important to get on Hagrid's good side.
"Oh, that would be... brilliant! I mean... I don't mind at all!" Hagrid stammered, his rude demeanor from the Dursleys' hut nowhere to be found.
After passing through a dark tunnel and reaching a dock-like area at the base of the castle, the boats came to a halt. Professor McGonagall stood by the great oak door, her expression serious.
"First-years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said to her.
"Thank you, Hagrid," she said politely. She then turned to the other students. "Follow me."
She pushed open the doors, and the medieval castle interior was revealed. The walls were made of a gray stone that Dudley couldn't identify, but he knew it was much harder than ordinary stone. He'd tried to break off a small piece with a lot of force and couldn't, which was proof enough.
Torches blazed all along the stone walls, the ceiling was so high it was almost out of sight, and a magnificent marble staircase led to the floors above.
As they walked on the stone floor, they heard a buzz of voices from a door to the right. The room was clearly full of people. They followed Professor McGonagall into a small, empty room at the other end of the hall.
"I know," Hermione whispered next to Dudley. "I read in Hogwarts: A History that we have to be sorted into a House before we can officially start our studies."
Her voice was quiet, but McGonagall still heard her. She gave Hermione a look of approval. "That's correct, Miss Granger."
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall began, clearing her throat. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you will be sorted into your Houses. Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be like your family. You will have classes with the other members of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend your free time in your House common room."
"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."