Unfortunately, most of the Young Wizards travelling on the boat didn't have the time to admire the Hogwarts castle in the cold rain, freezing them to the bone.
"Why are the First Years travelling across the river in a boat?" Albert withdrew his gaze and looked at other the three people in the same boat, who were freezing and chattering their teeth.
"No, I don't know, and I don't care right now!"
"Me too, it's so cold." The twins chimed in, who was in the mood to pay attention to such things when they were freezing to death.
Albert couldn't help but shake his head, he still knew a little bit about the boat ride across the lake ceremony. This is actually letting the new students who came to Hogwarts, walk the route that the four founders took when they came to Hogwarts castle back in the day. And the boat ride was in a groups of four, to represent the four founders at the beginning, similar to a kind of inheritance ceremony, so that the students who came here could feel the excitement and joy of the founders. While at the same time, remembering the founders' creation of the school it's similar to a heritage ceremony, so that students can feel the excitement and joy of the founders, and at the same time remember the founders to create the school of hardship.
But how many people still know about this?
Even Hagrid, who guided them across the lake, didn't know.
Still, there weren't many students who cared about these things anymore.
"Watch out, keep your heads down!" Hagrid shouted.
The new students hurriedly lowered their heads at his words.
The small boat carried them through the lower part of the cliffs and towards the dock below the castle.
"How annoying, I hate the rain." One of the twins clasped his hands around his shoulders and sneezed.
Everyone was drenched and shivering.
"How did you do that?" Lee Jordan asked in amazement. He noticed that the rain hadn't dampened Albert's robes and pointy hat.
"A simple magic." Albert explained softly as he noticed the eyes of the others looking over.
"Alright, everyone follow me." Carrying an oil lamp, Hagrid led the new students up a gravelled path to reach the lawn below the castle, and ahead of them was a flight of stone steps which led to the castle's oak doors.
A Witch in emerald green robes stood just in front of the oak door, Albert recognised the woman, she was Professor McGonagall who had been to Albert's house for a visit.
"Thank you, Hagrid, I'll take care of the new students." Professor McGonagall surveyed the wretched freshman and Albert saw the corners of her mouth twitch.
It wasn't surprising at all, the freshmen's appearance could only be described as lousy, almost every one of them was drenched and covered in mud.
"First Year students follow me."
Professor McGonagall led the new students into the castle, and Albert followed from the back of the group, taking in the thousand years old castle.
"That's Professor McGonagall, Head of House of Gryffindor, Percy says Professor McGonagall is very strict." George whispered.
"Oh, I met her once. My younger sister loved Professor McGonagall's trick of turning teacups into mice." Albert's attention was on the stone walls, and he had always wondered if those roaring torches were lighted by Everlasting Fire.
It's a charm with a very strange name and the flames allegedly burn forever, which fit the scene before him.
"Come on, what are you looking at?" Fred gently pushed Albert a lightly and whispered.
"I'm thinking about what kind of magic fire that is, it shouldn't be an ordinary flame." The fact that no smoke was seen meant that it was no ordinary flame.
Fred opened his mouth, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Albert was prepared to figure these things out later, this castle had a lot of secrets worth exploring.
After Albert had the idea of exploring the castle, the panel suddenly popped up a Quest:
The Thousand-Year-Old School: Hogwarts
Hogwarts is an ancient and mysterious School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it has existed for a thousand years, this ancient castle hides countless unknown secrets, as a curious secret seeker, you should not let go of such an opportunity. Explore Hogwarts' castle before graduation and find the secrets that have been hidden.
Current progress:1%.
Reward 1000100000 experience, 1-10 skill points.
"Fuck me!" Albert couldn't help but curse silently, this was surprising.
This was definitely the most forceful Quest he had seen.
Is this going to force me to become a nocturnal wanderer?
It seems that mastering the disillusionment charm must be put on the agenda early. Albert began to think about how to get the incantation for the disillusionment charm.
The new students were led into the waiting room by Professor McGonagall, there wasn't much space inside and everyone was crammed in next to each other.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said her opening remarks, as she did every year, "The Welcoming Feast is about to begin, but before you go to the Feast Hall and take your seats, you will first need to determine which House each of you is entering..."
As in the leadership speech in his last life: I'm here to say a few words, and then speak for more than half an hour, Professor McGonagall, was not as exaggerated, she spoke for a full ten minutes.
To Albert, Professor McGonagall's speech could simply be summarised to three main points: accommodation, sorting and the House Cup.
After the customary Hogwarts instructions, Professor McGonagall had all the new students line up and come forward so that she could clean off the water and dirt.
As the Vide Headmistress of the school, Professor McGonagall would never tolerate new students going into the halls like that, the mess was a disgrace to Hogwarts.
The new students were squeezing into the queue, hoping to dry their clothes as soon as possible, the dampness and the coldness was killing them.
"Are we trying to squeeze sardine into a can?" Albert watched the group of freshmen with interest, taking a step back and voluntarily staying at the back of the queue, the rain did not affect him too much.
Professor McGonagall moved quickly, skilfully using the scouring charm and the drying spell, and it probably only took a few minutes before it was soon Albert's turn.
She looked at Albert a little more surprised, then cast the same spell on him, and his clothes were instantly dry and warm, and the mud that had been splattered on his boots and trousers disappeared.
"Now, please be quiet." Professor McGonagall exclaimed, "I'll come get you all when everything is ready."
After Professor McGonagall left the room, everyone was whispering about sorting.
"How are they going to sort us into houses?"
"How are they going to accurately sort everyone into the right house?"
"Maybe, there's going to be some sort of test."
Speaking of tests, everyone was nervous.
Watching this scene, Albert suddenly wanted to laugh, and he kind of understood why the others didn't want to tell the new students the way of sorting.
What a bunch of mischievous guys!
"You're not nervous at all? I'm Alicia Spinnet." A girl came over to strike up a conversation, and Albert had even pulled her along earlier.
Of course, the young girl came over to strike up a conversation, probably because of Albert's composure, no matter how she looked at it, she looked like the kind of person who knew the secret of the sorting.
In fact, she'd guessed right.
"As long as I don't go to Slytherin, I'm fine with it." Albert said with a shrug, he wouldn't reveal the Sorting Ceremony, it was actually fun to watch the new students' nervous faces.
Okay, Albert could admit that he could be a bit mischievous.