hiss--
There was a burst of gasps from the gate, and the little wizards hiding in the foyer came pouring out again. They gaped at the colt, unable to take their eyes off it.
This little pony, named Pocahontas, was much smaller than the one next to it, almost as tall as Professor Dumbledore, and looked like a foal.
The little pony's coat was a silky white-gold color, and under the twilight, Pocahontas' mane was a smooth light pink. With its bright big eyes and long, sleek black lashes, it was cute and beautiful like a creature from a fairy tale!
The young witches of Hogwarts fixed their gleaming eyes on the little pony, Pocahontas, and could hardly wait to rush over and hug the horse, whose beauty surpassed that of a unicorn.
Even Pansy Parkinson was speechless, gazing at the foal.
However, there were some who showed no interest in Pocahontas.
For example, Draco.
Compared to the cute little pony, he was more interested in the children that Professor Lachansen brought. He could feel something special about them.
"Those people don't seem to be muggle-born—"
Notte examined these children with a suspicious look.
“There can't be this many pure-blood descendants that we don't know about in England, so they must be foreigners. Do you know them? By the way, are they humans?”
"I believe so; they don't look like traitors."
Draco whispered to his father, looking at Professor Lachansen,
"But I don't recognize them. Perhaps they're guests invited by Professor Lachansen from other magical schools."
"Then, my task is completed. I need to go back now."
Maggie lowered her head to Amortha and Dumbledore for a moment, as if she didn't want to stay on wizard's land even for a second.
"Take care of yourself, Pocahontas—"
Before leaving, Maggie felt guilty to Pocahontas, and her tone was as if Pocahontas had already been abandoned by the herd.
"Don't worry, Pocahontas—"
Hagrid seemed to know the little pony, and he said carelessly,
"I can take you back every weekend."
"Thank you, Hagrid--"
The foal said shyly, noting that it had attracted too much attention, which scared it. Although, it could feel that these gazes were not malicious.
"Students just find you curious, Pocahontas. After all, they've never seen a so pretty foal before."
Amortha smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Professor Lachansen."
Pocahontas was fidgeting.
"I think the last of our guests have arrived now."
Professor Dumbledore smiled broadly and looked in the direction of the large iron gate.
Colin's guess was half right.
The elves indeed arrived at Hogwarts by carriage, but it was not as large as the Gringotts one; it was just a regular school carriage pulled by a nightmare.
Harry had seen the old elf who had come out first. It had appeared on the viewing platform for the first match of the Triwizard Tournament.
"Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lachansen—"
The head prefect, Filch, led the carriages to them, and the old elf Bane, with the assistance of another elf, struggled down from the carriage and greeted them.
Professor Dumbledore and Amortha both crouched down and hugged the old elf.
"I didn't expect you to bring the team yourself, Bane—"
Dumbledore said warmly.
"Oh, the elves understand the importance of this exchange activity, Professor Dumbledore. We don't dare to be lazy."
Bane's wrinkles smoothed out, and he said cheerfully.
"I thought the elves might have changed their minds at the last minute and decided not to come."
"Ah, I see you're more familiar with Bane. Looking at the half-hidden sun in the horizon, it's like you're joking with me, isn't it?"
Is it because of the complicated matters in the national trade science that delayed it?
"Yes, some things did delay us, but not matters from the ministry."
Bane chuckled.
"Professor Lupin is an extremely excellent and competent official. He can handle everything. I just gave some advice. In fact, I brought presents for the students."
"It's not necessary at all, Bane—"
Amortha shook her head gently, and her eyes revealed a hint of helplessness.
"Not valuable--"
Bane said.
The elf who was helping Bane made a flicking gesture, and the curtains of another carriage were lifted, revealing a mountain of boxes in the expanded space.
"It's just a quill."
Amortha and Dumbledore exchanged a glance.
Dumbledore pondered for a moment before nodding his thanks.
"I speak on behalf of the students of Hogwarts and thank you for your generosity, Bane."
Saying this, Dumbledore pulled out his wand and waved it like a whip at the carriage.
Close to a thousand boxes flew out in an orderly manner, landing neatly in the hands of the confused young witches.
Indeed, it was just a quill, but with automatic error correction function, and some beautiful gilded patterns on the handle to make it non-slip.
"Seventeen galleons!"
Hermione opened the box and immediately said to Harry,
"I've seen it in the Literary Room. It's too expensive, and I didn't dare to buy it!"
Affluent elves, nearly twenty thousand galleons for a gift!
It wasn't just Harry who had this thought in their hearts.
But the purpose of gifts was obvious.
The young witches could clearly feel that the ten elves, who were the same size and height, were no longer ugly to look at as they walked down from the carriages in a row.
"I also brought some books--"
The smooth and experienced old elf wouldn't neglect the professors. It prepared a book for each of them, with a silver and gold cover engraved with "The Dual Moons."
"This is compiled by elves, telling the history of elves since the Middle Ages--"
Bane the elder said.
"Ah, thank you. History is the most valuable treasure, through which we can glimpse the remarkable wisdom of a race. I think this book will certainly help us understand you better--"
Professor Dumbledore readily accepted it.
Filch led a total of four carriages over. One carried Bane and its attendant, one held gifts, one carried the foreign elves coming to Hogwarts for exchange activities, and the last carriage was always silent.
"I think they might be a bit shy--"
Amortha said with a smile and went over himself, opening the carriage door and lifting the curtain.
The empty and dimly lit carriage seemed a bit cold.
The large carriage contained only two people, a boy and a girl, both children.
Looking at the two little ones, Amortha was smiling warmly.
"We've arrived, Your Eminences. What are you still doing on the carriage?"
The little boy in the carriage was startled by Amortha, who poked his head inside the carriage. He stammered and looked at the little girl opposite him.
"Because... because no one let me in, and she hasn't gotten off the carriage yet--"
Amortha looked at the girl again.
"The sun hasn't completely set."
The little girl looked at Amortha with fear in her eyes, and then, in a tender, clear voice, with a hint of pride and coldness, said,
"I don't like to be active when the sun is shining."
As she spoke, the last ray of sunlight sank below the courtyard line, and the moonlight was still faint. The brightly lit castle shone like the fire stolen by Prometheus from Greek mythology under the night sky, bright and filled with hope.
"I think it's time now."
Amortha did not mind the ungracious tone in the little girl's voice. He smiled warmly and offered his hand in a gentlemanly manner.
As the guests from the last carriage stepped down, a group of young witches erupted in a wave of chatter once more.
Although the boy's slightly disheveled chestnut hair looked a bit untidy, his handsome face also attracted some attention. However, more people were looking at the little girl.
Compared with the many wizards wearing robes in the scene, the little girl with snow-white skin almost transparent was dressed too elaborately.
She looked like a princess stepping out of a medieval fairy tale, dressed in a deep black cake skirt adorned with white frills. Her feet were clad in black little leather shoes, and her long hair cascaded over her shoulders like water. Her features were more exquisite than the porcelain crafted by the most skilled artisans.
"Fiend!"
Feeling the scorching and restlessness in her blood, Ron gave his verdict!
"Then, all of them!"
Professor Amortha, who was preparing to greet the students and invite them to have dinner in the Great Hall, suddenly remembered something. He slapped his forehead.
"Kرك، دونم، دوبی!"
Only when the three timid little house-elves appeared from the cold air did Professor Amortha happily say,
"Let's go, eat!"
