Eli waved goodbye to the girls before climbing inside the boat. "Come on guys, this is so exciting! I can't wait to get there..."

Carter smiled at Eli's obvious enthusiasm, before getting into the boat himself.

"I like your camera," Eli said, pointing to the one Li was holding. "Are you going to take pictures of the Sorting Ceremony? That would be so cool. I know my family would love to see them, they're all about capturing memories."

Min gratefully let Bryn pull her towards the boat, waving to the boys as they headed off. "Thanks," she smiled at her new friend. She climbed into the boat with the other girls and sat down, trying not to get too anxious about the upcoming Sorting. She really hoped that at least she and Bryn would be in the same house, though she doubted it. Bryn seemed so sure of herself and confident, and Min...well, she was herself. She bit her lip, trying not to worry too much at the moment.

---

Jacob fist-bumped the new boy as he got in the boat, before sighing and rolling his eyes at Vivienne's statement. "I know. It's so stupid, and takes way longer. Apparently it's 'ceremonial'," he said, making air quotes, "but I think it's just pointless."

Maddie wrinkled her nose. "If the boats were nicer, it wouldn't be so bad. They're so crammed, and the sides are covered in gross algae." She shuddered. "I hope we don't start to smell like them, that would ruin the whole ceremony! I spent a long time getting ready today..."

---

Archie looked as though he genuinely pondered Gus' question for about a second, before grinning mischievously. "Good idea, Gussie!" He stood up and cupped his hands to his mouth. "Hey! Everyone! The faster we're in the boats, the faster we get Sorted! C'mon!" 

Archie sat back down, looking far too proud of himself. "Mission accomplished."

Nadia groaned. "Well, aside from stating the most obvious rule regarding the linear passage of time, you've likely annoyed at least half of the students here." She sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Hopefully we do get going soon, at least for your sake Archie."

Archie seemed to hear almost nothing that Nadia said, he just smiled. "That's the spirit! Let's gooooo!!"

---

Saoirse shrugged at Olivia's question about the boats. "I don't know, I don't know if anyone knows. I think the squid pulls us, but my brother says it's magic."

---

Hagrid looked around, and seeing that everyone was inside a boat, called out "Right e'eryone! Keep yer arms n legs inside te boat at all times! We're off!" He pointed his umbrella in front of him, and his boat smoothly glided out onto the lake. The rest of the boats followed, calmly making their way across the water, hardly bobbing at all.

Eventually, all the boats arrived at the opposite shore at the base of Hogwarts Castle. Hagrid clambered out of his boat, and checked that all the students had arrived safely. Once he was satisfied, he nodded to himself and shut his umbrella. "Right, right this way," he said gruffly as he walked over to a nearby set of stairs leading up to a door. "All of ye, go up these stairs, there's a room. Yer all gonna wait there for Headmistress McGonagall, she'll come get ye when it's time for the Sorting Ceremony. Good luck!" 

Once all of the students made their way up the stairs and into the room, Hagrid himself took a different route up to the Great Hall, where he took his seat alongside the other Professors to wait for the Sorting Ceremony to begin.