Problem is this, I've lead Serana home, but the front door on Castle Volkihar won't work. All I get is that clunk noise such as when you try to activate nothing.
I seem to remember there was a console command in the MW CS that could fix a bad load door. Does the CK have such a thing?

Alternately, I can coc into the castle. Can you coc an NPC? I know, you'll say just do placeatme. Will her hex work as well as her editor ID?

Or, I could just pop into the castle and setstage my way through the whole scene.

Lastly, maybe I should just reinstall DG?

What's the most expedient thing to do in yall's opinion?

Normally, there should be an NPC waiting there, who initiates dialog with Serena and then opens the door for you.

Have you tried waiting, or reloading the cell? (to see if the NPC shows up)

If you mean the old doorman, yeah he's there. He opened the portculis. Can't say he and serana had a conversation. I tried talking to him. But all he says is generic stuff. Maybe he's glitched too.