Chapter Text
Hogwarts - 24 August, ????
Pain was expected.
Or maybe a cold icy feeling.
Possibly she should have felt some small amount of fear even.
Instead all she felt was warmth as the sound became muffled and darkness took over her sight. It was instantaneous and was a shocking difference from what had been happening just seconds before. The screaming and yelling, the flashing of curses flying, the anger and rage palpable in the room. It had started as abruptly as it stopped, at least that’s what it had felt like. How quickly the quiet disagreement became a battle.
She took in a deep breath, then a few more as she realized she could still breathe.
It smelled a little musty, different than what she was used to smelling in her home.
She was also lying down apparently.
Funny since she had been standing, she was sure of it. Now it seemed her hearing was returning, as she listened to the distinct echoing sound of footsteps, however rather than the thumping of wooden floors it was more like brick or stone. Which was what she seemed to be lying on as well. ~Alright, buck up. You are obviously not dead, so just open your eyes.~
And open them she did, before having to close them quickly as sunlight seemed to beam directly into them. A few more attempts, lifting her hand to block out the light from the window to her left.
Well that was good, she could move it seemed, and at least her hand was perfectly intact.
All five fingers there and present.
Good, though she should check the rest of her really, as feeling returned and she could only establish the fact her body felt tired.
Slowly sitting up she looked at her other hand, stretching out her fingers, then wiggled her toes in her shoes. Everything seemed in one piece, though her dress looked quite dusty. Slowly standing up she tried to rectify that, but alas there was only so much to help after lying down on a stone floor. She seemed to be close to the outside too, as she turned around slowly taking in her surroundings. She seemed to be standing in a stone entryway, large wooden double doors towering over her, and behind her was a large staircase.
Those footsteps sounded much closer now before stopping abruptly and being followed by a gasp. Turning to the staircase and looking up, she saw a woman standing there, looking quite startled, apparently shocked to be seeing someone else. Once more trying to dust off her dress she gave a small nervous cough, before trying to talk. “H-Hello there-“ She stopped talking and swallowed nervously, noticing how dry her mouth was when she tried to talk. “I am terribly sorry but, I am not quite sure where I am.”
The woman on the stairs seemed to recover herself, walking down the stairs quickly. “Well, that is certainly odd, do you remember how you arrived here my dear?” Coming closer the woman had a stern yet oddly caring look about her, her dark hair tied up into a tight bun with a large witches hat on her head. That plus her robes helped to paint the picture that she was very much a member of the magical world, which put her more at ease. “Mm, that is part of the problem I believe… There was the duel and, well it all happened so fast… My brothers, oh Merlin they are probably worried sick over me.” “There there now, take a deep breath, and let’s start at the beginning hmm? You said there was a duel?” The woman had walked over now, taking out her wand and seeming to be checking her over. “Ignore the wand dear, just a quick check.”
“Uhm, yes… Well, I am… My eldest brother’s friend, he loves to get my other brother riled up you see. He is rather brilliant, like my eldest is, and knows how jealous my brother, the other one that is, gets about that. I was outside when it started, so I… I am not sure what exactly was said, but when I came in there was yelling, and before I knew it everyone had their wands out and… and then I was here, somewhere I do not know, lying on the floor.” The woman standing in front of her looked quite perplexed, looking her over as she listened. “I see, well let me be the first to welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. My name is Professor McGonagall, I take it you are not a student here, as I have never seen you before. And I take great pride in remembering all of my students.”
That was definitely not what she expected to hear, and she felt her jaw drop before she could catch it.
This was Hogwarts?
She was actually here?
Once more she looked around her, putting the place to the name and a wonderfully warm feeling emerged in her chest. “I’m in Hogwarts? Truly? Oh I have always wanted to see it for myself!” She turned once more to the woman, who now had a small almost sad smile on her face. “Well, if anyone can solve the mystery of your appearance here, it would be the Headmaster. Follow me please, and do keep up. The castle is large, and likes to change, it is quite easy to get lost when you don’t know where to go.”
Without even a chance to respond they were off, quickly back up the stairs the way the Professor had come it seemed. But that was alright, she was quite fit after all, thanks to helping with chores the muggle way as often as she could. “I think the fight was something about me, I’m always bungling up something or other for my family it seems.” She tried to look at everything and anything as she followed the Professor, smiling at the many portraits looking at her as they walked.
Quickly they made their way to what must be the headmaster’s office, that appeared to be guarded by a large quite interesting looking gargoyle. Professor McGonagall walked up to it and spoke clearly, “Licorice Wand”, and she watched as the gargoyle hopped out of the way. “This way lass, I’ll go in first and will call you in once I know he’s not too busy just now.” The Professor walked up the stairs leaving her to wait.
It felt like forever, though she had a lovely talk with one of the portraits outside of the office, before the door opened again and the Professor beckoned her inside. She once more tried to brush off that annoying dust, smiling as McGonagall cast a quick cleaning spell to do it for her. Feeling much better she walked up the stairs and into the office, stopping for a second to take in the odd knickknacks and sleeping portraits that were around.
Turning to face forward she saw an elderly man with a crooked nose, long white hair, and a long white beard standing in front of a desk. He was wearing some strange highly colorful robes and was staring at her from a pair of half-moon glasses with a shocked look on his face. He removed the glasses, wiped them on his robe, and put them back on, as if he could not believe what he was seeing. Professor McGonagall looked between the two of them, apparently as confused by his reaction as she was. After a few false starts, finally he seemed to gather his wits. “Pardon me young lady but… may I ask your name?” She felt a little nervous now, trying to remember anything her brothers had told her about their headmaster. “My name is Ariana sir, Ariana Dumbledore.”
She was not sure what she expected, but she certainly had not expected his face to go white as his hair as he nearly fell back on his desk.