At 11:59 // h.s

Chapter 30

-Harry-

Everything around us was spinning and we were falling through this big hole. It sounded and felt like we were in the middle of a tornado.

"How...much...longer...until...we...stop ...falling!?" Grace screamed over all of the noise.

"I...don't...know!" I screamed back.

All of a sudden the noise and spinning ceased and I could see the ground below us. Then we were thrown out of the hole and we landed in the dirt with a thud.

We were both panting heavily and the wind had been knocked right out of us from the fall.

"Well that was...an experience," Grace panted.

"Definitely," I nodded, "But next time let's bring some pillows or something."

"That would've been a whole lot better than landing on dirt," she let out a small laugh, "So where do we have to go?"

I looked around for a moment until my eyes landed on a giant castle, "I'm guessing over there."

She turned around, "Wow that is a big castle."

"I really wish I would've paid attention in history class all these years," I stood up and brushed the dirt off my jeans.

We made our way to the front of the castle. Oddly, there were hardly any people in sight. A giant gate guarded by two men stood in front of us.

We approached the gate and one of the men yelled, "Halt! Where ye be going?"

"Um...we need to speak to King Edmund," I replied.

"Where ye be from?" he eyed us suspiciously.

"Um...Von...chester...man...shire," I internally face-palmed at my terrible lying skills.

"Vonchestemanshire?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Yup," I laughed nervously.

"Then what brings ye here?" he asked.

"King Edmund is my...grandfather," I only partly lied, because I technically am related to him in one way or another.

"Why didn't ye just say so!" he replied in his thick English accent.

The gates were opened and we were led through the giant doors of the castle. Beautiful stone work wrapped around the ceiling, walls, and floor. Massive paintings were hung everywhere and giant metal chandeliers were strewn about the ceiling. Grace seemed to be even more in awe than me. Her eyes were shining and her mouth was agape.

"Wow," was all she could say as she took in the scene. Just looking at her reaction put a smile on my face.

She must have noticed my eyes, because she turned her attention away from the decor and met my gaze, "Whatcha lookin at?"

"You," I couldn't supress my grin.

She laughed and leaned into me slightly as we walked through the never-ending corridors of the castle.

"Right this way," the guard opened a door and led us inside, "Kind Edmund, you have visitors."

The guard stepped aside revealing a plump old man in a red, velvet robe, "Who might you be?"

I stepped forward, "I'm you're...grandson."

"Richard?" the king looked puzzled.

"Um...yes," I silently prayed that he believed that I was actually his grandson.

"You look a lot...taller and...older," the king scratched his head.

"I guess I just...grew up," I shot him a fake smile.