The Wizard's Guide to Timelords and Other Demons Book 1: The Forgotten War

The Doctor is In

Kendra had been searching for Elise for over an hour since they had parted ways outside the Hospital Wing. Before she left, Dumbledore had spoken with her briefly about what had happened in the Divination classroom with Professor Trelawney, and she had told him everything she could remember.

Her search eventually led her down a corridor adjacent to the main courtyard, where she noticed a small gathering of students looking about as if searching for something in the air about them. Asking around, Kendra learned that they had been drawn there by what one student described as the "ghastly wheezing of a troll suffering an asthma attack". But the bewildered students could see nothing at all, though the noise persisted and even began to grow louder.

Kendra glanced around and could not see anything either, at least not at first. Then something in the corner of her eye caught her attention. She turned towards it and gasped.

"Look, right there!" Kendra shouted, pointing her finger at something in the air.

Other students turned and looked, tracing the path extending from Kendra's finger to find its target. There were more gasps as other students looked up and stared in alarm. Hovering in the middle of the courtyard, about nine to ten feet above the ground, was a small glowing orb. The orb pulsated slowly with a bright, blueish glow.

"You," Kendra ordered, addressing a first-year standing next to her, "go find the headmaster!"

The first-year hesitated, distracted by the appearance of the orb.

"Now!" barked Kendra.

Clearly intimidated by Kendra's threatening glare, the young student obediently took off in search of Professor Dumbledore.

The orb began to grow brighter with each pulse. Then something else started to take form beneath it. What appeared to be a large, blue, rectangular box was fading in and out of existence—invisible at one moment, partially transparent and ghost-like the next. It grew more and more substantial with each wave of light emanating from the glowing orb. Then, all at once, it vanished and there was silence in the courtyard. Seconds later the sound returned, and the same cycle repeated.

Then it struck Kendra. Someone, or something, was attempting to apparate into the courtyard, and having quite a difficult time of it. Kendra knew that such a thing should not be possible. Everyone was aware that Hogwarts was protected by powerful spells that prevented anyone from apparating onto the school grounds. Yet something was attempting to do just that—something powerful...and...dangerous? These are perilous times she thought, at least that was what she had been told. She had heard the rumors of the return of You-Know-Who. Could this be him? she wondered. Then Kendra acted impulsively.

"Wands!" she shouted as she removed her wand from her coat pocket and pointed it at the blue apparition.

The other students looked around at each other, confused and uncertain about what to do. Then, one by one, each of them retrieved their wands and took aim. The strange box continued to dissolve in and out, becoming more solid with each pulse of the orb until it became fully visible. The wheezing troll sound faded, and a still silence settled across the courtyard.

A large, rectangular kiosk, perhaps ten feet in height and five feet in width and depth, now stood in the center of the courtyard surrounded by a growing crowd and anxious students. On one side of the kiosk were two doors set side-by-side, each with a small handle. On a black plate above the doors were inscribed the words, "Police Box" in large, white letters. A on one of the doors contained smaller text, apparently describing how the kiosk was to be used. Suddenly, one of the doors opened inwards (contrary to the instructions on the plaque which clearly stated, "Pull to Open") and a man emerged, stepping backwards out of the booth, and closing the door behind him. The man turned and was instantly startled, likely from seeing a small crowd of oddly dressed teenagers aiming short, pointed sticks at him.