Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Six

My feet hit flat ground. I almost fell flat to my face but Ellie's strong hold on to my side kept me upright. My head was spinning. I felt like my organs were about to fall out of my body through my mouth. I kept my eyes shut trying to breathe through the nausea.

"Very good, Rachel. Most people don't land on their feet. In fact, they usually double over and vomit the first time." She chuckled softly to herself.

"I'm trying... to not... do exactly... that right now." I could barely get out through huffed breaths.

"Here. Sit." She said as I found my bottom on a bench. "Breathe deeply." My body started to relax and I opened my eyes to see a bustling street. How did no one notice that we just appeared out of nowhere?

"Welcome. To the Ministry of Magic." She swept her arms forward to a big building with TREASURY on the outside of its stone-looking walls. I cocked my head to the side. I knew this building as I grew up in London.

"This is the HM Treasury." I spoke.

"Very good. I forgot you had roots in London. Yes, it is. Underneath it is the Ministry of Magic. Underground. We must Floo it but I wanted you to see how you can get here in the future. There's a bookstore just around the corner, disguised to muggles as a run-down building of course and they are set up with the Floo Network so we can enter the Ministry. Come on. Let's go!" She pulled my arm up and we walked.

I barely had any time to look around the bookstore as we entered quickly. Ellie was very enthusiastic. "Hi Toby!" She waved to the young man with the brightest blue eyes I'd ever seen standing behind a counter, reading what appeared to be a novel. "Hi Ellie." He sighed without even looking up and turning his page.

We stood right in front of a big fireplace. "Step in." She practically pushed me in to the grate and grabbed a handful of green Floo powder. "Ministry of Magic Atrium!" She practically yelled and I jumped as we were sent away by the Floo.

I fell to my knees on a hard marble floor coughing a bit. I stood up as quickly and discreetly as I could brushing the residual ash off my clothes. Everyone around was in dresses and suits and I was in my relaxed jumper and spats that I always wore in the garden. Feeling out of place, I turned to Ellie who was smiling with pride.

"Yes, yes. I've thoroughly surprised you and you weren't ready... that was the point. I didn't want you to change your mind and say no before even seeing the place. Let's go." I followed behind her looking around at the beautifully detailed peacock blue ceiling and the dark wood paneled walls with ornate, gilded fireplaces set every few yards apart. People were actively coming and going. It was a sight. I tried to absorb as much as my overwhelmed head could.

"Hello, Elora. This is Rachel Bennett. She will be interning with the Department of Mysteries this summer for N.E.W.T. credit." Elora, a squat witch with an equally squat face, smiled kindly at me before she said, "Wand, dear?"

"Oh. Sorry." I pulled my wand out and handed it to her. "Um, what is this?" I nervously asked Ellie.

"Everyone who comes in must register their wand. But it's not a big deal. You shouldn't have to do it again after this first time. You'll get a visitor badge for today and we'll get you set up with a more permanent one later."

"Here you are. As you are underage, please refrain from using magic while you are visiting the Ministry. Have a nice day!" She handed me back my wand and a small piece of parchment that felt sticky on one side: VISITOR written in large letters on it. Ellie slapped it on my chest and indicated I should follow her.

"We are currently on level eight." She pointed to a small map next to a door marked STAIRS. "We need to go to level one unfortunately. To speak to the Minister. So, remember to breathe as we are going to do a lot of stairs today."