Far Away (Draco Malfoy)

~ 2 ~

I yelped and stumbled back, clutching my wand like a lifeline. In front of me stood an old man with a long silver beard, half-moon spectacles perched on his nose, and a deep blue robe that shimmered in the sunlight. His eyes, usually so calm and twinkling in the movies, were now sharp and slightly frantic.

"Professor Dumbledore?" I stammered, barely able to process the situation.

"Why are you not at the castle yet?" Dumbledore asked, his voice carrying an unusual edge of urgency. He looked me up and down, his expression a mix of concern and impatience.

"I— I don't know what's going on," I stuttered, my confusion spilling over. "I don't even know where the castle is. I was just—"

Dumbledore raised a hand, cutting me off. His eyes softened slightly, but there was still a flicker of something else— perhaps worry or a sense of urgency that I couldn't quite place. "No time to explain here," he said briskly. "We must get you to Hogwarts immediately."

Before I could protest or even think of another question, Dumbledore grasped my arm firmly. There was a sudden, dizzying sensation, like the world had been yanked out from under my feet. The air squeezed tight around me, my vision blurred, and for a split second, it felt like I was being pulled through a narrow tube.

Then, just as abruptly, it stopped. I gasped, catching my breath as I found myself standing in front of massive, towering doors that stretched high above me. The grand entrance hall of Hogwarts loomed before us, its stone walls echoing with a faint hum of magic. I blinked, my surroundings snapping into focus, the realization hitting me like a tidal wave.

We were at Hogwarts. The place I had only ever seen on a TV screen now stood before me in all its ancient, majestic glory. My head spun with a thousand questions, but Dumbledore's expression remained resolute as he released my arm.

Dumbledore gave me a quick, assessing glance, then waved his hand with a graceful, practiced motion. Before I could even register what was happening, my clothes shifted and transformed, the fabric rippling as plain black robes appeared around me. I stared down at myself, wide-eyed and speechless. The robes were just like the ones I'd seen in the movies, flowing and perfectly tailored, fitting me as if they'd always been mine.

"Whoa," I breathed, my fingers brushing against the smooth material. I could feel the faint hum of magic in the fabric, like a soft, comforting buzz against my skin. I turned to Dumbledore, a hundred questions bubbling up inside me, but he was already on the move.

"Come along, Miss Thunderbrooke," he said briskly, gently nudging me forward. "There's no time to waste."

Still in awe of the robe transformation, I allowed Dumbledore to guide me through the towering doors of the Great Hall. The sheer size of the room took my breath away— the enchanted ceiling reflected a twilight sky dotted with stars, and floating candles cast a warm, flickering light over the long tables filled with students. The air was thick with the excited murmurs of young witches and wizards, all gathered for what I quickly realized was the Sorting Ceremony.

Dumbledore ushered me to the front, where a line of students my age stood nervously, waiting their turn to be sorted. My heart pounded as I joined the line, still feeling out of place in this magical scene. I glanced around, recognizing some of the faces from the movies, and a new wave of disbelief washed over me.

"Just stay here and wait to be sorted," Dumbledore whispered, his voice softer now. He offered me a small, reassuring smile, though his eyes still held that glimmer of urgency. "Everything will be explained in due time."

Before I could respond, he turned and made his way up to the staff table, leaving me standing among the other first-years. I looked up at the enchanted ceiling, then down at my robes again, the surrealness of it all making my head spin. I was at Hogwarts, about to be sorted like every other first-year student. It was as if I'd been plucked straight out of my living room and dropped into the heart of the wizarding world, with no clue why or how any of this was happening.