Lost in a Dream

Chapter 7

The sun was warm as I walked down the garden. The flowers danced in the gentle breeze, and the wildlife moved slowly in the heat. I picked a red tulip from its stem and tucked it into my hair.

As I turned a corner I caught sight of the white rabbit again. It was still very odd to see a rabbit in a top hat and waistcoat, and Hogwarts had a ton of unusual things. Of course, I thought they were ordinary but Muggle Studies taught me otherwise.

"Wait! Please wait!" I called after the rabbit.

"I'm late!" The rabbit turned and paused for a second. He pulled a pocket watch out and glanced at it. "I'm very late!"

"Where am I?" I shouted, as he scampered into the distance.

"Buy a map! I haven't time to give directions!" he replied.

"Oh you're very helpful" I muttered.

I sat down on a rock in the grass and contemplated my life. I'd done a lot of that recently. I was just wondering whether this strange place could get any stranger, when I heard shouting from a nearby house.

A footman, who looked distinctly like a frog, came out looking harassed. I ran over to him, curious what all the shouting was about.

"The Duchess and the Cook have fallen out again!" he croaked.

"Do they argue a lot?" I asked. "If I had my wand, I would silence them for you!"

The footman looked confused. I looked down at the ground to save myself more embarrassment. I did seem to keep putting my foot in it.

"What is this strange place?" I asked, moving the conversation on.

"Strange? You haven't met the Hatter yet!" laughed the footman, and went back inside.

"Thanks for your help, no really! Thanks!" I called after him.

I decided to find the Hatter. He was round the corner at another house. Along with a March Hare, and a young woman, he was having tea at a long table. Suddenly realising my hunger, I ran over.

"No room!" called the Hatter.

"There's plenty of room, Jefferson." said the woman, pulling out the chair next to her. "Come, sit." she beckoned me over.

I sat down, receiving an evil glare from "Jefferson". He looked down at his teacup, and prodded a dormouse who I hadn't noticed before. It had fallen asleep and slipped off his chair.

"We have company" said Jefferson, moodily. The dormouse had drifted off again, and heard nothing.

"What is this place?" I asked Emma. She had poured me a cup of tea and cut a huge wedge of cake. I bit into the light sponge, letting it fill my a empty stomach.

"This is Wonderland!" replied Emma, sounding almost... annoyed? "Haven't you ever heard of it? Home to the strangest people known to the wider world?" She said sarcastically.

"Never!" I answered, taking a mouthful of tea. I had to spit it a second later. I had forgotten about the heat of tea. "I come from Hogwarts."

"I'm afraid I've never heard of that!" apologised Emma. "Jefferson?"

"Never." said the Hatter, still not looking me in the eye.

"You're much more helpful than anyone else I've met here!" I told Emma.

"You really have never been here before, have you?" laughed Emma. "To expect sanity in Wonderland, is like expecting the dormouse to stay awake for longer than a few seconds!"

When I looked bemused she continued:

"Unheard of!"

"And you are the odd one out?"

"I don't belong here!" said Emma. "I live in Storybrooke, back in America." she pointed into the distance. "Come on, I'll show you!"

She stood up and thanked the Hatter for tea. Then we headed off towards the hills. We hadn't gone five paces when the Hatter called from behind us.

"Emma! You can't leave!" He was chasing after us, still holding the cup and saucer, splashing tea everywhere. "I'm expecting a cherry tart any moment!"

"No thank you, Jefferson!" replied Emma, still walking away.

"Emma!" The Hatter wasn't giving up that easily. "I shall chase you all the way to Storybrooke!"

"What a threat!" Emma murmured to me. "Whatever, Jefferson"

So we had to endure the Hatter's mad chatter all the way to Emma's home. I was ready to slap him across the face by the time we reached our destination.

~Dobby