Shifted: Book One

Chapter Three - An Unexpected Arrival

Hazel's hands were pressed against the cold glossy ground, but she didn't take any notice of her shivering body. Cautiously, she helped herself stand up, she brushed away the few specks of dust off her casual pyjamas as her eyes started to focus on what was in front of her. A confused expression grew on her face, she studied those around her until it hit her. She couldn't believe it. There Hazel was, unfortunately in her old pyjamas, stood in the middle of the Great Hall, surrounded by fellow students at Hogwarts.

"Who is that?", a girl from the Beauxbatons Academy asked.
"Is that a new student?", said one student.
"In the middle of the year? It can't be!", exclaimed another.

A gobsmacked and jocund expression grew on her pale face, Hazel made it. She made it to Hogwarts! But before she could speak, a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Who are you?", he spoke. His voice sounded old, but his words felt new, as though he too was in complete shock.

The man was stood no more than 6 meters away from Hazel, he was dressed in a long silver gown, embedded with the most beautiful sequins and was paired with a matching robe. Complimenting his outfit, he wore a silver hat which sat on top of his long locks of silvery white that trailed all the way down to his chest where it was met with his long and thick beard. His crystal blue eyes locked onto Hazel's as his dark wand was pointed right at her.

Hazel, unusually yet instantly recognised this man, who wouldn't?

"Professor Dumbledore", Hazel softly spoke.

"It's an honour".

A loud chatter formed in the room, students looked to each other with faces of confusion and worry. The room's volume increased louder and louder as Hazel studied each of the students faces, desperate to find a particular one. She searched and searched but the boy was no where to be seen. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a bright blue ball of fire that abruptly shot up to the ceiling.

A sudden wave of silence cleared the hall's atmosphere as Hazel instantly realised what had happened and what she had done wrong. For what was stood before her was the Goblet of Fire. At that moment in time, she realised that she had made an error in her scripting. She didn't script the right year, and has now made a complication in this new reality of hers. Instead of shifting to her first year, she shifted to her fourth. The Goblet of Fire spat out a final piece of parchment paper which was quickly snatched by Dumbledore. The silence was overwhelming and tension built up dramatically as two words escaped Dumbledore's quivering lips.

"Hazel Jones", he called out whilst staring into Hazel's, now worried, eyes.

The students of Hogwarts whispered and stared as Dumbledore stormed out the back of the hall. Hazel stood as still as a statue until a tall man dressed in an ominous black gown gripped her wrist and swiftly took her away, following Dumbledore's footsteps.

Everything went quickly, Hazel had no idea where she was going or what was going to happen to her. Would they find out how she shifted here? Would she get expelled right away? A million unanswerable questions raced through her mind until she was taken into a yellow-ish room, when all was silent. The room was cold but decorated with hundreds if not thousands of jewels, trophies and treasures. She entered the room and immediately discovered the boy she was searching for. She knew it was him; his scruffy hair, his round glasses, his innocent eyes, his body language. He was accompanied by a slim and very beautiful lady, with soft golden hair pinned back and dressed in a delicate baby blue dress. Stood by her was a rather masculine looking man, with short dark hair and a squinting look in his eyes. Not too close was stood another boy dressed in his Hogwarts robes and complimented with his yellow tie, he was, of course, a Hufflepuff. Hazel locked eyes with the scruffy-haired boy, and his eyes locked with hers. Her eyes grew bigger and were filled with relief and a joyous smile quickly formed.