Chapter Text
It was the strangest thing.
Almost as if I had been wearing a veil, and finally taken it off. No longer obscuring my vision of the world.
Trying to take in this new view seemed to leave me lightheaded, trying to even just breath seemed difficult at times. The frightening world I thought I knew turned out to be so much bigger and brighter than I had ever even fathomed. It was like everything had more color to it, no longer as dark as I had seen it for so long. Although while it did seem brighter, it also appeared all the more dangerous.
Looking over to my current companion on this damp, dark London Street I couldn't help but reflect on when I had first met him.
He had been seated directly across from hme, flanked on his left and right by two other strangers she (thankfully) wouldn't see again. One had claimed to be there from some kind of magical ministry. A haughty air about him, notebook in hand. The other one made her nervous though. "Auror" was what they had claimed to be, and with how they seemed to stare holes into me as I spoke with the Professor, I had decided there was probably a great deal of danger in this apparently hidden part of the world.
One I had just been thrust into.
I had to recount the incident to the three of them, tongue almost heavy and my mouth going dry having to think about it again. I was grateful for the older man's presence though, "Professor Eleazar Fig" he had introduced himself as. He was patiently listening with kind eyes, occasionally giving a soft nod of encouragement to continue. After I recounted everything and answered a few questions to the best of my ability the three stepped out for a moment, I assumed to discuss the subject further in private. After a quarter hour had roughly passed the door opened and only Fig stood there, a kind sympathetic smile on his face.
"Ah, it appears we are almost ready to depart!" The professors voice rang out, pulling me from my thoughts and back to the roadside we stood in together. "It's a pity we didn't have a bit more time to spend on spell-casting." He said as he shuffled my way from the luggage strapped to the back of the carriage, dark steeds patiently awaiting instruction from their handler. "I presume you've been practicing the spells we worked on." I hold up the old wand he had loaned me, resting the tip in my palm and respond "I have Professor." He nods in approval as he speaks "Well, I'm quite sure I've never seen anyone take to a second hand wand so quickly before. You'll be a force to be reckoned with when you get your own." The playful wink he sends me brings a small smile to my face. "Thank you, Professor Fig. I truly appreciate you working with me before the term begi-" interrupted by a strange sound across the way, we both turn to see a man standing with his back to you looking around at his surroundings.
As the man finally turned toward the two of us, a look of relief washed over his round face. "Oh! Eleazar!" He called out, making his way over. "George, glad my rather cryptic description of our location did not thwart your finding us." Fig responded as he clasped his friend's hand in a warm handshake. George smiled amiably as he spoke "I've apparated to more vaguely defined destinations than this." A small chuckle slipping from him " though I confess I may have miscalculated slightly my first try, gave quite the fright to some theatre goers in the West End." Professor Fig replies "It's been much too long. When I received your owl, I must say, I -" George cuts in to stop Fig from continuing " Best not speak here, Eleazar. Hmm?" With a nod in agreement the professor spoke "Of course, we should discuss this on our way to Hogwarts then, we have a start of term feast to attend, and I had hoped for Ms. Vervain to get the chance to witness the sorting ceremony." He turned briefly to me as I was mentioned before looking back to his friend. "Wonderful idea! As long as your lovely new Apprentice doesn't mind me tagging along." With a soft shake of my head I say "not at all sir" and with that we climb into the carriage and after it rides down a block of the cobbled street it lifts up into the bleak sky.