Sleep did not come to her that night. Each and every attempt of her trying to sleep failed as if morphias had decided not to allow her mind its sweet embrace.
She lay on her side in the dark of her room long after the other girls had surrendered themselves to the embrace of night. While her mind refused to do the same courtesy, running and running with the particular restless energy coming from uncertainty for her future.
Her notebook lay open on her chest as her pencil moving in the dark with the small, careful motions of a planner.
She wrote what she remembered — clearly not as much as she would have liked to remember. The series had been her friend's obsession first, and she had come to it sideways — a borrowed book here, a film watched out of mild curiosity on an evening when she needed to just relax. Entertainment. That was all this was for her. A source of nothing more than relaxation for her mind from all the studying, planning and project building. She had not remembered much of it.
Looking down at notebook, all she could find was what she remembered about the series from her memories.
The story revolved around a boy with a lightning shaped scar on his head. Electronics seem to fail in area filled in high magical areas. (Worth discovering why) The school time takes 7 years. That means she will be in the school till age 18, if she decided to stay there for all 7 years. There will be an exam in her 5th year called O.W.L.s and another in her 7th year N.E.W.T.S. Hagrid: If I don't remember it wrong, he is the gentle giant with simple and trusting nature. Befriending him could give her access to a lot of things from the forbidden forest. In this world, no single person, no matter how powerful they might seem, have never—ever truly dominated all the others.
She returned to the last point, pressing the pencil tip against the page without writing anything further.
If a single person cannot dominate the world, then it meant magic did not work the way she had half-assumed it might, as a force that collapsed all other considerations into irrelevance. If that was truly the case, then a lot of things will become much more manageable.
What was not manageable was the gap between what she had retained and what she suspected she had lost — the specifics, the rules, the names of things that might matter and which she had let slip because there had been no reason, then, to hold them in her mind.
That thought brought forth some regret over her past actions for not remembering the series. She quickly suppressed that thought and distracted her mind from any of those feelings, as the blurry and distorted image of her friend came to her mind.
'She would have remembered all of it.' Thought Sophia. As her friend had been a big fan of this series. She used to read passages aloud whether anyone wanted to hear them or not, sitting cross-legged on the common room floor trying to find any hidden meanings in the words of the writer — J.K. Rowling.
She closed the notebook thinking of her friends. Whatever happens tomorrow will decide her future actions, but now she needed to sleep. Whatever she knew or did not know right now, she could learn about it in future. For now, she needs to rest and be ready for tomorrow.
The morning was grey and damp, the same low sky that had been sitting over Crook's Wood for most of the week. Sophia had gone out early to collect the altered clothes from Mr. Taylor's shop. The atmosphere between them had not been the usual amicable one as always. This time, it seemed as though there was a slowly growing distance in their midst. Though Sophia had refused the offer from Mr. Taylor, it looks like he had taken this "No!" as a final answer to his question.
Remembering the poorly hidden bitterness from the old man, and taking notice of minor changes in his behaviour from her memory. Sophia noted that her answer yesterday to his question might act as a starting point to the decline of their running amicable relationship.
Clearing her mind, Sophia got her focus back on the road, while she made a note in another part of her mind to search for any other trustworthy clothing merchant.
As her eyes kept observing everything in her surroundings while moving towards the orphanage, her mind kept thinking of the possible person coming to introduce her to the magical world, unless they expect her to reach the wizarding world on her own.
Coming to the orphanage, she moved straight towards the office of Mrs. Alden. She might not get along with Mrs. Alden, but here at this institute, Mrs. Alden was the authority she needed to at least pretend to listen.
As she neared the door, Sophia could hear voices coming from Mrs. Alden's office. 'It seems the orphanage has a visitor.' Thought Sophia as she knocked on the door to the office. The voices in the room quietened down as a second later she heard Mrs. Alden's voice, "Come in, the door is open."
A small frown appeared on Sophias face that she quickly cleared from her face. The tone that Mrs. Alden used was ever used when she was happy— and Sophia could count the number of days on one hand that she had seen Mrs. Alden happy.
Opening the door, she entered the office of Mrs. Alden. The office was much like its owner, a projection of calm, harmony and a tribute to Christianity with quotes from bible alongside some small plants decorating the room.
As she entered the room Sophia checked the room for any sign of change happening from last time, she was here. As her eyes took everything in the room and confirmed that there was no change, Sophia moved her gaze to the obvious elephant in the room, a woman who she had never seen before.
The stranger was wearing dark earthy robes with puffy sleeves covering her hands till her wrists. Sophia could clearly see that her robes the lengths of her ankles. On her lap rested a battered, patched hat. Staring at this newcomer for the first time, Sophia had only one thought in her mind 'Who wears robes on these days?' as the dressing sense of this woman in front of her was totally out of touch with the current time— where bold body fitting outfits were becoming more popular among the masses.
As she was examining the stranger sitting in front of Mrs. Alden, the stranger also turned to look at her. Her face was round and plump, having faint soil‑smudges, giving her an earthy feel. Seeing the face of the visitor along with the robes that she was wearing, Sophia could clearly see that this person in front of her was either a gardener or someone who worked in soil. As that matches the dark earthy dressing style and soil smudges on her face.
As Mrs. Alden saw that the person entering her office is Sophia, she called her name in a tone so sweet that even the stranger squinted her eyes from the overly sweet tone of Mrs. Alden—giving her a side eye.
"Sophia! Honey there you are. I was wondering when you will be back from your little walk around." Her sweet words carefully hiding the hint of a bad habit about Sophia in her words. Continuing her words she says, "Here, let me introduce to Pomona sprout, or should I say professor Pomona sprout. You remember the letter I told you about yesterday? She is a professor at that school— And more importantly, here to introduce you to the boarding school that sent that letter. Isn't it exciting— a year-round boarding school that takes in only exclusive students — those who have been invited through their personal letters and stamp being the only one allowed to attend their school is here to invite you." Saying so Mrs. Alden took a pause, catching her breath.
Turning her head towards the newly introduced professor, Sophia could clearly see and read the small hints of discomfort and unease that the sentence had made in this professor. It seems the time, no matter how small that had been spent by Professor sprout with Mrs. Alden had made her weary of the woman in front of her. She would try to know how that conversation went later, as for now, she needed to focus on the conversation going around her.
Seizing the opportunity created from Mrs. Alden's catching her breath, Professor Sprout tried to start a conversation from her side until the question asked by Sophia stops her from speaking her words.
"Ms. Scarlet, I presu—" "How did you come to know of my address, Professor? I am pretty sure I did not apply for any school named Hogwarts. And no one actually writes such accurate details of another's exact address until they personally know of them. So, professor—how did your school came to know exactly where I live?"
As soon as the question came out of her mouth, Sophia regretted asking it. She just wanted to stop Mrs. Alden to not start talking again, but she did not want to make this more awkward than it needed to be. She knew that this world had magic — giving them plenty of ways to locate any of the magical kids across Britain. But even though question came out at the worst possible moment, now that it was out, she wanted to know how had they managed to find her.
Today was not a great day for Pomona sprout, and she was not saying that because she had to visit the muggle world to pick a muggle born witch – No. Ask her any day and she would be ready to help any young witch or wizard muggle born or not, so no, she was not having a bad day because of that. The reason for her having a bad day is because of the annoying muggle — who was, as she came to know — a particularly catholic muggle. She did not particularly hate a catholic person, even though they had been the people who had committed the witch hunts across Europe back in the days. For Pomona, the events of the past should be kept like that — in the past.
The reason for her day to be ruined is because this muggle — Mrs. Alden — did not stop asking her questions from the moment she asked her about the supposed young witch Ms. Scarlet. She could understand the need for someone — especially a caretaker of orphaned children — to know of the people who have come to visit, or as in her case, invite one of the children under their care to a supposed boarding school in Scotland. But the invasive manner in which she was asking the questions about Hogwarts was irritating the usually jolly head of Hufflepuff house, especially with the fact that she was constantly badmouthing Sophia Scarlet by telling of the supposed freak accidents and so-called mental instability that the girl possesses.
Before Pomona could lose her temper and just freeze the muggle caretaker in front of her, she heard someone knocking at the door of the office. Listening to someone knocking, Pomona let out a breath as she thought. 'Phew, thank merlin someone came now, otherwise I would have needed to use magic on a muggle. I do not want to go through the tedious process at ministry explaining why I needed to use magic while retrieving a muggle born witch.'
As she raised the glass of water from the table and started drinking it.
"Sophia! Honey there you are. I was wondering when you will be back from your little walk around" listening to her sweet tone, Pomona could feel the disgust for this woman keep building in her, thinking 'Lady, you were literally insulting her in front of me right now. Even Polyjuice potion does not work that fast as fast you are changing your face.' As she gave Mrs. Alden a side eye.
Finishing drinking the water, Pomona turned her face to look at the young witch that she had come to collect.
"—how did your school come to know exactly where I live?"
Listening to this question, Pomona was at a loss for words. She had escorted various muggle born children for their first time in wizarding world, but she had never been asked this question before today.
As Pomona was contemplating how to answer the question in a manner that will explain her knowing of her and will not sound suspicious, she heard the third member of the room start speaking.
Clearing her throat, Mrs. Alden made other two people in the room look towards her as she gave both of them a smile, flashing her teeth, saying "I am sorry to interrupt this conversation but, Did I hear it correctly that — Sophia had not applied for any boarding school?" Saying so, she looked at Pomona as she continued, "Because if I remember it correctly, then you said that you received a letter from Sophia asking to join your so-called limited boarding institute." Saying so, she gave a small chuckle as she continued saying, "because she is saying that she did not send any letter, but you are saying that you received a letter from her. You both are saying the opposite of each other, so we should be sure of whether we are clear without facts. Or you sent a letter to a wrong address." Saying so, she gave a smile, slightly sliding her chair backwards and putting her hands under the table.
Listening to Mrs. Alden's question, Pomona turned her gaze from Sophia to the muggle in the room. Opening her mouth to answer the question, she was interrupted by the muggle, as she pulled a small handgun from beneath the table. Putting the handgun on the table with the barrel of the gun pointing towards Pomona she said, "And just so you know, I would ask you to choose your words very carefully. I do not want my reputation to be sullied for letting any of these kids leave the orphanage before even confirming the identity of the person taking them. I hope you understand that don't you? Anyways, answer the girl's question, how did you actually find her?"
Looking at the weapon that the muggle had pulled out and pointing at her, Pomona thought in her mind 'ugh… muggles and their violent tendencies — always resorting to some form of violence for anything beyond their limited world view. And besides, what is that thing supposed to do anyways? Harm me?' as she opened her mouth and said finally as no one interrupted her this time, "Well Mrs. Alden, if you would have allowed me to speak earlier, I would have answered the question by now and you would not have needed to draw this weapon of yours." Putting some particular emphasis on the word weapon.
"So, as I was saying Hogwarts is the school founded in order to teach young witches and wizards to control their magical abilities and use them responsibly. As for how—"
"Wh-WHAT?!!! Witches and Wizards! You are telling me that there are still wi-witches and wizards living on this land?! Living amongst us?! And the fact that there is a place that teaches magic to these unnatural demonic creatures!" Before Pomona could continue her sentence further, she was interrupted by the sudden shout from Mrs. Alden—who was clearly scared but also angrier by the fact that there still existed witches and wizards. Creatures that according to what she knew should and were removed from the world years ago during the witch hunts. she was certain that they were burned at stake — every last one of them. But now in front of her stood a woman claiming that she comes from a magical school established to teach those hell spawn about magic.
Listening to the muggle speak Pomona recognized the mistake that she had made. When Mrs. Alden introduced her to Sophia, she had said that Pomona was here for the visit regarding the letter she had told Sophia about. Pomona assumed that Mrs. Alden had read that letter and was aware of the fact that the person coming to visit was a witch along with the fact that Sophia herself is a witch. But looking at her reaction now, she could clearly see that she was wrong in her assumption. Mrs. Alden was neither aware — nor ok with the fact that there still existing witches and wizards in this day and age. Especially after the witch hunts.
As she heard the crazier and crazier ramblings from Mrs. Alden, Pomona silently withdrew her wand along with a small alchemical device. Activating the device made sure that for the time being no sound will leave the room and no sound will come in either.
As she felt the room be enclosed in magical barrier and a distinct detachment be placed in the room, Sophia moved her gaze from the rambling Mrs. Alden and moved it towards Pomona as she saw her slowly stood up and put away a strange device in her sleeve.