The Riddle
Chapter 1: Lost
"Where am I?" I asked, looking groggily around. I don't know what had happened but I woke up in a small, dark hole. I stood and stretched, accidently hitting my head on the ceiling, or what I thought was the ceiling. Definitely small and dark. I managed to disentangle myself and crawl out of the hole, only to find myself in a busy city in broad daylight. Fabulous. "No seriously, where am I?"
I began searching around for something to identify where I was. I found a newspaper blowing, like a tumbleweed across the desert, across the street and barely managed to stop it before it became out of reach.
I studied the paper looking for some indication where I was. I found it and promptly felt weak kneed. This couldn't be happening! How did I get here? I looked frantically around for someone I knew to be laughing at my ignorance and for me being so gullible. I found no one. I, somehow, managed to wake up in 1943, in London, England. It seemed rather odd...I mean, how in the world could a girl wake up in London, 67 odd years in the past! Without magic. I mean, really. Unless, all those stories my ma told me as a child were true. Was there really magic? Was I the victim of magic?
I dusted myself off and walked to the nearest pub, I needed some water. I found a little place called the Leaky Cauldron and figured it'd be as good as any. "Hello." I greeted the young bartender.
"Hello there, miss. I haven't seen you around these parts. May I inquire as to your name?"
"I'm Holly." I told him, smiling. No need to lie. It's not like anyone here would know me anyway.
"Why, welcome to the Leaky Cauldron Holly. I'm Tom. What can I do you for?"
"Can I just have some water?" I asked.
"Definitely." He grabbed a cup and set it on the table before me. I watched in awe as it filled with water. Then, wiped my face clean. It was just magic. I probably could do that too, if I knew the spell, or I was magic.
"Thank you." I told him. I could feel eyes watching me. "Tom?" He looked at me. "Where exactly am I?"
"The Leaky Cauldron in London."
"But, why did you do magic? Couldn't a human just walk in and see it and get freaked out?"
He let out a booming laugh. "Have you not been to London, sweetie?" I shook my head. "Well, the Leaky Cauldron can only be seen by witches and wizards."
"I'm a witch?" I stood up in shock and tried to back away.
"Of course you are. Didn't you know?"
"N-no." I stuttered. "I think I may need to lay down." I looked around in fright.
"Follow me." He motioned to the stairs. Once in a little room he turned and told me, "You can stay here as long as you'd like to." There was concern all over his face.
"Thank you, thank you very much." I whispered, tears already filling my eyes. How did this happen? My whole life was just flipped upside down. What was I gonna do? I laid there for, God knows how long, but couldn't get a wink of sleep. Tom checked on me around 5.
"Are you hungry?" He asked softly, so as to not startle me.
"No, but thank you anyway." I murmured, voice hoarse. What about my family. They'd miss me. And how will I survive here? I'm only 16. I can't live on my alone yet. Well, not legally. But maybe...was there a way I could get home? Magic got me here, obviously. So it could get me home. I'll have to study, hard. Maybe Tom knows some books of magic that could help me. I got out of bed and walked down the steps. The young bartender looked up when I entered the room.
"Holly!" He cheerfully greeted. "Decided you should eat?"
"I'm still not hungry but I was wondering if you could help me. Do you know a place I could get a magic book? A store or library, I don't care which." He let out a gleeful laugh which made me feel rather stupid.
"Diagon Alley has a ton of bookstores but if you're looking for a library, I'd go to Hogwarts."
"Diagon Alley? Hogwarts?" I was confused. Was he making up words or was he serious. He laughed again.
"Come with me." He put one of his arms around me and led me out the back door, to a little alleyway. Then, he pulled out a stick, which evidently was a wand, and tapped the bricks. The wall began to dissolve? I would've fallen over in shock but his arm was still wrapped firmly around my waist. I have to admit, Tom wasn't half bad. He was probably 20 and had light blond hair falling haphazardly into deep brown eyes. He was cute and kind, but nothing spectacular.
"Cool huh?" He noticed my shock. I nodded. "So you've never really been to a magic place like this?" I shook my head.
"I'd heard of magic but I guess I always thought it was fake. I mean how outrageous. But, I guess it has to be real if a place like this exists." I said in awe. He smiled at me.
"I'll show you around, don't worry."
"Thanks Tom!" I flashed him a brilliant smile.