3000+ words! Whoo hoo! Not sure how I feel about this chapter, seemed fine to me. But, I was able to get this out earlier then I expected! Anyways, hope you enjoy!
PS: Last chapter I spelled Sofia's new name wrong. It's actually Calneth.
Chapter 2
As Sofia neared consciousness she became aware of dull throbs that pulsed through her body, specifically her head. It felt like it'd been squeezed through a tube with the radius of an inch with someone continuously banging on the inside of her head. Opening her eyes she moaned in more pain. Why was everything so bright?
Forcing herself into a sitting position she bit back a whimper of pain, staring blurrily around she was forced to close her eyes and take a few deep breaths before opening them again. Everything was too bright, too colorful, it hurt her eyes.
Once she was able to see besides just green of different shades, she noticed her surroundings reminiscent to that of a forest. But this wasn't her forest. Tall, green trees stood proud and tall over her, much like the pines she remembered from the ForbiddenForest that surrounded Hogwarts. However, instead of the pine leaves that she was so accustomed to, they were in the shape of leaves. As she took in her surroundings wondering where she was and why her head hurt so bloody much, she felt the grass below her as wet. In fact, everything was moist as if it had just rained recently. Sofia froze, she wasn't wet. Why wasn't she wet? Then it all came back.
Like a rushing waterfall, everything came crashing down in a sudden wave of information and knowledge. Her parents, her friends, Padfoot, her name, everything. With a sudden swell of pain behind her eyes, she once again greeted the realm of Hypnos.
When she came to once again, all she could see was green. Granted it was green and more shades of green, but still, she lived in England, she saw enough green as it was. Fully coming to her senses, she found herself to be in the exact same position as before, just at a different time and her head felt a whole lot better. But that still didn't answer her question as to why she wasn't wet.
Looking down she found she was lying on some sort of cloth bed, with a blanket bunched around her waist. She then figured out as to why she awoke this time if the delicious smell of un-burnt food was anything to go by.
But wait, where did the Valar send her? Where was Fawkes? Why did the food smell really good? What did her dad say exactly about Padfoot at the end there? Why did her head now feel like mush?
She took a deep steadying breath to calm her racing mind. It wouldn't do for her to have a minor panic attack in a place she didn't even know her exact location in.
A deep chuckle woke her from her musings. She snapped her head up and easily identified the source of the chuckle. The man reminded her of Dumbledore, but he was definitely not Albus Dumbledore. He had a long white beard with kind grey eyes(?). Grey must be his theme, she mused as she took in his full appearance. He was cloaked in a grey robe that reached to his feet, and a slightly wrinkled grey hat that pin pointed him as a wizard, or Isitari if she remembered Este's short history lesson correctly.
This must be Gandalf the Grey that she told me of, she mused quietly.
But she couldn't be sure. Not without knowing absolutely, her lessons from Moody never really leaving her. It didn't matter that she trusted the Valar (to a point) she would never trust someone just from what they looked like or who they said they were. Death was the only thing rewarded to those that were foolish enough to believe what someone said without testing them first.
"Bread?" he offered her a piece of what seemed to be a type of fruit bread with berries in it. She eyed him like a caged animal, never letting her guard down, at least not fully.
He sighed as if he had expected this and broke off a piece of the bread before popping it into his mouth. Once he swallowed he once again offered her the bread. Giving in so that her stomach would stop complaining, she cautiously took the bread from him and ate the, grudgingly delicious bread.
"Who are you? Where am I? Where's Fawkes?" Wasn't Fawkes with her when she had been with the Valar? Where was he now?
The man, presumably Gandalf the Grey chuckled again," Not so fast child, I can only answer one question at a time after all. I am Gandalf the Grey, one of the five Istari on Arda. You are in Fangorn forest south of the Shire where I was heading for an old friends birthday when the Valar informed me of you and your birds arrival.'
"My friend?" was the question she meant to ask when it died in her throat at the familiar trill of her bonded Phoenix.
"Fawkes!" she exclaimed in pure joy at the sight of the beautiful bird.
He was still as beautiful as ever with red and gold feathers, but something seemed off about him. He didn't seem to radiate life and youth as he use to.
"What's wrong Fawkes?" she questioned immediately, worried for her familiar.
Fawkes gave her a sad look as Gandalf sighed sadly.
"For Este and Yavanna to send you here, they needed the help of their siblings, however, they had intended originally for only you to go through, they did not take into account of the possible travel of others with you. Fawkes, apparently had been adamant about going with you, and would fly across the sea if to still be there to comfort you. But that cost him dearly, not so that he lost any of his most notable powers, but he is no longer immortal."
He let that information sink in for Calneth. While she was beyond happy that Fawkes refused to leave her, not breaking any of his promises to her, specifically the one to never leave her, she felt like curling into a fetal position and dying then and there. He wasn't immortal? What would she do if he passed away before she was ready for him to leave?
She clutched the phoenix to her chest and she let out a quite, heartbroken sob., uncaring if she was still in front of Gandalf at the moment. She knew that Phoenix's could naturally sense if someone had ill-intentions towards their bonded. Seeing as Fawkes hadn't flown away with her yet, she felt that she could at least semi-trust the wizard even if it was very reluctantly.
"Thank you for coming with me Fawkes," she muttered into his soft feathers," But why would you do that?" she looked at him imploringly.
He gave her that same sad look," I promised to never leave you, and that is what I shall do till there's nothing more for me to do but wait and watch over you."
Again, she began to cry, knowing that even though they were hard to believe, his words were true.
"You can trust Gandalf, he is a powerful wizard that can teach you the ways of the Isitari here. The Valar were not lying to you when they said that they wished to help you heal, but they also weren't lying when they said their children would need help very soon."
Calneth took a deep steadying breath once more, knowing Fawkes's words to be true. Once she had gathered herself, she turned back to Gandalf who was dutifully making what seemed to be a stew of some sorts. She felt extreme gratitude towards the man who did not even mention after dinner her small episode with her dear friend.
The next morning, after falling asleep to a lullaby from Fawkes that tended to keep away the mightmares, she began the same morning routine from her old life.
She meditated from a good two hours before dawn, till when Gandalf finished breakfast shortly two hours sense dawn. She sorted through her thoughts making sure to not have forgotten anything, before strengthening her occulemency shields. It was an hour after dawn when she finished, but she didn't know what else to do besides train, but her body was still sore. Specifically her back which happened to land on particularly rough rock when she first landed on Arda. So she opted to look through her memories as if they were in photo albums or she was watching them in a movie theater. While these caused her heartache, she had never felt so, relieved almost. It was as if she had finally accepted that yes, she could move on she could keep going full steam ahead and that she was going to live.
After breakfast (which consisted of seasoned bird meat and an egg) she and Gandalf packed their stuff up and began to make their way to The Shire for his friend's apparent birthday. Calemir took stock of her items that came with her. She still had the sword of Gryfindor that fit into her hand perfectly after her years of using it. She had her cloak that fit onto her body like leather and felt like silk and water against her skin. She smiled at the familiarity of the fabric and briefly thought of her father and how this had once been his. The Elder Wand was strapped against her fore arm where she could call on it whenever danger presented itself. The Resurrection stone sat on a ring on her left ring finger and she cast a subtle concealing charm onto it before continuing. Fawkes contently flew above their heads as the walked along the path through the woods and soared high into the sky when they came to open air.
They walked in a companionable silence for the first couple of hours, but then the silence began to bother Sofia. She never liked the silence to begin with wen she was younger. Whether the wind in her ears and wipping her face and hair, or whether she would sing herself to sleep at night, she always needed silence. Silence during the war meant death was around you. Silence after a battle meant that you were left alone and no one would comfort you for the losses. Silence in the dungeons of Malfoy Manor meant that you were left to your thoughts till you went mad or no one would notice because you were already mad to begin with. Didn't matter where she was, she hated silence.
"Why did you come and not one of the other wizards in this land?" she questioned.
He pondered her question," Well, assuming you already know who everyone is here. Radagast the Brown was busy in Mirkwood desperately trying to save it from the clutches of evil. Alatar and Pallando, the blue wizards are trying to fight off enemies from the north that wish to aid Sauron so that he may rise. Saruman the White, I fear may not have been the best choice to find you as he has always had a lust for power and meeting you may have ended badly."
"What do you mean?" Sofia questioned.
Gandalf chuckled," You my child have been blessed by the Valar for you deeds in you world. You contain the magic of your old world and the magic that we Istari use."
She blanched," You mean to say, that I have to different magiks!?" she questioned incredulously.
He mulled over his words," Well, more like you have been given the ability to manipulate magic that Saruman can not and never will. Every Istari has a certain strength. I am known for being the wisest amongst the peoples of Middle-Earth. Saruman is known for his vast knowledge and strong voice that is influential. And of course, being the strongest wizard of us all. You however, are strong in most, if not all, aspects of your magic. While you are not aware of how to use your knew found magic from your knew home yet, you are not incapable of defending yourself and incapacitating your opponents whomever they may be."
Sofia found herself blushing at the obvious compliment from Gandalf about her strength," I'm still beatable," she muttered with a rose color tinging her cheeks.
He chuckled," Yes, but if you were to learn how to use the new magic, you'd possibly be even stronger than even him, the strongest wizard."
Realization dawned on her features. So he was that type of person. She was instantly relieved that it was Gandalf that was called upon to introduce her to her new home.
"Thank you then," she said with a smile. But sadly her smile wouldn't reach her eyes; none of her smiles did these days. It was heartbreaking to see for anyone to notice, and unfortunately for Sofia had a keen eye.
But he didn't bring it up and instead asked," What for dear child?"
"For going out of you way to find me and introduce me to this life," she said with that same small smile that refused to reach her eyes.
He stared at her in apparent shock. Suddenly, Calneth was insecure and afraid that she had stepped over some line that was off limits. But she schooled her features.
To her surprise, Gandalf simply chuckled and said," My dear child, it was no trouble at all. I was overjoyed to hear of the Valar possibly sending a new Istari, of course, I wasn't sure what to expect but was happy to be the first to meet you. I can even teach you if you so wish."
At the prospect of learning once more, as her studies at Hogwarts had been a minority when she was fighting in a war, she instantly forgot what she was so afraid of.
"You'd really do that?" she questioned, her eyes bright with new-found hope and respect for her soon-to-be teacher.
He smiled," Of course, after all what's the point of having magic when you don't even know how to use it."
And like that, Sofia had begun to grow closer to her new teacher that she was beginning to see as the grandfather figure that she remembered as a man in colorful outfits with immense power that rolled of him in waves. Much like this old man that had patched up one part of the missing pieces broken heart.
Over the next month, as they journeyed to the Shire, Sofia grew to respect the man. At first he seemed strange and eccentric to her, but her life had never been empty of strange and eccentric people, so that didn't matter much to her anyways. But that wasn't the point. She now saw a man with power that he just didn't prefer to show off. Given he was known for being wise that shouldn't have surprised her as much as it did, but it did. She learned how to talk access her knew magic and learned about the staff that apparently was the key to an Istar's magic. And if it broke, the Istar was now powerless. This of course seemed to stupid to Sofia for if that had been the case for the British Wizarding world, then the war would've been so much easier. As the Istari didn't have actual magic, but simply possessed the ability to manipulate the magic around them.
This she could understand however, was a lot better than having magic in you naturally. As then you'd only be able to defend yourself with what you personally had compared to what someone else could do. But one night, a thought came to Sofia at the indication that Istar cold manipulate magic around them. She was essentially made of magic.
When she brought this up to Gandalf he mulled over it for a short while before saying," An Istar can not manipulate the living; only a necromancy can do that. And seeing as there are no necromancers around, you are safe child."
At this, Sofia was able to continue her lessons with Gandalf in peace. She soaked up everything. Every last bit of information and knowledge that she had the ability to grasp, she kept. Gandalf even began to teach her some Sindarin, the language of the elves.
Some days when they were traveling to the Shire and she wanted to give her legs a rest, she would shift into her animagus form and sore in the air. When she first did shifted, she had forgotten that Gandalf has not seen her other form yet and that he was unknowledgeable about her ability to shift. When she had shifted she had been visibly frightened for fear of him sending her away and saying she was a monster that didn't deserve to live. Yes she knew it was childish, but it had happened in her old life. She had fallen in love with someone shortly after discovering her animagus form, and she thought that they were sincere when they said they loved her no matter what. Well, it had been no-matter-what-as-long-as-I-don't-think-it's-weird was what he should've said. After showing him he ran off, screaming that she was just a creature of death and didn't deserve to live. Sad fact? She still loved him after that. She had forgiven so easily because she had believed him.
She expected Gandalf's reaction from the start and never wanted to show her animagus form ever again unless it was absolutely necessary and she had just broken her personal vow to herself. She closed her eyes sadly, preparing herself mentally for the backlash of words she was sure to get.
She was not however prepared for the gentle had to lie against her nose and between her ears. She felt fresh hot salty tears well into her milky white eyes at the sign of kindness one she rarely got from even her best friends as they were slightly afraid of the Thestrals (not that she could really blame them, but it still hurt).
"What is this form?" he questioned her curiously.
With a hesitant glance to Fawkes who gave an encouraging nod to tell what she was to this man. True, she hadn't known him for that long, but he wasn't afraid of her at first sight. Steadying her racing heart she spoke into Gandalf's mind.
'This is my animagus form, a Thestral. Where I come from, they were feared as only those who had seen death and accepted it for what it was could see them. Thestral's are also,…' she trailed off, unsure of how to finish her sentence.
"Different?" he offered with an amused twinkle in his eyes.
She snorted but nodded none-the-less confirming his unasked question.
From then on, she had truly begun to trust the man, and while there were something's she wouldn't tell him, let alone anyone else, she would be able to see him as that caring grandfather she had missed sense her sixth year at Hogwarts.
As they came closer to the Shire and their journey was coming to an end, Sofia made Gandalf swear not to speak about her true form to anyone. At his question as to why she would want to hide such a gift from anyone she smiled sadly and said "Because some people fear the unknown. And I'm always a mystery, besides; I prefer to have more than one Ace up my sleeve if it ever comes down to someone betraying me."
At this he nodded sadly but she had noticed that one glimpse of something that she hadn't seen in anyone's eyes before, let alone towards her. Was that, sympathy? She shrugged it off and shoved to the back of her mind, no point in dwelling on her thoughts now, she had a party to go to.