-Arrival-

"What does that mean? 'Speak the words of old'"

"It's a fancy way of saying 'speak the password.' Usually we wouldn't need a password for a portal but this sacred place is the quickest way between the worlds. The password is usually inscribed on ancient jewelry so that only the right people may pass through."

"OK, but what is the password?"

"Look at your locket. There should be a word inscribed on the back that should gain us entry." He said dismounting

"How did you know about the locket?"

All he did was wink as he helped her down. She pulled out the locket and saw the inscription surrounded by a deep circle where a ring would probably fit. She hadn't noticed it before.

"What does it say? I can't read Hylian," he said looking over her shoulder.

"It says 'courage'"

"Courage?"

"Yes, in Hylian legend, it was a piece of the Triforce. The one most valued of the three pieces"

"Hmm. You'll have to teach me your history since you already know ours"

"Certainly. Well, let's get this over with"

She walked toward the door and said 'courage' in Hylian. Legolas didn't understand but it seemed to work because the black void became a blinding light. Legolas carried the baggage as they walked through. Soon she found herself standing at the edge of a lake underneath a willow tree. The light began to fade and she saw two figures standing before them. One was a man who looked like he was at least 70 or so. He wore half-moon glasses and had a long crooked nose. His long white beard hung passed his belt, and he was wearing a dark blue cloak.

Next to him stood a girl who looked about Saira's age and she could sense that the girl, too was an elf, confirmed by her pointed ears. Saira doubted whether she was full blooded because most elves had blonde or brown hair and hers was black as night. Her skin was pale and her eyes were bright green almost turquoise.

"Albus. Long time no see," Legolas said putting their bags down. He shook hands with him.

"Legolas my boy. I envy you. You haven't aged a day" Albus smiled. "Ah, and this must be Alatariel. I've heard a lot about you"

She walked towards them, "Please sir, but I prefer to be called Saira"

"Fine by me. Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I'd like to introduce you to Eriathiel. I have asked her to show you around before your house is chosen so that you will be more comfortable. I would myself but I have things to do at the Ministry of Magic" He picked up a boot of the ground and disappeared

"Hello" the girl said, "Professor Dumbledore told me to tell you to go see Hagrid" she said to Legolas. He bowed and left obviously knowing where to go.

Saira wanted him to stay…. but she knew he wouldn't.

"Well, to introduce myself more properly, my name is Liz" the girl said in a bright tone.

"I though he said your name was Eriathiel" Saira said confused

"That's my Elven name, but in English its Elizabeth but I just go by Liz. Much easier for humans and the like to pronounce." She shrugged.

"Oh, the lighted way" Saira said airily.

"What?"

"In Hylian it means the lighted way"

"That's neat. Well, let me tell you about Hogwarts."

"Actually I already know most of it. It was founded by two witches and two wizards."

"Yep and the houses are named after them. I, myself, am in Gryffindor."

"That's neat" Saira didn't feel like she belonged here.

Liz took Saira on a tour of the castle and saw many people, but Liz didn't introduce Saira to anyone, which she was happy about. New people equaled questions Saira didn't want to answer. The tour ended with them in front of a stone gargoyle.

"What's this?" Saira asked.

"It's the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office. I'm trying to remember the password. He always names it after candy. Oh yeah, gumdrops."

The gargoyle sprang to life and revealed a doorway Saira followed Liz through. They entered and office with moving pictures all over the walls. There were books everywhere with many odd devices on tables. Saira also noticed a beautiful phoenix perched next to the large mahogany desk in the middle of the room. Saira saw Liz climb up a ladder and retrieve a grungy looking hat from atop a bookshelf.

"This" she said climbing down "is the Sorting Hat. It determines what house you'll be in"

Saira was perplexed "How will that determine my house?"

Suddenly the hat's brim ripped open and it began to talk:

"I'm smarter than I look,
And compared to any book
I can tell you things you never knew
That will make you brain feel like stew
Put me on
Don't be scared
I'm never wrong
You've been dared"

"Sit down" Liz instructed. Saira sat on a nearby stool and then Liz put the hat on her head. She sat for minutes swearing she could hear whispers. Finally the hat cried "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Congratulations" Liz said removing the hat. "C'mon I'll take you to the common room. I can introduce you to some of my friends."

Saira was not enthusiastic about this but agreed nonetheless. The sooner she did, the sooner she could be alone. She wanted to play her ocarina. She wanted to talk to Link. She wanted to be with someone she knew. She wanted to be anywhere but here.

Liz guided her through a number of winding corridors. So many, that Saira was lost. They stopped in front of a portrait with a rather large woman in a pink dress.

Liz said "gold lion" and the picture swung open revealing yet another hidden door.

"How do you remember all this?" Saira asked

"It's easy when you've been here for nearly 4 years" Liz replied guiding her inside

To her right, she saw a stocky boy trying to catch a toad. She used magic to freeze the toad but the boy didn't notice she'd done it. To her left, she saw redheaded twins playing with fireworks with another redheaded girl watching and laughing. Straight ahead she saw a bushy-haired girl with rather large front teeth losing a game of chess to yet another redheaded boy. The last person in there was a black-haired boy with round glasses reading in front of the fireplace.

"Oy, Harry, Ron, Hermione" Liz called. Two of them turned and waved and Saira followed Liz over to them. The black-haired boy stopped reading and looked up.

"Hey, guys I want you to meet Saira"

"Hello, I'm Ron. Ron Weasley" the red haired boy said with a funny grin as though he wasn't quite sure what to say in that instant.

"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger" her voice much more confident than Ron as though she was never at a loss.

Saira nodded but her eyes fell upon the black haired boy again. She knew him.

"I'm Harry -"

"Potter" Saira finished

"That would be me," he said as if it wasn't the first time someone had said that.

"I'm sorry" Saira said, "It's just I recognized your face. I saw you in a vision once" No one noticed but Hermione rolled her eyes. She didn't believe in visions and premonitions.

"Saira came here form Hyrule" Liz said

'Oh great' Saira thought 'here come the questions'

Saira decided to say something before they could though.

"Um, It was lovely to meet you all but I have journeyed all day and could use some rest" She turned to leave but realized she didn't know where to go "Um, where is our room at?"

"I'll show you" Liz said before anyone else, i.e., the guys, could offer. Not that they could get very far anyway, but still. She led Saira up the stairs and to the right. When Liz left, Saira began playing her ocarina. The walls started to blur together and then her brother appeared floating in the middle of it.

"Link!" she cried in surprise.

"Hey" he said in return as though this was a normal occurrence for him.

"Oh, Link I want to go home" she said wanting to cry.

"Saira don't cry." He said knowing that look. "I know you want to come home, but it is out of my hands now. Plus, it will all be over soon"

"How can you know that? I was told today that I have to find the third treasure. What if I never find it and all the lands fall to darkness again?"

"You will succeed. I believe in you. Saira, I'm sorry but I have to leave now"

"No, please" but he had vanished and the room returned to normal.

As Harry went to his dormitory, he heard her crying. He thought he should be polite and see if she was okay. He knocked on the door now wanting to go in. Saira sat up startled "Who's there?"

"It's Harry. I heard you crying. Is everything all right?" he asked though the door.

This surprised Saira. In Hyrule, everyone treated her as a freak since she started having visions. Of course these people hadn't seen her when she had a vision, so they might act the same way when they found out.

"You can come in you know"Saira couldn't believe she said that.

"It's the girl's dormitory. I'm not allowed"

"Well, I'm the only girl so I don't think it matters right now" she got up and opened the door just as he was reaching for the handle.

He smiled embarrassed. "I'm sorry if I'm intruding. What's your name again? Sandy? Sage? Simone?" he guessed hoping one was correct.

"Saira" she said stepping into the hall so he wouldn't feel too uncomfortable, course it didn't seem to help..

"You seem uncomfortable," she said bluntly

"Huh, I'm not sure what to say. I just met you"

"Okay, then, uh, well, uh." 'Stupid' she thought

"So, um, why… were you crying?"

Saira hesitated but decided it'd be nice to tell someone.

"It's a long story," she said instead of the whole thing.

"Ok, well I hope whatever it is that you will be ok" he walked toward the door

"Um" she said and he stopped "Thanks" she smiled; so did he. She finally got a good look at him. He was rather handsome standing a few inches taller than her. His hair was jet-black and behind his glasses were bright green eyes that almost sparkled as he spoke.

"If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'll be around" he said.

"Thanks, Harry" he seemed to smile more when she said that.

"Good night" he said

"Quel da" she said in Elvish, which was her native tongue, when she remembered they probably didn't speak that here and felt stupid for saying it. Harry looked at her confused

"Huh?"

"Oh, sorry, I'm not used to English as the common language yet. It means 'good night' in Elvish"

"Oh, that's cool. You'll have to teach me sometime"

"Sure. Tenna' san'… 'Until then'" she added noticing again his confused expression.

"Tenna' sun'" he tried to repeat. She smiled and Harry left.

Saira was happy to meet someone like that; someone who helped her forget why she was there.