Chapter 4: Fishy

I followed Dumbledore to the castle that I guessed was Hogwarts. He never really introduced himself but I guess it was safe to assume that he was Dumbledore. We walked down a series of corridors, passing by curious students along the way. I was not surprised by the living paintings on the walls or the ghosts that went through them. Already I was convinced that I was having a very nice, if not strangely realistic dream. It was all too…detailed. Usually my dreams went by faster, missing a lot of details. Incredibly though, I walked through Hogwarts taking in everything. Every tapestry, bust, painting, statue and person was so vividly portrayed that I couldn't deny I was actually experiencing it all. As in, for real.

Whoah.

"Here we are… Gum drop," Dumbledore said in front of the gargoyle. It sprung to life and danced aside to make way for them. The wall behind it split in two and revealed the moving spiral staircase which I guessed would take us up to his office.

"After you," he graciously offered and motioned his hand towards the staircase.

"Thanks?" I said unsurely. No one had ever said anything like that to me so I wasn't sure how to reply. I cautiously walked to the staircase and stopped.

Just step onto the first step. It's like riding an escalator. Relax.

So I did. We went upwards. In circles. I had placed my hand on the railing when we finally stopped in front of the oak door. I stepped aside and Dumbledore turned the handle.

"Wow."

I knew his office was cool. I mean, I read about it and saw all four movies, but this was better. I grinned and stepped in when he motioned for me to. My eye was caught by Fawkes the phoenix who was sleeping on his perch. I admired the play of light on his red and gold feathers. I also noticed the Sorting Hat (boy, was it shabby!).The circular room was filled with all sorts of interesting things, portraits and a LOT of books.

Books. BOOKS!

I quickly grabbed a book off a bookcase and read the first line of the first page. I turned over the page and read the first line of the second. Quickly I turned back to page one and read the first line again. My heart skipped a beat.

"Miss, could we maybe have a chat before you go on reading that book? I've read it many times and it is very interesting, but I believe we should get acquainted before you get swept away by The Journey of Phillip Pebblehead, Wizard Explorer," Dumbledore chuckled.

"It's all real."

"Pardon?"

"In my dreams, stuff in books doesn't stay the same. They change because my mind can't interpret details like it can when I'm awake. But the first line didn't change."

He pondered on this for a while and said, "Why don't you take a seat?"

I sat on the poufy chair in front of his desk and watched him walk to the high chair behind it. He sat, pressed his hands together as of in prayer and smiled kindly. Having sunk into the chair I automatically became comfortable (as I always do) and slouched a bit. But I remembered I was in DUMBLEDORE's office so while smiling nervously I crossed my arms and said, "Nice office you got here. Hehe,"

"I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of the school. You are in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And you are?"

"Julianne Enicola. Juls for short."

" Juls. That's a nice name. And Enicola, is that Spanish or Italian?"

"Spanish. Umm... you mean is my last name Spanish? It is, but I'm Filipina. Most Filipino last names are Spanish, what with the Spanish colonizing us 'bout 300 years ago. I think it was 300 years ago. I'm not sure. But I sort of look Spanish coz my great grandmother was Spanish, I think. I guess that makes me mestiza, you know, multi-racial. Oh, I'm jabbering. Sorry, when I'm nervous I can't shut up, haha…"

"You laugh a lot," he said, "And now it's time for you to talk a lot. Now, first things first. Please explain, how did you appear in the sky and fall into our lake?"

"Ahh…God, how do I explain this… umm… I was falling off a flight of stairs and then I found myself in the air and then plummeting into the lake. That wasn't much of an explanation but I don't understand how all that happened either," I answered sheepishly, my cheeks blushing.

"So, you're not from here then," Dumbledore concluded.

"Yes! From another world completely!" I laughed, but then realized that I really was. I pressed my hand on my forehead and sighed.

Dumbledore got up and opened a sort of glass-paneled cabinet. He took out a long thin box and stood before my. He opened the box to reveal a really old but really beautiful wand.

"Ebony, 15 inches, unicorn hair, extra sturdy. It was my mother's. Why don't you give it a try?"

I stared at him incredulously.

"You're kidding."

"No, I'm perfectly serious."

"Like Black? Haha. Ha." Uggh. That was lame. The smile disappeared from my face. His didn't though.

"Yes. Like Black Now give it a nice wave."

I warily picked up the wand and grasped loosely. Slowly I got up from my chair and held my breath.

"But sir, I'm a Muggle," I said uncertainly. Why was I uncertain? Plus, I just wrecked my argument by using the word Muggle, a word I wasn't supposed to know.

"Give it a try. Just for the heck of it."

My grip tightened and I looked at the wand. What if I wasn't magic? I would be the only loser in the most incredible, fantastic place in the world! And what if I was magic? What then?

"Don't be nervous."

So I slowly waved the wand. My eyes widened as I left a trail of hazy blue smoke and sparkly white stars. It then formed the outline of a lady. She hovered in front of me and smiled. She lowered her head, cupped my face and kissed my forehead. She looked into my eyes one last time, and then she faded away.

My jaw was practically grazing floor.

"That wasn't the usual fireworks display, but it was more than enough," Dumbledore said breathlessly. He was clearly surprised as well. He then proceeded to the Sorting Hat and picked it up. He looked at me.

"Now, to be Sorted."

My heart almost leaped out of my chest. I was Magic! I was not a loser! I was…going to be sorted. Butterflies magically appeared in my stomach. I felt really light headed and nauseous.

He then walked over to me and plopped the Sorting Hat on my head. Its eyes (if you can call them that) grew wide and his mouth hung open (I didn't see all this, naturally, but Dumbledore eventually told in some insignificant instance later). Anyway, the hat seemed to be grasping for words.

"Oh my."

"What?" I asked panickedly.

"This is… well… something."

"What? What what what?"

"Hmmm… Let me think…"

I crossed my fingers and clenched my eyes shut.

Awkward silence.

"Gryffindor."