Chapter 1
The air felt crisp and cold on Malinda's face as she burst from the doors. Students and staff crowded the walkways, keeping off the moist grass, and she struggled to dart around people, muttering an apology as her shoulder hit someone's bag.
A glance down at her watch made her stomach tighten with dread. "Shit, shit, shit." She was late and if she didn't move quickly, they'd start without her.
She looked across the courtyard and hesitated. Then she leapt off the path and ran. Her shoes squished loudly in the wet earth and she could feel the water sink into her socks. Still, she ran until she came to the edge of campus. A busy street served as the boundary between the university and the city. Cars flew by and she stood impatiently with a small crowd, waiting for the light to change. It was nearing the end of term and in a few weeks, Oxford would be much quieter and she'd get to relax-
"Oi! Watch where you're going, you muppet!"
Malinda turned, as did most people, at the yell. A few stepped back, giving her a proper view of the commotion. A tall, large bloke about her age stood over an elderly man, looking quite angry. The elderly man was knocked to the ground and stared up in confusion.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't see-" he stuttered, starting to get up.
Cruelly, the younger man shoved him down and sneered, "Maybe it's time for some glasses. Or maybe you should just stay at home and-"
Malinda eyed him. He looked vaguely familiar… She felt fairly certain he'd been in one of her courses last year. The student kept yelling and she looked around, but no one made a move or said anything. Rage filled her and Malinda stepped forward.
"Stop it!" Malinda pushed past a few nosey onlookers. Her face was tight and she bent over, grabbing hold of the elderly man and pulling him to his feet. She set her eyes on the student and snapped, "What's your name?"
"What?" He blinked, caught off guard by the question.
Malinda whipped out her phone and began to record. "What's your name? Just want to make sure I get it right when I forward this video to the school's chancellors."
He stepped forward and Malinda raised the camera even more. She tilted her head, "Now I remember you… Ryan, isn't it?" The bully froze, his eyes sweeping around them, realizing that half of the crowd remained in place, despite the light already changing.
"Last name then?" Malinda challenged.
"Fuck off," the bully spat and marched off. He didn't glance back once and only when he vanished around a corner, did Malinda relax.
And realize she was shaking. Adrenaline coursed through her and she suddenly felt embarrassed, aware of the many eyes on her. She quickly put her phone away again, trying to calm down. Why? Why didn't anyone else help her or say anything?
"Thank you," a hand patted her shoulder. Malinda turned to find the elderly man still standing there. He was surprisingly tall and lean, his wrinkled face warm and eyes bright. "That was very kind of you."
"Oh," she swallowed hard. "No problem. A-Are you alright? Are you injured?"
The stranger smiled, "No. Although I believe that young man's pride took a beating."
Malinda smiled back, her embarrassment fading. Then she glanced at her watch and panicked. "I'm late! Ah, I'm sorry- sir. Glad you're alright. I have to go!"
The light was changing to red again but Malinda ran across the street. And kept running. She held her bag tightly, not wanting it to bounce as she sprinted down the street. Thankfully, the library was only a few streets away but she arrived breathless and uncomfortably warm. THe uncomfortable feeling of sweat dripping down her back made her cringe. She carelessly pulled off her sweater as she walked into the lobby, struggling to keep her breathing down.
"You're here!" Julie stood waiting just inside the doors and threw threw up her arms. "We were worried you wouldn't make it. The children are already seated and-"
Malinda strode past her, the children's area was crowded. As they did once a week, Julie and the other librarians cleared the space for children to sit. Volunteers would read books to local children throughout the day. From what Julie said, Malinda's weekly dose of Harry Potter was by far the most popular. A few of the older children cheered, spying her immediately. The others quickly joined in, making some parents laugh at the spectacle.
Their smiles and joy filled Malinda with joy. Her classes and work made volunteering difficult, but it was worth every moment. She settled into the chair up front, dropping her things. Julie had left the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince book out for her, a bookmark right where they'd left off last week. Several children opened their own copies, eager to follow along. Malinda took a long breath, willing her heart to finally slow down.
"Right… Here we go!" Malinda grinned and began to read.
It was only an hour a week, but Malinda knew the end of the readings would come soon enough. They neared the end of the sixth book and they'd no doubt devour the last. She wasn't sure what would happen then. Perhaps Julie would invite her to read another series, but it wouldn't be the same. Harry Potter was Malinda's favorite, it had changed her whole life. It had given her the love of books, an escape into their magical worlds, when her real one was so dark at times.
At the end of the hour, Malinda closed the book, much to the children's disappointment. Parents ushered their young ones out, a few stopping to thank her. Julie swooped in and clapped, "Another excellent session."
"Sorry I was late," Malinda handed over the book. "Class let out late and-"
"And she was quite busy helping out this old fool." a familiar voice finished. Julie and Malinda turned, finding the same elderly man standing there.
"Oh hello Mervin," Julie greeted. "Haven't seen you here in awhile."
Malinda's eyebrows shot up at her friend's casual greeting to the man.
"I came to return this," Mervin held up a book with a kind smile. "Took me longer to finish than I expected. Had some… unexpected travel come up." He turned his attention to Malinda. "Are you a volunteer here?"
Julie beamed, "This is Malinda Roberts, one of our best volunteers. She's an engineering student at Oxford, quite the bright young lady."
"And brave too," Mervin added quietly. "So why Harry Potter then, Ms. Malinda?"
"Oh. They're my favorite," She replied with a small smile, feeling a little embarrassed. "They made me fall in love with reading."
"If you could change one thing, what would it be?" He asked, his tone curious.
Malinda paused, both surprised and appreciative of the question. She considered it and answered, "The Draco Malfoy plot always frustrated me. He was just a boy, like Harry, but he was always portrayed more evil than I think was fair. He was just another victim."
"Do you think he could've been spared? Been a force of good?"
"Absolutely," she answered confidently. "Any child has potential. It's up to those in their lives to provide good influences."
"Interesting," Mervin murmured.
Malinda glanced at her watch and frowned. "It was nice to meet you, again, but I have to go. My study group meets soon."
"Of course, we'll see you next week then," Julie said happily.
Malinda waved and grabbed her things. She walked quickly out of the library, unaware of Julie leaning over towards Mervin. "A remarkable young lady. She was raised in foster care, you know, and studied hard. Supports herself by tutoring too. I don't know how she finds the time but she comes back every week, the children love her."
"How remarkable indeed," Mervin said thoughtfully, his eyes glowing brightly.
...
...
Her eyes felt heavy and her hand hurt from writing. Malinda rubbed her face tiredly. The clock warned her it was well past her bedtime. In fact, the sun would come up soon and classes not long after.
"Shit," Malinda stood from her desk and took the four steps over to her bed. Her room was small, but it was hers. She split the flat with another student. Her roommate's family lived in London, so she often went home on weekends, leaving Malinda with plenty of private time and space. It worked out well, especially for catching up on sleep.
Her assignments were getting tougher. At nineteen, Malinda only had one more year to go and then it would be all worth it. She'd finally have the career and income she'd always dreamed of. One that bought her independence and freedom. A successful life where, one day, she could afford to help another little girl… One day.
For now, she sighed as she slipped under the covers. Her bed was narrow, barely enough space for her to roll over, but it was comfortable enough. Within moments she fell asleep.
She slept deeply. If she dreamed, she wouldn't remember. She rarely remembered dreams. It seemed a short while later that Miranda felt herself wake slowly, the bright light warning her to keep her eyes shut. Her body felt heavy and uncomfortable, not pleased with a couple hours of sleep. Malinda groaned and stretched-
The scent of grass filled her nose and her eyes snapped open.
"What the fuck?" She scrambled, not recognizing her surroundings. "What-" Malinda gaped at the flat expanse. "What?" The field was full of healthy, vibrant grass. She stood under a tree, it's shade shielding her from the rising sun. Malinda spun around, seeing the warm rays hit a vast lake… She turned more and froze.
A massive, stone castle stood in the distance. Its walls were proud, the fortress hovered over the landscape like a silent guardian.
Hogwarts.
It was impossible, but Malinda knew what it was. She was staring up at Hogwarts, the magical castle in a world that didn't exist. Her mind whirled and she took a big step away from the lake, terrified of what lay beneath its dark surface. She looked down, finding herself still in her pajamas.
Ah. So she was dreaming. Malinda pinched her arm. "Come on," she whispered. "Wake up."
The lake remained. The sun continued to rise, its rays hitting her face. The castle still loomed. She stood for several minutes, unsure of what to do. This dream felt real, so real that the cold morning air made her shiver slightly. Malinda frowned then moved, her feet taking her towards the castle. She crossed her arms, trying to hold in some warmth, but felt ridiculous marching in her pink pajama pants and oversized Oxford shirt. She wasn't even wearing a bra- How ridiculous. By the time she climbed up the staircase and walked across the bridge, the sun was well on its way up.
The castle was stunning. Up close it seemed to defy time itself, showing no hints of aging or dirt. Its stones were clean and windows spotless. From up here, the view of the Scottish highlands was breathtaking. She'd never actually been this far north before, not in real life. Malinda paused on the bridge, taking in the sights. She was quite pleased with her imagination- It was beautiful here. Maybe in a few years, when she had some money saved, she'd come up for a visit to see it for real.
The courtyard was empty. It was eerie how quiet everything was. Perhaps this dream was a nightmare, though it was lastly a bizarrely long time. Malinda approached two, massive doors. They were intimidating but she pushed on one, and it opened with ease. The hinges were perfectly silent as it swung inward, revealing a massive stone entranceway. She couldn't help but look up, remembering the preparation for the Battle of Hogwarts in the final film. Sure enough, rows upon rows of stone soldiers lay in the tall walls above.
"Wicked," she whispered to herself. Malinda walked fully inside and waited.
Nothing happened. In the books, the castle wards kept Muggles away but here she was, walking into the magical school. She smiled. Even if this turned out to be a nightmare, she hoped she would remember at least some of the dream.
"What in Merlin's name are you wearing, girl?" A scandalized voice asked.
Malinda jumped and looked to see a woman staring. From a portrait. A moving portrait. The woman eyed Malinda up and down, her face positively aghast. "Times have changed. Where has common decency gone?"
"Holy shit," Malinda took a step forward and touched the painting's frame. It felt cool, paint itself somewhat textured and solid. It was definitely not a screen. "This is the best dream I've had a while."
"Language!" The woman scoffed and stepped into the adjacent frame. "I'm sending for the Headmaster. He'll know what to do with you and your foul mouth."
"Okay, bye then," Malinda laughed as the woman disappeared into the next painting. She saw several more portraits wake and heard the murmurs of their surprise. Feeling brave, she kept walking and opened the next set of large, wooden doors.
The Great Hall lay before her. The room was massive and long, with four empty tables. Just as she'd seen in the films, there were head tables for staff and an impressive podium for the headmaster. Her neck bent and she gazed up, finding the sky instead of the ceiling. It was breathtaking. Oh, why couldn't magic be real?
Grinning, she crossed the hall, passing the empty house tables, and touched the podium. It was different from the film, the shape of a phoenix instead of an owl. Much more appropriate, she thought. "Just like Fawkes."
"He would appreciate the comparison," a man's voice chimed in.
Malinda spun on her heel, finding a new arrival in the hall. The man was older, a great beard falling from her chin, and his wizard cloak looked strange. He looked different from Michael Gambon, the actor more thin and white-haired than this man before her, but she knew who he was. "Dumbledore?"
He stood halfway down the hall and she wasn't sure how she missed his footsteps. The man strode closer, clasping his hands together. "I am, indeed. Though I must apologize, I don't remember us meeting before?"
"Oh we haven't," Malinda shrugged. "I'm Malinda Roberts and I'm a Muggle. This is just a dream."
He frowned, "Ah. I see."
"So… Where is everyone? I was hoping to meet Harry and the other main characters."
Dumbledore's expression changed. He took one step up, only a short distance away. "Harry?"
"Harry Potter, of course," Malinda chuckled.
"Harry and the other students left a week ago," Dumbledore answered. "Summer has just begun."
"What year is it?" She paused, "If you're still alive then it has to be before his sixth year then. Interesting. Oh! The Elder Wand! May I see it, please?"
Her words seemed to genuinely baffle the headmaster. He reached into his sleeve and withdrew his hand. "How do you know this is the Elder Wand?"
"It's in the books of course," she laughed and reached for it. Her fingers graced the body, the wood solid and smooth. "Voldemort steals it from your grave after you die. I don't know why you'd have it buried with you- you should've given it to Harry or something in your will."
"Ah," Dumbledore's face was wrought with concern. "A curious suggestion. I didn't realize I'd be dying so soon. Now, Ms. Roberts, how did you come to be here?"
"Fell asleep and woke up here," she replied. "Never had a dream last this long before. Maybe I'll wake up and-"
Dumbledore flicked his wand and a cool sensation overwhelmed Malinda. Her eyelids felt tremendously heavy, her mouth dry, and she passed out.