Arc II: Part I

September 25, 1983

Bade-Wurtemberg

The locals whispered about the numerous individuals who had vanished into thin air in the surrounding woods. The reasons behind their disappearance were varied and included everything from being drawn in by a call for help, to being lured in by mesmerizing sounds or the beauty of a mysterious woman. For centuries, people kept disappearing without a trace until two hundred years ago when the incidents abruptly ceased. Over time, the forest and its legends became nothing more than a story told to scare little children into behaving. Eventually, as the cities and entertainment options in the region grew, the interest in the forest also dwindled.

However, the only children who still ventured into the woods were the students of the nearby academy of magic. The forest was an essential source of ingredients for their potions and a natural habitat for the magical creatures they studied. But now, the once-silent woods were disturbed by the sound of a group chasing a smaller figure who was crying out for help.

Alexa ran frantically through the snow, her heart pounding with fear and exhaustion. Her pursuers laughed and taunted her, drawing closer with every passing moment. Despite the cold air burning her throat, she screamed for help, hoping someone would hear her. Her mind raced with thoughts of what might happen to her if they caught her, especially since they had shown no mercy in public. As she fled, she ventured deeper into the forest, unsure of whether she would ever make it out alive.

In the midst of her escape, Alexa suddenly felt a sharp pain in her foot. She looked down to see that her shoe had torn open, leaving her foot exposed to the cold and sharp twigs. She leaned against a nearby tree, gasping for breath and struggling to keep going.

From the earliest days she could recall, Alexa had endured the contemptuous glares, viciousness, and brutality of the other children who seemed to be the source of the inexplicable occurrences that kept befalling her. Yet, one day, a man knocked on her parents' door, identifying himself as a Ministry of Magic employee, and revealed to her that a covert, worldwide magical community existed to which she belonged, forever altering her life. It had happened just a few months before, at the dawn of summer vacation, and she could still remember the sensation of a heavy burden being lifted from her chest, as she envisioned a joyful existence amid new peers and companions. Regrettably, her bliss was short-lived. On the first day of school, she was singled out by an older clique and designated their favorite target.

Alexa heard the group drawing closer and quietly surveyed her surroundings. Taking a deep breath, she dashed forward, oblivious to the fact that her backpack had snagged on a protruding tree branch. The bag gave way, and all of her school supplies tumbled out onto the snow. She fell to her knees and scrambled to collect her things as quickly as she could. Ironically, the group arrived at that very moment, roaring with laughter as they discovered Alexa struggling in the snow. Frantically, Alexa reached for her wand, but it was out of reach, buried in the snow. Meanwhile, the four girls had already aimed their wands in her direction, drawing closer with each step.

Instinctively, Alexa curled up into a ball, protecting herself from the blows that she was sure would rain down on her any moment. She clutched her forearms over her face, her teeth clenched, as she waited for the first hit to land on her sides or back. But to her surprise, the blows never came. She felt only a twinge of pain in her toe, which she had hurt earlier. Gingerly, she opened one eye, only to see a shadow briefly fly above her, followed by a low growl and screams.

Alexa opened her eyes wider and saw a massive black wolf standing protectively over her, growling and baring its fangs at the four older girls who had been attacking her. As one of them made to use her wand, the wolf barked ferociously, causing them to turn and flee, screaming for help. Alexa felt a surge of relief but gasped as she realized she was alone in the forest with the wolf, which had now turned its piercing gaze upon her.

She fought to keep her fear at bay, recalling that wild animals are less likely to attack when they don't sense fear. But the wolf continued to approach her, its mouth now inches from her face, its paws on her knees. She could feel the warmth of its snout against her skin as it sniffed her face and ears. Then, to her surprise, it began to lick her face, and she felt her cheeks grow damp.

With her eyes still closed, Alexa couldn't help but wonder if she had been mistaken about wild animals only attacking when they sense fear. But as she opened her eyes, she saw that the animal she had thought was a wolf was, in fact, a Black German Shepherd. The dog sat in front of her, wagging its tail and looking at her with soulful eyes.

Alexa wiped away her tears and watched in amazement as the dog retrieved her wand and gathered her scattered books, using its mouth to carefully place them back in her bag. As she slowly stood up, the dog sat down in front of her, letting her wand fall at her feet. She brushed the mud off her pants and took a step closer to the dog. Tentatively, she reached out to pet its head, and the dog leaned into her touch, its eyes closing in contentment.

"Danke!"

The enthusiastic barks of the dog filled the air as it joyfully leaped around Alexa. She crouched down and patted the furry creature once more, scanning its neck for a collar. To her surprise, the dog wasn't wearing one, which struck her as odd given its friendly and well-behaved nature.

"Are you alone?" Alexa asked. The dog replied with a bark. "Would you like to come with me?" Alex asked, pointing towards the trees. The dog barked again before spinning around in a playful attempt to catch his tail. This made Alex chuckle. She grabbed her bag and gestured for him to follow her. They walked together for about half an hour, during which the dog ran ahead a few times, scaring squirrels and rabbits before they finally arrived at the village.


Alexa and her family had only just arrived in the village two weeks prior to September. The Black Forest house they now called home was a quintessential example of the traditional architecture found in the area. The steeply pitched roof with multiple gables and dormer windows was designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the Black Forest, with its heavy snowfall and strong winds. The exterior walls were made of wood and adorned with intricate woodcarvings and decorative elements such as painted shutters and flower boxes.

Inside, the Black Forest house was cozy and rustic, with wood paneling on the walls and floors made of wood or stone. They crossed the garden, heading towards the dark colors of the exterior walls, which blended in seamlessly with the forest landscape. Once inside, they were greeted by the comforting warmth of the Kachelofen, the centerpiece of the living room, a large, tiled stove that provided both warmth and a place for cooking which helped to ward off the chilly autumn air.

Once indoors, Alexa shed her scarf and gloves and swapped her shoes for cozy slippers. Her faithful canine companion followed her every step as she set out to find her mother. She found her sleeping soundly on the sofa in the living room, an open book lying on the floor beside her, and her glasses askew. Alexa approached her mother quietly, gently stroking her cheek to awaken her. Her mother slowly opened her eyes, her smile broadening as she hugged her daughter tightly, covering her with kisses. It was only when her gaze fell upon the dog, sitting calmly in the middle of the room, that she paused, her expression curious.

"May he please stay with us?" Alexa implored her mother, nuzzling her head on her mother's shoulder.

"First, tell me where you found him," her mother replied with a furrowed brow.

"I discovered him while foraging in the forest for ingredients for my potions essay," Alexa explained, a smile lighting up her face, only to have her mother's expression turn sour at the sight of Alexa's mud-stained and torn clothes.

"What happened to your clothes? You're covered in mud and scratches," her mother inquired, inspecting Alexa's hands.

"It's nothing, Mum. I slipped in the mud while I was out there. No big deal," Alexa dismissed with a wave of her hand.

"Why are your eyes red? Have you been crying?" her mother pressed.

"It's just the cold wind," Alexa quickly countered, her eyes darting away.

Her mother hesitated before pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Can we keep him?" Alexa asked, referring to the dog she had found.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea. He might be dangerous," her mother cautioned.

"No way! He's already trained. Can't we keep him until we find his owner?" Alexa pleaded, her eyes big and hopeful.

"Fine, but just until we find his owner," her mother relented, glancing at the dog.

"Yes!" Alexa exclaimed, kissing her mother's cheek in gratitude.

"Now, if you're alright, go clean yourself up and come help me with dinner," her mother instructed, planting a soft kiss on Alexa's forehead. "Off you go, hurry up!"

Alexa rose from the sofa and beckoned to the dog to follow her upstairs, but he was already curled up contentedly in front of the warm fireplace.

"He'll be fine. Let him rest," her mother advised, nodding towards the stairs.

Alexa bounded up the stairs to her room, tossing her school bag and wand onto her desk before collapsing onto her bed. As she rubbed her knee, she winced at the pain. Thankfully, her mother hadn't noticed the bleeding, and Alexa didn't want to worry her. It had been a significant sacrifice for her parents to move so far south from Hamburg, but they had done it so that Alexa could live a life free from the burden of hiding her true nature and pursue her education without fear.

Unfortunately, unlike other wizarding schools throughout Europe, the Academy Alexa had been accepted into did not provide housing accommodation for its students. As a result, her parents had no choice but to sell their home in Hamburg's suburbs and move. But despite the daunting prospect of uprooting their lives, they didn't hesitate to follow their daughter. As soon as the Ministry of Magic had left their home, they feverishly sorted through their belongings, packing up what was important and leaving the rest behind. A week later, they loaded up her father's Trabant 601 and began the journey south.

Throughout the trip, Alexa's parents remained optimistic, their smiles and positive attitudes helping to ease the transition. They were eager for their daughter to begin a new life far away from the repetitive harassment and bullying she had endured at her old school. Despite their numerous complaints, the staff had been indifferent to their pleas for help.

Alexa, meanwhile, tried to keep her nerves in check as she prepared for her first day at the Academy. As she stepped into the shower, the warm water washing away the dirt and grime from her sore body, she knew that she would have to be strong. Her parents were already worried, and she didn't want to burden them with her own fears and anxieties. But she also knew that she was lucky to have such supportive parents. They had sacrificed so much to give her this opportunity, and she was determined to make the most of it. Alexa had a lot to look forward to. But she also knew that there would be challenges ahead.


September 26th, 1983:

When Alexa descended the stairs the following morning, she discovered her mother seated at the kitchen table, absently stirring her coffee mug and yawning. As she arrived, her mother rose from her chair to embrace her, urging her to take a seat for breakfast. Alexa sat, stifling a yawn, and grabbed a bun, her eyes wandering around the room as her mother resumed her seat across from her, beaming.

"If you're searching for him, he is still slumbering near the hearth...I replenished the logs for him before retiring to bed last night," her mother informed her.

"Is he? Shall I take him outside?" Alexa inquired, munching on her bun.

"He isn't bothering anyone...So, finish your meal first!" her mother replied, placing a glass of milk before Alexa, who winced.

"May I have some coffee instead, please?" Alexa requested. "It's going to be a long day for me! Two hours of the history of magic!"

"No," her mother answered kindly. "Coffee is for grown-ups; children your age require calcium to grow...Especially hobbits like you."

"I grew up a lot this summer! Dad measured me and I grew two inches!" Alexa exclaimed.

"Very well...You might add some coffee to your milk if...You can fetch me something from that cupboard," her mother said, pointing to the cabinet above her head.

Alexa accepted the challenge, stood up, and retrieved her chair. "Without climbing on a chair, stool, table, or using magic," her mother added.

Alexa rolled her eyes and sat back, pouting. Her mother smirked, came to sit beside her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I wish to speak with you about something," she said softly.

"Of course, what is it?" Alexa inquired.

"Sweetie...Do you fancy this new school? Do you get along with the other...Magical children?" her mother asked.

"Magical children?" Alexa repeated, chuckling.

"Whatever...Do you get along with them?" she repeated.

"Yes...Everything is going well," Alexa replied, turning her head towards her plate.

"I bring this up because...Last night, while you were in the bathroom, I went to your room to retrieve your dirty laundry and couldn't help but notice your clothes were all disheveled...And yesterday, you mentioned falling in the forest, but then I discovered your shoes...Is there something more that I should know?" she inquired.

Alexa smiled at her. "No! Everything is fantastic! It just so happens that in potions or charms, our clothes get disheveled or...burned. All the first-year students are just like me, but I'll be more careful now that I know better...I wish you could come visit the school and see for yourself."

Her mother appeared unconvinced by her response and opened her mouth to say something; however, they both jumped at the sound of a loud bark emanating from the doorway. After announcing his arrival, the dog leaped onto an unoccupied chair and began devouring the leftovers on Alexa's plate as they both gaped at him.

"Does he have a name?" her mother asked.

"I don't know...But he appears to comprehend everything I say," Alexa replied, scratching the dog behind the ear.

"Perhaps he's a magical dog," her mother suggested.

"Or just a well-trained one...I don't know, to be honest. There are magical creatures residing in the forest, but we don't study them until the third year, so I cannot say for sure," Alexa stated.

"Oh...I was just thinking about that owl that delivers your grades...Maybe he's similar," her mother remarked.

"Or a werewolf," Alexa said.

"You think?... They exist?" Her mother asked.

"Yes...But he is definitely not one; werewolves are...er...Wolves that only come out at full moon nights." Alexa said." Although, we should find a name for him."

"Later, you're going to get late for school." Her mother said, looking at the clock.


Alexa picked up her bag and made her way down the hallway to meet her mother, who stood waiting near the front door with her coat and scarf. Her mother helped her put them on before Alexa left the house. She made her way across their front garden and headed towards a narrow street in the village where other academy students were already lining up and waiting. The Academy provided a bus that ran every school day between the town and the Academy. Before joining the other students, Alexa discreetly scanned the area to ensure the way was safe and that she wouldn't have her belongings stolen before classes even began.

As she approached the other students, she felt something touch her leg. It was the family's German Shepard, who had followed her from the house. She patted his head and softly asked him if he wanted to go to school too. The dog raised his head to look at her with his grey eyes and then led her to the street where the other first-year students had gathered. Only two older boys greeted her back while the rest looked at the dog sitting next to her.

After about ten minutes, a seventh-year student took out a list and called out their names, writing down the names of those who were absent before waving his wand. A few seconds later, a bus appeared in the street, drove towards a stop sign near the seventh-year student, and opened its doors to let them come on board. When it was Alexa's turn to board the bus, the driver looked curiously at the dog following her but didn't object to letting him get inside. They sat in the front seats, and a few minutes later, the seventh-year student handed the list to the driver. The engine started, and soon they left the village, heading to the Academy.