Please note. I own none of this work and am just writing for fun. The characters belong to some lady that lives in another country. I am uncharacteristically publishing this as I go, rather than what I've done in my other stories - write a bunch and then publish it. I have a little bit of a plan but not much. I'm going to keep it clean and try to not have giant plot holes. I will tell you I'm not English, so don't persecute me for not using consistent terms for jumpers and trainers and such. I can't even…

The Castle

"Where are we?" Sam asked, but the man on horseback was nowhere in sight.

"This is weird," Jack said as he stepped onto the little path that led up towards the castle. "First, all of our electronics die, then there is a guy on horseback that wants us out of the forest, and now an enormous castle that absolutely shouldn't be out here? All those lights on inside? Who lives there?"

"It's really weird looking," Sam said. There was something about it, she thought. It wasn't scary, it looked inviting even though there is no way that one spindly tower should be standing.

"I guess there is nothing to do except go find help," Jack said. "It doesn't look that scary."

Sam and her father started the walk uphill towards the castle. Even though there wasn't much moonlight, they could make out a giant lake near one edge of the castle.

"None of that was on the map," Jack said frustrated. "A giant lake and castle next to an old-growth forest in the middle of Scotland? There should be tourists all over the place, but it looks pristine."

"Well, maybe this guy can tell us," Sam asked as she pointed to a man walking towards them. He was incredibly normal looking, wearing a striped jumper and his long brown beard was starting to blow in the wind.

"Hello," Jack said raising his hand to the stranger.

Sam noticed that the man put something in his back pocket before he smiled and raised his own hand in return.

"Hello," the man said. "Is everything all right? It looks like the two of you are a little worse for wear."

"Our plane crashed in the forest," Jack said. "We hiked out of the forest, and now," he paused, waving his arms towards the castle, "all this. Where are we?"

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," he said. "My name is Neville Longbottom, and I am the headmaster. Why don't you come inside, all the students are eating dinner, and there is plenty."

"Did you say witchcraft," Sam asked.

"And Wizardry," Neville corrected with a smile. "I don't suppose that either of you possess magical abilities, do you?" He looked them over with a smile. "I suspect not."

"Wait, what?" Jack asked.

"We are a school for children with magical abilities," Neville said as they walked together towards the castle. Neville had taken Sam's bag to lighten her load. "Hogwarts has been here for over a thousand years, and hopefully a thousand more. Generations of witches and wizards have trained here and we love it.'

"Why does no one know it is here?" Sam asked.

"I think you mean is why do Muggles not know it is here," Neville laughed. "People without magical abilities are affectionately called muggles. Sometimes they are also born with magical abilities, like a good fried of mine, and become wonderful witches. There are also wizarding families that have children with no magical abilities, so there you go."

"So we are Muggles, and you're a wizard?" Jack asked. He was concerned about a building full of magical people, it made him feel a little defenseless. There was no thought that this guy was lying, it seemed totally plausible for some reason. "Is there any reason for us to be concerned?"

"Why do you ask?" Neville said as he pushed open the giant castle doors and the warm light flooded the courtyard they had walked through. "These students are wonderful, and the teachers are committed to them. Personally, Hogwarts means everything to me, and I hope you find yourself at home here while you rest, and we will get you on your way tomorrow." With that, Neville pulled a stick out of his back pocket, waved it, and the doors to the Great Hall opened.

Sam gasped as she saw hundreds of children look up from their dinners and stare.