Chapter 2: Journey to Hogwarts pt.2
The sun beats down on her, the heat of August still lingering in the air. She looks around, taking in the bustling scene. People rush past her, their faces buried in their phones or newspapers, completely oblivious to the magical world hidden beneath their noses. She shakes her head, pushing the thought away. She has a train to catch, after all.
She makes her way through the crowded platform, her eyes scanning the sea of faces for any sign of Professor Olson. She spots him standing by a compartment door, his tall frame and distinctive cloak making him easy to pick out. He's deep in conversation with another man, a short, stocky figure with a bushy mustache and round glasses perched on his nose. As she approaches, they both look up, their conversation ceasing abruptly.
"Ah, Miss Hamilton," Professor Olson says, a warm smile spreading across his face. "I trust you had no trouble finding your way back here?"
Iona shakes her head, returning his smile. "No, it was fine.
Just a bit overwhelming, really," Iona admits, her eyes flicking between the two men. She turns to the other man, her eyes narrowing slightly as she takes in his appearance. "And you must be...?"
The man extends a hand towards her, a small smile playing on his lips. "George Ashbury, at your service, Miss Hamilton. I'm a friend of Professor Olson's, hope you don’t mind if I hitch a ride."
Iona raises an eyebrow, her hand hovering in the air for a moment before she finally shakes his hand. "Are we not using the powder again?"
“Oh no, we’ll be taking a private carriage, we have things to discuss on the way anyway” Professor Olson said, motioning to George.
“This is it?” she asked, her eyes widening in disbelief. “This is the carriage we’re taking to Hogwarts?”
Professor Olson chuckled, “Yes, this is it.
It may not look like much, but it’s a state-of-the-art magical carriage. It’s equipped with all the comforts of home, including a fully stocked bar and a state-of-the-art sound system,” he joked, gesturing to the plush seats and the gleaming dashboard.
Iona’s eyes widened as she took in the details, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings on the door. “Wow, this is amazing,” she breathed, her voice filled with awe.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
George chuckled, “Well, Miss Hamilton, welcome to the magical world. It’s not all broomsticks and cauldrons, you know.”
Iona laughed, “I’m starting to see that.”
Professor Olson motioned for them to take their seats. “Alright, let’s get settled. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
Iona and George took their seats, while Professor Olson sat across from them. As they settled in, the carriage began to move, gliding smoothly out of the station.
Iona watched as the bustling cityscape gave way to the rolling green hills of the English countryside. She felt a sense of calm wash over her as they left the noise and chaos of London behind.
"So, Ebeneezer,” George started , leaning back in his seat and crossing his legs. “I've come into possession of an item I feel you should have” he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, intricately carved case. “It's an old container, given to me by your late wife. I believe it's time it found its way into the right hands."
Professor Olson's eyes widened as he took the case from George, examining it closely. "This is... remarkable," he murmured, his fingers tracing the delicate carvings.
George leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I don’t know where she got it or why she gave it to me, but I couldn't find any information on what it was supposed to do.
I thought you might be able to make better use of it than it gathering dust in some ministry drawer," George explained, sitting back in his seat.
Olson looked up from the box, his gaze shifting between Iona and George. "And theres no way to open it up?”
Iona leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "What about that glow?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the box in Olson's hand.
Olson held up the case, examining it once more before speaking. "What glow?” Olson asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Iona's eyes widened, her mind racing with possibilities. "The blue aura, cant you see it?"
As Iona pointed and gestured towards the hidden magic, the box seemed to react. It whirreed to life before popping open to reveal a key inside.
"Crikey, however did you manage that, Iona" said a bewildered and impressed Olson, as he pulled out the newly revealed key for inspection.
George's eyes flicked to the window, his expression suddenly serious.
"Ebeneezer, look!" he exclaimed, pointing out the window. Suddenly, a dragon was flying alongside them, its scales shimmering in the sunlight. It was a magnificent creature, its wings casting long shadows over the carriage. Iona gasped, her eyes wide with shock and awe. She had never even thought about the reality of dragons before, nevermind seen a dragon before, and the sight of one so close was both terrifying and exhilarating. The dragon's eyes met hers, and she felt a strange connection, as if it was trying to communicate with her. She reached out a hand, her fingers pressing against the windowpane. The dragon dipped its wings, as if acknowledging her gesture, before soaring off into the distance. Iona watched it go, her heart pounding in her chest. She turned to Professor Olson, her eyes filled with questions. "What just happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Professor Olson's expression was grave.
"George, we need to get out of here," he said, his voice urgent. "That dragon... it's not just flying alongside us. It's after us."
Suddenly, the side of the carriage George was sitting on was chomped away, as if by some unseen force. George let out a scream, his body falling through the gaping hole. Iona gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She could see George's legs dangling in the air, his face contorted in pain.
Professor Olson was already moving, his hands flying over the controls of the carriage. "We need to get out of here," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "Iona, grab onto something!"
Iona nodded, her eyes wide with fear.
She grabbed onto the nearest seat, her knuckles turning white as she braced herself for whatever was to come. Professor Olson, his face set in a determined expression, reached into his pocket and pulled out the small, intricately carved key. He held it up, his eyes fixed on the dragon that was now circling the faltering carriage, its eyes locked onto them with a fierce intensity. With a swift motion, he activated the key, and a bright light filled the carriage. The dragon let out a deafening roar as the pair were suddenly enveloped in a swirling vortex of light. When the light faded, they found themselves standing outside a massive stone door, the words "Gringotts Vault 12" etched into the stone above. Iona looked around, her heart still pounding from the dragon attack. "Where are we?"
Professor Olson looked up at the door, his eyes wide with surprise. "This is... impossible," he murmured. "We're outside Gringotts Bank, and it seems we've been transported to one of their vaults." He turned to Iona, his expression grave. "But how?
We were just in the carriage, and now we're here," Iona said, her voice filled with confusion. She looked around, taking in the massive stone door and the towering walls that surrounded them. The air was cool and damp, the scent of ancient stone filling her nostrils. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth.
Professor Olson shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the door. "This key, Miss Hamilton, is a port key. And it sent us here" He held up the key, examining it closely.
“Ahem”… a nasally voice chimed in, the goblin manning the vault door had been watching their exchange with a growing sense of impatience. “The key please, for your vault. The instructions for vault 12 spoke of this” the goblin said, his voice echoing in the vault chamber. He was a small, hunched figure with a long, pointed nose and a thick, bushy beard. His eyes were a dull, lifeless gray, and he wore a heavy, iron ring on his left hand.
“This is your vault, correct?”
“Oh umm yes of course, onward please” Professor Olson stammered, still trying to process their sudden appearance at Gringotts. He handed the key to the goblin, who inserted it into a small keyhole at the base of the door. With a loud click, the door swung open, revealing a dimly lit chamber filled with ancient artifacts and dusty tomes.
The goblin allowed them inside, their footsteps echoing in the silent vault. “The instructions left by state to allow access to the key holder, and then close the door behind them. Good day.” He said before locking them in the vault.
The door clanged shut behind them, leaving them in the dimly lit chamber. Iona looked around, her eyes wide with wonder and a hint of fear. The vault was filled with ancient artifacts and dusty tomes, their spines cracked and yellowed with age. She could see a few scrolls and parchments scattered about, their ink faded but still legible.
Professor Olson walked over to a large wooden table in the center of the chamber, his footsteps echoing in the silence. He began to examine the various objects laid out on the table, his fingers tracing the intricate carvings and symbols etched into their surfaces. Iona joined him, her eyes scanning the items with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.
"What is all this, Professor?"
Olson looked up from a particularly intricate carving, his eyes meeting hers. "It seems we've stumbled upon something quite extraordinary, Miss Hamilton. These are artifacts and texts related to Elder Magic."
Iona's eyes widened. "Elder Magic?”
Olson nodded, his expression grave. "Supposedly! here we are, in a vault filled with it. It seems someone wanted us to find this."
Iona looked around, her mind racing. "But who? And why?"
Olson shook his head, his gaze returning to the artifacts.
"I don't know, Iona. But I have a feeling that we're about to find out. Let's see what we can learn from these texts."
He picked up a scroll, unrolling it with care. The parchment was yellowed and brittle, but the ink was still dark and clear. He began to read aloud, his voice echoing in the vault chamber. "The Elder Magic, a force of immense power, is said to have been wielded by the ancient wizards of old. It is a magic that draws from the very essence of the world itself, a magic that is both powerful and dangerous."
Iona leaned in, her eyes scanning the text. "What does that mean?