ᴏꜰ ᴏᴀ𝗄 ᴀꜱʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏʀɴ || ʜᴏɢᴡᴀʀᴛꜱ ʟᴇɢᴀᴄʏ

Gwen tapped the edges of her knapsack out of habit, or at least she thought it was habit, she couldn't quite place her finger on it whether or not she always did something, it frustrated her to no end not knowing if what she did was typical or out of the ordinary. Small fragments of her life were coming back. She remembered that she lived in London, until she was seven, before her uncle moved her all over the world. Until he too had to ditch her and she stayed behind in Ireland. Or maybe it was Scotland, the two often seemed to be appearing whenever she tried to think more about it. After that, the memories got murky again. Faces always seemed to be blank or blurred, as if someone had gone in and erased anything she could name or place in her memories.

At least she knew about the Wizarding World. She couldn't imagine forgetting about magic, the wonders it brought to her. Although she couldn't remember every spell, she remember some of the basics: Protego, Stupefy, Accio, Reparrio, Aguamenti, Expelliarmus, Avis, Aberto, Duro, just to name a few. She knew she had a strong connection to it, but there was something troubling her about it. Among all that happiness there was something dark and sinister at the bottom. Something she couldn't remember, or wouldn't? It was confusing, painful almost to try and think about the darkness that was lurking in her memories. As if something didn't want that specific memory to be let out into the open. Maybe it was a good thing she didn't remember it, perhaps it would save her from the growing headache she was receiving.

Whatever led past that door, those memories clearly had a waiting period to reach, and Gwen was contempt in waiting. The door unlocked with a click and opened magically, something that made Gwen always roll her eyes at every time she saw it done. It was such a minimal task to do and the Wizarding World seemed to always find ways to do the bare minimum with magic.

A tall and sickly looking man with black hair stood in the door way. This was most definitely not the man she had expected. Sure, Kallias was tall but instead of this stick like build, he was buff beneath his Auror attire. His dark brown hair that always seemed to be brushed back and yet wild at the same time, while this man's hair was slicked back icily, as if he had over applied his gel. And then there were the eyes. She had expected Kallias' soft green eyes to gaze at her, only to see a pair of dark brown eyes the size of peas. He looked over at Gwen cautiously and gestured for her to come his way. She picked up her knapsack, slinging it over her shoulder before standing up. He looked her up and down, with an exasperated sigh he walked down the hallway with Gwen in tail. He wasn't anything like Kallias, rather the complete opposite. If Kallias described himself as a quiet person then this man was mute.

Where was Kallias? He had said he would see her off. Gwen tried not to show her frustration as she followed the man in toe but disappointment fluttered through her heart, she had gotten used to the man of 'few words' but this guy was basically silent as the grave.

When they reach the landing on the second flight of stairs he stopped and looked at Gwen a second time, as if she was to combust in a split second and cause a storm before turning back around and continuing down the stairs without so much as a word of hello in her direction.

Gwen didn't have time to stand there baffled and begrudgingly followed behind him once again, a little slower than before. Just because she had to go with him didn't mean she had to be punctual. He flicked his wand and the door opened, revealing a large carriage, stage coach, and a fidgety old man standing adjacent to the back of the cabin. He was pacing back of forth, muttering to which sounded like a pep talk mixed up with a welcome speech. He looked up startled when the curmudgeon of a guy cleared his throat and immediately smoothed down his robes and smiled.

"I see you have gotten your items in order," he said, looking directly at Gwen with a kind smile. It was almost like feeling whiplash standing next to 'silent as a grave guy' to her right, and 'happy go lucky guy' on the right. "I'm Eleazar Fig, Professor of Magical Theory, and your tour guide for the evening." he joked, clearly trying to lighten the mood and Gwen forced a small smile, unsure on how to feel given the situation.

"It's very nice to meet you Professor," she spoke, though oddly enough stating professor felt rather familiar, as if she's done so dozen of times before. She pushed the thought away, one thing at a time.

She could tell just from how Professor Fig acted that he was being genuine but Gwen's eyes kept lingering around them, looking for Kallias to appear out of the shadows but he didn't to her disappointment.

So much for saying goodbye, she grumbled to herself.

She looked around wistfully for Kallias to pop around the corner but he didn't and she look down to hide her disappointment. Surely he would come, he had promised hadn't he? But her quiet friend didn't show and Professor Fig talked an awful lot about this 'school' she was going to. The more she listened, the more Gwen realized that this man didn't know the true extent to why she was here, or why she was going to a school so late in the year. Apparently Hogwarts started with 11 year old, and Gwen was almost certain she was 16, not because her memories had come back to her but that she knew it deep in her bones, and she would be starting as a fifth year. Such a feat had never been done apparently, or at least Professor Fig continued on and on about how they rarely accept new students past the second year, and that a new fifth year was completely unheard of in all his years. Yaaa, another reason for Gwen to feel even more out of place.

The quiet glare she kept receiving from the Beady sick guy was the other issue. She knew that Professor Fig hadn't picked up on it yet but the man had been holding his wand at the ready under his coat for the entire time she had walked with him. He wanted her to give him a reason to attack. But she wouldn't. She could easily muster up a reason for him to do so, she wanted to, but the thought of Kallias hearing it made her instead smooth out her robe self consciously.

She would be polite, even if this Auror wasn't, because if not for her pride, then for Kallias'. He had trusted her, given her more time than anyone else, and most importantly, he seemed to believe her, and that weighed in more gold to her than anyone could ever carry.

Professor Fig looked over at the Auror in caution before speaking, "I believed Captain Lyerius was going to accompany us to the entrance ceremony, no?" He asked and for a second Gwen's heart leapt in surprise but it soon past the moment the Auror looked away, clearly displeased with the mere mention of Kallias.

"Lyerius is currently been brought to testify in a muggle wizard murder trial, he will not be present unfortunately." The man said plainly and looked away, as if that was the end of that discussion.

Gwen knew she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up but it still stung that he hadn't mentioned anything about a trial, a murder one at that.

"Ah! It appears we are almost ready to depart, It's a pity we didn't have a bit more time to discuss your new arrival and spell casting, I heard from the Ministry you are a little behind on your studies. No matter, we shall get you caught up in no time! I presume you've been working on your own in the meantime with Lyerius?" Professor Fig smiled.

Gwen nodded, "I have Professor, Kal - er I man Mr. Lyerius lent me his wand for the time being." She held up the long and slender Acacia wand, her hand grasping the soft edges of the handle at the end and lowered her wand when she saw the Sickly man flinch, his hand raising to grab his own wand from his coat. Professor Fig didn't seem to catch on and instead stared at her wand in amazement.

"Well, I'm quite sure I've never seen anyone take quickly to a second-hand wand, much less an Acacia one. Very sensitive wands, that one. They don't usually part with their chosen holders, a very peculiar wand indeed. You'll be a force to be reckoned with when you get your own." Professor Fig said before a figure appeared out of thin air to they're left.

Gwen bristled at the newcomer before he turned and jovially smiled over at Professor Fig. "Oh! Eleazar!"

Fig turned and looked surprise for a moment before smiling. "George. Glad my rather cryptic description of our location did not thwart you finding us."

The plump man, George smiled, his round glasses fitted snuggly on his nose, and Gwen looked at him in surprise. She wasn't aware a third individual would appear, especially not one who was wearing a simple coat and a red bowtie for that matter. His black hair seemed too thin out on the top, revealing some gray hairs along the top and down his side burns. "I've Apparated to more vaguely defined destinations that this, "He chuckled at the thought. "Though, I confess I may have miscalculated slightly on my first try. Gave quite the fright to some theatre-goers in the West End."He giggled at the thought and Gwen couldn't help but find herself starting to relax. He seemed like a nice guy, a little less serious than Professor Fig, but warm in his own way.

"It's been much too long. When I received your owl, I must say I-" Fig because but George quickly cut him off.

"Ehh, best not speak here, Eleazar, hm?" He glanced around them, cautiously looking at the Auror for a second before looking back at Fig.

"Of course. Why don't we speak en route to Hogwarts? We have a start of term feast and a Sorting Ceremony to get to." Fig nodded and looked over to Gwen and she politely nodded.

"Wonderful idea. As long as your young charge here doesn't mind me tagging along." He paused and glanced at Gwen for another second, almost as if he wanted to ask more but didn't.

"Not at all sir." Gwen replied but couldn't help but hope for Kallias to make a one last appearance. She knew that he wouldn't come but maybe if he sent a message to her, or had told her prior.

"After you,"Professor Fig gestured for her to get in the carriage and Gwen did her best not to look disappointed and stepped up into the carriage.

George's voice rang out happily, "Ages since I've been to the castle. Would be good to see the old pile of rocks." he stepped up for a second before glanced to his right cautiously, as if searching for something or maybe someone? Gwen peered at him curiously from her seat to the far left of the cabin but looked away.

The Auror stood at the door of the carriage and looked in, watching them all get settled, or at least that's what it looked like. But the moment his eyes landed on her, Gwen's skin began to crawl as he stared at her with distain before closing the door and apparated himself into thin air. Leaving Gwen to face her venture to Hogwarts alone once again. And this time, she wasn't sure what to expect.