Chapter 3
“What?” Peter stared at the man in complete shock. When was there a school in Narnia? Especially one this grand.
The man had a long white beard with a ribbon wrapped around the bottom of it, the same material and colour of his robe. He was old, and squinted his eyes to see them through his glasses. A smile grew on his face, he spoke again.
“My name is Professor Albus Dumbledore. How did you manage to get on school grounds?”
Peter stepped forward, his hand stretched out behind him, trying to stop his siblings from getting passed. He didn’t return the professor’s smile. Instead, he wore a brave yet confused face. The blonde took another step forward, his hand now reaching his side again, shortly followed by his brother. Edmund put a hand on his shoulder silently but looked at him hopefully.
Peter cleared his throat, “There is no school in Narnia.”
Dumbledore clapped, “Sybill was right! The prophecy is actually coming true… shame you had to come this year- well at least you’ll watch the fun.”
The Pevensie siblings shared a look. Edmund’s hope turned into utter loss, Lucy was slightly laughing, Susan had tried to speak, letting out an “um” and closing her mouth and Peter folded his arms. The old man had now just started talking to himself, looking completely bonkers, as well as every so often looking in their direction. The siblings just stayed as they were; completely confused and scared for their life.
Edmund broke into the professor's ramble, “Sorry where are we? We weren’t meant to go to Narnia again.”
Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes glistening. “You’re not. You’re in Scotland in the hidden Magic School named Hogwarts.”
Peter was silent (along with his siblings), taking in what was just said for a moment. When the moment was done, Susan yelled first.
“There’s no magic in the UK!” She scoffed, her voice high.
Lucy agreed. “And why would we just travel to Scotland by book.”
“As odd as it may be, Portkeys don’t all look the same so any object can be one… I believe there’s a boot portkey to get to the 1994 quidditch world cup.” The elderly man chuckled as if the four had any idea what he meant.
It took the eldest Pevesnie a second to register his words completely. Something felt off about the sentence- not just a portkey, whatever that was, clearly the man was mad yet Peter felt he had missed something of great importance during the professor’s words. Then it hit him.
“Did you say 1994?” Peter stared at the man, eyes wide and jaw dropped. “We’re in 1994?!”
His siblings stared into his neck, their gaze burnt him and he felt sweat drop from his chin. 1994. This was the future.
The blonde boy turned his head to his siblings, sharing their horror. They had missed out on years surely when going to Narnia but to another area- never. This surprising magic had gone way out of control and they surely shouldn’t be here. Something horribly wrong had happened and they needed to go home straight away.
Susan exclaimed. “Professor Dumbledore, there is some sort of mistake- we are from 1942 and England not Scotland.”
“And yet you are in 1994 Scotland for Wizards and Witches.” He replied calmly. “Although, I do wonder where the fifth of you is.”
Peter looked straight forward again. A fifth?
Edmund scoffed, “Please don’t be Eustace. I love him and he’s grown up so much but I can't bear to have to explain magic when we don’t know.”
Peter had to agree with a smile and by the sounds of it so did his sisters who both let out a laugh.
“Maybe it’s Caspian!” Lucy gasped excitedly, clapping her hands as she spoke.
The old wizard’s eyes twinkled but he shrugged. The blonde boy could tell that the professor had no idea and neither did the Pevensies.
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The Pevensie Children had spent the rest of the morning and afternoon learning about the world of Hogwarts and magic. Susan had begun reading most of the books on basic charms and then went to potions. Edmund too had read charms but was more interested in the ghosts that were passing. Lucy (unlike the middle brother) started making friends with the ghosts and the houselevs that came around to make sure things were tidy. Peter just listened to Susan’s readings for a while.
But at the very moment, he was exploring the school grounds with no one else around him. The other three siblings were still with Mr Ollivanders for wand testing- Peter thought it was a bit odd. As much as he despised being on his own, the former high king enjoyed the little forest area. It wasn’t the dangerous and fierce looking one he had been warned to keep away from but instead the brighter, thin treed area. It seemed friendly and reminded him deeply of Narnia. He wished he had stayed after meeting Caspian, though learning medicine and seeing his mother again was something he loved and he could never have done in Narnia. When he left he was 14, it was unfair to think that just because he was turning 15 back then he couldn’t return- even worse for Susanne. She should have been able to go yet she was the most mature out of all of them so Aslan decided she couldn’t return.
But this place was different. They came here and it’s full of magic, ghosts and other magical creatures. It's so similar to Narnia but it’s their future. God in this time, he was meant to be in his 60s, not 16 years old.
“Peter?”
That was- no it couldn’t be- a heavy telmarine accent… a very familiar one. Peter turned around to see a dark haired boy with dark eyes and a surprised smile on his face.
“Caspian!” Peter laughed slightly in relief, “How are you here?”
As Caspian pulled him in for a hug, he replied. “I was retrieving an arrow from the woods and ended up here. Is this London?”
Peter let himself be smothered by this hug, patting awkwardly on the now king’s back. “No it’s.. Hogwarts.”
The telmarine stepped back as he let go of the older teen. One of his eyebrows was raised in an unasked question.
“We don’t know what world this is but it’s magical and there’s wizards.” The blonde admitted. “And it’s another version of Scotland.”
“There’s magic here?”
Peter pointed at the school grounds behind them. “That is Hogwarts- a school for it. Look I’m just as new to this too but Edmund and Susan have been reading all day. They might be of use- Lucy’s been talking to elves.”
Caspian grinned at the mention of the high king’s siblings and walked into the direction of the castle like school. Peter followed without a moment’s hesitation.