"Ah, Professor, this is for you." I hold out the letter.
Professor A puts the floo powder into a tray above the fireplace and strides towards me cautiously. With his wand at the ready, he magically snatched the letter from my hand and unfurls it, slowly, without touching it. His eyes barely widen from a carefully crafted mask, as he looks from the letter to myself and back, twice, before he carefully places the letter back into it's envelope and steals it magically..
"Quick." He beckons me. Grabbing a fistful of powder, "Say 'A Gambit's Den, Password: Astonish'. Go there and stay in the room you arrive in. You may read any books on the wall labeled Earth & Mind, I suggest 'A Sound Mind's Fortress' to start. If you need assistance call for Botty. I must join the headmaster quickly before he gets curious. I'll get to you when I can. GO!"
Well, that's a lot of words. I get pushed into the fireplace before he tosses the power and I say "A Gambit's Den, Password: Astonish" and I flame away.
%^&*— —*&^%
Floo travel, sucks. I fly out of the fireplace, coming to an abrupt halt while smashing my face against an armchair across the room. Again, and out loud this time, "Floo travel, sucks."
I take a moment to right myself and look about the place. "Where am I?" I muse to myself out loud.
*pop* In comes a small gangly looking creature. "Whos you be?" Comes the creature, house elf.
"I's be- I mean. I'm Benevolence. Err- Professor A sent me on ahead, I don't know when he'll return. Are you Botty?"
An earful head noggin' and bobbin', is the reply.
"Well, Botty. I was told to read a book from Earth & Mind, or any book from there, but one was recommended I start with. Could you perhaps help me find 'A Sound Mind's Fortress'?" *fingersnap* The book is suddenly in my hand. "Thanks, Botty." I say with a smile.
Botty's eyes grow wide, a slight smile on her face as she pops away.
"Well. This is nifty so far." I say to myself, while opening 'A Sound Mind's Fortress'.
'Chapter 1: Meditation & Imagination.'
In order to protect [One's Mind]*, [One]* must start by organizing what is already there.
First Step-
Begin by entering a soft meditative state. Once within this state, feel, with [One's Magic]*, [One's Self]*.
Second Step-
Guide [One's Magic]* across every centimeter of [One's Body]*. Across every, nook and cranny of [One's Body]*, across every cell. Slowly, encompass it [All]*.
That's Interesting, this book mentions cells. I guess that's common in this Magical world, or in the more advanced stages of magic they reintroduce science?
Third Step-
Once [One]* has encompassed [One's All]*, [One]* should feel a slight shift in [One's Meditative State]*.
Also, What's with this One stuff? There doesn't seem to be an Index.
Fourth Step-
Please become [One]* with [One's Self]* before continuing.
Fifth Step-
Please complete the Fourth Step before continuing.
Sixth Step-
Please complete the Fifth Step before continuing.
….
Huh? I can't read ahead? Okay. Let's start meditating then.
It is in this way, that hours pass without my knowing.
%^&*— —*&^%
Hours pass and I reach the Sixth Step just as the fireplace lights up and a youngish adult maybe in his 30's at the latest, he has slightly curly light brown hair, a tribal tattoo on his face, with fair skin and slightly arched eyebrows steps out of the fireplace.
"Greetings. Do you know the contents of this letter or did they just hall you off? You should know that this is only a stop gap in time."
"Stop gap? What? I thought I was Joining Harry?"
"Who?"
"Wait... What year is it, and has anything notable happened recently, Sir?"
His mouth twitches briefly before saying, "It's June of 1943, a girl has been killed in the-"
"Myrtle Warren, bathroom." I finished for him. "I was sent further back then I thought. And you said this is only a stop gap? How much further am I to go? Are there any more stop gaps??"
"The method of travel that is mentioned in the letter cannot exceed 100 years of distance. Thus a stop gap is required. It was calculated that this date would be ideal as your stop gap."
"How far, professor? Please.." I slump to the floor. This was not what I wanted. Not in my wildest dreams.
"Your destination is 1890, Godric's Hollow." Is the answer.
"1890!? There's nothing there! What am I to change in the 19TH CENTURY!?"
A potion is shoved into my hands, not minding what it is at this point, I just drink it. It was a calming drought.
"Thank you, professor, sir."
"None of this professor or sir business from you. I can't tell you how I know you, but '8yrs old' or not, hearing Sir from you is throwing me off." His lips twitch before settling into a slight smile. "Please, Call me Astonish, It's the name my parents gave me, A for my mother and the rest is my father's odd naming sense."
"Well, as odd as this all is, it's a pleasure to meet you, Astonish, I'm Benevolence, or I will be."
"Or I will be..." He mutters. "Where is that from anyway? You always introduce yourself as that. I asked you once as you had said it 'became habit, but the reason was lost a lifetime ago'. Perhaps now I can have a more satisfactory answer?"
"I write fiction, and what will be was always the end plot. So, I mean it, 'or I will be'. If not now, then by the end of the story."
He palms his face. "Really? That's..."
"Yes, really. Now, If you can send me the rest of the way; as much as I wish to rest, I just want to get this over with at this point. Thank you Astonish, it's been a pleasure to meet you."
"Okay, old man." He says with a smile gracing his lips and reaching into his eyes. "You won't be seeing me again for another about 30 years ago." He starts chanting something in a language I don't understand, much like Hermione was.
%^&*— —*&^%
With another bright flash, I'm suddenly standing at the road in font of an old cottage in a small neighborhood. The mail box reads 'B.Bagshot \ S.Prince'
Well, I guess this is it. As I approach the cottage and step over the property line, I feel as though an egg is cracked over my head and dripping down my face. When I reach up to check it, there's nothing there. Must be magic. And as if that thought were the password, the door opens then.
Suddenly I'm feeling extremely exhausted. The events of the past/future hours are catching up to me.
"Sally! Come! There's a kid at our door!" Says a woman's voice.
"A kid? A kid set off the wards?" Comes a man's voice.
My mind is quickly drifting into darkness and I can't keep standing. I remember thinking 'the grass to my left looks okay', as I collapsed to the right towards a strange plant.
"He just collapsed into th-hgsdfghj!" says the first voice? What did I land in?
And I knew no more. I was out. Hopefully with these people is where I'm supposed to be.