2 Processing Reality

Snores filled the room as Elfric lay listlessly inside a cramped room. His eyes turned every so often at the several children inhabiting the room, deep asleep, unaware of the bizarre occurrence that had happened just outside this very building.

He'd tried to wake them as soon as the man had disappeared with a loud bang, but none of them had stirred no matter how hard he slapped them or how loud he shouted. And although he was afraid the man had been lying that they were okay, he took comfort in their blissful unaware snores.

Everything had passed like a whirlwind of confusion after the owl turned into a robed man. He'd been stuck with a single red waxed sealed latter. A single crest engraved on the wax seal consisting of a badger, snake, eagle and lion. And informed somebody would be here within the next two days to help him gather his supplies for his first school year, which began on the 1st of September. Just a week from now.

The man had said it was the symbol was the crest of Hogwarts, his future school. But to Elfric, the whole concept just felt so surreal. Him going to school? Sure he'd dreamt of it, but he'd never believed for a moment it would actually happen. It was just one of those passing thoughts that he'd learnt to squash over the years.

And it wouldn't be the first time he'd dreamt of being someone special. Of being more than just another abandoned orphan child, somebody that people would remember or even care about if he died.

But he'd already hardened his heart that such things were for other people. Such things weren't meant for people like him. That was life. And Elfric had seen too many people dare to dream and be cruelly stomped back down to reality.

So he didn't know why, but he felt so light. That if he let go of this bedframe, he'd just up and float away at any moment. He knew that he ought to be crazy, that he was seeing things. That he was finally cracking, like Old George Fillibuster, who talked to the teaspoons, but he wanted to believe. Wanted to believe that what he saw tonight was real.

His small hand clenched, and he looked at it intently, like it was alien to him. Was he really somebody special? Did he really have magic? Could he turn into an owl and disappear with a loud bang?

And although he knew he shouldn't, for the first time in what felt like a very long time Elfric grinned broadly. The kind of wholehearted grin that his face had almost forgotten it could do. Because, for once, he felt that maybe the future wasn't so bleak.

—

Cold. That was Elfric's first thought as he awoke. His skinny frame trembled beneath the threadbare sheet that covered him. Smoggy grey light peered in through the billowing torn curtains, a frigid breeze entering through the window.

In all his muddled haste, he must've forgotten to close the window last night, and he was already paying the price. He mustered the will to leave his small bastion of warmth and shrugged the sheets off and trudged towards the window.

The curtains parted and the window shut tight his languid eyes trailed out at the sprawling city, and noted that it was dawn. It was another overcast day, and the grey-black clouds swirled overhead, the thousands of black smoke tendrils from the factories and houses reaching up at them like vines hanging from a tree. A sign that London was beginning to wake up for the day.

Elfric stretched out his aching shoulders and prepared to get ready for the day when he spotted the letter he had received the night before. And grabbed it reading the front.

Mr E. Ordell

The Attic above the Library

1 Montpellier Hill

Southwark

London

He found it odd they knew exactly where he lived and even where he slept. But after he thought about it, he figured if they could turn into owls, knowing where he slept seemed kinda trivial by comparison.

Turning the letter around, he fingered the wax seal with his callused fingers, feeling its brisk chalky texture. Before he felt a jolt shoot through his finger, almost like a zap of electricity running through his veins. The sensation made Elfric tremble, but he found it wasn't entirely unpleasant, like a pet giving a playful nip to its owner.

He stewed in the feeling for another moment, but when nothing else happened, Elfric tore open the seal, taking great care to preserve the crest.

Once opened, he pulled out two yellow folded pieces of parchment and unfolded them and began to read the first page.

—

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Corvus Rosier

(Order of Merlin first class)

Dear Mr Ordell,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September.

Yours sincerely,

Altair Everard

Deputy Headmaster

—

Giving it a once over, Elfric made a mental note to ask about what an order of merlin first class actually was. Turning over the page he began the enclosed list of equipment.

—

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

—

After reading the last sentence Elfrics face paled. ''Dragon hide? There are Dragons? And what is 'or similar' supposed to mean.' Not liking what the additional note implied. Not one bit, but he put that thought aside for a moment so he could finish reading the rest of the list.

—

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

Compendium of charms: Introductory Spells

by Guliver Pokeby

Embers of the Past: A Study into Magical History

by Gillbard Macquoid

The Origin of magic: Intent and incantations

by Voadicia Bledig

The Elemental aspect: Intricacies of Attunement

by Voadicia Bledig

The theory of Magic

by Crispin Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration

by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

by Phyllida Spore

Peculiarities of practical potionmaking

by Tippet Vellonoweth

The Magical Mangerie [Grade 1]

by Truscott Gittins

The Dark Arts: A guide to the everchanging Art [Grade 1]

by Tenebris Varnly

Occulmency: The Laws of protecting the mind

by Glover Hipworth

Wizarding Ettiquite: A Muggleborns guide

by Polaris Black

Standard ritualistic practices

by Arcadia Bones

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring, if they desire, a pet companion, (though students are required to submit applications for creatures that the ministry deems dangerous).

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK, FLYING CARPET OR ANY OTHER PREVIOUSLY UNNAMED FLYING APPARATUS

Yours sincerely,

Josephina Thomsonicle-Pocus

Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions

—

The second letter gave Elfric more to chew on. But found he only had more questions than answers. He didn't know what half this stuff meant, let alone what he was supposed to be learning. He could glean the purpose of a few, such as 'Occulmency: The laws of protecting the mind.' Though he didn't know what occulmency actually meant, just that it protected the mind. It was simple and self-evident, the others not so much.

'Transfiguration? Charms? The Dark arts? Rituals?' he had no idea what they entailed, though the last two sounded kinda sketchy. He knew he wouldn't have an idea either until he met with the guardian that was supposed to take him to collect his supplies; that or he got his hands on those books.

But there was no point worrying about this now. He was already overwhelmed by everything, so it was best to just take everything one step at a time. That had been his best policy until now.

After he had finished scrutinising the letter, he placed it back into its envelope with meticulous care. The letter fining its new home beneath the loose floorboard under his bed. The place where he kept all his other nicknaks. A scant few shillings and pennies, a particularly pretty locket he'd stolen but been unable to part with and the well-polished toy horse he had taken but hidden since he'd been afraid to damage it.

After placing the floorboard back into its original spot, Elfric got up and made his way towards the attic door, being quiet not to wake bobby or any of the other boys. And slipped through the lofted door down towards the library below.

Elfric was sure it used to be a beautiful place long ago, but with years of disrepair and the boys settling down here for the last few years, the place had slipped. They'd initially tried to repair and improve it, but after they realised nobody knew how to repair a foot-wide hole in the ceiling, they just settled for blocking the hole.

It hadn't done much about the cold, though he doubted anything would, considering it was a large stone building with more holes than his shirt. At least the repairs kept most of the rain out. But still, they had considered leaving after a few days. The building did little to stop the chill draft of winter chilling them down to the bone. Only Ralph's discovery of the stuffy loft above the library kept them from leaving.

In the subsequent years that followed, though, they had successfully made the building into something they could call home. At least none of them had to sleep in another dank alley in the heavy snow of December. At least none of them had to wake up to one of their friends frozen to death beside them.

Elfric pushed those thoughts aside and walked through the several shelves of dusty and damp tomes. His feet scraped against the scuffed moss-strown carpets until he stopped and looked out across the wide-open central atrium that was brightly lit from the skylight windows. And noticed the wide metal container, a bathtub, that was filled with water that was still dripping down from a hole in the windows overhead.

The stairs screamed in protest, making his hand clutch the railings. The damp already beginning to rot the wooden stairs, and Elfric had no doubt it was a matter of when until they fell through on him.

Placing his hand into the cold water, Elfric washed his face before brushing the water from his face and reaching for the pail nearby. After filling the pail with water, he walked towards small shielded remnants of a fire and sat beside it and sipped from the pail.

He sat there in silence for a while, tempted to start the fire again but decided against it. His thoughts were still muddled with thoughts of yesterday, but no matter what, his mind couldn't help drifting towards it.

"Good morning," a voice from behind Elfric's ear, making him jump. A laugh resounding at his reaction.

"Real funny," scowled Elfric towards a scruffy brown-haired boy who stole the pail of water from Elfric and slouched down nearby.

The boy waved off the accusing tone with a smirk and took a deep gulp of water, "man, you really need to learn to have fun. Life's short, after all. Why spend all your time being a grouch."

"I'm not a grouch… I know how to have fun," Elfic countered, his face screwed up in thoughtful uncertainty.

"Sure, sure, whatever helps you sleep at night. Anyway, what's got you all troubled? you were so distracted you didn't even notice me for once," the boy questioned, curiosity written all over his maturing features.

He appeared to be around 16 and had tangled brown hair that went down to his nape. And the first thing anybody would notice upon seeing him was his pronounced high cheekbones and strong smile wrinkles around his thin pale lips. And right now, there was an amused smile on his gaunt face.

"Its… I might have to leave soon," Elfric uttered with much difficulty. His words made the smile thaw from the boy's face as it was replaced with a cold businesslike face. That's what the other boys described it as, anyway. Bobby was always smiling and jovial, but he seemed to be able to switch to deadly serious on a six-pence.

"What do you mean? Why would you have to leave?" Bobby questioned, placing the pail down beside him and staring at Elfic intently.

"Well, I'm not really sure if I just imagined it, but yesterday I met a strange man, and he gave me an acceptance letter. To a school. A private boarding school in Scotland, he said," Elfric responded, taking care not to mention magic unless he wanted Bobby to think he'd gone insane.

"Oh really? And you're sure he wasn't lying or trying to deceive you in any way," asked Bobby, his body now relaxed.

"Yeah, I'm certain," said Elfric, making Bobby nod and give him another smile.

"Well, if you believe he's telling the truth, I'm sure he is. When are you supposed to leave for this school? What is it called again?" Bobby asked, tearing a stale bread from a loaf and passing it over to Elfric.

"Uhh, it's called Hogwarts. And I'm supposed to collect my supplies tomorrow, with term beginning on the 1st of September," replied Elfric, watching Bobby's reaction before he glimpsed the bread in his hands and took a bite.

"Only a week away, huh?" whispered Bobby. Before standing up and giving Elfric a mischievous grin. "Well, we'll have to give you the best send-off we can before then, eyy?"

His smile unnerved Elfric, but still, he felt a surge of warmth as he watched Bobby run off towards the loft to tell the others. And at that moment, no matter how much he hated his life when he left, he'd miss them.