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GWENLLIAN GRYFFINDOR HAS FOUND HERSELF IN A PLACE BOTH FAMILIAR AND UNFAMILIAR. The forest had spat her out somewhere new yet somewhere old. Hogwarts was the same, yet it was different. The stone, once new and polished, is dark and worn. The students all wear robes adorned with family crests—her family crest, along with Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Those without robes walk in even odder clothes; shifts and shorts and shirts. She gets odd looks for her own attire as if they weren't running about in their night clothes!

Gwen rushes across the bridge, her shoulder colliding with a boy's. She tumbles to the floor, hands crashing onto the stone.

"Ow," the boy says, holding onto his arm.

"Are you alright?" another boy asks, eyes meeting hers. His hair is almost white, falling over his eyes.

"I'm fine, thanks for—"

"Not you, Al," he interrupts. "Her."

The boy—Al—looks down as well. His brow instantly furrows, green eyes both confused and worried. "What are you wearing?"

He is instantly hit by his friend, another arm wounded. He hisses in annoyance, giving him a quick glance of betrayal. The blond gives him a withering look, before returning his gaze to Gwen.

"Are you alright?" he repeats, holding out a hand.

Gwen gets up all on her own, fingers turning frozen against the floor. She side-steps his help, instantly wary of his appearance. As she starts running once more, she wonders if this is a dream or a hallucination. Perhaps she's freezing to death in the forest, the ground swallowing her up as she imagines an odd world with odd clothes and odd personalities. She's both afraid and relieved at the thought.

If she is dying in the forest, that means she is dying near her family. If she is alive in this Hogwarts, that means that she is alive and alone. Fear shivers down her spine as she stumbles up the moving staircases. Her body shakes with nerves as she makes her way to the Headmaster's office. The Griffin statue stares at her in silence, age crusting the bronze.

"Barrell," Gwen rasps, throat dry and heart thudding. (Her father changes the password every so often, but it has always been a sort of easily memorable yet useful object. Last month it was spoon.) She swallows thickly and waits... for nothing to happen. The statue remains steadfast.

"Barrell," she repeats. "Barrell!" She pushes at the bird's wing. "Let me in! Father! Father, I am here! Let me in!"

Tears burn at her eyes as she slams her fists into the statue, breath growing rapid and desperate. "I am sorry for running away, I am sorry! I shall stop with the Herbology talk, I promise, just talk to me! Father! Father!"

"Miss?"

Gwen spins around, meeting the eyes of an elderly woman, as foreign to her as all the rest. She walks closer, wand held delicately between her two hands. "Miss, what ever are you doing?"

The world crumbles deeper into ruin as Gwen's view tilts, the last thing she sees is the woman rushing closer before her head hits the stone floor and all sight dissolves after that.

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As the teachers move Gwenllian Gryffindor to the Hospital Wing, the winds shift. Chaos comes to Hogwarts in droves.

A boy with snow encrusted hair who wanders around the grounds for hours. A girl with half-broken charm bracelets—quickly swept away by a Hufflepuff boy, searching for pretty rocks. Another with an herb clutched desperately in her fist. A barefoot fifteen year old, who looks upon Hogwarts in awe. A boy, who holds out his wand like a weapon well-used. A disgruntled seventh year with blonde curls placed perfectly upon her head.

They returned, Hogwarts seems to whisper, they all returned. Plucked from time, plucked from here, all to return. They are here.

They are home.

author's note!

643 words

this is definitely a short chapter, i apologize! so much set-up, so little time!

thoughts? comments? don't be a ghost reader, especially if you have an oc in here!

sneak peek: hogwarts is going to be dealing with stressed out teachers, gossiping students, and swiftly circulating rumors.

votes and comments are always appreciated <33