3 Chapter - 3

Elena woke up to a girl gently shaking her, "Wake up, we're almost there, you might want to change into your Hogwarts clothes", she said sweetly, her black eyes twinkling in the dark. "Umm yea thanks", Elena said. She had no clothes to change into and it didn't even matter, she was not a student. The sky had turned dark and outside the window, the train was speeding through the dark. Elena looked at her phone to check the time and it was 8pm. Time moved differently here. Slow or fast she didn't realize.

No, was not the time to be curious. Not when she didn't know anyone or trust anyone. She had already pissed off some students, now her goal would be to lay low. Lay low until someone could get her back to her James. Elena was wondering if she should use her real name in front of the headmaster. Or tell him her entire story.

Surely not everyone was trustworthy in this world. Perhaps even her name wasn't safe. She thought perhaps changing her name will keep anyone from asking too many questions. If she could find her way here, surly anyone could find a way there. What if they hurt her lover? Was she in danger of using her true name?

No, it couldn't be, she was thinking too much. But one thing was true, she didn't trust anyone here, so what harm could it do. She had to stay low to stop any attention. The incident with those jerks wouldn't be the last of it. She would keep her head down and stay low till she found a way back home.

As the train stopped and the students got off, some were still staring at her, Elena found a giant man standing and calling out the first years. This must be Hagrid then. She walked towards him and said, "I'm not a first year student but I need to speak with the headmaster, I sent a letter..." He looked at her and then at her clothes, "yes we got your letter, follow me please."

Just like the movies, the first years and Elena were in a boat that would take them to Hogwarts. She sat down with another girl and was in awe. Hogwarts was a big and beautiful as she had imagined but way bigger and grander castle. The lake and the mountains and the castle itself was thrumming with ancient magic. It was so mesmerizing that she was lost in its beauty. Focusing her thoughts on her shit situation, she wondered, what if they asked her name? what was she going to say? She had to think of something fast.

She could pick any name. Her feelings were ambivalent, she was excited yet unhappy at her situation. If only her lover were with her, she wouldn't feel so depressed. They both could have explored this strange world together. They could've lived here forever and never go back to their boring world. This world had magic and hers didn't. James would have loved it here. No, she wouldn't think of him right now. He was a distraction, and she couldn't afford being distracted in a dangerous place.

Her name, she thought again. So many to choose from. So many strong females from her world who were an inspiration to her. Maya? Daisy Johnson? Adelina? Aelin ashryver galathynius? Feyre? Hermione?

She had to think of a name that would give her strength in a dangerous world. Daisy was strong female like the show she loved to watch and yet she could only think of one name that spoke strength and power. True power. A name that made her feel strong. She would need that in this strange world.

Daenerys Targaryen.

Yes. That was the perfect false name to have on her short trip here. Daenerys Targaryen, a female who was wronged by so many and yet didn't falter. A woman who always got up on her feet no matter who pushed her down. A woman who rose from the ashes. Yes, this was the perfect name. This name would remind her that like daenerys, she had to go home.

When they got off the boats and the first years waited for another professor to take them to the Great Hall. Hagrid led Elena to a small room nearby. The students were climbing the stairs, possibly to the great hall. As she entered the room, an old man, perhaps the headmaster was waiting eagerly. "welcome, we've been expecting you, such an interesting letter you sent us, I am the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore", he said as a way of greeting her. So her estimated guess had been correct.

"My name is Daenerys Targaryen professor and I have to speak to you immediately." She said it with such confidence, even her fake name sounded real. And Elena was right again. She told him everything, how she got here and couldn't find a way back. She told him how she fell into a wall and could not return back. He looked at her curiously for some time. She had a feeling he could read her mind to see if she was lying or not, but Elena wasn't afraid. She had nothing to be afraid of. She had to tell him the truth if he was going to help her.

Elena did not tell the professor about the books of harry potter or how they were characters in a book. She would tell that strange story on a different day, right now, her goal was to get home. To James. "Professor, my situation is interesting and yet dangerous, I request you to please not tell anyone about it."

He only said, "very well, you have an interesting story and an even interesting name. I shall help you find your way back, but you cannot just stay here as a guest. Till you can return I will allow you to stay here as a student and to follow all rules as other witches and wizards. You will also be sorted to your house and it will be like your family." Right. The sorting ceremony. This all felt like a dream to her, but she just nodded. They both exchanged a few words about her journey and made the way back to the Great Hall. She would be sorted as a third year; however, these students were not 13 year olds. Headmaster said that most students started at about 20 years of age and would stay till 6 years of graduation. He also said she'd be a third year, she would have to catch up on magic and learn two years' worth of magic. When she asked for more information, he told her they would discuss it later.

As they entered the great hall from the back door, all eyes were on them. The candles were flickering, and students were chattering loudly. Professor Dumbledore welcomed new and returning students and announced their names as they were sorted into the houses. The great hall was just as she had imagined. Thousands of flying candles and four rows filled with students. Not as many as she thought, but still full. And she saw that many faces weren't human. Most of them were Fae, with their pointy ears and immortal grace. A dread and fear set in her heart and she looked at the house banners. The same houses as the books. Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

Elena stood in the corner hoping no one was looking at her. If only James were here, she would be leaping with joy. Hogwarts was every child's dream. Every child in her world would do anything to be able to attend Hogwarts and be in the world of harry potter. Her heart was thundering with joy and yet felt heavy as it had been more than 10 hours since she had talked to her lover. Anyone in her world would gladly switch spots with her, to be in a magic school and learn about it. But she was the only one who was here. Only one who knew the truth. It felt like a weight in heart, but she ignored it for now.

When the first year students were done with their sorting and she was the only one left, Dumbledore announced a new member will be joining not as first year but as a third. He said, "Interestingly, this year we have a new third year student, Miss Daenerys Targaryen, please sit on the stool to be sorted".

This made the entire hall whisper. They were whispering her name. She could feel their eyes on her. Elena clenched her fists and looked around the hall. the whispers only got louder as they saw her clothes and her. She tried to master a face of boredom and took deep breaths.

"Silence" Dumbledore said with a thundering voice.

As he gestured for her to sit on the stool, she got nervous. He put an old hat on her head. She couldn't hear it, but she was hoping a house she loved and could stay low. The hat then screamed, "SLYTHERIN...AND GRYFFINDOR".

Wait, what? This had to be a mistake. Two houses? Impossible. This had never happened in the books. It was impossible. But it seemed as if Daenerys was dealing with the impossible today. The entire hall was looking at her shocked and aghast. They were whispering and gawking at her. Professor Dumbledore then said quietly, "never in the history of Hogwarts has a student be put in two houses...It is only fair I leave the final decision to you, Miss. Make a choice."