Escape

I stumbled through the Forbidden Forest, my vision blurring as the pain in my leg intensified. My partially transformed dragon legs helped me move faster than I ever thought possible, but my body was failing me.

As I pushed forward, I noticed a small clearing up ahead. It was my only chance. I pushed myself harder, ignoring the pain and focusing only on the clearing. When I finally reached it, I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.

The clearing was peaceful, but I knew it wouldn't last long. The wizards would be after me soon enough, and I had to figure out a way to escape. I looked around, my eyes scanning the trees for any sign of danger.

Suddenly, I heard a rustling in the bushes. My hand instinctively went for my wand, but then I remembered that it was gone. I was defenseless.

Just then, an elderly witch emerged from the bushes, followed by a young girl around my age. They both wore robes that blended in with the surrounding forest and had an air of serenity about them.

"Are you alright, my dear?" the witch asked, her voice filled with concern an older sister might have. "You look badly hurt."

I struggled to sit up, my leg throbbing with pain. 'They are not to be trusted but what choice do I have?' I thought.

"We need help," I said, barely able to get the words out. "We're being pursued by dark wizards."

The witch exchanged a knowing look with her student, then turned back to me. "You're safe now," she said. "We'll help you."

She gestured for her student to come forward, and together they helped me and Mikkel to our feet. We stumbled along behind them with the help of magic, moving deeper into the forest.

As we moved deeper into the forest, I had a bad premonition. The sounds of the battle behind us grew more distant, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds. I felt a sense of relief wash over me as we moved further away from danger, or perhaps closer to another. I couldn't tell. My paranoia might have gotten the better of me.

Finally, they led us to a small cottage nestled in a grove of trees, contrary to the expectations of my paranoia. It was cozy and warm, with a fire crackling in the hearth and the scent of fresh herbs and spices wafting through the air.

They sat us down on a comfortable couch, and the witch began to examine my wound. With practiced movements, she cleaned and bandaged it, all the while muttering incantations under her breath. The pain lessened considerably, and I felt a sense of gratitude wash over me.

The witch then turned her attention to Mikkel, who was still unconscious. With a wave of her hand, she cast a spell that caused him to stir, his eyes fluttering open.

"Where am I?" he groaned, looking around in confusion.

"You're safe," I said, relieved to see him awake. "We're in the forest, with... friends."

The room fell into a minute of silence.

"So, who are you?" I asked.

"My name is Selene," she said, "and I am a witch who lives in the Forbidden Forest with my student, Lily." her voice firm but kind. "And who might you two be?"

I paused for a moment and introduced myself. "I'm Charles Nielsen," I replied, "from Denmark. My family is a pureblood family of enchanters and beast tamers"

"Mikkel Madsen," Mikkel said, introducing himself next. "From Norway. My family is also a pureblood family, but we are known more for our wealth and the influence we possess. You might have heard of us?"

Selene's eyes widened in surprise as she heard the name Madsen. She murmured thoughtfully. "That is a very prestigious family indeed."

'The Nielsen family was well-respected, but we didn't have the same level of influence as the Madsens.' I admitted to myself.

She continued, "I want the debt repaid."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you want?"

She hesitated for a moment, but continued on, "I found Lily as a baby in the Forbidden Forest, and I've been raising her ever since. She's an incredibly talented young witch, However, her past is quite complicated," Selene revealed.

Mikkel and I exchanged a surprised glance, wondering what kind of secrets Lily was hiding. Selene continued, "Many powerful families are after her, but I refuse to disclose any more information until I can trust you both. Maybe in the near future, she will tell you herself." Selene said, her gaze shifting to her student who looked downcast.

"I want you to help Lily get accepted into Hogwarts. She's your age, and she deserves to have the same opportunities as any other young witch."

I was hesitant. But, the weight of this debt is indeed worth such trouble.

"What do you want us to do?" I asked, trying to sound as calm and collected as possible.

"I want your families to shoulder Lily," Selene replied. "With the help of your families, we can forge a new identity for Lily, and she can study at Hogwarts without fear of being hunted by those who seek to harm her."

I looked at Mikkel. He nodded, indicating his agreement.

"I'm sorry for being so secretive," Lily said, looking up at us with a sad expression. "I just want to live a normal life," Lily said wistfully. "Like the ones I read about in books, or the ones I see other students having at Hogwarts. To have friends and go to classes".

Selene's eyes started to well up with tears as she listened to Lily's words. She reached out to hold her hand, offering comfort and support.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, an elf appeared in the room, causing me and Mikkel to jump in surprise. The elf wore a battered tea cozy as a hat and had a tray of steaming tea cups in his hands.

"Care for tea?" he asked, in a high-pitched voice.

Selene quickly wiped away her tears and composed herself. "Yes, thank you, Binky," she said, with a small smile.

The elf, Binky, set the tray down on the table and began to pour tea into the cups, his movements quick but sweet and innocent.