Tammy and Joanne

Chapter 1: Warped

Harry walked up Diagon Alley chatting happily with his two best friends, Hermione and Ron. They walked up to Quality Quidditch Supplies and looked into the window.

"Wow," said Harry, "Look at that broom!" The Dragon, the newest and best broom available was one of a kind. From it's beautiful finish to it's magnificent speed and control, no one had ever seen anything like it. Ron goggled and Hermione just looked at it and said, "Well, isn't your Firebolt just as good? They look the same to me."

Ron looked scandalized. "What?! The Dragons the best broom ever made!" he cried emphatically.

Hermione just looked at him and shrugged. Harry laughed at his two friends. Hermione, who was usually a genius, was absolutely clueless when it came to flying, Quidditch, or brooms. They continued to walk down the Alley just as the fog thickened. Harry pulled out his wand and said, "Lumos." The wand lit into a glow of yellow and they continued to walk. When they finally got out of the fog they looked around.

"Where are we?" asked Hermione.

"I have no idea," replied Harry. They seemed to be in some sort of city but which one? He glanced around and saw a crowd of people walking up the street. He walked over to one and said, "Excuse me but could you tell us where we are?"

The stranger smiled down at him and said, "You're in Corus, young man, capital of Tortall."

'Where's Tortall?' wondered Harry. Ron must have been reading his mind because just then he said, "And where might Tortall be?"

The stranger looked at him curiously. "It's to the east of the Yamani Islands, north of Carthak, south of Scanra, and west of a whole lot of places."

This succeeded in confusing them even more. They thanked the man and walked on. "You know," they heard the man say, "You might try the palace. I can lead you there. I was just going there myself."

"Thank you," said Hermione.

"And what are your names?" asked the man as they walked.

"I'm Harry Potter, and these are my best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger," said Harry.

"How strange..." said they man. "My name's Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau."

"Excuse me?" said Ron. "Don't be offended but you sort-of don't look like a girl."

Alanna smiled up at him, which was another weird thing. Alanna was only about 5'5 tall. "Don't worry, I get that a lot."

"Why?" asked Hermione curiously.

"Well I was the first lady knight in Tortall."

"Oh," said Hermione who still sounded confused.

"Here we are," said Alanna. They had reached the palace and it was huge! Alanna led them down a hall and said, "So are you here to become pages?" Harry could tell there was a hint of hope in her voice as she looked at Hermione. "There is only one lady knight, me, and one lady squire. She's about your age. You would be in the same year as her. Hey Neal! Come here." Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked around and saw a boy who looked like he could be Harry's twin but older. He had emerald green eyes and dark brown hair minus the scar and glasses. He looked about nineteen.

"Hey Alanna. What's up? Do you need my services?" he added sarcastically.

"No," she said flatly."This is Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They have just arrived in Tortall so you get the job of taking them to Lord Wyldon."

"Hermione then piped up and said, "Wait. What's all this about knights? Is this a place with magic? You know, like wands and stuff," as she said this she pulled out her own.

"Wands?" Neal asked. "We don't use wands. I'm a Healer so yes, there is magic but I don't get this wand thing. How do they work?"

"Like this," said Harry. "Lumos." The tip of his wand lit up.

"Wow!," said Alanna, "This is how you do magic where you came from? And you all have one of those wand thingy's?"

"Yes," said Ron pulling out his. "You do spells and curses with them. We know loads, especially Hermione." Hermione beamed.

"Well show us something else," said Neal. "Actually, on second thought, let me get Numair." He started to walk away. All these names were really confusing and Alanna, who could read faces very well, could tell in the confused look on their faces.

"Numair is the greatest mage in the world. Neal is my squire," said Alanna.

"Thanks," said Harry, "that helps a little..." he grinned and Alanna grinned back.

Neal soon returned with a very tall man with long black hair and a girl of about twenty-two with brown hair like Hermione's and blue-gray eyes. But the strangest thing was that they brought a blue dragon with them and Harry couldn't help but think of Hagrid and grinned at the thought.

"Hello," said the man looking them over.

"Hello," they said in unison.

"I'm Numair and this is Daine the Wildmage," said Numair.

"I'm Harry, this is Ron and this is Hermione," Harry said nodding to each of his friends in turn, who smiled.

"This is Skysong, but we call her Kitten," said Daine, noticing how Kitten was sniffing the three friends. She sneezed but seemed satisfied.

"So what are these wand things and how do they work?" asked Alanna, getting back on track.

Harry and Ron looked to Hermione to explain, who seemed more than ready. "A wand is this," she said holding up her wand. "And it is magical and can do spells and curses. There are incantations and spells to go along with them. You can use them in battle or just for normal, everyday use."

"I see..." said Numair. "May I see one?"

"Of course," Hermione handed Numair her wand. Numair looked it over and decided to try it. "How does it work?" he asked. "Well, one spell is the one Harry used earlier, which lights up the area around you. It's incantation is 'Lumos'." Numair held up the wand and said, "Lumos." The wand tip lit up and he smiled. "So, this is how you use magic? Well we use magic a different way." So saying, he called a ball of black sparkling light into the palm of his open hand. There were murmurs of awe from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He then said, "We can also use it for battle and everyday use. You happen to have this magic too. All of you and very strong too. You will be very useful mages, you and those wands. I personally will teach you to use your magic." At this Neal, Alanna, and Daine all looked surprised. Numair hardly ever took personal students, except Daine. "Harry, call light to your hand. Look deep into yourself and you'll find a spring of magic fire. I'll help guide you this first time." Saying this he put his hands on Harry's shoulders and soon Harry was looking inside himself to a place he didn't know existed. He there saw a spring of emerald fire and pulled a thread and soon he was out again and had a ball of emerald fire in his palm. It was a nice warm feeling, not hot. Numair did this with Ron and Hermione, Ron with blue fire, Hermione with pink. He then told them that anytime they wanted to use this they would have the knowledge to go back. He then made each of them do it on their own and, when he was satisfied, turned to Daine.

"All right," said Daine, "Now we need to get sleeping arrangements for you. I suggest you just train as mages and not knights because you don't have any training. But if you want you can."

"Do it," muttered Neal, "You'll be in my year!"

"Now we shall go see Jon about it," said Alanna, who hadn't spoken at all through this whole exchange. "And I agree with Numair, you will be very useful. Not only am I the first and only lady knight but I'm also one of the most powerful mages."

"And you like to brag," said Neal drily. Alanna glared at them and turned and led the whole party off down the hall.

* * *

They walked through a maze of corridors and were led into a large suite of rooms by Alanna.

"Jon!" she called. "Jon I have some people you need to meet!"

Soon a very handsome man with blue-black hair and royal blue eyes wearing only a white shirt and brown breeches. Hermione felt like her knees were going to give out. "Don't worry," she heard someone mutter behind her, "he has that effect on most of us. That's what Onua, the horsemistress, told me when I first met him." Hermione was relieved.

"Hello," said Jon, "and who's this?"

"Jon, this is Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They are mages with wands."

"Wands?" said Jon

"Yes wands," said Numair, "I'll explain later."

"OK," said Jon.

"They need places to stay. They're going to train as mages."

"Knights," corrected Harry. "We've decided too."

"All right, squires," said Numair.

"Well I guess they should go to Lord Wyldon. Where are you from?"

"London," they said.

"Where's that?"

"In Great Britain."

"Oh my God," said Hermione, "We've Time-Traveled."

"Time-Traveled?" asked Harry

"Yes, we've gone back in time about 1200 years, to a world no one ever knew existed."

"Oh Goddess," said Alanna, "we need to find a way to get you home..."