Harry Potter : Cael Vale’s journey to Hogwarts

Cael had prepared himself for many possibilities—an underground vault, perhaps a laboratory buried beneath the old stones of Château de Gisors. But as he stepped beyond the ancient door, nothing could have prepared him for what he saw.

His breath caught.

He was no longer in darkness, nor underground.

Before him stretched a vast, sunlit forest—verdant, wild, and alive. Towering trees framed the horizon, their leaves whispering in a breeze he could feel against his skin. Hills rolled gently in the distance, and beyond them rose mountains so tall their peaks were dusted in snow. Above it all was a sky, impossibly real—soft clouds drifting across a golden sun, birds singing sweet notes through the canopy.

This couldn't be real.

A marble walkway stretched from his feet, pristine and glowing pale under the warm sunlight. The path wound deep into the forest, welcoming him forward with eerie serenity.

Cael tightened his grip on his wand. His instincts screamed this wasn't Earth. Not really. And yet… it felt more alive than the world he knew.

As he walked the marble path, sounds of life surrounded him—birds chirping, leaves rustling, the occasional splash of water in the distance. He passed creatures unlike any he had ever seen—cat-like beasts with wings lounging in the sun, and above, soaring through the air, a phoenix burst through the clouds in a trail of flame and light. He stopped, awed. This wasn't just beautiful. It was enchanted. Sanctified.

He continued on in silence, following the curving path as it led him toward the heart of the forest.

And then he saw it.

The marble bridge arched gracefully over a wide, glittering river. Beyond it, nestled among flowering trees and towering oaks, stood a castle of pure white stone. Its towers gleamed, its spires brushed the sky, and its arched windows caught the sunlight like diamonds. It was not grand in size alone—but in the perfection of its design. Not a speck of moss, not a chip of time. It was immaculate.

Cael stopped on the bridge and looked up toward the castle in wonder. "What the hell is this place?" he muttered. "I went underground. It was night outside. Now this… this feels like a different world."

::System,:: he asked silently, ::do you know where we are? This doesn't feel like Earth.::

The voice of his system-sister echoed softly in his mind. I don't know exactly. But… this realm isn't artificial. It's not an illusion. It's real. I believe you've crossed into a sealed magical dimension—something ancient, crafted by one of the Council. Possibly… her.

Cael exhaled. "So a whole world hidden beneath a door. Great. Just great." Then he smiled faintly. "Well, no use standing here. Whatever answers there are, they're in that castle."

He crossed the rest of the bridge and ascended the clean steps to the arched entrance.

The castle door opened before he could touch it. No groan of hinges, no forceful swing—just a silent, graceful invitation.

He stepped inside.

The foyer was illuminated by golden chandeliers that shimmered with floating flame-lights. The floor beneath him was polished marble, and statues lined the hall—white figures carved with delicate precision, depicting beasts and women and cloaked guardians long forgotten by time.

He wandered through the corridors in silence. The air was clean and fragrant, like the petals of blooming roses. It reminded him of Myrddin's mountain fortress—but this one wasn't dark and cold. This one felt… warm. Lived in.

Room after room passed, each more elegant than the last. Long corridors with tall windows pouring light onto soft couches and velvet carpets. Grand staircases curved upward into high balconies. He climbed to the second floor, and then the third, each step echoing through the stillness.

But there was no one.

It was as if the castle had been waiting for him.

Then something caught his eye—a windowed hall leading out to a wide, open terrace. He followed it, pushed open the glass-paneled doors, and stepped into a garden suspended in the air.

It was breathtaking.

A green courtyard stretched across the upper level of the castle, filled with carefully tended trees, flowering bushes, and beds of roses in every shade—blood red, midnight blue, even silver. Birds fluttered between the branches. Strange glowing fruits dangled from vines. And at the center of it all, framed by creeping ivy and glass sculptures, sat a small tea table beneath a pergola.

Steam curled from a porcelain cup.

Cael's heart jumped.

Someone had just been here.

He approached slowly, examining the untouched cup of tea, the warm plate of delicate pastries. He hadn't seen a soul… and yet, this was fresh. Still hot.

He straightened, eyes narrowing And said to himself " Someone is living here for sure. "

That's when he heard the voice.

"Of course there's someone living here," came a soft, amused voice from behind him. "You think a place this clean maintains itself? These flowers need tending. The silverfruit vines won't trim themselves. And I assure you… tea doesn't pour on its own."

Cael spun around, wand raised—but froze as his eyes met hers.

She stood among the flowers as if she had always been part of them. A woman in flowing robes of deep lavender and silver, her hair like moonlight threaded through silk. Her eyes were the color of dusk—wise, ancient, and filled with a calm amusement.

She smiled at him.

"Welcome, Cael Vale," she said. "I've been waiting for you."