A week and a couple of days have passed, and Alice have finished reading all of the books, although she either skimmed or read with confusion. It was a guaranteed fact that she tried to copy spells and tried to experiment Potions, and all of it were a huge failure save for some simple spells she managed to do. She developed an interest towards Divination, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures, subjects she looks forward the most.

"Huh. Looks like I have to wait for school to actually understand all the indecipherable materials and terms on these books." Alice slumped on her bed, on her hand was a copy of Advanced Potion Making. During the entire time she meddled with her wand and tried out spells, some bombarded her shack and she had no choice but to work on cleaning and fixing. The galleons she have were converted to euros, all thanks to the kind old wizard, and was able to buy food and other basic things that she thought she couldn't afford anymore. She was able to look around the new, modern England and it still looked similar although with different, much daring clothings, wider roads, more vehicles and new machineries. It truly was a world embracing science, and engaging in a world war, just like H.G Wells predicted.

Today is the day she's been waiting for. The day she'll depart her home once more and travel a new path. The day she'll start as a student in Hogwarts.

"Pfft-" She bursted out in a rambunctious laugh, rolling on her little bed until she fell off. "Ha! Not only am I going to be a wizard, but also back as a student! This sure will be a riot!"

Alice picked herself up and returned the book in the luggage. She has already prepared everything beforehand, and the train ticket in her pocket. With her lanky arms, she took her bag along with the cage where Obsidian is. From all the reading she did, she was able to cast a feather-light charm on the luggage along with the cage and was able to carry them easily. She locked the house and without even turning back, she began to walk towards the train station. She left early to catch the train travelling here from Oxford to London where she is supposed to board a train to Hogwarts. Excitement filled every fiber in her body, and she was unable to restrain the smile that stayed throughout the train ride to London.

Within a span of one week, she was able to do a lot of things than just cleaning her impoverished shack and reading her books. She went to the city and spent her money very wisely, then looked around to keep herself updated. Much to her pleasure, she was able to buy a few clothes and is currently wearing one of the clothes she bought. A blue, navy-styled dress paired with oxford shoes suited her well, and wearing them other than her ragged clothes that lasted for decades welled her up with hope and happiness. However, a crisis arose as she reached King's Cross station without being able to look for platform 9 ¾.

"Is this really the right number?" She glanced the number on her ticket once more, looking around as she began asking.

"Excuse me? Can you tell me where platform 9 ¾ is?"

The stranger just glared at her and harshly said, "Don't ask stupid questions."

The man left and Alice felt irked, and her irritation grew after her question was denied many times. With a sigh, she started to feel hopeless, looking at the ticking clock and wondering if she really won't be able to go after all. But then, someone tapped her shoulder and greeted her with a friendly smile.

"You're looking for platform 9 ¾, right?" The light, brown-skinned foreign girl asked.

"Yes. I can't seem to find it and all these people don't know either." Alice frowned, aggravated but was glad that someone seem to know.

"Of course! They're muggles after all!" The girl laughed, then gave Alice a rather big smile. "You don't have to worry though, I'll show you how, and we must hurry. We have only have a few minutes left to catch the train."

The girl walked towards the wall in between platform 9 and 10 then faced Alice. "Alright. You must watch very carefully. As long as you have your ticket in you somewhere, you can get in. Don't worry, I'll be waiting for you. Just run straight in." She instructed, and all Alice could do is nod and anticipate. Taking in a deep breath, the girl sprinted towards the wall and seemed like she got sucked right in. Alice gasped, her eyes widening as she looked around.

"What- No one seemed to notice." She sighed, and felt more nervous. "What if I crash in? That girl didn't give very specific instructions. Time for my rashness then." She heaved a defeated sigh and closed her eyes, gripping the trolley tightly as she sprinted towards the wall. The whole time her heart was pounding, she felt like she passed through some sort of barrier and it proved to be so as soon as she opened her eyes.

"Woah.."

As she turned around the corner, a lively sight greeted her. Everyone was hustling and bustling, farewells and greetings left and right. The train was a huge locomotive with HOGWARTS EXPRESS written in a red plate in front along with the digits 5972. She looked around for the girl earlier, but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe she went by herself. Quite rude to leave a work unfinished." Alice went inside the train, seeing a lot of compartments packed by students of various ages and 11 year-olds uneasily approaching others. She walked ahead and found an empty compartment much to her delight. Sitting on the right side, looking at the boisterous people greeting their farewells to the student boarding the train, a little pain suddenly twinged her heart with grief and longing. She wishes she still have her family to greet her farewell in the train and open arms when she returns. It wasn't long before the deafening train whistle blared through, the train started moving and Alice gazed out the window with excitement pumping throughout her body. A food trolley came along and she bought a few sweets, heaving out a relaxed sigh as she sunk further on the seat and ate happily.

"This is bliss." She purred. Her lips curled into a smile, keeping what remains of the things she bought in her little pouch and closed her eyes.

"Excuse me?" She didn't know how long she napped, but it felt so brief, interrupted by a familiar, masculine voice. She opened her eyes and on the door was the gentleman she saw a week ago. She abruptly sat up and met his gaze.

"Yes?" She managed to answer politely, and she was greeted by the same curtness as a charming smile appeared on his face.

"Are you Ms. Liddell?"

"Yes I am. May I help you with something?"

"I'm Tom Riddle, a 6th year prefect. I have been told to check up on you by Professor Dumbledore." Alice was unsure if she saw a hint of shadow and irritation, because as soon as she thought she saw a glimpse of those, his charming smile cleared it.

"Professor Dumbledore? Well that's very nice of him. Did he say anything?"

"Yes. You don't mind me sitting in here and chatting with you here for a while, right? I must confess that I find you curious."

Alice blushed and smiled back. "Of course, I don't mind."

"Thank you." He sat across her in such a poised manner that made Alice instinctively remember her manner lessons and sat upright. "It's very surprising to see a 6th year transferee. I've read none about 6th year transferees in Hogwarts, so I'm guessing you're a first. That's why the Transfiguration Professor and other professors asked me to talk to you and make you feel reassured."

'Hm. Seems like he's a reliable lad.' Alice thought. "To be honest, I am completely baffled when I was told that I was a witch. Even though this might turn out as no different from my illusions, wouldn't it be fun to just go with it and not waste the fun?" She grinned, and offered him a candy.

He shook his head, declining the candy. "I think that's an interesting perspective. I was pretty confounded too, but I assure you though that this is real. You can't just imagine all of this in your mind, right?"

"No. Doesn't matter to me if it's real or not, or if it's my imagination or some others. The important thing is, how to keep it going? This magic world could easily be a reality to us and at the same time a work of someone's expansive imagination. Are we going along to the author's will? Or the author is just letting the mind and ink flow? The moment the imagination is ended, then so are our lives. It's a mystery." Alice said rather wistfully, shrugging before chuckling and looking straight at him since her gaze was darting around while she was talking. "How about you Mr. Riddle? Do you think this is reality?"

"You ask rather peculiar questions, Ms. Liddell. However, I stand by the fact that this is reality. My goals will be a reality too. Won't it be too bad if this was just someone's vivid wet dream?" Tom grinned and for a split second she saw a hint of malice and scorn.

Sniggering, Alice nodded in agreement. "I have to agree with you on that. I wouldn't like to be a product of someone's random dream. However, I don't mind if it's made by an elaborate dreamer, since I am one myself." She shrugged. "Now, tell me, how big is the Hogwarts castle?"

Tom chuckled. "An enormous, magical castle with a magical lake, a forbidden forest, moving staircases and much more. I was blown away myself when I entered Hogwarts as a 1st year. I wouldn't blame you if you get as surprised and lost as the first year students. You don't have to worry though, the prefect of whatever house you'll be assigned to will help you." He leaned forward Alice and looked around, as if he was going to whisper something very important. "Slytherin is the only house worth getting into."

Her brows quickly quirked up, stifling a laugh. "Pfft. How come? I've read that there are 4 houses. Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Do I have the right to choose which house I go to?"

"To some extent." He shrugged. "I won't be spoiling the fun. You could chant Slytherin many times and you'd be lucky enough to go there. However, you seem like a Ravenclaw. Still, witticism is greatly welcomed in Slytherin."

"Huh. What's so great about Slytherin anyway?"

"Slytherin is a house established by the Great Salazar Slytherin. It houses cunning, resourceful and ambitious people. Why, it's the house that hosts the most pure-blooded people." He announced with much pride, and there was a glint of greed that Alice didn't miss.

"Sounds like a great house. I'd like to keep my options open though." She have read Hogwarts: A History, and the book left her greatly amazed and puzzled. The houses were briefly explained, yet she still doesn't know which house she likes. Hufflepuff is a house who values hard work, patience and overall exuberates a sort of kind, warm welcome she wants. Ravenclaw prizes intelligence, wisdom and creativity, and she honestly felt like it's a house made just for her. After all, she prides herself as an intelligent person. Gryffindor is a house that suited her wonderland self. Bravery, chivalry and nerve, the stuff she's been pursuing and keeping to have over many years. Slytherin seems to resemble Hufflepuff if only its logo wasn't of a snake. It's the house that focuses on power, ambitions, and cleverness, the things that made her fire going despite decades of impoverishment. The houses all look great and she looks forward being in one of them. In fact, she doesn't mind if she's sorted into all of them.

Tom sat up and straightened himself. "It was nice chatting with you Ms. Liddell."

'Oh please, call me Alice."

"Well then, it was a pleasure getting to know you, Alice." Tom gave such a dashing smile that made Alice swooned for a little while if she didn't remember that she's actually much older than him. "However, I still have prefect duties to attend to. But may I ask a question?" His tone was light yet clipped and his face was suddenly blank as his dark eyes locked with her green ones.

"Yes, whatever is it?"

"Alice Liddell from Alice in Wonderland?"

Alice was surprised he too knew about her. When she went back home, she did a little visit on the library and found out that Charles indeed published a book with her as the protagonist. She laughed at how accurate he wrote her childhood adventures and was both proud and happy that her friend received such a big audience on his book. The illustrations were as exactly as she told him. What stunned her though, that a muggle children's novel would grab the attention of the magical community too.

"Yes. Quite surprising right?"

"Very much intriguing too. I'd like to chat more but I'm afraid I can't stay any longer. I guess I'll see you around."

"I'll see you around." She smiled at him and he politely nodded and returned the smile.