The Magician

Third story in the Fantastic Dreams collection.

"Goodnight JD, sleep well," said Buck Wilmington softly, as he kissed his son's forehead

"Goodnight Da," replied JD, feeling safe and comfortable tucked up in his bed, knowing that his dad was only down the hall if he needed him and Vin was only across the room if he needed him

"Goodnight Vin," said Buck, walking over to the older boy's bed

"Goodnight Buck," said Vin, his eyes closed as he felt very tired

Buck turned off the main light as the room was now lit by the small nightlights. Then the man walked to his own room; he was too tired to stay up later than the boys today; they'd really taken it out of him

Vin Tanner woke up to the sound of a bird and looked above him; it was a big black bird and he decided it was a raven

"Vin?" it squawked at him in his Uncle Ezra's voice, startling the boy who stepped backward

"Uncle Ezra?" he asked in shock

"Of course. Who else do you know who speaks like this?" asked Ezra rather impatiently

"I was just surprised to hear a raven with your voice," answered Vin

Ezra remained quiet for a moment then a thick black cloud of smoke appeared around the bird

The human form of Ezra walked out of the black cloud, coughing. "I didn't intend to do that," he muttered to himself, wishing that he'd changed without the cloud

"Are you a Wizard, Uncle Ezra?" asked Vin

"You know I am, Master Vin. Why are you out of bed at this late hour?" asked Ezra

Vin suddenly realized that he was standing in a large field of a stadium which was dark except for some outside lights that were on

"I don't know - I just suddenly woke up here."

"Suddenly woke up here?" asked Ezra disbelievingly. "This is no place for a young boy at night," scolded Ezra

"I don't know where I am though," said Vin, realizing he didn't know where this place was and how he could get back home. He didn't remember any stadiums he'd visited looking like this

"You know the way back to Hogwarts from here, Master Vin," said Ezra, as if the route back was obvious

"Hogwarts?" exclaimed Vin

"Yes, that is your home during term-time."

"No, I live with Chris, Buck and JD on the ranch," replied Vin, wanting to go home

"Only when school is out Master Vin," said Ezra, wondering what had happened to this boy to make him forget where he lived

Vin turned and decided he would have to go and stay at Hogwarts until he could get home. Maybe he had been dreaming that Hogwarts wasn't real and only in books and movies

His path was blocked by a big red dragon so Vin stopped and suddenly found himself uttering some magic words. The dragon turned into a large tiger and sprang towards the boy

"No, I didn't mean that to happen," said Vin realizing he must've said the wrong words

Vin was trapped against the wall as the tiger sprang at him. Vin cried out in terror

Elvis jumped off the boy's bed, scared by the loud noise. Vin sat up and opened his eyes. "It was a dream after all," said Vin noticing that the tiger was really a now-frightened puppy

"Vin, what's wrong?" asked a soft voice that he immediately recognized as his dad's

"I just dreamt I was in Harry Potter and I couldn't get back to my dorm because a dragon blocked the way, so I tried to use magic to get rid of it but it turned into a tiger instead, then it jumped at me..."

"You was in Harry Potter?" asked JD in astonishment. "Cool!"

"But I was nearly attacked by a tiger, JD and that wasn't cool," said Vin, trying not to cry at the scary dream

Chris picked up Vin and hugged him tightly. "It's okay son, I won't let any animals attack you," said the man comfortingly

"How did Elvis get in here?" asked Buck Wilmington, looking at the puppy

"JD!" said Vin angrily

"I didn't let him in here," said JD, knowing that he really hadn't done it this time. Perhaps the pup had managed to get the door open himself.

The End
Next story: Wizards