Light ripples across the blue waters of the island’s cove, setting the waves aflame as the swells of water race towards the golden sands of the beach beyond. Half of the beach remains untouched, pristine stretches of sand racing down to meet the lapping salty waters. To the left, however, several small jetties have been constructed, floating on the waves and offering a safe docking space for the collection of magical ships arriving. The dock is only temporary, conjured up by staff for the arrival of the school’s students. Once the last has arrived the beach will be returned to its previous state, the swish of a wand deconstructing the floating pier in the blink of an eye.
For any muggles who catch sight of the yearly migration of ships, they might wonder where the sea faring vessels are going. The island is invisible to muggle eyes and technologies, blanketed by powerful spells that render it unmappable and undetectable. Yet, for those with magical blood running in their veins, they know exactly where the boats go and why. Above the beach, perched on the edge of the overhanging cliff, stands Orion Institute of Magic, a school dedicated to the education of young witches and wizards from around the globe. The castle gleams in the setting sun, appearing to sparkle as if its walls are littered with diamonds and crystals. The school’s flag flies from the Western tower, flapping in the sea breeze and proudly displayed the school’s crest – the Southern Cross constellation enclosed in a silver circle of vines with a pair of crossed wands beneath from which the words “To Learn Is the Highest Power” appear to be produced.
For the new students on the arriving boats, this is their first glimpse at their home for the next year, and an impression that will live on long after they have left the school. Awed gasps can be heard from some of those younger students, while the older students look on with smug expressions, their eyes already leaving the stunning castle above to scan the clear waters below. There, a dark smudge beneath the waves can be seen, flying through the water’s depths. There’s movement to the starboard side, barely caught by any who aren’t paying particular attention – just the flick of a tail and then calm again. A second later a shriek is heard from the front of the boat, small hands of the frightened first years pointing at the
water monster emerging from the depths.
Long enough to wrap around the ship multiple times, the beast shares many similarities with dragons. Its skin is covered in glistening, dark multi-coloured scales, which seem to change shades as it swims from patches of sunlight to shadows cast by clouds high above. Above water the light also reveals the beautiful patterns engraved onto the beast’s scales. Sharp claws extend from its fore- and hind-legs, as long as many of the first years gapping in fear and astonishment on board the vessels are tall. Large, intelligent eyes blink up at the boat, its mouth opening to reveal rows of deadly teeth as it belches out a shriek. Spines stand to attention along its back, following the movement of its body as it slides through the water towards the boat. Just before the beast reaches the ship it picks up speed, causing more than a few of the new students to stumble backwards in fear as if it were about to smash into the ship's side. Then, to a series of gasps and startled shouts, it leaps from the waters, arching itself up and above the boat, the length of its body curving over the deck, before splashing back beneath the waves on the other side. From there it disappears down, a series of loud cheers and clapping erupting from the older students for its show.
On board the boats the knees of the first years shake, their eyes wide as they attempt to come to terms with what they’ve just seen.
“It’s a dragon… a- a-… a water dragon.” One mutters in bewilderment, no doubt questioning why a school would keep such a beast so close.
“No, it’s a Taniwha.” Another replies, possibly a resident of the neighbouring Island chain of New Zealand, from where the magical monsters originate.
The returning students grin on, confident in their knowledge that the cove’s Taniwha acts as guardian and protector of the school, and perhaps remembering their own first sighting of the beast. Many believe that the Taniwha’s appearance at the start of every year is his idea of a joke, a playful way to welcome the new students to Orion. For the rest of the year he – fondly nicknamed
Moe because his full name is hard for many to pronounce – remains largely out of sight, apart from the odd glimpse of a tail or leg slipping beneath the waters.
Needless to say, once the shock wears off the new students and an older student has explained the situation, there’s no stopping the excited chatter. Yet, there is much more to see, and before long the students have left the boats. Carriages pulled by invisible steeds carry students up the winding path to the castle, while the first years are treated to flying hippogriff pulled carriages which zoom around the golden castle at an astonishing pace.
Just as the sun finally sets, the first years are set down and ushered into the grand hall. There wonder again sets in and necks crane up to inspect the charmed ceiling above. At first glance one might simply assume that the night sky outside has been reflected in the high ceiling of the hall, yet a second glance will show you there’s much, much more to behold, for the ceiling is alive with moving
constellations. The crab of cancer scuttles behind the harp constellation of Lyra just as the dragon which gives house Draconis its name glides by. A school of sparkling stars in the shape of fish glimmer in and out of view as they pass swim around the figure of Hercules. Most stars can be seen in the ceiling at at least one time in the year as the ceiling seems to shift hemispheres on a whim. However, of all the constellations, only one is notably absent, both in the ceiling above and in the night sky, Orion the Hunter.
Yet, none of the students can be faulted for not reflecting on the constellation's absence at this moment. For, of equal interest to many is the large array of food spread across the four house tables, waiting to be devoured by the hungry witches and wizards. The feast is always a highlight, and every year the kitchen elves go to great lengths to provide a truly remarkable meal. Everything from roasted vegetables, chicken drumsticks, and mouth-watering burgers to creamy puff pastries, raspberries cakes, and lemon tarts stand ready on the tables. The only thing keeping the students from reaching out and starting their meal is the watchful eye of the school’s headmistress and her accompanying teachers. They sit at the head of the hall, patiently waiting for the first years to file in so that they may be sorted. Only then will a short welcoming speech be given before permission to eat is granted.
The sorting, thankfully, does not take an extraneous amount of time. An old hat is brought out, baring a striking resemblance to the sorting hat used by Hogwarts School. And in fact Orion’s was modelled on Hogwarts’ sorting hat many years ago. However, since its creation the hat has picked up several habits, such as dropping the occasional swear word into its yearly song and insisting on being addressed as ‘Daisy’. No amount of magic or persuading can get it to stop swearing, and the students have come to be fond of this little quirk. Daisy usually receives a raucous applause after any song particularly heavy in unsavoury language. Applause too is given as the new students are sorted into one of the four houses, older students clapping them on the backs and cheering as they move to join their tables. Then, after ‘Robert Zueqo’ is sorted into Draconis, the hat is removed and Headmistress Syborn stands.
A hush descends on the hall as the witch gazes out, her smile warm as she addresses the pupils,
“To our newest arrivals, welcome to Orion, and to our returning students, welcome back.” Her voice carries across the hall, while her eyes dance from face to face.
“I can see that many of you are already eyeing the lemon tarts, and I will not be the reason to prolong your wait.” A cheer goes up from some of the students, the hungriest no doubt, and Headmistress Sybron waits patiently for the noise to die down before she continues,
“However, I would first like to remind all students and inform our new pupils, that unsupervised magic is prohibited, while the forest and beach are out of bounds unless accompanied by a teacher. Professor Savea informs me that the island’s local unicorn herd has several new additions and asks that anyone who happens to come across them, to please be respectful and give the young foals space.” Syborn pauses, her eyes gazing around at individual faces as she lets her message sink in, when she is sure that it had she smiles and raises her hands,
“Alright, you may begin.”That announcement receives a loud cheer, one that becomes progressively quieter as the students pounce on the food. And this is where we start out story, sitting among friends and filling out bellies.