Disclaimer: If my genie were more powerful, they'd be mine, but no, all I can do is be queen of some small island country.

A/N: Here expressly for your reading pleasure...

The hallway was deserted. This was the last in a long string of straws, and Timia's breaking point. "Bloody, bloody, blood- and vileness, an bile, and- oh, for the... this place was built be the criminally stupid. Bloody anti-apparition wards and skew you into the bloody lake, a forest full of nasties, and not even the faintest idea that I'm here. One would think that I cursed loudly enough while climbing the bloody cliff to arouse someone's suspicion."

She let herself wind down, slowly returning to normal. Almost. "This is it. I am going to sit down."

What actually occurred was more utter collapse than anything graceful, as her shoulders began to shake wildly. "I only laugh that I do not cry..." Timia trailed off into a series of sobs.

"Umm... Can I help you?"

* * * * *

It was only as she walked down the final passageway that Timia regained control; with it came a sudden realization. "But- it must be after curfew! If you deliver me to the headmaster's you'll get in trouble- won't you? Why don't you just show me to his office... I'll be fine, and I truly don't want to do you any harm!"

"No, Dumbledore wouldn't want you to be left, and maybe I'll get points for finding a missing student!"

At this point Harry was witness to one of the more startling mood changes he'd ever seen, and Hermione had had a few. Where seconds before remnant tears still glistened in the girl's eyes a sparkling happiness shone. She dropped her single sack- on that appeared to have survived much worse than the Hogwart's lake, and that she had refused to let Harry touch- only to encompass the bewildered boy in a tight hug.

Beaming, Timia stepped back and whispered, "it's all been worth it for you, Harry Potter." After grinning at a stunned Harry for a few seconds, she asked, "Is this the entrance, then?"

"Why yes, Miss. Chasser, and I am most pleased to have found you here."

Timia found, to her surprise, twinkling eyes and a long beard where the doorway should have been- twinkling eyes that twinkled all the merrier as Harry muttered something about a snack, and stumbling on the new girl.

"It's quite all right, Harry, and I am grateful for your bravery in bringing Miss. Chesser to my attentions." The reassurances didn't do much for Harry, who blushed all the harder when Dumbledore raised one eyebrow and added, "Shall we say... ten points for Gryffindor?"

Harry looked at his feet, mumbled a thanks, then turned to the new girl, who watched Dumbledore with only slightly veiled amusement.

"Erm... I hope you won't have to concentrate only on your studies. Maybe my friends and I could show you around, sometime?"

She paused before answering, realizing that she would have to have a talk with Professor Dumbledore as to how much of her life's history he had divulged. When Harry started to turn, taking her silence as a no, she spoke quickly. "Yes, of course. I couldn't spend all my time studying... my name's Timia. And I meant what I said, earlier."

She could see Harry's thoughts spin back, a look of surprise dawning. "How did you-"

"Harry, I appreciate your kind offer, but Miss. Chasser is tired and decidedly odorous. I must admit, I hadn't thought the lake that bad- but this conversation can be continued tomorrow, after a bath, food, and sleep. Might I suggest you get to bed, before a wandering Professor decides to take away your newly earned points?"

It was only after Harry had left that Timia returned her attention to Dumbledore. "Professor, I need to talk with you."

* * * * *

Dumbledore sighed, rubbing his temples with both index fingers. It had already been a long night, and was about to get a lot longer, if he knew anything. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather sleep for a while? Have some tea? A nice long bubble bath? Maybe a... massage?" His only response was a Look. "Okay... well. I have told the students to expect a new student, arriving from the American School of Sorcery. You have completed an accelerated course of study, but wish to major in courses not offered in America. Therefore, you will be doing independent study projects in astronomy as a basis for divination, and potions. While you have completed the equivalent of our seven years, you are sixteen, and will room with the sixth years- if you wish, of course. Your previous school did not have houses, so we can do a private sorting- perhaps now?"

"Now? Right now I need to talk to you. I would have much preferred to have introduced myself, and judged for myself what of my past could be told."

"Ah. I truly apologize, Timia, for any inconvenience, but I believe it for the best. We did, after all, expect you rather... earlier today. Most new students try to show up in time for the opening feast, not," he checked his watch, "nine hours past. And they needed to know."

"Oh- oh, I wish I weren't here! All these strangers, all of them with bloody accents, and cliques, and they'll probably think that accelerated classes are weird, and- they'll hate me." The last was an admission of utter defeat.

"They won't. Why, one girl came to my office directly, and asked if we offered the same program. And Harry, there- he knew who you were, and seemed to be quite intent on spending some more time with you! Here, have a strawberry sour straw, and come to my guest bedroom. It has a bath, and I'll have dinner sent up. We can arrange everything tomorrow." He was rewarded with a slight smile.

"Thank you, professor. I'll be better tomorrow. I'll be better after a bath!"

As he led the girl to the guest bed, Dumbledore chanced a look out the window at the moonless sky. It would be this time of month, he thought.

* * * * *

Harry knew better than to try to wake Ron up before 9:00 am. When he'd first gone on these now routine midnight strolls, last year, and found something interesting he had tried to get Ron, only to give up after receiving a bloody nose without affecting the oblivious wizard. Ron later labeled his actions as a defense mechanism, developed after years of ignoring his mother. He knew that this was different, and that Ron would want to know about the new witch, but for some reason he just wanted to keep her to himself for awhile.

Harry smiled at the thought of the girl, Timia, sprawled on the floor of the Great Hall. How she had managed to avoid the attentions of Mrs. Norris he did not know- he himself had practiced for six years and had his invisibility cloak, and still occasionally was caught. Her hair had been an odd silvery black, shimmering and long. In fact, it was almost waist length. Her skin was olive, and her eyes a gorgeous blue- as light, nearly, as Malfoy's, but with none of the coolness. He could see where anger had left its marks, though, and imagined that she would not be one to test. She was pretty, but, even with those extraordinary features, wasn't beautiful. And- and he really should be getting to bed. Harry's last thought was that he hoped he would see the new girl soon.

* * * * *

The sun rose on a much happier Timia. 'I should have known I needed some rest before talking to Dumbledore. That man is far too wise for his own good- or maybe not wise, as much- more ... knowing. No one who eats that much sugar could play the wizened old wizard. And speaking of sugar, I could use a little rush.'

Dumbledore, knowing what Timia would be thinking, had bid the house-elves to deliver a golden short stack, a bowl of strawberries, raspberries, and melon, and a cup of mint tea. Condiments included powdered sugar- for the pancakes- honey, and a complimentary chocolate.

The tray was delivered by Liddy, a very enthusiastic house-elf , albeit a bit much for a girl recuperating from a long day. After finally convincing the dear that she had everything she could possibly want, and would just call if she could think of anything else, Timia sat back to enjoy her meal.

'Raspberries, strawberries, pancakes and tea. My first real meal in, what, two days?' She was about to dig in, when a piece of paper caught her eye. 'Too afraid to meet me face to face? Gods, but I must have been a mess last night.'

It was a meandering letter, typical of Dumbledore- He said, very nicely, in three paragraphs what most would have done in one. Basically she was to do what she wanted to relax, and then come to his office. If he wasn't there, the password was sour straws, which Timia could have guessed, and she certainly could amuse herself. Let's see. Right now you'd be in breakfast, so I'll wait... a bit... maybe get some more...sleep. And that was her last conscious thought for some hours.

A/N: Please review, whatever your opinion.