When crossings meet
The Doctor was all alone again. Jack had gone back to Torchwood, Martha was engaged, Donna had "died" and Rose was back in the parallel universe. Every time he heard the word "parallel" The Doctor would always feel a tug at his hearts. He tried to accept that they all had someone else, and that he would eventually move on, but it didn't stop the raw pain of loneliness and loss engulf him sometimes. The Doctor was dragged out of his thoughts by a bleeping light coming from the console. Then another one flashed into life.
"What is it, old girl?" He swung the scanner round and examined what was on the screen. A bunch of random shapes appeared which puzzled the Doctor. They weren't Gallifreyan or from any other language he knew. Something must be wrong. He took out his glasses and took a closer inspection.
Suddenly, the TARDIS went berserk.. The Doctor was thrown to the floor as the whole interior flashed red. The central column rose and fell, telling the Doctor that they were moving. The whole room was vibrating and rumbling. "What's wrong? Where are we going?" He yelled above the noise. The Doctor clamped his hands over his ears as the noise became more deafening. He managed to regain his balance and leaned over the console to reach for the mallet, when the shuddering stopped. They'd landed.
The Doctor placed his hand on the now dormant central column. "What is it? Indigestion?" The TARDIS seemed to have reverted back to normal, for now. He put his glasses back into his pocket and took a look at the scanner. Outside, he could see a huge castle surrounded by a lake and forest. Very Scottish looking. "This could be interesting" The Doctor commented. "Let's see why you brought me here" He said to the TARDIS as he hurtled towards the doors.
Meanwhile, inside the castle, a girl called Lyra Silvertongue and her daemon, Pan, had been caught wandering around by the Slytherin prefects, Crabbe and Goyle. They had her cornered. "Pan, hide!" she whispered to her daemon. He obliged, and hid in her hood. Another boy, who appeared to be the leader of the two thugs, came right up into her face. "So, what's a squib doing at Hogwarts? In fact, you're not even that are you? You have no magic in your veins whatsoever! You're just scum!"
The boy, Malfoy, laughed as if it was the most hilarious joke ever. Lyra looked at him with dark eyes. "What's a squib?" She asked evenly. Malfoy laughed even harder. "A squib is someone who's not able to do magic, but you're not even that are you?. I'm going to have so much fun with you!" He said menacingly. Lyra looked at him darkly. "Come here and say that" she said, egging him on. Malfoy stepped forward, attempting to be threatening. He came right up close to her face. "I'm sorry, did you just say something to me? You're nothing you know." Lyra didn't even look offended. She just stared him down. "You know, that would be so much more insulting if I actually cared? But I don't. I don't listen to prejudiced idiots who think they can boss me around." Malfoy's pale cheeks suddenly turned a scarlet colour. "How dare you! You filthy muggle! You think you can talk to me like that? I'm a prefect." Lyra shrugged her shoulders. "So?" Malfoy was fuming by now. "Crabbe , Goyle, take her to Umbridge. We'll teach this thing a lesson later!" "What, so you get your cronies to do everything, do you? Bit lazy, don't you think? Oh no, not lazy, cowardly!" The two thugs grabbed her and started to move with her, but she began kicking and struggling. Malfoy looked disgusted. "Just take her."
"You ain't taking me anywhere! If Will was here he'd rip you apart!" Malfoy made a face. "Oh, Will! I'm so scared! What is he then, your boyfriend?" Lyra was silent for a moment. Then she spat Malfoy in the face. Malfoy reeled back in disgust. "Ugggh! You ignorant little scumbag! Teach her a lesson!" Crabbe and Goyle let go of her so they could deliver a good beating. She held up her fists. "Don't come any closer. I'm warning you!" They advanced towards her, but she was too quick for them. She dodged past them and sailed past Malfoy. "Smell you later, Mouse boy!" She shouted behind her. "Maybe you'll learn how to treat women properly in the future! That is, if any girl will ever take you!" Crabbe and Goyle were chasing after her, but they were too slow.
She pelted around the corner and out of the dungeons. She had to find a place to hide. If she could just get outside… Suddenly, out of nowhere, a boy appeared. Before Lyra could slow down, she collided with him. Both were knocked to the ground. "I'm sorry. Here, let me help you up." The boy was up on his feet before she'd even registered where she was, and he held his hand out to her. Lyra let him help her up.
"Hi, I'm Harry." "Lyra" she replied. Harry looked at her slightly confused. "Don't think I've seen you around here before. Are you a student?" "No, I…" she stopped. She couldn't afford to give anything away. She'd been to this universe before. She knew what would happen to Pan and herself if they were discovered. Although, there was something about this boy that she could trust. He reminded her of a certain person that she never stopped thinking about since the day they were separated. Lyra had to stop herself welling up.
"No, but I have to get out of here. There's these boys chasing me -" "Malfoy." Harry said simply, if a little darkly. "Yeah, him. Listen, do you know the way to Oxford?" She asked. Harry looked at her as if she was mad. "Oxford? That's at least 800 miles south. How'd you end up here?"
"I'm not sure. There was this light and we followed it and -" "Lyra, don't tell him!" Pan whispered from her hood. Harry looked behind her. "Who's there?" Suddenly, a crashing could be heard from the dungeons. "That's Crabbe and Goyle! We'd better get out of here. Come with me. I'll take you somewhere safe." Harry ushered Lyra along, as he directed her to the Gryffindor common room.
Meanwhile, the Doctor was very lost. Usually, his sense of direction was perfect, but right now he had no idea where he was. It was night, so everyone must be asleep. He guessed the castle must be used as some sort of private school. The Doctor saw something glinting on the floor. "Hello, what's this then?" He moved towards it and crouched down to examine it. It was a compass of some sort.
The Doctor picked up the compass and flicked open the lid. Inside the compass were 36 pictures around the edge, and pointing to the edge were 4 needles. Three of the needles could be directed by the knobs on the sides. The 4th needle however seemed to move freely, as if it had it's own mind. He couldn't control it. Normally, by now The Doctor would have prized it open to see what lay inside, but this time he didn't dare. He was afraid he may kill it. To him, the compass felt as if it was alive. He could feel it.
The Doctor pocketed the strange device and continued to wander around aimlessly, until he came to a huge room full of moving staircase. "Certainly makes this place more interesting." He ran up one of the huge stairs as it started moving. It swung round to a huge portrait of a rather large woman.
The woman was asleep in the frame. The Doctor glanced around at the other portraits, who were also sleeping. Some were snoring. "Blimey, this school's very digitally advanced" He said to himself. He knocked on the frame of the painting, which woke the woman up. "Excuse me, Can you help me? I'm a bit lost and -" "Oi, why'd you wake me up? A woman needs to have her beauty sleep you know!" "Just like Donna" the Doctor muttered to himself.
"So, who are you then? I need the password." The Doctor looked uneasy. "Password, right. Well, could be anything really couldn't it? I mean, I s'pose it'll be something no one could ever guess like "Raxacoricofallapatorious" or "Mimbulus mimbletonia -" Before he could finish, the portrait swung open. "Hurry up, or you'll be locked out!" The Doctor, looking confused stepped through. "Right thanks. What will I find now, I wonder?"
Harry and Lyra made it to the Gryffindor common room without being spotted. Once inside, Harry relaxed. They'd almost been caught by Umbridge's prefects. Sure, Harry could handle detention, but he felt he had to protect Lyra. Somehow, he knew what they would do to her if she was discovered. Especially since Dumbledore had disappeared. Harry shook the thought away. No point worrying over something you can't change.
"Harry, is that you?" Hermione called out to him. Harry turned the corner to find Ron and Hermione sat on the sofa, concerned expressions on their faces. "There you are mate!" While Ron looked pleased to see him, Hermione was fuming. She stood up with her arms folded. "Harry, don't you realize how worried we were? We thought that the Umbridge must have…" Before she finished, Hermione grabbed him into a hug. Harry looked over her shoulder at Ron, bemused. "Nightmares" Ron mouthed. Harry nodded in acknowledgement.
Lyra appeared from behind Harry. No one had noticed her until then. "Oh, guys, this is Lyra." Ron's smile faltered. "Hang on, what about Cho?" Harry shot Ron a warning look as Hermione turned around to him. "Ronald, don't be absurd! Hi, Lyra, I'm Hermione. Not seen you around. What year are you in?" She asked politely. Lyra felt panicked, but she realized that this girl was just being friendly. "You can tell her," Pan whispered. Lyra took a deep breath. "I'm not from around here. I'm not a student." Hermione looked surprised.
"Lyra isn't safe here. If Umbridge finds her -" Harry cut off when he saw Pantalaimon creep out of Lyra's hood. "Then she'll send for theologians, or scientists, and they'll try to separate us again" Pan said, shaking. He started whimpering and Lyra put a hand up to comfort him. Ron, Harry and Hermione stared at her. "Did that ferret just talk?" Ron asked, bewildered. Lyra and Pan looked cross. "I'm not a ferret! I'm a pine marten! And yes, I can talk thanks. I'm not an animal!"
"Bloody hell! He's an animagus!" Ron exclaimed. Lyra looked puzzled, but didn't bother asking. "No, he's my daemon. Before you ask, in my universe everyone has one. He's part of me, and I'm part of him. He's my soul." "Your universe?" Harry and Hermione asked in unison. "Yeah - Oh, no…" Lyra realized she'd made a huge mistake. She'd thought she had learned the art of invisibility from Will. Now she'd just blurted it all out. "I've got to go!" she made to start running but she felt a hand on her arm. The hand wasn't trapping her; it was more of an indication to stop.
"Wait Lyra. We won't hand you in. We swear." It was Harry's hand. She turned around to the trio and looked at them all. Ron, who had a moment before been joking around was now standing, ready to protect. Hermione had a knowing air about her, maybe slightly pompous, but also a great compassion lay behind her eyes. Harry, was as true as his word. He was loyal, Lyra could tell. He wouldn't betray her. None of them would. "Ok. But what am I going to do? I need to get to Oxford, and apparently that's 800 miles south. Where am I?"
"You're in Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Hermione explained. Lyra's eyes widened. "Witchcraft? You mean there are witches in Will's world? He never said!" "And wizards. But obviously women rule more in your world… Oww!" Ron received a hit over the head from Hermione. "Sorry Lyra. What do you mean there are witches in this world? Aren't you one?" Lyra shook her head. Hermione,Ron and Harry all shared a glance. "But, how can you be here in Hogwarts? Muggles can't even see it!" Ron pointed out. Lyra shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno. Maybe I can see things normal people can't. What is a muggle anyway? That's what Mouse boy was calling me." "A muggle is a non-magic person." Hermione explained. "Doesn't seem such a bad thing if you ask me. Mouse boy must have some purity issues or something." "Yeah, he does. Thinks he's better than everyone else 'cos he's a "pure blood." said Harry. Lyra scoffed. "Sounds like a right twat to me." This made them all smile.
"Anyway, Lyra was being chased by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. They had her cornered in the dungeons." Harry explained. "If Harry hadn't found us, we'd probably be -"
Suddenly, the fat lady swung open and a man clambered through the open doorway. He was tall, skinny, with wild brown hair and eyes that matched. He wore a typical 21st century pinstripe suit, with plimsolls. Harry stiffened, and he felt Hermione and Ron freeze beside him. It couldn't be, it just couldn't be! "On my count, withdraw your wands," Harry whispered. To Lyra, he said "Get behind us, quickly!" The man turned to face them and saw their fear.
The Doctor was confronted by three teenagers pointing sticks at him. They had looks of disbelief written across all their faces.
"Stupefy!" They all cried at once. The Doctor was flung backwards as the red sparks shot at him. Everything went black. Harry, Ron and Hermione crowded around him. "Blimey, he's a rubbish fighter isn't he? Didn't even defend himself." Ron stated. Harry jabbed the Doctor with his foot. He remained motionless. Lyra came to have a look at him. "Who is he?" she asked, crouching down by the man. He seemed harmless enough. "He's Barty Crouch Junior, Death eater." Hermione explained. Harry crouched down as well, and started to go through the newcomer's pockets. "I can't find his wand. These pockets go on for ages -" He was cut off when he pulled out something. It was long and sleek, a bit like a pen with a blue tip. "What do you think it is?" he asked Ron and Hermione.
"It could be a new type of wand. All these rumours going around that the Death eaters have new wands." Ron suggested. "Ma srudwiver" the Doctor muttered. He suddenly sat up straight, clicked his neck and leapt to his feet, yanking the screwdriver out of Harry's hands.
"How can he be here? He was in Azkaban!" Hermione cried. Harry stared in horror. After all that had happened, and he had escaped! The Doctor, sensing their hatred and fury, quickly tried to diffuse the situation. "Hi there. It seems you know me, but I don't know you, yet. Being a time traveller and all." The teenagers suddenly looked confused, their wands wavering. At least, that's what he assumed the sticks were.
"What do you want, Crouch? Haven't you finished with us yet? Haven't you finished the murder?" Harry yelled at him, his voice full of venom. His wand was the least wavering of them all. The Doctor raised his hands above his head, indicating a surrender. "Ok, firstly, My name's The Doctor. Secondly, I'm not a murderer, and thirdly, why would I call myself Crouch? I mean, I'm hardly a croucher, unless talking to some very short Detonians, or hiding from giants. Either way, I'm more of a strider, to be quite honest."
The teenagers were very bemused by now. "Off his rocker" Ron whispered to Lyra. She suppressed a giggle. She couldn't understand why her new friends were suddenly defensive, but "The Doctor" seemed hilarious. Hermione stepped forward, bringing Lyra into The Doctor's view. As far as he could tell, the fourth teenager wasn't afraid of him, but was wary of the tension growing. Hermione took hold of Harry's hand to comfort him, while keeping her wand on the Doctor. "So, if you're not Crouch, then who are you? You look exactly like him!" Ron asked angrily. Hermione answered Ron. "Don't be stupid Ron! Of course it's him!" The Doctor grinned sheepishly. "Spacial Genetic multiplicity, I'm afraid. Either that or he just looks very like me. Sorry." He added. Harry stared at The Doctor. He looked so much like Barty Crouch Junior, but there was something about his eyes that suggested otherwise. This man's eyes weren't mad like Crouch's, but much more ancient. They were the deepest and saddest eyes Harry had ever seen. Even more than Dumbledore's.
However, it didn't fool Harry. "Prove it! Prove you're not Crouch. Show me your left arm!" He practically spat. The Doctor lifted up his sleeve to reveal a clean arm. There was no tatoo of the dark mark. Harry stared at the spotless skin, then sighed. "Guys, put down your wands. It's not him." Hermione and Ron did as instructed, and looked the newcomer. The Doctor put his hands down. "Thanks. Sorry for disturbing you and making everyone angry, but I'm a bit lost. Where am I?" "Not you as well! Are you a wizard?" Ron asked. The Doctor shook his head. "Nope, I'm a Time Lord. What d'you mean "you as well?"
"I'm lost too" Lyra piped up. They all turned towards her. The Doctor took in the dark blonde hair and dark eyes. And the Pine Marten sitting around her shoulders attentively. "Is he your daemon?" He whispered. Lyra nodded. "How'd you know about daemons?" she asked curiously. The Doctor's face turned grim. "I know how lost you are" was his reply. Hermione coughed. "Anyway, you're in Hogwarts." she explained. The Doctor's expression changed in an instant. "Hogwarts? You mean I'm actually in Hogwarts? Ha, that's brilliant! And you're the famous three?" "Well, you could say that I s'pose" Ron answered bashfully, silently gleeful. The Doctor shook each of their hands. "Wow! Really, this is an honour! Dumbledore's told me so much about you." Harry's ears pricked up. "Dumbledore? You know Dumbledore?" The Doctor nodded. "Yeah, Met him way back in the 80's. Been mates for ages. We're like this." He crossed his fingers. "Except, I haven't heard from him in ages. Don't know why." "He's disappeared" Harry explained. The Doctor looked surprised. "Disappeared? When?" "A few months ago. He left no trace." said Hermione. "Hmmm… We'll sort that out, don't you worry. He'll be back." The Doctor promised.
"And, who are you?" the Doctor asked as he turned back to Lyra. "Lyra Silvertongue. And this is ." "Howdy" Pan interjected. The Doctor shook her hand. "Very pleased to meet you Lyra. You know, Pantalaimon means "all merciful" in greek? And there's the constellation of Lyra." The Doctor explained. "Really? Wow!" she exclaimed. The Doctor smiled. "Hang on, there's something odd about this isn't there?" Hermione asked. They all turned to face her. "Well, it's a bit of a coincidence that Lyra and the Doctor turn up on the same night, both claiming to be lost and don't know where they are. And also, neither of them are magic folk, so how can they even be here?" The Doctor and Lyra looked at each other.
"Well, that is a coincidence. The TARDIS brought me here without me setting the co-ordinates. It was like she knew something was going on here."