Freefalling

By dazed*kitten

Disclaimer: All things Harry Potter belong to their respective owners. I am not making any profit on this; though if I were, I wouldn't be quite as broke as I am right now. You can have the ten dollars in my bank account if you'd really like. This disclaimer applies for the whole story, and will not be repeated.

Part 1: The Fall

Dianella opened her eyes to see an all-too-familiar sight: the roof of the Hospital Wing. Its high-beamed roof, white-curtained windows, beds with firm mattresses and smooth cool linen were all comforting. Dianella sighed, closing her eyes. There was a great fuzziness in her head, and although the girl probed again and again, she could find no answers to her question- how did she get here? Nell often woke to find herself here, and so it wasn't really that big a deal- except she usually spent this time berating herself for her stupid mistakes, before her grandparents came to do the same.

Nell smiled at the thought of her grandparents. Her Nana was the Transfigurations Professor, and head of Gryffindor, a sometimes stern, always loving parent-figure whilst she was here during term. Nell loved going and sitting in her Nana's rooms and talking with her- she was much better company than most of her friends, being able to maintain an intelligent conversation. Though Nell did have friends- and many, at that- she still sought out her Nana when she wanted someone to talk to. It just felt natural for her.

Her grandfather was rather imposing. He was just so intense, and he always seemed to be watching her out of the corner of his eyes. Whenever Nana was around, he was milder, but he still swept around, seemingly never at ease. Nana said that he was really just a softie, but Nell had never figured him out. He did look out for her, though, and she respected him. Where Nana was a friend and confidant, Grandfather was her dark knight. Nell smiled; she did love him. Even if he was a grump most of the time.

Nell rolled over in the bed, lying on her side, trying to think of exactly what she had done. She sighed; trying to reassure herself that everything was ok. It always was, after all.

There was a small, niggling worry in the back of her mind, however.

She was startled from searching her mind by a tall old man with a very long white beard and periwinkle robes twirling into the room and sitting beside her. He gazed down at her, smiling secretly.

"I don't suppose you know who I am, do you?" The old man's voice was as watery as his eyes. He was tall, though his beard nearly reached the floor while he was sitting. He offered her a sweet from a small tin as he asked the question.

Nell shook her head, even though she was beginning to suspect that she did. One thing that Grandfather did that made him approachable was tell stories. She would always go to him then, and beg to be told one story or another. Nell loved grandfather's stories. Nell began to suspect that she was sitting in a story.

"I'm Albus Dumbledore. I am the Head…"

"…Master of Hogwart's. Oh, dear." Nell cut in, closing her eyes wearily. Anything was better than this. The memory she had been searching for flooded spontaneously into her mind. Stairs, late for class, tripping… watching the silver hourglass tumbling end over end over end before crashing to the floor, silvery sand spilling all over the floor, a distinct wrenching pulling at the extremities of her limbs and moving inwards…

"I think that I wrecked a very expensive time turner." Nell said gravely, looking up at Dumbledore for a reaction. He merely smiled sadly, nodding his head for her to tell her story.

"I have the distinct impression that I've fallen backward in time a substantial amount. In my time, you have already... passed away. I am in my seventh year, and you were gone long before I was even thought of." Nell looked up at the man, realising that her position was not so good for comfortably looking into his face. She struggled under the sheets, but managed to push herself up to a sitting position. Her head began to throb loudly, and Nell laughed. "I feel like I've got a hangover. So this is what long-distance time travel does to you."

Dumbledore grimaced in the general direction of the window, before turning back to the girl. "It's not every day I get to meet time travellers. Please, tell me who is present in your future; maybe we can ascertain just how far you have fallen?" Nell nodded resignedly.

"My father came to Hogwarts- his name was Septimius…" Nell watched for reaction, but found none. She proceeded, "My Nana is Hermione Granger." Nell paused as she saw recognition on Dumbledore's face. "You know her?"

"I do indeed, and if you have to reside here- as I fear you may have to whilst we bend our minds as to how to return you to your time- you will probably be in her classes. She is in seventh year."

Nell smiled. "I'm most comfortable around her, so don't worry. We are quite good friends, as she works at Hogwarts in my time. She's head of my house in fact- Gryffindor. Dad is usually away on work, and Mum doesn't mind if I stay at Hogwarts in the holidays, so I do most of the time. We are quite close." Nell stopped, realising that she was rambling. She smiled wistfully at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore took in this information with nothing more than a small smile. "Well, dear… what did you say your name was?"

"Dianella. My friends call me Nell."

"Well, Dianella, I believe that you will be staying with us for a while. In fact, you can even share a room with your grandmother if it will make you feel more comfortable?" Nell nodded, smiling broadly. This didn't help her head, however, and it protested, bringing on a wince. As if on cue, Madam Pomfrey bustled into the room, waving her wand over the girl and worrying in general. Nell watched her intently, seeking just how much she resembled the woman from Grandfather's stories. She was remarkably like the image from those stories, and it was just about all Nell could do to stop from giggling. She almost managed to keep the smile from her face, but it tweaked the edges of her mouth just a little. Dumbledore noticed the small hint of smile, and commented on it.

"Oh! My Grandfather tells wonderful stories- huge great epics. Madam Pomfrey is often mentioned. She is remarkably like the portrait painted of her by my Grandfather's words." At this, Pomfrey huffed in annoyance, hands on her hips.

"Who would tell stories about me?"

Nell smiled gently. "Grandfather," she said, unhelpfully. Pomfrey huffed again, not as indignantly this time, turning to prepare a willow bark tea to soothe the pain in Nell's head. Nell chuckled.

Dumbledore chuckled along with her, before taking her hand and helping her to her feet. Madame Pomfrey handed the girl the drink, and after watching to make sure she drank the whole thing, watched intently as Dumbledore helped the girl walk from the room.

"She should rest." Pomfrey said at their backs, and Dumbledore turned his head back to her. "I'll make sure she does, but in her rooms. We can't have the children thinking there's some spy hidden away in the hospital wing, can we now?" And, carried on Dumbledore's gentle humour, Nell began to move down the stairs. The balustrade was firmly grasped in one hand, keeping her on her feet, whilst Dumbledore held her other arm. Her vision swam, but she managed to keep her footing. Dumbledore guided her down the stairs, although she had to pause and sit halfway down.

"We are going to have to find a story." Dumbledore stated, looking a little worried at the prospect.

"I would suggest using a story closest to the truth," Nell advised. "It will help me to keep the story clear in my mind, and if questioned I will be able to answer smoothly. Maybe I can be Dianella Granger, thrown back into the past by a… a…" Nell floundered a little, and Dumbledore, smiling slightly, moved in to help.

"A time turner? Distant relative of Hermione, but so distant so as to not be all that helpful for anyone who wishes to know the outcome of the war?"

Nell started, pulling back to look into the man's eyes. "The war? The war's still here? I've been flung into the war? Oh, dear." Nell's head swirled, and her feet were suddenly very interesting. It was definitely not a good time to be alive.

"Yes, the war. Unfortunately, I don't think we can avoid it. Just on a personal note, do we win?"

Nell laughed once, a short, hiccupy sound filled with sorrow. She glanced up at Dumbledore. "Do you really want to know?" Dumbledore looked at the girl and slowly shook his head.

"You are proof that we don't lose, and I will take that as my comfort. I don't want to know who dies, nor who lives. I will just take my comfort in that you are here, and that we win. Even if it costs us everything." Nell lowered her head again, not able to bring any comfort to the aching man.

"Yes, we win. And I will say no more, so that my arrival here doesn't change the course of the war. Of course," Nell glanced up at the old man, her composure a little restored, "if I'm here, that must mean that it's happened before, and it will happen again, and anything I say will be meant to happen, and I cannot change the future, because I'm in the future." She laughed softly, and Dumbledore smiled broadly at the girl.

"Now, my dear, let me take you first to Professor McGonnagal. She will be most intrigued, I believe." And with that Nell struggled back to her feet, and- her balance still wobbly- allowed Dumbledore to guide her while she simply concentrated on placing one foot in front of the other.

#~~~~~~~~~~#

"A time turner?" McGonagall's expression was astonished. Nell wondered if this woman was really as stern and implacable as her grandfather seemed to enjoy making her out to be. "No wonder it's such a restricted item! And Hermione? My dear!" Dumbledore sat placidly near the fire, reaching out his hands to the flames. Nell smiled wanly at the woman her Nana would follow. Professor McGonagall flustered herself a little more before settling down in a chair also. "What subjects are you completing in your time?"

Nell listed her subjects, and McGonagall looked surprised once again. "Those are the exact same subjects that Hermione is completing. How remarkable." McGonagall handed Nell her timetable, and Nell stood.

"Thankyou, Professor. I'm sure I'll be able to rival Hermione." Nell smiled a whimsical smile, "and maybe I'll even take first place in a couple of the classes. You just never know." McGonagall smiled warmly, standing to usher the girl out. Nell's head had cleared a bit, and her balance seemed to have been partially restored. She found that she could walk in a straight line now. Well, almost. Dumbledore stood also, smiled at McGonagall and moved to guide the girl once again.

"Nearly home, Dianella."