Chapter One: Werewolves to Willows

Exiled, from her own country, centuries before she was born. After being knighted by Queen Victoria, no less! And of course, Rose couldn't forget the werewolf. It all seemed so mad, and no one would believe her back home, but maybe they didn't need to. After all, she had the Doctor. The only one that would ever understand.

"Well, maybe hemophilia is just a Victorian euphemism," the Doctor said.

Rose stopped short. The Royal Family, werewolves? It couldn't be!

"Nah, that's just ridiculous!"

"I'll say no more…" The Doctor grinned.

Rose laughed. "They plan everything in advance! They could schedule themselves around the moon, we'd never know!"

Laughing, the two travelers stepped into the TARDIS. The change of size didn't even bother Rose anymore. Why can't it be bigger on the inside? This ship was starting to feel like home, even more than her flat. She leaned against the TARDIS console, still smiling.

"So, where to next?" the Doctor asked Rose in that infuriatingly hyper way. "We could still catch that concert, if you like."

Where to next, that was the question. She could go anywhere, anytime. Visit London five hundred years ago, or see it five hundred years in the future. The most distant stars and planets were all hers to observe. She could even visit her father, probably best not to try that again, Rose thought.

"Well-"

Before Rose could finish her sentence, the TARDIS glowed red. The central column churned, and deafening alarms sounded. She tried to catch her balance, but the ship spun and jerked, throwing her to the floor. Rose pulled herself up and turned to face the Doctor, confusion and fear on his face as he tried to steady the ship.

"Doctor? What can I do?"

"Hold down the dimensional loop- no, not there- there! That should hold us-"

The TARDIS heaved again, and Rose lost her balance, letting go of the loop.

"Whatever I do, the ship doesn't respond! We're being dragged through dimensions, and there's nothing I can do!" The Doctor kicked the console. His eyes widened, and he looked at Rose. "It's almost like… magic."

At this, the TARDIS powered down, shuddering to a stop. Rose breathed a sigh of relief. Wherever they were, they would be absolutely safe. Nothing could penetrate the TARDIS walls, not even a Dalek death ray. All she and the Doctor had to do was to stay inside.

WHAP!

The TARDIS slammed to the left, then right again. An enormous branch punched through the wall just above the door, swinging back and forth an inch from her head. Rose staggered back.

Great, thought Rose. Second time I've been nearly killed by a tree.

The Doctor clung to a rail. "Magic? But that's impossible, it can't be. Sure, werewolves, ghosts… but they're all aliens! This- this is human. Magic's just something you read about in books, it can't possibly be real…"

With the TARDIS still being pulverized by this murderous tree, the Doctor made his way to the door, inching along the rails. He lurched forward, grabbing the door handle for stability.

"Doctor, watch out!" Rose cried.

He opened the door, astonished. He turned back to Rose, about to tell her the news when the branch inside the TARDIS swung down. He dodged it, and ducked down to meet Rose.

"Out! Out now!" He grabbed Rose's hand and pulled them to the door. "Jump!"

Rose didn't see how a four meter drop was worse than death by tree, so she sprung out of the TARDIS, landing on her side. The Doctor was already on his feet, and staring into the distance. He pulled Rose up, and gestured for her to look ahead. She saw a castle, with sand green spires that stretched into the crisp afternoon sky. A lake bubbled to its side, and- was that a giant squid? It seemed familiar to her somehow, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Rose," the Doctor sounded strangely excited. "Welcome to Hogwarts."