Chapter 2Revelations

"Okay, so we all talked about and discussed the situation and have found out what happened" said Harry.

"Al-alright, so what happened? Why am I here? Some super secret NASA experiment gone wrong huh?"Grinned Anamika; she was trying to lighten the situation. "I need to get back as soon as possible, why family must be going crazy! I have to enroll in college too! Please, tell me!"

Ginny looked at her husband for help, he had been brought up as a muggle; he could break the news better. Or maybe they should have called Hermione; she would know what to do. She gave Harry a pleading look, begging him to speak, thankfully he listened.

"So where should I begin, okay today's date is 8th of July 2012, can you wrap your head around the idea of time travel?"

"I guess yes, I did cross an ocean in a matter of seconds so yes I can handle it."

"Yeah, regarding that, your long distance travels..." Chuckled Harry.

"Some people in this world have abilities, paranormal abilities which can be colloquially called magical abilities that can enable them to do such feats like time travel etc. You apparently are one of those, don't worry no one is going to dissect your brain and study you here, we too can do magic.

You my girl have landed right in the middle of a magical community"

Anamika was now dumbstruck, she had just managed to convince herself that this was not a dream and the mean here tells her she can do magic?

"I don't think I heard you right, you said that I can do magic? And so can you?"

"Yes, now I know this all very hard to fathom so I am going to prove it you"

Harry took his wand out from his jacket pocket and quickly conjured up a patronus, this time the memory he used was of the day his eldest son James was born; soon enough a silvery ethereal stag pranced around the room.

Anamika stared at the patronus with an open mouth, could it be true what he was saying?

"This is called a patronus; you will need a wand to do proper magic. The people who are non magical, we call them 'muggles' and witches or wizards with muggle parents are called muggle borns, but that is not something you have to worry about." smiled Harry.

Anamika became still, magic? Wands? Oh my god! MUGGLES! His talk seemed to be an introduction to the Harry Potter world! Wait a second, his name was Harry and the lady who could be his wife was named Ginny! Could it be….

"Could I know your names, full names? Is this your house?"

"Of course, I am Harry Potter, and this is my wife Ginny…sorry Ginevra Weasley-Potter. No this is Ginny's parents' house, we call it the Burrow"

Anamika felt shell-shocked, she looked around the room spotted a clock on the wall and walked up to it, sure enough instead of numbers, the hands pointed to words and held faces of a number of red haired people. People who were not the actors from the Harry Potter movies, she couldn't have imagined the faces of all these people! It had to be true; the books were based on a real person! She started feeling butterflies in her stomach while her palms and feet started sweating; it always happened when she got nervous or scared. She slowly spoke,

"When I can go back home? Or do I have to stay here and learn stuff, I need to talk to my parents, they must be so worried…"

"I doubt that…before you object, listen to me. You have never done magic, consciously or unconsciously I presume?" she nodded at him.

"Usually muggle borns have incidents where they unknowingly use magic, and when they are 11, they are called to a school for training, here in England the school is Hogwarts. But in your case the school in India managed to overlook you. You never expended your magical energy and power so kept building up. When you turned 17, the age of majority in our world and can openly use magic, your magic reached its peak and in barely 6 months time it exploded, that sudden outburst caused you to land up here. We don't know why or how, but when this type of magical time travel occurs, the time in the place you left stops moving. So when you return, no one will know you had left. One more thing, you can't leave right away, I am sorry there is no way. Until and unless you expend all the pent up magical energy, you have to stay here. I know this must be difficult for you but please try to understand."

Anamika considered the situation, nibbling at her finger nails she finally said,

"Okay, I get it, not the easiest situation to be in but I am fine. I was to go to a hostel for college anyway, this can practice for staying away from my family" she offered them a smile.

"But where will I stay? I have no clothes except the ones on my back, no money, no wand nothing."

Ginny reached out and put her arms around her, "That you don't have to worry about, you will stay with us, and we will get you anything you require! We have children your age so you won't be uncomfortable either"

Anamika looked at the floor uncomfortably; they were being so nice to her, she owed them the truth about the books.

"Well thank you so much, but I don't want to impose on you."

"Non-sense! We are happy to have you with us! It is going to be fun training you, I have talked to the concerned people and once you have basic knowledge, you can even go to Hogwarts and study like other children." said Harry.

"I-I need to talk to you about something; it's about you actually."

"Me? Well if you are worried I am some sort of criminal or pedophile then I only have words in my defense!"

"Haha, it's not that, it's important, I suggest you sit down, it's your chance to be shocked now."

Harry and Ginny exchanged looks and sat down in front of her.

"There is a series of books written by this British author J.K. Rowling, the first book was released in 1997, the main character was born in 1980. The final and 7th book was released in 2007 where the book ended with a vision of 19 years later from 1997."

Anamika took a breath.

"The name of the series is the Harry Potter series, first book was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the series traces the life of Harry Potter and his 2 friends Ron and Hermione through the 7 years of schooling in Hogwarts. Harry was born in 1980, but is according to the books; you clearly don't look like you are just around 30 unless the book talks about a different Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, who is Ron's sister. There are movies based on the books too, the fan base of this series is phenomenal, there is a theme park based on it, groups and pages on the internet, people writing their own versions of the stories and making quizzes. I have read the books and watched the movies too…"

Harry and Ginny stared at her in silence, they didn't know what to say, it all seemed surreal! How could it be true that there were books based on their lives? Muggles knowing all about their world but yet considering it fiction?

"Are you sure Anamika? Because what you are saying is big! If these books are so famous then why hasn't any other muggle born child noticed this similarity yet?"

"Of course I am sure, if you want we can go out to any book store and get you the books; you might want to know what the world knows about you! You can ask me facts that other people shouldn't know about you, thanks to the book I know the basics of this world you'll see."

"I don't know what to say and for the record I was born in 1968 not 1980."

"I have a question for you Anamika, what was my gift to Harry for his 17th birthday?"

"Umm...well…it was…uh...a...kiss." she blushed furiously.

"Alright you were right. Harry, ask her something."

"Hmmm…who gave me my Nimbus 2000, my first broomstick?"

"Professor McGonagall gave you the Nimbus, but you got your first broomstick on your 1st birthday, from you godfather Sirius."

She felt quite proud remembering all the trivia but her smile quickly fell looking at the wistful nostalgic look on Harry's face.

"Well, I think you are right. These books just might exist; we will get the books and movies tomorrow. Right now you need to rest; you will come home with us and don't tell me you don't want to impose. Since you know so much about me, you will know that you are safe with my family" he gave her a fatherly smile.

"Yes, you can stay in our daughter Lily's room with her, I will quickly head home at explain the situation to the kids by then Harry you can tell mum and dad about everything and bring Anamika home." Pop! Ginny left.

Harry told the flabbergasted Weasleys about what had transpired earlier and bid them good night.

"Harry you take good care of this young lady alright! Honey call us if you need anything at all" Molly waggled her finger. "Good night"

"Ok, Anamika, we are going to apparate now, it will make you feel nauseous but it will be fine then, come on, hold my hand tightly, don't let go ok?"

"Okay"

Anamika heard a loud POP, like that off changing air pressure and sudden wave of vertigo hit her, her head spun and stomach rolled. And then it was over, she opened her eyes and looked, they stood at a distance from a quaint 2 storey house, it looked right out of a sitcom about a happy family, well she at least hoped they were happy. She walked behind Harry; he waved his wand once in front of the gate and motioned her to enter. She entered and saw beautiful garden, with soft looking grass surrounded by rows of flowers, she could make out a few large trees in the darkness. They stopped at a simple wooden door with an old fashioned lantern hanging over it, they knocked the door and Ginny emerged, wearing a polka dot apron around her waist.

"Come on both of you, the kids are waiting to meet you, I have food ready too."

They entered the passage which opened into a large living room; it was tastefully decorated in warm tones, a maroon cushion on beige sofas, bright lilac curtains on the windows and over all clutter free decoration. They made their way to the kitchen attached dining room; a large round table was laid with scrumptious smelling food. Anamika didn't know if she had a taste for real English food, but it smelled yummy enough for her hungry self.

"Here sweetie, have some soup, you must be famished, you too Harry." She said placing a kiss on his cheek.

"I didn't if you ate non vegetarian food Anamika so I made steamed vegetables too. But I have chicken pot pie here."

"Oh, I eat chicken; in fact I would love to taste a real English pot pie!"

They dug into the food and quickly cleared their plates. Just then two redheaded people entered the room; Anamika presumed they were Lily and James.

"Oh, the kid are here, Anamika, these are our children, this is Lily-"

"Hey, welcome to our home"

"Thank you, nice to meet you"

"-and this is James, my middle son Albus, he's you're age is already asleep."

"Hey!"

"Hello."

"Ginny you made excellent food tonight, Lily, take Anamika to your room, she must be tired."

"Yes dad."

"Lily?"

"Yeah mum?"

"Lend her some comfortable clothes to sleep in alright? Jeans are not the best nightwear."

"Sure, come on, I hope you don't find it too cramped in my room"

"Oh not at all, your room is awesome! Thanks for the clothes"

"Okay so you change and get into bed, I am bunking with my brother tonight dad will get a second bed for us tomorrow. Good Night."

"Good night."

Anamika lay in the dark room, thinking about the day's events. She still couldn't believe what had happened, but she was too tired to think anymore, she closed her eyes are slipped away into the land of dreams…..