Fourteen Years Later

Rose Wilson felt like she had travelled back in time. The magnificent castle that stood before her towered high, looked exactly as she remembered it, with its many high rising towers. The expansive, snow covered grounds and the frozen lake called back memory after memory, some pleasant, others not so much.

She continued forward towards the castle door, pulling her thick woollen beanie lower down her head so that it touched the top of her black sunglasses. She knew she must look odd; no one wore sunglasses in the winter, but she was advice to disguise herself as much as she could on her visit to the castle. In the distance she could make out a snow-covered beech tree by the lake, and she smiled as she remembered the many hours she had spent with her best friend, Lily Evans, under its shade in the summer. Her eyes lingered on the frozen lake for a moment, and she could almost see four young, reckless teenagers, sliding on the thick ice, playing games that Lily and herself never quiet understood but enjoyed watching anyway.

She sighed deeply at the memory of the five friends she had not seen in over a decade. Three dead, one a murder on the run from the Ministry, and the other, well, who knew where the other was.

Rose shook her head gently, as though to dislodge the thoughts.

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.

She smiled as she remembered the wise words of her former headmaster, and walked all the more quickly, suddenly very eager to see him again.

She entered the castle, happy to escape the cold wind, and her lips betrayed a gasp as she laid her eyes on the Entrance Hall. She grinned merrily as she took it all in; the Great Hall to her right, the four House hourglasses filled with gems on her sides and the magnificent marble stair case in front of her.

"Welcome back," she whispered to herself as she made her way to forward.

The castle was more as less as she remembered it; little had changed. The only difference was the eerie silence. Most of the students were away at home for the winter break, but the castle was not the same without the bright young faces running around and causing mayhem.

Rose soon found herself in front of the gargoyles that concealed Professor Dumbledore's office, but she did not enter it quickly as Professor Dumbledore had requested. Instead her eyes were drawn to a door a few meters away. She recognized it. It was thirteen years ago, but she still remembered it like it was yesterday…

"Hem, hem."

The odd sound bought Rose crashing back to the present. She spun around to see a very short and toad-like woman. She recognized her immediately. Dolores Umbridge, Hogwarts High Inquisitor. Professor Dumbledore had warned her to steer clear of this woman. It was lucky for Rose that her face was so well hidden behind her large glasses and beanie.

"May I help you?" Rose asked coolly, without removing her sunglasses.

"I was just wondering what business you had, being in the castle? I assume you are here on the Headmasters invitation?" she replied.

The woman spoke with such an uncharacteristically girlish voice that Rose simply starred for a few moments before replying.

"I don't think that's any of your business," said Rose, keeping pretense of politeness.

And then, with so much as waiting for a reply, she turned to face the gargoyle, spoke the password (sugar quills) and allowed the spiral stair case to carry her up to the headmaster's office.

Rose knocked gently on the headmasters office door and seconds later, it was thrown open and she was gazing into the twinkling blue eyes of her former headmaster.

"Professor Dumbledore!" she exclaimed, unable to mask the sudden surge of emotion she felt.

"Rose Wilson, is it?" he replied uncertainly.

"Yes," she said. "Didn't you recognize me?"

"I'm afraid I've not yet mastered the art of seeing through muggle-made polaroid sunglasses and woollen hats," he said smiling, as he took a seat behind his desk and indicated that she should do the same.

"Oh!" said Rose, and she quickly raised her hands to remove her hat and glasses, revealing bright brown eyes, framed by thick lashes, and long brown locks of hair.

"I'm not particularly fond of the glasses, but they make for a good disguise."

"They do, indeed. I almost did not recognize you," said Professor Dumbledore. "Though as a witch, I would have thought you could have transfigured your appearance?"

"Well, yes," she replied slowly. "But I'd rather not take the risk, not after seeing a colleague of mine become stuck with a very thick monobrow."

Dumbledore chuckled as he studied her warmly from across his desk for a moment as Rose did the same to him.

"It is wonderful to see you again, Rose. It has been a long time."

Rose nodded, smiling sadly.

"I know Professor. I've wanted to visit for so long, but I – I just couldn't."

She paused for a moment as she remembered the tragic day that had stolen four of her closest friends, three to their graves and one to Azkaban. She did not wish to discuss that with Professor Dumbledore now though. Now was not the time. To her relief, he nodded understandably but did not peruse the topic.

"I understand you have taken up residence in Australia? In your parent's home town?" he asked.

"Yes, in a nearby city."

"Tell me about that."

"Well, the wizarding community had grown over the years while I was away, and is still growing. We have a Ministry of Magic now – though we call it the Department of Magic. I've helped establish a private school for magical students. Unlike Hogwarts it is not a boarding school, just a normal high school, though private, so the muggle government doesn't interfere. We masquerade as a prestigious Muggle school, and while we do teach the muggle curriculum, the focus is mainly on magical related studies. Oh, and I teach at Defense against the Dark Arts there," she added, almost as an afterthought.

"Defense?" said Dumbledore, looking pleasantly surprised. "Yes, I do recall you showed a certain aptitude for that subject. Very well, then. I suppose we should try to keep this meeting short - I daresay dear Dolores will be highly suspicious of any meeting I may be having."

Rose nodded in anticipation, sitting up straighter in her chair. It was time to discuss the real reason she had traveled across two continents to be here.

"I have already confided in you the fact that Voldemort has returned to full power, and you have, to my deep relief, accepted this. I thank you," he said, inclining his head towards her.

"You're most welcome, Professor," replied Rose, thought she could not smile back. Although she had known for a day now that Voldemort had returned to power months ago and that the world was ignoring it, hearing it being spoken by the world's most powerful wizard made the fact seem more of a reality than writing ever could.

"I want to ask you, Rose, if you are ready to join the Order again?" he asked seriously.

That was it. That was the invitation Rose knew was coming. And she was prepared to answer it.

"I am," she said.

"Excellent," said Dumbledore, smiling serenely. "Your service was invaluable last time, and I am sure it will be again this time."

Rose felt herself glowing with pride, as she always did when Professor Dumbledore himself spoke highly of her.

"There is still the issue of you're job though. I assume you realise you will need to take up residence here?"

"It's fine," she assured him, "It's summer holidays at the moment in Australia and school doesn't start again for another six weeks. And if I have to, I can take leave for a year."

"Thank you, Rose. I am sorry to have to ask this off you."

"Oh, it isn't a problem, Professor," she replied smiling, "I look forward to it. I've been teaching for almost ten years. If I'm being honest, I think I need the break."

"Very good," he said smiling, "Now, I'm afraid I can't give you any details about your task at the moment, as we are short on time. But there will be a meeting tonight at five, at the Order head quarters. I have also made arrangements for you to be given a spare bedroom. You will be living at head quarters, along with a number of other members of the order. All your expenses will be covered. Is that okay?"

"Thank you, Professor."

"Excellent," he said again, as he stood up. "I have arranged for the provider of the head quarters to explain matters to you once you arrive so you can be up to speed for the meeting."

He walked over towards an empty portrait amongst the many portraits of previous headmasters and headmistresses.

"Phineas," said Professor Dumbledore as he tapped the painting.

A man immediately appeared in the portrait.

"You called?" he asked in such a tone that one would think he was simply bored.

"Please inform Molly Weasley that the new recruit for the order will be arriving in a minute's time."

"Certainly," replied Phineas in the same bored voice, and he left his frame again. Rose could only assume that he had another portrait hanging at head quarters.

"A minute?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "I don't even know where headquarters is…"

"You shall be disapparating directly from here," he replied.

"But I thought we can't apparate or disapparate in the castle?" she asked, confused.

"Correct," he said, smiling. "But I have set up a small area in the corner of my office from which people may disapparate, provided they have my expression permission, and you do. The address is number 12 Grimmauld Place, London. Memorise that please. I have placed a fidelius charm on the headquarters."

Rose tensed as she remembered that it was a failed fidelius charm that had lead to the murder of Lily and James Potter.

"Who is the secret keeper?" she asked in what she hoped was a casual tone, though Dumbledore's smile was too understanding for comfort.

"I am."

Rose relaxed; Dumbledore would never betray his own Order.

"I need hardly tell you that the location is a complete secret. Have you memorised the address?"

"Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London," Rose repeated.

"Perfect," he replied, and then, his blue eyes twinkling, "It has been a pleasure seeing you again, Rose. I shall see you tonight at the meeting. Now, if you would just stand if that corner there please, and you shall be able to disapparate."

It was not really a corner, as the room was circular, but it was a corner formed by a bookshelf with the wall. Rose stood there, and before disapparating, looked up at her previous headmaster.

"It has been a pleasure for me too, Professor."

"Good bye," he said as she spun around. "I am sure you will find a pleasant surprise awaiting you."

Rose could not reply, for by the time he had finished the sentence, she was gone.