Dora Longbottom began to freak out, "This can't be real," she half sobbed at the bearded wizard standing above her. "The charm was only meant to go back a few seconds." Tears came falling from the girls eyes. They were tears of terror and anxiety and pain.
The wizard looked at her kindly with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. He reached to help her off the ground and guided her to a chair. "Now," the wizard said after she had sat down in a chair in front of the desk, "How about a cup of tea and you can tell me where it is you're from."
After a few sips of tea Dora answered, "I suppose the real question is when I'm from," she glanced up and saw that the old man was listening attentively to her explanation. "You see, there's no way I'm in the right time. I was practicing a charm in class but I guess it went wrong and I ended up here instead. Of course this could all be a dream, but I doubt it considering the fact that the tea burned my tongue or perhaps a hallucination, but of course I doubt that too. It would make more sense if I've gone back in time. Out of curiosity, what year is it?"
Dumbledore looked at her from behind his desk, a bewildered look on his face, "Its 1989," he said.
"Ah, well, I guess it is a bit of a simple mistake to make, I went back twenty-four years instead of seconds. I did ask the professor if he was sure it was safe though…" she trailed off.
"So say you are from the future," Dumbledore began, "how would I know?"
"You're worried I'm a spy," she stated before she noticed Dumbledore's immediate expression of fake denial, "It's quite alright, I suppose I would think the same thing if I was the headmaster of Hogwarts." She considered for a moment, "However, I have no proof that I am from the future, but I suppose it should be comforting for you to know that I have no proof I am from this time either."
"A rather convincing statement," Dumbledore said with a smile, "So what's your name?"
"Well, my full name is Nymphadora Longbottom, but everyone just calls me Dora."
"Longbottom?" Dumbledore asked in surprise, "As in Neville Longbottom?"
"Yes, he's my dad," Dora replied, sad again as she wondered if her father even knew that she had disappeared.
"Well, Nymphadora, can't you just wave your wand and end up back in your time?"
She shook her head slowly, "No, according to the wizards who created the charm, once a window to a certain time with one wand, it cannot be opened from that time with the same wand. Of course, they were wrong about the charm sending people more than a few minutes back… I still wouldn't risk it. I'll just have to stay here until they come for me."
Dumbledore nodded, "Well, you might as well go to class with the other students here. You don't know how long you may have to wait. I'll get Professor McGonagall to get you settled into Gryffindor house. She'll make sure you get everything you need."
She nodded slowly and began to say something when Dumbledore interrupted, "But wait!" he exclaimed, "We can't have you running around calling yourself 'Dora Longbottom'! That could destroy something! We'll have to change your name a bit." Dumbledore thought for a moment before continuing, "How about Nim Lewis? Do you like that?"
She smiled a bit, "It'll do, for now," she said as she walked out the door toward Professor McGonagall.
AN: As usual, reviews are appreciated, good or bad!