Yay, next chapter! Hope it's okay! And I present to you my most sincere apologies for the lateness of this chapter (and pretty much every other chapter) – the plot bunnies have been trying to murder me with ideas, but the computer hasn't exactly been available to me recently. Sorry. Anywhoo…

"Yes Professor. You see, I was a transfer student here, and when I was coming through the barrier it exploded. The boys, James and Sirius and Remus and Peter, they helped me out. But during the feast I saw…" Adalia hesitated, but the Professors look told her to keep talking. "Well, it sounds incredibly strange, but I saw people I know to be dead… So I left the Hall for a little while and.. Professor McGonagall, I think I- I've gone back in time."

Minerva Jane McGonagall stared at Adalia for what seemed like endless minutes. "Miss Fendrich… if I didn't know any better, I would say the Marauders put you up to this… but I've never seen you before and I pride myself on knowing every student. Very well then. You were- sorry, are, a transfer student?"

Adalia nodded quietly, surprised the professor was taking this so well. "Yes Professor."

"Very good. Now, I shall have to inform Professor Dumbledore of this, as he is the headmaster. Meanwhile, you'd better come with me so we can get you sorted. We've never had a transfer student at Hogwarts before…" As McGonagall spoke, she stood up. "It should make it easier to convince everyone that you're from this time. Perhaps a sorting at the end of the feast..? Or would you prefer a private sorting in Professor Dumbledore's office?"

"In Professor Dumbledore's office! Erm, please." Adalia smiled shyly. "Going and being sorted all on my own in front of the whole school wouldn't exactly be my idea of fun…"

"Very well then, I'll take you to the Headmaster's office, and you can wait for the two of us there. Did you have dinner?"

"No Professor."

"Then I'll have a house elf bring you dinner while you wait. Come on!" Adalia jumped up to follow the Head of Gryffindor out the door, and through a maze of hallways and stairs. Finally, they reached a pair of surly looking gargoyles. Professor McGonagall apparently wasn't as impressed as Adalia was by their nasty glares. Instead she simply said,

"Glowing Gobstoppers." Adalia was, to say the least, surprised when the grumpy gargoyles slid to the side, revealing a staircase that spiraled up into who-knows-where.

"Come on then Miss Fendrich. I haven't got all night."

"Oh! Sorry Professor McGonagall." Adalia hurried up the stairs after McGonagall, curious as to where the stairs could lead. They quickly reached a heavy wooden door, and Professor McGonagall rapped on it once, out of habit, before sweeping in. Adalia stepped in after her, and then froze, amazed by the large room full of whirring glimmering objects.

"Miss Fendrich!"

"Oh! I'm sorry Professor." She trotted after McGonagall into a smaller room, which was equipped with several chairs and small tables.

"This is Professor Dumbledore's private meeting room. I'll have your dinner sent up to you soon. Stay here." And with that, Professor McGonagall left the room. Adalia hesitantly sat down in one of the squishy armchairs. She looked around the room, checking out the random paintings and the few shelves in the room that held more little silver whizgigs. A few minutes later, there was a small 'pop' noise, and a little house elf stood before her.

"Hello Mistress Fendrich! Inky is here to serve Mistress dinner! How may Inky help Mistress Fendrich?"

"Oh, um, hello Inky." Adalia smiled at the squeaky creature. "Please, call me Adalia. And, what do you have down in the kitchens?"

"Oh we can have anything for you Mistress Adalia!"

"Okay… do you have any leftovers from the feast?"

"Yes Mistress Adalia!"

"Could I just have a plate of leftovers then? Please?"

"Of course Mistress Adalia! Inky will be right back!" Inky then disappeared with another 'Pop', and Adalia smiled at her enthusiasm. The house elf was so cute!

Thirty four ceiling-stones later, Inky was back holding a large plate absolutely piled with food. There was no way Adalia could manage to eat all that. The peppermint humbugs looked good though…

"Thank you Inky, the food looks delicious! Just, put it on the table please." Adalia smiled at the beaming house elf, who gently slipped the plate onto the table in front of Adalia, before disappearing and leaving Adalia to eat what she could.

A half hour later, Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore found the young witch, her head resting in her arms, sleeping, next to the half empty plate of food.

"The poor girl must be exhausted. We'll sort her out in the morning Minerva. Let's leave her be for now."

And so, Adalia spent her first night at Hogwarts in the private meeting room in Professor Dumbledore's office

X

Sore. Why did she feel so sore? Her back, her arms, her legs, everything! What time was it?

"Oh!" she sat straight up as she realized what must have happened. She had fallen asleep in the Professor Dumbledore's office. The headmasters office! Oh goodness, what now?

"Knock knock!" Oh, well, that might be a start. Someone outside.

"Er, come in?" A smiling Professor Dumbledore walked in the room.

"Hello my dear, how are you feeling? Good? Good. Now, I'll just sort you and then we can both go down to breakfast. Follow me please, we'll just go into my main office where the sorting hat is. Ah, I see you're a bit sore from sleeping. Well, don't worry, we'll have you in a dorm soon enough. Now just sit down here, very good. I'll place the hat on your head, and he'll tell us which house you ought to be in! where did I put that hat.. here we are!"

Adalia watched as the far brim of the hat settled about even with her eyes, blocking her view of the room.

"Oh ho! Someone quite special I see!" Adalia jumped as the hat, well, talked to her. "A time traveler! You're the first I've seen in ages. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Now, your house… You have qualities and flaws which could lead you to any house. You're quite brave, and I see you appreciate chivalry, very Gryffindor of you. You are also very intelligent, and eager to learn new things, which could make you a great Ravenclaw. Your patience and loyalty would earn you a place in Hufflepuff soon enough, I can tell. And of course, we mustn't forget your qualities of cunning and resourcefulness, and your ambition, which could make you a welcome Slytherin. But not so welcome among the snakes I think, with your blood status, hm? And perhaps, you are not quite patient enough for Hufflepuff. But your Hufflepuff-like loyalty and sense of justice would do you well in Gryffindor. And you already have friends there! Yes, I think you'll do quite well there! GRYFFINDOR!"

Well my darlings, thank you ever so much for reading! I do hope you enjoyed the chapter. Reviews are, as always, appreciated.

God bless you all,

DragonQuill