Disclaimer: I don't own Rose Granger-Weasley, Newt Scamander or any other character created by J.K. Rowling. My aim is merely to entertain and play around with them a little.

Chapter twenty-four: In which Rose Scamander's story comes to light

The Ministry ball had awaken some things in Rose's mind, for sure. She'd understood how tiresome it was to be the centre of everyone's attention, especially when their scrutiny was misplaced; she'd found that Leta was a lovely person that she'd easily call her friend, given time; and she'd realised, with a vast amount of shame, that she was attracted to Theseus Scamander. Who was posing as her brother. And who was engaged to be married.

The fact was, Rose hadn't often found someone who piqued her interest as he did. He was handsome, of course, that was a trait shared by both Scamander brothers; but he also was just, kind, intelligent, extremely loyal, gallant, brave, magically gifted, and funny. The package that she'd have asked for any day of the week, where she was from. If Scorpius could have been everything she'd wanted, she wouldn't have broken his heart as she had done…

After realising that she was developing a dangerous crush on her 'older brother', Rose decided that she'd try and veer away from any meeting involving Theseus, unless it was absolutely necessary that either she or he would be present. If someone noticed, they didn't say.

She kept meeting Leta regularly. They went out for tea almost each week, met in Diagon Alley to buy books or potions' supplies for Newt, or had girls' nights out, having dinner at a nice little restaurant in Hogsmeade. They'd grown closer, but neither Leta nor Rose had shared their secrets with the other…yet.

She'd written Queenie, too. She'd told her about Leta; about Theseus; about her wish to not get too close to too many people in this past, in case she could go back home. Queenie had written back that she couldn't stop living just in case, and that she had to find someone to love. Someone who'd love her back. Rose had almost argued that Newt loved her and she loved him, but she knew Queenie wasn't talking about fraternal love.

She'd been writing Tina, for a change, asking the newly-promoted Auror how things were at MACUSA, when a glowing phoenix flew into the room through the window, and perched itself atop a dining chair.

Rose's eyes widened when she saw it, for Professor Dumbledore hadn't contacted her in months, and she hadn't exactly been looking forward to seeing him again after the disaster of their first meeting.

The phoenix opened its beak, and the velvety lilting voice of the DADA Professor rose into the room. "Dear Rose, I hope this message will not find you at an inopportune moment. I wish to meet with you, for there is a lot about your personal history that we must still discuss. To avoid an unfortunate repeat of our last meeting, I'm letting you choose the place and time you'd accept to see me. I ask that it is private enough that we can discuss without fear of being eavesdropped on. Looking forward to seeing you again, Albus Dumbledore."

Rose almost felt bad for judging him. Almost. She knew next to nothing about the man, apart from one historical deed and her uncle's complete devotion. He'd been a portrait in her Headmistress' office, and that was it. Meeting him in person was different. He was different than anything she'd have thought he could be. There was that slight Ravenclaw arrogance when one mentioned his intellect; but also a mystery, a sadness, a shadow in his blue piercing eyes, hiding something deeper. She wished, not for the first time, that she could question her family about it, but she had to make up her own mind. And she'd never really been good at that…

With a sigh, she called forth her lioness, using the memory of Newt calling her 'sister' for the first time. The big cat sat down, lazily surveying the room as if bored, while she delivered her message. "Professor, I will admit that I hesitated before agreeing to see you again, but I thank you for your consideration and offer to meet somewhere else than Hogwarts. I cannot be sure of myself or my reaction to the school anymore. If it is alright with you, let's meet next Saturday here. Newt is going to another book-signing, so we will not be disturbed. Not that he'd disturb us anyway. He'd probably spend the whole time in the basement as if you were not there." She laughed before ending the message. "I will see you soon. Rose."

The lioness yawned, earning herself a glare before it left the room and the house in silence.

Rose felt a lump in her throat. Was Dumbledore going to ask her more questions about herself? Or was he going to tell her what person Rose Scamander supposedly was? His message had been cryptic enough that she didn't know which one was correct…

On the morning of the 18th June, 1927, Newt and Bunty left the house to head for Cardiff, where the magizoologist would be signing copies of his book once again. Rose left his assistant a list of things she had to be mindful of, to avoid any kind of discomfort on Newt's part. Bunty was eager to make sure her hero was as comfortable as could be, and the red-head saw them off, worried but trusting all the same.

At eleven precisely, there was a curt knock on the door, and Albus Dumbledore helped himself in, shedding his bowl-hat and grey jacket as he did. Clad in his tweed vest and trousers, looking as dapper as the first time she'd met him, he smiled at her and joined her in the sitting-room.

"Rose, my dear, how lovely to see you."

She shook his hand, nervous beyond belief, before offering him tea.

"I don't mind a cup, thank you. Have you got any sweets? I'd die for one right now…"

Rose's brow furrowed. "Sweets? What kind of sweets do you favour, Professor? I'm afraid I have only Muggle Twiglets nearby."

"I've had those before," he answered with a grimace, "they're awful. No, it's alright, I'll go buy some on my way back. And I think I've asked you to call me Albus, my dear."

Rose's jaw set. He noticed, as did he the slight tremble of her fingers as she poured the tea. He grabbed the teapot, eyes shadowed by worry.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry," she croaked, trying to go back to a jovial countenance, and failing. "I'd rather not call you Albus, if you don't mind… It's…difficult." Under his quizzical gaze, she explained "My cousin is named Albus. After you, in fact."

His blue eyes widened, in surprise, shock, then delight, then more shock. "Someone called their son after me? How strange… I'm not the kind of person anyone would call their child after…"

"Well, my uncle did. And I've told you enough, I think." She cleared her throat. "You wanted to discuss my life?"

Still curious about the whole 'Albus' thing, he didn't answer right away, but when he did, he smiled. "Yes. I think it's time to complete Rose Scamander's timeline, don't you? Of course, I am still working on sending you back to your century," he said quickly, "but more and more people will be asking after you, and we need a fool proof story to give them."

She nodded. "That's a sound idea. Theseus told me some things, already. And you, of course."

Dumbledore took his wand out of his sleeve and waved it elegantly through the air. A parchment and quill appeared, hovering above the coffee table as it scribbled. "What do you already know of our little charade?"

"I'm supposed to have been born Rose Carter. My parents died when I was at Hogwarts, and Newt and Theseus' parents adopted me then. I'm still a Gryffindor. And a Healer, first female to hold the title at Saint Mungo's, though I've never been there at all."

"Yes, little changes to that," Dumbledore provided. "Newt and Theseus' father died in 1912. Dragon pox. So you were adopted by their mother only. Her name is Tereis, she's currently abroad studying the new breeding techniques of Hippogriffs." He paused. "You left Hogwarts after your parents died and were home-schooled for the remainder of your school-years."

Rose nodded. "That would explain why nobody would remember me at Hogwarts. How old was I?"

"Thirteen. You'd almost finished your Second Year. The only teachers we'd have to worry about are therefore either retired, or too old to remember you. Professor Binns was even convinced he had had a Scamander girl as a student, when I probed him to see if he'd be a problem."

Rose chuckled. "Professor Binns has always been a bit weird." She paused, eyes suddenly widening. "Is he still alive?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Has been a ghost for seventeen years. Do I have to understand that, a century from now, he is still teaching?"

"He is," she answered, teeth gritted, "and he's not really good at it."

"Ah. Well, I apologize on behalf of Hogwarts' staff." With a smile, he carried on with the matter at hand. "I've convinced Saint-Mungo's Director that you had studied abroad – in France – and that you had passed your exams to become a Healer at home. He had not real reason to refuse your accreditation, since France is much more 'tolerant' of female Healers. Especially now that the First World War has taken its toll. I'm not certain you could work there, but at least, you do hold the title of Healer." He waved his wand again, and a roll of parchment appeared and landed gently on the couch next to Rose. "You can read that later. It's your diploma. I doubt that a lot would have changed in a century, Hippocrates's oath has remained the same for eons."

Rose smiled, placing the roll in her lap. It was as if she was holding her degree for the first time again. The emotion was raw; the pride was surging through her. She still was a Healer. Three long years of studies hadn't amounted to nothing. "Thank you," she breathed.

"Of course, that leaves us with a few issues. Since I pretended you studied in France, there is the matter of where you were during the year between your graduation, and your first appearance in New-York last December."

Rose pondered. "I think it'd be easier to spin a lie with a bit of truth in it." Dumbledore smirked, appreciating the sentiment, apparently. "I am subject to panic attacks. I have only recently managed to work past them, and to get out of the house."

"That works for me," he said, before a worried look settled on his face. "Have you had any more, since last time we saw each other?"

She shrugged. "A couple. At night, mostly. Nightmares. I don't like to wake Newt, so I wait until they go away."

Dumbledore pursed his lips. He stood, made the parchment and quill disappear with their set of notes, and turned to her again. "As a Healer, I suppose you are rather good at Potions-making?"

"I am," she answered immediately. "I haven't had the opportunity to brew anything lately, but I did get an Outstanding in my N.E.W.T."

"And my congratulations. I did only manage an Exceed Expectations myself. Never was very fond of the subject. Anyway," he seemed to go from one idea to the other, as if his brain was overcome with too much again, "if I can, I will send you the necessary ingredients to brew Dreamless Sleep. I trust you with the dosage, but I do not want you to exhaust yourself physically and emotionally because of those nightmares." A sad smile appeared on his lips. "No matter how important the people in them are…"

For a split second, Rose had the impression that he knew exactly what she was going through, that he too had lost his family so quickly that he hadn't had time to properly grieve. Then she shoved the idea away. Albus Dumbledore wouldn't show weakness.

He'd grabbed his jacket and hat to leave when an owl flew in from the open front door Rose had been holding for him.

Dumbledore's brow furrowed as he saw his name on the envelope, and grabbed it eagerly when he noticed the Ministry seal. Which Rose noticed too.

She didn't want to be nosy, but if the Minister for Magic was writing Albus Dumbledore in such an urgent fashion, the matter must have been serious.

"Impossible," he breathed, eyes wide and…..fearful?

Rose closed the door and got closer. "Professor? Is everything alright?"

Without a word, he passed her the letter. Any other day, she knew she would never have been made privy to his correspondence. This should have made her understand.

"Dumbledore, it is with great pain and disappointment that I have to inform you that, earlier this morning, Gellert Grindelwald escaped MACUSA's custody, and is on the run once more. Hector Fawley, Minister for Magic."