7. This is home now

She was slightly nervous so she didn't eat too much. At seven thirty she started making her way to Dumbledore's office. She stopped in front of the gargoyles and realized she didn't know the password.

'Sherbet lemon? Chocolate frogs? Liquorice wand?' They were all wrong. She knew it had to be some kind of candy, but she didn't know all the magical candies! Yes, she had read the Harry Potter books many times but she had forgotten these kinds of details.

Maybe she could ask the gargoyles to alert Dumbledore that she was there? 'Uhm, excuse me? Can you hear me? Could you please let professor Dumbledore know I'm here but I don't know the password?'

The statue looked up and only seconds later the stairs appeared. Stephanie went up and knocked on the door. 'Enter!' she heard.

She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. 'Ah Stephanie, my apologies, I forgot to tell you the password. It's acid pop, just so you know.'

He mentioned for her to sit down in one of the two chairs that were facing his desk. 'I was happy to hear this morning you are enjoying the books?'

Stephanie nodded. 'Yes sir, they are very interesting.' she said with an excited smile. 'Please call me Albus. That's good to hear. I'm glad you seem to have settled in a bit. Unfortunately I have some bad news.'

Stephanie found it suddenly harder to breathe. So this was it then, was he going to send her away? She didn't want to leave to be honest, she kind of liked it here now. Even though she still missed her own home, family and friends.

'I have been researching your journey here, as well as time travel in general and travelling through dimensions. I'm afraid your situation is one of a kind and has never happened before, that we know of. This means I don't know how to get you back, and I think you will never be able to go back at all. I'm sorry.'

Stephanie was surprised, shocked even. Not because she was sad, but because she wasn't! She had expected to be somber about it, but Hogwarts was starting to become so exciting, even though it was still a bit scary, she didn't want to leave anymore.

'I'm sorry to see you upset, but you will have to stay in this world and make the most of it.' Albus said.

Stephanie looked up to him. 'Oh I'm actually surprised at how not devastated I am. Over the past few days I've had the time to adjust to this place and even though it's still scary, it has also become exciting and I must admit I'm starting to like it here.'

The serious look on Dumbledore's face changed into a smile. 'I am so happy to hear that. In that case, I actually wanted to make you an offer.'

Stephanie looked confused at the older man. An offer? He was already giving her so much. What could he ever offer her more.

'Yes, an offer. Of a job. And I understand if this is a bit soon and you don't have to accept it right now. But I would like you to become our muggle studies teacher.' Albus explained.

Stephanie had not seen this coming. Was this man insane? She had only been here for five days and now he wanted her to teach children? She couldn't even do magic yet, she didn't even have a wand!

'What? I… but how? I'm not…' she stammered. 'As I said, I know it's a bit soon and you don't have to answer now. But we know you can't go home now. And you already mentioned you needed something to do, and needed to earn some money. And coincidentally, we haven't been able to find a new teacher for this position for this year yet. Last year's professor has retired. And who better to teach muggle studies than a former muggle herself? You also don't really need to know any magic to teach this class so I think you will do splendidly.'

Stephanie didn't know what to say. This confirmed her suspicion: Albus Dumbledore is absolutely crazy. How could he offer her a job already? 'I must say I'm surprised. It's a very kind offer sir, but you don't really know me but you still seem to have faith in me somehow?'

'It's true that I don't really know you yet, but what I have seen and heard from you so far makes me confident that you are the right person for the job.' Albus replied with a soft smile on his face.

Stephanie thought about what he just said. She couldn't believe him. Nobody trusts that easily! Maybe he had some ulterior motive he wasn't telling her about? Then again, it couldn't hurt to stay at Hogwarts. While she was here she could make a plan on how to change the future. And if Albus didn't want to help her with that, she would do it on her own. So this opportunity was actually a good one for her as well.

While she was thinking Albus just stared at her with a twinkle in his eye. After a few minutes Stephanie looked up to him again. 'Okay,' she said, 'I accept. But I hope I can get a week or two to prepare?'

'Of course my dear, you're really helping us out. How about you start classes in a week and a half? Not many students choose this subject so you won't have a lot of classes. This leaves you time to learn magic yourself as well!'

That sounded perfect to Stephanie. For now she could fill her time with reading and exploring the castle, but that would soon take up less and less time. So why not teach a bunch of kids about muggles? She just hoped they wouldn't be too prejudiced about muggles already.

'That sounds good, thank you for the offer.' she said. It was also a nice idea to finally make some money, so she could have some things for herself. She had no idea how much it would pay, probably not too much as she was already provided with a home and food here.

'Now, Stephanie, I was thinking. You probably will want some more clothes, or at least some new ones, yes? Maybe some books, personal items and, of course, your own wand!' he said. Stephanie nodded apprehensively. Where was he going with this?

'So how about I give you an advantage on your first paycheck and you go to Diagonally with Minerva on the weekend? She has already offered to go with you. You can set up an account at Gringotts, and you can buy whatever you need.'

Stephanie was actually moved that Dumbledore seemed to want to help her and make sure she got everything she needed. Even though she knew how stubborn he could be, she couldn't help but like the guy. For now.

'I think that's a wonderful idea, sir. Thank you so much. But why are you helping me? Just because I happened to end up at Hogwarts doesn't mean it's your responsibility to make sure I'm okay?' she asked.

'Ah, my dear, but it is my responsibility. As a headmaster I swore an oath to care for all those who are in this castle. But besides that, with your situation and all, I think it's no more than basic kindness that you help one another when it's needed.' he explained.

Stephanie doubted if he was fully honest but she would accept his answer. She smiled and silence fell. For a few seconds they just looked at each other. Being uncomfortable with this silence, Stephanie started to look around the office for the first time.

She saw all the trinkets, of which she had no idea what they actually did. She saw the portraits on the wall, in which precious headmasters were snoozing, or at least pretended to. The circulair office was most interesting. She even noticed a faint glowing light coming from one of the cabinets, and she guessed that must be Dumbledore's pensieve.

She wondered if he maybe wanted to see more of here memories now, of what she knew about the future here. She hoped he was slightly different here and wasn't too stubborn to accept any insights from others as well, besides his own.

'I do have a question, sir.' she started. He looked at her with interest. 'Do tell, but please, Insist you call me Albus. We are colleagues now after all.'

'Right, Albus,' she continued, 'what do we do with my knowledge of the future?' she didn't know how to ask it any other way than just straight forward.

`We have to be absolutely careful with that, what you know must not fall into the wrong hands. Maybe it's better that we do not speak of it at all.'

Stephanie was not surprised by his answer, but she was disappointed. How could this man not understand that they could save lives?

'But you are not "the wrong" hands, right? We could save so many lives! Prevent so much misery and destruction!' she said as she felt that she was getting frustrated. Little trinkets started vibrating around her, affected by her uncontrolled magic.

'No, my dear, I'm not. But this world may be different from what you know. And trying to change things might make it worse. Your presence here alone is probably already changing things. What if you try to save people, but instead more die?' he said solemnly.

Stephanie hadn't really thought of that yet. But how could it possibly get worse? They could keep Harry Potter out of it, let him have a normal life. He was just a kid. And if they already start hunting horcruxes now, they might be able to prevent Voldemort from coming back at all.

'I don't think this world is different. I haven't noticed anything yet. Besides, I feel like we should try anyway, you just need to trust me.' She tried to convince him.

Dumbledore actually seemed to think about what she said for a moment. 'Let me think about it some more and let's meet again next week?'

Stephanie was not really satisfied with his answer, but at least it wasn't a no. So she let it go for now and would try to convince him again next week. 'Alright,' she said, 'but pleas consider that I know a lot and really could make a difference.'

Albus gave her a nod in acknowledgement. Stephanie looked around the room once more and noticed the sorting hat sitting high on one of the shelves. She wondered… could he still "sort" her even though she wasn't a student?

'Excuse me, sir, I mean Albus, could I perhaps…' she said as she mentioned to the hat. A smile returned on his face. 'Go ahead,' he said as he wandlessly levitated the hat from the shelf.

Stephanie took te hat, looked at it for a moment in wonder and put it on. 'Now what do we have here…' she heard in her head. 'You're not a student, nor have you ever been a student here. What wisdom do you seek my child? I see you already know so much, even of things that haven't even happened yet… very peculiar.' Stephanie couldn't help but nervously giggle at how strange it was to hear someone talking in your head. 'I know I'm not a student, unfortunately I never got that opportunity. But I was wondering if you still could tell me which house you would have sorted me in if I had been one?' She didn't even know if it was possible, perhaps the hat would refuse.

'It is difficult, very difficult. You have changed I see. As a child you were eager to learn, and motivated to achieve things. But you got lonely, needed friends, and slowly lost your joy in life.' Stephanie swallowed hard, she hadn't expected the hat to be able to see so much inside her head. And be so honest about it.

'You were not happy before you came here. But I see a great future for you. Your arrival here will give you what you need. Friends, opportunities, wisdom, power and a chance to prove yourself. You are scared here but you do not run. Hmm yes very difficult indeed.'

Stephanie was slightly confused now. Could the hat see her future here? How did it know that she would get those things here? She heard the hat thinking inside her head.

Dumbledore was looking at the spectacle before him. He could not hear the conversation, but he was sure it was an interesting one. He could tell from the look on Stephanie's face.

'Hmm yes difficult. As a child you would have done well in Ravenclaw. But now..Better be….' he started talking out loud. 'Please don't say it out loud, if that's okay?' Stephanie thought to the hat.

'You do not wish people to know then? Hm interesting. Better be….'

Dumbledore was still watching with great fascination. So the girl wanted to be sorted then? But just as the hat was about to say the house it went quiet. And seconds later Stephanie took of the hat. 'Satisfying conversation?' he asked.

Stephanie felt both surprised and content. The hat had told her her house, but only her. She wanted to keep it to herself for a while, so she could not be judged and wouldn't have to deal with all the prejudice.

With a smile she nodded at the headmaster. 'Yes, it was most interesting.' she said as she placed the hat on his desk. Dumbledore knew to not ask any further. He would find out what was said eventually.

With all the important matters discussed, and after a bit of small talk, it was time for Stephanie to go back to her chambers. She wished the headmaster a good night and left his office.

While she walked through the corridors she noticed it was now dark out. It gave the castle a completely different look and it made her slightly nervous. She quickly walked back to her chambers and went straight to bed.

But she couldn't sleep. What the hat told her kept her awake. He was right, she had been rather depressed before she got here. But due to the events of the past few days that was all pushed away. But now she had gotten more time to think, now that she had gotten used to her new home. And it made her scared.