Note: I do not own any of the characters and such, those are entirely JK Rowling's.

12. No time for lies

For some reason the headmaster didn't have to use the password for his own office. Somehow, something sensed him coming and the stairs appeared just as he stopped in front of the gargoyle entrance. Together they went up, Dumbledore sat behind his desk, Stephanie in front of it.

She took a moment to look around, and even though she had been here before, she still saw new things. Things she hadn't seen the last time, things that made one wonder. For example, why were there bookcases clearly in sight, but also one, behind Dumbledore that couldn't be reached or seen very well if you were in front of his desk. Were they books the headmaster didn't want others to see?

Stephanie looked up to the paintings of the previous headmasters, who all appeared to be asleep. But the longer you looked, the more often you could see an eye or two peek open. They were clearly not sleeping.

'Stephanie, if I may go first?' Albus said, and Stepahnie nodded to him to go ahead. 'I have looked at your notes,' he continued, 'and I like the idea. I only have two concerns.' Stephanie raised her eyebrows in wonder and invited him to elaborate.

'Well, you mentioned that you wanted to teach the students about both the muggle and wizarding society?' he asked and Stephanie nodded. 'I have faith you know more than enough about the muggle society, you just have to make sure you don't mention anything that doesn't exist yet, but I think that won't be a problem?'

Was this truly his concern? That she would mention things of the future? 'Don't worry about it sir, I will make sure to not mention anything that hasn't happened yet. It would indeed be strange if I explained them all about the internet, smartphones, dvd's, and prime ministers. Well technically, the internet already exists but it isn't used that much yet.' she rambled on. Oh, how much she missed the internet…

The headmaster was looking at her slightly confused. He surely had no idea what she just had mentioned. Even if he had known a lot about muggles, he still couldn't know what a smartphone was.

"Right…' he said. 'However, I'm not sure how much you know about the wizarding society. Do you know enough to teach the students?' he asked. Ah, so this was what he was concerned about. Had the man forgotten she had read about seven years in the magical world? And seen it in films? Even about the future? Sometimes Stephanie honestly didn't understand the man that sat before her. Shouldn't he be the most brilliant wizard of this century?

'I understand your concern sir. I do think I know enough, though. The point of social studies is to teach the muggleborns the basics about the wizarding society, so they understand the customs, politics, values and history. At the same time, I want to teach the students who only know about the magical society, something about the muggle society. So only the basics will be discussed.' she explained.

The big goal of this class was to educate the students, so hopefully they would all become a little bit more understanding towards muggles mostly. Surely the headmaster had understood that from her notes? She knew she hadn't literally written this down, but wasn't it obvious?

'Besides, we have a library filled with books about magic. Surely there are some about the wizarding society? I'll make sure to read some before the classes start.' she added when she saw that Dumbledore still didn't look convinced.

It was silent for a minute, then the Headmaster spoke again: 'We just have to make sure that we don't make mistakes. We don't want to teach the students incorrect information.' Stephanie could not believe her ears. This man was obviously not trusting her. There was something he was not telling her.

'Honestly Albus, I don't see the problem here. I know enough. The whole point is to engage the students into conversation. To let them learn from and about each other. I'm sure you understand that a nice side effect could be that mainly the purebloods and the…' she had wanted to say Slytherins, but that wouldn't be fair. She could not be biased. 'and the children from… the more fanatic families will see that the muggleborns are not any less than wizards.' she explained. This must be enough to convince him...right?

'I see that,' he replied, 'we just don't want to change tóó much.' he calmly explained. Too calmly... Suddenly Stepahnie understood what he was saying. He was afraid she would try to change the future, by influencing the students. This man! He could be so nice but infuriating as well

'I'm not trying to change anything! I'm just trying to educate the children. Isn't that my job as a professor?! I will teach them the basics, nothing special!' she exclaimed. Wasn't this supposed to be the leader of the light? Wasn't he supposed to be excited at the prospects of an advantage?

'Perhaps you're right.' he said. Finally this man was coming to his senses. 'However, I do insist you read a book or two about the magical community, just to be sure.' he added. Stephanie felt a bit hurt that he didn't trust her. Then again, he had only known her for a week or two now. She had "known" him since she was around seven years old. Still, she wasn't satisfied by his answer.

'But really, I know so much already! I know all about the important wizarding families, I know about the Ministry of Magic, I know about it's departments, I know about the laws, I know about the holidays, I know about the sacred twenty eight! Abbot! Malfoy! Lestrange! Black! Weasley! Longbottom! Rosier! Prewett! Just to name a few… funny enough Dumbledore isn't on the list! Oh, and the Gaunts of course, but I'm sure you knew that.' she was no longer sitting down, instead standing right in front of his desk, voice hard and sharp, trying to convince him. 'But FINE, I'll read a book or two!' she said as she sat down again.

That last remark was maybe not the smartest but she was getting so frustrated. This was obviously one of those moments where the headmaster had his own hidden agenda, but couldn't be bothered to inform anyone about it.

There was no smile, no twinkle in his eyes. He was slightly taken aback by Stephanie's speech. She knew more than he thought. He had to be extra careful with what he was about to say. Or rather, what not to say. He truly meant well, but how much did he know about this woman really? She knew the future and wanted to change it for the better, which was great of course. But what if it got worse?

Stephanie thought hard about how to change Albus' mind. The only thing she could think of, was being as honest as can be. She knew Albus wasn't the enemy here, he just needed to trust her.

'I understand your concerns Albus, honestly I do. Even though there are some things you are not telling me, I know. I get it, you don't really know me. But please, trust me when I say I know. I know more than you might think and you can trust me. I have no intentions to change anything in the future. I just want to educate these children and hope that it might take some prejudices away, that's all.' she said, now calmly.

Albus wondered what Stephanie actually knew. Did she know things about him as well, things he had barely shared with anyone? He didn't per se feel threatened by her, he just felt...vulnerable. So he decided to do something he barely did… take a leap of faith. It was difficult for him, he normally was always in control.

'Alright Miss Saxton, I trust you. Please don't think I don't want things to improve, I just don;t want them to get worse.' he said. Stephanie felt so relieved. Finally, the man was convinced. She noticed he looked uncomfortable.

'Thank you Albus, that means a lot. I won't let you down.' and she meant it. She alway was as honest as possible when it was possible. She didn't want to do anything behind his back, and she really wanted them to be united, to be on the same side: the side of the light.

'I also was thinking this morning that this class might be useful for the second years as well, just for this year? Next year it could be first years only.' she added. Albus nodded as a sign of consent.

Still she felt compelled to say more. 'Albus… I need to tell you something.' she started. Albus had a feeling where this was going. He still couldn't know any more about the future. He wanted to know, yes, he was curious. But it was simply too dangerous. So he put his hand up to stop her from talking.

'Please Stephanie, don't say anymore. It is too risky to disclose the future to me.' He said. But Stephanie wouldn't listen. 'Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore you need to listen to me! I'm not going to tell you any specifics about the future right now, even though I want to but that is for another time. You need to know one thing right now. Your biggest mistake was that you wouldn't trust others with essential information. You never let go of your control. I do not know why. Some thought you were superior and thought you had your reasons. Some thought you to be manipulative. I think, no, I know, that if this time, you share a bit more, trust a bit more, and let a bit more of the control go… things could be much better!'

Albus wanted to protest, to say she was wrong, to deny. But somewhere in the back of his mind was a voice that wondered if he was truly that bad. What had he done in the future that made Stephanie say this? Apparently it was important enough for her to tell it anyway, even though he had said multiple times he didn't want to know anything about the future. He would have to think about it, maybe even look back to some old memories from the war in his pensieve.

He chose to get back on topic. 'Are you still alright with starting on Monday then?' he asked.

Stephanie was slightly confused with the sudden change of topic, but understood he didn't want to discuss it any further. 'Yes sir, monday is fine. I have already prepared most of the muggle studies classes.' she answered.

'Excellent, I'm sure you'll do well. Please let me know if there is anything you need. I will make sure to put up notices in each common room so the first and second years know they will have an extra class to attend to. Now, I believe there was something you wanted to discuss as well? Unless we have already covered it?' he asked.

Stephanie had almost forgotten about the library books. 'Ah yes! I was in the library the other day and I was looking for books on muggles. I have found three books that need to be removed from the library.' she said. She actually had wanted to ask nicely to remove them. But after the discussion they just had, she decided to take a more direct approach.

Albus' eyebrows shot up. 'What about them?' he asked. Stephanie explained to him why they deserved no place in the library. 'One of them even claimed muggle babies get delivered by storks! Can you believe it?!' she said.

'Are they not?' Albus' asked. Was this man serious? 'Are you actually asking me that? Do you know so little about muggles?' she replied. A memory suddenly came back to her. In the future Rita Skeeter would write a book about Albus, which had clearly claimed that Albus once had shared the same views with Gellert Grindelwald. Could it be that he actually still thought that muggles were lesser beings?

'You're kidding me right?' she then asked. 'Of course my dear, of course. I know better.' he quickly replied. 'Bring me the books when you have the time, and I'll make sure they will not find their way back to the library.'

Stephanie wasn't sure if he meant this, or that he was just saying it to please her, but she would take it. As long as the books would be removed, it was fine… for now. 'Great, thank you sir. I will make sure to give you the books tomorrow. Madam Pince won't like me for it.' she joked, in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

Albus chuckled at her remark. 'Was there anything else you wished to discuss, Stephanie?' he asked. Stephanie shook her head. 'No sir, that would be all for now.' she replied. Excellent, I will see you tomorrow at breakfast then'.

Stephanie stood up and turned to leave. When she was walking towards the door to leave the office, she heard Albus say: 'That is an interesting tattoo you have there.' For a moment Stephanie wondered which one he meant. She had several. She followed his line of sight towards her ankle, which was sticking out from under her trousers.

As a real Harry Potter fan, she had gotten a tattoo a year ago on her ankle. It was the word 'MAGIC' but instead of the 'A', there was the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. She felt embarrassed for a moment. Without her wanting to, she had just disclosed a very essential piece of information of her knowledge to the headmaster.

She decided to just go with it. It was obvious what the tattoo meant. 'I know,' she replied to the headmaster, 'I know…'