Author: Mary D.

Chapter Rating: PG

Disclaimer:All locations and characters from the book Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and various publishers such as Scholastic Books and Warner Bros. Inc. This project is non-profitable and there is no infringment intended.

Let Me Bear It All
(Chapter 2)

"Ugh..," she grunted as she awoke. Her eyes were squinting as they slightly adjusted to the light.When she realized she was on the ground. She thought, "Why is it so bright? I thought I fell in a dark hallway. Maybe the sun just came up and it's filling the hallways with sun rays, but that can't be it. Wouldn't someone see that I wasn't there at the Prom and go out and look for me? I didn't go too far off from the others. Where am I?!?" She rubbed her eyes and sat up straight. She was in an alley way.

As, she started walking someone with a maroon cloak passed by her. "A cloak? That's weird." She was still wearing the same outfit she had on for the Prom, and that fact alone made people stare at her. People who were all wearing cloaks. "What is this?" she said to herself, "Where am I?? It can't be.. I got to look for a sign, a newspaper, anything that'll tell me something!" She turned to her right and saw a bunch of stores. They lined up the road. On the other end she saw a train station. "Train station? Stores? No..way." She looked at the store across her more closely and saw it. The sign said "The Three Broomsticks". "What?!?! I'm in Hogsmeade? This is just a dream. I mean, sure I dreamt of it so this has to be a dream. I've always wanted to be here, but.." She ran to the train station. She knew that there was a sign that clearly said "Hogsmeade Train Station", but she had to hear it for herself.

"Excuse me, sir," she said to the man in the ticket booth.

"Yes, how may I help you?"

"Um.. I was just wondering where am I?"

He gave her a confused look and said, "Excuse me, what?"

"I need to know where I am."

"You're at the train station in Hogsmeade."

"Oh. Thank you."

She left leaving the man more confused than ever. He even muttered something like "...too much butterbeer".

"This is it. I'm going crazy. It's either that, or I really am in Hogsmeade. Why am I here?! How did I get here? I need to get out. This is too weird. No I just need help. Dumbledore! God, I can't believe I'm going to do this. Actually seeking help from Dumbledore. He's from a book! Then again, Hogsmeade is, too. Here goes nothing." So she ran up the road to where Hogwarts was located. As she ran, she actually saw it. She saw the enormous castle with the gates in the front with the two gargoyle statues at both ends. She stopped. She couldn't believe how close to the actual building she was. All those times she imagined she was in there, and now she was going to try to get in.

As she approached the gates, she didn't know what to do. Would they let her in? Would anyone be there? Did the professors really go out and have summer vacations? But most importantly she needed to know if Dumbledore was there. The gates opened for her and she continued to walk on the path that led to the Great Hall. However, there was the case of the gigantic doors that led into the Great Hall. Her first impulse was to knock.

"But that's stupid," she said, "What if they were on the fourth floor? How would they hear the knock from there? Magic. I hope they used some kind of spell on these doors. What if someone did answer the door? What should I say?!?" Her heart started to beat faster at the thought of meeting someone from the books. Then, she slowly got the courage to raise her hand on knock three times. At this point, her heart was beating so quickly and with such force that the only thing she could hear is her heartbeat. She stood there for at least a minute when the doors started to make noise. Someone was opening the doors. "Okay, you can do this," she said to herself, "You have to do this. Where else are you going to go?"

She was expecting Filch, but it was actually Professor McGonagall. "What are you doing here? It's Summer Break. Shouldn't you be enjoying it like the rest of the students?" Professor McGonagall asked with curiosity.

"Please, ma'am. I have to speak with Professor Dumbledore."

Professor McGonagall raised one of her eyebrows. "Is that so? and why would you want to see him?"

"Well..I.. um.. I need him..to um..," Tabitha stuttered, "To..help me!" Professor McGonagall was so shocked at the sudden burst of words she jumped back a little. "Please, please. Let me see him. I need him to help me find my way back home."

"My dear, I can always do that for you. I don't see why you need Professor Dumbledore to do that. Now just tell me where you live and I'll see that I can do."

"No! It's not like that. I live somewhere else, but at the same time I live here, too."

"What on Earth, do you mean?"

Something strange was happening. Tabitha wasn't too sure about it herself. She knew she lived on an island, but what was it's name? Upon seeing the sadden change of character in Tabitha, Professor McGonagall then said, "I would take you to him, but I'm afraid he has gone out for an urgent meeting."

"Could I at least wait in his office?"

"Oh, all right, but you mustn't touch anything."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Tabitha exclaimed.

"No need to cause a commotion. Calm down and follow me."

Walking through the halls of the castle was too surreal. Tabitha examined every bit of the castle that she saw to the very last detail. The stones that were used to built the castle eroded from age. The window panes had little patches of mold here and there. The carvings in the arches were ornate and mystical on its own. Tabitha almost became dizzy from looking at so many things at once. Before she knew it, they were in front of the gargoyle with the cross swords.

"Tootie Fruity!" exclaimed Professor McGonagall. At the sound of those words, the gargoyle jumped to the side and revealed the spiraling staircase that led to Dumbledore's office. No sooner had they entered when Dumbledore entered through a portkey.

Upon seeing Dumbledore, this rush of hope surged though Tabitha's body. His very presence. Made her feel happy and secure. However, Dumbledore looked as though he had a heavy load of stress an work on him. The twinkle in his eyes were there but somewhat dull and his smile seemed to sag. It made her feel terrible for bothering him. She wanted to run away. If she did, maybe ieverything would go away/i...

"Professor," Professor McGonagall began, "this young lady has something that needs your attention. She muttered something about getting home, but it made no sense whatsoever. I'm terribly sorry to bother you about this."

"It's quite all right, Minerva. Now, what is it that you need?"

There was a pause. Tabitha began to think, "iWhat do I need? Do I really want to leave? What will happen to me if I don't? No, I can't stay here. I don't belong here./I"

"Well, um.. --iOh, no! I'm beginning to stutter again! Why did it have to be in front of Dumbledore!/i-- I need help. I need to get back home because I don't belong here. I belong on Earth, but not on this one. I mean," she paused. Dumbledore was sitting in his chair with his elbows resting on the arm rests and his hands were gently touching at the fingertips. His smile shown once again and although it looked tired and worn out, it still gave Tabitha a new boost of courage.

"Go on," he said as if he read her emotions.

"Oh yes, well," she slowed down and rethought her answer, "You probably won't believe me, but where I come from, there these books that are written about this world. Practically everyone knows about it. The books are sold throughout the entire world. They know all about the four houses, Harry's triumphs over his five years at Hogwarts, who he stays with, and Voldemort." Professor McGonagall gave an obvious wince. "I don't know how I got here. I just want to go home.." Tabitha was choking on her tears. "You have to believe me. This uni--verse--is dif--ferent from mine." She couldn't hold it in anymore. Hot streams of water were falling from her eyes rendering her ability to see.

Dumbledore watched her for a while before saying in a solemn voice, "I believe you." Tabitha quickly looked up. She was happy to know that she didn't have to convince them, but she was surprised at how easily he trusted in her story. "I will try to do my best to help you, but first, I would like to know your name."

"Oh, I'm sorry for being so rude. It's.. um.. did it start with a 'B'? No it had a 'J' in it. Oh, no. I can't remember. I can't remember my name. Why can't I remember my name?"

"No need to fret. Maybe the severe stress you're experiencing is causing you to act this way. Well, just move on to another subject." She nodded her head in agreement. "Where did you live? If I'm not mistaken, it should be a place that exists here too. Maybe it might have given off a strong magical wave. So we can probably start from there. After all, you live on this Earth, but not this Earth. Am I correct?" The twinkle in his eyes began to dance and in return made her feel better.

"Well, I lived in..No. Near the ocean. I lived somewhere near the ocean I think." As she tried to recall the physical surroundings of her home town things began to get blurry. Every time she had a vivid picture in her head it would to disappear. Soon after, she could remember anything from her other life. "iI had a mom...maybe it was a dad. Did I have parents? Of course, I did. Where else would I get the clothes that I'm wearing? Unless, I came from an orphanage. Why can't I remember anything?!/i"

She must have been quiet for a long time because Dumbledore had to pull her back to "reality" and asked her to continue on with her description of her home.

"Uh, sir, Professor Dumbledore, I can't remember. I can't remember anything anymore. I don't even remember what I told you a couple of minutes ago. Nothing seems to stick. Every time I try to recall something, it doesn't seem to be true." Her hands were beginning to tremble from the sudden feeling of helplessness.

"My dear, have you performed any spells on yourself? Maybe it's a slowly activating Memory Erase charm," Professor McGonagall said.

"No, I don't even have a wand. Besides, wouldn't you know my name if I was your student?"

"Yes, you're certainly correct, but you could've come from any of the other wizarding schools from around the world."

"No, Minerva. I believe our young friend's story. However, I can not explain how she got here or why her memory was erased. It seems to me, that we can no longer find out any more information than we already have. She can sleep in the hospital wing for tonight while I make a couple of arangments. Please, show her the way."

The girl was happy that Dumbledore ended the inquiry. Not only did she feel helpless but she also felt stupid.

"Very well. Follow me," ordered Professor McGonagall. She had a stern look, but whenever she looked at the girl, her facial expressions would show pity and suspicion. She obeyed Dumbledore nonetheless and brought the girl to the hospital wing. The sun was already setting giving the room a warm glow, but the girl didn't notice it. She was too occupied with figuring out what happened to her.

"You may sleep in any bed you choose, and you can use these for tonight." With a wave of her wand, Professor McGonagall procured a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. "Also, here something for you to eat." She waved her wand again, and on top of a table beside her, a ham and cheese sandwich appeared on a white dish with a glass of warm milk.

"Thank you, Professor," said the girl.

"No need to thank me. It's the least I can do."

The girl sat beside the table and began to eat. Professor McGonagall slowly exited the room and hesitated before closing the door behind her. Showing a part of her that wanted to consol the girl, but after realizing she didn't know what to say to make the girl feel better, she closed the door.

When the girl finished eating and brushing her teeth she laid on a bed facing a window and stared at the moon. "It looks to pretty," she thought, "..and so alone." Her vision became blurry again, and she wept. She buried her face into the pillow and cried herself to sleep.

....To Be Continued....

------------------------------

Author's Note: I was hitting myself while I was typing out the scene where she explains to Dumbledore where she came from. I hope it didn't sound TOO corny. If you're still wondering when Draco or Voldemort come in..chill. We got lots of time for that. lol. Also, I'm looking for a beta (editor). I get so worked up when I finish a chapter I don't even proofread it. I feel so stupid when I see all the mistakes online. I bet you this chapter alone has more than 12 mistakes.