She had closed her eyes tightly after she had swallowed and after a moment reopened then at the feel of a slight breeze at her ankles.
What met her eyes fascinated her! Daylight lit cute little shops that seemed to be busting at the seems.
. . .Wait. . . Daylight? OH yes the time change from Western Canada to Britain was a couple hours! Here it would be about noon or something like it. 'geesh am I ever going to be suffering from jetlag,' she thought.
'except I didn't arrive here on a jet.'
A snigger escaped her as she continued to gaze around with tea saucer eyes.
The twins were in front of her a second later and grinned at her jaw-dropped state. "Miss Nichols may we present Diagon Alley." Both boys swept their arms aside in a grandiose gesture and she smiled.
"Now before you run off on us like a smitten pup we have to get you to Dumbledore."
"Right," George complied and both boys stepped back, linked an arm each with her, and proceeded to pompously stroll her down the alley.
Judith's feet complied but her head was on a constant swivel turning this way and that taking in the different shops. One with a particularly fascinating window display had bubbles coming out of the chimney! People too were catching her eye. The arrays of bright colors some sported were very lovely and they were all wearing robes. None of them had 'muggle' clothes on like she did and some of them even stopped and stared at her while she stared at them.
"What an interesting outfit..." an elder woman whispered close by.
A young child wearing a pointed wizards hat holding his mother's hand very boldly pointed and giggled: "Look mummy a funny muggle!"
Locating the source of exclamation she smiled and gave him a wink before Fred and George took another turn.
As it turned out they had arrived at their destination. A place that sold sweets but Judith wasn't quick enough to catch the name on the sign as they entered. When they did she completely forgot to ask about the name of the shop because of the rows and columns full of strange sweets in front of her.
Fred and George were unfazed at the site seeing their own shop of pranks was very close by and they were often in here weekly to stock up there personal sugar supply. Walking up to the counter they gave a smile to the clerk who nodded and they stepped into the back of the shop and walked up the stairs to what looked to be a living room.
Judith watched as an elderly man in a mass of robes with snowy white hair moved to stand from a chair. Dumbledore!
"Ah miss Nichols a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." He said with a very amused manner and extended his hand in greeting. "I am Albus Dumbledore the headmaster of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as I'm sure have likely already guessed."
A great sense of respect welled up in the young woman as she slowly extended her hand and firmly clasped his. She nodded. "Yes sir."
He smiled and she notice a slight twinkle in his eye like she had always read about. "Good good. Now before we get started with the rather dull business of explaining the situation let us have a seat." A heavily robed arm gestured to the comfortable looking couch and chairs before them. After sitting she looked curiously at Fred and George who remained standing.
"My apologies miss Nichols," Dumbledore said, "but what we have to discuss is rather a delicate matter and personal upon your part so I requested the Weasleys to excuse themselves for the moment."
Dazedly she nodded and the twins gave some enthusiastic departing gestures and were gone. Leaning back into the couch she let the overly soft couch envelope her.
Reaching into a hidden pocket in his robes the Headmaster pulled out a small sack and offered it to her. "Smartie?" The girl's face broke into a huge smile and she plucked a few of the muggle sweets from the bag.
"Why Sir I didn't know you could get muggle sweets like that here."
Taking a few into his own hand and popping them into his mouth he quickly chewed and swallowed. "Well they are hard to find and get but I do very much like them." He popped a few more in, "They are not nearly as surprising as Everyflavor Beans but they are much more reliable in their flavor."
Judith swallowed and gave a laugh. "Yes, no fear of getting an ear wax flavored one from the makers of Smarties."
The Headmaster chuckled and Judith realized this offering of candy this man seemed to often make in the books was a way of putting people at ease. She smiled. It was working.
"Now to the reason why you were most unfortunately woken at 3 o' clock in the morning." The bag of sweets disappeared back in his robes and his demeanor turned more serious. "Miss Nichols I trust you are familiar with the Novelist J.K Rowling in your world correct?"
She nodded.
"Good well then have you ever heard of the theory of alternative universes?"
She nodded again.
"Good. But I must tell you that that is not a theory, it is the truth. Throughout the stretchy material of time and space and being their are many different dimensions. In some of these dimensions many things are very similar, in fact only a few minor differences may exist between them. Say in one the sky might be blue while in the other it might be purple. Now I'm going to tell you miss Nichols you are no longer in your dimension. Do you believe me?"
Judith's eyes weren't really focused. She was in a different dimension?
"Sure," she slightly murmured.
One of Dumbledore's eyebrows rose amusedly but he continued on. "Our dimension and your dimension are one of the few that are very similar. In both elements of magic both exist but in your world Voldemort never came into existence. That means many things are different in the magical community there than here but you would not even know that.
"Some how amazing the muggle writer Mrs. Rowling was able to pen a novel in your world explaining the exploits of a very special magical boy in my world by the name of Harry to exact precision. You were brought here by the Weasley twins, who are mentioned in the novels, and choco transports, a sort of one time usage port key not only to a different place but to a different dimension."
Words were jumbling in her mind. . . Judith never was that good at listening to lectures and getting the full meaning she was a kinesthetic learner, one of those that had to have examples and hands on work. But how did one go about explaining this in a hands on method?!
"So why am I here? If this world is so similar to my own should there not be one of me already here?"
A tired look crossed over Albus Dumbledore's face and he released a sigh to match. "Oh if it were that simple.
"Judith my dear you are here because there is not one of you in this world. Unfortunately the circumstances that brought about your lineage in your world did not occur in our world."
Stunned she moved to speak but was kept silent by a raised hand from her senior.
"I promise to explain everything child. But before I do so you must understand a bit about the rising power of Voldemort. My research about the differences in the two dimensions has told me in your universe the 5th book was released in the past month?"
Judith nodded, "but I hadn't had the time to read it, my library was still on a waiting list to purchase it. I only just finished reading the fourth book."
"Yes well then even if you had read it you would still have much to find out. You see as it stands in this world young Mr. Potter will be entering his 7th year in the next week. Since the fourth year when Voldemort made his appearance during the Triwizard Tournament the Dark Lord has become very powerful and the attacks he and his followers have been making have become large scale. Last year after a particularly devastating attack Harry was nearly killed. For a month he lay in bed and for a week during that time he was nearly on his death bed.
"Many members of the magical community have woken up to the reality that we cannot expect Harry to be the sole protector for the wizarding world. I have been one of them. Voldemort on his own may have been a match for him but he has since plundered many magical resources and instruments and forced many powerful beings under his power.
"As it stands the side of the light may not win this war. We are close but still in need of help. One which would be priceless is an alliance with the elven people. But a problem arises they have no leader and when we speak of the elven we must take into account not only the poor house elves but also their ancient ancestors who remain in the shadows and hidden. Without a common and well known leader whom can assemble or assign help from the masses we cannot plead our case."
Judith edged closer on the sofa as the sense of purpose in his words increased.
"But once sometime ago, during the beginning of the century the elven people did have a leader, a royal family in fact. And this family was from the old ancestry of the elves. The very oldest and they were in fact a very open family who was very entwined in the muggle world. You see they were not only the royal family of the elves they also stood as the royal and ruling family of the Russian empire."
Judith gasped, the Romanovs!?
"Yes as you likely have already deduced they were the Romanov family. But Russia did not know them to be elven. They hid their main elven feature: their pointed ears, by a simple charm which made them appear muggle."
With her confusion mounting Judith was unable to stay quite. "But I thought elves were quite obvious elven. The literary description of Dobby was. . . Well very different from what your proposing."
Dumbledore smiled at the inquisitive mind she was exhibiting and was glad she noticed. "Yes that would be peculiar if the royal family looked like a regular house elf. But the reason they look so much like muggles is because of their old blood. You see all elves looked like that at one time but as some were forced into slavery under magical houses and reproduced with others that were enslaved their appearance chanced from that of their free relatives to what we see now commonly in house elves."
Judith made a face. Eww the effects of inbreeding at it's worst.
"Let me return to the Romanov family again. Now you have heard about the horrible circumstances surrounding their death?"
"Yes. . . After the Reds took over, the new communist government had the family moved to Siberia to keep watch over them. They were later shot and buried and it was only in the 1990's that the bodies were supposedly found. But they're questionable remains."
"Very good. You know your muggle history miss Nichols." Dumbledore smiled. "Yes the communist government had them sent to Siberia but it was not the new leader's decision to execute them. He left that to an eager assistant of his, Morag Kondrajke. You see Morag was an obsessed wizard set on getting rid of the elven people. Since he knew he couldn't attack all of them he set his target on the people's prominent symbol, their royal family. Sadly he succeeded in murdering the innocent beings.
"But afterward there arose suspicion that one of the family had survived. The youngest daughter Anastasia.
"A woman in North America even stated that she was the princess. But I can safely say that was an untrue statement. Anastasia didn't live." Dumbledore sadly added. "Morag was successful.
"That is. . . he was successful in this world." His eyes twinkled and Judith sat up right in surprise.
"After many years of researching I found that in your world Anastasia did survive. She was wounded in the shooting and skirted away to England by a wizard that was disguised as one of the soldiers sent to do the horrible killing. There she cast an extremely complex spell to hide all aspects of her elven heritage even the invisible aura that surrounds all beings with magical powers. With the spell done she was muggle in form and could perform no magic. Quickly to hide her maiden name of Romanov she was married to a muggle with a strong English name.
"She had 6 children of which only one gained her elven traits and they remained hidden because of the special properties of the spell cast; that way none of her children would be at risk either.
"Because Anastasia was of old blood her traits would not spread easily and after her death as her family grew only two within the family at any given time would ever unknowingly have those hidden elven traits.
"I have spent many years tracing this mystery and Anna's family. At first it was just a hobby but since Voldemort started terrorizing muggles and muggle-borns I have hurried my search. I've had to find Anastasia's ancestor so to restore the elven people a leader whom I could then hopefully make an ally.
"Judith Nichols I believe you are that heir."
TBC
. . .Wait. . . Daylight? OH yes the time change from Western Canada to Britain was a couple hours! Here it would be about noon or something like it. 'geesh am I ever going to be suffering from jetlag,' she thought.
'except I didn't arrive here on a jet.'
A snigger escaped her as she continued to gaze around with tea saucer eyes.
The twins were in front of her a second later and grinned at her jaw-dropped state. "Miss Nichols may we present Diagon Alley." Both boys swept their arms aside in a grandiose gesture and she smiled.
"Now before you run off on us like a smitten pup we have to get you to Dumbledore."
"Right," George complied and both boys stepped back, linked an arm each with her, and proceeded to pompously stroll her down the alley.
Judith's feet complied but her head was on a constant swivel turning this way and that taking in the different shops. One with a particularly fascinating window display had bubbles coming out of the chimney! People too were catching her eye. The arrays of bright colors some sported were very lovely and they were all wearing robes. None of them had 'muggle' clothes on like she did and some of them even stopped and stared at her while she stared at them.
"What an interesting outfit..." an elder woman whispered close by.
A young child wearing a pointed wizards hat holding his mother's hand very boldly pointed and giggled: "Look mummy a funny muggle!"
Locating the source of exclamation she smiled and gave him a wink before Fred and George took another turn.
As it turned out they had arrived at their destination. A place that sold sweets but Judith wasn't quick enough to catch the name on the sign as they entered. When they did she completely forgot to ask about the name of the shop because of the rows and columns full of strange sweets in front of her.
Fred and George were unfazed at the site seeing their own shop of pranks was very close by and they were often in here weekly to stock up there personal sugar supply. Walking up to the counter they gave a smile to the clerk who nodded and they stepped into the back of the shop and walked up the stairs to what looked to be a living room.
Judith watched as an elderly man in a mass of robes with snowy white hair moved to stand from a chair. Dumbledore!
"Ah miss Nichols a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." He said with a very amused manner and extended his hand in greeting. "I am Albus Dumbledore the headmaster of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as I'm sure have likely already guessed."
A great sense of respect welled up in the young woman as she slowly extended her hand and firmly clasped his. She nodded. "Yes sir."
He smiled and she notice a slight twinkle in his eye like she had always read about. "Good good. Now before we get started with the rather dull business of explaining the situation let us have a seat." A heavily robed arm gestured to the comfortable looking couch and chairs before them. After sitting she looked curiously at Fred and George who remained standing.
"My apologies miss Nichols," Dumbledore said, "but what we have to discuss is rather a delicate matter and personal upon your part so I requested the Weasleys to excuse themselves for the moment."
Dazedly she nodded and the twins gave some enthusiastic departing gestures and were gone. Leaning back into the couch she let the overly soft couch envelope her.
Reaching into a hidden pocket in his robes the Headmaster pulled out a small sack and offered it to her. "Smartie?" The girl's face broke into a huge smile and she plucked a few of the muggle sweets from the bag.
"Why Sir I didn't know you could get muggle sweets like that here."
Taking a few into his own hand and popping them into his mouth he quickly chewed and swallowed. "Well they are hard to find and get but I do very much like them." He popped a few more in, "They are not nearly as surprising as Everyflavor Beans but they are much more reliable in their flavor."
Judith swallowed and gave a laugh. "Yes, no fear of getting an ear wax flavored one from the makers of Smarties."
The Headmaster chuckled and Judith realized this offering of candy this man seemed to often make in the books was a way of putting people at ease. She smiled. It was working.
"Now to the reason why you were most unfortunately woken at 3 o' clock in the morning." The bag of sweets disappeared back in his robes and his demeanor turned more serious. "Miss Nichols I trust you are familiar with the Novelist J.K Rowling in your world correct?"
She nodded.
"Good well then have you ever heard of the theory of alternative universes?"
She nodded again.
"Good. But I must tell you that that is not a theory, it is the truth. Throughout the stretchy material of time and space and being their are many different dimensions. In some of these dimensions many things are very similar, in fact only a few minor differences may exist between them. Say in one the sky might be blue while in the other it might be purple. Now I'm going to tell you miss Nichols you are no longer in your dimension. Do you believe me?"
Judith's eyes weren't really focused. She was in a different dimension?
"Sure," she slightly murmured.
One of Dumbledore's eyebrows rose amusedly but he continued on. "Our dimension and your dimension are one of the few that are very similar. In both elements of magic both exist but in your world Voldemort never came into existence. That means many things are different in the magical community there than here but you would not even know that.
"Some how amazing the muggle writer Mrs. Rowling was able to pen a novel in your world explaining the exploits of a very special magical boy in my world by the name of Harry to exact precision. You were brought here by the Weasley twins, who are mentioned in the novels, and choco transports, a sort of one time usage port key not only to a different place but to a different dimension."
Words were jumbling in her mind. . . Judith never was that good at listening to lectures and getting the full meaning she was a kinesthetic learner, one of those that had to have examples and hands on work. But how did one go about explaining this in a hands on method?!
"So why am I here? If this world is so similar to my own should there not be one of me already here?"
A tired look crossed over Albus Dumbledore's face and he released a sigh to match. "Oh if it were that simple.
"Judith my dear you are here because there is not one of you in this world. Unfortunately the circumstances that brought about your lineage in your world did not occur in our world."
Stunned she moved to speak but was kept silent by a raised hand from her senior.
"I promise to explain everything child. But before I do so you must understand a bit about the rising power of Voldemort. My research about the differences in the two dimensions has told me in your universe the 5th book was released in the past month?"
Judith nodded, "but I hadn't had the time to read it, my library was still on a waiting list to purchase it. I only just finished reading the fourth book."
"Yes well then even if you had read it you would still have much to find out. You see as it stands in this world young Mr. Potter will be entering his 7th year in the next week. Since the fourth year when Voldemort made his appearance during the Triwizard Tournament the Dark Lord has become very powerful and the attacks he and his followers have been making have become large scale. Last year after a particularly devastating attack Harry was nearly killed. For a month he lay in bed and for a week during that time he was nearly on his death bed.
"Many members of the magical community have woken up to the reality that we cannot expect Harry to be the sole protector for the wizarding world. I have been one of them. Voldemort on his own may have been a match for him but he has since plundered many magical resources and instruments and forced many powerful beings under his power.
"As it stands the side of the light may not win this war. We are close but still in need of help. One which would be priceless is an alliance with the elven people. But a problem arises they have no leader and when we speak of the elven we must take into account not only the poor house elves but also their ancient ancestors who remain in the shadows and hidden. Without a common and well known leader whom can assemble or assign help from the masses we cannot plead our case."
Judith edged closer on the sofa as the sense of purpose in his words increased.
"But once sometime ago, during the beginning of the century the elven people did have a leader, a royal family in fact. And this family was from the old ancestry of the elves. The very oldest and they were in fact a very open family who was very entwined in the muggle world. You see they were not only the royal family of the elves they also stood as the royal and ruling family of the Russian empire."
Judith gasped, the Romanovs!?
"Yes as you likely have already deduced they were the Romanov family. But Russia did not know them to be elven. They hid their main elven feature: their pointed ears, by a simple charm which made them appear muggle."
With her confusion mounting Judith was unable to stay quite. "But I thought elves were quite obvious elven. The literary description of Dobby was. . . Well very different from what your proposing."
Dumbledore smiled at the inquisitive mind she was exhibiting and was glad she noticed. "Yes that would be peculiar if the royal family looked like a regular house elf. But the reason they look so much like muggles is because of their old blood. You see all elves looked like that at one time but as some were forced into slavery under magical houses and reproduced with others that were enslaved their appearance chanced from that of their free relatives to what we see now commonly in house elves."
Judith made a face. Eww the effects of inbreeding at it's worst.
"Let me return to the Romanov family again. Now you have heard about the horrible circumstances surrounding their death?"
"Yes. . . After the Reds took over, the new communist government had the family moved to Siberia to keep watch over them. They were later shot and buried and it was only in the 1990's that the bodies were supposedly found. But they're questionable remains."
"Very good. You know your muggle history miss Nichols." Dumbledore smiled. "Yes the communist government had them sent to Siberia but it was not the new leader's decision to execute them. He left that to an eager assistant of his, Morag Kondrajke. You see Morag was an obsessed wizard set on getting rid of the elven people. Since he knew he couldn't attack all of them he set his target on the people's prominent symbol, their royal family. Sadly he succeeded in murdering the innocent beings.
"But afterward there arose suspicion that one of the family had survived. The youngest daughter Anastasia.
"A woman in North America even stated that she was the princess. But I can safely say that was an untrue statement. Anastasia didn't live." Dumbledore sadly added. "Morag was successful.
"That is. . . he was successful in this world." His eyes twinkled and Judith sat up right in surprise.
"After many years of researching I found that in your world Anastasia did survive. She was wounded in the shooting and skirted away to England by a wizard that was disguised as one of the soldiers sent to do the horrible killing. There she cast an extremely complex spell to hide all aspects of her elven heritage even the invisible aura that surrounds all beings with magical powers. With the spell done she was muggle in form and could perform no magic. Quickly to hide her maiden name of Romanov she was married to a muggle with a strong English name.
"She had 6 children of which only one gained her elven traits and they remained hidden because of the special properties of the spell cast; that way none of her children would be at risk either.
"Because Anastasia was of old blood her traits would not spread easily and after her death as her family grew only two within the family at any given time would ever unknowingly have those hidden elven traits.
"I have spent many years tracing this mystery and Anna's family. At first it was just a hobby but since Voldemort started terrorizing muggles and muggle-borns I have hurried my search. I've had to find Anastasia's ancestor so to restore the elven people a leader whom I could then hopefully make an ally.
"Judith Nichols I believe you are that heir."
TBC