A Conversation with Dumbledore

"Come on," Lily said, tugging my arm. "You have to go and see Professor Dumbledore."

It was after the feast. I was full and tired, but at those words I forced myself awake.

"Really?" Remember that he will understand. And maybe he'll tell me why I'm so important. "Now?"

"Yes, now. Come on!" And so we hurried on, pausing at the stone gargoyle as Lily said, "Acid pops!"

The stone gargoyles jumped aside, just as they had done in the Harry Potter books.

"How did you know the password?" I asked.

Lily indicated the "P" badge pinned to her robes. "I'm a prefect. McGonagall told all of us the password. I'm supposed to send Sirius up in fifteen minutes. Good luck!" And with that, she ushered me into Professor Dumbledore's office.

No one was in sight. Well, there was Fawkes, and I could see some of the portraits peeking at me. I waved at them, and they quickly went back to pretending to be asleep.

"Hey Fawkes." I gently petted the phoenix on his head. "How are you?" Fawkes hummed.

"I believe he is fine. How about you?" Dumbledore had arrived silently.

I turned around to face him and replied, "Just fine thanks. But a little bit curious."

"Ah, the curiosity of the young." Dumbledore sighed deeply. "You may ask all you want another day, but now is not the time. Today I have some information for you.

"Firstly, you will be given the password for both the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor common rooms. That way you can study with Sirius. I also believe that it will give you time with Lily and your new friends, hmm?"

I smiled slightly. "Yes. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Also, you and Sirius will study in the Room of Requirement. I believe your book is similar to the Room of Requirement. For now, that is all. You may ask your questions now, but I cannot promise to answer them. If I do answer them, then I will answer honestly."

"Thank you, Professor. On the train, both Sirius and Lily kept saying how you would keep me safe. Why me? I know you keep just about everyone safe, but why do I need to be more safe than most? Is there some special danger for me?"

"I am afraid I will not answer that. But don't worry, you are safe at Hogwarts."

"Professor, why all this fuss? You could have just told one of the American schools to take me. But no, I get to go to the best wizarding school in the world. Why?"

"I'm afraid that was the same question asked in different words, so I can't answer that either. Will you answer a question for me?" At my nod, he continued. "How do you know so much about our world? You never knew about us before this, did you?"

I hesitated. "Professor, have you heard about Harry Potter?"

"I know of James Potter."

"Yes, well," I paused. "Will you believe me, whatever I say?" He nodded. "And not lock me up in Saint Mungo's?"

"I will believe you."

"Okay. Well, Harry Potter is James Potter's son. Lily Evans is his mother, and someone called J.K. Rowling writes about Harry. I know about your world from her books. I will lend them to you to read, if you want. I suggest you do."

After this outburst, there was silence. I completely and wholly trusted Dumbledore. I would not have told anyone else this, and I never will.

Knock, knock Dumbledore gave me a slight, almost imperceptible nod and called, "Come in!" The door opened and Sirius entered, looking curious.

"Hello, Professor, Sanya, Fawkes."

"Sit down, sit down." Sirius sat. I could tell he was slightly nervous.

"I will not keep you waiting. Sirius, you and Sanya will study in the Room of Requirement in the evenings, and sometimes afternoons. Sanya, during the day you can stay with Sirius, or with the students in your own year. But try to avoid wandering the grounds alone. You could try out for the House Quidditch teams, or join the Gobstones club. It's up to you, as long as you don't break any rules." His eyes twinkled. "Or just don't get caught." Both Sirius's and my eyes widened in surprise. "I must admit that I was quite a trouble-maker in my time."

"Really?" It was Sirius (I would never say something so lame). "I never – I nev – wow."

"Well, I'm gobsmacked." I said dryly.

"Gobsmacked. Hmm, I like that. Well, if either of you has any questions, about anything, come to me and I will answer honestly. Good night."

It was a dismissal. We rose, and as we were leaving, Professor Dumbledore hailed me.

"Oh, Sanya? I would like to see those books, please. Thank you. And both of you, I will be changing my password to 'gobsmacked' as soon as possible." And we left.

As we stepped onto the staircase, Sirius asked me, "What was that all about?"

"Oh," I said breezily. "Nothing much."

Sirius started to say something, and as we arrived at the bottom of the stairs, we found Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall waiting for us.

"Hello, hello!" Flitwick squeaked. "Nice to meet you, Miss Calladorr. I'm Head of Ravenclaw House!"

I nodded, resisting the urge to say 'I know.' You aren't supposed to know, you idiot!

Anyway, McGonagall continued. "Miss Calladorr, I understand that you will be visiting my House. For both of you, the password is 'ringledun'. Black, you will also know the Ravenclaw password. Filius, if you will tell them?"

"Certainly, certainly. It's 'air's hear'. Come along, Miss Calladorr, I'll show you where the common room is."

And I followed the diminutive professor down to the Great Hall, then along a corridor, down a flight of steps, right, left, right, right, up stairs, down a corridor, up tower stairs and then in front of a rusty suit of armor. I quickly resolved to try to borrow the Marauders' Map as soon as possible.

I entered the Ravenclaw common room through the niche where the armor was, causing the few people in the room to turn and stare. The room was a large, round room filled with blue and bronze chairs, with a few bean bags and low tables scattered around it. The large windows looked out at the lake. I smiled at the other students and made my way up the right side of the tower (girls' dorms).

I passed one, two, three doors before I came to the fourth years' dorm. Going in, I saw the other girls were asleep, and one bed was left empty My last thought before falling into a crushing black oblivion was: who was in this bed before?