IV. A 'Magical' Key
The Doctor sat in the back of the morning History of Magic class. His head was in his hand, fingers scratching the top of his head. He loved history and even he had problems sitting through the class. For the fourth time that morning he looked at the watch on his wrist, seeing that only three minutes had passed since the last time he looked at it. He let out a sigh and moved his head up so that his chin was in his hand as he stared duly at the Professor and class.
"And now if you will open you books to page thirty where we will start the three chapters spanning over the Goblin Wars of thirteen hundred and three." Professor Binns announced. The students that had managed the first twenty minutes of class pulled their books out and slowly flipped to the required page. "Now the Goblin War started on March thirteen hundred and three…."
"Actually," the Doctor called up, rubbing the corner of his left eye with his ring finger. Most of the still awake class (including Hermione and Harry) turned to look at his outburst. "The Goblin Wars didn't start till the February of thirteen hundred and five. The ider of the War was brought up in thirteen hundred and three, but it was shot down due to not enough political backings." The class looked at each other and whispered.
"What makes you say this, Doctor Sigma?" Professor Binns prodded.
"Please, just the Doctor." He sighed and stood up. "I know because I was there," once again the class fell into a silent awe. "After all, being me, the Doctor, I can go whenever I want and such." He stood and walked to the front of the class; he was going to give them a proper lesson in history and hopefully pass the time so that he could start his expedition. "Now then if you really want what happened in the Goblin Wars of thirteen hundred and five I suggest you wake up and pay attention. Professor, if I may?" Professor Binns moved aside and allowed the Doctor to begin his recount of the events that lead to the wars and several battles that happened. For once it seemed like the class actually was enjoying the lesson. However Professor Binns attempted to interrupt the lesson several times, but the Doctor went on teaching – ignoring the fact that Binns was even floating beside him. He was going to make sure these students knew how history really went.
Hermione's hand shot up in the air. "Doctor!" she shouted for attention, causing him to pause in his tale of the fourth battle and look at her. "You mentioned earlier that being you, you could go wherever you wanted to. Does that mean you used Time Travel? It is a forbidden use in the world of Wizardry, and a Wizard caught in Time Travel can be severely punished."
So, that was why his TARDIS didn't work within the rules of that world. It made more sense now. The Doctor nodded, stuffing another chocolate candy in his mouth.
"Time Travel?" he snorted, acting. "Anyone in their right minds would know that Time Travel is impossible, so says the very rules you just stated to the class, Miss Granger."
"Time Travel does exist!" Hermione shouted but bit her tongue. The Doctor raised his eyebrows for a challenge but she backed down and looked down at the desk muttering an apology. The class snickered while Harry patted her back.
"Right then, so now that we have all agreed upon the fact that Time Travel doesn't exist." The Doctor continued on with his lesson. He mentally slapped himself for saying that it didn't exist, if his people had heard that he would have been shunned. But they were all gone now, along with their rules (which he never really followed anyways). He had to act – no matter how much he hated doing so – that he was not a Time Lord and did not show people new worlds in time and space. He had to blend in and pretend to be a Wizard, when at all he really wasn't. He supposed that he could always say his Sonic Screwdriver was a wand, which reminded him to do those tests…..
The bell rang signaling class was over. Professor Binns gave the homework assignment as the Doctor quickly rushed out of the room and making his way outside the castle. One hand went into the large jacket pocket where he found the key and he began his search. There was a road that went past the Quidditch Field that continued down. If memory served him, as it always did, the road would lead to Hogsmeade. He had told Dumbledore his plan at breakfast (Dumbledore also informed Flich, just in case). He fumbled the key in his pocket to find that it was a bit warmer, showing he was going in the right direction.
"Professor Sigma!"
He cursed silently and turned to find Harry and his friends following. He blinked and looked at his watch, looking back at the three teenagers as they rushed over to him. "And what can I do for you three?"
"What you doin going down toward Hogsmeade?" Ron stammered, gesturing to the road. The Doctor looked at the road, then at Ron with raised eyebrows.
"I have business to do in town is all." He said simply. "Now if you three don't mind I don't want to be late."
"Why did you say that about time travel in class?" Hermione took a step forward.
"She's mental, Harry, I'm telling you." Ron muttered to Harry who rolled his eyes.
The Doctor shut his gaping mouth and looked around before meeting the fiery young girl's eyes. "Alright, you caught me." He held up his hands in confession. "I'm actually not a Wizard; I'm from another world where we are able to time travel. I go place to place in a blue Police Box from the nineteen sixties and have saved your race times upon times – in fact more than you can count. And now I am trying to go and find one of my friends, but you keep stopping me to ask silly questions."
The three stood silent for a moment before Ron shook his head and nudged Hermione.
"Look there, Hermione, you made him make up some stupid little story while we have loads of homework to do." Ron groaned.
"It isn't my fault Professor Trelawney assigned you both double homework." Hermione grumbled.
"Come on, Hermione, he is from the Ministry he has to know what he's talking about." Harry agreed with Ron, attempting to cool his friend off and send the Doctor on his way. "Sorry, Doctor, about keeping you from business. Now come on Hermione, let's get going. Don't you have a date with the library anyways?" Hermione bolted up straight upon remembering and ran off with Ron following. The Doctor mouthed 'thank you' to Harry as he nodded and followed his two friends. As soon as the three were out of sight he slowly walked backwards before turning and bolting down the road.
Hosgmeade wasn't what he was expecting. It looked like your typical old style England town, tall buildings that were built close and were all dark. Stepping inside made him feel like he was in the fifteen hundreds, not the nineteen nineties. No matter though, he continued on with his hand in his pocket as the key as it steadily became warmer. He took several paths in the town, winding around taking several ways back and forth as the key would become warmer or colder. Finally he had to remove his hand from the burning silver object in his pocket as he passed a small building, but stepped back to look at it.
The Three Broomsticks. The name rang a bell, most likely from one of the many tales James Potter would tell him during his days in the Order. He looked around and stepped inside, seeing that it was in fact a pub with the typical atmosphere. He never understood what attracted the human race to a smoggy, dusty, and dank place to be drunk – he'd personally rather be in a lively and bright place than one like this. None the less he closed the door and entered the rather busy pub. He looked at his watch, nearly lunch. He was surprised by how long he had been wandering the town, but shrugged it off and brushed against the pocket of the jacket which was now warm as well.
No one seemed to pay him any mind except when he was in their way. He continued on into the pub, looking around for a blond girl. He honestly couldn't see how hard it would be to find her even in a crowded pub; she should have been wearing some bright color that stood out from everyone else. It was then he spotted a speck of blond inside the sea of colors and smoke she didn't see him, of course he was in the shadows, but his arm snagged hers as she walked by. A small gasp came from her as he pulled her to the shadows with him, his crazy grin plastered onto his face.
"You know, you really ought to watch where you're going," he warned her softly. "Never know where you might end up."
Rose didn't bother to try and match his statement, in fact she replied by throwing herself onto him with her arms around his neck. He took a small step back at the sudden weight added to his posture but returned the motion perhaps a bit tighter than he intended. They broke away after a moment, his hands on her upper arms while hers rested on his shoulders.
"'Bout time you came for me, where did you saunter off to?" she asked playfully.
"Well," he smiled back. "I could tell you I've been sauntering off at the local dancing club but, the truth is I've been up teaching silly little wizards and witches at the school about their own history."
"Hogwarts, then?" Rose asked and he smiled at her knowledge. But Rose then pulled her mobile out of her pocket, handing it to him with a demanding look. The Doctor took it and opened the back of it, seeing the altered battery still in place. He looked at her with his eyebrows raised. "It doesn't work, won't even turn on."
"Oh yeh, that. Suppose no one told you." He handed the phone back to her. "You see Rose, in this part of England no non-magic items will work unless you get a special license or other knickknack the Ministry of Magic."
"Ministry?" she asked.
"The Government." He informed her as he looked around the pub. He looked at her and offered a smile. "I like your clothes."
"Thanks," she blushed. "Lady who runs the pub gave 'em to me." The Doctor nodded. "So, we going?"
"Unfortunately, no." he said with regret as he took her hand and led her to the main counter. "Just like your mobile, the TARDIS won't work either; I'll explain it when we leave." Rose nodded, letting go of his hand and approached Rosmerta to explain what happened. Rosemerta turned and saw the Doctor, who smiled and waved. Rosemerta smiled and gave Rose a form of a compliment, he couldn't tell what exactly it was all about but it left Rose as red as the flower she was named after. Rose handed in the apron she wore and picked up the bomber jacket and returned to his side. The Doctor smiled at Rosemerta again and mouthed a thank you before taking his companions hand and exiting the pub.
"So then, tell me why the TARDIS won't work?" Rose asked.
"Bloody Ministry's rules, that's why." He grumbled as he walked through the town with her. "You see not only do they have rules that keep non-magical items from working, but also they have rules against time traveling putting our little box out of order. But there is hope," he smiled at her as her eyebrows frowned together. "You see, Rose, I've been here before – in my fourth incarnation. I helped out some of the people that are high up in the Ministry now, so hopefully we will be getting what we need to make the TARDIS work and be off on our way!"
Rose smiled. "Sounds a lot like you are reliving your one hundred years of no travel." The Doctor reluctantly nodded. Rose walked a bit forward, pulling him slightly. "Well then I have good news, Doctor. I found the TARDIS, come on!"
The two ran hand in hand through the streets of Hogsmeade, of course the ones that the Doctor hadn't been. In no time Rose had brought him to the familiar blue box with its letters illuminated at top. He smiled fondly, placing his hands on the side before slipping the key in and unlocking it, pulling Rose inside.
"Right then," he instructed as he closed the doors and walked up to the console. "Until I get the pardon from the Ministry we are stuck here. This means that we are going to have to get what we need." He looked up at her face, her eyebrows raised and he sighed. "Yes, I couldn't help myself and I offered my services to help them in the light that we couldn't go anywhere. I suggest you get yourself some clothes and whatever else you think might work."
"What about you?" Rose's eyes slipped over him and took note of the attire. "Those clothes are much too big for you." The Doctor blinked, looked down at what he was wearing as his face made a slight 'oh' face. "I think we are both due for a stop at the wardrobe, Doctor."
The Doctor admitted to himself that no matter which incarnation he didn't think a companion would be dressing him. But here he was buttoning up a white dress shirt with a brown tie under the collar. Rose had studied him for a long moment before deciding which would look best on him, and then proceeded to devour his closet with her fashion sense for the next twenty minutes. She had pulled out the dress shirt, followed by the pin stripped pants and matching pin stripped vest. He sighed to himself lightly as he did his tie up, looking himself in the mirror.
He heard Rose's footsteps stop and he turned as he finished his tie. She had a large bundle of fabric – light brown fabric to be exact – in her arms with a triumphant look on her face. He raised his eyebrows in question but she gestured to the vest with her head. He rolled his eyes but followed her wishes and placed the vest on, buttoning up only to come face to face with the fabric that was once in her hands. The Doctor pulled it from his face and looked at the large trench coat she had given him.
"A bit…I dunno, too much brown?" he asked.
"I think it would look rather good with those sneakers you picked out." She pointed to the sneakers on the nearby chair. He smiled and was already in love with them. He pleased her again as he slipped on the brown coat, pulling on the sleeves to make it sit right. He swept down into the chair then and slipped on the sneakers, tying them with a giddy grin on his face. Rose smiled in self victory as he stood and looked himself over in the mirror.
"And what do you call this then?" he asked over his shoulder.
"Geek chic."
"Geek chic?" he replied with his eyebrows together. "What the hell is 'geek chic'? It looks more like a replica of the Roaring Twenties zoot suits to me." But he gave a nod in his approval, even if he didn't agree with the name she had given it. He removed the Sonic Screwdriver from the jacket pocket and slipped it inside the hidden pocket in the trench coat. The Doctor looked at Rose as she slipped beside him, her hand finding his.
"I suppose we out to be on our way back to Hogwarts then?" he asked.
Rose looked at him and kept silent for a moment. "You haven't changed your accent back and forth." She noted. "You stayed in a Scottish one."
"I have?" he'd been so busy trying to find her he hadn't noticed. "Suppose I have, I hope that doesn't bother you too much." Rose simply smiled. "Right then. Let's get on our way then, things to do, governments to yell at and such, can't keep the world waiting!" Rose grabbed the small suitcase she packed the clothes in as he grabbed her hand.
By the time they reached Hogwarts, the afternoon classes had ended. As they entered he instructed her to leave the bag where it was and it would be taken care of. She wasn't sure at first, but placed her faith in him. The Doctor then led her through the hall to where they found the great congregation of students pushing themselves into the Great Hall for dinner. He sighed and wrapped his arm around Rose's waist to keep her from being swept in the crowd and pulled her through the sea of teenagers. After they had swum through, he took her hand and led her to the High Table that stood at the end of the hall. Many of the students had gone silent at the two: girls gawking at the outfit change, while the boys were gawking at the girl attached to him.
Dumbledore stood at the sight of the young woman the Doctor had returned with. They met him at the table where the Doctor quickly explained that this was the companion he had been talking about when they were reunited in London. Dumbledore nodded with acceptance and shook her hand. Rose smiled back and nodded, looking around at the floating candles and grey ceiling. Dumbledore ordered a chair be brought to sit beside the Doctor's for the young woman. The Doctor sat Rose beside him and then took his seat as well. Students finished sitting down but no one called for dinner, due to their eyes being on the third new arrival for that year. McGonagall nodded to Dumbledore who stood.
"Students and staff," he addressed them all. "I am pleased to announce a close friend of Doctor Sigma's," Rose gave the Doctor an odd look and he mouthed that he would explain the name later, "who has joined us from Hogsmeade. She will be aiding him in his work for the Ministry this year during the Tri Wizard Tournament and other classes as well." He turned slightly, his hand outstretched to signal Rose to stand. She stood and looked over the many students in the hall, her eyes going to the banners that hung over the tables. "Students and staff, please welcome Miss Rose Tyler."
An uproar started in the Great Hall, clapping and shouting with many whistles from several older boys at all four tables. The teachers applauded as well welcoming her. Dumbledore and Rose sat down as the students began to eat. The Doctor leaned over to Rose with a mischievous smile on his face.
"Watch this," he said and set his plate on the table, food instantly appearing on his plate. Rose stared in wonder as he smiled gesturing for her to do the same. She timidly did and nearly jumped out of her seat as the food appeared. "Magic," he explained with a smile. Rose stared at him, wonder reflecting in her eyes. He loved that look she gave when she had been amazed and surprised. He hadn't seen it for weeks now, not since the last time his previous incarnation took her to Kyoto, Japan. He smiled back at her, raising his eyebrows as he took a drink from his goblet.
"We will have to set up a room for her." McGonagall mentioned. The Doctor shook his head and placed down his goblet.
"Oh nonsense, she can share my room." He said, catching the attention of every staff member at the table – most were shocked by the statement. The Doctor realized what he had said and groaned, shaking his head. "It's not like that honestly, you see, my kin do not require much sleep, only four or so hours every few days. Rose and I can share a room." He restated. After all the two had moved room to room on the TARDIS during his first few weeks in his tenth form, usually finding their way to sit on each other's bed just to talk….about anything.
"If you require so little sleep, Doctor Sigma," Severus Snape spoke up and the staff turned to him. "Then may I suggest that you take the night shift on several occasions? As seeing how you do not do as much work as the staff here, it would be a wise and logical trade off." The Doctor's eyes narrowed as a light of victory appeared in Snape's eyes when Dumbledore nodded to the idea.
Rose sighed as she brought the goblet to her lips. "You can just smell the testosterone in the room." She muttered. The Doctor's expression flipped from anger to a smile at Rose's joke. A few of the other female staff had lightly chuckled. Dumbledore himself smiled at the joke and quietly went back to dinner as the staff followed.
The Doctor scanned the room as Rose made idly chatter with the other staff members. He quickly went over the tables of students, his eyes falling on Gryffindor. At first he looked at Hermione, who looked away stubbornly. Ron smiled and waved to him, and Harry nodded. The two seemingly had a mutual respect for each other, perhaps that was because the Doctor had honestly been the first one not to stare at the scar. Sure he had noticed it, took a mental note of it, but moved on. He was more interested in learning who Harry Potter was – and not the legend that had grown about his name. Somehow the Doctor connived this feeling to Harry in the small moment they were looking at each other, and Harry smiled a smile that showed pure joy like a child.
Dinner ended rather quickly. The students all funneled together and then spread out to their separate stairwells that led to their houses. Rose stood outside the Great Hall waiting for the Doctor, admiring the large hourglasses that stood in the hall way. Each hourglass was filled with beautiful stones, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and beryl. The gemstones were all uneven, some hourglasses had more than others which confused her. Rose really didn't understand their purpose beside to look beautiful and shine in the candle light. She looked up from the stones as the Doctor stood beside her now, joining her in looking at the stones.
"They are for the House Points," he answered her unasked question. "You saw the banners above each table at dinner, yes?" Rose nodded. "The students are separated into those four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. You missed the Sorting however; you might have even enjoyed it, although I'm not partial to a singing hat myself…"
"A singing hat?" Rose asked, spacing each word and putting emphasis on each one. The Doctor smiled and gave a quick nod. "They have singing hats?"
"It is the Sorting Hat. You put it on your head and it tells you what house you are going to be at for the next seven years." He informed as he studied the rubies again. "Now, during the school year the Houses are competing against each other. You can get points from teachers or have them taking away for anything that disturbs class or adds to the class. Points are also taken away for breaking school rules, of course. Also points are added for points gathered in Quidditch – the school sport." He looked at her as she tried to gather all the information. "House with the most points at the end of the year wins the House Cup. Gryffindor has won it the last three years if I'm not mistaken."
Rose nodded for a moment as silence took the large hall. She looked back at him. "So then, what was the talking about?"
The Doctor sighed, scrunching up his nose in protest. "Snape was able to convince Dumbledore to give me night shift for tonight and the next week. Said it being something about getting students ready at the beginning of the year and the Tournament, I don't believe any of it. He just dislikes me because I was friends with one of his rivals back in my fourth incarnation." He turned to her after his quick explanation with a smile as she stood there attempting to gather the information. He took her hand in his and led her through the halls and up the staircases to the room on the fourth floor he had been given by the staff.
"So then, you are going to be explaining how you found me then?
"That would be due to the TARDIS key which slips past the rules because, luckily, it seems just like an ordinary key and keys are needed wherever you go! Guess you could call it a magical key." he answered happily as he led her down the hall once they reached the fourth floor. Rose laughed at his enthusiasm as they stopped at a door which he opened, letting her enter.
Rose stepped inside the some what messy room seeing that the Doctor had already made himself at home in the few days he had been there. Papers were all over the floor, a few books scattered on the desk. Some scrolls were also present with quills and ink, with what Rose could only assume was his handwriting. There was a map of the grounds on the wall opposite of the window. Opposite of that wall was a large four poster bed, which looked rather inviting at the moment, covered in a large quilt. Rose ran her hand over it finding it no fabric like she had felt before – which was a lot seeing as how many places she had been too. Rose finally turned back to the Doctor to find him fiddling in his pockets.
"Right then, I'm off." He said then noticed her look. "Students are supposed to be in bed by now, and so the night shift is beginning. I'll be back sometime in the morning, you'll probably be asleep." Rose was obviously worried about him but he showed off his Sonic Screwdriver (very confident that it would work) and slipped outside the door closing it with a soft click.
She bent down at the chest at the foot of the bed, opening it to find all the clothes neatly packed. Her mouth opened slightly in wonder, but she turned as the door opened again and the Doctor popped his head in.
"By the way, that was done by the House Elves." He nodded towards the trunk. "If you have any questions there are plenty of books – or you could ask that Hermione Granger girl in the morning, she is a fanatic when it comes to those. Goodnight!" the door closed again.
Rose sat there for a moment baffled, but slowly pulled out her normal sleepers, folding the dirty clothes up on the trunk before climbing into the large pillow filled bed. After getting herself comfortable, she wondered lightly if the bed would swallow her before she drifted off into sleep. Meanwhile the Doctor silently walked through the halls past the snoring paintings. He finished his rounds rather fast, totaling about two times more than the other staff members would accomplish. He figured that was mostly because the students at the moment weren't going to be breaking any rules, as seeing how it was still the first week of school. Without any students to scold, his mind wandered back to the tournament the school would be hosting, and how to nag the Ministry for the right to use his ship, which he still found preposterous. He never needed permission before to use his ship and he hadn't expected to need any. The Ministry would certainly be getting an earful, maybe three, by the time he got done with them.
Note: I didn't recall JK Rowling giving Hufflepuff a stone color, so I chose Beryl. If this is incorrect and she has assigned them a stone, just inform me and I'll fix it :)