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Disclaimer: All characters and recognizable plotlines belong to JK Rowling
CHAPTER TWO: Of Histories and Surprises
After much fruitless searching, Katie Bell and Oliver Wood were still unable to find Professor Dumbledore anywhere within the castle.
"This place is too big, Katie. We've been to every classroom and even the staff room...there's no sign of him," Oliver sighed.
Katie stopped walking and turned around to face him. "Well what do you propose we do?" she asked, rather snappishly.
Oliver paused in thought. "Maybe we should just go see Professor Dippet ourselves and explain.."
"Explain what Oliver?" Katie exploded "explain that we are two time travelers here to help Head Boy Tom Riddle? Yeah that might go over well...well except for the fact that neither of us know who the hell Tom Riddle really is anyway, and I certainly have no idea what I'm suppose to do to help him!"
"Yes that would be a rather odd story," answered a new voice.
Katie gasped and Oliver spun around in horror. Had they really been talking so loud? What consequences would their foolishness result in?
Looking back at them, however, was a much-younger Albus Dumbledore. His auburn hair shined in the sun beams that shot through the corridor, and his blue eyes twinkled-eyes that looked much less tired than those that Katie and Oliver knew.
"Sir-I-we...er" Katie racked her brain for a cover. This was not how see imagined their introduction to their future headmaster going.
"Young lady, I believe that this conversation would be more appropriately held in my office. Follow me please," Dumbledore demanded.
Stunned, Oliver and Katie followed their professor out through the corridor, down two flights of stairs and into the Defense Against the Dark Arts corridor. They entered the defense classroom and then followed Dumbledore into an adjacent room. As Oliver closed the door behind him, Dumbledore lit several candles, giving Katie time enough to observe the office.
Dumbledore's office was filled with many interesting silver and gold instruments whose tinkering made a quiet whistling sound fill the office. Around the perimeter of the office was a large mahogany bookcase, filled with a collection of both glossy and threadbare books. A brilliantly-red phoenix sat on a perch in the corner next to Dumbledore's shiny cherry desk, and Katie watched the bird in interest as Oliver conjured two extra chairs for them to sit in.
Dumbledore lit the fire with another wave of his wand. Conjuring a silver kettle that magically floated above the fire, they were soon able to hear the whistle of boiling water. Dumbledore magicked three mugs and handed two of them to his guests. "I'm afraid I only have tea bags today..hope you don't mind." Dumbledore said warmly.
Katie grinned thinking of Trelawney's tea leaves, "It's fine Professor..thank you." Despite the sense of nervousness she felt in her stomach, Katie couldn't help but feel soothed by the presence of both their professor and a crackling fire in the grate. Dumbledore sat in the leather-arm chair behind his desk. He looked at his two teenaged-guests in interest. Katie glanced at Oliver who had been watching her and figured that this was her cue to explain their circumstance.
"Well Professor," Katie paused. Did she dare tell Dumbledore all the circumstances behind her trip? Would everything she said now have an effect on the future? She continued, "as I think you have already heard..Oliver," she gestured to her best friend, "and I have traveled into your time from several decades into the future. Our headmaster asked us here to-er-well change someone..I suppose..change someone that lives here now.."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in light surprise. "And your headmaster's judgement on this matter can completely be trusted..."he asked suspiciously.
Katie smiled, "Yes, I'm positive."
"Well, Ms.--" Dumbledore began,
"Bell," Oliver offered. Katie looked at him and was shocked to see him blush.
"Well, Ms. Bell," Dumbledore began, "It is time then for us to pay visit to our own time's headmaster, Professor Dippet." At Katie's alarmed expression, he added, "There is no need for worry my dear, I will take care of explanations.." Dumbledore stood and they followed him back out of the office and to the Headmaster's Office. Dumbledore murmured the password to the stone gargoyles that flanked the door, and then he, Katie, and Oliver stepped onto the revolving spiral staircase that brought them to another handsome, heavy wood door. "Stay here," Dumbledore instructed before he knocked.
"Enter," came a voice inside the inside chamber.
Dumbledore entered and snapped the door curtly behind him. Katie and Oliver could just hear the murmur of voices inside. Katie turned to Oliver and smiled. "I'm really glad you're here Ollie..I mean I know it's just a fluke and all, but I know this would all seem so much more overwhelming if you weren't here..."
As Oliver felt a wave of heat creep up his face, he mentally thanked the dim light.
"Er..yeah-no problem Kates," he said.
Suddenly the door whipped open, and Katie saw Dumbledore beckoning them inside. As they walked over the threshold, she noticed that Dumbledore and who she presumed to be Professor Dippet, a middle-aged man who was sitting behind an elaborate wooden desk in the center of the room, were not in fact alone. At her and Oliver's interest, a handsome, raven-haired boy turned around to look at them in his chair. For the first time, Katie met the striking hazel eyes of Tom Riddle. She was surprised to feel a shiver run-up her spine, but as Professor Dippet began speaking, she wasn't given much time to think about it.
"Dumbledore tells me that the two of you are exchange students from," Here Dippet looked down at a scrap of parchment in front of him, "Beauxbatons? That is correct?"
Katie stared on at him in confusion, but Oliver, catching on, replied, "Yes sir that is correct."
"Very well," Dippet replied, scribbling notes on his parchment, "and your names?"
"Katie Bell and Oliver Wood," they replied together.
"Well all seems to be in order then," Professor Dippet said smilingly at the new students, "All that's left is..well yes you must be sorted!" He stood and snatched up the familiar threadbare, black wizard's hat that sat on a bookcase nearby. Without further ado, he walked to Katie first and placed it on her head.
Katie heard a small voice speak to her in her ear, "Aha Ms. Bell- surprise, surprise. I was not expecting you for a while now..Never mind..courage like your's is not common..."
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted to the room at large. Katie plucked the hat of her head, quite unsurprised and handed it to Oliver so he could be sorted. Oliver's turn seemed to take much longer to Katie than her own, but finally the hat shouted out, "Slytherin!"
Katie and Oliver both gasped. Slytherin!
Professor Dippet looked between the two, alarmed by their obvious surprise, "Oliver you will be happy to note that Slytherin is the house of our own Head Boy, Mr. Riddle..."
Tom stood up and reached out to shake Oliver's hand. Oliver shook it weakly, but he looked like he was about to be sick.
"Well I believe that is all," Professor Dippet continued, "Riddle, if you'd like to show our two new students around the castle and to their respective common rooms before dinner?"
Dumbledore flinched slightly in the corner, but no one took notice to the gesture.
"Of course," Tom replied, smiling, though once again the warmth didn't reach his eyes.
"Er Headmaster, maybe I could speak to Ms. Bell and Mr. Wood once more before they make their exit with Mr. Riddle?"
"Well, yes Dumbledore.." Professor Dippet replied slightly surprised.
" Mr. Wood, Ms. Bell if you please, "Dumbledore motioned to the door, and they followed him back down the spiral staircase out into the corridor beyond. Turning to them Dumbledore drew two bags of Wizarding money out from his pocket, "I suppose the two of you may need some spending money..I expect that neither of you have but the robes on your backs?"
"Yes, Professor," Katie replied graciously, feeling foolish that she hadn't thought of this predicament before hand.
"I'll ask for some extra robes and books to be sent to you until the next Hogsmeade trip in two weeks,"
"Thank you, Professor," Oliver and Katie replied.
"And before I let you go with Mr. Riddle..might I add that he-" But Dumbledore was interrupted as Tom Riddle himself exited out of the Headmaster's office and approached them.
"Professor Dumbledore," he acknowledged politely.
"Riddle," Dumbledore nodded curtly. He turned back to Katie and Oliver, "Enjoy your stay here," he said, before he swept off, leaving them alone with Tom.
"Bell, Wood," Riddle said turning to them, " Dippet gave me your timetables." Katie and Oliver took the papers they were handed. "Now if you'd like to finish seeing the castle before Christmas, I suggest that you follow me." Riddle began walking down the left corridor and to the stairs. Oliver looked at Katie and rolled his eyes, smiling. "This boy does need help," he thought "Social help.."
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