"Hello," he said his voice icy cold. "I don't believe you're supposed to be here. Now if you'll come with me I will revive the girl..."
"Expelliarmus!" A cry came from behind the man in the cloak and he flew forward just as Rose had done, his head cracking against a tree. Two boys of around sixteen stepped forward holding out sticks and carrying a piece of paper and a cloak that looked as though it was made of fluid.
"Hi," said the first one who had black hair and glasses. "Sorry, we haven't got time to explain. First we need to get her up to the castle."
He pointed at Rose and the Doctor nodded picking her up and cradling her in his arms.
"Follow us," said the second a slightly taller and lankier boy with red hair and freckles. He tapped the paper with his stick and spoke; "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!"
The two boys began to move forward through the fog and the Doctor followed carrying Rose. Her body was limp but not cold which meant she had to be alive, but for how long?
Dumbledore tried a few charms on Rose before she finally came round. The Doctor was quite alarmed by her sudden movement. She sat bolt upright and took long shuddering breaths as though she'd been under water. She turned to face the Doctor and hugged him as though they hadn't seen each other for a hundred years.
"What did he do to her?" Asked the Doctor turning to Dumbledore as he sat on the bed next to Rose, still hugging her tightly. Dumbledore didn't reply for a minute, he merely surveyed them both over the top of his half moon glasses.
"I believe he hexed her. I'm afraid," Dumbledore turned towards Harry and Ron. "That I may have to sack your beloved Potions teacher."
Harry and Ron smiled.
"What is this place?" Asked the Doctor when Dumbledore turned back.
"I suppose I should tell you everything."
Dumbledore sat down in a chair facing them and Harry and Ron backed away to look round the study.
"Who exactly do you think they are?" Harry hissed in Ron's ear as they looked over the shelves of books lining the walls of Dumbledore's office.
"I dunno," shrugged Ron. They sat down in front of Dumbledore's desk, Fawkes swooping down to land on Harry's knee. "Random muggles?"
"But if they're Muggles how did they get in? You know Hermione's always reminding us that there are Muggle repellent charms on the castle!" Harry replied stroking Fawkes gently.
The boys sat in silence pondering this when Dumbledore came over to them.
"I think you had better introduce yourselves, I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot of each other," Dumbledore smiled knowingly
Harry and Ron wandered back to the bed where the Doctor and Rose had finally let go of each other.
"Hi," said Harry. The Doctor looked up.
"Thanks," The Doctor smiled. "For what you did to Rose."
"S'all right," Ron mumbled going red about the ears. "I'm Ron by the way and this is Harry."
"Pleased to meet you both. Dumbledore here has just told me everything about your world so I guess I should tell you about mine. Well I'm a nine-hundred-year-old alien with two hearts and I travel round in a time machine with my friend Rose,"
Harry and Ron let this information sink in. But living in the wizarding world it wasn't that hard to believe.
"Right," said Harry after a minute. "Why did you come here then?"
"Not entirely sure, my ship was pulled down by some kind of force. Something is about to go seriously wrong here." The Doctor frowned. "Have you got some evil war-lord type person who could come into power at any moment?"
Harry was surprised that Dumbledore hadn't mentioned Voldemort but supposed he had his reasons.
"Yeah, Voldemort." Harry replied bitterly. "He's after me because he wants to kill me."
The Doctor thought for a moment. He'd had an ingenious plan. But dare he suggest it?
The Doctor looked at Rose. She'd heard every word and knew the Doctor in such a way that she could almost hear his thoughts. But then again maybe that was the TARDIS affecting her brain.
"Why don't you come with us?" Suggested Rose. Harry and Ron looked at each other. They could do, but they hardly knew these... they hardly knew this alien and muggle.
"It doesn't matter if you say no but you saved Rose's life back there, the least I can do is offer you a way out of your troubles," the Doctor said looking at them hard. Harry thought about it. It would mean leaving Ron and Hermione, there was no way they should have to leave their families as well.
"I'm sorry." Said Harry. "But I can't abandon my friends."
Ron stared at Harry.
"Abandon us? Harry I'd come with you!" Ron spluttered.
"But Ron you can't leave your family and besides if I leave everyone else will still have to face Voldemort." Harry replied. His heart longed to join the Doctor and Rose though he didn't know why but he couldn't leave. Voldemort wanted him and he needed to stay and help fight.
"You know Harry, if you were to travel with the Doctor it would probably break the connection between you and Voldemort. That would cause him serious damage and would loose him a valuable weapon. I think the Doctor's idea is brilliant. If you and Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger were to leave for a few short months then we might be able to combine enough power to defeat Voldemort once and for all." Dumbledore said coming up behind them.
The five of them studied each other.
"That's settled then." said the Doctor.
"I suggest you don't leave until first light. Rose here needs to sleep off the effects of that spell." Dumbledore smiled, his bright blue eyes twinkling.
The next morning Harry and Ron woke early. Hermione, who they had told everything to the night before, was already up and about in the common room having packed all hers and the boy's stuff.
"C'mon," she hissed. Throwing the cloak over the three of them (which was a squeeze with three bags as well) they climbed through the portrait hole and made their way to Dumbledore's office. The Doctor and Rose were waiting for them just outside.
"What's this?" Asked the Doctor as the trio seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
"Invisibility cloak," Harry muttered as he watched Hermione and Rose introduce themselves.
"Right, well that might come in useful."
Dumbledore came down the stairs from his office.
"You should return in exactly one month. If Voldemort is still a threat then you will leave for another month and so on until it is safe to return. Agreed?" Dumbledore asked
All five of the other nodded.
"Very well, off you go."
The Doctor and Rose followed Harry, Ron and Hermione until they reached the great front doors, then the Doctor sprinted ahead to open the TARDIS.
"Will we all fit?" Asked Hermione doubtfully.
The Doctor and Rose laughed.
"There's more to this ship than meets the eye." They stepped in and Harry, Ron and Hermione were amazed to find the inside bigger than the outside.
"Welcome to the TARDIS," beamed the Doctor.