Chapter 10: Fainting Fancies

"And there's the entrance to the Slytherin rooms." Ron hissed, his distaste at being in the dungeons showing all over his face.

"Becca." Maggie whispered to her friend, "I bet we can guess the password."

The two of them waited until what they could see of the group had headed on down the corridor.

"Is it mentioned in the sixth book?"

"I don't think so. In the second it was pureblood. What could they have changed it to?"

"Um… evil something?"

Becca sighed. "Maggie, you're impossible."

They heard footsteps coming toward them and immediately quieted.

Maggie could just imagine Becca's face as Draco Malfoy rounded the corner. He was close enough that, had Becca wanted to reveal herself, she could have petted his sleek blonde hair. She made a little whimper and Malfoy stopped. Maggie jabbed her in the ribs and Becca mouthed, "I'm sorry." but of course no one could see it.

"Who's there?" Malfoy asked turning around. "Show yourself."

They all jumped when Snape came out through the blank wall that was the entrance to Slytherin house.

"Professor." Malfoy said. "You surprised me."

Snape grunted.

"Are you alright sir?"

Snape looked around and shook his head. "Come with me Malfoy. I have some things to ask you."

Malfoy nodded, slightly confused, but followed along. Of course Maggie and Becca did too. They followed them all the way to Snape's office. They were about to follow the two inside but the door was shut just inches from Becca's nose.

"Owwie." She muttered to herself.

Maggie got down and peered under the door crack. If they were both very quiet they could hear what was said.

There was a bright flash of green light and Malfoy gasped. "I… I remember."

"Yes boy." Snape said testily, "I took off the memory charm. Now, I need you once again tell me what you saw that night."

"Well," he started, "I was walking back from… from supper and I heard a noise. I followed it and I saw her. It was amazing. I haven't seen her in years and she was so different, but I know it couldn't be anyone else."

"Mr. Malfoy…"

"Sorry sir. Well, I called out her name and she looked at me. At first she was scared and then she was happy and then scared again, I could see it in her eyes. Then she started to run."

"Run Draco?"

"Yes. She started running. I ran after her and that's when I found you."

"You do know I never saw her Malfoy."

"But she was there sir. I know it was her. You might not believe me but, sir, I know she's alive."

"Of course I know she's alive."

There was a moment's pause and then a sound of breaking glass.

"Draco!" Snape's voice was full of surprise and shock.

"She's alive and you never told me! She's bloody alive! Do you know what I've gone though because of this! That horrid Parkinson girl! The morons who follow me around! Did you know-"

They would have continued to listen but above them they heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.

The looked up into the kind face of Albus Dumbledore.

"Madeline. Rebecca." he said. With shock they noticed that they were no longer illusioned. "It's not polite to listen at door cracks."

They hastily stood up. It was Maggie that spoke first. "Sir… we were just… how did you…"

"Not here. Come with me. That is, if you have quite finished encroaching on Professor Snape's and Mr. Malfoy's privacy."

Both girls nodded and followed him. The looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. It was a while before he stopped. They were in front of a large statue of a gryphon.

"Fainting Fancies." Dumbledore said clearly looking back at the girls, smiling as the statue moved, revealing a spiral staircase. "I find them quite useful when I get visits from angry parents and Professor Snape at times even."

They followed him up the stairs and gasped. Dumbledore's office was exactly like they'd imagined it. It was a sort of mix between the library from Beauty and the Beast and a museum storeroom.

Dumbledore sat down at his desk and started writing something. They waited a few moments for him to finish but when he didn't they started to wander around the room.

Becca went straight for the books, running her finger along the faded golden spines. She was in full exited geek book lover mode. At this point she rather resembled Hermione

Maggie started looking at a shelf full of what looked like jewels carved into various shapes. She was about to pick up a large plain black stone when he spoke. "I wouldn't do that if I was you." She quickly drew back her fingers and looked at him. "Please. Sit."

He gestured them to the two chairs in front of his desk.

Becca had pulled an enormous book off the shelf and was collapsed on the floor with it in her lap. Maggie had to go over and pull Becca out of the book (which wasn't an easy task) and into the chair.

Once they were both seated and looking significantly uncomfortable Dumbledore started speaking. "Well, it seems the two of you are not quite where you belong." They said nothing. "Would you mind telling me how this came to be?"

They waited a moment and then began. Telling them about the music and smacking heads. They told him about Tom, Rupert, James, and Oliver and weren't entirely surprised when he said he knew about them as well.

"I'm sure by now, after your escapades at door cracks, that you know you have doubles in this world."

They nodded.

"The boys are obvious. You, Madeline, have an uncanny resemblance to Lavender Brown. Though I would say it appears you have much more sense than she does." Maggie smiled and took it as a great compliment, especially from Dumbledore. "And you, Rebecca, are rather more complicated. Keladry is presumed dead and there is only a handful of people who knew about her when she was presumed alive."

"What happened?" Becca asked leaning forward in her chair. This was interesting

"Professor Snape and his mistress, Beatrice had only one daughter, Keladry. She was known to the brave as her namesake, the legendary Keladry of Mindelan. About six, maybe seven years ago there was some conflict between Severus and the other death eaters. They didn't like the idea of him denying the dark lord. They found out about Beatrice and her daughter and planned to have them both killed. Of course Severus found out. He had their deaths faked and sent them to America."

"What does Draco have to do with it? Why is he so upset about it?"

"He was one of Keladry's only friends, as she was to him. They grew up together and were inseparable. Now, you will understand Rebecca, this could put you into a great deal of danger."

"Hmm yes. I could see that. Death Eaters and mistaken identity and all that. I'm presuming this is not the time to do the happy dance."

"Very true. And no shouting Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Either."

"How do you know about that?" Becca gasped then thought about it. "I really don't want to know do I?"

"Not really my dear. We will have to start working on how to get you back into your own world. Now I-"

"We can't go back!" Maggie said standing up. "We've only just gotten here. We haven't done anything we wanted to do yet and we haven't seen anything. We've been stuffed up in the Room of Requirement!"

"No. You can't go just yet."

Relieved she sat back down.

"I haven't figured out how to do it yet. But eventually, yes, you must go back. Until then, I think I know of a way to keep you two out of… well, present troubles. I'm sure you know that this year is not exactly a safe one at Hogwarts"

"What are you talking about?"

Dumbledore rummaged around in his desk for a moment before pulling out a wood and glass box. "Do you know what this is?" He asked.

"It's a time turner," said Maggie, "my sister got me a replica of one last Christmas."

"But I thought all the time turners were destroyed last year." Becca mused.

"Almost all of them." Dumbledore corrected, smiling. "A headmaster always has a backup. I even carry around an extra pair of socks on occasion."

"What do you want us to do with this?"

"You have to get the boys and get out of this year. It's not safe for you. Go back, spend some time in the years before Voldemort's return. When I find a way to send you home, I'll come and get you."

They nodded, "Thank you Professor. Thank you."

He smiled. "Good luck girls."

They got up and were about to leave when he said. "Your music will cause quite a stir. Oh, and Rebecca. Go ahead and take that book. I don't need it anymore. It would only sit there and gather dust."

Becca grinned happily and thought of the Happy Happy Joy Joy! Comment and shivered. Old guy knew everything.