"I am still not entirely sure of you and yours, but no one else could have known. I can only accept that you are from an alternate reality. The only question now is why you have come here—to Hogwarts, to this reality."

He held his hand up his hand as it opened its mouth to speak. "I understand that you cannot speak, 'due to matters of security and the laws of travel which theoretically governs alternate realities', I believe is what you said? However, I am also Headmaster of this school and it is not only my duty but my right to question any stranger who would enter these halls unannounced and unknown. If you cannot answer my questions, then bring to me someone who can or find some way around those limitations."

It cocked its head to the side again, which Dumbledore would almost certainly bet that it was communicating with its 'Creator' or whoever had sent it in their place. Five, ten minutes past in total silence and several times it opened its mouth to speak but quickly snapped it close. It seemed that 'they' were arguing over his request and it comforted him to know that whoever was on the other side was capable of such a human action. Finally, it spoke: "The Creator understands the position you are in. However, she would like you to know that just as you are responsible for the children under your care and the staff you employ, likewise does she have a responsibility for the people under her protection and leadership.

"Additionally, the laws exist not for our convenience but yours; if certain individuals were to enter a timeline in which a counterpart already exists or enters a timeline before their own, irreversible changes may occur. If such changes occur, they will not always destroy lives but most certainly change them. I have no concept of 'good' or 'bad' but my Creator assures me that the changes will lean toward one or the other, or most often and likely, both.

"There are few exceptions and mistakes are not tolerated, indeed, punishments are quite severe. "

"Punishment…?" He asked, fearing the answer and half-knowing it.

"Death. The Government does not tolerate interference in other timelines or their own. They do not care whether you save a thousand lives or slaughter them. They consider such actions to be unnatural and, as the one who instigates such changes, unnatural by association."

"It seems your government is far more…strict...than our own. We do not even have any concept of travel to alternate realities; we have barely begun research into travel through time."

"Indeed."

"And to answer my request…?" He asked, not sure if he really wanted to hear the answer after finding out why 'they' were so adamant about 'matters of security'.

"My Creator says that she cannot answer any question until knowing how much of an impact her answers will have on your timeline. However, if you answer questions which she has deemed of the utmost importance, then she is willing to answer yours. Yet she cautions you, there is no guarantee."

He nodded, understanding better what was at stake and willing if it meant he might get some answers out of this surreal conversation. "Very well."

"To confirm: Is this Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"Yes."

"What year is this?"

"1990."

"Did a student named Thomas Marvolo Riddle ever attend your school? If so, what has become of him?"

"Yes, he is my Professor of Defense against the Dark Arts." At this, 'Hagrid' stilled. For several moments, it did not speak. Again 'they' argued as its mouth opened and closed, opened and closed.

Quickly it turned its gaze to the head table, searching for Professor Riddle, presumably, and began asking questions one after the other.

"What were his qualifications? Is he Light, Dark or Grey? Has he declared himself heir of anyone? What is his blood-status? His House? His allies? Enemies?"

Dumbledore answered slowly, making sure of his answers before speaking as it seemed Riddle was important to them somehow and trying to figure out why. "He scored highest on his OWLS and NEWTS, apprenticed for an Auror during his seventh year and knows the subject better than anyone else I've met. I believe he is Light, perhaps Grey. I do not believe he is heir to any magical family, as he is muggle-born but he was orphaned so it is possible that he is the illegitimate child of some pureblood or half-blood. He was sorted into Slytherin but was considered for Ravenclaw. He was fostered by the Diggorys and is allied with both Light and Dark families. I am unsure as to any 'enemies' he may have made or earned, but he does find Cornelius Fudge to be 'distasteful', I think were his exact words."

He watched as it processed the information he gave and then simply continued, "Are either world at war? If so, with whom and why?"

"The Wizarding world has not been at war for several decades since the fall of Grindelwald. There have been a few wizards styling themselves as the new Dark Lord, but they are nothing more than dabblers in the Dark Arts not true practitioners or believers. Nor were any notably powerful.

As for the muggle world—"

"My Creator says, to please use non-magical in place of the term muggle."

He nodded in acknowledgement. "I have no idea. I don't think there are any great conflicts but just to make sure—" He addressed his Muggle Studies Professor and motioned her to come forwards. "Professor Evans?"

Petunia Evans shook her head and frowned, irritatingly pushing stray strands of hair that'd escaped from her French braid back from her face. "Not according to the latest papers and news. There were some 'poll tax' riots in London because of the introduction of new local taxes a few months back. Let's see…there's some excitement about the Channel Tunnel opening in about 2 years, then the World Wide Web created just a year ago by a Tim Berners-Lee, and Margaret Thatcher just resigned as Prime Minister. But other than that…" She shrugged. "Nothing big, really."

She was startled to notice that she was the focus of its attention. It was more than disturbing as those soulless eyes stared at her unblinking. She raised an eyebrow, "Yes, is something the matter?" Just because she was somewhat frightened didn't mean she had to cower away like some little rat-like that rat, Pettigrew.

"You are the Professor of Muggle Studies?"

"Obviously." She couldn't help the sarcastic edge, as she already faced countless numbers of students and staff alike who thought a muggle had no place in the Wizarding world. She had tolerated it because she had expected it from the beginning and knew that she would prove them wrong soon enough. But this was not the parent of a child to impress the importance and benefits of knowing about the muggle world, this was a stranger and she would not tolerate any disdain from this 'Hagrid'. "And yes, I am a muggle—sorry, non-magical person—employed at Hogwarts. Do you or whoever you're speaking for have a problem with that?" She said with a sweetly vicious smile to accompany her words.

The Headmaster looked askance at her but didn't say a word, it was he, after all who started her on this path and he knew it. Besides, he was as curious to know as her.

"If I have offended, I apologize. The Creator did not expect your presence at Hogwarts. You have followed a different path than your counterpart in our reality." It cast its gaze back toward the Headmaster to continue questioning him, but now this 'Hagrid' had made her curious; how different was she in their world?

"Don't you have any questions for me?" She asked. Its unblinking stare turned back to her.

"You are willing?" She waved a hand to show she didn't mind. "Your parents died sometime between the dates of July 31st, 1971 and October 31st, 1981 in a car crash?" At this, her lips pursed but she nodded. "Do you have a younger sister named Lily Evans? If so, is she married to anyone?" Her eyes narrowed but she answered grudgingly, as the answer to this particular question stirred unwelcome memories and managed to remind her of one of the biggest issues that divided the sisters.

"Yes. She is engaged to Potter, but hopefully she'll realize what a juvenile, uncouth, bigoted idiot he is and break it off." She spat and gave a feral smile. "I can only hope she wises up and finds someone better." And she already knew who would be the perfect candidate, too; someone who had always been there for Lily, even after she had chosen Potter over him.

"Are you unmarried?" At this, she raised her right hand bare of any ring. "Why did you choose to become the Professor of Muggle Studies?"

"Besides the fact that the curriculum was decades out of date? It's personal. If your 'Creator' or whoever's on the other side wants to know more, I'm willing to speak with them. I think that's enough, don't you?" With that, she returned to her seat at the head table and took out a notebook to make some notes for her class, ignoring the stares from her students who had yet to hear her views on 'Lord Potter'. Her colleagues had already heard quite a few of her rants and so returned their attention to the headmaster.

"…Is Lucius Malfoy on the Board of Governors? Is he head of House Malfoy? Married to Narcissa Black? Does he have a son named Draco?" Dumbledore felt his interest greatly increased at the direction of these questions.

"He was once a prominent member of the Board of Governors, but after a series of scandals he was forced to resign his position. His father is the Head of House Malfoy and it is rumored that the heirship may pass on to another male member of the family because of his disgrace. He was married to Miss Black until she filed for divorce, following a public investigation into his finances concerning funding for one of the self-styled Dark Lords. Yes, he does have a son by Miss Black named Draco who is the most likely candidate as the Malfoy heir."

"What is the status of the following: Bellatrix Black, Amycus and Alecto Carrow, Augustus Rookwood, Barty Crouch Jr., the Lestranges, Fenrir Greyback, Walden Macnair, Peter Pettigrew and Severus Snape?"

"Most are in Azkaban for committing heinous acts against the non-magical and muggleborns or destitute. Fenrir Greyback is a werewolf known for murdering even outside the days of the Full Moon and has yet to be caught. Peter Pettigrew is a Hogwarts graduate living at home. Severus Snape is the youngest Potions Master in England and owns an independent company, supplying potions to medical institutions and the Ministry."

"I ask the same of House Potter, Longbottom and Weasley."

"James Potter is currently Head of the family and engaged to Lily Potter nee Evans as Professor Evans stated. Lord and Lady Longbottom have a son named Neville. Molly and Arthur Weasley have six children named Bill, Charlie, Fred and George, Ron and their only daughter Ginny. I am sad to say that young Ronald Weasley was killed by a rogue Bludger during a Quidditch game." He observed as it visibly processed the information and seemed to have been slightly startled by the last bit he said about the youngest Weasley son.

"The Creator has determined that any changes their presence may make will not do undue damage to this timeline, as it differs from our own in many ways. Indeed, it is almost unrecognizable. We await your questions." It looked at him expectantly.