Chapter 7:
"You can sit right here, Miss Evans" Professor McGonagall said, as she pointed to a chair that was located in the centre of a circular room. She kept looking at Lilly out of the corner of her eye, still in disbelief that her former student was sitting in front if her in her sixteen-year-old state.
"Thank you, Professor" Lilly said, slowly, "What's going on?"
"Well" Professor McGonagall said, "Professor Dumbledore will no doubt fill you in on what's going on. I will have to talk to him before he talks to you though." She paused, "Lilly?"
"Yes?" Lilly asked.
"Do you know what year it is?" Professor McGonagall asked, slowly.
"Well" Lilly said, slowly, "When I knew where I was and what I was doing, it was 1976."
Professor McGonagall breathed in deeply. "Something must have gone wrong back then. Lilly, my dear, the year right now is 1996."
"1996" Lilly asked, shocked, "1996?"
"Yes" Professor McGonagall said, "We'll explain more when Professor Dumbledore arrives. You'll have to recall everything that happened to you before you ended up here."
"All... all right" Lilly said, shaking a little. She had never been so confused in her entire life.
"Good Afternoon Professor McGonagall" Professor Dumbledore said, as he walked into the office smiling widely, his bright eyes peered over his half moon spectacles and immediately landed on Lilly. "Ah Miss Evans…"
"Professor Dumbledore" Lilly said, smiling meekly. She noticed that his beard had grown several inches longer. All the professors seemed to have aged.
"Well" Professor Dumbledore began, "Lilly, you must be very confused."
"Yes" Lilly said, nodding.
"I wouldn't doubt it" he said, sitting down at his desk, "I will also give you the opportunity to ask any questions when I'm done telling you all the information I will be able to give you. First, I need you to tell me and Professor McGonagall what happened to you before you ended up here."
"Yes, sir" Lilly said.
"All right" he said, smiling, "If you would please excuse Professor McGonagall and myself for a moment." He got up and motioned for Professor McGonagall to follow. They both walked into a small room adjoining the office.
"Albus" Professor McGonagall began, "She's already run into Harry Potter and his friends."
"I figured she would" Professor Dumbledore said.
"Yes" Professor McGonagall continued, "Well from what I was able to find out, she already realizes that Harry is in fact James's son."
"She does not, however, know that she in fact in his, mother, correct?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes" McGonagall said, "I was able to get her away from them before too much information could be divulged."
"Well" Dumbledore said, "We will have to tell Mr. Potter and his friends exactly who she is."
"Do you think that's wise, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked, "I mean what if Harry feels that he can change the past simply my telling her what will happen?"
"We'll have to instruct Mr. Potter and his friends of her repercussions of such an action" Dumbledore said, lost in thought, "I'm more worried of him saying something knowing who she is."
"But Albus…" McGonagall began to say, "People are bound to talk. About Harry's past… his parents… her!"
"Mr. Potter will know that she is in fact his mother," Dumbledore said. "However, she will not know that she is his mother. She already knows that James is his father, so we will have to make sure that no one reveals who his mother is."
"What are we going to do with her, Albus?" she asked looking out at Lily concerned.
"We still have to find out what happened to her, Minerva," he said turning to walk back out. "Then we can figure out how to get her back. In the meantime, we'll just have to make sure she's comfortable here. I believe that once Mr. Potter finds out who she is, he will be most interested in making her stay as pleasant as possible." The two professors walked back out into the large office and took seats around Dumbledore's desk.
"All right, Lily," Professor Dumbledore asked. "Tell us exactly what happened."
Lily began to recall the story of going to the library to look for a book. When she mentioned the name Snape, both professors' ears perked up.
"Snape?" Dumbledore asked. "You say Profess…err…Mr. Snape gave you a book and then everything went black?"
"Yes," Lily said.
"I see," he said looking at Minerva. "Well I see the process of gaining a solution rather simple. I will only have to speak to Professor Snape later on this evening."
"Professor Snape?" Lily asked. "Everyone keeps mentioning that. He's a professor now?"
"Yes," McGonagall said. "He is the potions master."
"Oh my," Lily said sitting back shocked. "I would have never guessed…"
"If he was the one who did this at the age of sixteen, then I'm sure that now twenty years later that he should be able to assist." Dumbledore said slowly. "He was always an exceptionally bright boy. I would have never thought that he would have been able to do something related to time travel at such an age."
"Well," Professor McGonagall said annoyed, "None of us ever thought that he would become a death…" She stopped mid-sentence and looked at Lily as if she just remember she was there.
"Professor," Dumbledore said slowly, "If you could please inform Severus that I will need to see him later. As well, please arrange for accommodations for Lily in Gryffindor and some books for her so that she doesn't fall too far behind."
"Yes Professor," McGonagall said looking at Lily. "You're in your 6th year, correct?"
"Yes," Lily said. It seemed to be all she really could say today.
"The same year as Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said smiling. "I'm sure you'll find him and his friends most helpful if you have any questions Lily."
"Professor," she said looking up. "Is he really James' son?"
"Yes," Professor Dumbledore said. "He is. If you couldn't tell by the resemblance alone, you may notice it on the Quidditch field. He flies just like his father. I understand you and his father are quite close?"
"Yes," Lily said smiling. She thought about James. Then she thought about him having a son. It made her head hurt.
"Now Lily," Professor Dumbledore said. "I'm going to have you follow Professor McGonagall down to the Hospital Wing to see Madame Pomfey. I believe you need to get a little bit of rest before more suitable accommodations can be made. We'll be needing you later."
"All right," Lily said rubbing her head as she stood standing up.
"Follow me Miss Evans," Professor McGonagall said as she began to lead the young girl out of the office.
"Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said before she left. "If you could please find Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger and lead them up here."
"Yes Professor," Professor McGonagall said as she left. About a half-hour passed before she returned with the three Gryffindors close behind.
"Hello there," Dumbledore said as he magically made two more chairs appear next to the one that Lily had occupied before. "If you would take a seat."
Ron, Harry, and Hermione all stepped forward and sat down next to each other in the chairs. Ron and Hermione were staring wildly around the office, one of the only rooms in Hogwarts that they had never seen. Harry, however, had found himself in here several times in the past, and stared straight ahead toward Dumbledore.
"Well," Dumbledore began, "Do any of you have the slightest idea as to why you are here?"
"Something that has to do with that girl who fell in the library?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore said as he looked from one student to the other, before finally setting his gaze on Harry.
"Do you know who that girl was?" Dumbledore asked.
"No," Hermione said while Ron and Harry shook their heads.
"Didn't think you would," Dumbledore said smiling at Hermione. "For Mr. Weasley and yourself have never met her before."
Harry looked up. "I don't believe I have either, Sir."
"Oh Mr. Potter," he said grinning even wider. "You have met her. A very long time ago."
"Well," Harry said looking confused, "If I've met her, then why did she keep calling me James?"
"Because…" Dumbledore said thinking of the right way to say this. "You look like James."
"Maybe so," Hermione said, "but that doesn't mean everyone who ever knew his father calls him James instead of Harry."
"Yeah," Harry said agreeing.
Professor Dumbledore glanced at Hermione and then to Harry. "In your third year here, you both experienced first hand, the effects of time travel, correct?"
"Yes," they both said in unison.
"Well then," he said standing up. "This shouldn't be too difficult to make sense out of then."
"Wait," Ron said looking at Dumbledore. "Are you saying that this girl is from another time?"
"Exactly Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said smiling brightly at the fact that Ron was thinking so clearly.
"That would explain why she didn't know any of us," Hermione said suddenly realizing. "Why she said she was in Gryffindor, and what not. She's from the future."
"Close," Dumbledore said. "The past."
"The past?" Harry said. "She's from the past?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said.
"And she knew Harry's father!" Hermione said excitedly as if she had just figured out a great puzzle. "That's why she thinks Harry is his father, because they both look so similar!"
"You're very clever, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said smiling. "Yes that's it." Hermione beamed, as Harry and Ron looked at Dumbledore still somewhat confused.
"Harry," Dumbledore said looking him straight in the eyes. "That girl knew your
father very well, so you really can't blame her for making the mistake."
"Well it explains a lot," Harry said shifting in his chair. "Who is she then?"
Dumbledore took a very large breath as he looked at the young Gryffindors. "That would be Miss Evans…" he started.
"Evans?" Harry said interrupting. "That name sounds familiar…"
"Perhaps you've heard it before?" Dumbledore said slowly. "Back when you were living with your aunt and uncle?"
"Yeah," Harry said distantly. "I heard my Aunt Petunia say it..."
"Harry," Dumbledore said interrupting him this time. "Her name is Lily Evans."
Harry's eyes widened. Hermione and Ron both too realized at once what was going on as soon as they heard the name Lily.
"Evans was her surname before she married my dad," Harry said in a whisper, "My Aunt Petunia said it was her surname before she was married…she's…that girl is…my mum?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said nodding. "Lily Evans would later become Lily Potter."
Harry stared blankly at Professor Dumbledore, too shocked to speak. Ron was also lost for words. Hermione finally broke the silence.
"Professor?" she asked. "How did she…?"
"Arrive here?" Professor Dumbledore asked. "Well I'm glad you asked. You see I really don't know the exact way, but I do know that it was in fact a young Professor Snape who seems to have sent her here."
"Snape!" Ron said suddenly.
"Professor Snape," Dumbledore said correcting him.
"Sorry," Ron said thinking. "Professor Snape, he sent her here?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "I plan on speaking to him later to find out exactly what happened twenty years ago. Until then I have a favor to ask of you three." Hermione and Ron attentively looked at Dumbledore, while Harry still stared at the ground in disbelief.
"Now," Dumbledore said. "I am unaware of how long Miss Evans will be joining us here, but while she is I need you all to look after her and protect her from her future."
"Protect her from her future?" Hermione asked. "How can we do that?"
"By not speaking of it," Dumbledore said looking straight at Harry. "You cannot under any circumstances tell her of what is to come. If you were to, the present may be vastly changed. We cannot have that happen."
Harry looked up. "I can't tell her anything?"
"No," Dumbledore said. "Nothing about her. Nothing of her marrying your father, nothing of her death, and most importantly, nothing of her being your mother Harry."
"She already knows about my dad," Harry said. "I accidentally told her not knowing…"
"Well that's understandable," Dumbledore said. "She would have been very confused seeing as you look like him."
"Sir," Ron said speaking up. "I think we may have accidentally told her he was dead."
"Well..." Dumbledore said thinking. "I can only hope that in her state of confusion she may forget that. She will ask you many questions Harry. You can answer all of the to the best of your ability, but you cannot let on about who your mother is."
Harry nodded solemnly.
"If any of you have any problems," Dumbledore began, "Please inform me at once. I'm only hoping that this is a temporary arrangement, and that we will be able to seen her home soon. Do you have any questions?"
"Will she be in Gryffindor?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Dumbledore said looking at him. "I'll have her attend classes and whatnot until things are back to normal for her."
"Oh all right," Ron said leaning back in his chair.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said focusing on her. "She will be staying in your dorm, so I ask that you and Miss Brown and Miss Patil make her comfortable."
"What are you going to tell everyone, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"I will tell everyone that she is an exchange student for a brief period of time," Dumbledore said. "A plausible story will be thought of."
"Ok," Hermione said nodding.
"Is there anything else?" Dumbledore asked. They shook their heads.
"All right," Dumbledore said standing up. "You may be excused." The three got up and headed towards the door. "Harry?" Dumbledore said.
"Yes," Harry said turning around. Ron stopped and Hermione shuffled him out of the room.
"As painful as it may be," Dumbledore began. "You cannot tell her anything. You do understand this?"
"Yes," Harry said nodding. Her didn't know how he was going to handle this.
"All right," Dumbledore said smiling as he turned and walked back into the smaller room. Harry walked out of the office and down the stairs to meet Hermione and Ron.
"Harry are you all right?" Hermione asked as he approached.
"I…I don't know," Harry said rubbing his head. "My head hurts from all this."
"Maybe you should go and see Madame Pomfrey," Ron suggested. "She could give you a potion or something that would get rid of your headache. Gave me one once, it was gone within twenty seconds."
"That's probably a good idea," Hermione said. "This is quite a shock for anyone."
"Yeah," Harry mumbled. "I think I'll head over there."
"All right," Ron said. "We'll be in the common room."
"See you later," Harry said turning and walking the all too familiar route to the hospital wing. He walked in to be greeted by Madame Pomfrey, the nurse.
"Something the matter dear?" she asked.
"I just have a terrible headache," Harry said meekly. "Is there anything you can do about it?"
"Of course," Madame Pomfrey said. "Have a seat over on the bed and I'll go concoct a potion for you." Harry did as he was told and walked over to the nearest bed and sat. The hospital wing was quiet today. He looked over and saw a Hufflepuff 3rd year fast asleep…or maybe in a coma. Harry really couldn't tell, but he hadn't heard of any accidents so he just assumed he was asleep. He looked to his left where he saw the curtains drawn around a bed. He craned his neck to see through a crack in it. He wondered if could see who was inside, as he saw the back of a girl's head. She had reddish, auburn hair, and Harry thought for a moment that it was Ginny Weasley. He got up and walked over to peer inside when suddenly the girl turned over and he realized that it wasn't Ginny, it was the girl from the library. It was his mother.