Chapter 3

Anastasia's POV

As we made the trek to Professor Dumbledore's office, I felt the other teacher, whose name I had forgotten, give me looks the whole way there.

While I was getting impatient with all the stares, Professor Dumbledore must have sensed the tension between the woman and I because he stopped in front of a opening in the wall that housed a rather large stone gargoyle.

While I was getting ready to ask how we were going to get to the office, Professor Dumbledore said, "Acid pops."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the randomness of the password, only Dumbledore would be crazy enough about sweets to make it his password. The aforementioned wizard turned at the sound of my laughter with a twinkle in his cerulean eyes and a smirk on his face.

"Ladies first." Dumbledore said with an over the top bow.

"Why thank you, my good sir." Was my response which I gave with a curtsey of my own and a British accent.

We could only chuckle at the female teacher's bewildered face.

As we entered Dumbledore's office, I couldn't help to stop and take a look at the whimsical and peculiar aura of it all. There were trinkets here and there, anywhere where the eye could see there was something else. I could see portraits of many men and women, all who were either sleeping or looking curiously down at us. Some were nice and said hi while others couldn't care less that we were there. My wondrous view of the office was put to rest as my eyes landed on a recently reborn phoenix.

"Fawkes!"

I made my way to him as fast as I could. The sight of Dumbledore's familiar almost had me in tears, it reminded me of too many memories of my family. Before I let myself pet him, I looked back at Dumbledore to make sure I was allowed to touch him - all I received was a nod and a knowing look.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me and knew it was time.

"Anastasia, do you know what a pensieve is?" I heard Dumbledore inquire of me after I sat down in a chair.

I knew I could not avoid this anymore so I only responded with a nod.

"Would you mind it if Professor McGonagall and I," so her name did start with an M, "took a look at your memories?"

"Do I need to remember anything?" I finally lifted my head to see pity in his eyes as I felt a tear travel down my cheek.

"No, little one. There's no need for you to remember anything you do not have any desire to remember."

"Then take whatever you need." I whispered as I wiped the tear away.

Dumbledore nodded as he stood up and began taking the repressed memories from my unconscious. I could see where he took them with his wand and deposited them in the pensieve. As he gestured for Professor McGonagall to go forth, I felt a hand on my shoulder, but before I could see her face, she was already next to Dumbledore, both bending down and waiting to be absorb into the memories.

While the adults were still in the pensieve, I perused the books he had on his desk. After a few minutes I ended up falling sleep on Dumbledore's chair with a book on my lap and Alexandr next to the chair.

After what felt like a couple of hours of much needed sleep, I was suddenly woken up by a crying McGonagall pulling me into a hug.

"I am so sorry, you poor child. That must have been a terrible thing for you to go through." McGonagall said through her tears.

As I pushed myself at arms length from her, I could only respond with "Child? I believe I'm older than you."

"We are in 1990 and you are currently eleven years old and I am...significantly older than that, hence making me the older of the two." I could see a smirk appearing on her face.

"But I was born in 1901." I retorted back.

"Touché." I could see a smile on her face which I thought was the exact smile I had on mine.

I pulled her in for another hug as she told Dumbledore that she would take me to Gryffindor's common room.

When I pulled away from the hug I couldn't help the thought that she reminded me of Maria.

As I went to take Alexandr into my arms, Dumbledore surprised me by giving me a hug.

"I hope your new journey is better than your last, little one." He whispered into my ear.

"Me too."

"Do you have everything you need, school wise, or is there anything you are in the need of or want?"

"Thank you, but no. I have everything I could ever need in here." I said as I pulled a small kiss lock bag from my cloak. "It was a gift from my grandmama Maria."

"Okay, little one. If you need anything you know the password to my office." His reference to his password made me smile.

"C'mon Anastasia, you still have to go to school in the morning." Professor McGonagall reminded me.

As we were walking out of the office I turned around to give Dumbledore one last wave goodbye which he responded with one of his own.

While we made our journey to Gryffindor Tower, McGonagall and I talked about anything that came to mind. Our innocent conversation turned into a battle of who could say it faster.

"What subject do you teach?"

"Transfiguration."

"How many years have you been teaching?"

"Many."

"Have you ever been in love?"

"Yes."

"How old are you?"

"I'm...Anastasia." She said to me with a playful glare.

"Fine, fine. Touchy subject. Hmmm...," I brought the hand that wasn't already in hers up to my chin in a 'thinking' pose that I saw Olga used with Tatiana many a time, "...what was the name of the boy I landed on during the sorting?"

"Oh! That was young Cedric Diggory." She said it with a surprised tone. "He's a really good boy, very studious and courteous."

"Cedric Diggory." I said as if I was tasting his name.

Cedric Diggory. Cedric...Diggory. Cedric. I like it.

I stopped thinking about his name when I felt McGonagall stop in front of a portrait with a rotund lady on it.

"This is the entrance to the common room," she said as she gestured to the portrait. "Neutiquam erro (I am not lost) is the password." The portrait opened to a room a circular hole on the wall that lead to a circular room that looked as if it was bleeding with all the scarlet tapestries hanging on its walls. There was a fireplace on the far wall and many chairs and couches that looked absolutely wonderful.

"The staircase on the right leads to the girls' dormitories. You should go up and sleep while you can. The sets of books you will be needing for the school year should be on the desk next to your bed. Just go on up and look for the first years door."

I nodded and made a move for the stairs but I couldn't help and turn back to throw myself at Professor McGonagall.

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall." I said into her waist.

"You are welcome and please call me Minerva but only when we are not in the presence of other students." She said while she stroked my hair.

"Okay Minerva." I responded as I looked up at her.

"Goodnight." I said as I gave her a wave from the stairs.

"Sleep well, dear child."

CDxAR CDxAR CDxAR

As I readied myself for bed, I couldn't help but feel out of place. This was not the time I was born into. If I had stayed in my timeline I would be...eighty nine years old right now!

I felt faint after that thought so I laid down on my four poster bed. I felt Alexnadr crawl on the bed and he started playing with my hand so I would pet him. While I petted him I murmured a quote from a book my mother used to read to me when I was little.

"Alexandr, I've a feeling we're not in Russia anymore." As I said this I heard Alexandr yawn. I could only roll my eyes at him.

Alexandr, you oversized cat! Was the last thought on my mind as I fell into a peaceful sleep.