Author's Note:
Chapter three is here! I actually wrote chapters 1,2, & 3 all at once, so now that this is out, I'm actually going to have to write something new! However, it's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, so while I do have a long weekend in which to write, I'm also going to be spending the holiday with my family. I'll do my best though!
We get to meet some of the major Harry Potter characters in this chapter, and honestly it was so much fun writing it, because I love them so much. Also, as far as the blibbering humdinger goes, I made up the facts. They are not real, sadly.
I unfortunately, do not own anything related to Doctor Who or Harry Potter, sadly.
Chapter Three
As Dumbledore opened the great doors make of solid oak, Rose prepared herself for the greatest sight she would ever see. Of course, travelling with the Doctor, she had seen many things, but being able to see the Great Hall, was something she never would have thought to dream of. Bracing herself, she followed the headmaster into the Hall, only to be greeted by a mass of students donned in black robes and tall pointy black hats. Walking up the long aisle to the front, Rose could faintly see the Head table, no doubt occupied by the other professors. Rose couldn't help but look every which way. I must resemble a bobble head, she thought. But there are so many things to see!
Before she knew it, they had reached the stool on which the Sorting Hat sat, where Professor McGonagall was standing sharply beside it, smiling, if rather forcibly. Dumbledore, having made sure his guests had made their way up the stairs and were standing comfortably, turned towards his students and raised his arms. This action alone seemed to silence them. Has she not known how great the man was, how much power he held, Rose would think that he put a silencing charm on them.
He started his speech. "Students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, professors of magical subjects, I welcome you to another great and wonderful year at Hogwarts!" His voice boomed. Rose couldn't help but think she would not want to be on his wrong side, for having that voice scolding her or being angry was something she did not want to experience.
Dumbledore continued. "Just like other years, this year we have been granted with the privilege of entertainment! For two days, Hogwarts will be home to The Doctor and Rose Tyler." He gestured to where Rose was clasping onto the Doctor's arm, too excited to even react properly. She attempted a sane smile, or what she hoped gave that impression.
"The Doctor has been a great friend of mine over the years. Now, I invite him and his companion into our home. You will welcome them. You will treat them as equals, and even though Rose may not be of magical blood (Rose made a mental note to thank him later for not calling her a Muggle), she will attempt magic in a way that no human has ever tried. The Doctor and Rose Tyler are not of this Earth, or this world, so I kindly ask for you to treat them with respect."
Rose scanned the crowd. Somewhere, in this room, the Golden Trio sat together, just waiting, hoping for a normal year to commence. Little do they know, thought Rose. Poor things. Don't know what's ahead for them.
Rose quickly located the Gryffindor table; it wasn't hard, for it had a bubble of red hair easily visible. The Weasleys! she thought excitedly. She examined their surroundings. Harry Potter must be around somewhere...she skimmed through the heads that surrounded...Yes! There he is! I'd recognize that messy hair anywhere! She looked at the Doctor, who was quietly enjoying her amusement. She pointed her eyes in their direction. The Doctor nodded once and smiled.
"Now, unlike the other guests we've hosted over the years, Rose will be granted a special privilege. At the request of the Doctor, she will be sorted into a Hogwarts house. When she is sorted, she and the Doctor will join that table for dinner, and accommodations have been provided for their stay in the respective dormitory. Rose? Would you kindly sit on the stool?"
Rose pointed at herself, and the headmaster nodded. Making her way over to where Professor McGonagall had removed the hat from its spot, ready to place it on Rose's head, Rose glanced at the Doctor, who winked. She carefully sat on the stool, and the hat was positioned. Rose cringed; she didn't know what to expect, but nothing happened once it touched her skin. It was too big, but she imagined it would be a bit big for most people, especially since it spent the majority of its time on the heads of eleven year olds. Silence commenced, and Rose was afraid that the hat would refuse to sort her, as she was not a proper witch or wizard at all, but then the hat spoke.
"Well then, this is new," it spoke in it's gravely voice. "I haven't sorted any non-witch or wizards before. But this one is different, she is not like the others I have sorted...although mustn't discriminate, I've sorted worse, granted...where shall I put her? She carries the traits of more than one house, two I've heard of, but three? There is only one logical place to put her, I can sense the dominant features now...Ravenclaw!"
Rose was beaming. Ravenclaw! She jumped off the stool. Professor McGonagall had barely taken her hand off the hat while it sat on Rose, and it was at this moment she removed it, quicker than she had placed it.
The Doctor joined Rose at the stool and offered his arm. "Surprise! he pronounced. "I was also sorted into Ravenclaw. Care to join me at their table for dinner?"
"What, you've been sorted before?"
"Oh, loads of times."
"Loads of times?" she countered. "Why more than once?"
"Well, several times. Every time I've been to Hogwarts, they've insisted on sorting me into a house. Probably a time lord thing, they notice I'm an anomaly and wish to see which legacy will claim me. It's the same every time though, Ravenclaw. Well, except that one time..."
"What were you sorted into then?"
"Oh never mind that, look, roast pig!"
By the time they had found the Ravenclaw table and an open spot to sit, Professor Dumbledore had finished his welcome back speech and dinner had made its way through the floor onto the house tables. Rose sat down on the hard bench, next to the Doctor and helped herself. She scooped mashed potatoes, roasted carrots and peas, several different types of chicken, and a splot of brown which the Doctor explained was something called "Yumulk." She dug in; everything was delicious, better than anything she had ever tasted. "Those house elves sure know how to cook," she commented. The Doctor agreed by means of a nod; his mouth was too full of the turkey casserole that dominated his plate.
"They're not actually house elves," offered a dreamy voice. "They're actually blibbering humdingers." Rose located the voice; it belonged to a young witch with bright, long, wavy blonde hair, sitting across from her. She had wide blue eyes they were almost grey, and the held depth so deep that if Rose had not wanted to know what a 'blibbering humdinger' was, she was sure she could have stared at them for days.
"What's a 'blibbering humdinger'?" she asked. It sounded familiar, if a bit silly, but she couldn't place it.
"It's a strange creature," the girl replied. Rose couldn't help thinking it must be, after all, if this peculiar girl considered it strange, she must be right. "It flies in the light of magic, but only if the streams are blue, with a hint of yellow. I've seen a few around her...one's that weren't working in the kitchens of course. I'm Luna Lovegood," the girl provided, answering Rose's pointed stare. "And you must be Rose Tyler."
"I am!" exclaimed Rose. "Luna! Luna Lovegood! Oh, I can't believe I'm meeting you, you're wonderful." She extended her hand across the table for Luna to shake. Luna stared, then slowly allowed her hand to meet that of Rose, and shook it softly.
"Well, thank you, I think," she replied quizzically. "Bit of a different description than people have given me...I like it."
Rose shook her head; just when she thought she was starting to get used to things, she meets one of her favorite characters.
"And, how are you, Luna?" she asked.
"Quite well, actually," Luna answered, smiling. "Beginning of the year, starting fresh. The pudding's nice." She indicated the dessert that had replaced the meal in front of her. "It's going to be a good year."
"Oh I bet it is," hinted Rose. "Hey Luna -"
The Doctor elbowed her and put his finger to his lips. "We may be in a fantasy world," he whispered in her ear, "But that doesn't mean that we can change their future. The Wizarding War is a fixed point in time, Rose, it has to happen."
Rose looked at the man. He nodded and looked back to Luna. "So Luna," he started, before he got interrupted by three other students that joined them at the table, sliding in beside Luna. One had bushy, brown hair, one had hair bright as a carrot, and the other was unmistakably famous, with his messy black hair sticking up in all directions, circular glasses, and bright scar right in the middle of his forehead.
Rose nearly spit out her food. "You're Harry Potter!" she exclaimed, after wiping her mouth with her napkin. "And you're Hermione, and Ron!"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes, I am," he replied, sticking his hand out, which Rose graciously grabbed and shook. "And you're Rose Tyler. And you're the Doctor."
The Doctor beamed. "Harry Potter, the man himself," he grinned.
"Well I don't know about man," Hermione piped in. "We're only sixteen."
"Old enough in my books," said the Doctor. "How are you Harry? Scar been tingling lately?"
Harry looked at him side-eyed, avoided the question, and turned back to Rose, who was already listening intently to Hermione, who had welcomed their guest and started a conversation.
"How are you liking Hogwarts?" the girl asked, spooning chocolate cake into her mouth.
"Oh I love it here," gushed Rose. "It's so massive, and beautiful; you are so lucky you get to live here."
The boy called Ron rolled his eyes. "Well, I suppose it's nice," he spoke. "Bit creepy once in a while. All these statues and ghosts, popping up everywhere, even when they're not welcome." He indicated Sir Nicholas, who Rose now noted was down the table a bit, entertaining some of the first years. "Oi, Nick!" he called down the table. "Why don't you talk to the newbies in your own house?"
The ghost glared at the boy, then once acknowledging that that indeed was probably his duty, said goodbye to the first-years and floated over to the Gryffindor table and sat down.
"Can't tell you how many times I've met him in the castle unexpectedly," Ron shivered. "Never want to experience that again."
"Never mind that, Ronald, you'll scare Rose away."
Rose glowed. "I don't ever think I could get scared away from here," she said. "It's too magical not to love it."
The trio looked at each other. "Well, it certainly has its surprises," said Harry. "Can't deny that."
They all stopped their chatter once Dumbledore stood up, prepared to give another speech. "Students, ghosts, professors, guests." He beamed down at Rose and the Doctor. "This has been another wonderful welcome-back feast, I dare say. Now we've all been stuffed, full to the brim, it is time for us to retreat back to the dormitories and rest, ready for a full day of studies tomorrow! Bright and early in the morning." The students groaned. "Nevertheless, I bid you all goodnight, and may this be one of the best years Hogwarts has ever had. Now, we shall finish with the school song!"
The students moaned again. "I hate this part," Ron fussed as he rose along with the other students.
They all started to sing, as a pink ribbon was emitted from Professor Dumbledore's wand that formed in the shape of the lyrics above his head. Rose sang along the best she could, but she couldn't help laughing as the Doctor belted out the words, almost as if it was his own anthem. They finished singing, and once everybody in the school had finished as well (the Weasley twins again were the last ones), Dumbledore ended formally with a booming "Goodnight!" The students all gathered in a collective, and made their way through the doors to their respective dormitories. Rose stopped, not quite knowing exactly where to go. She was about to ask the Doctor, but by then Dumbledore had joined them and was explaining what was next on the schedule.
"Ah, Rose, how did you enjoy our feast?" he asked.
"Very well sir, thank you. The students were quite hospitable."
"Oh, good! I don't know about those Slytherins, but the Ravenclaws have always been charming, if a bit pompous." He gathered them all together. "Now," he said. "I imagine you'll want to wander the castle, correct?"
Rose blinked. "That would be lovely, sir, but I'm sure we'd get lost."
"Nonsense! Well, quite possibly. Can't say I haven't done it a few times over the years, in fact just the other day it took me three hours to get back to my bed after a midnight snack. However, I have arranged for a private tour for you two." He pointed to where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Luna were standing, and then joined by Ginny, smiling at their guests.
"Honestly? For real?" Rose gaped, then thought better of it and thanked her host. "That would be just lovely, Professor."
"All right then! Now that that's all clear, why don't you all go off then. Luna, will you be kind enough to take Rose and the Doctor to their dormitories afterwards, thank you. Rose will stay with you in your dorm, and the Doctor can stay with Fletchley and his mates. Can't have genders mixing, even for our guests," he winked. With a swish of his purple robes, he bid them goodnight, and left them alone with their tour guides. Harry was the one who spoke first.
"Now then, Rose Tyler. Where would you like to start?"