Disclaimer: Nothing related to Doctor Who or the Harry Potter Series is mine. I swear. I wish I owned them, cuz then I might have a bit more money, but I don't.

Warnings: Book Two of Three (Main books anyway). Swearing. Sarcasm. I have only watched the new series, minimal knowledge of early Doctor Who. EWE, kind of...

Dedication: To the Writers and Producers of Doctor Who, thank you for giving me something else to obsess over, now that Harry Potter is long gone. And to the lovely people who encourage me to continue writing in their reviews. To the lovely people who encouraged me to post the next chunk. To my lovely reviewers, thank you for everything you've said.

Book 2: Stories of A Shop Girl

Summary: A Death too soon. A woman who steps up to save the world.

Rating: Dark T

Genre: Adventure/Drama

A/N: Well, this story is coming to a close (by which I mean I've still got like 10 more chapters to write). And the third book should be up eventually (and should be up faster than this one came out). Which means I've got a poll up on my profile as to the few stories that are bouncing around my head. Let me know which one you'd like to see and vote!

Part 3: Count Them

Chapter 21: The Legend of the Philosopher's Stone

That conversation lead to me standing beside the still crumbling building of Torchwood, the president of Great Britain, Harriet Jones, and pretending everything was fine.

Harriet was talking, and I was honestly tuning her out, knowing full well that she was spinning some babble about the something or other involving Torchwood, and the alien spaceship having no relation what-so-ever.

"Actually, madam president," A familiar voice called out, "There is only a relationship between the spaceship found earlier yesterday and the destruction of that lovely tower, if I'm involved."

I turn my gaze to where the voice was coming from. The wizard, who somehow managed to get through the defence Torchwood had put up was coming close with some form of ray gun. I take a closer look at it, and see the dark red stone sitting at the focal point. My Stone.

"You see, I needed to create a little diversion while I put this puppy together. With the lovely addition of this beautiful and magical stone graciously donated, this machine now does this." With a flourish, he pointed the machine towards the president and pressed a button, instantly turning her to gold.

"Shame. Lovely woman, but getting so tired. Well, she can sleep now, she's dead thanks to the Midas touch." He grins evily, as the camera seems to zoom in on him. "I must say, I love having your attentions now. If you don't do exactly as I say, I will turn everyone on this planet into gold." He pauses, glancing my way.

"I want the Tylers. Peter, Jacqueline, and Ria. Your choice world, crouch, fighting for three people you barely know, or kneel, before your new master."

The panic that ensued after the announcement was understandable.

I took Jack's hand and apparated out, (which in retrospect, might have caused more panic) to the Tyler Mansion, where Jackie was watching the telly. Jackie turned to the two of us yelping. Pete ran into the room (he'd gone home for the day, claiming I could handle the press conference on my own), gun drawn, trying to find the thing that made his wife cry out. Quickly updating him, he explained that we would all be fine here at the Mansion.

And we were.

We spent the time watching the news on the telly. Watching the man who had yet to identify himself turn most of London into gold. I spent the time packing a few necessities. We stayed fine until about three hours later when Mickey came pounding on the door looking for Jack and I. I ran to answer the door, wand drawn and ready.

"What the hell happened back there? You and Captain Cheesehead disappeared!" Mickey all but yelled.

I pulled him in to the house, glancing around the room. I shut the door, locking it and charming it to stay shut. "Were you followed?"

"Wha-"

Pete came in, glaring at me, "Were you followed?"

Our answer came in the form of glass breaking in the dinning room. Pete and I share a look before running up the stairs to where Jackie and Jack were. I summoned and shrunk the luggage before pocketing it. I grabbed every one and spared a thought to yell 'Hold on!' before apparating everyone. I glanced at Jack at the last second, deciding on a location.

We stumbled in the square at Cardiff.

Pete turned to me, and began yelling, "Right, all of London turned to gold, and the first place you think of that's safe is bloody Cardiff!"

"There's a small place we can camp out here. Jack mentioned it to me in the future. It's where he set up his Torchwood Three." I comment, casting a spell to find the entrance of the area.

Jack blinks. "Do I remember that I need to do this?"

"No. I don't think you do. You told the Doctor about it. From what I gather, you had to." I turn to the direction that my wand points me, and start walking that way. Everyone seems to follow me.

Mickey walks closest, "So what's the plan?"

"No idea." I comment.

The Man After World Domination

He sat in the small office of 10 Downing Street, wondering what was so special about this place that the woman who'd given him DNA thought of as brilliant. The man who'd given him DNA thought that as well. People were so curious.

One of his minions came in slowly, frowning. "Sir..."

"Just speak your mind man." The man after world domination said, turning to the soldier.

The minion blinked, "Why do you allow us to ask questions?"

The part-wizard man grinned, scaring the minion slightly. "Well now, surely you are familiar with those old Saturday morning cartoons. The evil villains that ignore their minions and think they know all?" The minion blinked and nodded. "I've decided to learn from their mistakes. I don't know everything, and if someone else sees something, I'd rather have them point it out over the 'hero' point it out. Is that all?"

The minion shakes his head, and swallows, before spitting out his question quickly, "Why do you hate the Tylers?"

"I have nothing against Pete or Jacqueline Tyler." The part-wizard said, smiling, "I do have an issue with Rose Tyler."

The minion waited for more information for a moment, before prompting the man with, "Sir?"

"Her name wasn't always Rose Tyler, or Ria Tyler, as she seems to be more commonly known in this universe. Her name used to be Hermione Granger. And she will change her name again later in her life. It's her fault. Her's and the Doctor's. They're the reason I've gone mad. I am mad. Crazy. Bonkers. Insane. Round the bend. But clever, so very clever. Because they both are clever. I have over 1500 years of knowledge from the two of them. And all of their horrible memories stand forefront. Her years captive, when she should have suffocated. His memories of the Time War. Do you know what the term biological metacrisis means?" The part-wizard asked, his face growing angry.

The minion frowned, "No, sir."

"It means that I am like him, with his memories, and like her, with her memories. I am essentially their child. And I hate them both. I am just human enough to sleep constantly. And I have nightmares constantly. Every time I close my eyes, I see death, or feel the anguish of the empty halls of the dead. It's all their fault. Every bit of it."

Ria

We finally ended up at the Hub, and I used some of my magic to expand it, make it comfortable for Jackie and Pete. We locked the large door behind us and I turned to the men.

"What exactly can the Stone you've given him do?" Pete asked, sitting down on the luggage I'd expanded.

I swallow, collecting my thoughts. "Well, the most agreed upon effects of the Philosopher's Stone are that it can grant the user eternal life and turn any metals into gold."

"The President wasn't metal though." Mickey commented, sitting down cross-legged on the floor.

Jack slid against a wall, until seated. "It could easily be the alien technology that's increasing the power."

"Did either of you recognize the technology?" Pete asked, looking between Jack and I. I shake my head.

Jack frowns, "It wasn't sorted either. All of it was completely uncategorized."

"There were two distinct beams of light though. There was the red beam, and then an almost shimmery gold beam." I comment, thinking back on the incident.

Mickey frowned, "I dunno about you lot, but I only saw one beam."

Various agreements were heard, and I looked at them, "I suppose you can chalk it up to my different genetics."

"You said the commonly agreed upon effects of the stone. Any others?" Jack asked, looking at me.

I search my brain for a moment, "There are stories that it can create golems. But that's all they are, stories."

"That's all they said the philosopher's stone was too, and look at the truth behind that." Mickey commented. It's what they said about the Chamber of Secrets too.

I sigh, "So outside of the President turning gold, we really have no idea what the beams did?"

"Right back where we started." Pete frowned, running his fingers through his hair.

We fall into silence, thinking hard for a few minutes. A ringing disrupts the silence. It's my cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Miss Tyler, this is Malcolm, from UNIT?"

I blink, glancing at the rest of the group, "Why are you contacting us? You won't get a trace as to where we are." My voice grows hard.

"On the contrary ma'am, I'm calling to offer assistance. The President's come under my care, and we are trying to turn her back." Malcolm paused. "I was hopping to get your opinion."

"Malcolm, in case you didn't notice, the world's kind of after me right now."

"But you are quite able to do disguises, am I not correct?"

I swallow. "How do I know this isn't a trap?"

"You're just going to have to trust me."

After promising to call every hour on the hour, I changed my appearance enough to apparate to just outside the warehouse they were holding the Prime Minister in. Malcolm met me in front of the doors. He flashed his badge at the guards, and claimed I was an old colleague who might have an idea of what happened.

We approach the golden statue, and I frown. The metal was still warm to the touch, and she looked so real, like she was almost about to move.

"Do you have any idea what happened?" Malcolm asked, shooing the rest of the crew that were around.

Once they had left the area, I cast a privacy charm, "The man who killed her stole something of mine. We think it might be linked."

"What was it?" Malcolm asked, going to his computer, pulling up the data he had.

I swallow, deciding to tell him the truth. "The Philosopher's Stone." He turns around in his chair, gaping at me.

"It was alien?"

I shake my head. "You know how Jack and I are from an alternate dimension. In that dimension, I was called upon by the Flamel family to safeguard the secret, as the last member of the family died. I accidentally brought it here. Jack suggested that the alien technology that used it's power might have amplified it, turning the woman into gold."

"Fascinating."

"Would you happen to have a video of the president getting shot?"

"Yes, of course. Why?"

"Can we just look at it, in slow motion?"

"I don't see why not." He commented, bringing the image up on one of the larger screens, across the workstation. We went through frame by frame, until I managed to point out what I'd seen earlier.

"There!" I comment, pointing at the beam. Malcolm comes closer, blinking at the spot that my finger was touching.

He looked at it for a moment. "There were two beams!" He exclaimed, "How did you even notice that?"

"Long story." I frown, "Would it be safe to say that one beam turns whatever into gold?" At Malcolm's nod, I continue voicing my thought. "So what does the other beam do?"

Malcolm frowns, "Perhaps we should examine the President now." I nod, going close to the statue in the room.

I get up close to her face, staring at it. Something in the back of my head was telling me that something was wrong with the face, but I couldn't see it.

There should have been a small scar on her chin. I'd noticed it, during that time when we'd been huddled under the door frame, hoping we wouldn't die, as the missile was coming to blow up 10 Downing Street. I'd asked her about it, and she told me there was an accident with a cow in her youth. I'd talked to this universe's Harriet Jones, and she told me the same thing.

It was small enough that if one didn't know her well enough, they wouldn't have noticed. But you really can't know anyone better than almost dying with them twice, and then taking down their regime, only to support it in another universe.

There were a few other bits and pieces, but everything seemed to scream to me that this wasn't the real Harriet Jones.

"It's not the President." I finally say out loud, walking backwards, until I could feel the edge of the desk against my back. I close my eyes, thankful that the woman was not dead.

Malcolm sighed, "What do you mean, that's not the President. She was in the exact same place as the president, after she got hit by the beams."

"One of the beams must have been a transport beam. It moved her to someplace else, and then made a golem made out of gold with the next beam." I swallow, following the thought. "She and anyone else turned to gold must be somewhere else. But where?"

Malcolm and I left the President, aparating back to the base. Pete was a little upset about me bringing in someone new. After I mentioned that Malcolm only knew we were underground, and therefore even if he was wanting to turn us in, had no clue where we were.

I reported the knowledge of the golems back to the small team I'd amassed.

"So where could they be hiding them then?" Mickey asked, frowning.

Jack glanced upwards, thinking. "No where public that's for sure. Private, and most likely guarded. And it'd have to be big."

"Not necessarily." I commented. At the looks everyone gave me, I elaborated, "He's claiming to be part Time Lord, and part-wizard. He could easily expand the area, making it 'bigger on the inside'."

Jack frowns, "Any thoughts as to who he might be?" Jack explained to everyone about my dream, causing me to frown and ask when I told him that.

When he finally got to the comment about being Imperioused, I gasped, and attempted to fight the feeling of slowly losing the memories again.

It hurt, forcing the enchantment out of my head. When I finally beat it, I glanced around. Everyone was looking at me concerned. I took a swipe at my nose, gasping when I saw the blood. I cast a quick charm, fixing my nose and getting rid of the blood.

I smile at them, "I've conquered the curse. I remember every time you talked to me about my dream." I grin widely.

Jack nods. "Do you know who cursed you?"

I frown, thinking back through my memories. I went back through the memories of the Freak Show, my memories at St. Mungo's, the war, before settling on my Fouth year class. When Professor Moody cast the Imperious curse, to understand what it was like.

I swallowed, understanding finally who hated us. "Barty Crouch Jr." I spoke aloud.

Jack glanced at me, "That's his name? Are you sure?" I nod.

Jackie frowned, "What exactly does this thing do to you?"

I force the memories back. "Do you remember the war I fought in?" I briefly outlined it for Malcolm. "The Death Eaters used to kill the muggle families of muggleborns. Only they would use this curse, and make the muggleborns do it. Spouses, children, grandparents. Anyone who was home. And they wouldn't make it easy. It would look like a bloodbath in there afterwords. The muggleborns would do it with a smile. And then they would be released from the spell. And they would register what they did under the curse."

Jackie and Mickey looked green. Pete and Jack looked tired, tired of being shocked by new horrors of the world. Malcolm vomited. I used a quick spell to clean it up.

"So where could the prisoners be?" I ask, changing the subject. I turn to Malcolm. "I just remembered, where did the spaceship go? It wasn't there in the building."

It took Malcolm a few minutes to regain composure before answering, "It got transferred to Downing Street. Our alien's orders."

"I take it, they are probably in there." I comment. "How are we going to get them out?"

Jack frowned, "I think the only way to do that would be a frontal assault, given our man power currently."

"Let me call a friend." I say, grinning.

The plan was rather simple. It involved me being caught outside of Downing Street, and helping Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny sneak in to figure out the ship. With them was Jack and Mickey, both of whom refused to let me do this job by myself.

When I was captured, I was brought into a familiar room I'd used to help the Doctor prevent World War 3 in. Or at least, an alternate universe version.

"Hermione Granger." Barty Crouch smiled, getting up from his throne like spot at the top of the table. "Or should I call you Rose Tyler?"

I swallow, "Ria, actually."

"Of course. What Rose by any other name would smell as sweet." He said, his grin turning slightly mad. "I'd expected you to go by that name. But I figure, I'll let you know that I know who you are. And that's the easiest way to do so, I'm afraid."

I frown, "Why do you hate me?"

Barty laughed, more from madness than any kind of humor. "It's all your fault."

"I beg your pardon?"

"It's all your fault. I would have been just fine, being a hand for the rest of my life, but no, you had to touch me and give me everything. Make me part you." His blue eyes turned cold.

I blink, "You were a hand?"

"I'm ahead of your personal time line." He comments, as if that explains everything. "You accidentally participate in a process called a biological metacrisis. It gives me your memories, and the Doctor's. I can't sleep because every time I close my eyes, I feel the madness of destroying the Time Lords, or the insanity creeping in after being stuck in a small box for show and tell with no air holes. And what results is all your fault."

"No..." I hiss, not daring to believe anything he says.

"Yes." He comments, walking closer to me. "I know you better than you know yourself. I know your strengths and weaknesses. I know how far you are willing to go to save people. I know your mind."

He pauses, crouching to my eye level, "Which is why I know that you would have sent along Mickey, Captain Jack, and Harry and the gang to go rescue the people the second you realized that I'd been turning golems into gold.

"Which is why I kept a special one out of the ship that your magnificent six is rescuing. Bring her in."

Doors open behind me, and I turn around far enough to see Harriet Jones, stunned.

"Well, I can tell you, this will actually kill her."

He picks up the large machine and shots a red beam at her. I scream, thrashing to stop him, but to no avail.

I stare at the statue of Harriet Jones, sobbing. "How dare you." I whisper. "She had done nothing wrong. Your beef was with me, not her."

"And now you are going to blame yourself." He comments, grinning, "Funny thing, out of all the deaths that happened near you, the only one you don't blame yourself for is the one you caused. Well, I did it, but I thought that she was you."

"What?"

He stands, smiling "I killed Rose Marion Tyler. That night, when you appeared out of no where, I killed her. Stabbed her. Not the best idea, given as you have this tendency of regenerating.

"And here comes the guilt trip." He comments, watching my face very closely.

Oh God. I blink back tears, smothering the sorrow. It only fuelled the rage in my heart.

This was about the point when my magic took over, snapping out at the cause of all this, that blasted stone. I focused and destroyed the molecules, piece by piece, until all that was left were the particles I'd scattered in the wind. I destroyed the feeble cuffs tying my arms behind my back, and began blasting off hexes.

I had him cornered fairly quickly. "You won't kill me." He declaired.

"Here's the thing." I comment, crouching down at him. "That may be true when you know me. But, you see, you've caught me at a bad time. I don't know who I am. I don't know what I am capable of.

"So, think long and hard if you want to attempt to call my bluff with this."

He laughs, "This is how it was supposed to end. Good luck explaining everything that happened in here."

He then proceeds to disappear in a cloud of gold dust, the second the doors behind me blast open. Jack comes running in, looking at the corner I was staring at.

"He's gone."