Chapter 2
When Rose awoke the next day, she first thought it had all been a bad dream, but when she looked around she noticed all the little things that told her it was real. She groaned and buried her head in her pillow. Her roommates were nowhere in sight. It was obviously late in the morning and she had probably missed breakfast.
When she got up she noticed a small parcel at the foot of her bed with a small note attached. She took the note and read.
Miss Granger,
This parcel contains everything you will need for the next two days. You will receive your school supplies tomorrow at 1 pm in my office.
Yours sincerely
Albus Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
P.S.: I like Bery Botts Every Flavour Beans
Rose unwrapped the parcel and found a nightgown, a toothbrush, bell-bottoms and a blouse. She wondered where the headmaster had gotten these things in such a short amount of time. They were nothing special but for the next two days they would suffice, Rose decided.
She donned the yellow bell-bottoms and the blue blouse. Then she looked into the mirror and shuddered slightly. Fashion certainly was different in 1975. Or maybe it was just Dumbledore's eccentric taste. After a short visit to the bathroom she went down to the common room. Becky and Sharon who were reading in a corner gestured for her to join them.
"Good Morning", Rose said and sat down in one of the armchairs.
"Afternoon is more like it. You missed breakfast", Becky informed her.
"Yes, I thought as much", Rose sighed.
"Don't worry, lunch will be soon", Sharon tried to cheer her up.
"What are you reading?", Rose asked, gesturing to the books lying on their laps.
"Our Schoolbooks. This year is supposed to be harder than all the other years before because of our OWLs, so we wanted to be prepared for classes", Becky explained.
"You wanted to prepare for classes. I would like to play Quidditch", Sharon interjected.
"You play Quidditch?" Rose asked curiously.
"Well, I'm not on the team yet, but I'm determined to get one of the chaser positions this year" Sharon replied.
"Are there any other free spots on the team?" Rose inquired.
"Yes, the keeper position is free, too. Are you interested?" the blonde girl asked.
Rose thought about it. She hadn't played on the team before, because she was too caught up in studying, but she had often played with her cousins during the holidays and they often told her she would make a good keeper. Basically she was only repeating fifth year, she already knew all the stuff, so why not?
"Yes I am. When are the tryouts?" Rose replied.
"I don't know yet, but I should warn you. It's not easy to get onto the team when you are a girl. Often they only pick the boys because supposedly girls are too wimpy" Sharon snorted derisively.
"I don't care what they think. We will show them that girls can play Quidditch, too", Rose said fiercely.
"Sharon, I'm really glad you found someone who likes Quidditch as much as you do, but could you please let me study now?" Becky interrupted them.
"Sure, come on Dora, I'll show you the way to the Great Hall. It's time for lunch anyway", Sharon said.
"Ok, see you later Becky", called Rose and followed Sharon out of the common room.
In the Great Hall they were met with many curious stares. Apparently the news about the new student had already spread. Sharon led her to the Ravenclaw table and introduced her to the boys of their year.
"Hey guys, this is Dora. Dora, these are Rajesh Patil, John White and William Harper" she sloppily introduced and sat down in the seat opposite Harper. Rose sat down next to her, opposite White.
"So you are the new girl" White stated.
"Yes. You are all fifth years?" Rose asked.
"Yeah, we will probably see a lot of each other during classes. Which electives do you have?"
"I take Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures and Arithmancy, and you?"
"Arithmancy and Care of Magical Creatures", White replied.
"Hey Will, do you know when the Quidditch tryouts are?" Sharon asked Harper.
"In two weeks I think. Why do you want to know? Do you still think you have a chance?" he taunted.
"Yes, Dora and I want to try out. Just because we are girls doesn't mean we can't play Quidditch" Sharon hissed angrily.
"Suit yourself" Harper replied and shrugging turned back to eating.
After lunch, Sharon led her around the castle and showed her the classrooms, the library, the astronomy-tower, the lake on the grounds and some secret passageways she knew. All the while Rose had to act as though everything was new to her and a few times she had to stop herself from showing Sharon a shortcut she obviously didn't know about.
The rest of the day was spent with her new fellow Ravenclaws so she could get to know them. She got along fine with most of them but some, like the fourth year Barty Crouch, she tried her hardest to avoid. It was weird to see those teenagers who were the same age as her and to know what they were growing up to be. Some she knew from tales her parents, aunts and uncles had told her, some she had not ever heard of and of some of her new classmate's grandchildren she used to go to school with. The greatest surprise was to see a fourteen year old Xenophilius Lovegood, who she had met a few times in the future.
The next day was a Monday and the day classes would finally start. Rose didn't worry too much about the lessons, after all she had been nearly finished with her fifth year when she came here, but she had to wait for her school supplies until lunch.
Luckiliy the first lesson of the day was history of magic with Professor Binns and he probably wouldn't notice that she had no book. They had this class together with the Gryffindors and Rose looked up curiously to see if there was anyone she knew with them. She inhaled sharply when a boy stepped into the room, who looked a lot like Uncle Harry and his son James. He was followed by three other boys and a girl with red hair and the same green eyes Uncle Harry had.
That must be the marauders and Lily Evans, she thought dazed. I will get to meet Uncle Harry's parents. Rose couldn't believe it.
Sharon who was sitting next to Rose nudged her. She had obviously noticed Rose staring at the Gryffindors.
"Those four are James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. You should stay out of their way. They love to pull pranks and you really don't want to get in the way of one of these. And don't even start crushing on Potter or Black. They will only break your heart, like they did with all the other girls before", Sharon warned her.
Rose only rolled her eyes. As if she would want to start something with Uncle Harry's father, she thought.
Professor Binns started on his lecture about the goblin wars, but Rose couldn't concentrate on it today. Her mind kept drifting to the five Gryffindors. James and Sirius were writing little notes back and forth, while Remus and Lily listened intently to Professor Binns. Pettigrew and the other Gryffindors all seemed to be asleep. She noticed Potter and Black throwing curious glances her way every now and then.
At the end of the lesson Lily came over to her.
"Hello, I'm Lily Evans", she confirmed Rose's assumption. "You must be the new student. How do you like it here at Hogwarts? Don't worry, not all of the teachers are as boring as Professor Binns", she said.
"Yes, I'm Dora Granger", Rose introduced herself. "I really like it here and I don't think anyone else could ever be as sleep inducing as Professor Binns", she replied.
Lily laughed. "You have Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall next, too, don't you?" she asked.
"Yes, I have. Are you coming with us, Sharon?" Rose asked her new friend.
"Sure. Hey Evans, I see you got tasked with keeping an eye on the marauders", Sharon remarked and looked at her prefect badge.
"Yes, Remus and I, but I don't think it will be any use. Remus just isn't able to stand up to Black and Potter and to me they don't listen anyway", Lily complained.
"I thought Potter was trying to get into your good graces or did he finally give up?" Sharon asked.
"Sadly no, you are welcome to distract him from me though", Lily said. "I don't want him."
Rose had to hold back laughter. Oh, if Lily only knew. But it would take two more years before James would be mature enough to make an impression on Lily.
"No thanks", Sharon declined the offer. "One marauder was quite enough for me but maybe Dora would like to try her luck?" she teased.
"Thanks but no. James Potter really isn't my type. I'd rather have Lupin" Rose joked and remembered that she was named after his future wife.
"Then you are out of luck I'm afraid. Remus never dates", Lily played along and shook her head sadly.
They reached McGonagalls classroom and set down at one of the tables together. The free seat next to Lily was immediately claimed by James Potter.
"Talk about the devil", she whispered.
"Hey Evans, don't you want to introduce your new friend to me?" the raven haired Gryffindor asked grinning widely.
"Dora, this idiot goes by the name of James Potter. Potter, this is our new classmate Dora Granger", Lily introduced reluctantly.
Again Rose had to bite back a laugh. It was just too funny to see Uncle Harry's parents bicker and banter like that. It saddened her to know that he never really got to know them and never would. Those two were sparkling with life but only in a few years they would have to fight against Voldemort and lose their lives trying to save their son. She wished she could change things but she knew it was too dangerous.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger", Potter said charmingly.
"The pleasure is all mine" Rose played along.
"Hey Prongs! Did you finally find another red haired witch after Evans turned you down for the thousandth time? Black called across the room.
"No, I don't give up so easily. Someday she will say yes, you will see", Potter stated confidently.
"Hell will freeze over before I go out with you!" Lily exclaimed. She stopped talking though, when Professor McGonagall entered the room.
McGonagall showed them how to transfigure an object into an animal but at the end of the lesson only Rose, Lily and James had succeeded in transfiguring their objects completely. McGonagall gave each of them ten points and everyone a lot of homework. They all groaned and went to the next lesson.
At lunchtime Albus Dumbledore was in his office, waiting for the time traveller that had turned up so unexpectedly. He wasn't sure yet what to think of her. Was she really who she said she was? Was it really an accident that landed her here? He didn't know and that irked him. But she was undoubtedly a time traveller and asking too many questions could seriously mess with time. Still, he was determined to keep an eye on her without her knowing. She seemed innocent enough for now.
At exactly one o'clock Rose stood in front of the gargoyle guarding the entrance to the headmaster's office.
"Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans" she said and the gargoyle jumped aside.
Rose stepped onto the winding staircase and ended up in front of the door to Professor Dumbledore's office. Before she could knock, Dumbledore' s voice sounded and told her to come in.
"Ah, Miss Granger. Please have a seat" he invited her.
She did as requested and looked at Dumbledore expectantly.
"As promised I got everything you will need for the year. You will find your supplies in this trunk over there" he explained.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore", Rose said.
"Then on to the next point. It seems at our last meeting we forgot to think of a suitable story for you in case anyone asks about your past. May I inquire what you have already told to your classmates?"
"I said that until recently I had lived with my parents in France and gone to Bauxbatons. But my parents died a few days ago and I had to go live with some distant relatives who live in England and decided to send me here" she informed him.
"You talk French?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, one of my aunts taught me. She is French and went to Bauxbatons herself" Rose explained.
"Good. I think this will suffice for now. We could say that your parents were murdered by Death Eaters. At this moment in time there are so many murders that no one will ask too many questions about it" Dumbledore said sadly.
Rose nodded uneasy. She didn't want to think about what happened outside of Hogwarts in this time. It was hard enough to deal with this situation without thinking about the horrors going on outside.
She took her leave and brought her new trunk, full of school supplies and clothes, to her dorm. From there she went to the Great Hall to get some lunch, before going to the rest of her classes.
A/N: Thanks for your reviews!
Boldly Going Somewhere: I hope you liked the bit about Dumbledore.