A/N: A big thank you to everyone that has followed and faved thus far. And a HUGE thank you to the following for your wonderful reviews and support on this new story: CygnusRift, stubs1101, and Shetan20.

Here is the next chapter - I hope you enjoy it :)

If Dumbledore was affronted by her rather impassioned use of a curse word, he did not show it, though Lauren was vaguely aware of the stunned hush that swept through the room. She was too in shock to feel any sort of embarrassment of using such a word in front of a crowd of children, though her stunned brain did caution her to try and reign in her sailor tongue.

Out of the corner of her eye, though, she thought she saw Professor McGonagall purse her thin lips in disapproval.

"I think we should go someplace more private to discuss matters," Dumbledore murmured, his voice low so that only she heard him.

She nodded numbly, barely noticing him helping her to her feet. He kept his grasp firm on her upper arm; a fact she was grateful for, because when she made her first step her knees almost buckled beneath her.

Goddamn. Everything hurts, she mused, noting the dull aches and pains rippling through her body. What the hell happened?

Dumbledore walked her down the aisle and she felt every pair of eyes of the students watching her progression, their curious whisperings starting up again when she passed them by.

They made their way up a few flight of stairs and then down some stone corridors, more whisperings and shuffling following in their wake. Lauren suddenly realized that it was the portraits now gossiping amongst each other. They were stage whispering in each other's ears and studying her like an interesting specimen.

Won't get much privacy in a place like this, when even the pictures watch your every move, she thought with a certain amount of disconcertedness at the notion.

Her thoughts started spiraling out of control again as her predicament crashed down on her, and she could feel the edge of panic moving in, threatening to engulf her.

How the hell did this happen? And why? Why am I here? And how is it even possible to end up in a fictional world created by J.K Rowling? How?

An out of tune humming pierced through her mental turmoil, surprisingly quelling her anxiety. She glanced up at her companion, who wore an enigmatic smile as he hummed a melody; a tune that belonged to a song only he knew – it was so out of tune that Lauren could not make out what the song was supposed to be.

She frowned at him, wondering if he knew what on earth was going on? He certainly gave the impression that he was all-wise and knowing, and Lauren really hoped that he would have some answers. She, for one, didn't have a clue. Which wasn't saying much. Lauren considered herself pretty much clueless in everything.

The hairs at the nape of her neck stood up and she had a distinct feeling that she was being watched.

She glanced over her shoulder, only to meet the penetrating and cold gaze of none other than Severus Snape. He was not bothering to hide his distrust and…contempt? It was the only emotion that came to her mind when he glared at her like that.

Oh, who am I kidding. This is Severus Snape. He hates everyone.

She turned her attention once more to Dumbledore. "Why is Severus Snape following us?" she asked, her voice sounding like rough sandpaper. She was choking for a glass of water.

Dumbledore turned those twinkling eyes onto her and his humming momentarily halted, thankfully.

"You know Severus?" He definitely sounded curious now.

Lauren sighed. "I know of him. I know you're Albus Dumbledore. And I know that this is Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. What I don't know is how the hell I ended up in a fictional book!" Her voice had gradually risen with each sentence, hinting at the panic that lay beneath the surface.

Dumbledore's bushy brows arched in surprise out her outburst, and he glanced over his shoulder at their trailing shadow.

Their deadly shadow, she amended. Severus Snape was a very dangerous wizard, indeed.

Whatever passed between Headmaster and Professor was unseen by Lauren.

"I think it would be best to discuss this in my office," Dumbledore stated, all traces of humor now gone.

Uh-oh. I think I'm in trouble now, Lauren thought. When Dumbledore dropped all pretenses of cordiality, it meant that things were very serious, and it usually did not bode well.

They arrived shortly at the entrance leading to his office. There stood the famous gargoyle that guarded it and as they neared, Dumbledore uttered the password (Sherbet Lemon). The gargoyle leapt aside, revealing the slowly ascending spiraled staircase that wound ever upwards.

"After you," the Headmaster stated congenially, motioning with a wizened hand for her to precede him.

Lauren glanced back at Severus. If she was expecting any sort of assurance, she was sorely disappointed. He only deigned to level her with a dark scowl.

I only want to know what's going on. I don't need any of this cloak and dagger bullshit, she thought, but kept her comments to herself.

Lauren squared her shoulders and stepped onto the revolving staircase, letting it take her to the main door of Albus' office.

She soon arrived at the heavy wooden door and a hand reached out from over her shoulder, pushing open the door. Dumbledore ushered her in and once inside she blinked in amazement. She knew what to expect from watching the movies, but the reality was still awe-inspiring and spellbinding.

The office was circular in shape, almost cathedral-like in atmosphere, and all along the walls hung the portraits of all the old headmasters and headmistresses of the past. A magnificent claw-footed desk was placed at the end of the room, and behind it was a large bookshelf where she thought she spied the Sorting Hat, looking shabby as ever. Two curved staircases on either side of the grand bookshelf led to another door; a door that she presumed was the entrance to his personal rooms.

Little ornaments whirred and buzzed all around them from the various surfaces they occupied, some emitting puffs of smoke, whilst others tinkled like chimes; all giving the room a charming feel. After all, this was the office of a rather brilliant and eccentric wizard.

The door closed softly behind them and Lauren startled, glancing back to see Professor Snape shutting the door and leaning against it, his arms folded in front and giving off a formidable aura. It was quite obvious that he was barring off any attempt of escape.

Lauren restrained from scoffing. Where would she possibly go? Dread suddenly settled in the pit of her stomach like a lead weight as she realized there really was nowhere else to go. Dumbledore motioned for her to take a seat opposite his desk while he took his own place in his plush high back chair. Severus Snape remained at his station by the door, ever the penultimate spy as he melted into the background shadows, observing and hearing everything.

Again, Lauren wondered why Dumbledore requested his presence? Surely McGonagall would have been a better option? Though, the witch could be damn right formidable in her own right, and Lauren didn't really know if she would have been a better choice.

As she sat down, she was struck by how much bigger this chair seemed. Her legs barely touched the floor. She was not a tall person by any means, being all but five-foot-nothing, but usually she could sit comfortably in a chair with her feet just touching the ground. This was ridiculous.

"Now, Miss Ward. Where to begin," Dumbledore started, steepling his long fingers in front of him.

"How about explaining how I actually got here?" she interrupted in a raspy voice. "And maybe a glass of water." She paused, and then added in an afterthought, "Please."

Dumbledore regarded her for a moment and then waved his hand, a clear glass of water appearing in front of him. He picked it up and offered it to her.

Lauren took it with a murmured thanks, but she paused, eyeing it speculatively. "Is it poisoned?"

A soft snort behind her let her know that her comment had either amused the Potion Master, or he was thinking she was being a particular dunderhead right now.

"I assure you, it is not poisoned," the Headmaster assured.

Oh what the hell. Maybe if they kill me now, I can return home and pretend none of this ever happened.

With that thought, Lauren gulped it down greedily, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand afterwards. She waited, but nothing happened. Not even a twinge.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," Dumbledore teased, the twinkle back in his blue eyes. "Now, from your earlier question, I presume that you do not know how you appeared here?"

Lauren shook her head. Dumbledore studied her for a few moments, letting the silence stretch between them.

Finally, he spoke. "You crashed through the roof."

Lauren blinked at him, not quite believing what she was hearing. "What?"

"That was some rather impressive magic wielded to be able to break through the protective wards that surround Hogwarts. A feat not many can accomplish that, if at all."

His features remained impassively unreadable.

"So then, who did it?" she finally asked.

"I would assume that you did."

Lauren barked out a rough laugh. "Me? I'm as…" she paused, flapping her hand in front of her as she searched for the right terminology, "…Muggle as they come. I don't know how to do magic."

Dumbledore narrowed her with a look, his keen eyes peering at her over his half-moon spectacles. She resisted the urge to squirm under his scrutiny.

"Assuming I believe you," he began, "would you care to tell me your version of events?"

Lauren sighed, leaning back in her chair and ran her hand over her face. Should she even be telling him things, things that could affect the whole outcome for the world of Harry Potter? Though, Dumbledore had asked how she ended up here. That was safe enough, because she really didn't know. "I came home from work and proceeded to get blindingly drunk…"

Dumbledore held up his hand to halt her explanation, a puzzled frown marring his features. "The fact that you work and dabble in getting intoxicated…"

"I don't do it every day," she stated petulantly, feeling as though he were judging her for having a few drinks. She was an adult and entitled to do as she please. Though, thinking back, it wasn't a few drinks – it was the whole bloody bottle. "Only when I'm stressed," she added.

"I see," Dumbledore said, though sounding quite the opposite. "And why were you stressed?"

This time Lauren did squirm in her chair, lowering her gaze. She really didn't want to tell them about that prick, Deacon. But if she wanted answers, she was going to have to be truthful.

"Deacon called me and broke up with me over the phone. I don't know about you, but where I'm from it's customary to get sloshed after a bad break-up," she snapped.

Silence reigned supreme in the room. Finally Dumbledore settled back more comfortably in his chair.

"How old are you, Miss Ward?"

The question caught her off guard. "Thirty," she replied, crossing her legs at the knee, though her feet still did not touch the floor.

This time Albus looked over at Severus, arching a questioning brow. Disbelief was writ all over his features and when she glanced back at Professor Snape, she saw that his own dark brows were similarly arched, though his features were better schooled.

"What?" Lauren asked.

Dumbledore rose slowly from his chair, and with a wary sigh motioned her towards a floor length mirror that seemed to have magically appeared.

Maybe it did. I am, after all, in the magical world of Harry freakin' Potter!

"I think you should see for yourself," the Headmaster said.

Lauren scooted off her chair and cautiously walked over to the mirror.

"What am I supposed to be looking for? This isn't the Mirror of Eris…" Before she could finish, she stopped dead at the sight in front of her, not catching the shocked look that passed between Headmaster and Professor at her mentioning the Mirror of Erised.

This was no adult reflection looking back at her. Instead, a rounded youthful face with midnight blue eyes stared back at her, framed by long brunette hair that resembled a tangled mess of waves. There was no mistaking that she was now staring at the image of her eleven-year-old self.

ooOoo

Lauren blinked.

And blinked again.

And then she exploded.

Rounding on the serene looking Headmaster, she shouted, "What the fuck did you do to me?!"

"I assure you that I did nothing to you," came his calm reply, though a flash of astonishment was seen briefly in his eyes.

"Then how the hell do you explain why I am suddenly a…a child?!" she shrieked, not noticing that Professor Snape had pushed away from the door and had discreetly palmed his wand as he came to stand beside the Headmaster. Dumbledore shook his head at the Potion Master. Snape nonetheless kept his hold on his wand, though he made no other move.

"I do not know," Dumbledore replied, his tone infuriatingly calm.

Lauren snarled in frustration, her hands clenching into fists by her side. "Then fix it! Turn me back!"

Dumbledore held up his hand placatingly. "Again, I do not know how."

Lauren gawped at him in disbelief. Then she let loose another tirade. "You are supposed to be the greatest wizard of all time - or so they say! What good are you if you can't even fix whatever the hell has been done to me?!"

Professor Snape finally spoke up, his silky deep voice caressing along her senses and making her shiver, effectively cutting off whatever else she was going to say. "Getting back to more pressing matters, you seem to know an awful lot about us," he drawled sardonically, glaring down his hooked nose at her. "Care to explain?"

Lauren swallowed hard. Somehow his presence and voice had managed to penetrate through the haze of her meltdown and snap her out of it, his penetrating obsidian eyes locking on to hers and keeping her grounded. They were like the darkest pools that seemed to suck her in an eternal abyss of midnight. It would be so easy to get lost in those unreadable eyes.

Oh shit! He can read minds! Quick! Look away before he sees all the naughty daydreams you have harbored about him in the past, her panicked mind stated, managing to break through the hypnotic moment.

Lauren tore her gaze away with great difficulty, well aware of the blush creeping onto her cheeks. She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry again.

"In my world," she started, still unable to meet his gaze, "you are all just part of a fictional book created by an author. I know certain things that are going to happen, as well as certain details about…most of you."

A contemplative hush fell upon them.

"And how do you know that you have not simply arrived after the events of this story?" Dumbledore finally asked, even managing to sound like he believed her. Lauren didn't know why. She wouldn't have believed her. Maybe he was just humoring her.

Lauren met his gaze head on. "Because the both of you are still alive."

The only sound to be heard was from the various instruments whirring and chiming in their respective corners as the two men stared back at her with unblinking gazes. Their features were unreadable; expressionless at her statement.

"Look, why don't you just use Legilimency on me and see for yourself that I'm telling the truth?" she offered in her frustration. She needed them to believe her so that they could then move forward in finding a way to fix all of this.

"Ah, but you see, to know of future events could be catastrophic, my dear," Dumbledore explained, turning his back on her and making his way back to his chair, sitting down once more. He suddenly looked every bit his one hundred and fifty years of age as he cradled his cheek in his palm, his elbow resting on the armrest of his chair. "No, it would be unwise to show us what is to come."

"So you believe me?"

"Yes, Miss Ward. I believe you."

Lauren just stared back at him, unable to form a coherent word. Of her own violation, her gaze was drawn to the dark Potion Master, who still remained standing, impenetrable and unapproachable as always. Her heart suddenly gave a painful twist at the thought of what his future held, knowing there was no was to stop it.

Snape's gaze snapped up to hers and he must have seen the expression plain on her face, for he suddenly sneered at her. She blinked, realizing that this was a defense mechanism of sorts. He was determined to keep others at bay with his dark scowls, condescending sneers, and acerbic attitude with a sharp tongue to match.

Life has been cruel to you and has twisted you into this this. Does anyone even know who you truly are under all of it?

Lauren, though, was not foolish enough to believe that Severus Snape was a merely misunderstood soul. He resided in the shadows, leaning more towards the side of dark than light. But there must be some inherent good in him for him to have loved Lily Evans with such loyal devotion, as well as the fact that he would continuously risk his life during the war to come, not only secretly protecting and helping Harry Potter, but as well as aiding the side of Light in his role as spy.

"Out of curiosity, what is the name of this fictional book?" Dumbledore suddenly asked, forcing Lauren to tear her gaze away from Snape, who had chosen that moment to stalk behind the Headmaster.

"Oh. Um, it's called 'Harry Potter'."

A harsh hiss sounded through the room, and she realized that it had come from Severus.

"Of course it is," he growled bitterly.

"It's curious, then," Dumbledore continued after shooting Severus a look, "that you happened to appear at the same time that Harry Potter started his first year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore mused.

Lauren closed her eyes, already envisioning Quirrell and his freakishly possessed, turban-wrapped head. Not to mention the Basilisk that was to make an appearance the following year.

This is not good. Hopefully I'll be back in my world before all that crap goes down, she hoped fervently.

Feeling sapped of all energy, Lauren went to sit down heavily in her own chair, repeating Professor Snape's statement from moments before. "Of course it is."

The seconds ticked by, stretching into minutes.

Finally Lauren spoke up. "Look, is there a way to get me back to my world? Preferably as an adult?"

"I can make enquiries at the Ministry…"

Lauren groaned. "Not those blundering idiots."

Dumbledore gave her a small, amused smile. Snape, who had been pacing behind him, paused, and she detected a shadow of a smirk gracing his features.

Oh look! I've amused Professor Snape…

"Be that as it may, they may be the only ones able to help you," Dumbledore continued.

Lauren drummed her fingers against the armrest of her chair. "Question is, can they be trusted?"

Snape shot her a look. It was a speculative look, almost (dare she say) approving with her train of thought.

Dumbledore reached into his robe and produced a packet of sweets, offering her one. "Lemon Drops?"

Lauren shook her head and watched as he plopped one in his mouth, sucking thoughtfully on the sweet before tucking the packet back into his pocket.

"I can make some discreet enquiries, but in the meantime…what are we going to do with you?"

Lauren stilled, wondering if he was going to Obliviate her. She did, after all, hold some very dangerous knowledge of the future.

"I don't know about you, but I don't really fancy being a kid again. Once was hell enough, thank you very much. Is there any way to turn me back into an adult?"

Dumbledore regarded her thoughtfully over his steepled fingers. "I do not know which spell was used on you in the first place. Reversing it may not be possible, if this is indeed the work of old magic, as I suspect."

"We can't very well leave her as a child," Severus spoke up.

"I agree, Severus," Dumbledore said, rising from his seat. He rounded his desk and came to stand before her. Drawing his wand from the sleeve of his robe, he aimed it at her.

Lauren instinctively scrunched her eyes closed, expecting to be Obliviated at any moment.

But nothing happened. She cracked open her eyes and saw Dumbledore staring at a reading only he could see from his wand, his brows furrowed deeply.

Severus, sensing that something was amiss, came to stand beside him. Seeing the readings himself, a deep scowl of his own etched onto his pale features.

"What? What is it?" Lauren asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Dumbledore peered at her over his glasses. "It's curious…"

Lauren mentally rolled her eyes as his theatrics. "Yes?" she pressed.

"It says that there have been no magical enhancements made on you."

"Meaning what exactly?"

"It means, my dear, that you are, in every sense…a child."

Lauren stared at him; certain she had not heard him correctly. "You forgot one thing, though."

Dumbledore waited patiently for her to continue.

"I'm not a fucking child!" she snapped.

The old coot actually had the audacity to chuckle at her growing frustration. "That was not even up for debate with your colorful use of language."

Lauren huffed, crossing her arms over her (jarringly flat) chest. Where did my boobs go? Oh right – I haven't hit puberty yet.

Dumbledore sheathed his wand and wandered over to a stand where a thick tome was resting. Severus Snape continued to stare at her intently, which she studiously tried to ignore. Which was hard. He had a way of working his way under her skin. In a good way or a bad way, she could not tell yet.

Dumbledore returned, the book balanced in the palm of his hand and flicked through the numerous pages, Snape discreetly watching over his shoulder.

"Ah," he finally said, placing the book in her lap and pointing at a line on the page.

Lauren ducked her head and peered down at the neat script printed on the one line; one among many.

Lauren Kay Ward. Birthday: 16 September 1979. Age: eleven years old. Muggle born. Parents: Unknown. Residence: Unknown.

"I don't understand," she finally said, glancing up. "What does this mean?"

"This is a book with a list of every student in attendance at Hogwarts. Their names are automatically inscribed into the book when magic is sensed, or made apparent in the child, and it is used to send out acceptance letters to students when the time comes for them to attend school. The fact that your name is in this book shows that not only are you a child, but a magical one as well."

Lauren scowled at him, and he hastily raised his hand and continued before she could snap at him again. "Yes, I am well aware you are not a child. But in this world, you are one now."

Lauren pinched the bridge of her nose and mentally counted to ten, willing herself not to smack him across the head with the book. Though she could imagine the satisfying thud it would make on impact.

"Okay, fine. I'll play along. For now. But there's something wrong here. My birthday is wrong."

Dumbledore gave her an enquiring look.

"The year is incorrect. I wasn't born in 1979. I was born in 1989."

Dumbledore and Severus shared another cryptic look between them.

"It would seem that not only have you travelled between worlds, but you have also travelled through time," Dumbledore mused.

"Not to mention I've been turned into a bloody child," she muttered, still sulking about that. "And what does it mean that both my parents and residence are unknown. I know full well where I live and both my parents are alive…" Comprehension dawned on her. "Oh, they wouldn't exist in this world, would they?"

Dumbledore shook his head sadly; Severus simply regarding her coolly. He hadn't said much throughout the meeting, though she suspected that he was not one for giving his thoughts and opinions freely, rather choosing to gather information quietly and unobserved.

Lauren sighed. "So this basically means what? I have to attend Hogwarts and pretend that I'm a student?"

"It would seem so, but you would be a student in every sense. No pretending. You would be learning with the rest of the first years."

"So that's it? I'm going to have to redo school all over again?" she asked incredulously, slamming the tome shut and rising to her feet.

"For now, yes. Just until we can figure out how to fix this."

"Are you daft?" she asked, her voice rising to a shout. "I've done my time. I already suffered through the hell they call school once before. What makes you think I want to do it again? All I want to do is go back to my crappy life and forget this ever happened!"

"Perhaps this would be a chance to start over. Make something more out of your…crappy life," Snape interjected caustically, giving her a baleful glare.

Lauren gaped at him. Severus Snape should be rallying to return her home, not advising her to stay and redo her life all over again.

Her life was basically a dead-end loop. She had managed to snatch a job as a secretary, and this was a high accomplishment considering all she had was a high school diploma that did not reflect very good grades. But she would go nowhere in life, this she knew for a fact. She could barely survive paying rent and food on her modest income, let alone scrape enough for an exotic vacation somewhere.

Is Snape right? Is this a chance to start over again and make something of myself?

When she looked up, she saw Dumbledore staring thoughtfully at Severus, who was studiously ignoring the old man. Though, that meant that he was still staring at her with unnerving intensity, watching every thought and reaction that crossed her features.

Why, though, is he encouraging this? I thought he would be against me being here…

"Miss Ward?" Dumbledore asked, breaking her from her musings.

"Hmm?" she hummed.

"What are your thoughts on the matter?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"One always has a choice."

She narrowed her eyes at him, not fully trusting this statement. Dumbledore, in her eyes, was a master manipulator. He would prod a person with a gently guided and veiled hint and that person would almost believe that the idea had been theirs all along. But the fact remained that it was he who was always in charge. The world was his personal playground and they were each a pawn in his game.

Am I about to become one of his pawns?

She thoughts about it, and finally came to a conclusion.

"No, I don't think I really do have a choice in this. I'm stuck as a child with no way of turning back into an adult or returning back to my world. And, as the book says, I have nowhere else to go." She sighed. "So what now."

The Headmaster gave her a small close-lipped smile. "Now it's time for the Sorting Hat."

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