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A Matter of Time	By : AdaraB Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 7796 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything in the Harry Potter universe. I own nothing and I make no profit off of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 4 – Magical or Muggle

Just as Dumbledore was about to procure the blood sample from Ashleigh, there was a soft knock on the large wooden door.

“You may come in Professor McGonagall.” There was a knowing tone in Dumbledore’s voice as he said this.

The door opened and in stepped the first witch Ashleigh had ever met. The stern, untrusting look had been dismissed from her face. In its place was a look of soft curiosity. McGonagall met Dumbledore’s eyes for a moment before taking a seat beside Ashleigh in one of the high backed chairs.

“We were just about to take a blood sampling from Miss Grey to determine whether or not she has magical blood. I am sure she must since she reacted so strongly to the time turner’s magic. Miss Grey, would you kindly put out a finger?”

Carefully, Ashleigh poked out the pointer finger of her left hand toward the Headmaster. He brought his wand tip to her finger and murmured something she could not understand. After he made a slashing movement over her finger, blood started to bubble out of the tiny incision. Carefully, he took her finger and turned it so the blood could drip into the glass vial he summoned from a cabinet a moment before. When the vial was half full he corked it and set it carefully on his desk. He returned to Ashleigh, pointed his wand at her finger again and without even murmuring, healed the cut on her finger.

“Wow, I wish the needles my doctors always used hurt as much as that. That was completely painless. Puts a whole new perspective on drawing blood.” She paused a moment thinking. “What happens if the test comes back positive?”

“Well then we shall provide you with an accelerated magical education. How accelerated will depend on how old you are, which reminds me, how old are you my dear?”

“I turned seventeen this past July.”

“I think if you study hard enough you may be able to attend classes by the second semester.”

“Albus, how do you think she will be ready to begin class with the seventh years by just after Christmas? She doesn’t even own a wand, let alone know how to use one.” McGonagall lectured in a clipped tone.

“I have some tutors in mind that would make sure she would learn at an acceptable rate. I am also sure that Miss Grey is an accomplished student as she was in college. Where did you attend?”

“John Hopkins University, I was due to graduate with my Bachelors Degree in chemical engineering next year. It really sucks that I won’t get to finish it now. I was doing so well, I guess I won’t have to try and best John McIntire in the grades department anymore. I was so looking forward to seeing his face when I was named Valedictorian instead of him.” She reflected fondly, her face however held no smile. She was positively pouting and she knew it.

Finally after a nice long rant, she calmed down enough to look somewhat ashamed of herself for behaving so childishly.

“I’m sorry. You didn’t really need to hear all that. What I should have told you is that if my blood proves to be magical I won’t have a problem learning the material, I’m a fast learner.”

“That is unexpected. I would assume you were able to accelerate your education during your primary years?” McGonagall said, patting her hand.

“Yes, I skipped fourth, seventh, and ninth grade. I also took summer classes during college so I could graduate faster. . . .What happens if the test comes back negative?”

Dumbledore looked at McGonagall and back to Ashleigh. He thought for a moment and then responded, “We could always use another Muggle Studies professor. I think that would be right up your alley. Minerva, would you please contact Severus via floo? I would like him here as soon as possible.”

With a nod of her head she headed over to the fire place threw some powder in and called out, “Severus’ quarters” and promptly stuck her head into the green flames that spouted up in the grate. At this, Ashleigh almost fell out of her seat, completely gobsmacked at what she was seeing. A few moments later, she pulled her head out of the fire, backed up and announced, “He’s on his way Headmaster.”

Just as she finished speaking, the green flames erupted again only this time a man stepped out of the flames. This time Ashleigh did fall out of her seat. Utter shock registered on her face as she took in the man standing before her. Her first thought of him was that he sure liked black, there was no color found on him at all, not even on his pale cheeks. Black hair, black eyes, black clothing, but the whitest of skin. He looked to be the moody type which was fine with her. Her sarcastic nature excelled around his type, this may be some fun after all. As she stood up she could feel his eyes boring into her, looking her over.

When Severus Snape entered the Headmasters office at the urgent request of Minerva he thought there had been some new development with the Order. Instead what he found was the Headmaster and Minerva sitting with pleasant smiles on their faces and a young girl that fell on the floor at the sight of him. He took in her appearance as she stood up, from her long black hair that was pulled back into a tidy ponytail, to her emerald green jacket that was now unzipped to show a black v-neck shirt, to her dark fitted boot cut jeans, all the way down to her white Pumas that had green stitched stripes. He vaguely noted that she reminded him greatly of someone whom he hoped desperately she was not related to.

“Severus, this is Ashleigh Grey, Miss Grey, this is Professor Snape the Potions Master.”

“Hi, how are you?” Ashleigh said as she reached out her hand towards the standoffish professor.

Snape looked as if shaking her hand was the last thing he wanted to do. However, he had to be polite as civil conversation called for it.

“I am quite well, thank you. Forgive me, but your accent; it is American is it not?” He said as he reached for her hand. He noticed with approval that she had a firm grip.

“Yes it is.”

“May I ask why you are here so far away from home?” He asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“You have no idea how far.” She murmured.

“Severus I shall fill you in on the case of Miss Grey’s presence, she has had quite the day. What I need from you now is a potion. A Magical Identity potion to be precise.”

Snape raised an eyebrow at Ashleigh in interested silence. Thinking silently, he nodded to the headmaster, took the offered vial half filled with blood and disappeared through the thick green flames.

“Minerva would you please contact our Head Girl?” Dumbledore said. He then turned to Ashleigh, his eyes once again sparkling.

“The potion will not be ready until tomorrow morning; therefore I am going to have you take up residence in the 7^th year girl’s dormitory in Gryffindor Tower as it is the only year and house with an extra bed.”

“Uh, what is a Gryffindor?” Ashleigh asked slightly confused.

“Forgive me. Here at Hogwarts we have four houses. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin after the four founders of the school. Should the potion come back positive, you will be sorted into the house that suits you best. Until then you will stay with the Gryffindor's, I’m sure they will be most hospitable to you, they are a curious lot.”

Just then, McGonagall stepped back into the room with a young girl immediately behind her. Ashleigh hadn’t even realized she had left. The girl, she noticed was the same that pointed out that she had used a time turner. Now that the drama was over she had more of an opportunity to get a better look at her. She was about her own height with light brown curly hair and light brown eyes. A pretty girl and smart too by the looks of it she thought, taking in her gold Head Girl badge. She was still wearing the school uniform she had been wearing earlier; classes must not be over yet.

The Head Girl stopped and looked at Ashleigh, clearly confused but then remembered herself, turned to Dumbledore and asked, “You wished to see me Headmaster?”

“Yes Miss Granger. This is Ashleigh Grey; I would like you to escort her to Gryffindor Tower as she will be staying there at the present moment. She will take up residence in the 7^th year girl’s dorm for the night.”

Dumbledore motioned for them to take their leave. Silently, Ashleigh stood and picked up her bag, swinging it over her shoulders. She followed the Head Girl out of the office and down the stairway and passed the stone gargoyle before the Head Girl stopped abruptly. Turning to Ashleigh, she smiled and stated, “Well that wasn’t a proper introduction was it? I’m Hermione Granger. I suppose that the Headmaster forgot himself a bit with all the commotion today.”

“Yeah, I guess so. How old are you, I mean all I got from Dumbledore is that you’re a 7^th year which tells me nothing about your age although you look as though you’re about eighteen.”

“Close.” Hermione said with a smile. “I’m seventeen. And you?”

“Same.” She said as they continued walking.

“Where did you attend school?” She asked with excitement in her eyes.

“I went to John Hopkins University in my home town Baltimore, Maryland. I had almost finished my Bachelors in chemical engineering before that damn time turner brought me to this lovely place in time. No offense.”

“None taken. How did you attend University and almost graduate if you are only seventeen?”

“I was able to skip several grades through school and I took summer courses in college.”

“I think having an American that was born nearly thirty years into the future stay in Gryffindor Tower will be quite exciting. After all it’s not every day you get to see the future. I wonder if Professor Trelawney saw you coming?” She said and started laughing hysterically.

Ashleigh just stood there rooted to the spot. She could not fathom why Hermione was now laughing; obviously, she realized she missed a reference somewhere along the line.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh sorry, Professor Trelawney is the Divination professor. She claims to be a Seer although accept for a few, everyone knows she is a fraud. After all, she’s always claiming Harry is in grave danger every time she sees him, but honestly, when is he not in grave danger?”

“Harry?”

“Oh, he’s one of my best friends. He and Ron, who is also my boyfriend as of recent.” She stated with an almost smug smile.

Ashleigh noticed the content smile on her face and thought that it must have been long in coming. She left the topic alone, knowing how emotional girls could get about guys that act like idiots until the last possible second, being a girl herself.

When they finally reached the staircase Hermione turned to Ashleigh.

“You need to be careful with the staircases, they like to move and there are a couple of trick steps that I’ll point out on the way up. It’s very easy to get stuck on them. It’s quite a long way up from the Great Hall if you’re not used to it, seven floors.”

Presently, they were climbing to the fifth. By the time they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady Ashleigh was out of breath and vowed to start running again.

Hermione stopped in front of a portrait; Ashleigh was not as surprised as she should have been when the portrait of the heavy set Victorian lady in a god awful pink dress asked, “Password” in haughty voice.

Hermione responded, “Autumn Leaves.”

The portrait then swung open to admit the two girls. Ashleigh walked into what she was to learn was the common room. It looked to be comfortable, designed in deep red and gold tones. There was an unlit fire place against the far wall of the circular room with high backed chairs in front of it. Ashleigh decided that if she was to stay in Gryffindor Tower, than that would be her place to read and study.

When she had had her fill of the common room, Hermione turned to her.

“The password changes every week, this week ours is autumn leaves, the Heads of Houses decide the password and post them on the message board by the stairs every Sunday morning. Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping.”

Ashleigh followed Hermione up the stairs and to the right. She did not stop until she reached the seventh door. Ashleigh was amazed at how large the room was. There were five full canopy beds placed strategically around the circular room, each with an accompanying night table and an arched window between each bed. Two of the beds had large black trunks in front of them. One with the initials L. B. and the other P.P. Once again the beds were covered in deep red duvets and curtains with gold trim.

“You can pick any bed you like out of the three. Parvati and Lavender are quite harmless unless you try to take over their territory.” Hermione said with a smile. “Although you may think otherwise once you meet them, they will forever be the fan girl type.”

“Fan girl? Oh, you mean the annoying, giddy, gossiping type, don’t you?”

“Yes, I’m just thankful that after more than six years they haven’t found a way to pull me into their void.”

Ashleigh laughed genuinely for the first time in what seemed forever. “I think we’ll get along fine, you and me. Where is your bed?”

“Oh, being Head Girl, I get my own room. It’s behind the landscape portrait down in the common room. That reminds me, the wash room is down the hall to the right, the boy’s wash room is to the left. It would have been a more efficient use of space if they were next to each other but apparently, the school does not trust the boys as they do the girls.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” she said, sitting on one of the vacant beds, “if a boy should try to come up our staircase, it will turn into a slide as a precaution. Boys aren’t allowed in the girl’s dorms for obvious reasons. On the other hand, we females are allowed into the boy’s dorms, just not their bath. I think it’s quite funny considering the hormones that run through my female house mates.” Hermione said with a bit of mischief in her eyes.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Makes sense though. Guys are usually more, how shall I say, sexually overdramatic, than females.”

Hermione was lying down on her side laughing until she got a glimpse of her watch.

“Oh no, it’s almost half five. I’ve missed my entire Charms lesson. Well that’s alright, but I need to go and get my homework. Dinner is at six; I’ll come and get you before I go down. You’ll be alone since everyone is outside enjoying the weather so you can settle in.”

“Do you have a book I could borrow?” She asked as she set her bag on the bed next to Lavenders. “I don’t exactly have a lot to unpack.”

“Oh, of course. Come with me.”

They walked down to the common room and stopped in front of a beautiful portrait of a setting sun, a milk maid glowing in its wake. The milk maid turned to Hermione and smiled. Hermione whispered something to the portrait and it swung open revealing the Head Girl’s room. It looked much the same as the 7^th year’s room except there were a few cushy chairs and a fire place all for her own enjoyment. Hermione walked over to a very large cherry bookcase and pulled a heavy book from the top shelf.

“This is my favorite book, Hogwarts: A History. It’s charmed to magically update whenever something memorable happens. It’s a good read, there’s lots of information about the school that will help you understand things pertaining to our world. I know it helped me a lot since I’m a Muggleborn.”

“Muggleborn? As in, your parents weren’t magical?” Ashleigh asked as they left Hermione’s room. She turned and sat in one of the high backed chairs and started when the fire magically came to life.

“Yes, you’re quick on the uptake aren’t you? Well I’ve got to be off; I’ll be back in about twenty minutes.”

She was off at a jog. Ashleigh was taken aback when she realized how much there was in this world that she had no clue even existed. Sighing, she sat back in her chair and opened Hogwarts: A History, deciding that the two minutes unpacking would take could wait until later.
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A Matter of Time