Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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 5 – Meeting the Gryffindor’s

That evening saw Professors Dumbledore and Snape in a complex conversation about something neither wizard would have ever imagined taking part in, the question of whether or not an American girl from fifty years their future is a witch. Dumbledore explained the girl’s story in its entirety while Snape listened intently, unbelieving of what he was hearing. There had to be some further explanation as to why the girl was here, and at such an imperative time. Snape said as much to the Headmaster.

“I thought the same until I looked into her mind. She was completely open; there was not even a trace of her attempting to hide anything from me during our interview. She is who she says she is there is no question of that Severus.” Dumbledore said, giving the Potions Master a stern look, telling him specifically that the matter of the girl’s innocence was closed.

Snape got the hint and dropped the subject, only to bring up another equally important one.

“I have finished the potion and the results have finalized.”

“So soon? I had rather thought it would not be complete until tomorrow morning at the very earliest?”

“I am capable of multitasking. Hmm, perhaps multitasking should be added to the curriculum. It would certainly help improve the dunderheads known as students that inhabit this school.” Snape said with a sneer.

Dumbledore only looked at him with a small smile of amusement and a twinkle in his eyes. This only served to annoy the Potions Master all the more.

“Aren’t you going to ask me the results of the potion?”

“Of course. Please, do tell.”

“She is indeed a witch…How is it that the girl is seventeen years old and has no knowledge of her magical abilities? Has she never experienced accidental magic at all? Surely she would have been contacted by the Northeastern School of American Magic by now? ”

With a pensive look Dumbledore replied, “I think that for Miss Grey to have been abandoned by the American school and to have no recollection of strange happenings around her when she is in an excited state, that something in the future is not quite right with magic as a whole. It is quite possible that come fifty years, magic will no longer exist.

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Hermione stopped to catch her breath at the portrait of the Fat Lady. Out of breath from running up four flights of stairs so she could pick Ashleigh up and head down to the Great Hall before the whole school showed up. She knew Harry hated to be stared at when he was the center of attention and was sure Ashleigh would be the same. After all, it wasn’t exactly the good type of attention was it?

Murmuring, “Autumn leaves,” the portrait swung open to reveal Ashleigh sitting in the same high backed chair, in the same position as Hermione had left her, the copy of Hogwarts: A History open on her lap. Presently, she turned the page, completely immersed in what she was reading. She did not notice anyone had entered the room.

Hermione walked up behind her to tap her on the shoulder to get her attention, deciding that it was a much better course of action than talking to someone. A sudden voice in a quiet room while you are concentrating on a book can come as quite a surprise, much more of a surprise than a finger lightly pressed to your shoulder.

As her finger touched, Ashleigh calmly looked over her left shoulder and smiled at Hermione.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“That’s alright, I know what you mean. How far are you?”

“Page forty seven, end of chapter three.”

“You got that far in twenty minutes?”

“I’ve always been a fast reader. I guess it also helps that I have a photographic memory.”

“Photographic memory? Really? It must be so easy for you to learn new things.” Hermione said with an awed expression on her face.

“It's really not all that it’s cracked up to be. I mean sure, it’s really easy to remember anything you read or see but you have to know where you stored the information when you need it. And to be able not to get it mixed up with other similar information takes a lot of skill, one that I don’t ever think I’ll master.”

“I see what you mean; I never really thought it would be like that.”

“Neither did I.” Ashleigh said with a laugh.

“Well let’s head down to the Great Hall before we’re late.” Hermione said as she walked toward the door. Ashleigh placed the book on her vacant chair, memorizing her page number, and followed Hermione out the door.

When they reached the bottom of the staircase, they were greeted with the sounds of a full Great Hall. Hermione must have spent more time talking with Professor Flitwick than she thought. Ashleigh would have to enter at the mercy of the school it seemed. Walking over to the entrance she looked back and saw that Ashleigh was still following her, a calm look on her face. Turning to walk into the Hall, she led the new girl over to the Gryffindor table.

Ashleigh was overwhelmed. Not nervous or even frightened at the hundreds of pairs of eyes that stared at her as soon as she entered the room behind Hermione. Just overwhelmed. She of course didn’t let anyone else know that. Three years attending a major university with professors that had no patience for the feelings of their students will teach you to hide your emotions around others whom you aren’t acquainted.

She looked about the room cautiously as if the amazing Hall that’s ceiling reflected the night sky with floating candles was an everyday occurrence for her as it was for everyone else. Although she was sure the news of her arrival had spread like wild fire, she of course remembered her own years spent in high school, she was not prepared to let everyone see her vulnerable side. Stopping at a spot at the table on the right, she sat down to the left of Hermione, a redheaded boy sat on her other side. There was no one to the immediate left of her. Across from her was a boy with hair almost the exact shade of her own and very familiar features, except for his eyes, which were a vibrant shade of green. She thought of her own features, she was reminded of herself when she looked at this boy for some reason. She vaguely wondered if they were related. If so she hoped she wasn’t the last of his line. Death by time turner was not how she wanted her family’s name to die out.

To the boy’s left sat a girl with soft features and the same flaming red hair as the boy sitting on Hermione’s right. Ashleigh concluded that they must be siblings; they looked quite a bit alike. All three however had matching looks of confusion written on their faces.

“Everyone, this is Ashleigh Grey. She’s going to be staying in Gryffindor Tower until she can be sorted.”

Ashleigh snapped to attention at the mention of her name and replied with a friendly, “Hey.”

Hermione turned to Ashleigh preparing for a proper introduction.

“Ashleigh, this is Harry Potter,” she said starting with the almost familiar boy sitting across from her, “Ginny Weasley, Harry’s girlfriend and her brother, my boyfriend, Ronald Weasley.”

Ashleigh noticed that Ron looked really pleased with himself when Hermione referred to him as her boyfriend. Ashleigh smiled at them in greeting.

“Not to be rude but why is it you are waiting to be sorted?” Harry asked with gusto.

Hermione gave him a dirty look; Ginny nudged him in the side with her elbow while Ron looked thoughtful as he pondered the question.

“Well, it seems your Headmaster isn’t so sure that I am what you would call a Muggle. He asked that guy Snape to make some sort of Magical Identity potion to test out his theory. Said he should know the results by tomorrow morning.”

“And if you aren’t?”

“Well as Dumbledore said, ‘we could always use another Muggle Studies professor,’ although I don’t know how good I would be at a position like that.”

“That’s great,” Hermione exclaimed, clearly excited. “If you are magical, you’ll be able to prepare for your classes this weekend. It’s a Hogsmeade Weekend.”

“Hogsmeade?”

“Oh! It’s a quaint little town just down the way from the school.” Ginny replied, clearly looking forward to the day trip. She was practically jumping in her seat next to Harry.

During the girls’ exchange, Harry shared a look with Ron that said ‘Here they go again, you’d think they wouldn’t get so excited after two or three years of going to Hogsmeade,’ he looked up at the Headmaster. Dumbledore was silently watching the exchange of excited Hogsmeade talk between the girls with a delighted twinkle in his eyes. Harry realized then that the new girl was not a threat. Dumbledore wouldn’t have let her into the Great Hall let alone within five feet of the Boy-Who-Lived if she was. Harry visibly relaxed and turned back to the conversation with a much appeased mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Albus Dumbledore watched with an interested smile as the new girl, Miss Grey, associated with the Gryffindors giving himself a mental pat on the back for knowing she would fit with them splendidly. He thought this with great pride until Harry turned his eyes on him. The boy was questioning his judgment, the Headmaster realized with a smile. Bravo Harry, always question, even when the answer is staring you in the face. Dumbledore continued to smile at Harry and even put an extra bit of sparkle in his eyes so that the boy would know that he was safe. He was pleased when Harry looked back to the others, engaging in their conversation.

Well, time for another speech.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Dumbledore took the podium, the students turned to him wondering what he was going to announce and why their dinner was not yet served. They were starving after all.

“Good evening. I would like to make an announcement before we fill ourselves with what I am sure will be a wonderful feast as it always is. We have a newcomer among us. Miss Ashleigh Grey will be residing in Gryffindor Tower until further notice depending on her status as student or professor. Until that time and even further on I expect you all to welcome her to Hogwarts as you would your oldest friend.”

The entire hall was suddenly staring at her unflinchingly. She however did not even blink, expecting it and taking it all in stride.

“Now that my tedious business of keeping you from your dinner is now over, tuck in.”

And with a clap of his hands, food as well as cups, plates, and cutlery appeared on the tables with a blink of an eye.

Unable to stop herself, Ashleigh let out a high pitched squeak.

“I know its magic, but how?”

“House elves.”

“House what?”

“House elves, they live to serve wizards. Hermione thinks they’re slaves but their really not. They like to serve us; you can ask them yourself if you don’t believe me.” Ron said quickly, stuffing a muffin into his mouth when he finished speaking. Hermione was giving him an annoyed look. Ashleigh decided to steer clear of the subject.

“I’ll take your word for it.” She said with a laugh. Ashleigh thought that if she stayed friends with these four people her time here would be entertaining after all and possibly completely worth it.
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A Matter of Time