ENIGMA

Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask. JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers.

Summary: AU: What if everything we ever read in JK Rowling’s books was real – including the people characterised? What would you do if you found yourself caught up in that reality knowing what was to come? SS, RL, OC

Authors Note: It has been mentioned in the story but now I am noting it here. I am a fan of Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’/’Cross Stitch’ series and definitely was influenced by that in writing this story – i.e. the Standing Stones and traveling through time. But I also love Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ series and the tv programme ‘Sliders’ and the alternate universes alongside ours idea comes from there no doubt.

This chapter also owes a great deal to the wonderful essays on hogwartsprofessor . com and in particular this one: http // www . hogwartsprofessor . com / home . php ? page docs / railings (about the 10 things that happen in every HP novel) – Thank you to Katje at The Alan Rickman Download Haven for posting the link to the Snape article!

Fantasy/Drama

This story is rated R/M.

ENIGMA

Chapter 011: Light Emerging

Jessica had thought long and hard about this most peculiar dilemma. She’d known that, according to Rowling, Severus was going to try to ‘out’ Lupin with the essay. She had hoped against hope that somehow the factual reality of these people wouldn’t mirror the books. But she could no longer ignore the obvious. Lupin was a werewolf, and his old Marauder mate and unregistered Animagus Peter Pettigrew was disguised as Ron Weasley’s pet rat Scabbers, awaiting the moment when he could make a move and rejoin Lord Voldemort; which also meant that Harry was roaming around the grounds and Hogsmeade using the Marauders Map which detailed every nook and cranny of Hogwarts and its grounds. By now Remus would have discovered it and confiscated it, if her memory served correctly. Or was it later?

That was the problem with reading the books – there was no real sense of time, seasonal changes notwithstanding. There was only the beginning, middle and end with the set pattern of Harry being stuck at his relatives for the summer; the in-between time until school began; something mysterious to be resolved by the school year’s end that set the tone for Harry and all around him whether directly or indirectly involved; and interwoven in this tapestry of chaos were the obligatory confrontations with Severus, questioning his loyalty and the exploration of the dynamics between the Trio of Harry and his closest friends Ron and Hermione. And of course a Canon story would not be complete without Harry playing the Hero to save the wizarding world in the run up to the anticipated final confrontation with Voldemort – and getting something inherently wrong but being very lucky in the process. The Boy Who Lived had more lives than a cat, all things considered.

Jessica had no choice but to face the facts of Lupin’s lycanthropy and confront him about it. She had helped so many students with their essays (word had traveled fast thanks to the Gryffindors) that she couldn’t ignore the obvious. It was quite easy to recognise Remus for what he was with the knowledge gleaned from the research.

“Mummy?” Harvey asked quietly, giving her a poke.

“What sweetie?” she said absently, her mind still on the dilemmas of Remus Lupin and the twists of fate that had to be getting ever closer. Without the books to hand it was hard to gauge.

“Is Daddy coming back?”

Jessica’s head flew up from the mound of paperwork scattered over the desk in a nook of her sitting room.

“Who?”

“Daddy,” the little Jarvey squeaked.

“Who are you…” Jessica’s voice trailed off as she realised that though Harvey had never seen much of him, he was referring to Severus. Of course he would, since it was Severus who had found and rescued him; Severus who had ensured he had a home and Severus who used to be a frequent visitor – well frequent enough in a Snape-sort-of-way at any rate.

And Harvey had seen them kiss.

She knew that Jarveys thought in abstract terms at Harvey’s age. The caregivers would be thought of as parents. Harvey’s gentleness and dependency only served to complicate matters. Still, it was nice to be needed, nice to be loved.

“I…I don’t know sweetie,” Jessica said softly as her eyes welled up with tears. Too late, several drops streamed down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry, Mummy! Don’t cry! I’m sorry!” Harvey wailed, thinking he had done something wrong and upset his mother.

Jessica gathered him into her arms and held tightly to him, crying into the soft purple whisps of feathery, furry down that covered every part of his being except his face and hands,

“My little Teletubby,” Jessica sniffed as she hugged him, trying to smile as she thought of would Severus’ reaction would be to being a father. “At least I have you, eh?”

“I love you,” Harvey said emphatically giving her a hug.

“I love you too, Harvey; don’t ever doubt that, Daddy or no…” Jessica said getting up from the desk and depositing the Jarvey on her sofa. “It’s late, time for bed…”

The little Jarvey watched despondently as his mother crossed the room and went down the hallway. Once again, Jessica would cry herself to sleep.

xxxXXXxxx

Pince had returned unceremoniously from her holidays to the overwhelming dismay of the students. But other than checking out and returning books they didn’t bother with her – not that they ever had.

The Trio came in noisily one afternoon in search of some texts on Kappas and were greatly aggrieved to find Pince on duty again. She wasn’t helpful like Jessica, neither was she up for a laugh nor could they talk to her about personal things. Miss Newkirk was known for her discretion and for being a good listener when it was needed. The Library had become quite a decent place to be when she was around.

“Can you ring for Miss Newkirk please,” Hermione asked politely, clearly relieved that for once she, Harry and Ron were the first in line. Jessica was proving to be quite popular with the students who were benefiting from her one-to-one help with their schoolwork.

“There is no reason to summon her,” Pince snapped.

“Excuse me, I need help with my Herbology review,” Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff piped up.

“Then do see Sprout about it, that is what she is paid for!. Now move along – no crowding my desk!”

A cacophony of moaning and complaining broke out, and Pince lost her temper in spectacular fashion.

“Out, out, OUT!” she boomed. “Unless you have library business you are to remove yourselves immediately!”

“Excuse me, what on earth is going on down here?” Jessica called out tiredly as she swooped down a spiral staircase that led to the upper level of the library where her new office was located. Like everything else useful about her job, it had suddenly appeared overnight. She was overjoyed beyond belief and was enjoying some quiet time to herself within its pale raspberry sherbet and cream walls. At least for the moment she was able to forget her heartache over Severus and the nagging issues about how to best talk to Remus (whom she hadn’t spoken much to since their disastrous trip to London). She was, until the commotion from below.

Jessica was mobbed by shrill, shouting students thrusting out books and rolls of parchment.

“All right, all right!” she yelled to no avail.

The uproar continued as students moaned and wailed about this exam and that essay and what was the best category of books to choose for this term paper.

All of a sudden there was a piercing whistle, stopping everyone dead in their tracks.

“Now that I have your attention,” Jessica cracked, causing her young charges to roar with laughter. “How many of you would be open to a Library Club where you can work on your assignments and learn more about the resources available to you?”

“Get your hand up,” came a whisper as a multitude of hands went up.

“Get both hands up,” Hermione hissed as she dropped her bag overloaded with books along with the ones in her arms and did just that.

“As enthusiastic as ever I see, Hermione,” Jessica said with a grin and a wink.

“You can’t have it here!” Pince shrieked. “A library is for QUIET!”

Jessica ignored her.

“I will have a word with the Headmaster and suitable arrangements will be made. The first session will start tomorrow afternoon, three o’ clock sharp. The notice will go up in each of the common rooms after dinner to confirm where…”

There were visible sighs of relief.

“But Miss, we have this essay due tomorrow in Herbology…” Ernie said, clearly panicked.

“Too bloody familiar with them,” came Pince’s muttering. “Don’t know your bloody place!”

“Have you something of merit to add Madam Pince?” Jessica asked. “Do you wish to help for a change? No? Then there are a mountain of books that need shelving – please.”

“Time for my break,” Pince huffed as she scuttled out of the library, no doubt to have a drink with Filch.

Jessica was sorting out who needed help with what when everyone’s head snapped towards the corridor outside the library. They heard Pince’s heated mutters and deep gravelly ones in returns.

“Dumbledore!” Lavender Brown shrieked.

But before anyone could make a move, not that they really needed to, the old wizard shuffled into the library. The legendary twinkle in his eyes was very much in evidence as Pince shot past him and manned the front desk once more.

“Amazing how many rooms this castle has – I took a wrong turn in my office and wound up here after a half hour of having a lovely stroll!”

Several pairs of eyebrows shot up and even Jessica had to restrain herself from smirking at the Headmaster’s eccentricity.

“Ah, Headmaster; I was wondering if I could start a library club? It seems some of the students are quite enthusiastic to have some help with their assignments and learning more about what’s available to them here.”

“Mmm, splendid idea,” Dumbledore said reaching over Ernie’s head to grab a sweet from Jessica’s candy disk on her front desk.

The desk and dish had appeared one night not that long ago and proved to be useful and very much needed. It kept the conflicts over sharing workspace with Pince to a bare minimum. Jessica’s fondness for sweets from Honeyduke’s was well known amongst the students. Quite often she did not have to fill the voluminous dish which Dumbledore was raiding with gleeful abandon along with several of the students. The students who get on well with her filled it for her – a small thank you particularly from those she was able to help on a personal level.

Something else missing from Hogwarts was a School Counselor, and increasingly Jessica was becoming that to some of them. The things they came to see her about they would have been far too embarrassed to speak directly with their Head of House about. Jessica was the intermediary when it was needed. But more often than not, she was able to speak to them in such a way that they did go on to have a word with their Head of House and sometimes with her being there to help them. Fortunately for Jessica, the Heads saw this as a good thing. Well, at least three of them did that she knew of. Severus never spoke to her about it like the others had and none of his students had come to her for assistance. The jury was still out on her as far as some of the older Slytherins were concerned. The younger ones just followed their lead – but only for the moment.

“I think some extra supplies might be in order; a great opportunity to try out some of the new wares from Baggins Stationers!” Dumbledore said as he eyeballed a hulking slab of Honeyduke’s finest chocolate beadily. “I call Dibs on that!” he bellowed merrily, swatting the hand of Oliver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team away from his prize.

“Erm, Professor Dumbledore – can we have the meetings here, please?” Hermione piped up.

“Well – where else would you hold a library club, Miss Granger? I think regular sessions would do you well – you all seem to be thriving with Miss Newkirk’s help and I am aware that many of your Professors are finding it mutually beneficial… Miss Newkirk – how does everyday from 3 until 5 suit you?”

“That would be fine, Sir. That is the current arrangement I have informally…”

“Excellent. Now of course we need to make allowances for Acquisition and Inventory days. So I propose that on those days the club meets in the Great Hall… Quite easy to summon what you need from here… ”

“Thank you, Sir,” Jessica said with a big smile.

“Madam Pince,” Dumbledore said calmly, “I do believe there are enough matters to concern you such that the club should not be a disturbance. After all, the purpose is Academic far more than social.”

“Mmmph,” came a grunted reply as Pince headed off to her office.

“Miss Newkirk; if you would care to begin and if you don’t mind I will just take a quiet seat and you just pretend I am not even here…”

“Oooo Kaaayyyy,” Jessica said as Dumbledore scooped up some more chocolate and took down a brightly coloured picture book that needed re-shelving from one of Pince’s many piles.

She quickly got the students settled down and did a review of what was needed for the various projects. There were those that were naturally bright and she made no distinction between them and those that were not. No question was too silly, no dilemma that was an irritant. Jessica had patience in abundance and even when it was tested, sorely tested, she did not loose her cool.

The students liked her, and even tested her on occasion, but those that came to her for help by and large respected the boundaries she set for them and the expectations she had of them. Miss Newkirk was known for being tough, but very fair and honest in her dealings with them. She made them believe in themselves and that in turn made them want to do the best they could for their own sake as well as so they didn’t disappoint her.

The Headmaster smiled to himself as recognised within Jessica a natural gift and flair for teaching and relating to the students. That was what he would have liked to see with the Professors, but he realised that for many of them teaching was just a job – not a profession in the way that Jessica tackled her job and the responsibilities that came with it.

It seemed that no sooner than they had started, it was time for the first meeting of the Hogwarts Library Club to come to an end.

“Mr. Creevey!” Dumbledore boomed. “I do think a photograph to commemorate this occasion is in order, don’t you?”

The Headmaster conjured a sparkling glittering sign to match his hat. Jessica noted that the sign made no specific reference to the year, unlike the ones she’d had in school. The students gathered around Dumbledore and the sign and Jessica stood back watching Colin Creevey as he fumbled with his camera.

“Now don’t be shy Miss Newkirk! After all we are all only gathered here because of you!”

“What? Oh – erm OK…” Jessica replied clearing her throat. She took a seat next to Dumbledore on the chair he conjured for her as the students arranged themselves behind them.

“Ready? Come on Mr. Creevey – set the timer and get into place now…”

There was a whirring noise and Colin sprang into place positioning himself between Harry (his hero whom he worshipped unbelievably) and Ron, both of whom were annoyed with the little twerp.

FLASH!

FLASH!

FLASH!

DING!

Several photographs shot out of the camera and with a wave of his wand, Dumbledore had enlarged and tacked them together in one big picture frame which he then hung on the bare wall behind Jessica’s desk up front.

“Alright – dismissed,” Jessica said with weary wave.

There were some cheers and backslapping amongst the club members at the success of their first day.

“Who would have thought it,” Hermione trilled, “People actually coming out for an academic club…”

“If you make it less like work you’ll get a better result with some of them Hermione, especially your friends,” Jessica said wisely with a pointed look. “Otherwise they don’t listen and won’t care to especially when it’s needed.”

“Right, right of course,” came a fast reply; too fast.

Jessica watched in amusement as Hermione quickly gathered her things and made a hasty exist.

“Well done Miss Newkirk,” Dumbledore said as Jessica rubbed her eyes. “I do believe that you are the best thing to happen to this little corner of Hogwarts in a very long time.”

“Oh – I just try to help where I can,” Jessica said honestly. “Some of them are challenging and many are the days when I think I will go bald with frustration.”

Dumbledore laughed and handed Jessica some chocolate.

“Oh yes indeed! Why I remember the time when young Ignatius Hornblower…”

It was an hour later before Jessica realised that the Headmaster surely had other things to do besides entertaining her and said so. But she hadn’t laughed so hard in a long time and it helped her to forget her troubles.

“If that were the case, Jessica, I would most certainly be doing them,” Dumbledore said peering over his glasses.

Jessica looked around.

“Professor, Sir. Can we go to your office – please?”

Dumbledore nodded slowly. But before rising he took Jessica’s hands in his.

“I wish I could tell you with absolute certainty that everything will be alright…”

“But it won’t…”

“Perhaps not – but at least one important thing will have happened; something I have wanted for some time now.”

“And that is?”

“For you to not carry your burdens alone, Jessica…”

xxxXXXxxx

Dumbledore and Jessica were seated in comfortable armchairs by the fire in his office. She held a steaming hot mug of sugary tea in her hands and tried to blink back the tears threatening to fall.

The Headmaster reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Sometimes the best way is to just spit it out – fast,” he offered.

“Oh this is too complicated for that; you’ll think I’m mad! Or dangerous!”

“If I believed you to be such I would have hardly entrusted you with the care of our students.”

“Ours?”

“Yes, Jessica; your and mine: ours.”

Jessica swallowed and nodded.

“I care about them, Professor. I like them a lot and I am starting to feel like I am a part of things. And Harvey needs me and I need him and we both need Sev… and he needs…but he doesn’t see it or care about us anymore…if he ever did…”

She looked down and let out a sob.

“He knows you are hurting and he is in the abyss wrestling with his demons. You mean something to him, more than he could have ever hoped for. He feels, deeply, and it does not come easy to him; and the reasons for that I believe you know. I believe you know far more than you have been willing to entrust me with.”

“I wish I didn’t, Sir. Honestly, I really don’t want to know what I do!”

Dumbledore took the shaking mug of tea from Jessica’s hands and placed it on the table. He took her hands in his and then helped her to calm herself.

“Back in my world,” Jessica began, “There are books – very popular books…”

She hiccupped and then took shallow breaths.

“And these books,” she continued. “They talk about… this world…”

Dumbedore nodded gravely. Jessica’s hands twitched in his and he gave them a squeeze.

“You are doing fine, and I believe you, just know that,” he said gently.

Jessica burst into tears and the Headmaster gathered her into a hug.

“I don’t believe you have had one of those in a very long time.”

“No,” Jessica hiccupped. “That’s why I loved the books so much and the characters, all of you – my life was so emotionally empty and the books – gave me – something…”

“Something to get lost in; to forget how sad and lonely you are; how important love and being needed and useful is to you because you have never really had it, not even from those closest to you. Nothing you did ever made a difference and the more isolated you became, the more certain talents developed…and some that remain unknown to you.”

Jessica nodded; she attempted to pull away but Dumbledore held her in her hug.

“It is no shame to admit we need this level of understanding, Jessica. Let me do just that.”

Jessica nodded and looked up; to her surprise Dumbledore was genuinely sad and upset at her obvious distress.

“These books, they are not just about this world in general,” she said emphatically. “They are about Harry Potter – and what he has faced from the moment he discovered he was a wizard!”

“I see,” Dumbledore said feebly after Jessica told him what she could. The one thing she didn’t talk about was his death in Harry Potter’s Sixth Year. But she said enough so that he understood that time was not on his side.

The Headmaster took a deep breath. “Merlin’s beard, give me the strength…”

“The long and short of it is – if the books are right, and so far it seems that they are for every little nuance that is left out, then you have some hard decisions to make.”

“No Jessica, we have some hard decisions to make. This is your life and your knowledge. I would not dare to make such judgments without your input and tacit agreement.”

Jessica looked at him and could see the Headmaster was troubled.

“So I guess you want to Obliviate me now and send me on my way… or do something else…”

“That is the last thing I want and that is not my way with one so innocent – and not for the reasons you would assume. Your Ms. Rowling may have a fine appreciation for our world, but she doesn’t know us! She doesn’t personally know those of whom she writes and the many ancient principles by which our world is governed and is allowed to exist! You have fallen into our lives under very tragic circumstances, but out of that tragedy has come something very good, life-affirming and powerful.”

“What I know, right? How useful I can be to you, is that it?”

“Far more important than that: what you give to others freely without limitation or expectation in return. What I witnessed today and the reports that have reached my ears are proof positive.”

Jessica’s mouth formed a wide ‘O’ as she listened to the aged wizard speak from his heart.

“I have known Severus Snape since he was a small boy – 11 years old. I have made my mistakes with him – that is very true. And heaven forbid before we see this through I may make even more. But they are mistakes that come from a deep caring and concern for his well-being…to see him emerge from the tangled web that he wove as a young man wanting to be more than he was ever allowed to be in the eyes of others that did matter to him no matter what he protests otherwise.”

“The books don’t exactly paint a glowing picture between the two of you…”

“But do they paint a wholly negative one?”

“No… not exactly. It’s down to one’s own personal interpretation really. Jo Rowling is really crafty with how she manipulates the fandom…”

“Well – that explains why you were so willing to believe the absolute worst of me before I had a chance to prove otherwise. And why you trusted Severus Snape so much such that you gave him the most precious thing you have…”

“And that is….?”

“You.”

Jessica sniffed and the tears began rolling over her cheeks again.

“You did exactly as you were meant to Jessica…I firmly believe that you were meant to come to us and at this critical juncture in Harry’s and Severus’ life. Seeing how they and the others have blossomed in certain respects under your influence confirmed that to me some time ago.”

“But that’s just it! Is this meant to be? Am I meant to just be thrown here knowing what I know – not even knowing how it all ends up – and unable to do anything about it?”

“The question is not whether or not you are able to act; but whether or not you should, Jessica.”

“What do we do, Professor?”

“Albus; you and I have come too far to stand on ceremony.”

“Severus never calls you Albus. He doesn’t cross that line even in the books…”

“The books are correct in that regard. However, you are not Severus and that is precisely why he needs you. We all need you as much as you need us.”

Jessica’s hands were ice cold and Dumbledore rubbed them between his. She watched as several tears rolled down his reddened cheeks.

“There is nothing we can do – is there? It’s all meant to unfold… pretty much as it was written?”

Dumbledore nodded solemnly. “I am 99.9 sure that is the case. We can try to alter certain circumstances, but I do believe that what is meant with regards to the major mysteries will come to pass.”

“But we can try, can’t we? We can do something so that certain things don’t happen…”

“I may be somewhat of a Wizard’s Chess Master, but I am not God Jessica! I know that to you it has often read as though I play God with people’s lives, but again that is your interpretation. Only those events which are meant to be altered for the greater good can be manipulated, and even then great care must be taken as you very well know.”

“Like saving someone from the Dementors… you can do that because it’s not their time to go and not like that; and you are allowed to make use of those who are actually meant to do it in order to complete the task. You draw on the only people you could use – even if they happen to be underage; it’s their time to do what’s needed and it’s meant. Whatever is to come will happen naturally regardless of the path taken…”

“Precisely…”

“Then you most definitely are the Greatest Wizard of the Age to have such sacred wisdom. You remind me of the Sachem back home, our Wisewoman. I suppose you are connected to the spirits – your spirits…if you have them…”

“I never claimed it myself… and I don’t set stock in such things. My greatest fear, as you very well know, is what I know must come to pass… I fear it, but I am not afraid to face it.”

“The return of Lord Voldemort…”

Dumbledore smiled ruefully.

“One of the few around me who does not fear his name…”

“Why should I fear a fictional character?”

“Because you know now that he is real and that what you have read of his past, present and yes, even the future – is truth.”

Both fell silent.

“I think there is a reason you have come to us that has far reaching implications,” the Headmaster said thoughtfully. “Unfortunately it is not for either of us to know why.”

“And there is the not-so-small matter of the people who crossed into my world and forced me into this…”

“Yes,” Dumbledore said thoughtfully. “Severus has a theory. But personal matters got in the way of him discussing it with you as he wished. You rebuked his only attempt…”

“Mmmphm; is that a fact?”

“Cynicism doesn’t suit you Jessica. Neither does sarcasm.”

Feeling like a child chastised for throwing their toys out of their pram, Jessica fell silent.

“He believes, and I am inclined to agree, that there is something you are yet to do which will resonate within our world and it is not necessarily a thing so grand as the defeat of Lord Voldemort. You were meant to come to us, but not in the manner in which it happened. To use a Muggle expression, your attackers ‘jumped the gun’ in trying to prevent you from going through the stones and in so doing brought about the one thing which they sought to alter. There were better ways to approach your being here – and they took the least desirable path.”

“And so bringing it around to what we were saying before…”

“Precisely. You are here because you are meant to be here. No matter how hard we try – the events surrounding Lord Voldemort’s return and who survives this war will unfold as you know them.”

Jessica put her head in her hands, feeling utterly despondent.

“That does include my death as well, dear Jessica,” Dumbledore said as he removed her hands and tilted her head up.

“But Sir, No!”

Dumbledore bade her to listen.

“I am an old man. I have lived a very long life even by wizarding standards and it’s been a good one in spite of the hardships and difficulties. Sacrifices are always necessary for the greater good and unlike Tom I am not afraid of death. Death is a part of life. Why would I want to go on whilst those around me pass into their next lives leaving me to get on without them? To live out cycles of birth, life and death around me continuously for all eternity? That is the way of a coward, Jessica. I do not fear death and neither do I court it.”

“But I don’t know how it all ends! I don’t know what happens to any of you!”

“An intriguing dilemma, most assuredly – and I would wager that had you knowledge of the last year of which Ms. Rowling has yet to write, it would seriously impair your judgment as you get on in our world. As it stands I believe you know enough and there is enough room for us to act without compromising what needs to happen for the greater good of us all.”

Rather than comforting Jessica, his wisdom just made her more despondent.

“Has it ever occurred to you, Jessica, that perhaps Ms. Rowling changed certain facts to suit her own purposes?”

“Well – after the books started taking off and people liked the ‘bad’ guys – yes I thought that in terms of what she had originally written in her notebooks. I used to write about it all the time; that I didn’t believe what we were getting after the second book was what she’d originally intended.”

“Very good; and that is likely something that whoever bewitched her did not anticipate. And have you wondered why it is that the knowledge of our world has come to pass in your own and through the pen of Joanne Rowling?”

Jessica didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Are you kidding me? I’m of the mind that she came from the future of this world into mine… you think she was just another Muggle and she was bewitched?”

“But that would be too easy, wouldn’t it; a Witch – a very powerful one at that – manages to open the gateway to your world and steps through, spinning a tale so fantastic through the written word such that she finds fame and fortune?” Dumbledore queried.

“Something like less than 2 of writers manage to make a living from it in my world. And she was a single mother on benefits and was really down on her luck when she was working on the first book…”

“I don’t believe that she is a Witch, no – but I do believe that she was magically influenced and by someone with an agenda that involves your world… Of all those they could have chosen at random, it simply happened to be her.”

“Are you sure or are you making a guess?”

“I am making an educated and for me a very logical guess…”

“But why put that knowledge out there if it happens to be true? I still don’t want to believe it and I am here living it!”

“Yes – but your emotional reaction. You were pulled into the idea of this world – even with all its darkness and the terrible things you have read. You still were open to it…”

Jessica thought for a moment.

“So if people were open to it – when certain things started to happen in my world, instigated by whomever, we would embrace them and be far more cooperative when the truth was out… because for a lot of us we would see it as wonderful and a dream come true… God it is like the Nazis and how they managed to gain power…”

“And…”

“And…since the series was nearing completion – they were gearing up to make a move; but they had to do something about me. They knew about me and had to keep me from going through the Stones and back in your time. They changed the way I was meant to come here – but they couldn’t alter the fact that I was meant to do it and when.”

“Yes – which leads us to two dilemmas: firstly, they are trapped in your world in the future and from the remark that was made they are acutely aware that they should not be there – clearly their lives are at risk; and second, we have no idea who they are at present. Whoever they are, they found out about you and discovered the nature of the Stones. They used that played upon certain criminal elements of this world to draw attention away from themselves that night at your home.”

“The Death Eater garb…”

“Mmmm – if they were Death Eaters…”

“Does Severus think they are? I got the impression he didn’t.”

Dumbledore explained that was the case and then detailed what Snape had told him, McGonagall and Lupin.

“This is crazy,” Jessica said. “There are how many people in this world?”

“Not as mad as it seems,” Dumbledore said. “At this moment in time there will not be anything that will give us clues towards resolving that mystery. I believe more time will have to pass and events will have to unfold as they are meant before the unseen becomes clear. Those that know of you and the Stones are very few. I trust Remus, Minerva and Severus unreservedly. Harry and the return of Voldemort concern us all; how you fit into all of that I have yet to decipher.”

“But what if you… I mean…”

“What if the way to who they are is not laid clear by the time of my death? I think there is more scope for optimism than either of us is inclined to acknowledge at the moment…”

Jessica stared into the fire and then back at Dumbledore.

“Severus – what about Severus?”

Dumbledore thought carefully before answering and Jessica knew that he was placing great faith in her with whatever it was he was about to say.

“I trust Severus Snape – which of course you know from your reading although you do not know precisely why. The reasons for that…”

“…are between yourself and Professor Snape…yes, so I have read God knows how many times.”

“They are for you as well. But that is Severus’ tale to tell, not mine and I have every reason to believe that he will, although when is anybody’s guess.”

“Fair enough, I suppose…”

“Is that enough for you to trust yourself with him again?”

Jessica sensed this was very important to Dumbledore.

“Why – why do you care about silly things like romance with everything else going on?”

“Because in the midst of so much tragedy it would be good to know that there is some love and happiness that will survive it all…and that he will not spend the rest of his life alone and bitter because of it.”

“Funny – Professor McGonagall says something very similar in the future... and you talk like you think Severus will really come out of all of this alive and out of Azkaban…”

“She and I go back a long way – and I daresay she knows me well enough to come to that conclusion, although she undoubtedly was not referring to Severus in your book. There is always hope – and where there is hope there may well be opportunity as impossible as it seems.”

Dumbledore pulled out two Sherbet Lemons from his pocket and handed one to Jessica.

“So what do we do now, Professor?”

“Albus – we go on and we face each day as it comes on its own merits.”

“But Pettigrew…”

“I don’t think Lord Voldemort would much care for having a servant in Harry Potter’s debt; and the day may very well come when Harry will be most grateful and very fortunate that that is the case.”

“Déjà vu…”

“I know it’s hard, Jessica,” Dumbledore said touching one of her cheeks and stroking away a tear. “But I need for you to be strong for me. We know what must be done and we will face it – all of us – when it comes. Whatever is necessary for the greater good of us all we will do. But I warn you – the repercussions can be far worse if we interfere than if we do not, like dominos collapsing…we can act – but we MUST be very careful!”

Jessica nodded gravely.

“The Order of the Phoenix…”

“Will you stand beside us when the time comes?”

“I’m just a Muggle! I’m useless – I can’t do magic…”

“Well – in a manner of speaking not like us, not that I can tell so far. But there is much you can do…”

“What on earth could that possibly be?”

“Be there to help us through it all…as you should as you do now.”

Jessica wasn’t convinced, but nodded her agreement anyway.

“Sometimes the simplest things can be the greatest asset in times of need…”

“There’s that rhetoric again…”

Dumbledore chuckled.

“I can see you will do your best to keep us all grounded. I thank you sincerely for that.”

There were a multitude of questions flying through her head, but a glance at the clock on Dumbledore’s mantelpiece told her it was very late and they had missed dinner.

“You needed me, Jessica, and that was far more important. I am always here for you and will do the best I can by you with what lies ahead.”

“Professor – I just realised something…”

Dumbledore nodded and leaned forward.

“If the books are a chronicle of historic fact; and my coming was meant and I stay on then why aren’t I in them?”

Dumbledore’s eyes widened in surprise and then blazed with triumph.

“The most obvious of questions and even I didn’t think of it.”

“Well the fact is that I am here and I am becoming very involved with the school and all of you – but there is no record of it, not from Rowling… The only mentions of the library have to do with Madam Pince…and its written like nothing ever changed… As far as Rowling is concerned, I don’t exist!”

“Then that sheds a great and very important light on the matters concerning us. What that is precisely I need to think about before discussing it further with you.”

“My head is about to burst anyway…”

“Get some sleep, Jessica. You work far too hard and you will need some time for your magical education.”

“But I have already had it…”

“The theory, yes… but as you say there is more to life than what you read in books… Your lessons begin next week, eight o’clock here in my office weekdays. You have a lot of practical work to catch up on. And bring your wand.”

“Ok…” Jessica said, yawning as she stood.

“How do you feel now?”

“Honestly…relieved… really relieved… but scared too…”

“We are here – and we will all face it together. But there is something far more important which must concern you now?”

“What?” Jessica sighed wearily as Dumbledore walked her to his office door.

“Severus… and how you two will find your way back to each other.”