The Wizard's Guide to Timelords and Other Demons Book 1: The Forgotten War

The House Call

"Wow! I won't be hoping to do that again," the Doctor said aloud, but was quickly hushed by the others who had just appeared with him in a blaze of fire.

"We must be quiet, Doctor, or we will certainly be discovered," Professor Snape scolded in a whisper.

Having never had the experience of travelling by flaming bird, the Doctor had been understandingly apprehensive at first. The overwhelming sensation of searing heat that radiated from above as they departed Dumbledore's office had convinced him that he would arrive as no more than a smoldering mound of ashes at the journey's end. To his great relief, everyone had emerged whole and completely un-charred, and they now found themselves standing at one end of a small room.

"Sorry about that," the Doctor whispered back, a little embarrassed. Then the four intruders began to survey their new surroundings.

The room was sparsely furnished with a single bed, a desk, a dresser and two wooden chairs. It clearly had not been occupied in years, as it was filled with dust, cobwebs, and a few ferocious looking spiders that dangled from large webs as they tended to tiny orbs of skillfully cocooned prey.

Fawkes appeared exhausted after having delivered his passengers. He sat perched atop the headboard of the dusty old bed for a few moments, affectionately staring up at Professor Dumbledore. Several feathers had fallen from his tail and back and now rested on the ragged old comforter that covered the bed.

"Thank you once again, dear friend," Dumbledore said warmly as he beamed down at the majestic bird. "Please go rest now. I'll call you when we are ready to return."

With what seemed a considerable effort, Fawkes lifted himself into the air and glided across the room before sailing gracefully out through an open window.

Feeling himself safe for the moment, the Doctor's thoughts returned to what Elise had told him just moments ago. How could she possibly know Rose Tyler? The Doctor was quite certain that Elise did not come from Rose's universe.

Although several scenarios came to his mind that could have facilitated their introduction, all of them invariably played out to the same conclusion—the total annihilation of all three universes involved. This is bad, really bad, the Doctor shuddered.

No, 'really bad' was what I thought earlier, he corrected himself. This is really, really, really, bad.

"Where are we?" Elise asked, interrupting the Doctor's reflections on the apocalypse, at least for the moment.

"Little Hangleton," Dumbledore replied while looking about the room, cautiously. "Or, more specifically, we are in the home of Thomas and Mary Riddle. This is likely the maid's quarters."

"I'm sorry," the Doctor said, "Thomas and Mary who?"

"Riddle," Snape answered, "Lord Voldemort's grandparents."

"So, the Dark Lord still lives with his Granny and Grandad?" the Doctor asked, flippantly.

"No, Doctor" Snape said derisively, "Lord Voldemort murdered his father and grandparents in this house over fifty years ago. He is currently using the old, abandoned manor as his lair."

"Oh, I see," the Doctor said. He was not offended by Professor Snape's tone. In fact, he was rather happy to have the old condescending Severus back. But it wasn't just his tone that caught the Doctor's attention. Snape's gaze darted about the room anxiously. Something was clearly making him uneasy.

"Are you saying that Voldemort is here in this house? Now?" Elise said, immediately recognizing the vulnerability of their current position.