What If? Year 1

Chapter 61

"Goldie," Mum says, rubbing my arm, "it's time to get up. We're going to Hogwarts in an hour." I shoot up from my bed and stare at her.
"What?"
"For your tests?"
"I still had a day left to study!" Mum sits down next to me and rubs my hair.
"You slept all day yesterday," she whispers, "We thought you needed it, so we let you sleep." I hit my head into my pillow.
"Why? Why didn't you.."
"It's in the past now, why don't you get ready.. I'll make your some pancakes." I frown, but nod anyways. My stomach starts to ache and my hands start to shake. I run to the office and climb up on top of the shelves to grab my notes. I run back up to my room and study while I am getting dressed.
"Goldie!" Dad shouts, "Pancakes are ready!" I tie up my shoes and run down the stairs. I set my notes down at the counter and Mum sets a stack of pancakes in front of me. I ignore it and focus on my notes.
"Marigold," Mum scolds, "please eat your breakfast."
"But, Mum," I complain, "I lost an entire day of studying."
"You'll do great, flower," Dad says, sitting down next to me, "now, please eat." I pick up a fork and take a few bites, but stop after a wave of anxious nausea hits me.

"Hello, Miss Potter, Lily," Dumbledore greets us cheerfully, "Are you ready for your exams?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Follow me then." I follow after Dumbledore, leaving my mom at the end of the corridor. We walk to the dungeons and find Snape bent over a cauldron.
"Severus, Miss Potter is here to take her exams." Snape's head snaps up and he smiles.
"Hello, Miss Potter. You can take the written part while I finish these." I nod and take a seat with my test. I finish the test quickly and watch as Snape finishes the potions.
"Can you tell me what is wrong with each of these? The first one is supposed to be a Swelling Solution, the second a Strengthening Solution, and the third, a Wiggenweld Potion." I move to look over the first one, it pale yellow reminding me of cat vomit.
"It looks like you did not mix the first one long enough. It is far to pale." Snape nods, so I move onto the next. It was a bright turquoise, but very chunky.
"You did not grind the Griffin claw enough, it was not a fine powder when you poured it in." He nods again, so I move onto the Wiggenweld Potion. I stare at the bright orange that smelled of burning.
"Boom Berry juice... did you add any?" Boom Berry juice always made things smell better.
"I did not," Snape sneers, "Excellently done, Miss Potter. Make your way to Transfiguration.. quickly."

"Professor McGonagall?" I ask, softly knocking on the door. A cat brushes past my leg and walks into the room. It turns to look at me, so I follow it. It rubs against another desk, where a test is. I sit down and start the test.
Once I finish, and I finally look up again, McGonagall is sitting at her test. She sets a mouse on her desk.
"Water goblet, please."
"Vera Verto!" The mouse shift into a clear cup.
"Perfect! Well done, indeed, Miss Potter." She smiles and I get up.
"Flitwick is ready for you next."

"Make this apple swell."
"Engorgio!" The small apple begins the swell into being to large for Flitwick's hand.
"Good, now shrink it!"
"Reducio!" The apple stops and goes back to its usual size.
"Now disarm me!"
"Expelliarmus." The apple flies out of his hand and flies towards me.
"Excellent! Amazing! Wonderfully done, Miss Potter! Now, make your way to Herbology."
"Thank you, sir." I walk out just before hearing;
"Such a smart young girl."

After very long written tests from the rest of my classes, I head to Defense, my last exam. During my walk there, I silently pray that this exam is not so boring. I walk into the classroom, and Professor Dumbledore is waiting for me.
"Last exam, Miss Potter. This one is very simple. Disarm me.. and show me how you go into the spirit realm."
"Disarm you?"
"Yes, simple." I stare at him, the small twinkle in his eye not escaping my investigation. I pull out my wand and look at him some more.
"I promise that whatever you are planning to do will not harm me." I nod and point my wand at him.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Protego." I get knocked back a little, his wand still firmly in his hand.
"You'll have to be more creative than that." Humor drips from his comment, making me speed through all of the spells in my mind.
"Rictusempra." A small chuckle escapes the Headmaster, giving me just enough time to.. "Expelliarmus." His wand does not fly out of his hand, but falls softly to the floor.
"Good, good," he chuckles, "You must be able to figure out different ways to disarm people.. catch them off their guards." I nod and rush to pick up his wand for him.
"Now, child.. I am not that old." I smile and sit down on the floor.
"Have you ever shown someone how you go into the other realm?"
"No sir.. for me, it's kind of like falling asleep." He sits down next to me and smiles.
"Can you try to show me?" I lay down and close my eyes. I focus on my breathing, and feel myself slowly slipping somewhere else. I reopen my eyes and Mari is standing besides me.
"What are you doing?"
"Showing him.. something?"
"Goldie... can you write something on the board?" I nod, before realizing that he cannot see me. I go over to the board and take up a piece of chalk. I write; 'SOMETHING'. Dumbledore chuckles.
"Very nice, Marigold... can you come and touch my shoulder? I want to see if I can feel you like another ghost?" I brush my fingers on his shoulder and his head snaps back:

"P-professor Dumbledore?" Mari says, following a slightly younger Dumbledore, "I need to talk to you! It's about my sister and brother-in-law's safety! Please.."
"What is is, Miss Evans?" Mari looks near tears.
"I know you made Peter their secret keeper.. but he's a Death Eater.."
"How do you know?"
"I just do! You need to change their location, even if it's just for my sanity." Dumbledore stares at her.
"Who will be their keeper than?"
"Sirius.. or Remus! Just not that rat." Mari snarls. Dumbledore nods.
"I can do that.. but I do expect that you will tell me exactly how you know this information. Congratulations." I look between the horrified look on Mari's face and Dumbledore and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach.

I get snapped back into reality by Dumbledore snapping in front of my face repeatedly. I blink at him a couple times before he stops.
"When did you figure out you could do that?" I sit up and squeeze my nose to try to alleviate the pressure building in my head.
"I don' t know.. just now, I guess?"
Liar
"What did you see?"
"You were talking to my aunt about my parents."
"So you do see that same things that the person does.. Thank you, Miss Potter. I will take you back to your mother now. Your exam results will be back to you in less than a week."
"Thank you, sir."