Muggle | 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦

Chapter 100

Saying goodnight to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I made my way up the marble staircase and towards Dumbledore's office.

But getting there, I realized I had forgotten his password again. But suddenly a familiar soft voice behind me said, "Acid Pops."

On cue, the statue of the gargoyle came to life and revealed a staircase. When I turned around, I saw Dumbledore approaching me.

"Good evening, Lexi." He smiled at me before gesturing at the staircase, saying, "After you."

Nodding at him politely, I started walking up to his office, with him following me right behind.

"Please, do sit down," said Dumbledore as he sat behind his desk, drawing out a chair out of thin air with his wand for me, and so I sat down.

"What is it that you wanted to talk with me about, Professor?" I questioned.

"About you returning back to your own timeline."

By those words, I felt my heart sink and my mouth immediately went dry as I stared blankly at Dumbledore.

"N-now? I have to go now?"

"Of course not." He chuckled. "Or at least, not if you don't want to."

I nodded in relief, letting out the breath I didn't know I was holding. "Then what is it, sir?"

"When you showed up here at Hogwarts two years ago, it was clear to me that you had passed the King's Cross barrier and somehow traveled to the past as you fell into platform 9 3/4. That's how it went, am I correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, there was only one explanation to it," he went on. "Someone had opened a portal within the barrier, allowing you to pass it and even more so, to travel to the past."

Dumbledore looked down at me, but when I didn't reply, he continued,

"You see, Lexi, after your arrival and your wondrous claim, I kept an eye on that platform, and I came upon something extraordinary."

"Wh-what was it, sir?"

"I saw in these past two years that on the same day you passed the barrier, first of September, another portal was made inside the barrier, but this time, to take you back to your present and back at the Muggle side of King's Cross."

"Then — then how come no one else passed it?" I asked nervously.

"That was my question too." Dumbledore nodded. "But then I realized that you alone would be able to pass back through it. Because the portal was created and visible for you, and you only."

      "But how did the person know I would come up with the idea of running through it? I mean... what are the chances?"

       "The portal was a powerful magical binding spell. You would've been magically drawn to it one way or another."

"So — so I could've gone back all these two years?"

"Not anytime you wanted," Dumbledore corrected me. "First of September, each year."

"So you're saying that if today I go back to the Hogwarts Express and pass the barrier and go back to King's Cross, I would travel back to my present?"

"Yes." He nodded. "It will take you to the exact moment you had fallen through the barrier, which means that no one in that timeline would feel your absence. Not even a second of it."

I opened my mouth but closed it back again, considering all that I had just heard, my head starting to hurt slightly.

"Will — will my magic go away if I go back?" I asked, looking up at him.

"No," said Dumbledore simply, shaking his head. "Your magic has already been set free. You will forever have it with you. Well, unless you drink another Concealment Potion, of course."

     He chuckled at his own joke and I faked a small laugh before pursing my lips together.

"It's understandable if you want to return now, Lexi," said Dumbledore softly. "There's a war awaiting us."

I shook my head briskly at that. "I — I can't go back now. There are so many unanswered questions... so many things I have to cha—" I stopped myself in mid-sentence.

"You know you can't stay in this timeline forever, don't you?" Dumbledore asked gently.

I remained silent for some while, gulping. "How long do I have, maximum?"

"Until 2007, I believe," he replied. "The exact date, day, and hour that you came here to us; first of September, 2007, a quarter to eleven. That would be your last chance."

"And what will happen if I don't go back by that time?"

There was a small pause as Dumbledore looked at me before saying, "You will cease to exist in both timelines."

I felt the color drain from my face in horror as I stared down at my hands which were clasped together on my lap.

"That won't happen, Lexi. You've still got time."

I nodded, feeling slightly calmer by those words, even though I was still speechless.

"And say I go back now..." I started, "would I go the same age as I was back then, fourteen, or will I continue my life as a sixteen year old, like I am now?"

"You will be sixteen. Nothing will change; not your age, not your looks, not your acknowledgments, and definitely not the magic that you posses."

"But if my appearance changes —"

"—Won't anyone know that you look different?" Dumbledore completed me, and I nodded. "You asked the same question two years ago, but I shall answer now once again. A powerful Confundus Charm ought to do it."

"How?"

"It will be casted around you, preventing any Muggle who knew you from realizing that you look any different," he answered. "It would be a complex spell, for sure. But it's not something me, Professor Flitwick, or Professor McGonagall can't do."

       "Sir," I said again. "Two years ago... when I was sorted... the sorting hat said I was a Muggle."

       "Ah," Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling from behind his glasses. "The hat only sees through your mind. It only sees what you believe in. Nothing more, nothing less."

I nodded, looking down again.

"So if you're sure that you'll be staying with us, Lexi, I think you better go to bed now," said Dumbledore, his blue eyes twinkling. "I'm sure you're feeling tired."

"Y-yes," I nodded, standing up. "Thank you, Professor. Goodnight."

And with that, I left his office. But of course I wasn't going back to our Common Room just yet.

I had a lot of magic to try out.