Poison Prince and Brave Princess Part I-Chapter 2

The wondrous story

“Lemon drop” said McGonagall and the stone gargoyle moved aside to reveal the spiral staircase that led to the office. Lillian followed McGonagall onto the staircase that started to move like a very slow carousel and transported them upwards. When the staircase stopped they were standing in front of a closed door. McGonagall knocked and a wise old voice said:

“Come in.”

They entered the room. Behind the enormous wooden desk with the claw-feet he sat. Quickly Lillian looked around as far as possible from where she was standing and recognised the cabinet that contained Dumbledore’s pensieve and then she looked back at him again. He stood up from his chair and eyed her in the same unbelieving way like McGonagall had already done.

“You didn’t exaggerate Minerva,” he said slowly looking from Lillian to McGonagall and back. “She really bears a striking resemblance to Lily.” With a sigh he sat down on his chair again and offered Lillian the one opposite of him. Lillian sat down still silent. She didn’t want to say anything unless she was asked. Dumbledore looked at her for a moment and then finally said something again.

“Who are you and how did you get here?”

Lillian took a deep breath and prepared for having to tell all the things that were on her mind, but first of all she would answer these questions. “My name is Lillian Ellen Block and if I knew how I got here I might also know how to get back.” She now felt very tense and unsettled. She knew that the story she was going to tell as soon as she was asked the right questions would sound far-fetched not to mention completely nuts. And it didn’t take long until the appropriate question was asked, but this time it was McGonagall.

“You said you know who we are and you clearly proved that you know where you are. Are there other things you know about us or this school?”

“Well, a lot more I dare say. Even about what is currently hidden within this school.” Lillian chose her words well. Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore exchanged worried looks before Dumbledore spoke again.

“Wherefrom do you know all these things?” His blue eyes met hers and she gulped slightly before she took another deep breath.

“You are all characters in a book series that is very popular in the world I come from. Therefore I know almost everything and everybody. I know that the Sorcerer’s Stone of Nicholas Flamel is currently hidden in another part of this corridor. Also I know that it is guarded by Fluffy the three-headed dog that was raised by Hagrid and can only be overcome by playing music to make him fall asleep. The next guard, spent by Professor Sprout, is a devil’s snare that can be overcome by setting it on fire or casting sunlight. Then there are the enchanted keys, the giant chess game and the troll, the room with the potion riddle and the chamber with the Mirror of Erised – that is not yet positioned there.” Lillian paused as the eyes of Dumbledore and McGonagall got wider and wider. “But no worries I won’t tell anyone” she assured. Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged worried looks again before once again Dumbledore spoke.

“You are very well informed indeed,” he said with a severe but calm voice “And the story you told about us being characters in a book...well...” He paused for a moment not taking his eyes off Lillian. After what seemed like half an eternity he continued. “It sounds very far-fetched, even though your knowledge about certain things is very odd but yet very interesting. I wonder if there are more things you know about the happenings in past and future.”

“Do you want a short summary of my knowledge or the long version?”

“Well,...I think a short summary should be enough.” He exchanged another look with McGonagall who just nodded silently.

“Eleven years ago a boy named Harry James Potter was born. When he was one year old his parents were killed by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, formerly known as Tom Marvolo Riddle, because of the fragment of a prophecy. When he wanted to kill Harry, who was protected by the love of his mother, the deadly curse fell back on him and he vanished being neither alive nor dead. Since that day Harry carries the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.” She paused and saw a blank stare on Professor McGonagall’s face and an impressed twinkle in Dumbledore’s eyes. Before she fell silent again she added: “About future happenings I rather don’t want to say something even though I know about everything that is going to happen from Harries first up to the last year. I know that his fate is to die.”

Professor McGonagall widened her eyes and threw a questioning look at Dumbledore who said nothing for a moment. He just leaned back and gazed out of the window.

After another half eternity of silence he finally looked back at Lillian with a faint smile. “I’m in favour of believing you -“

“But Albus -“ McGonagall started but fell silent as Dumbledore looked at her.

“Minerva we both listened to what this young woman just said. Did you notice any mistakes?” McGonagall shook her head, frowned and Dumbledore moved his eyes back to Lillian’s face. “I’m in favour of believing you. And about future happenings -”

“Professor“ Lillian interrupted, “I think that, like not having to be seen by oneself when using a time turner, it is better not to tempt people to change important happenings in the future just because they know about them. Therefore I decided to not tell about the future.”

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and then smiled a bit more. “A very wise lady we’ve got here.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Lillian said and sighed in relief of not being forced to say more than necessary. “So, uhm, may I leave now?”

“Of course not” said Dumbledore with a smile and then looked at Professor McGonagall. “Minerva? Would you please go and fetch Mr. Potter?”

“Of course, Albus...” she answered but a hint of displeasure was hidden in her voice.

She left the office and not less than fifteen minutes later she came back leading Harry into the office. Dumbledore got up from his chair, conjured another chair in front of his desk with a swing of his wand and offered it to Harry, who had an awestruck yet confused expression on his face. When he had sat down Dumbledore spoke.

“I want to introduce you to our new resident Lillian Ellen Block.” Lillian didn’t believe her ears but she remained silent to listen to what Harry was brought here for. “After clarifying the curious circumstances of her sudden appearance I want to test if she is able to do magic.”

“Don’t you think that this...test...could be dangerous, Albus?”

“From what I know I am just a Muggle.” Lillian said feeling a bit odd at the thought that she could be able to do magic. But Dumbledore neither seemed to be interested in replying to McGonagall nor in replying to Lillian.

“Mr. Potter would you please lend Miss Block your wand to let her perform a spell?”

Harry handed Lillian his wand and she took it. “Uhm and what am I supposed to cast?”

Dumbledore smiled faintly. “What about something simple?”

“Err...alright.” Lillian thought for a moment to remember some of the spells that were mentioned in the books and decided to keep it simple as suggested. She looked around in the office and for the first time spotted Fawkes the Phoenix who had been sitting silently on his golden perch. She smiled faintly at his sight and let her eyes wander around a bit more until her eyes spotted Dumbledore’s inkwell. “Alright...” she said again, got up from her chair and then pointed the wand at the inkwell. “Wingardium Leviosa” she said and swung Harry’s wand in a way which she believed would be appropriate for this spell and to her great surprise the inkwell floated into the air, trembled and then fell down and broke. “Oops...”

Dumbledore smiled and pointed his wand at the ink that was spreading over his desk and mumbled “Evanesco” and the ink disappeared. Lillian pointed Harry’s wand at the broken inkwell and said “Reparo” and the inkwell was whole again.

Lillian handed the wand back to Harry with a crooked grin, sat down and then looked back at Dumbledore who was smiling broadly. “Apparently our new resident can do magic but seems to need some support and her own wand.”

“But Albus –“

“Minerva?”

“Do you really thing that is advisable?”

“Yes yes indeed I think that.”

McGonagall seemed to be lost for words again for a moment but then said: “But I estimate Miss Block does not have any money.” She threw a look at Lillian who shook her head.

“She will get money from the fund” Dumbledore decided and McGonagall pursed her lips but didn’t say anything.

“Well well“ said Dumbledore with a smile. “Mr. Potter you can go. Minerva? Would you please go to Hagrid and bring him with you up here?”

McGonagall nodded stiffly and left the office for the second time.