I Am Dumbledore, Who Are You?
Chapter 3: I Am Dumbledore, Who Are You?
Professor Dumbledore could not sleep a wink that night. Even with a century's worth of knowledge and experience under his belt, he had never expected to meet a wizard from another world altogether.
He gathered his lamp and made his way to the library. "Good evening, Argus. Good evening, Mrs. Norris," he greeted the notorious school caretaker and his cat.
"Evenin', Headmaster," Mr. Filch replied in his usual gruff tone. "Off to the library again?"
"I am, Argus. I have a special case to work on, concerning one of my first-year students. She has a strong desire to return home."
Mr. Filch grinned in a rather sly manner. "First year student couldn't keep her curiosity in check huh? Pity I wasn't there to catch her first."
"Oh, no, no, Argus. It's not like that. I spoke with her personally before the feast earlier this evening. She told me that she was homesick." Mr. Filch's grin melted, his expression of glee replaced with one of disappointment. "Unfortunately it's not as simple as getting her back on the train to go home; there is much I must do to ensure she gets home safely. I'm afraid I cannot elaborate further as this is a rather sensitive issue. I hope you understand."
Mr. Filch nodded slightly. "I won't keep you then, Headmaster. Enjoy your evenin'."
Dumbledore continued to the library. He immediately headed for the Restricted section. Surely, over the course of a millennium someone had some insight on how to contact other beings from another dimension. He meticulously went through each aisle and each shelf. Even with the culmination of countless generations' worth of arcane knowledge, if cross-dimensional communication was ever achieved, it no doubt had to be one of the most closely-guarded secrets of the wizarding world. But the Professor was persistent, he was willing to put in the many hours of research to help his pupil.
He made mental notes of possible volumes worth looking into, but they were few and far between. He knew in his heart that it was possible. He wouldn't let Jaina down. He couldn't. He was somewhat frustrated that this night's efforts were fruitless, but he refused to let his frustrations devolve into despair. This was not going to be a one-night process. He was committed to this for the long haul.
The next day, Jaina and Hermione started their first day of classes. Their first class was Potions under Professor Snape. For several reasons, Jaina took an immediate disliking to Snape. His dark, oily, shaggy hair did not seem very wizard-like. He had very dark eyes that seemed as though as if they could stare through a person's soul. His voice was deliberate and distant. And the way he carried himself - there was definitely an air of arrogance. All these features made him rather intimidating, and what's worse, he seemed to know that he was intimidating and would not hesitate to use his authority. "He doesn't seem as nice as Professor Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall," she whispered to Hermione. Hermione nodded.
"Silence!" Snape growled toward the cluster of Gryffindors, including Jaina and Hermione. "I don't know if I feel particularly comfortable with all these Gryffindor pupils gaggling together like this. I shall personally assign seats starting tomorrow." His eyes narrowed into a menacing stare at the Gryffindors. "Furthermore, any more disruptions during instruction today will result in your house being docked five points. And I am always extra keen to find any Gryffindor offenders. Pray that you do not give me reason to do this. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
A few mumbled uttering of "Yes, sir" or "Yes, Professor" came from the students. Snape rolled his eyes. "For Merlin's sake. Say it like you mean it." The students repeated themselves, more clearly this time. "That's better," Snape said with a look of mild satisfaction on his pale face. He took a few methodical steps toward the group of Gryffindors. He stopped directly in front of Harry, gloating.
"Ah, it's the new celebrity. Mister Potter, tell me. Do you, perchance, know the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
Harry could only give Professor Snape a look of confusion. "I'm sorry sir. I'm not sure."
Snape closed his eyes and nodded. "I thought not. A shame." Hermione raised her hand, but Snape completely ignored her. With a devilish smirk, he looked back at the Gryffindor students. "So fame isn't everything, is it, Mister Potter?" Harry could only shake his head, defeated. "For your information, young man, wolfsbane and monkshead are the same plant, which also goes by the term, aconite." He stepped back, eyeballing the entire class. "I suggest that you all copy that one down," he hissed in a deliberate manner. The students hurriedly got out their quills and parchments and started writing down the information as instructed.
Jaina glared at Snape. "Why were you so cold to Harry? That was a very unfair question and you knew it. It's not a crime to not know something, especially with this being the first day of class."
Snape then turned his attention to Jaina. "You have some gall, young lady." His face hardened. His voice took a low, menacing tone, but still calm and controlled. "Maybe such insolence is tolerated in House Gryffindor, but I assure you, there will be no place for it in MY classroom." His pallid face flushed with color as he raised his voice. "Do you understand me?" Jaina's eyes filled with tears as she nodded.
Regaining his composure, he asked her in a less sharp tone. "What is your name, young lady?"
Jaina sniffled a bit as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Jaina Proudmoore." Snape rolled his eyes at her.
"Oh for the love of Merlin. Stop your sniveling, Miss Proudmoore. And you have just cost your house five points for your ill-advised decision to defend your friend."
Snape stepped back to address the class as a whole. "Let that be a lesson to the lot of you. You would be well advised to know that while under my supervision, children are to be seen, and not heard - unless spoken to. Nobody - and I mean nobody - breaks Severus Snape's rules without consequence. If you shirk and show cheek, this is precisely what happens." His face and voice softened slightly. "However, if you pay attention and work diligently, the time will pass quickly, and perhaps..." he started, with a slight nod toward Draco Malfoy, "perhaps I may grant you an occasional token of my appreciation." He paused, with his features hardening to a more serious expression. "I will promise you all this. I have very high expectations for each and every one of you. It will not be easy to impress me."
After what seemed like an eternity, Potions class was over. After they were beyond Snape's earshot, Harry caught up to Jaina and Hermione. "Hey Jaina, thank you for sticking up for me like that. That took some real stones to do that."
Jaina smiled at Harry. "I'm sorry I cost our house five points. But I don't regret calling Snape out like that. Antonidas would not tolerate that behavior with any of the mages under him. I understand why teachers need to be strict at times, but I really think Snape relishes being mean."
Hermione gave Jaina a look. "He's cruel, but unfortunately he's right. We have no power on his classroom. We'll have no choice but to take it."
Harry waved good-bye to Hermione and Jaina. "I need to catch up with Ron and Neville. I'll see you two in a bit."
The rest of the morning seemed to go by much more smoothly, thankfully. At lunch, Dorothy dropped by with a note for Jaina.
"Hello Jaina,
How are you? I trust you are liking your classes. Do you have time for a short chat this afternoon, say 4 PM? You may bring Miss Granger if you'd like. I'll be waiting outside my office on the first floor.
Professor M. McGonagall"
Hermione patted Jaina on the shoulder. "That's very kind of her to check up on you like that. I'll be happy to go with you."
"Thanks, Hermione," Jaina replied. "She's a much more pleasant person than that Snape character. I'll be happy to talk to her anytime."
At four o'clock, Hermione and Jaina met with Professor McGonagall in front of her office. They saw a small tabby cat just outside the professor's door. When Jaina reached down to pet it, the cat magically transformed into Professor McGonagall. The Professor greeted the girls warmly. "Hello, Miss Proudmoore. Hello, Miss Granger. I see that that you got the note I sent earlier. Please, come in."
Professor McGonagall gestured for Jaina and Hermione to take a seat. "How are things going so far? Are you enjoying yourselves so far?"
"Mostly," Jaina answered. "However, Professor Snape was rather unfair to Harry Potter earlier. He asked a question that he knew that Harry couldn't answer. I tried to stick up for Harry but I cost Gryffindor five points by calling out the professor."
Professor McGonagall smiled at Jaina. "Professor Snape can be callous and aloof, and I don't always agree with his methods, but at his core, he is an honorable wizard. Plus, Professor Dumbledore trusts him very much. You don't have to like all of your instructors, but you have to respect the office that they hold. They have, after all, paid their dues to earn the title of Professor. Professor Snape can be hard on his students but it is possible to earn his respect, even if you're in the Gryffindor house. The best way to gain mutual respect, is to pay attention and not speak unless spoken to. If you play by his rules, you will find Potions to be easier to bear." Jaina nodded in understanding, as she knew that Professor McGonagall was telling her the truth.
Professor McGonagall continued. "And I must commend your courage for sticking up for Mister Potter. I will award Gryffindor the five points Professor Snape took away. I will not bail you out like this if you stand up to another faculty member like that going forward - whether they deserve it or not - but I must say that you are embodying the values that Gryffindor stands for. Keep being you, Jaina. I'm very proud of you."
"Thank you, Professor," Jaina replied. "Other than that, I really like Hogwarts. The magic is different than what I'm used to back on Azeroth, but I'm picking it up quickly."
Professor McGonagall smiled warmly at Jaina. "You are a quick study, Jaina. I know next to nothing of the magic of your homeworld, but you have a talent that very, very few wizards and witches can ever dream of possessing. You have incredible potential, young lady, and I would be most honored to help you unlock that potential." Jaina smiled in thanks.
Professor McGonagall then turned to face Hermione. "And how are things going with you, Miss Granger?" she asked.
"I love it here, Professor," responded Hermione.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, my child. Other than Jaina, have you made any other friends yet?"
Hermione shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. There's Harry, Ron, and Neville, but they're more acquaintences than friends so far. I don't know them very well yet, but perhaps that will change."
The Professor gave Hermione a knowing look. "I will give you the same advice I just gave Miss Proudmoore. Keep being you, Miss Granger. You are very, very intelligent - I can see why you were seriously considered for Ravenclaw - and you have a sweet and caring personality. It may take time for your qualities to shine through and other people to notice, but I promise, it will happen in time. But for now, having one good friend is far better than having none at all. The two of you bring out the best in each other. Keep pushing each other to be better. Hogwarts is fortunate to have two such incredibly gifted witches walking its corridors."
Professor McGonagall paused for a moment before continuing. "At any rate, I just wanted to let you know that Professor Dumbledore started his research to find a way to contact Archmage Antonidas last night," Professor McGonagall said. "It may take several weeks, maybe months, but he's confident he'll find a way. We will update you regularly with any new information."
Jaina wrapped her arms around Professor McGonagall in gratitude. "Thank you, Professor. I feel safe knowing that you and Professor Dumbledore are looking out for me like this. I'm very grateful."
"My child, I'm sure Antonidas is working just as hard as Albus is, trying to bring you back home. We truly feel very privileged having you under our roof. I admit, we'd love to have you complete your studies here but I do understand the pull of returning home."
"Professor," Hermione said. "Jaina has been teaching me some simple Azerothian spells. Would you like me to show you?"
Professor McGonagall threw Hermione a bemused look. "I hope it's safe to practice indoors."
Hermione giggled. "I hope so too."
McGonagall gave Hermione a slight nod. "Very well, dear. Show me what you can do."
Without a word or a wand, Hermione aimed an ice bolt projectile to the flame in the professor's fireplace. The yellow and orange flickering flames turned blue, frozen in place. "Not bad, Miss Granger. I would prefer that you stick with the spells we teach here, but I suppose a few extra-curricular spells couldn't hurt too much. Jaina has permission to practice her native spells here as we don't anticipate having her here long term."
"Jaina, dear, could you please unfreeze my fireplace?" asked the professor.
"Yes, Professor," answered Jaina. With a quick flick of her wrist - poof - and the flames started crackling in brilliant yellow and orange again.
"That's all I have for you, unless you have any questions for me." Jaina and Hermione shook their heads. "Very well. If you need anything, I'm just an owl away. Have a good evening, both of you."
"Have a good evening, Professor," said Jaina and Hermione.
The next few weeks went by fairly quickly. It wasn't easy, but Jaina was able to hold her tongue in Potions. She took Professor McGonagall's advice to heart and found that Potions was indeed somewhat more bearable. She once impressed Professor Flitwick so much that he awarded Gryffindor fifteen points when she successfully levitated a feather nonverbally and without her wand.
Halloween was fast approaching - neither Jaina nor Hermione could believe that they've been at Hogwarts seven weeks. Professor McGonagall had sent Jaina owl notes regularly with updates, and she, Jaina and Hermione met in her office every couple of weeks for tea and a chance for the girls to get things off their chest. Although Professor McGonagall was reluctant to admit it, as she was very much against the concept of favoritism; she had grown incredibly fond of young Jaina, as if she were Jaina's and Hermione's surrogate grandmother. She also developed a fondness for Hermione as she was a bright, promising pupil in her own right.
On October 31st, all students and staff got together for their annual Halloween Feast. The festivities were suddenly interrupted by the Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, Professor Quirell. He flung the doors to the Great Hall open, and in a frenzied panic, he kept yelling "Troll! Troll! Troll in the dungeons!" and he collapsed on the floor. Each house's prefects directed their respective students back to the dormitories, but Jaina decided to take matters into her own hands. She dashed to the dungeons to find the troll, expecting to find a tall, slender humanoid with pronounced tusks. Hermione, Ron, and Harry rushed after her. "What are you doing Jaina? Get back here! You're only going to get yourself killed," Hermione called after her in desperation. Harry and Ron tried to reason with Jaina, but a sharp glare made the boys wince.
Jaina, ignoring their pleas, made her way to the dungeon but to her disgust, this troll was very different than the ones on Azeroth. Much bigger, much uglier, and far less intelligent, she told Hermione, Ron and Harry to stay back as she cast an Frost Nova spell on the hulking brute. The troll froze in place, with its club in the air trying to take a hefty swing at Jaina.
When several faculty found the frozen troll and the four Gryffindors in the dungeons, they were positively stunned by the scene, with Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore among them. They gasped at the sight. "Jaina," Professor McGonagall said once she regained her composure. "You really should have followed your house's prefects back up to the dormitory. This troll could have seriously hurt you, or your friends here." Jaina looked down at her shoes in shame, as she knew she had no business being down here. Professor McGonagall's face then softened into a smile.
Then Professor Dumbledore spoke. "Many of our faculty would not have been able to cast your frost nova spell with the precision or confidence that you just displayed. My respect and admiration for you and your talents grows with each passing day, Miss Proudmoore. Your bravery and willingness to take risks is well-noted, and I am delighted to award Gryffindor House... eighty points for your deeds. If you didn't respond as quickly as you did, I am loath to imagine what kind of destruction it could cause. I sincerely thank you."
Jaina smiled broadly. "I am just doing what needs to be done, Professor." The headmaster then spoke more softly. "Jaina, I need you to come with me. I may have found a way to get you in touch with your Master Antonidas. I sincerely hope this works. Please, follow me."
"Sir," Jaina said. "I will come, but may my friends come with us? We have been through a lot together and they deserve to see this through."
Professor Dumbledore paused for an instant, then smiled at Jaina sadly. "I'm afraid not, not this time at least. It is very important that I show you, and you alone. Their presence may... complicate things. Truthfully, I have no way of making this work without you."
Jaina nodded. "I understand, sir."
Professor Dumbledore continued. "Minerva, please show her friends back up to the Gryffindor commons. I will see everyone else in the morrow."
Jaina and Dumbledore made their way through many corridors and stairways. "I was not able to find anything of use in the library I'm afraid, but we do have a special artifact that could help us. It is completely dependent on the beholder, which is why I need you," Dumbledore explained to Jaina. He led Jaina to a dark room tha looked like that it was meant for storage, and showed her an object that looked like a mirror.
"The Mirror of Erised," the professor told Jaina. "This enchanted mirror shows the beholder their heart's deepest desire. If that desire is what I think it is, then we should have a way to bring you back home."
"Jaina, please stand in front of the mirror." She did as she was asked. "Now tell me what you see."
She saw the visage of her master Antonidas, beaming at her. "Master Antonidas!" Jaina yelled out, with tears streaming down her face. "How I've missed you!" Her teacher did not seem to respond to anything she said, as the mirror could only cast a "reflection" of the viewer's deepest desire. But the familiar face of the Archmage was enough to give Jaina her full confidence in Dumbledore, that he can indeed bring her home.
"Jaina, my dear, that was precisely what I was hoping you'd see. It may take me some time, but I should be able to enchant this mirror to establish a communique of sorts with your master. When my efforts succeed, I will make sure you are notified appropriately."