Well, people don't really seem to be reading this, but if there's anyone there who is…here you go.

And I'd like to thank BugMuffin369 and gracefullyme1025 for actually reviewing! You guys rock!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter series or any of its characters…sniffle or, well, any other thing that may have been inadvertently mentioned.

Now for the chapter…

Chapter Three

Liz waited for quite some time for the return of Professor Snape, presumably with Dumbledore in tow. This would make for an interesting encounter. Her nerves had quite settled down, seeing as it had been nearly an hour since the potions…or maybe DADA…teacher had departed the hospital wing. Maybe he'd dismiss her behavior on madness and write her off to St. Mungo's. Liz found this highly unlikely, yet slightly unnerving.

The girl settled into the bed. It was surely at least noon by now, yet she hadn't had anything to eat since the night before…well, at least what she considered to be the night before. Her stomach rumbled in protest, as if it had heard her thoughts aloud, and so she pressed the sheets down against it to stop its cry. The thought of when she had last eaten brought her to another question.

How on Earth, or otherwise, had she managed to land herself in Harry Potter? Though a small voice still nagged at the back of her brain that it was probably nothing more than a strange dream, she was beginning to doubt that theory.

Her mind drifted back to the accident. What part had that played in this?

Liz blinked up at the white vaulted ceiling and folded her hands below her chest. She wanted to figure out how she had gotten to Hogwarts, and where exactly she was in the series. She pieced it out in her mind carefully. Dumbledore was still alive, so that ruled out the seventh book. Other than that, she didn't have a clue. She could easily be before Harry's time, for all she knew. At least she knew she wasn't with James or Sirius.

Liz sighed, and reached up to rub her temples. How had she fallen into a fictional world in the first place? Surely the car crash had something to do with it all of it- after all, she didn't remember anything happening between that and arriving in front of the castle.

She couldn't help but re-analyze the possibility that it was all a dream. But if it was a dream, how could she have felt herself hit the ground when she was running from Snape? She pinched herself hard, just as a test. Sure enough, pain surged through her left arm. The girl winced, not intending to nip her own skin so terribly. People couldn't feel in dreams, could they?

Or consciously think they were in a dream?

Liz closed her eyes quietly, and thought hard. 'I want to wake up. It's time to wake up.'

When she opened them, she was still staring at the ceiling of the hospital wing. Sighing in defeat, she shifted to her side to stare at the curtain dividing her from the next bed over.

As there was nothing to divert her attention in the room, she began to slowly drift off.

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Liz woke a few hours later to a myriad of hushed voices. Her dream of stark white corridors had stirred her, but the tones kept her from falling back to dreamland.

"But a muggle? At Hogwarts! Surely Albus, you don't realize the gravity of the situation!"

"Minerva, I assure you I am fully aware of our situation."

Liz kept still, so as not to disrupt the conversation. Perhaps if she kept up the appearance that she was still asleep, they would continue.

"And how would she know Severus?" The first voice that had spoken sounded apprehensive. Liz was fairly confident it was McGonagall. Unless, of course, another Minerva had taught at the school.

There was silence at the question, until the wizened voice of Dumbledore responded. "We won't know until she wakes. Once she does, we can properly question her."

Liz shifted ever so slightly to catch a glance out the window. The sun was already setting, indicating her nap had taken much longer than she had intended. She vaguely wondered how long the group had been sitting there.

"She knew Poppy as well," Dumbledore added thoughtfully.

"The students are in an uproar. Half the Slytherins are attempting to break into the hospital wing!" A small voice squeaked out. "No offense, Severus."

"With the fight at the ministry, the last thing we need is another issue. Especially with You-Know-Who…" A more feminine voice seemed to shudder.

Fight at the ministry. Now there was a clue for Liz. She shifted her head just enough to make out the silhouettes of the professors. There were five, all together. If only she could see Dumbledore's hand…

"Perhaps we shouldn't all be here to greet her when she wakes? It may be a bit… overwhelming." The squeaky professor that Liz had guessed was Professor Flitwick spoke. Three others nodded in agreement. The one that didn't respond, who Liz thought indeed resembled Snape, spoke out.

"We need to have this problem resolved quickly." It was certainly Snape. That voice of his made her skin crawl.

"I know, Severus. I will wait here for her to wake." Liz was relieved to hear Dumbledore's voice. Though earlier she had been apprehensive to meet him, he certainly seemed the most understanding option.

The others nodded and murmured in agreement, and one by one, departed until all but Snape and Dumbledore were left.

"You seem indifferent to this muggle." Snape said the last word as if he was addressing an unpleasant thing found on the road.

"She is a person, Severus. A rather frightened one, I'd assume." Liz saw Snape shake his head ever slightly, before standing abruptly and leaving with the others. She heard the door close softly. There was a moment of silence in the room.

"Good evening, Ms. Riley." Liz jumped at the voice directed at her. The silhouette stood slowly, and then softly drew back the curtain.

Sure enough, there was Dumbledore. Right there. Liz gaped at the bearded man, who magicked a chair over to the bedside, and then seated himself in it. "I apologize for startling you." The elderly man looked concerned.

"Oh-no I-I-I…." Liz couldn't think. She couldn't think, or speak, or, well…she was at a loss for doing anything that wasn't breathing. She was even having a hard time with that one.

"I do suppose this is all a bit of a shock to you then?"

Liz, at a loss for words, simply nodded. The headmaster smiled at her kindly.

"Professor Snape informed me you were in the dungeons when he found you. I do hope you're feeling alright after that fall."

Liz nodded softly, and attempted to speak. "I'm feeling better…" She was relieved to find she was able to. Dumbledore seemed to be as well, as he gave her another kind smile. At that, Liz felt all together better about the encounter. Facing Dumbledore was much more pleasant than being yelled at by Snape. There was a moment of silence, and then Dumbledore reached into his pocket, producing an orange tart.

"Pumpkin pasty?" He offered.

"Oh, no thank you." Liz's stomach was still doing cartwheels, and food wasn't the first thing on her mind at the point in time, for once. The wizard shrugged before popping it into his own mouth.

"If you don't mind, Ms. Riley, I have a few questions for you."

"Um…okay…" A thousand stories began to circulate in her mind at once, as she desperately thought up what she'd be able to make Dumbledore believe. Knowing him, most likely not much. She gulped, hoping it wasn't audible. Why was she so horrible under pressure?!

"Professor Snape has informed me that you are a muggle."

The girl nodded, playing with her now-frizzy hair. It was a nervous habit.

"I must say, I'm impressed. A muggle who found our wizarding school." His expression was still kind, but Liz was frantic on the inside.

'Play dumb! Play dumb!' She screamed at herself in her own mind.

"Umm…yeah…" She mentally slapped herself. 'Way to play dumb, idiot.'

"How is it that you stumbled upon the term?"

"Umm…what term?"

"The term muggle. It's common in the wizarding world, but not exactly in your society." His understanding blue eyes pierced her dark brown ones. She blanked.

"I…um…well…you see…had a…friend. She umm…said she was a witch…and that…I was a muggle…and…ummm…explained what it was." Another mental slap. Way to studder there. Dumbledore simply nodded, though she noted a look of suspicion from him.

"And how was it you managed to find Hogwarts?" He flourished his hand, indicating the castle. Liz glanced down at his other one, only to find it was tucked in his robes.

The she turned her attention to the question. Would he be able to help her home? There was always a chance…and it wouldn't cause an issue…

"I…I'm honestly not sure," Liz began softly, her gaze moving to her own hands which had finally nestled into her lap.

"Hm?" He was prompting her to continue. So she did.

"Well…I was running across the street…it was getting late…and it was raining out…" she slowly pieced together her thoughts as she tried to give a decent explanation."…I couldn't really see the road. And…there was a car. I think…I think I was hit." She paused, the situation not entirely sinking in for her. "Then I somehow ended up here." She looked back into his eyes, her genuine puzzlement showing in hers. He too, looked confused.

"I'm not one for driving muggle vehicles," he pondered, "but I'd imagine they do quite a bit of damage."

Liz nodded in agreement.

"And yet you managed to arrive unharmed, for the most part."

"Well, I am pretty sore…" Liz added.

There was silence for a moment, and then Dumbledore questioned her again. "Would you mind if I tested the fact that you were a muggle?"

Liz looked at him strangely. She knew perfectly well she was a muggle. Why wasn't anyone getting that? She shrugged, but the perceptive headmaster saw her doubt.

"Just a test, Ms. Riley. It seems odd for you to arrive here, with no magical prowess." Dumbledore drew out his own wand, and wordlessly summoned another wooden one from across the room. It fell gently into her hands. He smiled encouragingly. "Just give it a flick."

Liz, feeling rather like an idiot, waved the wand gently in the air. As she expected, nothing happened. The headmaster motioned for her to do so again, and so she did. Again there was no result. Happy at proving her sanity, if she could even say such a thing considering her current situation, she placed the wand in her lap and looked at the wizened man, satisfied. He looked rather stunned. Well, as stunned as Dumbledore could possibly look.

"See? Just a muggle." Liz smiled, feeling a bit bolder. At least she had proved something.

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. There was quiet for a moment, and then he moved on. "How was it you knew Professor Snape by name?"

"Um…my friend!" Liz exclaimed a little too exuberantly. "That witch. She um…talked about him pretty frequently."

"Ah, I see." Liz could tell he wasn't buying it. Luckily, he made no motion to call her out on her hideous tale.

"And so…your friend told you about Madame Pomfrey as well?"

Liz nodded energetically.

He smiled, seeming to sense what Liz was hiding. She worried he saw right through her.

"How is it you plan to return home?"

"Well I…" Liz trailed off, trying to think of how she would return. She opened her mouth a few times, as if to begin her statement, but closed it each time, not quite knowing what to say. Dumbledore simply patted her hand with one of his own.

"I'm sure we can help you to return back once you're feeling better. I simply wanted to know if you had an idea."

Liz waited for the next question, but none came. Instead, Dumbledore seemed to be lost in thought for a few moments. Finally, he straightened himself and looked once again at the muggle.

"Well thank you Ms. Reed. Is there anything you'd like to ask in return?"

Liz looked up in surprise. She hadn't seen that one coming. "Excuse me?"

"Now that I've questioned you, I feel it's only fair to offer you the same opportunity." He folded his one hand neatly covering the other, and sat back in his chair.

Liz thought for a moment, and then decided on her first inquiry. "What does Professor Snape teach?"

Dumbledore settled back in his chair. "He teaches a course known as Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Liz smiled triumphantly. So she WAS in Harry Potter's sixth year. Well at least she knew her timing.

"In previous years he did teach Potions. I'm surprised your friend didn't inform you of such a thing." Dumbledore's tone appeared innocent, but Liz wondered if he was digging.

"Um…we lost contact some time ago…"

"What was this friend's name? Perhaps I know her." Oh yes, definitely digging.

"Um…well…I don't…really remember. I mean, it was so long ago we were friends, really…"

Dumbledore looked at her questioningly, seeming to implore her to continue.

"We met when we were ten, and were friends until we were…twelve. Yes, twelve." Liz smiled with a hint of more confidence.

"And if you don't mind me asking, how old are you now?"

"Sixteen." Liz answered quickly. At least that was one question she didn't have to lie about. He nodded.

"Is there anything else you would like to know?" Liz shook her head.

"Thank you for answering my questions," she managed to studder out, relief that the encounter was finally ending sweeping through her.

"And thank you for responding to mine. Goodnight, Ms. Riley." Dumbledore stood, and with a small smile, walked from the room, leaving Liz to contemplate the encounter on her own.

The girl sighed, staring out the window into the darkening night, imagining her home, far from where she was. Her eyes moved to explore, once again, the room she was in. This time, however, something caught her eye. Liz smiled at the wall calendar not too far from her own bed, on which two wizards were racing around on brooms. She looked down, wondering mildly what day it was.

Sure enough, she located the date, but something was amiss. It was a Thursday, not a Tuesday. Confused, she looked to the year, and her mouth dropped.

The page read 1996.

I know it's not the greatest update, but it's an update, haha. It'll probably be a while before I update again, seeing as I need to work on my other fic and school is back. I'd certainly appreciate reviews:)