Title: Clarke's Second Law

Author: tinyrose65

Summary: Rose finds it impossible that her seventh year at Hogwarts has already arrived, bringing with it a new, bow-tie wearing professor and his American friend in tow. However, something darker is lurking in the shadows, and when it emerges, Hogwarts will never be the same (Third in Clarke's Laws series).

Note: Here it is! The final story in the series! I planned for this to be a short, little thing, but then I actually came up with a proper plot and- well. We'll see how long it turns out. Enjoy!

Rose was giggling as she walked along with her two favorite people in the word. One, tall, with black hair and blue eyes and a smile to kill, was laughing outright, too. The other, taller, with the most amazing hair in the universes (in his opinion), and dark eyes, was watching them indulgently. Rose tried to calm herself down, but looking at his expression again- she burst out laughing.

"It wasn't that funny."

"Yes, it was!" Rose gasped, as they walked. "I've never heard of Dumbledore being that confused before!"

"You did seem to surprise him," the American pointed out.

"Well, I'm a very surprising person," the other man drawled. Rose laughed louder at that, thinking of how appropriate it was. In fact, she laughed so loud her stomach started to hurt- but, no. It wasn't because of the laughing-

Rose stopped short where she was- they seemed to be heading down some sort of side street- and doubled over, groaning. The American was at her side in an instant, one hand on her shoulder, supporting her, the other fluttering around uselessly in concern.

"Rose? Doll? You okay?"

Rose gave him a look that clearly stated that she wasn't okay, but before she could point it out further, she let out another groan, as a set of pain wracked her abdomen.

"Do something, Doctor!" the American ordered to the doctor. However, the doctor's face was resigned, as though something terrible, inevitable, was happening. Rose's stomach clenched, but this time not in pain. It was in fear.

"Help me get her to the TARDIS," the doctor said quietly, walking over to support her other side. Rose didn't remember much about the walk back. It was a blur, really, of pain and gasps and step after step after step-

Until she found herself in a room, brightly lit by a large blue column, that was oh so familiar to her. It was spinning, though, and slightly muffled at the edges. She let out another gasp of pain as the two men lowered her onto a chair.

"What's happenin'?" she demanded of the doctor.

"You're going into labor," the doctor said softly. Rose and the American looked at him, agog.

"I'm not pregnant!"

"Yes, you are," the doctor said. He had never let go of her hand, she noticed. He had it clutched tightly in his, rubbing soothing circles on her palm. "I didn't know at first. How could I? But I had my suspicions. Why do you think we went to see the gangers, Rose? I had to know."

"Know what?" the American demanded, his hand moved from her shoulder to her back.

"Whether I could be fooled," the doctor. "And I can- and I am so sorry, Rose. But I promise you one thing: I'll fix this. And you'll be alright. Just breathe, and wait for me, please?"

"Wait for you?" Rose huffed, squeezing the doctor's hand as another wrack of pain moved through her. "Wait for you to do what?"

"For me to get there," the doctor said softly, letting go of her hand. For reasons she couldn't understand, she let out a whimper. This felt too much like good-bye. He said to the American, "Jack. Step back."

Jack seemed hesitant, but he did as requested after looking at the doctor's face. The contractions- if that's what they really were- were coming more frequently now, and Rose felt herself gasping for air.

"Breathe, Rose," the doctor told her softly, as he adjusted something on a gadget that resembled a small, silver wand, the end lit up a brilliant blue.

"I don't understand," Rose argued, clutching the edge of the chair. "Get where? I'm here, with you. I'm right here, doctor."

"No. You aren't." The doctor spoke firmly, as though trying to convince himself, too, as though he couldn't trust his very eyes. He pointed the device at her. "You haven't been here in a long time."

He pressed something and there was a faint, buzzing sound. Rose felt herself falling as everything went dark. It was like apparating for the first time, only she didn't know where she was going-

She opened her eyes, unsure of when she had closed them in the first place. Rose was in a small, white room, in a small bed. There were no windows, no doors. She began to gasp, until she remembered the doctor's advice and forced herself to breathe.

If Rose had had any breath left, she would have screamed when a small window appeared next to her and a woman with an eye-patch appeared- one that Rose knew from somewhere... she'd been following them, hadn't she?

The woman smiled satisfactorily. "You're about ready to pop, aren't you?"

Rose didn't understand what she meant, until all of a sudden, the most powerful contraction yet ripped through her-

She screamed.

Rose screamed as she woke up, sitting up straight. She grabbed her wand out of reflex, only to remember that it was all a dream. She sighed as she put it down, just in time for her brother, Hugo, to come rushing in.

"What's wrong?" he demanded, looking around as though a Death Eater were hiding under her bed or in her closet.

"Just a bad dream," Rose explained, wiping her sweat from her brow. Hugo relaxed at this, but looked no less sympathetic.

"About what?" he asked, sitting on the edge of her bed. Rose opened and closed her mouth a few times, but no words came out. Finally, she let out a small laugh.

"You know? I have no idea."

"No use worrying about it," Hugo said, standing up again, satisfied that his sister would need no comforting from him, thank-you very much. "Now, you better hurry up and get dressed, or we'll be late and won't have time for breakfast." It was then that Rose noticed that her brother was already dressed. She must've overslept.

"Alright," Rose said, sliding out from the bed, flinching as her feet hit the cold floor. "Tell mum and dad that I'll be there in a moment."

Hugo nodded and left, closing the door behind him so Rose could change. Thankfully, Rose had had the sense to pick her clothes the night before and to lay them out. As she changed, though, quickly, because of the time, she couldn't help but stare at the mirror for a moment before she put her top on. Turning this way and that, she looked at her stomach. It was as flat as it had ever been.

"Rose! Breakfast!" It was her mum calling from downstairs. She slipped on her shirt and grabbed her wand, knowing that her father would levitate her luggage out when the time came. In the meantime, she took the stairs two at a time and almost tripped into her chair at the breakfast table in her haste.

"Somebody's exhausted," her father laughed. She stuck her tongue out, and then laughed, smiling the enter time.

Her father sighed. "One of these days I really am going to superglue your smile shut."

"Another time, Ron," Hermione admonished. "You need to get their bags to the car."

With an overdramatic sigh, her father stood from his chair and headed to the staircase. It was silly of him to be so annoyed. Getting the bags to the car (one of the few muggle devices her mother insisted they have, much to Hugo's delight) would be easy with the use of a quick levitation spell.

Rose finished her breakfast quickly and turned to Hugo, a smirk growing. "Race you to the car!"

Hugo laughed and launched out of his chair the same time she did, a competitive glint in his eyes. This had been a yearly Weasley tradition for a while, now: breakfast, dad complaining about the bags, racing Hugo to the car, even though she almost always won, since, despite her lack of athleticism, she happened to be quite good at running.

(Fat load of good running did in Quidditch, though.)

As she had predicted, she beat him to the car and sat proudly in the back, buckling herself in, as Hugo slid in next to her.

"I'll beat you one of these days!" Hugo exclaimed.

"This was your last chance," Rose pointed out quietly. Hugo blinked, surprise coloring his face.

"It is," Hugo said, awestruck. "I forgot this is- But you'll still come to see me off, won't you? I did when I was younger with you."

"' Course I will," Rose assured.

"Of course you'll what?" her mum asked, stepping into the driver's seat and adjusting her mirrors. Her mum always drove. It wasn't that her dad couldn't -he technically could, had his license and everything- but after that incident with the Flying Ford Anglia in second year, her mother had never trusted her father behind the wheel of a car. Her father had complained until he was blue in the face, but her mother had simply mentioned a certain Howler and he shut up about it.

"Come to see Hugo off next year," Rose informed both her parents, now in the car and fully buckled in, as they made their way out of the drive and down the street. Her father hummed, pleased.

"I would hope so," her father said. "Next year will be a big one for Hugo, like this one is for you."

"Nervous?" her mum asked.

"Why should I be?" Rose asked with a laugh. Both her parents gave each other knowing looks, and then her father slowly shook his head.

"It's just a big step, after this. Think you're ready for it?"

"Better question," Rose asked. "Do you?"

"Oh, absolutely," her father said, without missing a beat. Rose smiled to herself and stared out the window for the rest of the ride, which happened in silence, except for the radio blaring some muggle song that Rose had never heard, but that Hugo was apparently familiar with, as he kept humming along off tune.

Rose had never been more grateful to arrive anywhere as she was that day. There was only so much of Hugo's humming that she could put up with.

They unpacked their bags and made their way inside King's Cross. It was packed as always with Muggles, but nobody seemed to pay them any mind, even though Hugo had his owl. Rose used to bring her cat, who she'd had since she was little, but Daciana had died only a few months ago of old age.

"I wonder where Al and the others are," Rose said, thinking aloud.

"They're probably waiting for us at the platform," Hugo pointed out.

"Yes, and speaking of, we need to hurry!" their mum said, anxiously shuffling them along. She only calmed down when they arrived at the platform, and their bags had been put on the train. Rose didn't see Al, so she assumed her friend (and cousin) was already aboard.

"Oh, Rose," her mum said, pulling her in for a hug, as her father did the same to her brother. Then, they switched, and Rose found herself with her face pressed against her father's clothing. She hugged him back tightly.

"Good luck," he said simply. Rose stood back to see him with tears in his eyes- such a strange thing, since her father so rarely cried- and nodded resolutely.

Then, waving good-bye to her parents, she followed Al and stepped onto the train.

Her seventh year at Hogwarts had finally arrived.