Chapter 11

Dumbledore stared at her. He slowly rose from his seat and began walking over to her. Anastasia couldn't believe her eyes.

"Anastasia Delaney?" Professor Dumbledore's voice cracked slightly as he spoke her name. Anastasia's breathing became heavy. Even thought the professor looked different, it was someone she knew and he knew her.

"Professor I'm... I am so confused." Dumbledore's expression turned more serious once she spoke, he almost looked afraid.

"What are you doing here Anastasia?" She looked up at him, trying to find the answer to such an odd question.

"What do you mean? What's happened? You look so different Professor..." Her voice slowly turned into a whimper "Where is Headmaster Dippet?" Dumbledore's eyes widened for a moment before moving even closer to her. He reached out and gently placed a hand on her cheek.

"You're alive." The professor mumbled, feeling the heat from her skin.

"Of course I'm alive Professor Dumbledore, what on earth do you mean?" Anastasia began to shiver with anxiety. Dumbledore turned sharply and began pacing back and forth across the room.

"Well Miss Delaney, up until this very moment I believed you to be dead." Anastasia watched him walk as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Professor what do you-"

"Anastasia do you know what year it is?"

"Of course I know the year Professor it's 1943." The professor stopped pacing and faced her.

"No Miss Delaney it is not. It is currently the seventeenth of November 1996." Anastasia's jaw fell open. Her heart began to race and her mind went into overdrive.

"Professor that is imposs-"

"Anastasia you went missing 53 years ago, on this exact date if I remember correctly." Anastasia began shaking her head violently.

"No. No no you're wrong, you must be I was just..." Her mind and her mouth no longer would communicate, she didn't understand what was happening. The professor approached her again.

"What is the last thing you remember? Before you were here?" Dumbledore's voice was stern unlike his usual calm self. The last thing she remembered was Tom and the necklace, but as much as she wanted to figure out what had happened the last person she felt she could trust was Professor Dumbledore. Tom hated him. She also couldn't tell him the details of her last memories as they weren't exactly appropriate.

"I was in the Room of Requirement with Tom, but that's all I remember. That's where I woke up just now." Dumbledore's eyes stared aggressively into hers. Mentioning Tom's name seemed to make him twitch.

"You don't remember what brought you here?"

"No Professor, all I remember is us talking." A small smile formed on her lips, the memory of her watching him redress warming her fingertips.

"What were you talking about?" The professor's tone became more and more urgent.

"Nothing Professor, we were just talking. We use the Room of Requirement to spend time together, I don't remember anything else." Dumbledore walked away from her, nodding his head slightly trying to understand what was happening.

"What happened to your chest?" Anastasia looked down to see her robe had fallen open slightly, revealing her wound.

"I don't know. When I woke up it hurt and I realised I was bleeding. I think it's stopped now though." Anastasia ran her fingers over the dried blood. "I suppose it has something to do with all of this. I don't remember how I got it." Anastasia felt a tear fall down her cheek. She never cried, but she was so emotionally exhausted she couldn't seem to stop herself. The professor noticed and came back towards her with a more gentle tone.

"I know you must be scared Anastasia, but I'm glad that you are alive and safe. I have thought about you often over the years" He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"What do I do? I need to go back Professor I need to-"

"We will find out how this happened Anastasia, and I will do everything I can to get you back." She wasn't sure if she believed him, but at that moment they were the words she needed to hear. 

"For now I suggest you continue your studies here as a student until we figure out what to do." The professor was overwhelmed with thoughts, he had always believed Tom Riddle had killed her, that she had discovered something she shouldn't and was disposed of. Dumbledore had felt a responsibility with her disappearance, feeling he could have saved her if he had taken action. However, he couldn't ignore the fact the Anastasia was Tom's closest acquaintance, and there was a chance she had been sent here by him. He had to keep her on the grounds, keep her close until he figured out what was going on.

"I'll get you someone robes and have someone escort you to dinner. You'll be sorted into a house-"

"But Professor I already have a house, I'm in Slytherin." Anastasia retorted, still unable to believe the circumstance she found herself in.

"I know, but you are going to have to appear as a new student." With a wave of his wand a cupboard opened and a pair of plain robes with a shirt, jumper and skirt landed neatly folded in her arms. "You'll be given your tie and crest after you're sorted."

"A tie? Girls don't wear ties Professor." Dumbledore sighed.

"Now they do Anastasia, you will find many things have changed here and you'll have to get used to them." Dumbledore's eyes shot up to her messy hair. "We will have to give you a new name and appearance, there are a few teachers that remain here from your time." Anastasia walked over to an old mirror, analysing her appearance. She looked like hell. She waved her wand and her wavy brown locks turned icy blonde. She gasped at the effect it had on her appearance. She still looked different, but her features seemed sharper, and her green eyes glowed.

"That will do."

"I would like to keep my first name." Anastasia turned around towards him. "It'll be obvious if I don't respond to my name. I'll say I'm named after my great aunt who I carry quite the resemblance of, in case any teachers recognise me." Dumbledore nodded.

"Alright, Miss Anastasia Marlowe. Get yourself changed and meet me outside."