Wizards, Witches and ... Muggles??

Chapter 3

The Christmas holidays were upon them and Jamie-Rose and Laura were looking forward to a nice quiet Christmas, or as quiet as Christmas could be at Hogwarts.

It had been over four months since Rose had broken her hand, and ever since then Malfoy had steered clear of the two girls. The fact that Rose had actually hit Malfoy instead of hexing him had had the whole school in uproar, the Slytherins were disgusted that a witch had used a Muggle technique to hurt someone; the Hufflepuffs were wary of her; the Ravenclaws thought he must have deserved to be hit; and the Gryffindors were intrigued that someone had managed to get close enough to actually smack him.

Rose had become somewhat of an inspiration to the younger ones and made them see that standing up to people wasn't a bad thing, unless the person was a professor.

Both girls had sent off two owls to their families telling them they were safe, not to worry and they'd be home sometime in June. They had received an owl back telling them that they weren't impressed with the stunt that they had pulled but as long as they were safe and promised not to get into trouble they wouldn't be forced to come home.

The only classes they refused to go to were Charms and Transfiguration. In the classes that they did attend they had to keep their heads down and work quietly. They had also agreed to take separate classes from each other, so Laura took Divination with Harry and Ron, whilst Jamie-Rose had agreed to go with Hermione to Muggle Studies.

But in all of the four months they still had not been found out, although Rose was slightly suspicious that Dumbledore knew. But Laura would just shake her head saying, "If he did know he would have called for us."

There had been a close call when on 14^th October. Harry had had another vision-thing in which Voldemort had been cursing some of his followers, saying they were stupid and they hadn't noticed that two Muggles had found a way in, which gave him more than determination to get in as well. This had scared the crap out of Rose who was on the verge of telling them she was the Muggle. But, with a little persuasion from Laura, she had changed her mind and gone back to trying to conceal that fact.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione would always question them about where they went if they never turned up for class. Half the time the lie 'doing research for a professor' would work, but sometimes they would need a different excuse.

Sitting down for breakfast the day before Christmas Eve they were both counting up the money that someone had sent them: they hadn't signed their name on the letter.

"Roz, if we get out of this together we can get some course books," whispered Laura.

"How?" asked Rose.

"Owl order stupid," answered Laura, rolling her eyes.

"Well excuse me Laura I'm still getting used to the wizUMPH!" replied Rose, her mouth covered by Laura who gave her a stern look.

"I know you are but trust me," urged Laura, taking her hand away.

Sighing Rose responded, "I do trust you Laura, I've always trusted you, but," she continued quietly, "it is still a new world and we've only just started fitting in,"

"We've always fitted in Roz, just give it some more time. Now let's stop this conversation because Harry, Ron, and Hermione are coming over," explained Laura.

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down facing Laura and Rose. Laura was still counting out the money, now with Rose's added as well, whilst Rose sat eating her breakfast.

"Morning," greeted Hermione.

"Morning Hermione," replied Laura.

Rose swallowed the piece of toast and asked, "Morning. Have any of you got the Daily Prophet?"

"Not yet," answered Harry filling his plate. "It hasn't come yet."

Nodding, Rose finished her breakfast and then started flicking through one of the Harry Potter books. They had accidentally been caught once by Hermione whilst reading them. Hermione had read a page and said it was the most boring book she had ever read, and that was saying something. It made them both realise that the books had some sort of charm on them so that they would be boring reference books to magical people.

Looking up, Laura commented, "Bleeding hell Roz, put that away!"

"Why? I'm reading it," replied Rose, turning to the next chapter of the book.

"Fuck sake Rose, just put it away," cursed Laura.

Placing the book on the table Rose asked, "Why must I do everything you ask?"

"Rose not here, not now!" warned Laura.

"Hey guys," cut in Ron. "Don't fight, it's Christmas."

"You're right Ron. Loz, I'm sorry and I'll put the book away," apologized Rose, placing the book back into her bag.

Rose and Laura spent the morning whispering to each other hurriedly, until there was a rustling overhead sounding that the mail had arrived.

Hedwig landed in the middle of the table with a letter and the Daily Prophet tied to her leg. Harry took her burden, handing Rose the newspaper and taking the letter to read.

Rose was just about to turn the page of the newspaper over when something in the left hand corner caught her eye:

Muggles at Hogwarts!

The notorious Rita Skeeter has set up a scam by selling off Hogwarts Express train tickets to Muggles. It is known that there are only two Muggles at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but there had been several tickets given out. However, only two girls, from what we are told, managed to get onto the Express, taking them up to the school.

The Ministry is urging the two girls to come clean and then there will be no harm done. They are warned that if they don't, Aurors will be sent to take them by force.

Placing the paper down, Rose got up and ran out, leaving a bewildered Laura to read the paper. After Laura finished reading it she also got up and gracefully exited in search of Rose.

Laura found Rose leaning against a wall in an empty classroom. Going in and closing the door Laura started speaking.

"Rose, are you okay?" she asked.

"Fuck Laura," cursed Rose angrily. "We've been found out, this is all a big, bloody mess."

"Calm down," coaxed Laura, knowing that Rose could fly off the handle any minute.

"LAURA, WE ARE FOUND OUT DON'T TRY TO COVER IT UP, FUCK!" chanted Rose, now shouting.

"JAMIE-ROSE, THIS ISN'T MY FAULT!" shouted Laura.

Stepping towards her friend Rose screamed, "NO, IT IS YOUR FAULT, I TOLD YOU NOT TO FALL FOR IT, BUT FOR ONCE IN YOUR FUCKING LIFE, DID YOU LISTEN? DID YOU HECK! NOW I'VE GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND TELL THE TRUTH!"

"Roz, we said we'd only tell if we were in danger," complained Laura quietly.

Controlling her anger, Rose replied, "It's Jamie-Rose, Laura! I'm going to explain because we are in danger. Do you honestly believe that we won't be hurt?"

"Only if you wish to explain," came the voice of Remus Lupin.

Both girls spun around to see him standing in the open doorway. Laura recoiled slightly, as she knew she was in deep trouble.

"We're not who we say we are," answered Rose confidently.

Remus closed the door and sat down, before saying, "I think you both should explain what you two are and also explain why you were having a shouting match in a classroom where everyone can hear you."

Sighing Rose replied, "We're normal, not magic. We got a ticket from J.K.R and we decided to heed the advice and we fooled everyone."

"Who's J.K.R?" asked Remus.

"An author who wrote Harry Potter and the... series of books," answered Rose, as Laura recoiled some more.

"There are books?"

"Here. They're charmed so they look like that to magic folk," answered Rose, taking a book out of her bag and handing it to Remus. He took it after a little counter cursing the book was revealed to be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

"How did you get these?" asked Remus.

Sighing, Laura finally answered, "We bought them at a book shop. This one we bought three years ago. Listen Professor... uh, I mean Remus, we are not evil were just normal."

"How did you know my first name?" questioned Remus.

"We know quite a bit about you," explained Rose. "You're a werewolf, your friends use to call you Moony and you're part of the Order of the Phoenix."

"You know about the Order?"

"Yes," answered Rose and Laura in unison.

Sitting down, Rose began rummaging through her rucksack. Laura watched on curiously. Finally, Rose found what she was looking for: pulling out her mobile phone she commented, "This is a phone, a mobile phone, it doesn't even work around her because of the magic. If it did work I'd be able to phone anyone. We are probably the most Muggle of Muggles."

"Rose, if you had told me you'd brought your phone, then I'd have told you that go to the edge of Hogsmeade: you get a very small signal," explained Laura.

Glaring at Laura, Rose replied, "Laura, you got us into this mess, now shut the hell up about phone signals and talk your god damn self out of this mess."

"I keep telling you, this isn't my FAULT!" exclaimed Laura.

"It is!"

Holding up his hand Remus cut in, "Okay, enough! You're both in serious trouble and I don't think now is the time to be arguing."

Both girls fell silent. They were already in enough trouble and it wouldn't do well to land in more.

"Now, everyone is leaving this morning for Christmas, so tomorrow morning you'll go down to the Great Hall," explained Remus, "and explain to the headmaster who you are and where you come from. Is that clear?"

Nodding, Rose answered, "Crystal clear sir. I'm sorry we didn't come clean sooner."

"Just make sure no-one else finds out until Professor Dumbledore returns," replied Remus, sighing.

"We've caused a lot of trouble haven't we?" asked Laura.

"Well, let's say that Voldemort thinks he can get in and that caused a slight panic," explained Remus wearily.

Standing up, Rose replied, "Well, Voldie can just get back in his hole where he crawled out from."

"Anyway, I think you both should go back to Gryffindor Tower, quietly," responded Remus, smiling at Rose calling Voldemort 'Voldie'.

The two girls nodded and strode out of the classroom. Both Laura and Jamie-Rose walked back to Gryffindor Tower, each lost in their own thoughts.

Now we've been found out it looks like the end of our little adventure, thought Laura, and if this silence keeps up between us then it'll end our friendship.

Great, great, great, thought Jamie-Rose, we're so screwed after tomorrow morning. It won't even be a memory. Laura better hope nothing has happened to my family and I hope she forgives me for shouting at her.

"Mistletoe," said Laura. Rose looked up to see the Gryffindor entrance.

Laura stepped into the deserted common room. Rose took a calming breath and then she followed her friend into the common room. She strode right past Laura and sat down on one of the chairs.

"Jamie-Rose, are you still mad at me?" asked Laura cautiously.

"Laura, don't call me by my full name," answered Rose, letting a smile cross her face.

"I don't know who found out about us in the Prophet," replied Laura dolefully.

Turning to face Laura, Rose replied, "I know Laura, I just don't want anything bad to happen. Laura, we have got to offer them something."

Sitting down, Laura asked, "Rose, what will we offer them? They've got everything they need."

"Except an answer," answered Rose.

"Huh?" questioned Laura, confused.

"What is the one thing we have that they don't have?"

"I dunno."

"I and you have peace, they need an answer to Voldemort."

"Yes that will work," replied Laura sarcastically. "With one problem: he's a really evil, mean bigot. Oh, I also forgot he's a wizard."

"I mean just help them, I don't mean nuke him - that would be pretty stupid. I mean just help them, give them an answer," replied Rose.

"But still, how's that going to help us?" questioned Laura.

Rolling her eyes, Rose answered, "If we offer to help them then they might not wipe our memories."

"They'll do that anyway Rose, we just need to accept that we are screwed," replied Laura, just as the common room portrait hole opened and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny strode inside.

Rose and Laura glanced at each other before putting a smile on their faces and beckoning them to come over. They both knew that tomorrow they would be at the receiving end of some angry people, but for now they were going to act as though nothing had happened.

"Hey, where did you two get to?" asked Harry, walking over to them and sitting down.

"Just... um... we had an argument but we sorted it out," answered Laura.

"Oh, right. But you are both friends now, right?" asked Hermione.

Nodding, Rose replied, "Yes, we just needed a little space."

"We're sorry for... um... walking out like that," apologised Laura.

"Don't worry about it. These two," replied Ginny, pointing at Hermione and Ron, "are always fighting and then they'll leave each other alone until they've cooled off."

"Did either of you two meet Professor Lupin on your way here?" asked Harry, changing the subject.

"Yes, why?" answered Laura.

"Because he seemed a little distracted, we went to talk to him and it was as if he wasn't there, but somewhere else," explained Hermione.

"He seemed okay to us," replied Rose, as Laura nodded her ascent.

Shrugging, Harry responded, "Never mind then. It's probably just something to do with his teaching."

Rose and Laura just nodded. Neither could muster up the courage to tell them what they were. In a way they knew that everyone would be angry, but they were Muggles and they weren't as slow as they seemed.

They spent the rest of the day just lounging around the common room, playing games or chatting about the Christmas holidays. Rose and Laura joined in with everything and enjoyed themselves, but they couldn't let the feeling of gloom shift from the pits of their stomachs.

* * *

The following morning Laura and Rose were nervous wrecks. Remus had found them earlier that morning assuring them that Dumbledore was expecting something, but he did say that he hadn't told him who and what it was about.

Rose was pacing back and forth in front of the fire, Laura was sitting watching her. Neither had spoken to each other since Remus had left nor had they stopped feeling rather sick.

"Laura, what happens if they wipe our memories as soon as we've come clean?" asked Rose, voicing their fears as she still paced back and forth.

"They won't," answered Laura, not sure if she was reassuring herself or Rose.

Sighing, Rose went back to pacing; now going from the fire to the sofa. They were waiting for Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny to come down so they could go to breakfast.

The six of were the only people left in the castle not counting the teachers, the other hundred or more had gone home to spend time with their families in the face of the upcoming war.

Finally, half-an-hour later, the trio and Ginny came down. Stepping into the common room they fell silent as they saw Rose and Laura.

"Morning," greeted Laura.

"Morning. What's wrong?" asked Hermione.

Rose stopped pacing and blurted out, "We're sorry."

"Huh?" asked Ron, perplexed.

"This morning you'll find out something and for that we're sorry," explained Laura.

"What are you on about?" questioned Harry, confused.

"We can't say, but we promise you will have an answer to more things than you think," defined Rose.

Sharing confused looks Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny walked out of the common room, leaving the two friends alone again.

"Are you ready to do this?" asked Rose sympathetically.

"As ready as I'll ever be. Come on, let's go," answered Laura.

They had come up with an idea, and that was to pretend to be arguing. Then Rose would state quite loudly that they were Muggles as they entered the Great Hall.

Although Rose didn't like lying she was always brilliant at stating the truth, and she would always stand up for what she believed in even it meant she'd end up in trouble, just like today.

Laura was the opposite. She was brilliant at lying and that had got them out of some situations a few times. Although she would stand up for what she believed in as well, she would only do that if she was sure she wouldn't get into trouble.

What the girls hadn't bargained for was that Sirius Black was there in his Animagus form, so when Jamie-Rose entered the hall and the dog bound up to them Rose froze.

"Rose, get moving, now," ordered Laura, coming to her side.

The teachers watched on as Rose stood frozen to the spot, eyeing the dog cautiously.

"Laura, if he moves then I'll move," replied Rose.

"This isn't how we planned it Rose," whispered Laura.

"I'm not going to move until Sirius Black turns back," retorted Rose loudly.

"You know?" asked Harry.

"We know more than you all think, even things about Snape," answered Laura.

The dog then transformed into Sirius Black, an escaped convict wrongly accused of killing thirteen people and selling Lily and James Potter to Voldemort.

"Care to explain how you knew who I was?" asked Sirius dangerously.

"We actually owe everyone an explanation," answered Rose, taking out the books. As she continued speaking, she handed them out. "These are how we know who you all are. We're the Muggles the newspapers have been reporting on," she explained confidently.

They all sat in silence as the teachers cast the counter charm on the books Rose had given out and began to read them. Strangely enough she had handed Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny The Order of the Phoenix; Professors Flitwick, Sprout, Trelawney, and Vectra had The Chamber of Secrets; Professors Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall were reading The Philosopher's Stone and Remus and Sirius were loon at The Prisoner of Azkaban.

"You know all about our world through these?" asked Ron incuriously.

"Like Rose said Ron, we are sorry," apologized Laura, looking pale.

"Laura, are you okay?" asked Rose.

"Fine," answered Laura.

Then Dumbledore stood up and replied, "You two need to prove to us that you aren't spies to Voldemort," (Here Ron shuddered), "and aren't just making this up."

"Okay, Rose you go first," responded Laura.

Taking a breath, Rose turned to Sirius and said, "You were not the Potter's Secret Keeper and did not betray James and Lily, and you are an Animagus by the name of Padfoot and Snuffles."

Laura took over saying, "Remus, you were DADA teacher to Harry in his third year were you taught him to ward off Dementors, and you are a werewolf who goes by the name of Moony."

"How did you both know that?" asked Sirius.

"Like Laura said, we read these books and enjoyed them so much that we went out of our way to find out everything we possible could about all of you," explained Rose.

"But that still doesn't let us know if you're spies or not," commented Dumbledore from the table.

"Fine, okay you want proof, look," Laura replied, rolling up the sleeve on her left arm to reveal a blank left forearm.

"How do we know you just haven't managed some sort of spell to cover it up?" remarked Snape.

"Tell me, Severus, I take it Voldemort wants you to prove you loyalty to him. What did he do - Cruciatus curse or did you just feed him some info on our side on the Order?" questioned Rose maliciously.

Laura just rolled her eyes as she answered, "Roz, don't you think you should leave him alone, we are the ones in trouble here not him."

There was a round of collective nods at Laura's words. Rose let her anger boil inside for a minute or two before it subsided. Then, should any more questions be asked, she would remember to keep her anger in check.

"Well, at least we now know who the Muggles were and that you aren't evil," replied Dumbledore. "But the Ministry is looking for you two and although you should never have found out about our world, I don't think a simple memory charm is going to work, not after everything you have seen. Now, I'll have a word with the Ministry to try to make them leave you be."

Smiling, Rose replied, "What, you mean we can stay here?"

"Yes, but only until we figure out what to do with you two," answered Dumbledore.

"But we may be able to help you," explained Laura quickly. "Against Voldie we're Muggles and you don't have a different point of view. I think that if you let us stay until you get rid of physic-face then we can help you give you different viewpoints on the situation."

There seemed to be a small murmur that broke out amongst the teachers and the trio, and both girls knew what they doing - deciding. Should they trust two sixteen-year-old girls that lied to them for the best part if the year?

Finally Dumbledore spoke, "Very well, that may just be of help. You will stay here in the castle and not adventure out any further than Hogsmeade. You may be smart and reliable but there would be no way to get you back should you be captured by Death Eaters."

"We promise to stay in the castle," replied Laura and Rose, in unison.

They then sat down to enjoy the morning breakfast with all their favourite characters there. Ron and Ginny asked a lot of questions of them and even Sirius would still question how they knew all that about him.

Both girls would just smile and laugh. Finally they found that they were being themselves in a world that they now came to realise was not fiction but reality, and they were beginning to appreciate why the castle and everything else magical had been hidden from the Muggles.