"Amelia Meets Dumbledore"

It was with a lighter heart that Amelia made her way to the headmaster's office with Lily and Severus. She wished that she had known this side of her dour potions professor in her time. Although… now she could know him! She, the Gryffindor Princess of the nineties, could get to know the Head of Slytherin before he became a teacher.

Who gets opportunities such as this?

Precisely.

"Aniseed puffs," Lily told the gargoyle. Amelia wrinkled her nose. Severus noticed this, and explained.

"Honeydukes—the confectioners in Hogsmeade, the nearby village—tried them out on the public. Needless to say, they were not a success." He said all this as they continued to the headmaster's office. There, Amelia knocked on the door, and a voice bade them enter.

She was almost relieved to see (the younger) Professor Dumbledore sitting there, behind his desk, munching on some sweet or other. Almost. Now she had to lie to the greatest wizard of their time, who also happened to be an accomplished Legillimens.

In other words, no pressure. (Ha!)

"Chocolate shortbread?" he asked, holding up a small plate. The three students shook their heads, and he put the plate back down. "Well, then. How may I help you?"

"My name is Amelia Thyme," Amelia said, approaching the desk. "I would like to attend Hogwarts."

"How old are you, Miss Thyme?"

"I'm fifteen last September, sir."

"Ah. You'd be in fifth year, then. Tell me, did you not get your Hogwarts letter?"

"I've been home-schooled most of my life, sir," she told him, hoping that he didn't notice her evasiveness. "By my mother. She was going to train to be a healer. She… she… she died." A tear forced its way out, followed by another one from the other eye. She swept them away, and sniffed. "It was dragon pox. She tried to treat it herself, but it… it didn't work. She made me stay away so that I wouldn't catch it." Amelia drew an unsteady breath. From the sympathetic look on Dumbledore's face, and the hands she felt on her shoulder from the teenagers either side of her, she could tell that it was working.

"I'm sorry," Lily whispered. "I had no idea. No wonder you were upset."

Amelia nodded. "Her name was F-florence Thyme. I… I wasn't sure what to bring with me, so I brought my papers. Can't be too careful nowadays, can we?" She gave a shaky laugh, and Severus gently pushed her into a chair opposite Dumbledore, who took the papers and examined them. Severus then gestured Lily into the other seat, and stood protectively behind the girls.

"And your father?" the headmaster asked. Amelia cleared her throat.

"Uh… well… it's awkward, you see," she began, and she kept her eyes on her feet. "I, uh… I don't know. I'm afraid that… M-mother didn't know, either." She glanced around the office, feigning discomfort at her 'bastardry'. Sodding Professor Snape and his 'bright ideas'.

"Do you have any other family?"

"On my mother's side? No, sir."

"Then I see no reason for you not to be admitted to this school," he said, standing as he beamed at Amelia. "Let's get you sorted, shall we? Literally as well, I mean."

"Yes, sir," she replied, relieved. It had worked so far.

The next thing to worry about was the Sorting Hat.

I want to say now just how damned awkward it is to call Hermione 'Amelia'. I don't know how others can stand it. Really I don't. I apologise if I slip up at any point; and do let me know if I do, so that I can fix it up. Cheers, folks!