"Nononono, don't do this to me." The Doctor fretted, pulling buttons and levers on the TARDIS command console.

Nothing was working. The TARDIS had firmly planted herself in the ground and absolutely refused to budge.

"Fine!" The Doctor whacked the console. "Have it your way. But if some planet out there is blown up because I'm not there, it's on you!"

The TARDIS made a few noises the the Doctor interpreted as smugness. He grumbled to himself, then yanked the screen down to see where he was.

Earth. Well, that was a nice start. Earth was a lovely planet. Europe, always a pleasure. Scotland! The Doctor couldn't remember the last time he had been to Scotland. Was that where the girls turned out to be vampires? No, that was Venice, he reminded himself.

Let's see… he appeared to be in a small town called Diagon Alley. "I'll just go and see, won't I?" He said out loud for the TARDIS to hear. "Since I'm STUCK HERE."

He opened the door and stepped out. It was a busy street, but nobody seemed to be surprised that a big blue box had suddenly materialized. The Doctor looked around. It looked very early twentieth century, but he remembered the screen saying it was the year 2005. Curious.

He started walking. Men in long cloaks strolled through the shops, while women in equally long and more fashionable robes adjusted pointy hats and held hands of children who stared and pointed at broomsticks on display in store windows. A large store with the name Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes had a display of a man with a hat who made a rabbit appear and disappear.

Wizards? Interesting. The Doctor rubbed his hands together. Perhaps the TARDIS wasn't all bad.

Many people were carrying smooth sticks with them. Wands, he realized. A wizard with a wand. How exciting.

On an impulse, the Doctor decided he wanted a wand. Resisting the urge to giggle like a child who was buying an ice cream with his lunch money, he located Ollivander's. A wand shop. Brilliant!

Pushing open the door, he called, "Hello? Anyone here?"

"Coming, coming. Just a moment." Came a tired voice from behind a row of messy shelves. The Doctor waited as a grey-haired man appeared and walked toward him.

"You're new." The man said. "I remember every wand I ever sold, but I've never sold one to you."

"No." The Doctor agreed. "I just dropped into town. Looking for a place to stay and employment. But I reckon I'll need a wand first."

The man peered at him. "You seem young on the outside, but you're not, are you? Your eyes are tired, like mine. You've seen enough things in this world for ten whole lifetimes. I can tell the way your eyes look at everything. You've seen it all before. Even things you've never encountered, you can relate it to a place you've been. You've encountered war, and fought in it, too. You were a soldier. You are still, in fact."

The Doctor looked at him, surprised and feeling very grounded. "Yes. I am old. And I have seen war. But I am no longer a soldier."

The man nodded slowly. "No… not anymore. But either way, you're easy, as far as wands go. I have just the one for you. Follow me."

The Doctor followed, curious, as the strange man led him through the precariously leaning shelves. Stopping in front of one, he ran his fingers up and down the row of boxes. Selecting one, he pulled it down.

"This one. It's a very special wand, one of the few curious ones I have ever owned or sold." The man handed it to the Doctor. "The wood is from a branch of the Eternity Willow, a tree so ancient it is pure white with age. The core is a tail feather given freely by the most powerful Phoenix alive. The Phoenix, of course, a bird that can regenerate anew when it dies. The wand is very springy and flexible. I have a feeling this one was made specifically for you."

The Doctor took the wand gingerly. "What do I do with it?"

"Give it a flick." The man urged.

The Doctor did so. As he whipped it upwards, a beam of light shot out the end and knocked over a shelf. Boxes and paper went flying. The man didn't seem to notice.

"It is you… the Oncoming Storm." He muttered. The Doctor whipped his head to look at him.

"What did you call me?" He asked, shocked. The man shook his head.

"Just talking to myself." He said. "That wand is free of charge. Do great things with it, son. It is truly a powerful wand."

"Thank you, sir. I will. As soon as I learn a few spells." The Doctor shook his hand, sticking the wand in his pocket.

On his way out, the Doctor heard the man say, "And if you're looking for work and lodgings, Hogwarts is looking for a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."

Hogwarts, the Doctor thought to himself. Odd name for a school. He decided to go and check it out. He would need work if he had to stay here for a long time.

***

"So, Mr…?"

"Doctor."

"Ah. So, Doctor, you are applying for position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, correct?"

"Er- yes. Yes I am. Is that the only position open?"

"At the moment."

"Then yes, I am applying for that position."

"You're hired."

"Sorry? You haven't even interviewed me."

"You're the only applicant. Plus, I can see that you have only good intentions."

"Yeah? Wow, you're good. Thank you, very much. When does the school year start?"

"In about a month."

"Oh that's not too bad. I can learn all about the subject in a month."

"I'm sure you can, Doctor."

"Well, thank you Headmaster. I'll see you at the start of term."

"Looking forward to it. Feel free to move your things in whenever you like. Professors have their own chambers."

"Oh! Brilliant. I'll just go and see mine."

"Alright."

Dumbledore waited as the Doctor ran down the stairs. He counted to five, and then he saw a head pop up again.

"Er- where is my room?"