A chime sounded throughout a mansion set back away from most civilization. The chime signaled somebody was on the snowy front porch.
A small house elf with large green tennis ball eyes came scurrying out of the main sitting room to answer the door.
He pulled it open to find nobody there, only a bundle of worn, dirty blankets. Just as the house elf began to pull shut the heavy mahogany doors, a tiny laugh emanated from amongst the bundle.
"Dobby, who is it?" a woman's voice called out from the room the house elf left.
"'Tis nobody but a baby, ma'am," Dobby called back.
The sound of feet rushing out of the sitting room was joined by the sight of the master and mistress of the house rushing towards the door.
The man, Lucius, went out the door and scooped up the giggling baby girl from the snow. Before you could say "Malfoy", he was in the house and his wife, Narcissa, had taken the baby from him.
"Dobby, bring us some clean blankets and a bottle." Lucius ordered.
"Yes sir," Dobby exclaimed and left with a crack. He spread the news of the baby to the rest of the household elves.
Lucius and Narcissa brought the giggly girl into the sitting room, where the warm blankets were waiting.
Narcissa slowly unwrapped her and a letter fell out of the blankets.
Lucius bent and picked it up.
With a nod from his wife, he opened the heavy parchment envelope and read aloud:
"Dear Whomever It Concerns,
If you are reading this, you have taken my little girl into your family. Her name is Kestrel and she is 6 months old.
A few things you need to know about her. The most important is she is a werewolf. How did she survive the change? I myself was changed while I was pregnant with her. Kestrel is a natural born wolf, she doesn't follow the course of the moon.
She tends to change while she sleeps, as protection and when she's scared (which isn't often).
Her father is also a wolf and is her alpha as well as mine. He doesn't know about her but Albus Dumbledore knows who she is and who he is.
Please take care of my little girl."
Dobby popped in with a loud crack and placed the bottle of warm milk on a side table before he left.
Narcissa picked up the bottle as Lucius sat down next to her.
"Lucius, look!" Narcissa exclaimed.
There in her arms wasn't a baby girl but a sleeping wolf pup.
They quickly unwrapped the pup and saw she was silvery white with a single black stripe running from the tip of her nose to her tail in a thin trail. The tip of her tail looked like she dipped it into a bucket of light brown paint.
Four and a half years later
"Mama, can I go with Danke, please? I can see him right over there." A little girl asked as she pulled on her mother's cloak.
"Okay hun, just don't wander off again." Narcissa said, glancing down at her grey eyed daughter.
Kestrel ran off through the crowded street of Diagon Alley.
The crowd parted and she ran up to her brother yelling, "Danke!"
A blonde haired, blue-grey eyed teen spun around and caught Kestrel in a tight hug.
"Are you being good for Mother?" He asked.
"Yes, she said I could walk around with you. As long as I didn't wander off again. Can we get some ice cream, please?" She asked as Draco picked her up.
"Sure, just let me get my school books first."
They walked down the street towards Flourish and Blotts when a red head got in the way.
"What do you want Weasley? I don't have time for this." Draco said, exasperated.
"You kidnap kids now in broad daylight Ferret?" Ron's face was turning red.
"Ron, why would he do that? Who is she Mr. Malfoy?" Remus Lupin walked up, followed by Harry and Hermione.
"My little sister. Her name is Kestrel." Draco answered.
"You smell funny. Are you a wolf too?" Kestrel blurted.
Remus chuckled and answered, "Yes but I'm not like you. I was changed when I was about your age."
"Hello, Kestrel, I'm Hermione and this is Harry. How old are you?"
"Five. Danke can we go get ice cream now?"
"Sure, come on. I'll get my books later."
Draco picked Kestrel up for a piggy-back ride to the bookstore.
Six months later
The wards around Malfoy Manor were signaling a large mass of people forcing their way onto the grounds.
Lucius rushed from his study where he was finishing up some paperwork due the next day. He reached the Master bedroom just as Narcissa came running out. They shared a look, nodded, and pulled two identical vials out if the pockets in their robes.
"Leacher!" Narcissa called.
A loud crack sounded the same time the front doors were blasted open.
"Gather all the house elves and protect her." She ordered.
The old house elf bowed and left with another loud crack.
Lucius and Narcissa uncorked the vials and drank the contents. Not even thirty seconds later they were found dead by Severus Snape.
At the same time somewhere else in the mansion, the house elves were guarding Kestrel.
The door was blasted open and two men in long black robes and masks stormed in. They looked around and their eyes fell on the little girl clutching a stuffed silver dragon to her chest surrounded by ten house elves.
"She's just a wee lass, barely out of babe years." The first one said to his partner.
"Yeah, she won't know anything, let's go." The second one pulled the first out the door and they left.
Time moved slowly for the waiting elves. Kestrel managed to fall back asleep right as her door was blasted open for a second time in the same night. Two people walked in and saw the elves.
"Leacher, where is she?" Snape asked.
Before the ancient elf could reply, a voice answered from amongst the group, "I'm right here."
He made his way into the semi-dark room and the house elves moved, granting him access to the young girl they were protecting. Kestrel scrambled off the bed and ran to her god father who bent down and scooped her up.
"Hello again, Kestrel. Do you remember me?" Remus asked as he moved closer.
"Yeah, you still smell funny," She mumbled against Severus's neck.
"I'll let the others know. You should gather some of her things. I have a feeling we won't be getting anything for her from here after the Ministry gets here." Remus put his hand on his enemy form school's shoulder and left the room.
"Come on pup, let's get you packed."
They went around the room, picking out toys and clothes for her to take. Soon they had a small trunk packed and Kestrel was exhausted. Severus shrunk her trunk, put it in his pocket, and carried his goddaughter out to where everyone was waiting. Albus Dumbledore sent the house elves to the kitchen at Hogwarts and told everybody, "I'm holding a meeting at Grimmauld Place in one hour."
The gathered group nodded their heads or mumbled their reply before disapparating or flooing home. Well, everybody except Albus, Severus, Remus and Minerva. They flooed to the headmaster's office.
The small group was then joined by Professor Flitwick and Draco.
"What's going on? Who's she Severus?" Professor Flitwick questioned.
"Danke, I was so scared." Kestrel mumbled sleepily from Snape's arms.
"It's alright, Kessie." Draco came up to her and she reached for him. He took her and they hugged.
"This is Kestrel Malfoy. She will be staying with us for a while." Albus explained from behind his desk.
The door opened and the school nurse walked in. "Albus, what is going on?" she demanded
"Thank you for coming, Poppy. I hope I didn't wake you." The twinkle in the headmaster's eyes never dimmed a moment. "Could you examine someone for me?"
"Where are they?" the school nurse sounded exasperated but looked serious.
Albus motioned Draco to bring Kestrel closer for inspection. Madam Pomphrey transfigured one of the chairs scattered around the office into an examination table.
"Put her here, Mr. Malfoy." She ordered.
He placed a sleeping Kestrel on the table. The room was quiet while Madam Pomfrey conducted her tests.
After a few minutes, she stopped and declared, "She's fine, just a bit exhausted."
"Uncle Severus, why's she here?"
"The mansion was attacked. The Dark Lord found out about your parents spying for the Order. They're dead." The Potions Master was about to continue when the Head of Gryffindor House let out a startled screech.