Author's Notes: Hi, this is my first published story, so please review fellas. Also, although my English is never perfect, it is better than a lot of people (in my assumption) however, I can still make mistakes, primarily on grammar so please can some one beta my work. This is a Daphne Greengrass story although not the usual. My version of Daphne is inspired from WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot. On pairing with her, i don't know yet but definitely with a man. I got nothing against the third sex, this is just my preference. I will not say more so that you can read it.
DISCLAIMER: Characters and Setting is a creation of J.K Rowling, so she owns it. Not me.
Prologue: London
"Who is...that?" asked by Detective Campbell.
"I don't know Dave, but he bloody needs to shave. A haircut too." answered by Detective Stills.
The man they are referring to is a tall old man sporting a long hair and a longer beard. The man wears a half-moon spectacles, a bowler hat, and a three piece brown tweed suit with a matching brown leather shoes. With twinkling eyes, the said man just completes the grandfather look...maybe great-grandfather look would have been more proper to describe his appearance. This said man then approached the detectives.
"Good evening gentlemen. I am Percival Adeline from the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills." said by Percival while removing his hat and showing his ID.
"I am Detective Dave Campbell and this is Detective Kevin Stills. We work in organized crime. May we ask what are doing here sir?" asked by Det. Campbell.
" Ah, yes! Just the man I was looking for. I am here to inquire about the girl you have in your custody. The one from the recent warehouse fire, please" asked by Mr. Adeline.
" You mean from the trafficking case we got." stated by Det. Stills.
"Oh my, I mean yes, the one from that case. Detectives, what can you tell me about her?" asked by Mr. Adeline.
" Well, she is an orphan and she was sent to multiple foster homes all around London because of reckless behaviour, spends a lot of time on the streets and was arrested for stealing, twice, and for brawling. No charges were pressed. Her name was changed multiple times to her request and foster families she has been with. As of now Sir, you may call her by her stated given name Jane Smith." stated by Det. Stills to Mr. Adeline.
" If I may ask, how is she?" asked by Mr. Adeline.
" Frankly sir, not good. she has multiple cuts and bruises but she is fine. She has been silent since we got her. We got suspicions that she killed multiple people, including Fred Lawson, her current or rather last foster father." stated by Det. Campbell.
"Multiple homicide? Are you really sure that it is really her detectives?" asked by Mr. Adeline.
"Her prints were found on the murder weapon sir. Actually, it does not matter since most of the ones we thought she killed were members of an Albanian human trafficking and smuggling gang so it becomes apparent that she just defended herself which is further proven by the warehouse containing a lot of girls in cages and containers and a lot of smuggled items. So it is safe to assume she got kidnapped and managed to escape. The problem lies with the death of Mr. Lawson since he is maybe not part the gang." stated by Det. Campbell.
"Why is it that you have doubts about Mr. Lawson detective? asked by Mr. Adeline.
"Well sir, me and Dave, received a report that a lot of children under his care went missing and never found sir. Me and my partner got a suspicion that he traffics those children out of country through the gang. We are petitioning for a search warrant to verify our facts about the late Mr. Lawson." Det. Stills said.
" It seems that the young Jane has been to quite an ordeal. If I may gentlemen, may I have a word with her?" asked by Mr. Adeline.
" Sure sir, just down the hall and in interrogation room B." Det. Campbell stated.
" Thank you and good luck in your investigation gentlemen." said by Mr. Adeline as he walks away.
Det. Stills is then looking at Mr. Adeline warily and said "Dave, something is odd about the old man".
"You mean aside from looking way past the retirement age?" Det. Campbell replied."Well, there is that too but why does he not know the name of the kid? He is from Ofsted so he should probably know basic info about the kid already man. I don't know..."
Mr. Adeline entered the room thinking already on how to communicate with the girl or at the very least start a conversation with her. The room is well lit with a table and two chairs. A plate of sandwich and a glass of water is on the table and there sits the girl. The girl has a ragged appearance, wearing a black jacket that is too big for her and the same can be said to her pants. She has a blonde hair just reaching her shoulder and a pair of emerald coloured eyes. The girl, in Mr. Adeline's opinion is quite pretty for her age for she has no freckles, pimples, or any blemish on her face and her pink-coloured lips are in the right perfect shape, not too large and not too small either, just right for a girl. She will definitely become more beautiful as she grows older.
"Lemon Drops?" offered by Mr. Adeline. The girl continues to stare at the table. "Trust me, these are quite good my dear." The girl continues to be silent.
"Alright, I will get straight to the point since you had a very long, tiring day." said by Mr. Adeline as he brings out a 15 inch stick. This got the girls attention and is now looking at the stick. Mr. Adeline is then started swishing his 'stick' in the air which just got the girl more confuse. "Now that we have secured our privacy, let me tell you this: I am a wizard and you, my dear, is a witch." stated by Mr. Adeline. The girl now stares to the twinkling blue eyes of the old man. "My name, my true name, would be Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." said by Dumbledore.
"Seriously? after having a treacherous double-dealing foster parent, a bunch of armed traffickers and smugglers, now a wizard? Can't you please give me a break." said by Jane Smith.
"And all of what you said is true my dear, and I think you don't doubt that you are special since you won't be alive right now if otherwise." Dumbledore said. This statement suddenly made the girl silent. Dumbledore, wanting to break this silence said " A report came that stated underage magic was performed and it was now confirmed to be a Shielding Charm. Now that means in terms of non-magic people that you were able to erect a sort of barrier that prevented bullets from killing you, is that a correct assumption Ms. Smith?".
The two are then engaged in a staring competition until Jane relents "Yes, well that is what I believe I did. For me, I just didn't want those bastards to kill me so I somehow telekinetically pulled a gun like a jedi and somehow a force field protects me so I started shooting the bastards."
"That's strange, the report only said that you only a single charm being performed. A topic for another time, what's important is that you are now safe and that you now know that you are a witch. Now, I am here to bring to you a very rare opportunity. I am inviting you to become a student of Hogwarts for you to learn properly how to wield your powers and to welcome you to our community, the magical community." stated by Dumbledore.
Silence followed this stated for the girl is then thinking. Strange, normally in Dumbledore's experience, children would either jump at the chance or start asking more questions almost immediately about magic or asking for a live demonstration. What he is seeing however, was a girl looking like she is in some sort of a dilemma. The girl is also handling the deaths of her assailants quite well. This is very strange indeed, and not the good kind of strange.
" I assume that you mages live in secret and has a secret community, right? asked by Jane.
"Yes, that is true..."
"Then you have your own long history of existence?" asked again by Jane.
"That is also true, may I..."
"Then I believe I must decline." stated by Jane.
"What! Why?" asked by Dumbledore.
"Ok, I will explain. I am assuming, no, I am certain, that wizards and witches were able to learn magic on their own in ancient times. What I am saying is that I believe I can learn how to use magic on my own, sir"
"Why would you choose such a hard path, also now illegal for someone of your age? From what I am hearing, you are quite a smart girl so is this about pride?" asked by Dumbledore.
"No, not pride. Pride gets you killed. it's because of I don't want to rush into a place where I am in a disadvantage. My past ordeal strengthened my belief in this principle." stated by Jane.
"Is it also about the things you stole from the Albanian gang, my dear?" inquired by Dumbledore.
"How the hell..."
" Judging your reaction from my question, then you already verified my assumption." stated by Dumbledore.
"Great, you read minds. I should have known."scoffed by Jane.
"Just a glimpse dear, just a glimpse. Now, I don't, I mean I really don't, tolerate thieves in the halls of Hogwarts so you better tell me what it is that you stole and why you are certain that you could get away with it?"
Jane is getting nervous, and a little guilty and scared. She feels like being reprimanded by a teacher back in school. 'How the hell does this old dude make talk so easily' she thought. She then relents "It was Spanish victory bonds. I got Spanish victory bonds."
Dumbledore then summons a teapot and two cups. "Could you elaborate me on the value of these 'bonds'?" said by Dumbledore as he poured himself a cup of tea and another for Jane and took a sip.
"As of now, one of these bonds can be exchanged for a value of 248,000 US Dollars, converting it to British currency. That would value for about 158,000 pound sterling." admittedly stated by Jane.
" That is a lot of money, and I am guessing you got more than just one, dear. Now, how did you know all of this?" asked by Dumbledore.
"A field trip in the US back when I was eight in the US National Archives in New York City. The tour guide elaborated on its value and on how those bonds are rumored to be still buried somewhere in the caves of Altamira in Spain." stated by Jane.
"And you remembered all of that. That is impressive my dear." "Well, I got photographic memory so I never forget. Now that you know what I did what now? " Jane asked to Dumbledore.
"Tell me, how is it that you believe that you can actually get away with it?"
At this question Jane scoffed at it and said "Because, the believed only surviving copy of the bonds is in the US National Archives. It may be very rare but it is actually very easy to transport through the airport since it is just papers. Besides, the gang would probably think that the police got it or it got burned in the warehouse. No one would suspect a ten year old girl to have it to begin with."
The way this girl answers him reminds him of Tom, 'Oh no, that is just a pessimistic thinking Albus'. "So that is why you burned the warehouse. I understand, for you a fresh start, offered by these bonds, is more important to you than learning magic. Well, you were sincere to tell me about it and let me tell you this. I want your trust which is why I will tell no one about the bonds however I am here to tell you that I can provide you with a fresh start. A life away from the streets and this is available to by studying in Hogwarts." Dumbledore said.
"What? No ulterior motives or demands like ummm... a share of profit?" Jane asked.
"The gentlemen outside this room stated that I am quite old and quite frankly, I am. I have no more use for money although you can donate the money if you wish but that is your prerogative, Jane. I will not force you in any way because my only goal is your trust." Dumbledore said with the twinkling of his eyes intensifying. This just made Jane uncomfortable
"...Okay. Fine I accept as long as it is better that the streets." said by Jane.
Dumbledore is now more curious about the girl, the more he looks at her it becomes apparent to him that she is no muggleborn. She displayed no signs of being extremely tired after using a shielding charm while being fired upon by bullets and by her statement also using a summoning charm. Performing those charms simultaneously without extreme side-effects are qualities apparent to pure-bloods since the magic in their body is more refined and higher than the rest. A perk of being a pure-blood, higher magical endurance. The aristocratic features of her physical appearance also indicates she is from a good bloodline. This made Dumbledore think that the girl maybe a war orphan, a product of Tom's reign of terror? It makes sense to Dumbledore since there were a lot of war orphans, including Harry. 'It matters not, I shall just keep watching this girl in Hogwarts, I can observe her better there' Dumbledore thought because for him all that matters is to save an innocent child from a dark future.
May I thank the reader plums for pointing out how massive my paragraphs are and how to properly organize the conversations. As you have seen, I have already updated this chapter. Thanks plums
