The search had began five hours ago and there was still no sign of her. Lord Grantham, the male staff (indoor and out), villagers and Isis were scouring the grounds for a sign of the missing girl.

"Edith!" Robert called out hoarsely, his face pale and gaunt beneath his flushed cheeks. Beside him, Carson held a lamp aloft. The lit up trees loomed down on the search party. Twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out and circling them like a coven of witches. As the sun had set the woods had grown menacing and disorienting. Robert had no way of knowing if they had been going round in circles. His head pounded and his eyes blurred.

Back home, Cora was waiting anxiously for news. Sybil dozed fitfully on her lap whilst Mary sat reading a book, trying to ignore her throbbing black eye. The police had not yet been called but it was agreed that if Edith had not been found by midnight, Cora would ring for them. Violet sat opposite, only the way she clutched at her walking stick suggested that she was feeling anything but the up most calm.

Cora chewed her lip, bouncing little Sybil up and down on her knee. Her eyes kept twitching back to the clock that ticked obnoxiously in the corner. Books and magazines lay strewn on the table but all Cora could bear to do was hold her baby close against her chest.

"Mary darling," she began, "how is your eye?"

"How do you expect?" Mary snapped. She glared at her page. 'Typical of Edith,' she thought, 'runs away whenever she thinks she might be in trouble and has the entire house fretting over her,'

Mrs Hughes coughed quietly from the doorway.

Cora's head jerked up. "What is it Mrs Hughes?" she demanded, "Is there any news?"

"None as yet, I'm afraid you Ladyship. It's just that the glass has been cleared away in the nursery and it is safe for the young Ladies to retire now,"

Cora didn't respond. Instead she sighed and leant back against the cushions, her eyes shut.

"Thank you Mrs Hughes," she said eventually, making no move to relinquish Sybil from her grip.

Mrs Hughes made to leave when Cora opened her mouth again.

"Mrs Hughes, would you please see that the Princess Carolina room is made up,"

Mrs Hughes did not question the strange request, but merely nodded her head and went to see about it.

"What is the bedroom for Mama?" Mary asked, peeking curiously over her book.

"For Edith," was all that Cora said. Violet met Cora's gaze over Mary's head and nodded. She understood.

The fact was, they simply couldn't leave Edith in the nursery with Mary and Sybil. For, this wasn't the first time such and occurrence had happened. Things had a habit of breaking whenever Edith was hurt or in a temper, which was often when she was in Mary's presence.

"Mary, Sybil," Violet began gently, "I think it is time for you to be taken to bed,"

Violet rang the bell and a housemaid arrived shortly after. Cora unwillingly passed over the dozing Sybil and Mary stood and shook out her skirt.

"Goodnight Granny, goodnight Mama," Mary said, kissing each of them in turn.

Violet waited until the children were gone before turning to Cora.

"You and Robert must make up your mind and decided what to do about Edith," she began, but was interrupted when Cora had leaped to her feet and rushed towards the window.

"They're back,"

She had been found curled up and sobbing in the hollow of a tree. Isis had sniffed her, scampering ahead and swiftly followed by Robert, who spoke no word but simply swept his frozen little girl into his arms and tucked her into his coat.

"She's been found!" he called out towards the rest of the party. "We've found her!"

Without another word Robert followed Carson and the rest of the staff back to the house, murmuring gently into Edith's ear.

"It's alright my darling," he muttered soothingly, "Papa's got you,"

The rest of the party began to dwindle away into the kitchen where they had been promised hot soup and cocoa.

Cora rushed out front to meet Robert and gently took Edith into her own hands.

"She's burning up," Cora whispered as they made their way back inside, "Is Dr Clarkson with you?"

"He's gone down to the kitchen," Robert replied, "Carson, fetch Dr Clarkson and bing up some soup for Lady Edith,"

"Yes, my Lord," Carson replied and made his way down to the kitchen.

Edith was eventually put to bed in the Queen Carolina room. Clarkson had checked her over and pronounced that she had a cold, nothing more and she simply needed some rest.

Clarkson had joined them downstairs for tea when Robert finally said the words that had been on everyone's mind.

"Dr Clarkson, we are worried about Edith," Robert turned to Cora for a sign that he should carry on, Cora nodded.

"The reason Edith ran away in the first place was because she and Mary had gotten into a rather serious fight which ended; as you know, in Mary being rather seriously hurt,"

Dr Clarkson nodded gravely, "Go on,"

Cora chimed in. "You see, this is not the first time such a thing has happened. I mean, no on has been hurt before but..."

"The fact of the matter is," Robert said, "Is that we simply do not know what to do with her. If she is a threat to others..." he too trailed off.

Clarkson finished his tea. "I'm afraid that I am unable to give you sufficient advice on this matter. From what I gather you need to contact a specialist. Someone who deals in cases such as these,"

"I want it quite clear," Robert frowned, "That there is to be no talk of Edith being sent to an Asylum,"

"Certainly not," Violet sniffed, "There has been no lunacy in the Crawley family in decades. Well, no more than what is usual for the upper classes,"

"Of course," Dr Clarkson agreed. He stood to leave, "Lady Edith may simply require a nurse. Someone who can calm her down in times such as these. I gather you have put Lady Edith in a room separate from her sisters. This was a wise move and I suggest you keep her there until she can receive proper care,"

"Thank you Dr Clarkson," Cora said as Robert stood to show Clarkson out.

"Well, if that's all I might as well go now too, it is almost ten o'clock," Violet rose, "Have the car sent round,"

With both Dr Clarkson and Violet gone, Robert and Cora were left quite alone.

Slowly, without saying a word, Robert wrapped his arms round Cora and held her as she sobbed.

The next few days, Edith recovered from her cold but was still not allowed out of her room. She saw nobody but her parents and the maid sent to bring her food and run her bath. All her guests were nervy and skittish around her and Edith felt more like a freak than ever.

That was what the fight had been about. It was bad enough when Mary called Edith plain and boring, but hearing that word, 'freak', hurt more than any other. Because she knew it was true. She knew deep down that there was something wrong with her. Something that made her different from the rest of her family. She felt like she had the word freak tattooed on her forehead.

She withdrew into herself. Doing nothing all day but watching from her window, speaking to no one and barely eating. Robert and Cora grew worried and pressed Dr Clarkson in finding a specialist to see to Edith. This was why they were not surprised to have Carson announce; in a rather disapproving voice, that there was a professor there to see Lady Edith.

What they were surprised about; however, was his appearance. He wore a bright purple suit made of what looked like tweed, a top hat and white tennis shoes. His eyes were bright blue and his hair was long and white, his beard reaching bast his belt.

"Good afternoon," he said politely, "I am here to inquire after Lady Edith,"

Cora was the first to recover from her shock. "Did Dr Clarkson send for you?"

The bizarre man beamed, his eyes twinkling. "Indeed he did. May I introduce myself? My name is Professor Dumbledore,"