Hey All! Nightengale here! I had this previously written (and posted up to chapter 3 or 4) but here recently, I conjoured up a new version of it that I like a WHOLE lot more than the original. And since I have a new system, I hope to have this updated a lot sooner than my others.
So, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter- JK Rowling does!
I do, however, own Prudence, Kate, Anna and the few random kids that appear in this chapter.
August 3rd, 1981
A brunette woman stumbled around the dark London streets, constantly looking over her shoulder. Her gray eyes constantly scanned around for any sign of one of them following her. Things were getting way to chaotic back home- and she was starting to get scared. Even her friends couldn't change her mind. The bundle in her arms began to swirm ever so slightly, and Kate rubbed her back through the soft pink blanket.
"Shhh, sweetie... please.. don't make a sound..." That seemed to work, because the toddler calmed back down. Looking around at her surroundings, Kate saw a flickering light ahead and rushed that way. It was the only thing she could do- and she prayed it was the right choice. Coming to the door, Kate bent down and gently laid the baby down on the ground. A twig snapped behind her, causing her to jump and look over her shoulder. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kate brought out a small piece of paper and tucked it into the fold of the blanket.
"Please... let this be the right choice... Live a good life, my sweet child... I am so, so sorry I couldn't give you the life I had planned to... I pray one day.. you will forgive me for this..." With that, Kate knocked on the door- and then ran from the muggle building. As she turned the corner, a shot of light flew past her shoulder.
"Hey Katie," a female voice sang darkly," Where you going?"
"I have to draw her away from here," Kate thought, sending a spell back at her follower. As they traveled away from the baby, the door opened.
"What the- great. Another one," a young blonde teen frowned.
"Non sense Lana. Move aside." An elderly lady with graying hair said, pushing past her. She picked up the bundle and noticed the note.
"Lana, what does the note say?" The blonde sighed, annoyed, as she picked the small sliver of paper from the blanket.
"Please take care of my baby. Her name is Prudence Skylar Fairburn; 14-July-1980. One day, someone will come for her. Until then, keep her safe."
"And keep her safe, we will."
July 14th, 1986
The older gentleman stood on linoleum floor, watching all the kids run around. Some screamed; some pushed others around- most played with the few toys that weren't broken. Even so, his blue eyes peered through the half-moon spectacles at one child in pecticular. The young girl sat in the corner, trying to stay out of the way of the others- reading a book. He smiled softly, but still felt a bit of pity for the girl who had to live in this chaos. As he looked around, he could tell none of the children actually recieved much attention by any of the adults. All the adults he could see were much more interested in themselves- and none of them really paid attention to the screaming kids running around.
Slowly, he made his way over to the small girl, who seemed to have blocked out all the noise that surrounded her. Her brown hair traveled to her chin- her bangs lay uneven, as though someone had just grabbed and chopped it in haste. Seeming to realize she had a visitor, the girl looked up hesitantly- a bit shy, a bit scared. Her light gray eyes stared into his blue, and he smiled gently.
Bending down slowly, he sat on one of the small chairs as the girl closed the book.
"Won't you lose your place?"
"I-It's okay. I've already read it... before..." she answered, her voice so soft he strained to hear it over the ruckus around them.
"Very well," he smiled," My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore- but you can call me 'Dumbledore'. Would you happen to be Prudence Fairburn?"
"I-I am." Dumbledore could see the worry in her gray eyes and gave her a soft smile in an attempt to comfort her.
"Well, I heard that today is your birthday- am I correct?"
"Yes.."
"I would like to give this," Dumbledore said, bringing out an envelope from his sleeve," To you." Prue eyed the envelope- and he could sense the mistrust radiating from her, as she looked at the envelope in his extended hand.
"Excuse me- who are you?" A blonde woman demanded, as she came up beside Dumbledore. He merely smiled as he stood up, pocketing the envelope again.
"My name is Albus Percival Wulfric-"
"Don't care- why are you here?" Her rude demand didn't offset him in the least, as he merely answered her newest question.
"I am here to take Miss Fairburn to her new home- if she choses to follow me, that is."
"What new home? I don't remember the brat being adopted by anyone."
"Is a Ms Kaleen Henry present? She will inform you." The blonde lady glared her brown eyes at Dumbledore, and then stepped away- disappearing around the corner.
"Wh-what new home?" Prudence asked, as Dumbledore looked back at the young girl. She still sat in the chair- not having moved an inch since he had arrived here; the book laid closed in her lap.
"I have a place that you will be more than welcome," Dumbledore told her," You'll have more freedom to roam as you please. Though, there are fewer kids to play with- much fewer, infact. However, you would also have your own room and-"
"Old man-" the blonde interrupted, poking her head around the corner," She's yours. Be sure to take all her crap with you as well."
Just like that, she was gone. Dumbledore just brushed it off, and turned to Prudence, a soft smile still on his face.
"So, Miss Fairburn- would you like to come with me? Of course, you are more than welcome to stay. It is all your choice." He watched as she looked down at the floor, and then to the book in her lap- as she thought it over. Prudence sat there for several minutes, not saying anything- not moving. Then, she opened the book and continued to read. Taking that as a cue she was chosing to stay- Dumbledore nodded to himself, and headed towards the door. Stepping through the door, he looked around at the old, dark buildings of London that were falling apart.
"And they lived happily, ever after."
Finishing the book for the upteenth time, Prudence closed the book and softly sighed. Looking towards the door, she watched as it slowly creaked shut- the rusted hinges causing it to creep to a close. The elders words rang in her ears.
"Fewer kids... freedom to roam... your own room..."
Looking around, her gray eyes took in the dirty walls; the endless kids; the rotting food; bugs and spiders in every corner. It didn't take her long before she stood up off the chair, placed the book back on the crooked bookshelf- and raced to the room she shared with twenty other girls. Just merely a minute later, Prudence raced from the room with a small blanket in tow- and rushed through the mass of kids that she had grown up with. Doing so attracted the attention of several kids- mostly the ones who bullied her non stop. Realizing they began heading her way, Prudence quickened her pace and rushed out the door- scanning the London street infront of her for the elder that had given her a chance.
Truth be told, she half expected him to be long gone- but to her surprise, he sat on a bench nearby- waiting patiently for her. She took a few steps his way before the door behind her opened and the kids surrounded her.
"Where you think your going?!"
"Who said you could go outside?!"
"I...I..." A fist collided with her chin, knocking the small child to the ground. Tears brimmed her eyes, but Prue bit her tongue- holding back the cries. She knew what was coming- as she prepared herself for the never ending kicks to the stomach- but they never came.
"W-whats that?!"
"It's in the air! It's levitating!"
"RUN!" Just like that, all four kids ran back inside, screaming about things floating in mid air. Then, she noticed white hair on the ground- and looked up, to find the elder, Dumbledore kneeling down beside her.
"Are you okay, Ms Fairburn?" he asked, gently examining her chin. Surely it would bruise- but at the very least, no broken bones.
"I.. I..." She seemed to not be able to speak, so Prudence nodded.
"I am glad. I believe this-" Dumbledore said, handing her the soft pink blanket she had held moments before," Is yours."
"Thank you," Prudence whispered, accepting the blanket and holding it close. It was a few moments of silence, until she whispered," I want to... to go with you..." Dumbledore gently smiled, nodding to her.
"Very well. Let us be on our way, Miss Fairburn." He held out a hand to her, to help her up- and she shyly placed her much smaller hand within his. Together, they made their way through the London streets, walking for close to ten minutes- until they came to a pub that most people passed.
Prudence followed Dumbledore in through the door, and noticed that the bar keep nodded to him.
"Evening Tom. How is everything? I hope Miss Brooks isnt causing much trouble?"
"No more than she normally does, Albus- she is quite the help around here though."
"Glad to hear," Dumbledore smiled, and then to Prudence, he motioned to one of the small square tables," Why don't we take a seat here, Miss Fairburn." Nodding, she climbed up into one of the chairs, as he sat across from her. Her gray eyes traveled around the dimly lit space- taking in new surroundings.
"It's my guess you haven't left the orphanage in quite some time?"
"Not since... I was left there as a baby..."
"I see," Dumbledore nodded, his blue eyes seeming to sparkle," Well- as I mentioned earlier, if you chose to follow me you would have a new home. This here- the Leaky Cauldron will be your new home. I know it's not much, but-"
"I.. I love it..." Prudence softly tells him, a gentle smile crossing her face for the first time since he met her.
"I am glad. And as previously mentioned- it was your birthday. Another thing I would like to give you- is a piece of your past. Your heritage."
"My... heritage?" Prudence questioned.
"Yes. You are no ordinary child, Prudence. You- just like your mother- are a witch." Her gray eyes widened in surprise, but she didnt seem too surprised.
"I am guessing you sensed a difference between you and the other children?"
"W-well... occasionally... my hair would... it would change tone... But I always thought... that it was just my... imagination... And once... a biscuit skitted across the table... to me when no one was there..."
"Non-wand magic. It happens to a lot of underage children," Dumbledore nodded, and then brought out the envelope once more," I give this to you- it is from your mother. It contains a key to your vault at Gringotts. Im sure someone can answer any questions you might have. I-"
"I dont care if you just bought a new pint! You know the policy- if youve been drinking and you start a commotion- YOU ARE OUT!" Dumbledore and Prudence turned their attention towards the door- and saw a young brunette girl escorting a stumbling guy with frazzled hair to the door.
"Chuute child- you can' make me do jack! Outta m'way!" He said, attempting to side step her.
"I SAID OUT!" With that, the girl grabbed his coat and pulled him out of the pub; as she came back in, she yelled," AND STAY OUT!"
"Nice job, Anna," Tom smiled; the young brunette gave him an ear to ear grin and chuckled. As she made her way back to the stairs, Dumbledore caught her eye and waved her over.
"Anna, please- come over here, will you my child?"
"Of course," Anna smiled, skipping over to the table," What can I do for you? Need a drink- we got your favorite."
"No, no- thank you," Dumbledore chuckled," Perhaps another time. Right now, I would like to introduce you to Prudence. She will be staying here- just like yourself." Anna looked to the younger girl, who sat on the chair quietly. Brown eyes met gray and a mutual feeling passed quietly between them.
"Nice to meet'cha Prue- it's okay if I call ya Prue, right? I'm Anna."
"Y-yes, Prue is..." she nodded, hesitantly.
"If you could help her feel more at home, that would be perfect," Dumbledore suggested.
"Oh of course!" Anna smiled," Does she have a room yet?"
"No- you'll have to discuss with Tom on which to use for her. I must be going though- I have a meeting with the Minister."
"Okie-doke. It was nice to see you again. Next time I see you- you're getting that drink."
"I'll hold you to that," Dumbledore smiled, standing up," Prudence- I am leaving you in good hands. Anna is a wonderful girl- and I am positive you won't miss your previous home. I shall see you again, the next time I return to Diagon Alley."
"O-okay..." Dumbledore gave Prudence a small smile, in another attempt to comfort her.
"Oh, and Anna. Today is Prudence's sixth birthday, so do try to do something nice for her, wont you?"
"Oh of course," Anna smiled; with that, Dumbledore left through a back door- and Anna motioned for Prudence to follow her.
"Alrighty, so- come with me Prue. We'll get you settled in. Oh and Happy Birthday, by the way. I might be able to get you a cupcake later- if we're lucky. I think Olli will be more than happy to help with that." As Prudence followed Anna, she began to realize that this may be a new start to a life she always dreamed she would have, but never thought she would be able to.
