The dust and grime had just begun to settle on the carnage in the small ally-way when Remus J. Lupin arrived. He apparated with a small pop and immediately began to take in the scene before him. Nothing looked like it was meant to. The walls of the buildings that made up the ally were torn and blown to bits, leaving gaping holes all the way though to the inside. The ground was littered with broken pieces of furniture and burning bits of trash and chunks of wood from the walls of the building. Remus looked around to his left and froze; the trash wasn't the only thing that was burning.
A small woman lay on the ground, her hair singed and her clothes burnt clear though to her pale skin. Remus had to look away to keep from retching at the sight of her crumpled body. However there was no relief in any direction he turned. The entire ally was filled with the dead and burning bodies of the innocent Muggle bystanders that had passed though. Remus hardly had time to process what he was seeing before another small pop was heard and a tall elderly man appeared in the small destroyed ally. He looked over his half moon spectacles at Remus, a small sad smile on his wrinkled face. He walked, carefully dodging the burning bodies, before coming face to face with Remus.
They did not speak for a while. The older man surveyed the area around them with mild interest, before facing the younger man in front of him again.
"Remus, you must be strong. She will need you..."
Remus looked up suddenly, cutting off the older man. "S-she?" he questioned, a slightly wild look in his eyes.
The old man smiled once more and began to walk towards a small corner in the ally. It was just as bad as the rest if not worse. Sand from an unknown source covered the ground and a small pool of blood congealed on the ground surrounding a small piece of squirming fabric. The old man bent low over the bundle and picked it up gingerly peeling back a blood covered corner of the blue fabric. Remus hurried over, tripping a large stone on the ground and came face to face with the old man once more.
"Remus are you prepared with your potion for this month?" He asked smiling slightly at the bundle in his arms.
Remus leaned over the old man shoulder, looking into the face of the small girls in his arms. She looked up at him with interest, her blue eyes sparkling. Remus knew those eyes all too well. He took a staggering step back from the old man, falling backwards over and up turned desk.
"You don't mean to say that...that's Maddie?" he looked ready to cry as he righted himself again.
"Yes Remus I do." The familiar sparkle in his brilliant blue eyes was lost as he looked at Remus.
"What do you expect me to do Professor?" Remus asked walking forward and placing a hand on the head of the small girl.
"I do not expect anything from you, however I must ask too much of you." The Professor said rubbing his old hand along the girl's small forehead.
"Anything." The young man said without a second thought.
"You must take Ms. Steele." He said simply reaching forward trying to hand the young man the bundle in his arms.
"Take her? As in raise her?" Remus spluttered out taking a step backwards.
"Yes Remus. Her circumstances are far to complicated for even I to understand. She needs a loving home. I know you can give that to her." The professor said, once more brandishing ht small child. Remus took the bundle from the old man, a single tear rolling down his cheek as he looked at her in his arms.
"How could he do this to her...to them?" He asked suddenly looking back up at the old man.
There was no response as the old man cocked his head to one side listening in the silence. It was quiet for a moment before the faint sound of sirens came from the distance. It looked as if the Muggles had finally caught on.
"I'm afraid Remus that our conversation must be cut short. Please come by and see me tomorrow, we have much to discuss." The professor said turning to leave.
"Of course professor. Of course." Remus said quietly leaning back against one of the few still intact walls.
"And one more thing Remus," the professor called over his shoulder. ""You must not tell anyone of this. As far as we know, Madeline Steele died tonight, and it must remain that way. Am I understood?"
"Yes..." but before he could finish assuring the old man, he was gone with a small pop leaving Remus standing there alone.