The Child in the Safehouse

Before they go to their first job from their client, he said,

'I want you to meet your final team member in your first safehouse.' he said. 'You'll understand when you get there.'

Puzzled, they went.

Their hideout is a decent-sized cabin.

But inside, is a sleeping young girl so skinny they thought she was anorexic, and clearly injured, since she's had bruising and some bandages on her neck. She wore white, hospital pajamas with capped sleeves and 3/4 bottoms. Right next to the couch, is a trunk, and a birdcage containing a snowy-white owl.

But while a latent which is pretty obvious, her purity and potency of her flames seeping through her was telling, and her injuries healing faster she'd be taking her bandages and patchings off in a couple hours.

She's clearly, the Strongest Cloud in the world.

'I wonder what that says.' Viper went to pick up the folded paper on the table.

'Read it.' Reborn egged him/her on.

Since nobody knows Viper's gender, might as well go neutral.

'It says...this girl is Jeanne Louise Lyra Potter, a civilian but the strongest Cloud in the world, putting all candidates I know to shame. I had to rescue her from an abusive home and her relatives are quite, the piece of work...'

'What?!' Fon, Lal and Luce were more vocal in their outrage while the others stewed.

'...so I trapped them in a psychosomatic nightmare wherein they feel every single pain they inflicted on her,' Viper continued, causing vindictive feelings to glow from their audience, '-and they'll never wake up from it until 13 years ends. However, this girl is from a British Witch Community, as in, honest-to-goodness magic-users. Wait, what...?' came Viper's flat reaction as they got blank stares. 'Whatever, I'll continue...even I can't believe it, until I've seen her memories. There's actually a magic school so I have taken to investigating this...new world not even any intelligence agency knows, but do remember they must remain a secret. And her magical powers have nothing to do with her strong flames but rather, its the truly strong desire to survive the hellish life in her relatives' care. Raise this one well as part of your missions so in time, she'll be useful. -Checkerface. P.S, I sealed away her sense of obligation to return or contact anyone she knows, remembering only need to knows. So she'll be just fine staying with you. She knows how to housekeep and cook in a rather nasty way of study being their Cinderella, but at least she can keep house to earn her part in her stay. And burn away any envelopes that go to her by owl, especially the red ones. But allow the black ones with gold wax seals to go to her, they're about her Trust Fund. That's about it.' they said.

'Great...an abused magical girl in our community. Wonderful.' Reborn wasn't too happy. 'How on Earth do we raise a kid? I don't think I'm father material and I'm only 23.'

'Well, we don't have to be parents though that part will come to my life eventually,' said Luce, 'But we can be adults she can actually come to in her time of need. She never had anyone to go to when she's sad, grieving or in pain, having had to deal with it herself.'

'And as an abused child, she'll probably be wary and distrusting since adults hurt her.' said Fon stiffly. 'We'll have to go about this carefully since he made it clear she's to be a part of our team. That worries me.' he stated anxiously.

'And what about PTSD? We don't have Psychiatric Qualifications...'

'Oh, I do when it comes to studying human behavior, even having a Ph.D but I'm no counselor material sadly, I just studied for curiosity's sake, so I'll leave that to you after getting all I could.' Verde informed them. 'But first...how do we start?'

'Well...we start when she wakes.' said Fon. 'And please be friendly even if you have to wear a fake smile that looks constipated, do it.'

xxx

Several hours later...

Jeanne woke up.

She could not believe her entire day.

First was being rescued by a man in the iron mask and given pajamas to wear before telling her to take a nice deserved bath while he deals with her family.

A long bath in the Dursley Residence is indeed, once-a-blue-moon occasion, nevermind her stinging wounds and aching body from Vernon's moods simply because he had a bad day at work. Then she wore the pajamas given to her, and a pair of slippers. The man had her trunk and Hedwig, and her relatives out cold on the floor, before telling her, 'Shall we go?'

'Go where?'

'To where you'll become the best you can be. You clearly can't do that here when you could be something more, and live life the way you want it to be.'

Entranced by that notion because she lived a life of 'do this or else!' and 'you must/have to do this' and 'you can't do it/that' or she's not allowed to, most of which were what she truly wanted in life, and eagerly joined him for freedom, letting him take her to Italy where he told her that he is looking for the world's seven strongest people in terms of flames.

Because of his influence on her vulnerable mind, it never occurred to her that he's a stranger and strangers can do ANYTHING to a vulnerable teenager who has many, many issues. She should NOT have followed A STRANGER which was BASIC COMMON SENSE but his subtle influence on her was so subtle she never knew. All she cared about were her own personal wants, and not once did her mind and instinct come up with what anyone would have, that something, was very wrong here.

But here, she has no qualms following him to his promise, and never seeing her relations ever again. She also never cared about Hogwarts either and what it was to her, even if she didn't like 99% of the people in it, no thanks to her social experience there.

He taught her about flames and how people access it, but he would allow her new housemates to teach her. All she knows is that she was a 'Cloud-type' and the strongest Cloud after years of searching in the current generation. Once she's strong enough after being well-taught and raised by her housemates, she will finally go on jobs with them. He also told her where the Italian Magical Alley is anytime so she can access her money with an additional fee as she's overseas which gave her relief, so she can provide for herself.

When she woke up and got up, she saw that there are some young adults with her in the room.

'Oh, you're finally awake!' a chinese man kindly smiled at her that made her blush and gulp because he's dang good-looking, and so are the people in this room!

'Uh, h-hello.' she squeaked, backing away a little.

'Your bruises and other injuries fully-healed thanks to your powers it seems.' said the lady with a funny hat she could probably sit on it as a cushion. 'Feeling better, Jeanne?'

'Y-yeah...I-I'm not like normal people who'd take days to get better...I'm just glad I heal quick.' said Jeanne nervously. 'Uhm...the masked man said you'll teach me?' she asked them anxiously.

'Well, we have lots to teach you young lady.' said the woman. 'It'll be hard, but you'll be alright.' she said. 'Anything you need?'

Jeanne's expression went flat and blank.

'...buying new clothes is a start, and I can finally burn the castoffs I had to call clothes for years.' she grumbled. 'I just need to go to the bank with an adult company since I don't know my way around this country and getting clothes that fit me after years is a new experience.'

'We'll all go.' Reborn decided. 'We need to see the magical alley with our own eyes so we know what to expect. And we might have to shop in the magic alley as all six of us are known faces.'

'Uhm, OK.' she was still a little groggy when she got up. 'Let's go. I'll just get my key...'

'...key, not a password?'

'Well, my vault is on a mid-level security so it needs a key...vaults in lower levels have it real nasty that you'll literally be dying to get your booty...some even have dragon security guards or trolls or even cursed doors that turn into spiked clampers that chomp on you and impale you to death at the same time. And they say they only check on bodies once a decade because thieves never leave alive and the goblins make sure of it.'

The adults exchanged looks.

And so...

The Magical Alley was in Florence, and in a rather hidden passageway disguised as an illusion with magic. They had to link hands so they can come in with her, otherwise, its not just the illusions but also 'anti-human distraction wards'. But its loophole? A magical relative holding hands with them or a link. Once inside, its a pathway about fifty feet long and wide enough to accommodate the traffic of robe-wearing people comfortably and Viper cast their illusions so they would not be seen.

Upon getting in, Magical Italy was medieval fantasy land.

'W-wow...Italy's alley is much better-looking than London's!' Jeanne gushed out in near-squee as she looked around. 'Cleaner and bigger too!'

'What of London's magic alley?' Verde asked her.

'Its disappointing...it looked like slums, they don't care much about cleanliness of their shops and its a crowded place you'd think poor planners built the alley, not taking into account how many times and how much people go there everyday...it gets really bad during school supplies shopping week its a struggle just to get to the next store!' she shuddered. 'Let's go find Gringotts. They like their buildings greeky and stark white so people would find the bank fast.'

'Ah, that one over there.' Lal sweatdropped as they quickly spotted a tall, white building lined with columns. They can even see the words in bright gold, GRINGOTTS GOBLIN BANK

'Yup, that one!' Jeanne chirped as they walked to Gringotts.

The goblins were three feet tall with flat heads, angular and pointy faces with prominent brow ridges, crooked noses and pointy ears. They are very fair-skinned with long fingers and feet. Compared to the robe-wearing witches and wizards, they wore suits and shiny black leather shoes, though the ones carrying halberds at the door wore armor. Security Guards.

Inside...made Viper DROOL quite literally.

On a long counter were clearly different counters with a specific purpose.

Weighing precious gemstones, counting stacks of gold coins...

'U-uwaaah...am I really seeing this?' they croaked out. 'So many jewels and gold!'

'You're drooling Viper.' Reborn snorted.

'Yep, this is all real.' Jeanne's worried about Viper drooling. 'Just that prepare for hell because they hate any form of thievery, conning and fraud, debt-runners as well as forgeries. I heard that they once chased down a wizard with a huge debt and made sure he paid with all he's got when they caught him. The gold coins are Galleons, silver ones Sickles and the bronze ones Knuts.' they lined up to the counter that read, 'Business Counter'.

When their turn came...

'I would like access to my funds from London Branch.' said Jeanne. 'I am Jeanne Louise Lyra Potter.' she said, showing her scar for addition.

'We'll confirm with a blood test.' said the goblin, taking out parchment, a bottle and a knife. 'Place a few drops of your blood into this potion, then shake hard ten times and pour the contents on the paper. We'll then see if you're telling the truth. Security if you will. The truth lies in the blood, blood can never lie no matter how many times and tries one disguises himself.'

'That's thorough...' Verde mused, interested. Jeanne willingly cut her finger, poured some drops into the bottle while the older ones watched the goblin's expression. He seems to have calmed when before, he was stiff.

'You calmed down after she cut herself...why is that?' Reborn frowned warily as Jeanne started to shake the bottle real hard.

'She did it all with no hesitation which means she's the real deal and has nothing to hide.' said the goblin. 'If she showed hesitation and fear, that's when we drag her to the interrogation room because hesitation and fear before an Identity Blood Test means the one claiming to be her is a disguised thief and we do NOT like thieves.' he grinned ferally as Jeanne finally poured the potion on the paper.

What seemed to be a puddle shiny goo spread out evenly to form letters...and soon, words.

NAME: JEANNE LOUISE LYRA POTTER
AGE: 13 AND 3 WEEKS AND 18 HOURS
BIRTHDATE: JULY 31 1980
SOCIAL STATUS: ANCIENT NOBLE
BLOOD STATUS: HALF-BLOOD- PUREBLOOD FATHER, MAGICAL HUMAN MOTHER
BLOOD TYPE: CONTAMINATED TYPE O- BASILISK VENOM AND PHOENIX TEARS, 2 MONTHS AND A WEEK AGO, CANNOT DONATE BLOOD - RESULT - STRONGEST UNIVERSAL POISON ANTIDOTE IN THE WORLD

'W-whaaaat?!' seven jaws dropped, eyes bulging in shock at the fact.

'H-how?!' Jeanne sputtered to the Goblin.

'That's quite shocking...' the goblin gulped. 'Basilisk Venom is the worst venom in the magical world and its only cure is Phoenix Tears, willingly-given. Because they are some of the world's strongest substances, the tears have effectively neutralized the venom but somehow a mutation happened which never should have happened when normally, phoenix tears would completely cure the victim and that's it.' he said. 'Read on now.'

'O-OK...'

Below the blood type was,

PARENTS: JAMES FLEAMONT POTTER AND LILIAN EVE POTTER NEE EVANS
RELATIONS: FLEAMONT POTTER(DECEASED), EUPHEMIA POTTER(DECEASED), SIRIUS ORION BLACK III(GODFATHER), DISTANT RELATIONSHIP TO EVERY PUREBLOOD IN BRITAIN, HUMAN MATERNAL RELATIVES

'How about this one?' Jeanne pointed at the relations. 'If I had magical relatives, why was I saddled with abusive humans before I got rescued?' She stammered incredulously and boiling angry. 'None of them took me in?! I could have had a normal life!'

'That would be the interesting question.' the teller sported a dark expression. 'As for your relation with other families, its because Purebloods practice intermarriage to keep the bloodline pure when in reality, the idiots are slowly killing themselves off with inbreeding. Not our problem.' he snorted. 'Britain is bordering on ridiculous levels with pureblood mania and so set in their ways when in Italy, there's no purebloods here anymore since ancient nobles recognized the threat of inbreeding a century ago. As for that issue, you must go back to London and meet with your family's manager, and show him your memories. He will then be able to find a way to help you.'

'Oh...can I take the paper with me?' Jeanne asked politely, 'We haven't finished reading it yet but we're pressed for time because I just got out of medical treatment...I need clothes money real bad.'

'Very well. Key please.' Jeanne gave him her key, which he then put into a small cabinet before taking a piece of parchment. 'How much?'

'About 2000 euro's worth of your magical money, converted into euros.' said Luce. 'We'd be buying a whole closet away in the human world.'

'Very well.' upon writing the digits on the paper, put in the cabinet and shut it before giving her a pink piece of parchment that read five. 'Go to the Claiming Counter after five minutes, you'll have your key back and the money.' thanking the goblin, they left to go to an area where they can read the rest of what's on the paper.

After the relations were about her inheritance and she's. fantabulously. wealthy.

She even has a vault she got 'through conquest', the Slytherin Vault.

'Ooh, how about this one?' Lal pointed at the conquest issue.

'Its about two months ago...' Jeanne explained the Chamber of Secrets disaster. 'And since Voldemort proclaimed himself Heir of Slytherin and I defeated him three times now, two of which was a lucky fluke and the third one a real victory I actually worked for that got me mutated in the first place...heh, bastard's dirt-poor now that I got his inheritance.' she giggled. 'To be a fly on the wall when he finds out...' she squealed in dark relish. 'I am sooo claiming it just to spite him!' then she looked somber. 'I need to know everything I want to know about my parents too. Everyone's always tightly clamped its annoying, as if they deliberately will not tell me a thing, like I'm not allowed to know about them! The nerve!' she fumed.

'Well, we'll leave that to Viper.' Luce smiled at Viper. 'When we go to London later, they can get all details we need if you like without your countrymen the wiser.'

'Really?!' Jeanne looked hopeful at Viper.

'Mu. But I'm charging for my services. Always. This'll cost you 5000 euros.'

'Sold!' Jeanne beamed happily. 'Your target is the entire Ministry of Magic, then Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts when we go to London someday.'

When their turn came, they got the needed money and key back, but Viper has a question.

'By the way, what's the Euro Conversion rate of magical money?'

'Oh, 1 Galleon is 5.90, 1 Sickle is 0.34 and 1 Knut is 0.1.'

'...that somehow doesn't match with a Galleon's size and thickness...that could have made more money here.' Viper commented, eyeing the counter that has a goblin counting coins. 'A Galleon would easily sell for three digits of Euros.'

'We goblins know that, but sadly, these wizards do not know economic common sense and decided the conversion rate while wanting how thick they want their coins to look, causing disproportionate exchange rates.' the Claim Teller scowled. 'Muggles are smarter and know the value of gold, they don't! At least muggles pay values properly when they convert their money to gold. Hmph!'

After leaving the bank, they went back to the human side of society for shopping, with Luce and Lal taking care while the men served as guards and of course...

...bag boys.