Finding Elinor

Chapter 1 - Epiphany

It was snowing extremely hard in St Petersburg. Percy Weasley pulled his heavy coat tighter against him and wished he could just mutter a warming charm. Unfortunately he was in the middle of a muggle district and he could not risk being seen, even here. This was the price of stupidity he reflected. He had been posted to the Ministries Embassy in Russia as punishment for his extremely vocal support of the last Minister of Magic. His career was in tatters and to make matters worse he had not spoken to his family since the previous Christmas. And it was all his own fault. He missed them all, his father, quiet and steadfast, his mother, loving and supportive, he even missed Fred and George.

At first he had loved the independence and the freedom, not being the middle child anymore but now his flat was too quiet, he had broken up with Penny over the Fudge debacle, he was lonely and to make matters worse he was in bloody Russia. His parents were busy with the Order. He shook the snow out of his red hair in frustration, he wanted to help now he had seen for himself Voldemort was back but he was at a loss how to. He knew he would have a long way to go to be trusted after the events of last year. It was a problem he had been pondering for a few weeks now but so far he had no idea how to prove his loyalty. He did know if he was to have a chance to reconcile with his family he had to atone for his actions in some way.

Russia had given him distance, perspective and time to think. It was only him, the ambassador and a pretty young witch the same age as him in the office, mainly dealing with Visa applications and the like. Today the Ambassador had been unable to attend to his duties so Rachel and he had flipped a galleon for the chance to get out of the office. He had won which was why he was presently standing in a dilapidated St Petersburg Community Care Home for Children. Percy had gathered from the invitation sent to the ambassadors' office that there the care home was roughly half muggle, half squibs abandoned or mistreated by their families. It was awful really, he reflected that his parents would have loved him even if he had not been able to so much as levitate a feather. It was rather painful at the moment to be in such a place, a veritable monument to fractured families. To think he had done so to his own family was an unspeakable feeling. He silently vowed again to put it right and turned back to the tour They were meeting two older children from the home who were very well presented and were telling those on the tour how the home had helped them so much they were hoping to go to university in a few years time. One of them wanted to be a doctor. Percy was impressed with them although he doubted they were typical of the residents.

He noticed there was a dark-haired teenage girl, dressed neatly cleaning the window. He asked the Government tour guide in English what she was doing and he responded that the children were all given chores to do about the home just as they would be if they lived with their parents. The guide moved on and the dark haired girl snorted at his comment. She obviously understood English, although Percy had found that was not unusual in most countries in Europe.

"You disagree? He asked her, thinking she could give him a more realistic view of life in the home for his report.

"Very much" She replied.

Percy was startled to find she had an obviously British accent.

"You are English?"

"I was born in a hospital in London, Both my parents were British, listen I shouldn't be here, I want to go back to England, I have to find my father, Can you help me? Whenever I ask them they just say my application is within the system. I've been here 8 years. I've tried to escape but… they always find me." She trailed off.

"What's your name and your father's name? I may be able to help you."

Percy was suddenly wide awake. Here he had a chance to help someone, to make a difference in this godforsaken place; even if it was to a muggle girl he had never met before.

She hesitated.

"My name is Elinor Evans, but I've been told it's a common name and I don't know my mother or my dad's name. He had a strange first name though, maybe that could help. After all, how many Kynaston's could there be in Britain? He was a teacher. He worked for an old man with a beard, his name was um…. Bumble Bee? Oh I'm sorry I don't remember, I haven't seen him since I was 6. I…"

"Wait a minute!" Percy interjected in shock and disbelief, "The old man's name, it wasn't Dumbledore was it? He was my old Headmaster", He blurted out, reasoning if she didn't know about magic the name wouldn't mean anything special to her.

She stared at him

"You're not a muggle?

"Certainly not." He rubbed his hands together with to warm them. It was freezing in the corridor, even though he had left his warm coat on.

"Now, if you are magical then you certainly shouldn't be here.

No, no, no, this will not do, especially if you are the daughter of a Hogwarts Professor. All British magical children in Russia whether they have parents here or not are under the protection of the magical embassy. You should have been taken back to Britain, not left here. I assume your mother is dead?"

Elinor looked at him wildly as if she was about to laugh. All this time, pain and effort and her problems had been solved by one chance meeting.

"Yes she died when I was 8 years old. I've been here for 8 years. I think my father believes I'm dead. I think otherwise he would have come looking for me. I know he would have."

The burly government tour guide who Percy had asked a question of earlier strode up to him, looking annoyed.

"You seem to have lost the tour, Sir. May I escort you back?" Despite his polite words his tone was distinctly unfriendly.

"No." Percy replied in his best official voice. "Elinor is a British citizen, should not be here and as a representative of Her Majesty's government I demand you release her into the British Embassy's care immediately."

Elinor smirked at the guide's stunned expression. He paused.

"This is not my jurisdiction sir. I will fetch one of the community carers. They can help you" The guide walked off briskly.

Elinor turned to Percy, her blue eyes shining with happiness.

"Thank you."

Percy smiled at her, a genuine smile which broke through his features and lit up his face with warmth. He had not understood Penny when she had talked of the feeling of fulfillment she got from helping others in her job as a healer. He had definitely not come across the feeling during his employment as assistant to Fudge or even Crouch before that. He had not expected to find it in the depths of a foreign country. He realised he had been stupid and now he would take his punishment like a man, make the best of it and use his time in Russia to help people however he could. It didn't matter if he didn't get the glory like the Aurors or like Ron's friend Harry did. This was his atonement and he was going to face it as best he could.

A/N. I have had this fic knocking about on my computer for years. This was actually the first fic I started and was suitably awful. I've gone back and overhauled it and I now feel I can post it without feeling like an idiot. I'm aware that there is less of an audience for HP fics than there once was but I'm mostly posting it for my own enjoyment and because I am avoiding writing my dissertation! Please let me know what you think if you read this. The grammar is mostly self-taught from things I've read so any tips would be welcome. (I swear I must have missed the whole now we will teach you grammar thing in school!)

Review! Please?!