A/N Okay, so I should really be updating my other stories, but I think that I'm going to give up on one and I still need one more review for the other. Anyway, my inspiration for this fic was a story I read a long time ago that I can't remember the name of or the author of – so if anyone can tell me... And also, I sorta need a BETA. If anyone could spare some time to BETA my next chapter, please leave a review. Or just leave a review for the sake of it!
Disclaimer: not mine, probably never will be...
"What'cha doing Harry?" mumbled a very tired looking Ron Weasley and he entered the kitchen of GrimauldPlace.
"Reading the Daily Prophet?" Harry replied, setting down the newspaper with a slight smirk on his face at the sight of Ron's appearance. He knew that Ron was definitely not a morning person; spending months sharing a tent with him had given Harry that impression, but it was ten o'clock in the morning! "There's bread in the cupboard if you want toast." Harry added as he picked up the wizarding paper again and continued to read. After about a minute, during which Ron had made, buttered, jammed and started to eat his toast.
"Whe 'ermnonne go'?" started Ron, but at Harry confused look, he swallowed and repeated, "Where's Hermione gone?"
"She went upstairs about an hour ago to have a shower, and then I think that she was going to write to her parents." Although Hermione and Ron had found her parents more than three years ago, she was constantly worrying about and made a habit of writing to them every other day. Ron nodded with understanding and then looked towards the ceiling as they both heard a creak of the floorboards overhead, signalling Hermione's movement.
Just as Harry was about to finish the article he was reading, Hermione entered the room, a bright smile plastered to her face.
"They're fine. My parents, they're fine!" Almost immediately Ron was by her side, giving her his usual 'Good Morning Kiss'. After about thirty seconds, Harry had had enough. He cleared his throat, but with an amused look on his face. When he was quite sure that they had stopped, he turned the page of his paper and started to read another piece. When he reached about the middle, he sensed Hermione just behind him, peering over his shoulder, reading too. She still finished just before him and waited to see his view.
"What's going on then?" asked Ron, a curious but slightly worried look on his face.
"Death Eaters," Harry replied, with an uncharacteristic sour expression, "who else would it be?" he added with glare. Ron held his hands up in surrender.
"Alright, calm down. I was only asking!"
"Harry," Hermione started with a quick glance to the headline – which read 'Five Orphans Found on the Streets of Muggle London' – before continuing quickly, "Harry, there must be something that we can do."
"Okay, forgive me for asking, but What The Bloody Hell Is In That Paper? First Harry goes all evil looking, sorry mate, and then Hermione going all teary eyed..." he was cut off by Harry chucking him the paper.
"Page three," Harry told him. Ron had a quick look at the article, and then turned the page.
"It would be quicker if you just told me..." At Hermione's glare, he added, "Not because I'm lazy, but you know, because it's THREE pages long and you know that I don't read very fast."
"This article in particular is about five newly orphaned children, aged six, nine, eleven, twelve and fourteen who were found by aurors yesterday, hiding on the streets of London. Their parents were killed by death eaters in an attack last week. This isn't the first article with this type of story." She turned to Harry and then continued, "I was just thinking that there must be care homes or something for them to go to, but it hasn't mentioned them in any of the articles that I've read. I thought that maybe we could, I don't know, talk to Kingsley and see if there's anything that we could do..."
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The good thing about being the saviour of the wizarding world, Harry decided, was that even on a Saturday afternoon he could walk into the Ministry of Magic and see the Minister without an appointment. The bad thing, however, was that he couldn't walk up to the Minister's Office without turning the head of every employee or visitor that he passed. He couldn't help but compare it to his years at Hogwarts. After what felt like hours of embarrassment, although it was probably only a number of minutes in reality, he arrived at Kingsley's office. Kingsley had been Acting Minister for three months after the final battle, but had soon become Minister for Magic of his own accord. Harry knocked twice on the door and heard a deep,
"Enter." Harry then greeted the man as an old friend, and after exchanging pleasantries, heard,
"So, why are you here? Not that it's not nice to have a chat, but I'm assuming that you had a reason for coming. I thought that it might be something to do with the Death Eater attack, but that was last week..." Harry cut him off saying,
"It does, in a way, but it has more to do with the report on those children. First, though, where are they at the moment?"
"They're at St. Mungo's," Kingsley said, sounding slightly confused, "but they can't stay there for much longer. But what does any of this have to do with you? I understand that you're concerned, but..." Once again Harry him off,
"Hermione and I had the idea of founding a children's home. If there is already one in existence, then I will leave here with nothing changed, but if there isn't, I would be in your debt if you could allow us to found one."
"Harry, I'm not saying that I disagree with your suggestion, but there are hundreds of children who are orphans. How are you going to care for that many people?"
"We had the idea of just opening it to children affected by the war initially. Including muggleborns."
"Look, Harry, I can't just say yes, or no for that matter, straight away. It will take at least a couple of days to go through all the formalities even without having to get people's permission."
"If you could let me know your decision by next Sunday, I would be grateful."Harry said, relief clear on his face. "Don't get up Kingsley, I'll show myself out. And thank you."