The night was cold and there was a sense that something had recently occurred that was tragic. The rain that was pelting on the dark still buildings and the street wasn't helping much to discourage the feeling. The buildings on this dark street were small and weather beaten. It was late that night so one would have expected all the windows to be dark and the street to be still, but down near the end of the road a house even smaller than the others stood.
Its lights glared through the darkness in a rather defiant way. If one was to come in and look through the windows they would find that not only were the windows filthy but the inside wasn't much better. There were books everywhere and papers strewed about and dishes in the oddest of places. If it wasn't for the young man in the corner, you would hardly believe anyone could live in such conditions.
The man was young probably in his early twenties. He was sitting in a wing backed chair facing the window reading. He had no idea what was about to occur on his quiet street. The rain began to pound harder and lightning started flashing across the sky and for the first time in the past couple of hours the man looked up from his book and out the window. His face was pale and gaunt with a hooked like nose and narrow black eyes. His hair was almost to his shoulders and a sleek black in color.
He was just about to go back to his book when a new sound caught his ears. Over the racket that the storm was making this new sound was faint but defiantly close. He came again and the man put his book down and slowly walked towards the door; one of his hands slid into the pocket of the coat he was wearing. He approached the door and opened it just a crack. There was a man on the other side.
"Severus, can I come in?" the man shouted over the storm. Severus stepped aside and let the man in. The man was rather old and graying, but in his eyes was a youthful light. The man appeared to be carrying something wrapped in a deep purple. "Well what brings you here Dumbledore?" Severus asked as the old man stepped into the hall and Severus shut the door. "Well I was wondering if you could take a look at something for me." Dumbledore replied. Severus' eyes moved towards the bundle in Dumbledore's arms, he noticed for the first time that it was moving slightly.
"What is that?" Severus asked pointing to the bundle. Dumbledore just smiled and asked if he could put it down somewhere soft. Severus nodded and led Dumbledore to a small room with a bed shoved in one corner. Dumbledore put the bundle down and turned back to Severus, "Well I see we've let ourselves go slightly." Severus glared at him, "I thought you came for my help not to critique my cleaning." Dumbledore smiled and sat down beside the bundle and waved Severus over.
When Severus was close enough, Dumbledore started to undo the bundle. As different pieces of the materiel were pulled Severus noticed they were covered in blood. When the bundle was finally totally unwrapped, Severus stepped back a look of horror on his face. In the materiel lay a small child, but it was hardly recognizable as such. She was covered in blood and looked like something had tried to tear her apart, but even through that he could tell that she was still alive.
"I just came from her house. Her parents are dead, and if I'm not much mistaken I think she witnessed it all." Dumbledore said gently reaching his hand out to the girl. She didn't move. "What do you want me to do? I'm not a doctor, Dumbledore, my skill is potions." Severus asked. "Well she is your niece; I figured you could help her." Severus' eyes got larger, but Dumbledore continued. "I'm sure she isn't as bad as she looks once you clean her up. I hear she is a rather nice little girl."
With that Dumbledore rose from his seat and made for the door, but Severus stepped in front. "My what? You better explain Dumbledore. Besides, you can't seriously think leaving her here is a good idea." He said holding up a hand to stop the old man from leaving. "She is your brother's daughter. Listen to me Severus, she needs a home and you're the last of her family. Humor me just for a couple of months that should be enough time to get her back on her feet and if you still feel the way you do now I'll relocate her." Severus knew he couldn't argue, but he didn't struggle to hide his dislike for Dumbledore's plan.
Once Dumbledore was safely out the door Severus returned to the girl. "Well might as well bandage you up, I guess." He said the girl's motionless body with a look of great disgust on his face. He took off his coat revealing how thin of a man he was and picked the girl up. She was incredibly light as he carried her off to the bathroom.
Once she was all cleaned up she was rather cute. Her skin was porcelain white against her black hair, but where once her skin was perfect was now covered in large gashes and bite marks. Severus got the feeling that Dumbledore hadn't told him the whole story of his brother's death. He had bandaged her up and laid her down on the small couch in the living room (he of course had to uncover it first).
Severus sat down in the chair opposite her and stared down at her. His brother had never told him about even getting married let alone having a child, but then again in his family they rarely ever spoke and then after his parents deaths and his joining the death eaters their relationship vanished. This little girl, however, seemed so different from the rest of the family. He sat there and watched her sleep until he himself fell into a deep slumber.