Building Bridges was inspired by the end of the Hogwarts year, everyone getting along with no barriers after the war. Several of the important people that were killed are not killed. The one that died is Dumbledore. That's it.

Snape stalked up to Headmistress Minerva's office with a scowl. She'd sent her patronus with a message to meet him in her office about an orphan witch that would prove problematic. He said the password, watched the repaired gargoyle leap aside, and entered angrily. He sat down, forcing himself to not scream at his colleauge. She looked tired, which was enough to make him calm down. "What did you call me for?" He growled.

"We have a slight situation involving one of the possible students. Her name is Charlie, I know that much, but she is in a very bad situation right now."

"What kind of a bad situation?" Severus narrowed his eyes.

"It makes Potter's look like Heaven. She's almost kicked out of there. Do what you must to get her to a better place." At Snape's look of 'No, you are out of your mind you insane woman!', she smiled slightly. "She has more of a Slytherin quality than I have ever observed in a ten-year-old child."

"So you want me to convince them to treat her better?"

"Do what you must." She replied, dismissing him.

Snape blinked in well-hidden surprise at how well-maintained the orphanage was. It looked like the place you'd expect to find children. He let himself in, and entered a small room with a few potted plants and chairs. There was a desk in one corner, shiny and dark, with a rather strict-seeming woman sitting behind it, filling out paperwork. She glanced up when he entered, and then capped her pen. "What do you need?" She asked in a monotone voice.

"I'm here about a child called Charlie." He said, and her eyes suddenly hardened into hatred.

"Come along, then." She said stiffly, and stood up before walking, in a forced manner, to a room and opened the door. He knew then and there he had to get her out by just how disgusting this excuse of a room was. The books on a dilapidated old bookshelf were damaged well beyond repair. The excuse of a fireplace hadn't been used in years. Infact, the entire room looked like it may collapse. Sitting on a literal bale of hay was a girl with dark red hair, like someone mixed brown and red together poorly, clutching a worn-out stuffed dog to her chest. He couldn't see her face, as she had her face nuzzled in it. The woman snapped the door shut behind him, and she raised her head to reveal startling, bright silver eyes. Her clothes looked two sizes too small, and he couldn't help but wonder if the other children had suffered the same treatment. Snape walked over, and she shrunk slightly, but was obviously surprised when he just knelt in front of her.

"You are Charlie?" She nodded.

"Why is she so mean to you?" He asked, and was confused when she shrugged.

"I'm going to have a talk with her, will you be all right?" She shook her head rapidly, and motioned to the door and how the lock was broken. He grew furious as she mimicked being beaten up, and then laughter. "Come." He hissed, and she nodded rapidly before following him. He stalked to the front, and wasn't surprised when she hid behind him.

"You done with what you needed to get done?" The woman asked.

"Not quite. I'd like to adopt her." He said, and was completely unsurprised by her reaction.

"Why do you want to adopt that little freak?! She refuses to even talk to us!" Her eyes widened as he slammed a hand down on her desk, startling both.

"She is not a freak. And my reasons are none of your concern. Hand over her papers. Now." He hissed, his eyes narrowing. She oblidged, and he paused as the last name box. "What is her last name?"

"Crowe. She's Charlie Crowe."