Disclaimer: I don't own any of this; I'm just playing round in JKR's sandbox… why don't you come join me…

Then, I had a sudden thought. I could tell Harry was thinking along the same line as me. If Carrie was in Italy… with no parents then she must be…

'Carrie, what's your last name?' Harry said, desperation shining though his eyes like a candle in the dark.

She looked up at us, confused for a moment, before widening her eyes and opening her mouth to answer…

CHAPTER 5

'I don't know… Signowina newer tolds me,' Carrie whispered. Dang. But there was another way.

'Hey Teddy, d'you want to jump off and play with Carrie for a bit so I can talk to Uncle Harry?'

'Kay.'

Harry and I spoke for a while, argued, and finally came to an agreement.

'Okay Missy-moo. You're coming with us,' I said, scooping her up.

'Bu-but… Signowina won't yike me being late… I'll get in twouble, Mummy,' she argued, trying to get down and run back to that damn orphanage.

'Carrie, you're never going there again, now come on!' Oh, the pure joy in her eyes. It made me think, even for just a second how Tom Riddle would have turned out in someone had taken him in. Would he too have been loved? Yes. Would he too have finally found his purpose in a life that had so suddenly been stripped away from him by the death of his mother? Yes. Would he have felt the need to become a murderer for the sake of getting revenge, attention? No.

Harry lifted Teddy onto his back and we made our way up the hill to the cottage.

'Mummy?' Carrie called, when I put her down, tears threatening to pour down her face.

'Hey, what's wrong sweetie?' I cooed, kneeling down to be at eye level with her.

'Did you mean it before? When you said I was newer goin' to orfinige 'gain?'

'Yes I did mean it. Never, ever again, sweetie, are you going back.'

'Kay. I stay with you?' she asked, her tiny face brightening up each moment that passed.

'Always. I'm never going to let you go.' I grasped her in my arms.

'Luv you Mummy," she whispered against my chest.

'Love you too, sweetie.' I held her for a moment longer, before reluctantly releasing her and standing up tall, ignoring the creak in my back that told me off for sitting too long, I would have told the nargles to leave me alone had there been any, but unfortunately, there were none to be seen.

'Was it the Wrackspurts?' Harry asked. I turned around in shock.

'I'm sorry?' Did he just say what I thought he did?'

'The wrackspurts, I mean, it obviously wasn't the nargles. I thought I saw a couple in here earlier …' Harry turned bright red under my scrutiny. Truly, in all my life… only my daddy has actually understood. Everyone always thought I was acting 'loony'. I knew there was a good reason I liked, no, loved Harry. And I decided to tell him that, by treating him by running at him, kissing him fully on the mouth. He stood still for a moment, and for a second I thought he was he going to push me away, thankfully he didn't and responded with much enthusiasm I thought he wasn't going to stop. Just before a simple kiss got 'M rated', I pushed away.

'Harry, the kids,' I said, panting. Thankfully, Carrie and Teddy had taken to playing with a few toys that were on the floor. Harry, I think, must have got them out.

I gave him another kiss on the lips, hugged both of the kids goodbye and apparated away with a loud crack, leaving harry to look after two toddlers by himself.

***

When I reappeared, it was in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic. I checked at the Wand Registration desk.

'Cherry and Unicorn tail?' the man asked, I was shocked out of my reverie.

'Sorry?' I asked, he looking sympathetic with me. It was then that I realised who he was, Zacharias Smith. I smothered a laugh; he obviously still thought I was still loony.

'Cherry and Unicorn tail, you know your wand?'

'Yeah, thanks,' I muttered, taking my wand back from his large hands.

Quickly I walked away from him and his evil-like muttering and made my way to the lift. Just as I got out, Kinglsey was about to get in, and managed to stop me for a chat. Damn, I forced another smile and entered his chat with a silly look.

'Hey Luna, how're you going? Not letting me answer, he continued, 'have you, by any chance seen Mr Potter lately?' What a great way to start a conversation, Kingsley. Straight to the top of the class for bluntness.

'No, I'm afraid I haven't, been travelling haven't I. Although, I may have seen him chasing Crumple Horned Snorcacks in, was it Switzerland? Maybe it was Denmark, or Austria. Japan? Australia? India? No, definitely Australia.' Kinglsey muttered a quick 'thanks' and left the vicinity. I grinned to myself, yep, still got it.

When I finally made it to the office I was after, I entered and was ushered in.

'Hi, Mrs Harris, thanks for seeing me.'

'Sure that's fine, what can I help you with,' she asked politely. Hmm, let me think… you work in a magical contracts department… what could I possibly want??? (Note the slight sarcasm…)

'Before I start, can you promise me an privacy oath.' Normally it wasn't necessary, but this time it was.

'I… Okay, sure, as long as it's nothing that could get me in trouble.'

'Oh, it's not, believe me.'

'I, Ann-Marie Mae Harris, swear on my magic to not reveal a word of this conversation to any persons or things. So mote it be.'

'So mote it be,' I agreed.

'Okay, so it's more of a protection, you see, this is sorta on behalf of Harry Potter.' At that, her eyes widened and she cast numerous locks on both the doors and various repelling charms. I cast muffliato as well, just in case. She stared at me curiously, so I shrugged. 'Anyway, we both were wondering if you could have the paperwork for all three, no four items ready for pick up and signing by tomorrow at noon?'

'That's fine, just bring Harry along, disguised – glamoured or polyjuice, either way and we'll sort it out for you.'

'Thanks so much Annie, I knew I could count on you!' I hugged her, letting go of formalities and went ahead bring down the protective spells on the room. Another hug and I was skipping down the hall, preparing for the slightly, maybe, torturous meeting ahead of me.

***

With a deep breath, I looked up at the ridiculously large door knocker and knocked twice. Sure, I'd been here before, but it wasn't as scary that time. A few moments later a young girl opened the door and looked up at me.

'Hi, I've got an appointment with …' I faltered, of course I had no idea who worked at this place, and I sure as hell didn't want to speak with Signorina Giovanna.

'Is it with Annarita?' the girl asked. I nodded in relief.

'Yes, it is.' I followed her into the hall, finally getting a proper look at Carrie's 'home'. From the looks of the other children, they weren't treated as badly as Carrie, it seemed she was the only one the people here were harsh too. Further proof in my opinion, that wasn't very fair at all.

'Hi, I'm here to enquire about a girl who lives here. Her name's Carrie.' The lady in the office that I'd just entered looked up at me, shock in her eyes.

'I'm not 'lowed ter give …' she said, her eyes looking to the floor.

I sighed and tossed her a bag of converted galleons. 'Now?' Her face brightened when she looked inside and saw the Muggle money.

'I-sure! What do you want ter know?' she said brightly.

'How did she come to be here? Firstly.'

'That's quite the story. I think it was… August, 1995. You see, my mama owns this place, you might know her, name's Giovanna?' My hands clenched into small fists in my lap, but I retained a smile, a tight one though.

'Yeah I've heard of her…' I muttered.

'Well anyways, she 'ad to leave one night, and left me in charge. See, I was just about to go to school, so I wasn't that 'appy 'bout it, but worked the night. Then this girl came in. She was only 'bout a year older than meself, but she was massive! Pregnant at seventeen, mama would have been 'orrified. So I let 'er in, and she 'ad the baby and left.'

'Did she say anything about the father?' I asked, keeping my face straight.

'Well yeah, sure she did. Right nasty bugger she said 'e was. Knocked her up las' Christmas, down at the local pub. Murd'rer he claimed to be. Called 'imself…'

A/N: Cheese and whiskers!

Smiley faces for you all… I know you all hate me after that last cliffy, so I give you another. Aren't I a kind author :) … But fear not, my friends! Updates are gonna be rather regular-ish from now on. (I have two months of NO school! YIPEE!) Come on, you can't say that you've been waiting long, it's been … less than two days since the last one.

So really, here's the big one hundred million dollar question… Who's the father?

Here's a hint… one of my dear reviewers NEARLY hit the nail on the head… his name was David… (the reviewers name that is…) Go on guys… tell me who it is :)

Another one… just cos I know you lot'll kill me… reread that last line :)

Don't forget to review!

Toodles!

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