Chapter 11

Eventually the adults paired up to continue the search. Diane stayed at home with one of the officers in case Allestra returned, Allen went with Hermione's dad, the remaining policemen looked together, and Dumbledore and Mcgonnagal joined up. Snape had hailed the Knight Bus and when he found she wasn't on board he decided to stay with them for a bit to see if she would. Allen and Hermione's dad went to the area around the pharmacy while Dumbledore and Mcgonnagal headed in the other direction.

It was the two Professors that ended up at the park, but at first it did not occur to them to check the play house. Saharia heard the voices outside and took the chance of leaving her master to see if it was someone who could help. Upon seeing such a large snake Muggles would have run away so when these two people stayed, Saharia knew they were different. She slithered in a circle around them before heading back to the child, hoping the rescuers would follow her. Dumbledore recognized the child's pet and followed immediately. Being smaller than the Head Master, Professor Mcgonnagal was the one to crawl onto the jungle gym and find the shaking bundle. Dumbledore stood nearby to help maneuver the sleeping child out and wrap her in one of their cloaks. They instantly rushed back to the house wishing they could Apparate, but they couldn't risk it in the Muggle neighborhood. Mcgonnagal carried the Allestra trying to hold her as close to her body as possible.

Once through the door they were instantly greeted by Diane and the police officer. The officer left to gather the others while Diane took Allestra to her bed and assess her health. The four year old had a temperature of 104 degrees and her breathing was shallow. Diane was beyond worried and it didn't get any better when Allen got home. Hermione's dad went back to his home to let his family know Allestra was found. Allen wasted no time confronting Diane with the additional trouble the girl had caused, and insisted they send Alli away. Diane was finally ready to stand up to her husband and get her way.

"You have a choice Allen. Alli did not choose to be this way, it was forced upon her. Giving her up because things have gotten harder would just mess her up more. Now she is staying with me, whether you are going to help me or not, is up to you. If you decide not to be a part of her life than pack your things and get out." Diane had expected her husband to give in and support her; she was surprised when Allen immediately grabbed his suitcase. Diane left him in the room and rejoined the group.

Allen had nothing more to say and knew his wife was serious, and next time they saw him he had a case in each hand. He simply looked in at all the people gathered around the child's bed and walked off; the last thing they heard from him was the door closing behind him.

Dumbledore called for Madame Pomfrey, Hogwarts' nurse, to bring medicine. Without question she appeared and gave the vile of medicine to the Head Master who administered it to the distressed child. It took a few moments for the medicine to take affect and color to return to Allestra face but her fever only dropped to 101 degrees. Madame Pomfrey was dumbstruck, that concoction had always worked on the students and there should be no reason it wouldn't work on this youth.

"This child was near death. Why was I summoned instead of taking her to the hospital?" Madame Pomfrey inquired.

"That is not for you to be concerned about at this time. All you need to know is that she is a special witch and we couldn't take her to a hospital." Dumbledore explained.

"Very well, I assumed she was powerful when the potion was unable to take full affect, but it brought her back to a manageable temperature and she is no longer on the brink of death. If you no longer require my services here, I have a student heeling from a Quidditch injury." Dumbledore nodded and Madame Pomfrey departed.

Diane stayed next to Allestra bed and didn't even look away from her when she asked, "Where do we go from here Professor?"

Dumbledore came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Do you think she is old enough to understand why she is special and what obstacles she should be prepared to face in her future?"

"She is advanced for her age and I think she'd understand, but even so that is still a lot for a four year old to handle."

"I know but I believe it needs to be done. After our Christmas break, Alli will visit Hogwarts for only two weeks and her education will begin. Severus, since she feels comfortable with you, I ask that you take the role of her guardian while she is at the school and of course Minerva will assist you."

Both teachers bobbed their heads in compliance but Mcgonnagal seemed more enthusiastic about the task than Snape. The three Professors remained with Diane that night, taking turns checking in on the child to assess her health. When morning arrived Allestra's temperature had only dropped a degree, but with the school preparing for the break, test where scheduled and the teachers had to return to Hogwarts accompanied by Dumbledore, who had his own work to complete.

Diane carried Allestra downstairs and put her on the couch so she could watch over her while she worked around the house. Allestra only woke up for short spurts that day, but her fever dropped little by little. By the next morning it was back to normal but she was weak. Diane noticed something troubling her daughter when she brought her breakfast in bed.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" She asked as she placed the tray of toast and tea across the little girls lap.

"Alright, Mommy, where's Daddy? Why didn't he kiss me good morning before he went to work like he always does?"

"Well you see Daddy and I had a disagreement the other night, and he decided it was best if he spent some time by himself."

Allestra lowered her head and mumbled something that Diane couldn't quite understand.

"What did you say hun?"

Sighing and raising her head Allestra reiterated "I guess I'm not supposed to have a Daddy. I've lost two already."

"It has nothing to do with you Alli. All of them just didn't deserve a wonderful girl like you. Now eat something and get some rest, we need to get your strength back. Oh and then we will have to talk about you running away. You're not off the hook for that and I'm not happy about it."

"Ok Mummy, I figured I'd be in some trouble."

Allestra took a few bits of her toast and drank half the tea before saying she was done. Diane was tidying up her room and knew she wouldn't get her to eat anymore. Before she took the tray away she tucked Alli under the covers, she knew her daughter didn't want her to see but Diane caught a stray tear hitting the girl's pillow.

Back in the kitchen Diane was cleaning the dishes when Hermione came to the door with her mother.

"Hey neighbors what can I do for you?"

"My husband assured us that Alli was back home, but Hermione wanted to see for herself."

"Well Alli is home but she isn't feeling well and needs her rest, but she'll be able to come out and play in the next few days."

Hermione wasn't happy that her best friend was sick and pouted on the steps waiting for her mother.

"Also I was going to come over the other night to see if I could help, but I saw Allen leaving with his bags. Is everything alright?"

"I'm afraid not, Allen wasn't ready for the baggage that came along with adopting a child who came out of a troubled family. He decided to leave us."

"Oh I'm so sorry Diane, if there is anything you need just let me know."

"Thank you, but he made his choice and he would only make things worse for Alli if that is how he truly felt."

Diane hugged her neighbor and watched them return to their home. When she turned she found Allestra standing a few feet away.

"Alli, you shouldn't be out of bed. Look you can barely stand, you are still too weak" Diane picked her up.

"Are you really sending me away Mummy?"

"What?" Diane sat down on the couch with Allestra on her lap.

"I heard you with Daddy before I ran away, and then I woke up a bit after they brought me home and thought I heard that I had to go somewhere."

"Yes you did hear that, but it's not what you think. You're not being sent to be with your other mother. You are actually going to visit your Uncle Severus at the school he teaches at. And it's only going to be for two weeks, then you'll be coming right back here. I want you to know I will never let them take you away from me."

"Why do I have to go to the school?"

"Because you know you have special abilities and your Uncle and Professor Dumbledore want to help you learn to control them."

"Is this because of what I did a couple nights ago, because I didn't mean to do it and I didn't want to do it."

Diane could hear the hysteria in her daughter's voice, "I know you didn't mean for it to happen but that's why you must learn to control it, and then those things won't happen again."

"So you're not getting rid of me?"

"Never my darling; and you won't be going to this school for a bit yet so we have Christmas and New Years together so let's get you back to bed so you are all healthy and can have fun."

The two made the most of their time together playing in the snow, drinking hot chocolate, and opening presents on Christmas morning. Diane noticed that Allestra's nightmares had diminished and now she was also dreaming about things that made her happy. However, the terrors where not gone all together, but they were not every night.

Allestra also spent more time with Hermione, and the Gangers joined them for Christmas and New Year's dinner. But the day came when Allestra was scheduled to travel to Hogwarts for two weeks. As Diane helped her put her bags in the car, Hermione came running out of her house.

"Alli, where are you going?"

"I have to go to a school for the next two weeks. It's going to be the school I go to when I get old enough."

"Can I go to it too?"

"No, not when I start going there, but you'll go there when we're older, like grown-ups."

"Really? But why do I have to wait?" Hearing that she would eventually be allowed at Alli's school excited her but it also confused her.

"Because it's not your time yet, but we'll have fun when you do get there."

The two girls embraced and said good bye, they had gotten into the habit of referring to each other as 'sister', which only made the departure harder. As Alli got into the car she waved to her sister till she was out of sight, then she sat back and felt a nervous twinge in her stomach. Diane held Alli till they got to the train station, where they were greeted by Severus Snape who would finish the journey with Alli. Even though she liked Uncle Sevy, she didn't want to leave Diane and it took several minutes to convince Alli to let go of her mother. As she got on the train with her uncle right next to her, Alli could see her mother through the window, and continued to stare in that direction long after the train left the platform. Allestra wished she hadn't left the moment the train started moving but there was nothing she could do now; she wouldn't see her mom for the next fourteen days.