New chapter again!

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Chapter 26: And the walls kept tumbling down in the city that we loved

End of June, 1976. . . .

'The day was chilly for being summer', Lyanna thought as she stepped on the bus from Kings Cross station that would take her to the orphanage.

The sky was cloudy and it looked like it could be rain. A bad omen perhaps? Lyanna thought it would be fun to see the people from the orphanage, but besides that she didn't feel too happy about the summer. It would soon be a year since Samuel had died and the thought made her throat dry. Plus she couldn't stop thinking about the scene that had played out after the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam. Lily hadn't been too thrilled to hear about what she had done, but all her friends had found some new respect for Lyanna after that. Lyanna herself felt uncomfortable and sad about it all when her anger had started to disappear. She could have said so much else and those thoughts kept her awake during a long time at night.

She hadn't talked with none of the four Gryffindor boys since then – or the Marauders as they decided to call each other after the spring break – and she had tried to at least seek Remus out, but he had been avoiding her. The thought made her sad. It had all gone wrong.

As she sat down in a seat, struggling with her empty owl cage – Shakespeare was out hunting – and trunk, she wondered why she even dwelled on this so much. It wasn't like her. Lyanna Riddle never thought too much of things because then it all go complicated and she would lose her sanity. Which she already thought she was doing, nearing the boarder to craziness by each passing time she was thinking of the scene she had caused or helped cause.

'Just stop it, alright', she said to herself and made herself as comfortable as she could with her big luggage. 'You're on a break, act like it.'

She leaned her head on the cool window and looked out over London as she passed all the different streets, shops and people. Her town, welcoming her home.

A fire engine hurried pass the bus as far as it could, forcing people and cars on the streets to change direction. Another one followed it, holding equal speed. Lyanna wondered what had happened now. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs.

"Oh my, what do you believe has happened now?" an elderly lady in the seat behind Lyanna asked her friend. "Another incident?"

"I fear you might be right, Enid", the other woman answered gravely. "What will become of the country? It's almost like we're being manipulated from the inside."

"Do you think it might be the Germans? I remember. . . ."

Lyanna stopped listening at that point, not wanting to hear about the World War Two as she had her own war to think of. The wizarding war.

Suddenly the bus had to stop. The passengers muttered to each other and craned their necks, trying to see why they stopped.

"Sir", a woman who travelled with her five year old son spoke up. "Why are we stopping?"

"I'm afraid that we can't get through", the chauffeur spoke clearly over the buzzing of voices. "Something has happened further down the street, you can see that the road is blocked."

It was true: a great line of cars were standing in front of the bus, honking and with owners complaining to the police officers that were walking down the line, probably explaining the situation.

"Don't worry", the bus driver continued, his deep voice ringing out in the bus, making Lyanna think of coffee for some strange reason. "I'm sure there isn't something dangerous. I'll go out and speak with the officers. Everyone, please stay here and remain calm."

He left the bus and the talking erupted once more.

"What do you suppose. . . ."

"Fire engines driving by. . . ."

"The Germans is surely striking. . . ."

"Oh, I'm going to be late. . . ."

Lyanna tried to block them out and wished she could have had Shakespeare with her. It would have been less lonely.

She stared out of the window, watching the bus driver speak with a police. They looked to be in an argument. She looked away and then glanced around the bus and tried to figure all these people out:

A snobbish looking man staring at his watch – working in an office, probably a bachelor because he looked like he hadn't got time for a relationship.

The tired looking woman and her son – she was young, perhaps had gotten pregnant early and the father of the child had left her. It wouldn't be the first time something like that happened.

Two elderly women – grey haired, wrinkled, seemed to live for gossip and complaints on how the world was better, or worse, when they were younger.

She saw more people: a group of lazy teenagers, a fat man panting from just sitting up straight, a sad looking man staring out of the window seeming to wish to never have been born and some people that looked generally normal but who knew, they might have some dark secrets as well.

Lyanna snapped out of her staring when the chauffeur came back. He looked shaken and his face was colorless.

"This can take a while", he said in a sorrowful voice and sat down behind the steering wheel. "Please wait or leave the bus and continue on foot. The street will be closed off for today."

Curious and angry whispers broke out. The man that looked like an office rat stood up from his seat.

"What's going on out there, sir? I have a meeting to attend to and I would like to know how I will explain myself to my boss", he said irritated and glanced once more at his watch.

The bus driver took a deep breath.

"A few blocks from here a fire has started", he explained and someone gasped and whispers broke out once more.

Lyanna twitched, not liking the sound of that at all. She closed her eyes, trying not to imagine the flames in her mind. The bus driver wasn't finished:

"Yes it's quite dangerous to continue and what's worse. . . . it's an orphanage that is on fire."

Lyanna opened her eyes immediately. A shocked yelp came from someone sitting in the back of the bus and the woman with her son hugged him tightly. Even the office man looked uneasy.

"Oh my, are they alright?" one of the old ladies asked the chauffeur in a raspy, concerned voice.

"They're trying to evacuate now", the chauffeur explained. "But it's not looking well."

"Oh dear, what will the world come too if they're attacking the children, the innocent. . . ."

A throaty laugh cuts through the nervous talking and it dies out. Lyanna doesn't seem to realize that she's laughing.

"Do you think this is amusing?" a woman asks shrilly, looking disgusted. "Children will probably die and here you sit alive. Show some respect!"

"I'm not sitting, I'm leaving", Lyanna said between laughter and dragged her trunk to the exit.

They all look at her weirdly and with disgust.

"Kids these days. . . .", the office man said disapprovingly.

Lyanna turned around, her mouth smiling but tears falling down her pale cheeks.

"I'm laughing 'cause I live there", she told the people in the bus for no particular reason. "And because I live when they probably won't. Isn't it just so fantastically unfair?"

She laughed again, hysterical and breathlessly. The bus driver tried to make her stay inside the bus, but Lyanna managed to get away. She followed the crowd of people who wanted to see the burning building. The closer she got, the hotter the air seemed to be, more voices were heard, sirens were shouting in a deafening way and when she was only a few minutes away from the orphanage, she could hear the screams: like wild animals trapped in a cage. Screams of anguish, knowing they would die, but couldn't accept it. Screams of children, screams of adults. No matter which age, they sounded the same: torn, frightened, painful, roaring, begging, crying. . . . Lyanna couldn't see the building, just the fire in a distance and the screams of the ones she called family.

"I'm okay", she said over and over again under her breath. "I'm okay."

Tears blurred her vision, the heat made her ill and no matter what she did she could hear the screams, but slowly they faded away.

"I'm okay, I'm okay."

She turned around, pushed herself through the crowd.

"I'm okay, I'm okay."

She moved away from the fire, from the screams that would haunt her dreams.

"I'm. . . . No, I'm not okay. How can I be when they're not?"

. . . .

Lyanna dragged her trunk and empty owl cage like a zombie to The Leaky Cauldron. She didn't know where else to go. She opened the door mechanically and went in. The pub was almost empty, just some wizards and what looked like a mixture between a troll and a man, discussing what Lyanna thought was the attack on the orphanage. Her throat hurt.

"Miss Lyanna", Tom said merrily to her, but his smile faded when he saw her tearstained face and red eyes. "How are you feeling? What's happened?"

"I feel a bit emotional unstable, Tom", she said in a strong voice that didn't go well with her expression. "Can I please borrow your floo? It's very important. My home has just been attacked and I'm the only survivor that I know of. Please."

Tom looked shocked and dropped the glass he was holding. The sound put an end to the wizards and the half-troll's conversation. They looked over to Lyanna and Tom. Lyanna dried her tears away with her sleeve and looked at Tom with sad and distraught eyes. He hurried behind the bar and got some sparkling green floo powder.

"Here you go, my dear. The fireplace is over there", he gestured to a place between two windows. "Take your time and tell me when you're done. Or are you going somewhere?"

"No, I have no place to go", she said softly and accepted the powder. "Thank you."

"No problem and I'm so sorry", he told her sincerely, but looking shocked and doubting.

Lyanna walked over to the fireplace, put her things down and threw the powder into the fireplace. Flames in the same color as the powder appeared and Lyanna backed away. Her heart raced and her pulse quickened. She had to do it; she had no one else to turn to. She trusted her, because she had been the only one from the wizarding world who had seen how she had lived, who had met her 'family'. With a sickness in her stomach, she leaned forwards and spoke:

"Minerva McGonagall's office, Hogwarts."

And she put her head in the flames.

. . . .

James Potter was not having a very good day. First of all, it was raining, not the nice summer weather he wanted it to be. Second of all, he hadn't got to invite any of his friends over, his parents saying that 'they needed to spend some family time together and that his friends' families surely wanted them home too.' They had agreed to perhaps let them visit later that summer. James snorted at the preposterous idea that Sirius's family wanted him home and that Sirius wanted to be home. As if.

Since it was raining, he couldn't go outside and play quidditch and that really, really dampened his mood. Instead he sat inside in his room, sulking.

"Stupid rain", he muttered and cast an angry look out of the window. "Stupid mum and dad." After barely a minute he added: "Stupid Riddle."

He threw himself on the bed and closed his eyes. Why did she have to say all those things? She had no right to judge them. She didn't know anything. Her words had hurt, yes, and so had Lily's rejection. James heart clenched just to think about the pretty girl with dark red hair and beautiful emerald eyes. He never meant to hurt her, but somehow he always messed up when it came to her.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and he called an uninterested 'come in'. The door opened and James's mum appeared.

"James, do you mind coming down downstairs with me?" she asked him softly, but James could see that her eyes looked sad and tired.

He decided not to play a brat and go with his mum.

"What is it?" he asked her irritatingly as they walked down the massive staircase.

"Your father and I want a word with you. As do professor Dumbledore", his mum explained for him gently.

Professor Dumbledore!

James eyes widen and he furiously tried to think of what he could've done to deserve a home visit from the headmaster. It couldn't be because of the Halloween prank or the one when they colored the Potions classroom red and gold. He was pretty sure it wasn't because of when they've been drunk at Christmas, he would have been told off before then. The dungbomb prank wasn't that serious and it couldn't have been for hexing some Slytherins for a calling a first year 'mudblood'. James turned cold. Perhaps it was because of the incident with Snape and Lyanna's scolding.

James's mum led the way to the living room that was nicely decorated in white, purple and brown. Professor Dumbledore was sitting on one of the couches, dressed in a blue robe and his hair and beard seemed to be shining even though it was no sun shining through the windows. His eyes didn't twinkle like they used too: they were sad and grave.

James's father sat opposite from Dumbledore, also looking grave and he seemed even older than he actually were. Both men looked up when James and his mother arrived.

"Ah, James", Dumbledore said pleasantly. "How good of you to come with such short notice."

James sat down next to his dad.

"Whatever I did I'm sure there's an explanation", he started to say. "You might not have gotten all the facts right. It could be a misunderstanding or you haven't heard the whole story."

"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about", Dumbledore said and his eyes regained some of its usual twinkle. "Is there something you want to talk about?"

James blinked. If Dumbledore wasn't here to see him about something he had done, why was he here? A quick image of Snape hanging up and down in the air, Lily's angry face, Lyanna's words, Sirius's anger, Remus disappointment and shame and Peter's uneasy face flashed before James's mind before he spoke:

"No, nothing professor. Just a slight misunderstanding", he said politely and now his curiosity was awakened. "Why are you here?"

"James", both his parents said together, but their voices lacked the usual sternness.

James found the whole situation very weird.

"Sorry, professor. May I ask why you have decided to grace us with your presence?"

Dumbledore smiled swiftly and James glanced at his parents, wondering if that was better. His mum looked at him fondly and his dad gave him a quick smile.

"Well, James", said Dumbledore. "I'm here to discuss something with your parents and you. I have already explained the situation to your parents, but they wanted you to hear it from me as well.

Earlier today there was another attack in London. An orphanage burned down with eleven children and two adults inside. Our forces were too late. The Dark Mark was to find over the place."

James paled and understood why his parents looked so sad. It was horrible. Eleven children. . . . James felt sick and his desire for becoming an Auror to fight this injustice and wrong things became stronger. He promised himself that no child of his would grow up in a world of war.

Dumbledore examined James reaction carefully and what he saw made him sure that this boy would do great things.

"That's awful", James managed to say, hating Voldemort and his followers even more.

"Yes, it's despicable what they're doing", Dumbledore agreed with disgust in his eyes. "Terrible and wrong. But the main reason that I'm here is because I'll have to ask you all about a favor."

"You can count on us, Albus", Mr Potter interrupted politely, but with a fierce look in his eyes.

"Of course we'll take care of her", Mrs Potter said tranquilly. "But perhaps if you could explain to James the importance of it."

James head was spinning and he furrowed his brows in confusion. Take care of who?

"What's going on?" he asked, looking from his parents to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore sighed.

"When the orphanage burned down, Lyanna Riddle lost her home. Her family. She contacted Minerva through floo and she's been at Hogwarts ever since. I have come to ask you and your parents to let her stay here over the summer."

The first thought that came into her mind was: 'serves her right' but immediately he felt sick of himself for thinking that. No one deserved being ripped of their family. His parents looked at him carefully.

"She needs to be safe", Dumbledore continued; worry flashing in his bright blue eyes. A worry so strong that it scared James. "Your home is protected by some excellent spells and she'll be safe here. I know it's much to ask. . . ."

"Nonsense", Mrs Potter spoke up. "A child needs a family. I remember her from Diagon Alley all those years ago. She seemed like a sweet girl and James, you've mentioned her a couple of times."

James only nodded not thinking of what he did. Lyanna Riddle come and stay here?

"When is she coming here?" he asked hollowly, thoughts swimming around in his head.

Dumbledore explained that she would arrive in a couple of days. She currently was resting in the Hospital Wing. He looked proud and pleased that James accepted it so easily. James's parents looked relieved and proud as well.

Dumbledore left the Potters' house a moment later after once more thanking them for doing him this favor. When he had left, Mr and Mrs Potter started to move.

"Oh, I'll need to fix one of the guest rooms for her. Poor girl, losing everyone like that. . . . It's good of you James to be okay with this."

"We're proud of you", his dad said gravely, but ruffling his son's hair.

He then looked at the clock.

"I'll need to go to the Ministry, filling some paperwork. Then I might have to speak with Lyanna's lawyer. Dumbledore mentioned something about her inheriting a lot of money a year ago and that the lawyer wants to know who she's living with."

Mr Potter started to leave the living room when James blurted out:

"You know that I love you too, right?"

He felt like he needed to say it. In times like this you couldn't be sure who'll live and die.

"We love you too", his mum said and kissed his forehead.

Mr Potter joined them and the Potter family stood awhile hugging each other. The rain bounced against the windows and that sound, together with his parents embrace, made him feel safe. For now.

I'm feeling Voldemort-evil right now. . . . First Samuel and now the orphanage. . . .

Well, hopefully the next chapter will be brighter!

Any kind of acknowledgement is nice!