A/N: I don't own Harry Potter
This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Assignment #8 Foreign Exchange - Task #6. Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies (AHS: Coven):Write about a 'safe place' for witches and wizards, that isn't Hogwarts.
Writing Club November
Liza's Loves: 30- Jacqueline Wilson - Write about a child/teen in care. Alt: Write about someone doing a school project
Word Count: 555
The crying started around midnight. Within minutes little footsteps could be heard running the hallway.
"Miss Mione! Miss Mione! Tilly's crying again!" Hermione blinked her eyes open. Next to her, her husband, Harry was still sound asleep. She shook her head smiling slightly.
"Alright, go on back to your room, Cheva. I'll see what's wrong," Hermione answered climbing out of bed. The little girl darted back down the hallway. Hermione heard her slam a door shut. She sighed. Tilly was the latest resident of the Potter-Granger Home for Children. Most of their residents were orphans, or had been abandoned by their families for one reason or another. It had been Harry's idea to found the Home, as it was affectionately known. He didn't want any magical child to go through what he had as a child. Hermione had agreed.
Tilly's door was closed. Hermione raised her hand and knocked.
"Tilly? It's Miss Hermione, may I come in?" she asked softly. She waited a moment, she could hear Tilly sobbing, but slowly the door opened. She stepped inside the room. Tilly was still laying face down on the bed.
"Cheva said she heard you crying. Was it another nightmare?" she asked walking over to the bed and sitting on the edge. Tilly raised her head slightly.
"I...was back home and Mummy and Daddy...they were calling me a 'freak', and then I remember darkness and I woke up," Tilly sobbed. Hermione gently placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. She remembered the day Tilly had arrived. The girl had had her second bout of accidental magic, ending up destroying a window, and her parents had thrown her out onto the street. She'd been half starved and quite ill when the DMLE had dropped her off. Hermione remembered the anger she had felt at the girl's treatment.
"You're safe now, Tilly. Remember? You're at the Potter-Granger Home. We're not going to kick you. We're not going call you names. Are any of the other children calling you names here?" Hermione asked. They tried very hard to keep the kids from bullying each other. Some had a few issues to work out still though.
"No. Max even gave me their extra cookie," Tilly answered sitting up and scooting next to Hermione.
"That was nice of them. Do you want some warm milk to help you get back to sleep?"
"No, I'm okay, Miss Hermione. I'm sorry I woke you."
"There's nothing to be sorry about, Tilly. That's why we're here, to make you feel safe and help you learn to control your magic until you're old enough to go to Hogwarts."
"What about after?"
"After you start school?" Tilly nodded. "Then you'll come here during the summer holidays and during the Christmas holidays if you wish. You can also choose to stay at school. We're not going to abandon you, I promise," Hermione stated her voice firm. Tilly offered her a smile, gave her a quick hug, and then snuggled back into her bed.
"Can you tuck me in?"
"Of course," Hermione answered tucking the girl into her bed. "Good night, Tilly."
"Good night, Miss Hermione, and thank you!" Tilly replied yawning and closing her eyes. Hermione watched her for a second before returning to her and Harry's room glad Tilly felt a bit more reassured and, hopefully, loved.