Prayer
By: LaurelRose
Prologue: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
A/N: I only own Shenna and Heather. Everyone else belongs to JKR.
Her skin had once been pale, but dirt and soot had covered it until it was almost as black as her hair. Two blue eyes shone out from a somewhat deadened face. She had lived on the streets of London for almost two years, after the home that she lived in was shut down and she was put in a foster home. She tried not to remember those six months of her life.
The sun had just come up, and the eight-year-old moved quickly to get out of the light so she would not be seen. Daytime meant sleep. Terror gripped her heart as she thought of the family she had left. As she turned to go hide in shadow for another day, she did not know that one person who could help her was just behind her. She saw the tavern near her, and for an instant considered going inside. No, she thought. Some adults are okay, but there's bound to be someone in there that will report me to the authorities.
Remus Lupin was having a bad day. Once again, he had shown up at work, after missing another day because of the full moon, and he'd been fired. All I need to find is a nice, incredibly thick boss, so he won't put two and two together. Or maybe someone is revealing my…condition. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts he did not see a small girl slip into the alley near The Leaky Cauldron. Remus walked inside and looked at Tom, the innkeeper.
"Fired again, Lupin?"
"'Fraid so," he replied. Why can't I work for him? He never figures it out!
Tom gave a small smile and kindly handed the werewolf the latest Daily Prophet. "Take a look at the want adverts; see if you can find anything."
After a pause, Tom added, "You're a smart boy. You'll find something."
"I always do…damn!" Remus's eyes had just caught a side article near the want adverts.
Abandoned By Ministry of Magic?
By: Rita Skeeter
Yes, her father is in Azkaban. Yes, he is rumored to be He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's right hand man. But does his daughter deserve to be abandoned by the Wizarding World? Shenandoah Black, daughter of convicted murderer Sirius Black and Hogwarts graduate Heather Black (formerly Foxgrove) was seen wandering the streets of London alone and unchaperoned. Several muggle witnesses have stated that she has been seen in that area for almost two years. Does our Ministry of Magic want Black's daughter to grow up into him? Action must be taken to insure her and the Wizarding World's safety.
"Skeeter's article?"
"Yes," Remus replied tightly. "If you'll excuse me? I need to start working on these adverts." Remus walked out into the closest alley and apperated to Hogsmede. He knew he was next to powerless in the Wizarding World, but he had to help Black's child. Dumbledore would know what to do.