In Pursuit of Greatness

A/N: Yeah, here's the fourth chapter. I'm currently working on chapter 16 of my other story. Anyway, here's an update.

Mr. Vance's Office

Vance kept Red and I working through much of the rest of that day, not to mention part of the night. He also denied us any meals until the morning. His excuse was that we were late returning from Great Hangleton. We pretty much helped to drag one another down the halls of the mourning orphanage.

The next morning, all the children who I shared my humble home with were woken promptly at five o'clock in the morning. And it was all Vance's doing. He felt that he could save the orphanage money if he made us work harder and longer.

But that wasn't all that was changed. After I met up with Red in the hallway, both of us headed down to breakfast. Upon arriving at the table, we found that there was no food left. I looked up to see Vance smirking at us behind a forkful of sausage, not the mush we had to eat. He sat there calmly, as he explained that he was forced to cut down on our food.to help us he said.

Right after breakfast, he told Red and I to be in his office after finishing our basic chores. However, they weren't very basic at all. Boys had to do mostly outside work; such as chopping firewood for the old fashioned stove we still used, and haul heavy-laden carts of goods to Great Hangleton to sell. The older girls, Red among them, were forced to help with that. The rest of the girls had to clean the orphanage from cobwebby roof to dusty floor.

When evening was nearing, both Red and I slipped into the tiny office that had once been the haven of sweet old Louise. However, the sour faced Mr. Vance sat pompously behind the wooden desk that had been crammed in there. For one long moment, he eyed us suspiciously.

"Well now, I hear that I have not one, but TWO freaks in my orphanage."

The sentence was left hanging in the air, as neither of us could understand it. Casting questioning glances at Vance, we both sat back and waited for an elaboration. It came quickly.

"As my aunt's last dying wish, I'm to send you to some school, using much of her inheritance money.." That definitely had to be what had him ticked. "Here are your so-called letters. I'll be leaving you in London on August 31 to get your things. Then, on September 1st, you're to catch your train to your school."

"Sir," Red spoke hesitantly, "we're staying in London overnight."

"I'm sure you'll find something to hide under, you rat."

**********

Mr. Vance's words were confusing to me. I was no closer to understanding what had happened when he shoved us out the door. Red shot me a quizzical look before we both moved on to our letters.

It was a strange letter indeed. Magic? Hogwarts? Dippet? I hadn't a clue what any of this was, and apparently, neither did Red. She looked, if possible, even more confused than I did. She startled me quite a bit when she gasped excitedly.

"Directions!" she beamed, brandishing a sheet of parchment inches from her own face.

"Red? Directions to what?" I asked skeptically. This place simply couldn't be real.

"To..Diagon Alley? I've never heard of it, but it has complete directions on how to get there. Then there's King's Cross. I've been there before. When I was three and my father was trying to find a place to inconspicuously be rid of me.."

"I suppose we'll just see," I sighed. "But just think, Red. Next month, we may not be here."

A/N: All for now. I'm intentionally making this story's chapters shorter.

By the way, read Sixth Year and a Lifetime of Worries, please. Please review. Criticism is most welcome. -Anna Dearest