AN: sorry this chapter took a while. I was really confused as to where I was going with it, until a brilliant (I hope!) idea came to me. I have most of the plot now. Claps for May! There will be a lot of other HP characters who will be popping up now and then. I hope I've placed Arabella within the right time period (born in the early thirties, late twenties) I know wizards age slower than muggles, but let's say she looks old from stress, kay? All right, on with the show.

Chapter 3

"Do you smell something, Mittens?" Arabella muttered softly to the cat in her bag, who poked her furry head out to answer.

Hmm…I don't know…

"Where is this house anyway?" She asked, but the cat did not answer. The smell of smoke become thicker as a smoldering house came into view.

"Oh my."

Oh no! That's master's house, Arabella!

A smoky black symbol hovered over the house, and Arabella, being from a wizarding family, recognized it immediately, and her breath caught in her throat.

"Grindlewald!" She gasped, and the cat gave small meows of grief.

Oh, Arabella. I shouldn't have left her alone. I shouldn't have ran away. She was in a group founded against Grindlewald, and I knew she was a target. Sure she wasn't very smart, but…

Arabella ran a hand over the cats head, and it stopped it's jabber, accepting the sympathetic gesture.

"Don't worry. Perhaps it was fate that brought us together, eh?"

Perhaps…did you hear that?

"Hear wha…"

"YOU THERE!" Arabella froze, panic engulfing her. She had no time to react when the spell hit her back.

"We don't know who she is…she was found at the house with a tabby." Arabella heard blurred voices in the distance, and then light began to fill her eyes as she opened them. Mittens sat on her lap, looking at her knowingly, and three men stood around her.

She was on a hard, cold bed, in a room she had never seen before. The men did not take notice to the fact that she'd woken, but continued to speak in hushed voices.

"What happened?" She whispered to the cat, "Where am I?"

Those are muggle police. You are in a muggle orvanage, since I hid your bag that gave away your secret.

"Oh, thank gosh. Where did you put it?"

I dragged it behind a tree, stuffing it under some leaves. You're lucky muggle police found you, aren't you? Or your parents would be ratted out. Am I right?

"You're right." At this last comment, the officers turned around, gazing at her with curiousty.

"Little girl," Said one, kneeling by her bedside, "Was it your parents in the fire?"

Say yes, you have no where else to go!

"The fire? My mother didn't get out?" Arabella said, her bottom lip popping out, and her eyes twinkling in amusement.

Hmm, maybe you should pursue a career in cheesy acting?

The police officer bowed his head in an "I'm so sorry" kind of way, and continued, "I'm afraid your mother and another man perished in the fire."

I heard them talking before. They know it's arson. I guess they're sparing your poor little head…

Arabella buried her head in her hands, sighing heavily, but smiling, holding in giggles behind her fingers

"We just need to know your name."

My master's surname was Hudson. Use that.

"Isabella Hudson. That's my…Was my mother's name too."

The police officers nodded, scribbling things down on the pads of paper they'd just whipped out, and Arabella mouthed a thank you to Mittens.

"Well, we're afraid you'll have to stay here until we can figure out where else to put you. Don't worry, they're other children, and the food's real good."

"Wait…where am I?" Arabella asked softly, realizing Paul must have taken her farther than she thought if they were speaking English.

"This is The Boys and Girls Home of Little Hangleton. Don't worry, sweetheart, you're going to be just fine." The police officer stood from his kneeling position, tipped his hat, and joined the other officers as they exited, uttering friendly goodbyes.

"Can you believe this?"

Well, perhaps it's in your good luck, right? Now you have a place to stay.

"I didn't really plan on staying in an orphanage, Mittens!" She muttered to the cat, and Mittens shook her head.

It's the best we can do right now. We're a cunning pair, we'll figure something else out in a jiffy.

"You think?" She sighed, and smiled lightly as the feline purred and rubbed against her arm.

I know.

Suddenly, Arabella felt a presence in the room.

She looked up to see the figure of a boy a little older than she, with dark hair, and interested eyes.

"Were you just talking to your cat, or was that my imagination?" He drawled, a smirk making his eyes twinkle, showing his eyes knew something she didn't.

Arabella blushed, "I was…I talk to her sometimes. When it feels like there's no one else."

Hey!

He smiled, and shrugged, "I guess I know how that is. I'm also guessing you're new around here."

"Yes. My mother just died…today I think. It's all blurry now." She said softly, and her cat snickered. Arabella noticed his eyes darkened at her comment. "How long have you been here?"

"Twelve years."

"Wait, how old are you?" Arabella asked, and he sighed.

"Twelve." He said bitterly, and Arabella cringed.

"Your whole life?" She said, and he nodded.

"I only have to come in the summer now, when school's out."

There was an akward silence, as he sat on the floor, petting her cat.

She broke it, "What's your name anyway?"

"It's horribly boring. And really dumb…I just hate it…"

"Come on…" She urged, and he shook his head, "Well, I'm Ar-Isabella. Okay, your turn."

"Tom." He spat darkly, "Riddle."

AN: Please please PLEASE review. It is so hard to write when it seems like no one is even reading it, let alone had anything to SAY about it!