Thankyou Stocktonwood for your review (good name by the way). I hope you find the rest of my story interesting in a good or bad way- I don't mind. Is there anyone else out there reading this- if so REVIEW!!! The first seven chapters are far too soppy as far as I'm concerned but I had to introduce Ella. Sorry for the slush it get far more... fun... later cackles evilly
Chapter 3: No More Need for Dreaming
"So leben wir und nehmen immer Abschied" (Thus we live, for ever taking leave)
Rainer Marie Rilke
Minerva McGonagall, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape apparated onto into the quite cul-de-sac. The two older wizards strolled towards the door of number 24 but the younger one lagged behind. Dumbledore looked at him. "It's ok Severus, you'll be fine" he said in a soothing voice.
The young wizard, who had not spoken since it had been decided that they would go to his daughter suddenly blurted out "what if she doesn't like me!"
His two companions looked at each other, concern evident in their eyes. McGonagall steeped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. Snape tensed but soon relaxed as she said "of course she will, she will love you as you love her."
Snape smiled weakly and walked up to stand behind Dumbledore as he knocked.
A woman in her forties answered, she was short and plump with a kind face. "Hello, can I help you?" she asked as she opened the door.
"Yes, my name is Albus Dumbledore, this is Minerva McGonagall and this is Severus Snape, we are here to see a Miss Gabriella Andrews about her schooling, is she home?"
The woman looked at the old man standing before her. He seemed trustworthy enough. "Yes she is; she's not in any trouble I hope? Come in."
The woman led the three visitors into her living room where a man with bright green eyes and a face that had clearly seen more smiles than frowns sat on the sofa reading a book and stroking a cat absent mindedly. "John dear, there are some people here to see Ella." John Andrews put his book down and got up to shake the hands of the people standing in front of him as his wife introduced them. "How do you do" he said to each of them in turn. "Ella darling, come down here a moment." A tall slim girl with long, ebony hair and pale skin walked down the stairs. As she got nearer to the living room it became apparent to the people standing in it that she had been crying. The whites surrounding her bright blue eyes had gone slightly pink. Severus Snape took a step towards her, wanting to comfort the girl he knew to be his daughter. Dumbledore grabbed his arm and shock his head kindly. "Ella, are you still upset about what that nasty girl said to you?" The girl nodded as her stepmother embraced her. "What did the girl say to you Ella?" Gabriella jumped. In her distraught state she had not noticed that there were strangers in her living room. She looked at the man who had spoken and her heart skipped a beat; she knew him from somewhere. Ella's stepmother introduced her to the people who "wanted to talk to her about school" and she registered their names half heartedly as she greeted them politely. She never once took her eyes off the dark haired man whose features she recognised as her own. He had her prominent cheek bones, her fine limbs. The only two features he didn't share with her were his nose, which was more Roman than hers, and his eyes, which were as dark as the night sky. She suddenly felt extremely willing to divulge to him the information he had asked her for. "The girl insulted me and my parents, my real parents; she said that they probably killed themselves because I shamed them." The girl said this in barely more than a whisper, her eyes shone but no tears were spilt. Snape broke free of Dumbledore's grasp and flung his arms around the girl. She retuned the hug and their bodies shook with silent sobs.
After a few moments a stunned Mr Andrews asked "what in Gods name is going on?"
"Sit down and all will be explained. But first, I do believe a pot of tea may be in order." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and Mrs Andrews got up "yes of course, a pot of tea" and she bustled off into the kitchen.
By the time Mrs Andrews rejoined the group with a pot of steaming tea in her hands, Ella, her stepfather and her real father had come to their senses and were sitting calmly around the glowing fire. When Mrs Andrews was seated Dumbledore told Ella's story. Most of what she heard made sense to the 15 year old, she sat calmly between the man she had called "Daddy" and the man she would now know to be her father. She wondered what she should call him. She thought she might settle for "Dad" for the time being, "Father" was too formal and "Daddy" too childish for use on this obviously respectable figure. She would have to remember to thank Sarah as it would appear that her taunting about her lack of parents was the reason that she now did have a parent. She smiled and looked at her "Dad" his eyes were shining from crying which, she could tell by looking at him, he did not do much of in his day to day life. Ella supposed that she had inherited her reluctance to show raw emotion from him, today was a rare exception for both of them. Every so often as the man, who she now knew to be called Dumbledore, told the story her father would squeeze her shoulder, she got the feeling that he thought she would blame him for what had happened. She held onto his hand reassuringly; she would never blame him.
Snape couldn't help himself; he had not cried for many years, 15 years now he came to think about it. He had been so worried that she would think as he did and blame him for everything. It would appear she did not have his bitterness; he was glad for that. She had clearly had a good life with these people and he hoped he could supply her with an equally good one. He would try to be a good father.
Mr and Mrs Andrews knew for certain that they were losing their stepdaughter. Ella had gone upstairs to pack. She was going to this "School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" where she would be taught by her real father. They couldn't stop her from leaving. "You will visit won't you?" Asked Mrs Andrews as she said a tearful goodbye to the girl she and her husband had risen from a baby. "Of course I will" replied Ella hugging the woman affectionately. "Mr and Mrs Andrews, thank you for your time. May we use your fireplace?" Shocked by the question and worried that they may have just allowed their stepdaughter to go off with a madman the couple could do little more than nod vaguely in reply to the old man's request. "Thank you again" he said as he took out a stick of wood that appeared to suck up the fire like a vacuum cleaner would suck up dirt. Mr and Mrs Andrews gasped and Dumbledore chuckled at their reaction. "Alright Minerva, Severus, Ella, in you go." They stepped into the now empty grate obediently; Ella was excited and curious as to what would happen next. Dumbledore threw in some green powder and said in a very clear voice "Diagon Alley" before stepping in himself. The four of them disappeared in a puff of smoke. Mrs Andrews passed out.
Next chapter: A Strange New World Ella goes shopping with her father. Yes, it really is that interesting!
