Dedication and Disclaimer
Many of the characters within this story are the product of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series.Phoenix and her family are, however, my own fictional characters. Some of the events in this story coincide with events in the HP Series, and I lay no claim to being the original author of them.
This story is dedicated to the group of people who have been my "Marauders." Nothing is more important than the friendship we have shared. Blessed be they.
Prologue:
The night was clear and crisp, the hoot of owls could be heard in the small village where the birth took place. A scream ripped through the air as the pain of childbirth became nearly unbearable for Marina.
Beside the weakening woman stood a wise old man, dressed in long robes, and wearing a long silver beard. He held her hand delicately, his eyes closed as if he were concentrating on making the pain in his hand go away, but he was trying to ease the pain of her labor, however difficult it may be.
"ALBUS!" spoke the middle aged midwife, who stood between the woman's legs. When Dumbledore looked at Minerva with a look that spoke of the fear they all felt, Minerva nodded. "I can't promise anything Albus" she said, as she bent once more on the task at hand.
Eleven months later:
Little Penny was eleven months old as she lay in the cradle in her small nursary. Her mother came into the room, and lifted her hastily into her arms, holding her tight against her until she could pass the child into her father's arms. Around her neck she quickly clasped a small chain, upon which was a circular pendant.
As the door closed behind her, her father turned, and ran quickly down the road to a waiting carriage, his path lit only by a strange light the necklace emitted. The loud crash of an explosion followed them as they rushed down the road.
"What now Dumbledore?" asked Greenwood. His voice had at first been releived that he and the child had escaped to safety, but slowly the sound of pain worked its way into his voice. He was no wizard. He knew so little of their ways.
"She isn't safe." Was all Dumbledore could say. The child had to be protected somehow. He couldn't use the same protection on her as he had but three years ago on the young "boy who lived" Harry Potter. She had no other family. He'd known for some time that Greenwood could not protect her. He had no powers as a wizard. The only solution was to place the child in the care of someone who could protect her from the dangerous wizarding world. Albus frowned, wishing that he would not have to separate the child from her father,but it was Greenwood's fate to die within the month of an accident..so Trelawney had predicted. Less than a month was all the time he had to find a suitable place for the girl.
When he asked Nymphadora Tonks to take the girl to the orphanage he had at last decided upon, where the girl was virtually unfindable until she came of an age where she was able to control her magick, Tonks nearly refused. But how do you refuse Albus Dumbledore? She obligingly dressed in muggle clothing, and made herself up to look like a stereotypical unwed mother who could not take care of her child. Anyone seeing her leave the child in the entrance of the orphanage would not know that she was the one who left her there, she would never again use this disguise.
Tonks was a young wizard still training at Hogwart's School of WitchCraft and Wizardry. As a Morphagus she could change her shape and appearance at will. This was why the Head of her house had asked her to help in bringing Penny safely to the orphanage. An old wizard would look much more conspicuous carrying a toddler to the steps of an orphanage.
Many of the characters within this story are the product of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series.Phoenix and her family are, however, my own fictional characters. Some of the events in this story coincide with events in the HP Series, and I lay no claim to being the original author of them.
This story is dedicated to the group of people who have been my "Marauders." Nothing is more important than the friendship we have shared. Blessed be they.
Prologue:
The night was clear and crisp, the hoot of owls could be heard in the small village where the birth took place. A scream ripped through the air as the pain of childbirth became nearly unbearable for Marina.
Beside the weakening woman stood a wise old man, dressed in long robes, and wearing a long silver beard. He held her hand delicately, his eyes closed as if he were concentrating on making the pain in his hand go away, but he was trying to ease the pain of her labor, however difficult it may be.
"ALBUS!" spoke the middle aged midwife, who stood between the woman's legs. When Dumbledore looked at Minerva with a look that spoke of the fear they all felt, Minerva nodded. "I can't promise anything Albus" she said, as she bent once more on the task at hand.
Eleven months later:
Little Penny was eleven months old as she lay in the cradle in her small nursary. Her mother came into the room, and lifted her hastily into her arms, holding her tight against her until she could pass the child into her father's arms. Around her neck she quickly clasped a small chain, upon which was a circular pendant.
As the door closed behind her, her father turned, and ran quickly down the road to a waiting carriage, his path lit only by a strange light the necklace emitted. The loud crash of an explosion followed them as they rushed down the road.
"What now Dumbledore?" asked Greenwood. His voice had at first been releived that he and the child had escaped to safety, but slowly the sound of pain worked its way into his voice. He was no wizard. He knew so little of their ways.
"She isn't safe." Was all Dumbledore could say. The child had to be protected somehow. He couldn't use the same protection on her as he had but three years ago on the young "boy who lived" Harry Potter. She had no other family. He'd known for some time that Greenwood could not protect her. He had no powers as a wizard. The only solution was to place the child in the care of someone who could protect her from the dangerous wizarding world. Albus frowned, wishing that he would not have to separate the child from her father,but it was Greenwood's fate to die within the month of an accident..so Trelawney had predicted. Less than a month was all the time he had to find a suitable place for the girl.
When he asked Nymphadora Tonks to take the girl to the orphanage he had at last decided upon, where the girl was virtually unfindable until she came of an age where she was able to control her magick, Tonks nearly refused. But how do you refuse Albus Dumbledore? She obligingly dressed in muggle clothing, and made herself up to look like a stereotypical unwed mother who could not take care of her child. Anyone seeing her leave the child in the entrance of the orphanage would not know that she was the one who left her there, she would never again use this disguise.
Tonks was a young wizard still training at Hogwart's School of WitchCraft and Wizardry. As a Morphagus she could change her shape and appearance at will. This was why the Head of her house had asked her to help in bringing Penny safely to the orphanage. An old wizard would look much more conspicuous carrying a toddler to the steps of an orphanage.