Chapter 5

She just stared at the door, refusing to let the tears fall. She'd learnt at an early age that showing emotions was a weakness, a

sin, forbidden. She looked back to the old man, but he looked like he hadn't just seen the murderer of two of his best

students, or that the girl in front of him obviously cared for him, instead he looked as if the last 10 minutes hadn't happened at

all.

'Now, what to do with you –'

'Don't' send me back!'

Dumbledore seemed surprised for a moment at the forcefulness in her voice, but hid it and carried on.

'We can't send you back. You've been gone too long and your friends and family have given up hope this time. You are

believed to be dead. No. You shall stay here. . . and yes. . . we will find your parents.'

The young woman smiled weakly, but her mind was coming up with the impossible to get her friend back.

She was taken to the hospital wing by a house-elf. She was left at the doors as Madam Pomfrey tended to a redheaded boy

muttering to herself.

'Now, Mr. Weasley, drink this, it wont hurt. I don't care if it's not pumpkin juice as one young man thought it was.' She

spoke over the boys' pitiful excuses.

'I don't care if Uncle Harry had to have it, I won't'

'Well I'm afraid you will.'

Without another word or protest the vile drink was poured down his throat which left him gagging. Pleased, the woman

walked away to another red head, this time a girl, though like the boy, dressed in red robes.

'Oh, 'ello.'

The boy had just noticed her standing by the door looking like a lemon.

'You can come closer. I won't bite.'

She walked over to the bed and gently sat down on the very edge of it.

'I'm Luke Weasley. Who are you 'cos you aren't Hogwarts student are you?'

'I'm Francheska Weinstein, one of the muggle girls who went missing. So no, I'm not a student here.'

'Wow, well me and the rest of the world have heard about you. What happened to the other girl?'

'Miss Weinstein?'

'Yes?'

she turned around to find the nurse beckoning her to the far end of the ward.

'See you then Luke.'

Before he could as her more questions she couldn't answer, she followed the nurse behind the curtains.

'Now, you just drop your bags here and take your coat off.'

She felt very exposed having to do this. Her now stick thin fingers tried to grasp the large buttons of her filthy cream jacket.

She no longer had the strength to do so, and then the energy to stand left her.

When she awoke, Dumbledore was there.

'How long have I been out?'

'Two days, you needed the rest. Is there anything you would like to tell me about your imprisonment? It could help us greatly.'

She knew all about the Order of the Phoenix, Peter had told her. Snape had been caught being a spy for the Order and had

narrowly escaped with his life. Only Dumbledore knew of his whereabouts. She knew that whatever she had been through

would help, but did she really want to tell? Would she have to tell about her childhood. . . that was an almost certainty, so the

old man could tell her parents. . . whoever they were.

'Where do you want me to start?'

'How about your childhood.' Damn!

She paused, thinking of excuses. None came to mind. Frustrated, she sighed and began.

She told him of the favoritism her father had over her sister, how she had always been ignored as a child. About when she

was 5, her parents' separated, not legally, but in their hearts. Her mother brought home random men every night. When she

was 8, her father came to her bed. It got physical 2 years later. She got used to it. It was normal. Regardless of her sister

forever being showered in new things and her forgotten by the adults, the 'twins' still had a strong bond. It was them against

the world. Her sister hated the presents. She wanted love, not money.

The aged wizard was shocked to say the least, it was all too familiar to him.

'What happened when you were captured?'

she carried on, telling him of their separation, of the torture, of the rape. For some reason she felt like the man already knew

most of what she had told him, it was really unnerving.

'What's going to happen to me now sir?'

'Well, you are going to stay here for a while, but as the school term is almost over, you wont be sorted yet. You're safe now.'

'I can't be sorted. I have to have magical ability.'

'That you do. You have a very large amount. More than most people at your age.'

'Thank you sir'

'You're welcome my dear. Just to let you know, it's July 4th, so you're 16 now.'

Without another word, he walked away, leaving her totally alone.