A Hailey that could have been: London Matrigold
All throughout the country, Wizards were Celebrating.
And how could they not, the Dark Lord, the one whom all refuse to name, was dead, killed by a mere baby. It was like a fairytale, complete with a happy ending.
There was one who did not join in with the celebrations however, although she did welcome it, for it made her persuers blind and dumb.
Alice Matrgold walked through the streets of one of Londons many suburbs, just soaking it in.
Her ticket was in her pocket, her ferry later this morning. This may be the last time she ever sets foot in this city in a long time, maybe forever.
She watched as the mundane city awoke, joggers hopping out the door, papers delivered, early risers rising, tired faces, dogs barking, cats prowling, life living. She drank it in as only an artist who worked in the shapes of people could. Soon she would depart this country, and see new people, and new shapes, so she made the most of this experience, and drank in the people of this old city as much as she could.
While walking through a particularly quiet part of town, her peace was disturbed a by a shrill shriek. Turning her head she saw a woman on the doorstep, staring down at what could only be a basket. Alice's sharp eyes could pick out movement, a child in a basket? Curiosity peaked, she walked closer.
A man came to the door, presumably the woman's husband, and Alice could only frown. To the dollmakers eyes they seemed ugly and common people, not the kind of person Alice would willingly associate with on a good day, or even now, had not the fairytale allure of the child in the basket drawn her in.
The couple did not notice her, as she did not want them to, so they talked as if they were alone.
"... and it says we have to look after her Vernon." the woman said, her hand shaking, face pale.
"Of all the- I don't know its if our problem they got killed. You haven't talked to your sister in years, what makes that lot think they can just dump her baby on our doorstep and expect us to deal with... 'it'. Surely one of their lot could do it better." The man however was indignant, and Alice found herself disliking him already.
"But what else can we do? You know what that lot is like, who knows what they will do to us if we don't take it in." The woman fretted, proving herself not that much better than her husband, not a word of care for the baby that was apparently her sister's child.
"So it is true then, when you are ugly on the inside it starts to show on your face." Mused Alice as the couple bickered back and forth. Not that she couldn't work out what was going on, this reeked of wizard tomfoolery.
"So we are just supposed to take the little creature into our home?" the man said, looking angry. "To feed off our hard work until it's old enough to go to freak school?"
"I don't know what else we can do dear." the woman said, looking considerably upset.
Alice looked at the bundle before feeling for magic in the area. She felt the magic in the air, the numerous wards surrounding the house, all keyed in to the moment that child crosses the threshold. It was actually quite impressive, once in, no one could ever hope to find the child in that house. No matter how hard the looked, nor could anyone who meant it harm even enter the yard. Safe, at least from the outside.
"Surely there is someone we can complain to? I do not want that thing in my house!" The man was starting to raise his voice.
It couldn't protect it from those inside the house though.
Alice supposed it wasn't her business, someone had clearly gone through great pains to hide this child here, and the situation is probably more complicated than it appears. But at the same time could she really in good conscience leave this child to what was most probably a life of neglect and abuse?
"Maybe we shouldn't keep discussing it out here, the neighbors might be out any minute. Maybe she should take it inside…"
No, Alice decided. No she could not.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Alice said, making herself known to the couple.
"Wha- who are you!" the man was immediately on the defensive, her sudden appearance had caught him off guard, but Alice had no time for tact.
"My name is Alice, I am no one in particular, just a concerned passerby. But back to my point, do not take that baby inside with you, if you do, it will be your responsibility until it grows up."
"What do you mean?" the man's brows furrowed, probably wondering if this was some sort of law he did not know about.
"There are wards surrounding your house. If you take the child indoors, they will activate, and then you would not be able to get rid of it without letting whoever made them know." Alice said, no point in beating about the bush.
"What? of all the underhanded-!" The man barked in indignation, before suddenly he narrowed his eyes. "Are you one of their lot then?"
"I should think not." Alice scowled. "While I have experience in past dealings, I do not willingly associate unless I am forced."
This seemed to lower the mans Heckels somewhat, but he still seemed guarded. "So what do you do then?"
Alice smiled. "Am a dollmaker by trade."
The man seemed to mull this over, before probably deciding that a dollmaker was at least a semi-respectable profession. "So, if we bring it into the house, we are stuck with it? What do you say we do with it then?"
"Well, if you truly do not want it… let me take it." Alice said. "I am quite fond of children, and will look after it properly. You will never have to see it again."
The man seemed to consider it. But it was then that the woman interjected. "N-now listen here. I have no clue who you are, why should we trust a random passerby with a child?"
Alice cocked her head. "Does it matter? You clearly don't want the child, so why should it matter to you if its safe?"
"W-well its the principle of the thing." the woman said weakly
'Interesting,' thought Alice 'was this a shred of conscience, some responsibility for her sister's spawn, or merely fear form reprisal from the wizarding community?'
Regardless, Alice didn't have time for lengthy negotiations as she had the cross channel ferry to catch. So with a roll of her eyes, She said. "I don't have time for this." And with a jerk of her hands, the basket lifted off the porch and into her waiting hands, to dual cries of alarm from the couple.
"Wha, I thought your said you weren't one of their lot!" Vernon said, once more indignant.
"I never said I couldn't do magic, just that I didn't willingly associate with the rest." Alice said, which was true, Alice doesn't lie after all. She took a small cloth doll out of her pocket and waved it in front of the distressed child, calming it down somewhat.
Putting the doll in the babies arms, Alice turned to leave, only for the woman to call out "N-now where are you going?"
"Away, I decided to take the decision out of your hands, be thankful, for I have given you an excuse should anyone come looking." Alice said, not bothering to turn back around. "Is there a problem?"
"Now look here!" The man said, advancing on Alice.
Suddenly, the air was filled with dolls, brandishing weapons, a hundred tiny Alices all staring down at him with glass eyed menace, causing him to shrink back in fear.
"I repeat myself. Is, there, a problem?" Alice said
There was only silence. "I didn't think so."
Alice left, her dolls following behind her, one by one disappearing into the air. Unseen, but not gone.
Privet Drive was peaceful once more, with the exception of a certain Mrs Dersley fainting. And a Mr Dersley adding Dollmakers to his list of non respectable professions.
Alice sat in the lounge area of the cross channel ferry as it pulled out of harbour, staring out over the city, and pondering the string of impulsive decisions that lead to her now cradling a baby girl in her arms.
Probably not her best decision making in hindsight, after all, she knows nothing about raising a child, and she wasn't particularly blessed with good role models in that regard... Not to mention that she is technically a fugitive.
The child sturred, in her blanket, still clutching the doll she had been given.
Alice looked down and smiled. Oh well, she'll make it work somehow.
Then she frowned. "I never did get your name, did I?" she murmured to herself.
Alice looked out the window again. She supposed that meant she had to think of one herself. But she's honestly quite rubbish with names, indeed, she named all her dolls after…
She stared at the city out the window, then mused. "I suppose… London is as good a name as any."
The baby giggled in her sleep, and Alice took it as a good sign.
"I do hope we will get along, London." she said, fondly stroking the child's hair.
Her smile morphed into another frown. "Now if only I could do something about that nasty scar…"
The Newly Christened London Matrigold slept on.
Chapter notes:
Here is the first of what might be a few Haileys that could have been. Despite not really being a Harry Potter fan anymore, the setting is fun to crossover with, and my inspiration tends to run away with me.
Who knows, maybe I'll write a story based on this premise, if I'm feeling masochistic and need to write another super long HP crossover.
Let me know what you guys think.