Chapter Three:

The first week was magical for Delphi, she had a magical map of Hogwarts like every first year and like every first year it showed her how to get from her common room to her classes, the library and great hall and to the other common rooms too. She found people did talk about her, but they spoke about how she was the adopted daughter of Harry and Ginny Potter. They were not cruel about it and understood she was a war orphan. She was sure they would not be too pleased to learn who's child she really was. Still she was happy and Slytherin was a great house, she was accepted and if any had thought about bullying they knew it was not worth it. Sure she got looks and there were a few unkind words, but for the most part she was having a great time here.

Delphi knew all about her parents, she had learned her bio-father had grown up in a poor but loving orphanage. Though it was poor it was no orphanage out of Charles Dickens at all. He was a cruel child and his caretakers did all they could to help him feel wanted and loved. They gave him his own room at a young age as he seemed to need that and tried their best to show they cared about him. When Dumbledore had come he had not left Tom on his own, everyone thought he had gone back to the orphanage year after year, this was not the case. Young Tom spent his time in the magical world and it was thought by all then he was a charming boy who would go far. Though he was not allowed to stay at the school over summer he did stay at the Hogshead, Aberforth liked the lad and allowed him to work for him. Yet in the end he became the worst dark lord probably ever.

Bellatrix had grown up in a good family, half the Blacks were good, the fact that Andromeda had got away with marrying a muggle born proved that. If her parents had wanted they could have forced her to marry who they wanted, they had not. Bellatrix had been a great student herself and once introduced to Voldemort as he was called by her husband had fallen in love with him. Her husband did not care, he didn't even love her nor did he like sex at all. So she became the dark lord's lover. This led, after she got out of prison to the birth of Delphi and by good chance, or providence to the loving parents she had now. Delphi was keenly aware of the darkness within and vowed to never let it master her, ever. She was not going to go the way of her birth parents even if she was tempted, and she had been.

At the end of the week she was called to the headmistress office and she had an idea what this was about. She knew McGonagall knew who she was, she had come over a few times and she hoped that now under her control at the school the headmistress would be kind. She gave the password snickers (what was it with muggle sweets and heads of Hogwarts?) and headed up the stairs. She came into the bright office where seated on a perch was Fawkes (he was part of the school and the familiar of any head master or mistress of the school) and took a seat before the headmistress. A cart with tea things rolled over to her and Delphi poured a cup of tea and took a shortbread biscuit to eat.

"How are you finding Hogwarts?" McGonagall asked.

"I love it, I heard it was different before, and it was changed after the war." Delphi replied, "she feels happy."

"She is, the work done was the best I think, I was not sure the houses should have changed location but I find it was a good thing." McGonagall said, "you do belong here, I want you to know that."

"My parents…"

"Are Harry and Ginny Potter." McGonagall said, "we are defined by as my father would say by what we do and that is what God will judge us on. Not by who we were born to, after all we are his children."

"Yes ma'am, I don't want to be evil, I just don't." Delphi said quietly, "I want to be good, to do good."

"Then be good, do good." McGonagall said, "it is harder for some, but possible. Tom Marvolo could have chosen good but he chose evil, that was his choice, Bellatrix could have chose good, but chose evil, that was her choice."

"I can chose good, that is my choice." Delphi said, "then that is what I will do."

The fireplace flared green and Delphi grinned and ran to hug Hermione, her most favorite aunt in the world. Hermione always got her books, or sweets and was always there for her. She was determined to care and love Delphi no matter who she was blood related to. So much hate and hurt had happened in the past and she was not going to add to it. In fact she was the second person to see Delphi after she was rescued and she took to the baby at once. She would "sneak" her out and take her to museums, libraries, and even the palace and castles all over. She had insisted that Delphi ben enrolled in muggle martial arts and in fact was here today to make sure that Delphi could still practice.

Hogwarts had muggle martial arts that all students had to take, no exceptions along with magical defense. The first and second years could not do much magical yet but they could defend themselves muggle style. Delphi was a black belt in Jeet Kune Do, the very style that Bruce Lee had made popular and was perfect for one such as her. She knew that someday she was going to come right up against her destiny but for now she could be a student and do student things and live her life. Interestingly enough watching the Star Wars ™ movies, most importantly episodes I, II and III had driven home to her how fragile her own grasp on good was. She knew how hard she would have to fight to not give into evil.

"Aunt Hermione!" Delphi said hugging her, "I missed you, you were gone so long!"

"I had work, the delegation went on very long, the American President is on his last months as president and has to get everything ready for the new one."

"Oh, they have elections every four years right?" Delphi asked, "and can only be president for two terms?"

"Yes, that is correct, anyway we had to get some things squared away with that and I am sorry I was not able to see you off."

"It is okay, I want to grow up and be like you, always saving the day." Delphi said.

"Well from paperwork at least." Hermione replied, "will you show me around? I have not been here since the remodel, I finished my last year as the school was being repaired and have not seen it since."

"Mom and dad did, they let me have a sneak peak." Delphi said, "they let me get away with everything, just as professor Snape says, I do talk to his portrait, he is very nice."

"Nice is not a word I would use with him." Hermione said.

"Well, he is helping me stay away from the darkness,." Delphi replied.

She led her aunt through the school chattering away to her, in French. Delphi could speak two other languages besides English, her primary school taught in a way that by the time the students left they were fluent in French and German. So Delphi and Hermione chattered away in French, then switched to German and finally back to English. By this time Delphi had showed all of the school she knew and they were at the great hall where Hermione was allowed to sit with the students. She was a war hero and well loved by all as she was kind, intelligent and could be a battleax when needed. After dinner she headed to the kitchens were free elves worked. Through her work and the fact the house elves had fought in the final battle, they were free, but still allowed to bond with a family in contract form as free people. As such they were now in uniforms.

"Hello how can we help you?" Winky, the head elf asked.

"How are things here?" Hermione replied.

"Very well, freedom is good, I gets to work and am good elf but free to work where I want and not in disgrace." Winky said and twirled around in her pretty but still practical light blue dress with starched white cap and apron, "I can look pretty here too."

"Well, you do work very hard and the castle is lovely." Hermione replied, "thank you for your hard work."

"Winky is honored mistress Hermione would be so kind." Winky said bowing.

When house elves were first freed there had been wailing from them, but the law was a good one. They could not be turned out from their jobs that they worked unless they wanted to be. So families who had abused their elves before found themselves with servants they had to pay and could not abuse as most elves stayed in the same homes their ancestors had. Things were not perfect but they were looking up for the little people. Instead of rags they wore livery and instead of kicks they got money. Delphi smiled, the world was a good place and she would not trade it for anything.

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