4 years ago

It was weird, leaving Hogwarts behind. Riley missed her grandmother but she had gotten so use to having... friends. And food! A lot of food.
It felt somewhat the opposite now, as if she was now just as nervous to come home as she was arriving at Hogwarts. She was excited to see her grandmother but she also couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts and hear all about Teddy's crazy stupid adventures that he'll no doubt get up to with Harry.

Riley found her way back to her grandmother's after saying goodbye to all her friends and promising her perfect family would be there soon to pick her up. She wasn't sure why she lied to them. She assumed it was that she didn't want their pitty but deep down she knew it was more.
When she got to the house Riley felt her stomach knot. Her grandmother may have been old but she kept her front yard and garden in tip top shape. The dead, shriveled up plants were a bitch of a metaphor for what she would find inside.
Riley wasn't sure how long it had been. A while she assumed. Her grandmother didn't deserve that. She was too beautiful of a human to deserve that.

Her grandmother took her to a beautiful forest when either of them were feeling down. It must have been far away as they always apparated there. They both loved it so much. Riley thought she would never get over the queasy feeling of apparating, but she did. And it was always worth the lovely day out.
She knew she shouldn't. Her grandmother wouldn't have wanted her to take the risk but her grandmother knew she was dealing with a Gryffindor who never listened and broke most rules. So when she had all her affairs in order and set off to lay her grandmother to rest she apparated, splintched most of the left side of her body but she had made it. The beautiful forest. Riley literally put her blood sweat and tears into digging her grandmother's grave. She said goodbye and promised to visit as often as she could. With that she found the nearest road, held out her wand and waited for the knight bus to take her to St Mungos.

"Yes, the attendant told us she mumbled something about burying her grandmother. Yes. Mhm. Yes we believe she attempted to apparate there and the scouts came back- yes mhm yes they found the grave. You wouldn't believe the state she got brought in. How she managed- mhm. Oh I know, kids got real heart I'll tell you that much. Ahuh. Yeah no relatives left we've got- yeah yeah the Headmistress. She's not sure what she can do exactly but they reckon it might be nice for her to see someone familiar. Yeah, mhm. Tell Dirk I said hello! You too honey! Bye!"

When Riley finally woke 2 days had passed,
when she started to stir she saw a figure sitting in a nearby chair. It was not human but a cute tabby cat. A nurse walked in, rolled her eyes at the cat and asked how Riley was doing.
"Wa-"
Before Riley could croak out what she was after Professor McGonagall transformed from tabby cat to human and handed Riley a glass of water.
"That never gets old does it?" Riley asked smiling.
"Not yet it hasn't." McGonagall smiled and waggled her eyebrows.
Riley had never seen McGonagall act in such a way. She was usually so stern. All the Gryffindor's knew she had a heart of gold but she rarely showed affection. What was different now?
As Riley was trying to piece together the situation before her Minerva Mcgonagall's face dropped. Riley in her still sleepy and exhausted state for this miniscule second doesn't remember her grandmother has passed away. Minerva wants nothing more than to not break that bubble but she knows she has to be reasonable.
"You got brought in from the knight bus, majority of your left side had been torn up from being splintched.. Riley.." McGonagall started to explain.
The second she had mentioned being splintched memories came rushing back to Riley. How had her groggy mind forgotten the horrors of what had just happened?
"It is normal after what you went through to temporarily lose memories. Especially when they are as painful as to what you went through. Do not feel ashamed." Soothed McGonagall
"My grandmother is dead." Stated Riley.
"I'm afraid so Riley. I am so sorry."
"Isn't this the part where you ask about my family, distant relatives, that sort of thing?" Enquisited Riley.
Minerva considered Riley for a moment. Before turning to the nurse.
"Give us a moment?" McGonagall asked.
The nurse stalked off.
McGongall now talked slowly and cautiously.
"I am.. aware of who your mother was Riley."
Riley sat there stunned. How? No one knew.
Seeing that Riley was merely curious and not going to explode with anger Minerva proceeded.
"I am headmistress of Hogwarts Riley, I have my ways." Smiled Minerva.
"I have never judged you, this I can assure you. I have also not told a soul. We both know Riley Alton has no other family. But we also know that there is risk in finding your real family, although I don't believe you give them enough credit." Minerva trailed off.
"I can't Professor, I just-"
"I know Riley, I know." Minerva said patting Riley's hand.

"We should probably contact somebody, Miss Alton will still need to be here a few more weeks but we should get her prepared for when the time comes to leave. There are plenty of homes out there that would love to have a bright witch like her in the family." Riley could only just make out what the nurse was saying.
Silence followed.
"Headmistress?" Asked the nurse.
"No." Stated Minerva.
"Sorry? You can't just say no, she has no family." The nurse was getting on her last nerve.
"I never had a say in Harry's upbringing. They were horrible people, I begged Dumbledore to reconsider but he knew that in the end they would protect him from Voldemort' s magic."
The nurse flinched at the mention of he who must not be named.
"She may not have any family, but she will always have Hogwarts." McGonagall chimed proudly.
"You're suggesting she live in the castle? Permanently?" Exclaimed the nurse.
"I have found it to be quite a cosy home" Minerva counted.
"You.. you live there?" The nurse asked.
"Ah, you do not know of my story? Yes I live at Hogwarts, I have for many many years. My house in hogsmeade no longer felt like my home."
The nurse was too stunned to ask anything else, she quietly slipped away leaving Riley and Minerva to their own thoughts.
"Yes." Riley piped up.
"Riley?" Asked Minerva
Riley sat up.
"I would like to live at Hogwarts, as you suggested." Riley was trying to not sound too excited.
"And Hogwarts will be happy to have you." McGonagall smiled.