Chapter 4

"Your... my what?" I gasped, my jaw dropping.

"Your Great Aunt... and, the only family that you have left." she said slowly

"Well... why was I in an orphanage all these years? Your my fathers Aunt! Surely you must of known..." I said confused, my voice soft.

She was looking at me with sad eyes, a look I had never seen her wear. She was a strong bold Witch and Gryffindor Head of House she never showed fear or sorrow for that matter, 'Allison, if you remember at your sorting, you have been declared missing for at least a good eight years..."

"I... sort of remember that... it caused a huge disturbance during the sorting ceremony..." I trailed off looking down at the tables wooden patterns, this was a lot to take in... personally I had tried to push out that embarassing moment as best as I could.

"Yes my dear I know...' she said as if she were reading my thoughts, "So you should understand why I never claimed you, I had believed you to be, well dead..."

My eyes were wide,"But why would I be dead? They got my parents when they were out at work didnt they? I was told that they were jumped by ten death eaters..."

"Who told you this information?" she asked severely,"The squib caretakers?" usually I would of defended the squibs, but honestly they werent that nice so i didnt comment.

"No, a middle aged man in old robes. He came to the orphanage when I was eight, he told me that my parents were out on a patrol when they were attacked."

"What was his name?" She said slowly

"I dont remember I think it was Rumus Lupine or something..." I said

"Remus Lupin? He told you that your parents were attacked on duty? That is a lie." she said gravely

"What?" I asked shocked

"You see your parents were just out side your old home when it happened, they were well known Aurors and feared by several of the death eaters you see, so we posistioned some of the order in the house. Several enchantments surrounded the house, we didnt think anyone could break them. but... somehow they were..." she sighed and a look of grief passed across her face.,"They were killing off the rest of the family one by one, building up to the time when they could finish the family off. I stupid thing to do, but they were cocky. It was the time when he-who-must-not-be-named was most powerful you see. Anyways, your family was expecting an attack, we prepared, but in the end we failed. I wasnt stationed there at the time," she paused,"But I remember getting the owl... I was sitting in my classroom teaching my students on how to properly transfigure a chair into a doe when i got the news. Imagine, one moment telling everyone to channel happy thoughts and then minutes later your just standing there numbly reading on how the order was very sorry that my nephew and his wife had passed away in there own front yard." her eyes were glazed as she looked into her memory,"Remus Lupin himself told me that one of the death eaters, Rookwood kidnapped you... I could only bring myself to believe... that you were dead."

We sat there quietly for a few minutes, drinking our butterbeers. I had heard that they tasted good but I couldnt tell. I felt to numb. Finally i spoke,"But,im not dead. Ive been at the orphanage the whole time, they said I was dropped off by a strange man with a moving electric blue eye."

"I know who that is... another member of the order... but why would he tall me that you were dead?"

"A conspiracy perhaps?"

I heard her chuckle,"Yes perhaps... you jump to conclusions quickly... just like your father used to."

I looked up surprised.

"You never knew that did you? there must be a lot that you dont know about them i'm guessing?"

I nodded.

"You dont even know what they looked like?" She asked stunned,"Remus didnt show you a picture?"

"No, he didnt."I gulped

"very well then..." she said as she dug into her cloak and pulled out a small leather bound book.'This, is my photo album... I have pictures of your parents in here."

She pushed it across the table towards me,"Go on, open it up." She smiled at me.

hesitantly I reached forward and opened the cover, on the front page read the scrolling words 'The McGonagall Family Photo Album, Property of Minerva McGonagall' I gasped as I opened the cover, on the next page stood two laughing young witches with black hair and green eyes. One of them had a darker tan and was slightly taller then the other one who shorter and a bit plumper, they were wearing dark red robes.

"Thats your grandmother." she pointed at the taller of the two,"And thats me." She smiled ,"We were in a wizarding village called Bell'efonte. its a rather small place by some beautiful snowcapped mountains... it had a wonderful bakery..." she stared reminicently at the page for a few more moments then turned it,"Ah, your grandmothers wedding... I was the maid of honor you know..." she smiled,'See there I am in the pink." I had to say my Great Aunt looked a lot more mature in that picture, she was a bit taller and wasnt nearly as plump in the picture before, she was waving out at us obliviously. she turned the page again,"Ah, your father as a baby... he was very cute... you had his eyes you know, before you changed them." My eyes were glued to the page and at my father, he had messy black hair and the same eyes as Professor McGonagall. His baby face was oblivious as he looked up out of the picture at us, his cheeks a light pink color with noticeable dimples on them... we sat there looking at pictures for awhile. Face after face passed by me, severakl of them of my father and grandmother, of my aunts and uncles... eventually we reached my parents, on their wedding day. I froze when I saw them. My mother was almost exactly like i imagined her to be, beautiful with her long waist length brown hair and chocolate eyes, she had the happiest smile like she had no care in the world, like she could conquer anything... next to her stood my equally happy father all grown up with a handsome face with a big smile plastered across it, he was holding my mother around her waist and was laughing at something. I stared at the picture for a long time. Finally when I knew that I had their faces memorized I looked up.

"Your parents were good people Allison, and they wouldnt of wanted you to be miserable... Allison, i'm deciding that your not to be returning to that orphanage this year, your going to be returning home with me this summer. I live in a nice little cottage in the woods, you can live in the upstairs bedroom if you like."

'Of course! I would love to live with you!" I smiled at her

She smiled back.

After we finished our butterbeers we headed outside for a little christmas shopping and my spirits had never been brighter. I had a home to return to that summer with an actual family member, i was so excited! The snow sprinkled softly down into my hair. We walked in silence through the snow for a few minutes before my Aunt spoke, "So tell me Allison did you ever get a Christmas present when you were at the orphanage?" she asked me in an enquiring voice.

'Well... if you count a moth eaten scarf from the trash a christmas gift then yes." I smiled

"Those squibs..." she murmered under her breath, "Thats it! I'm getting you a gift this christmas!" she said with determination as she steered me towards a shop.

we walked through the old rickety dark brown door into a world of warmth and noise. All around me owls and rats skittred and hooted. on a desk lay a casual calico cat whose eyes were partially closed and appeared to be dozing.

"Sarah! You've got customers!" My aunt called

I heard the rustling of robes and the sound of someone tripping over something and then out of the back room stumbled a rather frazzled looking witch in her mid forties.

"Minerva! How good to see you again!" she cried enthusiasticaly, her dark blue tired eyes sparkled."So will it be the usual?"

'And you to Sarah." my aunt smiled in response, "Im actually not here for my animals food, im here to buy my great niece Allison a proper gift." she smiled in my direction

"Ah, so what will it be little lady?" she smiled at me ,"A rat? An owl? We even have some kitens in the back."

"I can really get whatever I want?" I asked excitedly

"Yes, of course Allison." My aunt smiled at me

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" I jumped up and down excitedly, and gave my Aunt a hug which she returned.

"Very enthusiastic..." Sarah smiled at me, "We have some Owl chicks in the back you know... independent from their mother. Want to go take a look?"

"Of course!" I smiled and she led me into the back room.

By the end of the day I felt like an entirely different person, I had a family (no matter how small it was), a home to return to this summer, an adorable little pet owl (which I had named Belle), and pictures of my parents. I no longer felt like I had an empty hole I needed to fill, I was whole. And I had never had a happier Christmas season.

January 3, 1990

The air was frosty as I waited at the hogsmede station with my Great aunt, my breath making forsty clouds in the air,"Will the train be here soon?" I asked anxiously

"Of course it will, any minute now it will come around the corner." She smiled at me,"your just like your mum you know, always the impatient one."

"I am?" I smiled at her. i had been getting these tidbits of information a lot lately, and i loved it.

"Yes, and just like you and your friends the weasley twins your father was th expert prankster." She grinned just as the train rounded the corner.

"Theyre here!" I cheered and held back the rest of my excitement as the doors slid open and the students poured off. i waited until i spotted theyre two abnoxious red heads and ran over and gave them an excited hug,"Fred! George! Ive missed you guys so much!" I said as I gave them a tight hug.

'Allison! Didnt know you could leave the castle early if you stayed behind for winter break!" Fred smiled at me

"Well actually I can, because i've got special priveliges!" I smiled in the frosty air

"Special privleges? What they finally declared you special ed?" George grinned jokingly

"No!" I laughed,"But i've got some great news to share with you!" I smiled at them.

And so on the way home from Hogsmede station I told them all about what had happened over Christmas Vacation. Theyre mouths gaped open as i told them my story and by when I finished I felt like a changed person. And they knew it to.

Okay please forgive me for the semi late update and shorter chapter o. o' i worked hard on it and ive been busy lately because i just restarted school. And ive been tired -_-' i have to wake up at five in the morning and im a nightowl. I actually write better when its later I.I believe me i have no idea why. But i just cant work suring the day O.O! anyways :D I hope you enjoyed chapter four! Alot happened during it :D the mystery of Allisons family solved and a pet owl :) (oh yah!) And to top it all off no more orphanage :) or maybe i could do another part there if you like XD you tell me :D and another question, do you want their first year to end hear or what? tell me :D and i will do the majority rules :D just review!

Disclaimer: if i owned Harry Potter or any of its characters I wouldnt habve to depend on my father for allowance.

So...

1. End first year here? review and tell me!

orphanage scene? just for a bit more yelling? You decide!

Reviews ^-^ they make me happy :D (notice the smile)