The Forsaken Child

Chapter 5

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Hermione laid awake hours after it was time to go to bed. Her mind was racing. She was worried about Tom, worried about Angela, and fearful of what was going to happen tomorrow at Hogwarts. Would she make friends? What House would she be sorted into? Was Tom alright? Did Angela make it home safe? She knew that the young woman walked home at night, not apparating. She said that the night air soothed her after a long day of work at the inn. Did she do it tonight, even though there were Death Eaters possibly watching the place? These were just a few of the thousands of thoughts robbing her of sleep. After a few more minutes of letting these thoughts govern, Hermione slipped out of the nice, comfortable bed that the Potters had provided her. She wandered down the hallway and then down the stairs. It was as she was walking to the living room that she heard rummaging. Her brow's furrowed.

"Hello?" She called quietly. Not a second after her voice carried into the kitchen, she heard an even squeakier voice reply:

"It's just Tinky getting a late night snack, Miss. Hermione!" Hermione relaxed and entered the kitchen. Tinky's bulging eyes locked on her. Hermione noticed that Tinky's eyes glowed in the dark of the kitchen. "Why is Miss. Hermione up?"

"I couldn't sleep," she explained as she stood in the archway.

"Why ever not?" The little House Elf asked as she gathered her fruit into a little bowl. The Potters were really good to them. Even though the Potters were well-aware that House Elves could do magic, all of the food the House Elves enjoyed was put on the bottom racks of the refrigerator. Tinky's favorite would always be grapes and strawberries. She beckoned Hermione to follow her as she sat at the dinner table.

"My mind's just racing…I'm worried about tomorrow, worried about Tom and his staff…" Tinky made an understanding noise.

"I believe Mr. Lupin has the perfect remedy of a restless mind," Tinky hummed. Hermione tilted her head out of curiosity. She had no idea who Mr. Lupin was, but if he was anything like Mr. Sterling she knew she wouldn't be able to drink it. With a snap of her bony fingers, a white mug filled with steaming liquid appeared on the table. Hermione peered down into it.

"Hot chocolate?" She mused aloud. Tinky nodded.

"Um hmm." Tinky confirmed around a mouth full of strawberry. Hermione wrapped her hands around the hot mug and picked it up. She raised it to her lips and found that the beverage was not too hot, but—at the risk of sounding like the Goldilocks—just right. She took a sip.

Tinky couldn't help but stare up at the young girl. She wanted to tell her, but as Tinky looked at her, she knew the girl wasn't ready to hear it. She was too emotionally raw right now. If Tinky told her that Bellatrix was her real mother and James her father, it would break her. She wouldn't be able to process the news in a healthy manner. But…it went against House Elf law to keep such an important secret from the family she served. Tinky sighed. 'I'll talk to Ginko. He'll know what to do.'

Ginko was an old elf who had been with the Potter family since James' grandparents. He had known many scandals that passed through the house and knew children even better than Tinky—the youngest House Elf in the Honorable House of Potter. Tinky was certain that he would be able to advise her on the matter. Of course, there was the likelihood that Ginko would beat her to telling their Mistress and Master first. Ginko had lived many years and had a no-nonsense policy when it came to the ones he served.

Feeling a little better about her own problems, she focused on the little girl quietly and calmly sipping hot coco across from her. "Master James said that you would have questions," Tinky reminded her gently. She lowered the mug. Tinky fought off a giggle at the little dab of whip cream on her nose. Hermione could feel it; she flushed and wiped it off.

"What do you do on your days off?" Hermione asked the first thing that popped into her mind. Tinky furrowed her brows. This was not a question she was expecting.

"Tinky goes out with Mistress Lily and gets books," Tinky explained.

"Really?" Hermione smiled. The little House Elf nodded.

"Mystery novels are Tinky's favorite," she departed a little bit of information. Hermione pressed her lips together.

"I've never had many books," Hermione said. "Mrs. Sterling spends most of her income just trying to keep the orphanage afloat, but every now and again she can splurge on us. My favorite was always mystery too." Hermione left out that most of the books she owned went missing.

"Do they treat Miss. Hermione right at the orphanage?" Tinky asked; her squeaky tone filled with concern. Hermione flushed.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sterling do their best. It's the other children that make living there more difficult," she muttered, unaware that they had an audience just outside. Tinky could see her Mistress leaning against the archway. Tinky couldn't have hoped for a better outcome. If the kind Mistress overheard how awful the orphanage children were to her, maybe she would be swayed to adopt the girl.

"How, Miss. Hermione?"

"I don't really feel comfortable going into it, Tinky," Hermione muttered. "Things at the orphanage aren't easy and I think the children bully me mostly because I'm different, but the orphanage isn't a completely bad place. Mrs. Sterling got my birth certificate from the hospital. She didn't have to do that. She didn't have to look out for me at all."

"Do you know the names of your birth mother and father then?" Tinky asked, tilting her head. One of her bat-like ears brushed the table. Hermione shook her head.

"My mother signed it too sharply for me to tell her name and my father didn't sign it at all," Hermione sighed. "It doesn't really matter though," she added. "Who you are born to, the name that you bare, doesn't make you. What makes you is you. Where you're headed, the person you become, that's what matters." Tinky smiled.

"Miss. Hermione is a wise girl," she complimented. Hermione flushed.

"I've had a lot of time to think on myself and my birth family, Tinky. Do I wish they would have kept me? Of course. But there's a reason there's a well for wishes. You can cast in your quarters but that's all you're getting in return."

"But wishes give people hope, Miss. Hermione," Tinky's heart broke for the girl who had relieved more than she had wanted. Her hazel eyes—so much like her Master's—were filled with the years her life had put on her. Her smile lines were non-existent. Tinky's heart ached.

"If you say so, Tinky," she sighed. "Thank you for the hot chocolate. I think I'll go to bed now." Hermione dismissed herself.

"You're very welcome, Miss. Hermione," Tinky said to her back as she walked away. Once the little girl was out of sight, Lily stepped from her hiding place. Her green eyes swam with her sadness as she looked at Tinky. "Children whisper secrets in our ears because they think they are safe, Mistress Lily," Tinky said gently. Lily flushed.

"I know. I have been guilty of whispering my own woes to you time and time again, Tinky," Lily reminded her as she sat down in Hermione's vacated seat.

"Master James snoring too loud again?" Tinky asked as she popped a grape into her mouth. Lily nodded.

"I swear that man could bring the roof down upon us all with his thunderous snores," the redhead sighed. Tinky giggled. A small silence prevailed over them for a little while before Lily said, "she reminds me more and more of Sirius. I think he would be thrilled to hear her say that it doesn't matter where you've been, it only matters who you become…Even now, he curses that he carries the Black name."

"Mister Sirius carries a heavy burden, but so does that child, Mistress. Tinky worries for her."

"I know I've only just met her, but I do too, Tinky. I do too." Lily sighed.

XXX

The next morning came too early for Lily. She had been up all night wondering if she should speak to James about adopting the girl or if she should wait until she knew her better. There were other things she could do, after all. Lily had thought about it all. She could extend an invitation to the girl to spend holidays and summers with them. All Lily knew for certain was that she didn't want that little girl going back to the orphanage.

She sat across the young girl at the breakfast table, simply watching her.

"Promise you'll write to me and tell me all about Hogwarts, okay?" Harry begged. "I don't want to be another kid in the dark about what to expect when I go."

"You could read Hogwarts: A History," Hermione told him primly, making James snort and look fondly at his wife. Lily glared at him playfully. Harry groaned at the statement.

He scrunched his nose up in protest. Hermione quirked an eyebrow at him. "That book's boring!" She pursed her lips. "Come on, Hermione! Please!"

"I promise I'll write to you, Harry," Hermione caved. 'It's not like I'll have anyone to talk to otherwise,' she added mentally.

"Awesome. You're the best!" He declared.

"Really, you're basing your opinion about me on that?"

"Well, dad told me a really cool story about you last night-" Harry trailed off as he noticed his dad jerked his head toward his mother. He furrowed his brows, losing them underneath the rim of his glasses.

"And pray tell, what did your father tell you?" Lily pressed; she too had caught the aggressive motion of her husband's head. Hermione looked between them in confusion. Then it clicked: the spaghetti incident. Harry knew he was supposed to keep it a secret from his mother; he knew she would probably worry really hard now, but he also couldn't keep it in. The pressing look his mother was giving him was unnerving.

"Hermione threw spaghetti at Bellatrix's feet and tripped her!" Harry rushed out. James groaned. Lily looked at the young girl and quirked her eyebrows. Hermione looked back down at her Belgium waffles.

"She was about to kill Sirius," Hermione defended herself quietly as she cut a corner of her waffle off using her fork. "I could see it in her eyes and the way she kept mouthing the words. She was going to do it, no matter what advantage it cost her."

"So…you decided to throw spaghetti at a woman that was hell-bent on killing?" Lily asked both rhetorically and disbelievingly. "You realize she could have easily killed you for that if she hadn't apparated away when she fell?" Hermione rolled her lips together and nodded. "So, you know how dangerous that was?" Again, she nodded. Tears prickled at her eyes despite herself. She had never really been scolded before, but she knew that's what this was. As upset and shamed as it made her feel, Hermione couldn't bring herself to regret it.

"Lily, I think she gets it," James cut in gently. "But do you really want her to regret saving Sirius the only way she knew how? I wouldn't have been able to save him time, I was too focused on her hands and not watching her eyes. She could see that."

"No, James," Lily sighed. "I don't want her to regret it." She looked back at Hermione. "I just don't want you doing something so dangerous again." Hermione's eyes finally lifted up to hers. Lily's heart gave a sharp tug at the tears she saw swimming there. "Your life is precious, Hermione." She told her gently. "You are precious." Hermione's eyes stung with the effort to keep her tears from falling. No one had told her this before. She knew, logically, that every life was precious. That was why she had wanted to save Sirius, but she had never thought about herself like that. She was…expendable. Just a little orphan girl. What value did her life have? This was how she felt, but hearing from Lily that her feelings were wrong. She was precious. It was…freeing in a way. Someone thought she was worth something. It made the effort to suppress her tears all the more difficult. "And Sirius would have never forgave himself if you had died for saving him."

Harry felt uncomfortable. He could feel Hermione shaking beside him as she fought against her tears; he could see the tears shining his mother's eyes; and he could clearly see the solemn look on his father's face. He looked over at Hermione and did the only thing he could think of to lighten the mood. He obviously reached over and stole a bite of her Belgium waffle right off of her fork. She glared over at him. He swallowed it down and cheekily channeled his godfather:

"Better eat fast, precious," he didn't say it mockingly; he said it in a way that let Hermione know instantly that it was now her nickname. "It's getting cold." Yes, Harry was going to give Hermione a nickname. It was his own way of telling her that his mom was right. This wasn't going to end here. Even if she didn't write to him, he would find her when he started school and pester her. He had already decided that he was going to pester his parents until they agreed to bring her into the family. He'd always wanted a sister; he didn't care that she would be older.

"Thank you so much for that assessment," Hermione drawled. Harry grinned.

"Anytime."

"I'm sure," she grumbled. James and Lily couldn't help but grin at one another.

XXX

Tinky waited until her family had left to hunt down Ginko. She knew she would probably find him in the attic—their appointed resting place since the beginning of the Potter family.

House Elves were a very pack oriented group. They craved stability and togetherness. It was why lone Elves clung so tightly to their families. Tinky was lucky to have so many Elves with her. While one Elf could do everything a house needed done, the Potters would never force an Elf to leave. They were given the option. For instance, Tinky's brothers had departed for other houses when they were old enough to make their own decisions. The Potters were unlike any family the House Elves had seen. They didn't mistreat them; instead, they treated them as though they were human. This was why she couldn't understand Ginko's reluctance to interact with the Potters. But then again, Ginko was very old; and he hadn't always been with the Potter family.

Ginko was too old to be of any real help with chores; so he found ways to be useful otherwise. He supervised and handed out assignments; he kept them organized and in order; he broke up squabbles between Elves. Tinky knew he would be able to help her if only they could get along long enough.

Tinky was considered a rebel in the fold. She didn't believe in keeping her distance from the family. She didn't believe in upholding the servant-master or mistress ways. She knew the Potters viewed her as family and would speak her mind. As long as the Potters accepted and appreciated it, she wouldn't have to punish herself for speaking out of term. It drove Ginko and a few of the older Elves insane, but she was proud to say that she was inspiring the children.

Tinky forced herself to remain respective as she approaching the elder, "Ginko," she called. The aged Elf looked up at her. His bat-like ears sagged along with the rest of his skin. Instantly, she could see that he was cranky.

"What is it, Tinky?" He demanded; his voice sounded like a growl instead of a squeak. She eased herself onto the ground in front of him and crossed her legs.

"Tinky is sure you've felt the new addition to the Potter family," she got to the point.

"Aye. Ginko has." He nodded slowly.

"What should we do?" She asked.

"Why must we do anything? We are House Elves. It is not in our station to meddle in human affairs. We only exist to serve," Ginko graveled. He looked upon her with a scolding expression. Tinky jutted her chin up in the air.

"But is it not in our job description to care for their welfare?" Tinky countered. Ginko's large eyes narrowed. His eyelids seemed to stretch paper thin over. "Mistress Hermione needs a family. She needs her family. But Tinky fears what such knowledge would do to our Mistress and Masters."

"Why have you come to me, Tinky?" He growled. "Do you want me to tell you what to do? No matter what Ginko says, you never listen. Ginko tells you not to get to close the family, you do anyway. Ginko tells you not to meddle in human affairs, you do so anyway."

"And Tinky is not about to apologize for that. Tinky loves the Potter family and they love Tinky." She said with finality. Ginko sighed.

"Ginko thinks it is best to wait. Let Master and Mistress find out on their own," he departed his opinion.

"But-" She protested.

"You came to me for my opinion, Tinky. That is it." Tinky huffed as his clear dismissal and stood.

"Fine. Tinky will wait, but Tinky will not like it." She declared as a goodbye.

"You never do," Ginko muttered as she vanished with a sharp pop.

XXX

Hermione's nerves were on a thin thread as she walked with the Potters to the Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. She blinked. All she saw was nine and ten; there was no three-quarters. She furrowed her brows and turned to James. "How am I supposed to-"

"Just run toward that wall there," James told her gently. Hermione's eyes widened.

"What?" She hissed. "How is that going to-"

"Just trust us, Hermione," Lily pleaded. "You'll be fine."

"Yeah, take a leap of faith!" Harry encouraged. "I'll even run with you if you want."

"No…no, that's okay. Rather only one person need to go to the hospital for a concussion," she muttered as she shifted to run. She pushed both her trolley and her own body toward the pillar; she scrunched her eyes shut as she approached it. Instead of the resounding bang, she felt something warm trickle down her back; and then she heard the blowing of a train's horn and the clatter of people milling about the station. She opened her eyes and promptly saw other children pushing trollies. She looked up and saw the letters Platform 9 and 3/4. She let out an incredulous laugh.

"You were saying?" Harry teased as he came through with his mother and father.

"Shove it," she grumbled. Harry laughed and nudged her to move forward. All four walked toward the train. Before Hermione could board, Lily put her hand on the small girl's shoulder. She knelt down so that she could look into Hermione's hazel eyes and said:

"This is our address," she pushed a small slip of paper into Hermione's hands, "I want you to write to us frequently. Not just Harry." She added before Harry could pipe up anything. Hermione stared down at the redhead woman, completely perplexed. "Tell us about your days; and don't be scared to ask if you can come to our house for holidays. We would be honored to have you." She promised. Hermione swallowed. Just like that, her eyes were stinking again.

"I promise," she whispered. Lily smiled brightly and stood up. She dusted off her knees and stepped back to stand behind her husband. Harry smiled just as brightly as his mother and father as Hermione stepped onto the train. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she watched them wave to her.

She kept her eyes on them until she could see them no more. She sniffled quietly as she turned to find her seat. Compartments among compartments filled the hallways. She chewed her bottom lip and took a deep breath.

"Here goes nothing…"