Hi, a new chapter for you all to enjoy :)

Chapter 20

Albus Dumbledore was sat in his office that Monday afternoon, sipping tea and sucking on a lemon sherbet. Everything was ok with the world. Suddenly that world was shattered by a pounding at the door. He looked above it and noticed two names; Jennifer Matthews and Chloe Harris.

"Come in ladies." He called out. Chloe came in first with Jenny following her. Albus could see instantly Chloe was angry, and Jenny's cheeks and eyes were stained where she had been crying. He waved his wand and two comfortable chairs appeared which he offered to the two ladies.

"This isn't a social call Professor." Chloe said. Her gaze never drifting from the teacher she had bought to his office.

"I understand Miss Harris, but I think we could all do with a sit down and a nice cup of tea." He said sternly but still in his kind and caring voice. Jenny mumbled something under her breath which neither other occupant managed to catch. Albus offered both a piping hot cup of tea and biscuit. Chloe nibbled at her biscuit, all the while Jenny sat still in her chair, not drinking or eating anything.

"I want to leave." Jenny finally spoke up. Albus looked over at her.

"Has something happened Jennifer?"

"Does it matter if it has?" She fired back in quick succession. Her eyes were blazing and daring Albus to try and ask her about her decision to leave.

Chloe sat still observing the exchange between her teacher and the headmaster. She knew that Professor Dumbledore wasn't the easiest man to fight with, but Miss Matthews seemed to be holding her own with him.

"Albus, you and I both know the agreement I made when I agreed to begin working here; the year has almost past and I have no more memories of this place now than when I first started here." Albus looked from Jenny to Chloe.

"Miss Harris, perhaps you could return to your class, Miss Matthews and I have some things to discuss.

"With all due respect Albus," Jenny quickly interrupted before the words even finished leaving Albus's mouth. "I would like Chloe to stay, I have something to say that concerns her as well, that and the fact that she knows everything about my coming here; I told her."

"Alright Jennifer, if that is your wish." Albus spoke knowing when he was beaten. Jenny took a deep breath.

"I have been here for nearly a year now and you and I both know that no memories of Rachel have come to my head. I can say for certain I am not the girl you are looking for." Albus looked at Jenny for some sort of hint of recognition in her eyes, but he saw nothing. The woman before him looked broken. Her heart seemed heavy and her mind 100% made up, she wanted nothing more than to leave.

"Jennifer, it is only Monday, can I permit you to stay until the end of the week?" Jenny thought for a moment.

"Alright, I will stay until Friday, but I wish to leave as soon as the final classes have finished."
"Agreed." Chloe looked back and forth between the two adults. She knew her teacher could stand her own against anyone, but her battle between the headmaster seemed to show Chloe just how strong her favourite teacher was.

"Forgive my interest Jennifer," Albus asked, "but why did you wish for Miss Harris to remain here? Surly the fact that you want to leave is of no interest to her?"
"Actually professor," Chloe said finding her voice. "Miss Matthews is my favourite professor and if she leaves then I will greatly miss her." Chloe smiled at her professor. Jenny smiled back with a twinkle in her eyes that Chloe and the other students hadn't seen for a few weeks.

"Chloe that was kind of what I wanted to ask you." Chloe looked at her teacher with a confused expression.

"I have been speaking to your social worker. I know how much you are not looking forward to a summer with your honorary aunt again." Chloe grimaced at the thought. Her mother's friend had agreed to again have her for the summer, but after the disaster that was Christmas, Chloe was apprehensive to say the least.

"Do you remember that I promised that you could spend the summer with me in Cornwall?" Chloe held her breath. She hadn't forgotten Jenny's promise, in fact she had been thinking about it ever since the words had left Jenny's mouth all those months ago. Chloe nodded a response.

"Well, do you still want to?" Chloe's nods got quicker.

"Jennifer, are you sure you know what you are doing?" Jenny shot him a look that made him shut up very quickly.

"Your social worker has agreed that you can spend the whole summer with me, on one condition." Chloe was ready to agree to anything if she could spend the whole summer with Jenny.

Truth was Jenny reminded Chloe at lot of her mother. They were both incredibly kind, and willing to go the extra mile to help those in need, and they were also both alone in the world; at least Chloe's mother was until she found Chloe's dad. Chloe's mother, Susanne, had been born to a single mother, her father having run away before she was even born. Susanne's mother had tried her hardest to raise her daughter right, but she passed away when Susanne was days short of her 18th birthday. Susanne was alone completely until she met her future husband. And now years later, the past was repeating itself with Susanne and her daughter.

"What condition?" Chloe asked. Jenny smirked.

"You think about making it permanent." Albus and Chloe gasped.

"Permanent?" Chloe managed to stutter out. "You want to keep me?" Jenny nodded, her smile coming back to her face, and her eyes seemed brighter than they had been a few minutes ago.

"What do you think? Is living with me something you might consider?" Jenny needn't have worried about Chloe's response. The girl was out of her chair and hugging Jenny as if she would disappear.

"I'll take that as a yes then?!" Jenny laughed.

"Yes please Miss!" Chloe cried against Jenny's shoulder.

Albus took in the sight opening before him. Jennifer planning to adopt Chloe wasn't something he had seen coming. He had to admit that the pair together did seem like a good fit. Both girls had lost everything and everyone they cared about in the world, and whilst Jenny had found a new family to love her, Chloe had yet to find that happiness. Maybe a life with Jenny would be the perfect idea for her? Albus's curiosity was beginning to get the better of him.

"Jennifer?" He asked. She turned still hugging Chloe tight. "Are you sure that this is what you want? I am not say this to be unkind, but taking on a child is a big responsibility. I know you are still hoping to find your own family one day, is this really the right time to take on a child?"

Jenny felt Chloe freeze. Jenny simply held her. "You are right Albus, I do one day want to find my birth family." Her voice had suddenly become very cold. "But until then I don't see the harm in creating a new family. I already have a readymade family in Cornwall, and I know that Chloe will be the perfect addition to that family." She felt Chloe relax a little. "And don't you think as a teacher I know how hard it is to look after children and how much of a responsibility that is? I have been thinking about this for months, and I know this is a good idea. Albus I know you are only looking out for my best interests, but I feel like you are treating me like a child. I am not Rachel so you don't need to treat me like I am going to disappear or break at any minute." She finished her speech. Gently removing Chloe from her body, she smiled at her.
"Come on." She gestured to the door. "We've got a lot of things we need to sort out, and I feel it would be better to do that alone." She took Chloe's hand and together the pair left Albus's office.

Albus stayed where he was for a few minutes, frozen. They he began to come to his senses. If Jenny left, they would be another step backwards in the search for Rachel. Whilst Minerva would come to forgive Albus for getting their hopes up, he had little to no doubt that it would take Lily and the others much longer to forgive him. He needed help, he needed Minerva.

Chloe and Jenny walked back to Jenny's quarters from Albus's office holding hands. Chloe couldn't quite believe that this was all real. A few of the older students were wandering the halls and noticed the pair. The murmurs and whispers started before Jenny and Chloe had even got to the other end of the corridor. Once they were safely in Jenny's rooms, they began laughing.

"I wonder how long it will take the rumours to circulate." Jenny asked. Chloe couldn't speak as she was laughing so hard. It took a while for the pair to sort themselves out, once they did Chloe was full of questions.

"What will happen over the summer?"

"Well I thought maybe we could go out for a few trips, I would introduce you to my family and friends and we could get everything set up for you to move in."

"Will everyone like me?"
"Of course they will, don't be silly."

"Am I still going to come to Hogwarts?"
"Yes, I'll take you up to London for the new term and be there to pick you up when you come home."

For the next few hours both Jenny and Chloe talked solidly about their plans for the summer, and Chloe's adoption. Jenny had no doubt in her mind that Chloe's summer trip would be turning into a permanent home, and she couldn't be more thrilled.

"Does this mean I can call you Jenny now?" Chloe asked shyly.

"Yes sweetheart. At least when we leave here at the end of the week. Until then it's going to have to stay as Miss Matthews I'm afraid."
"I can live with that." Chloe joked. Whilst the pair had been talking Lola had joined them perching herself right by Chloe's feet, obviously the dog would have no problem with another joining their small family. Jenny suddenly had an idea.
"Tell you what, why don't I get my laptop and we can call home and you can meet April, my sister?"
"Is she the crazy one?" Jenny laughed.

"Yep."

Jenny rose and hurried to her bedroom to collect her laptop. Once inside she spotted a small box sitting on her bedside table. It was wooden, with intricate carvings on the top. Jenny took the box in her hands. It was beautiful. She gently prised the lid off. Inside was a mass of red velvet cloth, Jenny moved aside the mass to reveal a beautiful wand laying in the centre of the box. It was defiantly old Jenny thought, and she could tell it had been well cared for. She reached in and her fingers touched the wooden stick. Suddenly her head felt funny. It felt like someone was trying to invade her mind, and the worst headache Jenny had ever had rolled into one. She dropped the box and wand onto her bed and clutched her head, with a cry of pain. Lola and Chloe came rushing into the room. The last thing Jenny saw was Chloe's terrified expression, as her world turned black.

I am so sorry for the long wait, writer's block kicked in big time, along with a few major changes in my home life, so writing had to be put on the back burner for a while. But now I am finally back and life is slowly getting back to normal.

As normal please read and review, we only have another 2 chapters left now.

Happy reading,

Beth xx