After the first night in her tent during the winter break, she gave in to getting herself a room at the Leaky Cauldron. It was just too cold. She could admit to herself that she still had much to learn with magic.

The first few days at her stand were definitely the busiest. The updates to her stand were perfect to protect her and the playful companions from the snow and reduced the cold. She went ahead and went to Madam Malkins for a custom Jumper with her business name on it and extra charms built in to fight neck against the weather.

The most uncomfortable part though was not the weather but the parents of fellow students. Too many questions her. It was out of concern but seeing as her situation was not something a normal parent dealt with, she didn't want to explain herself. So she didn't.

However they took that as they must protect her. Some way some how. Packages began arriving to her room after the first day of bustling shoppers.

Draco's mother, Lady Malfoy sent her dragonskin boots, and Molly Weasleys sent her a complete knitted set. Beanie, scarf and jumper in a pretty light blue with her business name initials. She was happy it wasn't her name initials.

Mrs Darlington sent Pumpkin an orange snake sweater. It was the cutest thing she had ever seen. She also sent a leather bag thing that attached to your waist like a belt. It had an expandable charm inside the bag, perfect for Pumpkin to slide into. She planned to wear it everyday.

She never felt so cared about. All of them had notes attached welcoming her into their homes for the holidays and summers but she declines them all. She knew they meant well and wouldn't thing she was a bother but she felt like a bother. She didn't need pity.

"What a wonderful little business you have here, young lady," she finished helping a mother and daughter with their new tiger companion before turning to a man checking out the snakes.

"Thank you sir, I work hard on it all year, " she politely says. "How can I help you this fine afternoon?"

"Well how about 3 dozen of them, your pick though I would like a snake or 2 mixed in," she couldn't believe her ears. That was the largest purchase she's had so far since starting the business adventure. Which was saying something, as she has had quite a few customers by a dozen at a time.

She quickly preps a box with a cushioning charm and then starts collecting animals. They didn't need much coaxing, they understood enough to go in on their own til indeed 3 dozen were laying down inside getting comfortable.

"Here you go sure, I hope you have a happy Christmas and Yule," she slides the box to him. He hands her a bag of coins in trade and she watches as a house elf appears to take it for him.

She counts the money into her own money bag. To her confusion... there was 4x the amount of galleons given. She gets up to give him his change and bag back. But he was long gone. Instead a note lay on the counter.

'HAPPY CHRISTMAS ADALINE'

She didn't know what to say to that. How did he know her name? There were too many unanswered questions as the mystery man was not there to answer so she shoved it into the bag of her mind for now. She could bring it up with Professor Snape when she got back in January.

All in all, by the time Christmas morning came, she had sold nearly all her animals. She had placed to open that morning for those last minute shoppers but now she had to restock for at least the next 3 days before going back out there.

It took her a minute to notice the stack of presents under a small colorfully decorated tree. She stood frozen processing what she was seeing. Where all those for her?

She picks up Pumpkin to sit with her in the floor.

'So many gifts, what are you waiting for?' Pumpkin nudges her to get started. As she unwrapped, she had to pause to write an the gifts down and from who to send thank yous after, there were so many.

Draco- a set of Quills and a box of honeydukes chocolate

Samuel- a switch blade charmed to always return to her and a pair of fluffy socks that were always the perfect temperature for her feet.

Neville- A book on the basics of healing charms

Daphne- headbands and scrunchies that controlled frizz when worn

McGonagall-a tumbler then could hold up to 6 gallons of water and a candle that never sent out.

Molly Weasley-a book on household charms, and another jumper with a snake that looked like pumpin and a tiny hat that fit perfectly on the snakes head.

Mr Mrs. Darlington- muggle notebooks for school and a pack of muggle ink pens

Fred George- candy and zonko joke products

Lady Malfoy- Witch Hair Products for curly hair and a brush that got tangles without ruining her curls

She had to take a break mid way to control her tears. She went downstairs where they had a cup of hot cocoa ready for her while they prepped her a lunch on the house. She tried paying them but they wouldn't take it. They had already suspected she didn't have a home to go home to or worse, it wasn't a good home. They worried calling the aurors to help her would make her run off and get hurt in the process. It was safer for her to be there where she was in reach of being protected. Not that they told her that. They just handed her warm food and made sure nobody tried to go until her room without her permission.

She eventually went back up to finish unwrapping presents.

Professor Snape- a Neverending journal with her real initials on it. And a restock of her potions kit.

Theo- a certificate to Flouish and Blotts and a box of chocolate frogs

And the last 2 had no names. Inside both were silver rings. She slips them on and feels a gush of warmth like magic was claiming her all over again.

A pecking at the window revealed a beautiful tawny owl. She accepts the note attached to its leg.

'She's yours. Name her what you will, and have a happy Christmas,

VW'

She lets the owl in and pets her. Looks like she needed to stop into Eeylops tomorrow.

--

The journey back to Hogwarts was full of activity as usual. Except this time many people stopped into her compartments to greet her. And even stay a little while to chat. For once, she didn't mind laying down her book.

Eventually she did take a nap though. When she woke, only one person was sitting across from her. She was sure she'd seen her around. Blonde, radish earrings and an upside down Quibbler newspaper... right. She was a first year in Ravenclaw.

"Hello, " she greets the other girl. "I'm Hermione," she holds out her hand.

"Only till this summer. I'm Luna. I like your snake, she looks to be keeping the nargles away from you."

She didn't know what to say to that. What was a nargle?

"Oh, well that's good."

"We'll be arriving soon, " and with that she was out the door. She was intrigued but like many other things already there, she let it go for now.

As they were back on a weekend, they had a whole day free before they were back to class. She slept. Only getting up to go to the bathroom. A few people tried knocking to check on her but as she warded the door, they decided to run to their Head of house.

Severus was impressed by the wards over the door. It took him longer than usual to break it down.

Entering the room, he cautiously walks to the bed where she was completely passed out. He touched her forehead to find it blazing hot. He sighs as he stands back up. He had worried this world happen.

"Ms Greengrass," he looks to the door where plenty of his snakes hovered, expressions full of concern. "Please come sit with her while I go to my office for some potions. Please place a cold piece of cloth of the back of her neck if you can. " the girl nods and rushes in to take his place next to her bed.

He was glad at the least that it happened here in the school instead of out where no one could help her.

"Its because she was out there in the snow, wasn't it?" He had not realized he had been followed to his office. To his surprise though it wasn't the usual 2nd years but Cassius Warrington, Adrian Pucey, and Marcus Flint.

He internally smiled at himself that Miss Adaline had no idea how much everyone cared about her and was concerned for her well being. It was a rare situation for a student at Hogwarts to be at Hogwarts. Magicals took care of their children. Witches were having less less children unless you were lucky like Molly Weasley. Most were lucky to have 2. To know that a determined little witch was an orphan with foster parents who didn't even care was bewildering.

"Yes. I believe so. She should be back on her feet day after tomorrow," He walked with them back to the common room.

--

Hermione groans as she slowly wakes up. She felt stiff bodied and like she needed a shower.

"Little Mistress is awake. I will bring you a nice stew to give you energy," she doesn't turn to the small voice, still trying to wake up.

She was sitting up when she heard the pop. She turns to see a house elf. While she knew they were in the castle having gone with Neville to the kitchen, she had never seen any in the dorms.

"Hello, who are you?"

"I am Bibsy, little miss. I be your personal elf. Now eat while I prepare your bath. You have been excused from class today " the elf informs her as she says the tray down at the desk and walks into the connected bathroom to start her bath.

Sense when did she get a house elf?? She needed a clear mind to learn more so for now she ate her meal quickly then jumped into the shower. She didn't remember much since getting back to the school but she's been sick before. It was easy to guess she must have caught fever at the least. She just didn't know how long she been out.

Once she was feeling refreshed and cleanly dressed, she braved leaving the bedroom.

"Your okay!!" Daphne and Tracy run up to hug her. She tries not to stiffen up at touched and after a second relaxes and hugs them back. "We were so worried! If you didn't come out today, we planned to kidnap you and take you to Pomfrey!!"

Well they pull away though, Daphne has a complete guilty face.

"Alright, give it up, every did you do?" The blonde takes a few step backwards before giving a big dramatic sigh. She pulls a scroll out of her robes with a familiar ribbon on it. "Daphne!!!"

"I'm sorry!! I was looking for clothes to change you out of during your fever that wasn't your uniform! I saw it and well... you know I can be nosy!" She hands it over but now those around her eye looking guilty along with her.

"Oh no... there's more?!" She throws her arms up in the air with a huff. Half the common room were crossing their arms, shifting in place and all out avoiding her gaze.

A pop sound appears behind her.

"Little miss, you are still recovering and should not be stressing. Sit down or you'll be back in bed!" Bibsy scolds her before popping away again.

She sat on a cushioned chair with a glare at the guilty party. The elf was making more sense now.

"Well? Someone want to explain how I gained an elf?"

Marcus Flint was the one to step forward.

"We agreed as a whole to write to your grandfathers as your closest living relatives. Bibsy was assigned to you by Lord Winterborne. "