A/N: Stylistically, I'm trying to keep with what I wrote previously. I hope it doesn't come across as too rushed; I was very much trying to move the plot along.
On a side note, please use my new website (http://vanillaparchment.webs.com/) to your advantage. This has a page for all WIP like this one, and potential upcoming projects that I am considering writing. Sign the guestbook and leave a comment! And enjoy this next chapter!
Chapter Twelve
"Adrian!"
Hermione whirled around; as she did, she caught Harry's arm.
Adrian was holding on tightly to a boy who, if it wasn't for the height and age difference, might have been his twin. Both boys were holding each other tightly; Adrian was sobbing and Ben's eyes seemed rather wet as he blinked quite quickly and patted his brother's back.
"Adrian, how'd you find me?" he said, in a surprisingly deep, husky voice, "I thought-I thought they gotten you!"
"Grandfather was right, Ben." Adrian said, scrubbing his face and beaming so brightly, it was hard to recognize him. He pointed at Harry and Hermione, "They're wizards!"
Ben's blue eyes landed on Harry first. Harry looked back steadily, feeling slightly uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Then who are they?"
Adrian pulled his brother eagerly toward them. "This is Hermione, Ben-you'll like her-and this is Harry. They rescued me."
"Well," Ben said after a pause, "I'm Ben."
"Nice to meet you." Hermione held out a hand, and they shook. Harry did the same, surprised at how firm the boy's grip was.
"Thank you for helping my brother find me, Miss Hermione." Ben said politely, looking at his brother. "I don't know what I would've done if I couldn't find him."
"Haven't you any other relatives?"
Ben shook his head. "No. Not that our mum or dad-"
But then he fell silent, his face darkening.
Harry was suddenly conscious of the eyes watching them intently. Katy and Yasmine were standing close together, looking wistful as Jackie hid behind Healer Smitt. Dusty and Jack were merely watching, obviously trying to look bored. He felt his stomach churn as he remembered watching other families at the park when he was younger, wishing he were a part of them.
Hermione's thoughts seemed to follow Harry's as she turned to Healer Smitt. "Would you mind telling me how this system is run?"
"Well," Healer Smitt said, looking cautious, "it's not for me to say, truly, Miss Granger, but the truth of it is, this system was run down fairly quickly after the first war. Most of these children were brought in here when they were but wee ones, still feeding from bottles and such. Since wizard families are so interconnected-all those relatives, you know-and Muggles have their own systems, the need for this sort of thing was very rare."
"Well, Muggle systems aren't all that fantastic, either." Harry said darkly, thinking of the orphanage Tom Riddle had been placed in. His stomach turned at this thought, and he questioned hastily, "Haven't you any place for them to go? Families that could take them in?"
Healer Smitt looked at him sadly.
"Oh, I'm sure there are some, but there isn't any way to find them. Goodness knows, many families have enough children to cope with, and this poor dears have fallen somewhat by the wayside."
"What about a foster care system?" Hermione said, looking just as indignant as Harry felt. "Or at least a home for all of you!"
"This is all we can afford to fund at the moment," Healer Smitt said, looking rather alarmed, "What with our entire world being rebuilt-"
"But they're a part of that!" Harry and Hermione said simultaneously.
Harry looked at her; her eyes were very bright and her cheeks were flushed-he felt a sudden burst of pride and fierce determination rush over him at the sight of her. He stared around the room, his throat rather tight as they gazed back at him.
He could have been one of them. He was one of them. And he wouldn't wish his early days on anyone, much less kids like these.
"I know what it's like not to have a family." Harry said, "And I'm not about to let it happen again. Voldemort himself had no family, and it was the orphanage that gave him the place to start."
"Not that you're doing badly, Healer Smitt, as I'm sure you do all you can," Hermione said quickly, "But Harry's right; they need a proper home."
Her eyes narrowed in thought as the kids began to whisper among themselves; the girls' eyes were wide, and even Jack was beginning to look interested.
Harry knew only one solution to the present problem, though the idea seemed so utterly ridiculous that he spent a good minute casting about wildly for ideas. The whispers had grown to hissed conversations around them:
"They really want us out of here, don't they?"
"Apparently, but I don't fancy us five being split up-"
"D'you reckon they'd split us up? We've been together forever; as long as I can remember!"
"They can come home with me!"
The room snapped into stunned silence.
Harry whipped around to look at Hermione, restraining himself from gaping at her.
Her eyes glimmered with resolve, and she lifted her chin, as if daring him to challenge her. Harry felt a stab of foreboding; it was not often that Hermione did something just as impulsive as he was known to do.
"Hermione," he said cautiously, "don't you think…?"
"I can keep them until someone comes to adopt them," Hermione said, sounding much more certain than Harry felt, "at least then they'll have a proper home-"
"Hermione, you live in a flat in Diagon Alley." Harry pointed out, "How would they fit?"
"You bought me a house, didn't you?" Hermione shot back, "I'll find a way to get it repaired, and then I'll move. And don't you dare tell me not to do it, Harry James Potter-I'm the cautious one, and when I finally get the nerve to do something impulsive, you're not going to stop me!"
There was a silence in which she glared at him, looking defiant. There was a pause, and then Harry felt a grin spread across his face.
Slowly, her glare disappeared in one sheepish smile.
"I know better than to try." Harry said, reaching up and gently brushing a curl of hair away from her flushed face. "But you can't stop me from helping you."
She reached up and caught his hand, grinning back.
"I'm not going to try."
Harry found himself gazing at her rosy cheeks, her dancing brown eyes, her familiar grin-his stomach flipped pleasantly as her fingers closed tightly around his and she returned his gaze steadily, still smiling.
Suddenly, someone cleared his throat, and the moment was broken. Hermione looked away, looking momentarily flustered, and hastily questioned a nonplussed Healer Smitt, "Suppose we moved all of them in two months from now, just about springtime?"
"Oh, well-" Healer Smitt looked decidedly dazed, "Yes, I-I suppose that would work… I am in charge of this area-there doesn't seem to be any regulations against it…"
"Thank you very much." Hermione said briskly, "Ben, Adrian-would you rather stay here, or come with us?"
They looked at each other, then back at Harry. Adrian's face broke into a smile and he tugged at Ben's arm. "Let's stay with them, Ben."
"All right. As long as we're together, I guess." Ben said, looking uncertainly at Healer Smitt. She smiled, still looking somewhat distracted.
"That's fine, dear, if you wish."
"Come along, kids." Hermione shooed the two boys out the door. She looked around at the rest of the kids.
"Do any of you not want to come with us?"
There was a long silence. Jack looked somewhat indecisive for a moment, then he shrugged and answered for all of them, "Looks like all of us want to come."
"We'll come and pick you up for visits every now and then until the house is finished, then," Hermione promised, "we'll come and see you as often as you like."
"Thanks." Katy spoke for all of them. Jack's face was impassive, though he nudged Dusty and raised his eyebrows. "For everything."
Hermione looked at Harry, who cleared his throat (which had gone rather tight), "Right. Er… we'll see you soon."
He tried to turn to follow Hermione out the door, but something squeezed his leg tightly and wouldn't release it. He looked down and saw Jackie's wide eyes gazing back at him. She had squashed Oats the bear in between her little body and his leg, her arms wrapped around both in a tight embrace.
"Bye," she said shyly, offering a smile. "Come visit us soon."
"Okay." Harry said, smiling back. Moisture was gathering at the corners of his eyes. "I will."
"Promise?" she demanded sternly. He put his hand over his heart, and as he did so, he couldn't help but feel that this vow was to the whole room, an oath to start and finish something much bigger than he could imagine.
"I promise."
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