Chapter 2
As soon as they stepped out of the orphanage, they spotted the man at the gates for them. They looked at each other once more before walking over to him and closing the gate to the hell that had been their lives for the last nine and eleven years.
“Is there anywhere either of you need to go before we go into the wizarding world?” Dumbledore asked them.
“Can we just stop off at the dress shop,” Hermione started.
“There is someone we need to see before we go.” Tom finished.
“Of course,” Dumbledore replied with a slight smile, “Show me the way.”
The three of them were gaining looks from strangers as they walked through London, everyone in their area knew of the troublesome duo. Adults in their area spoke of them as the devil's children and the kids in the area were terrified of them, this is just how they liked it. They had each other so nobody else mattered in their eyes, all except Addie.
As they walked through the dress shop the bell tinkled above the door, “I’ll be just a moment!” a lady called out as she was stood with her back to them trying to lift the rolls of fabric onto the shelves.
“Addie!” Hermione called out, her and Tom dropped their bags and ran over to the women.
“Is anyone else in the shop?” Tom questioned.
“Hi kiddos,” Addie smiled at them, “No, nobody else is here, I’m not even open properly yet.”
Dumbledore stood watching the scene unfold. As soon as he stepped in Tom turned and looked at him before swiping his hand to the side and clicking, successfully shutting, and locking the door as well as closing the curtains in the windows.
“What have we told you Addie, you have to be careful.” Tom chastised the older women.
“Tom Marvolo Riddle,” the women turned to him and looked at him as a mother would. “I am perfectly capable of looking after myself and this shop, I have been doing it long before you were born.” At this point both Tom and Hermione were hovering all the fabric and putting it all on the shelves according. “And what have I told you both about using your magic without training.”
Once everything was in its place both the children hugged Addie around the stomach. “Albus?” Addie questioned, looking to the man still stood at the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Adeline,” Dumbledore looked perplexed as if he were seeing a ghost, “I thought you were dead. We thought you had died.”
“No Albus, only you thought I had died along with that boy that you were always hanging around with. Aberforth knew I needed to leave and so did he. We bought this shop about five years ago and got married 2 years ago. What do you want with the children.” At this point she had pulled both children behind her, so she was shielding them.
“The children are due to start Hogwarts in September, I’m meant to be showing them to Diagonally to get all of the things they need.”
“Wait,” Hermione and Tom both walked out so they were stood between the two adults, “Do you mean to tell us that you and Abe are both wizards.” Hermione said in a monotone tone of voice.
“Yes, you see I went to Hogwarts which is where I met both Albus and Abe. They are brothers you see but growing up they were vastly different, and I fell in love with Abe quite quickly. I could sense your power when I first saw the two of you. When Abe and I were around 20 I had a vision, you see all the women in my family are seers, and it was a vision of the two of you and that dreadful matron of yours. The two of you are going to be powerful wizards, I have seen it, so I started to teach you. Aberforth works in a pub that he owns in the wizarding world, and I work here in Ariana’s.”
Dumbledore let out a gasp at the name, “You named this place Ariana’s, why would you do that?”
“Because unlike you Albus, I didn’t forget that little girl. She is here with me and your brother everyday making sure we stay on the right path. Your little sister lives on forever in this shop. Now, you have no need to stay and take the children to Diagonally, my husband and I will take them to get their school supplies.”
“Are you sure Addie, don’t you both need to work today?” Hermione asked.
“No need to worry children we can both miss one day,” she looked down at both the children. “Why don’t you both go upstairs and freshen up, take your bags up with you to the guest room.”
“Okay Addie.” Both children walked over and picked their bags up before walking back over to Addie and each gave her a kiss on the cheek before walking up the stairs and out of sight.
“I can be leaving.” Albus said looking down at the floor. “If you need anything just call on me.”
“You’re not leaving yet Albus, we have some things to discuss, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, Adeline, anything.”
“I’m calling your brother and then we are all going to talk about those children upstairs.” Adeline pulls out her wand then cast Expecto Patronum, “Go to Aberforth and tell him to come as quick as possible to the shop. Tell him it is an emergency about the children.” The goat Patronus nodded and the disappeared.
“I never knew your Patronus-”
“You wouldn’t,” Addie cut him off, “You never cared to know after you met him, glad to know that it is going so well for you.”
“I haven’t spoken to him in years Adeline, I promise you.”
“It’s not me you need to convince of that, you know how much Aberforth hates that man.”
“How much I hate who Mon amour,” Aberforth walked through the shop towards them and then froze looking at his brother. “What is he doing here?” he looked towards his wife. Addie walked over to him and held his hand firmly before walking him over to his brother.
“Albus was going to take the children into Diagonally,” Adeline explained.
“No, he isn’t.” Aberforth looked like he was about to curse Albus. “They have my protection brother; you are not to touch them. Do you understand me?”
“Of course, Ab.” Albus whispered.
Aberforth turned his back on his and looked down at his wife with a joyous smile, “They’ve been accepted into Hogwarts?” He questioned. Addie nodded with a smile playing on her lips. “Where are they?” he asked his wife.
“They are both upstairs.” She grabbed both of his hands inn hers and suddenly looked anxious, “What I’m worried about is the fact that they each hand a bag with them.”
“What do you mean, is that not a normal thing for children to carry?” Albus spoke up.
“For those two it isn’t,” Aberforth turned back to look at his brother. “They never have a bag on them and even the few times I have seen them with one Hermione is never allowed to carry it.” Aberforth lets out a small laugh. “Tom is too protective of her to allow the opportunity for someone to pickpocket her or steal from her, so she never carries a bag.” He turned to look at his wife, “They were planning to run. Weren’t they?”
“I believe so yes, something must have happened. Didn’t they say Audrey and Charles were back at the home? I swear to Merlin and Morgana if he touched a hair on her head again, I would curse that insipid boy and I will smile whilst walking into Azkaban.” Towards the end she was now yelling, and you could see her magic radiating off of her.
“ADDIE! ADDIE! ARE YOU OKAY,” both Tom and Hermione were yelling and running down the stairs, both coming to a halt at the doorway. “We felt your magic, are you okay?” Tom explained, both walking slowly over to the couple.
“I’m fine dearies,” she held out a hand to each of them and they grab hold, and she knelt to talk to them. “What happened and why do you both have packed bags with you. And don’t you dare lie to me Hermione Jean Dagworth-Granger.” She held up her hand as Hermione was about to cut her off. Tom let out a small chuckle and smirked at Hermione, only Tom and Addie could cut the girl off and get away with it.
“I can’t stay there anymore Addie, I’m sorry but I just can’t. We have the money now; we were going to find somewhere safe to stay until school starts in a few weeks.” Hermione said, a tear made its way down her cheek and Tom pulled her into his chest.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you again Mia, I promise.” He placed his chin on top of her head before she pulled away slightly and looked up at him.
“I won’t let anything happen to you either Tom, you’re never going to be punished again.” He nodded at her statement and a lone tear made its way down his cheek, she reached up and wiped it away before they turned to all the adults in the room.
Hermione was still nestled in Tom’s arms as both Aberforth and Adeline knelt in front of them, the spouses looked at each other and nodded before turning to both children and smiling. “How would you both feel about living with us until you both finish school?” Aberforth questioned them.
“Really?” Hermione asked hesitantly.
“We can ask that of you both, you have each done more than enough for us both over the years. Keeping us alive a few years ago was more than enough.” Tom said with a slight frown.
“You’re not asking, and neither are we.” Addie said so confidently that Tom’s head snapped up to make eye contact with the women. “We don’t have children of our own Tom, let us look after you for a few more years before you decide to grow up.”
He looked down at the girl who was his only family, “What do you think Princess?” He asked in parseltongue.
“I think we should do this Tom, they’re as close to family as we have.” She answered. Tom let out a little scoff at that. “You are my family, you know this, Tom. But it would be nice not to have to look over our shoulder all the time and be able to come home to beds and a warm meal. To be able to come home and relax, so you could finally sleep without feeling the need to protect me from everything.”
“Okay.” Tom said in English.
“Okay? Really?” Addie looked extremely happy with that one word.
“Yes, we would love to live with the both of you when we’re not at school obviously.” Hermione laughed and Tom didn’t think he had seen her this relaxed in years. Though they were each only eleven, they both had to grow up to fast and he wished Hermione to be this happy all her life.
It was then that Albus let out a cough that had the rest of them look to him, Aberforth stood to talk to his brother. “As you can see brother, both Hermione and Tom are safe in our care. If I could please have both their Hogwarts letters and Gringotts’s keys, you can be on your way.”
“Are you sure Aberforth,” Albus laughed, “Two children are quite the commitment.”
“We have been keeping these children alive long enough to know what to do and as far as I’m aware there isn’t anything you could teach them about our world that either myself or my wife could not.”
“Okay brother, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Their matron calls them the devil’s children and from what I could see on the walk over here from the orphanage the locals think the same.”
Before anyone could process what Albus had just said Aberforth had his wand pressed to his brother neck pinning him to the wall. “Their things Albus, before I lose my patience.”
Albus Dumbledore handed two envelopes over and two keys before turning to the children who had come to stand next to Aberforth, “I’ll see you at Hogwarts Mr Riddle, Miss Dagworth.” He turned on his heel and stormed out of the shop.