Chapter 3
Cordelia sat in the back seat of the limo looking out at the world as it passed by the tinted windows in a blur of shapes and color. She had changed into a long cocktail style dress that wrapped around her neck to keep the top half from falling with a slit on the left side starting from a few inches below her thigh showing off her long slender legs in fleeting peaks when she moved. Pulled over her shoulders was a matching long trench coat with silver buttons in the shape of coiled snakes for a small pop of color.
On her feet she wore two inch black high heels that had a cloth piece on each side of the shoe to wrap up her leg and tied just below the bend of her knee. They were spelled liberally with cushioning charms and wrapped to where the rune circle tattoo on her ankles were shown slightly between the ribbons.
Her hair had been doused liberally with lavender and tea tree oil then expertly curled into semi-tame waves falling freely down her shoulders. It framed her face causing her aristocratic features to come into sharp relief against the wall of black making her sharp blue grey eyes to shine. She wore verily light make-up in the form of a light powder to her skin, some blush and a small bit of lipgloss to enhance her natural beauty.
Sitting on her crossed legs purring in content was Aquarius who she had placed a special glamour collar on making him look like a midnight black cat. She was gently stroking his back feeling the hidden scales under the layer of charms. Each gentle stroke caused the small wyvern to purr loudly as he snuggled against his mistress.
The small action caused a slight quirk to lift Cordelias lips as she glanced down at her familiar snoozing. It had taken her some time to choose her outfit and fix her hair to perfection. After all her mother always did say the best way to send a message is to impress first denounce later like a spider drawing a fly into its trap. She could easily remember the days of her father playfully bemoaning the fact that he was surrounded by Slytherin women. Her lessons with her mother were the reason behind her currently sitting in a limo wearing designer clothes making her way towards her niece.
Looking up from her familiar Cordelia cast her gaze to the tinted window separating her from the driver. She watched as the man carefully maneuvered the long vehicle down the road clearly humming a tune to himself. His short platinum blond hair slicked back on the sides with a black hat sitting atop his head and a tailored suit adorning his lean, lightly muscled frame.
Her drivers name is Marius Maloye previously Malfoy a squib cousin of the Malfoy head Lucius. Cordelia had met him not long after his family had kicked him out of the house for being a squib. Mind you they had kept him until he was seventeen which was luckier than most but only because they were to embarrassed to ship him off to a muggle orphanage. So he was hidden deep within one of the Malfoy country estates until they could legally kick him into the muggle world with no paper trail.
It was at the time that Cordelia had become independent from her family after a row with her parents about a marriage contract that she wished to end but they didn't see the reason to. She was fuming walking through muggle London when she had literally ran into the young man knocking him over and the food order he was due to deliver. He was skin and bones just barely making ends meat with little common education and only his pure blood etiquette lessons from his youth.
It took her less than a second to realize what family he was from. It didn't take long to put two and two together to get the whole picture especially with the aura of pure misery that was coming off of him. She felt a sadness along with a burning fury at his family that she had quickly made a rash decision. Taking money from her trust vault she invested in a couple of limos and opened up a limo service company manned purely by squibs.
She was quite proud of her company that worked in both the muggle and magical worlds as drivers. Her main rules were to always act as the pureblood they were raised as just slightly toned down and that no squib was to drive someone from their direct family. Meaning if anyone from the Malfoy family that knew of who the squib was or would ask questions the squib in question was to not be presented as their driver. It saved her a lot of trouble and made it a more comfortable drive for everyone.
Not to mention it is stated right at the top of the contract that every pureblood who gains their services that the driver had full rights to kick them out of the vehicle if said pureblood was being offensive in any form no refund. It wasn't her fault most pure bloods refuse to read contracts or the fine print right at the top of the page before signing. It just meant free money in her and her employees pockets as well as a little revenge for those scorned for something they couldn't control.
Every squib in her employment gets training in driving regular vehicles, busses, trucks, motorcycles and their standard and magical non standard limos. On top of that each squib in her employment is sent to classes to learn modern technology every five years unless a major breakthrough comes to the general public. Let's not forget her personally having the goblins under contract to creat a whole new identity for each squib in order for them to blend in and live in the muggle world. Many squibs were saved by her company and now live comfortable lives with their families if they decided to have one.
A small buzzing sound brought her out of her musings as the smooth cultured voice of her first ever employee echoed out of the intercom.
"My lady we will be within range of number four private drive soon where do you wish to be let off?"
Shaking her head with a slight smirk Cordelia couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the young mans manners. To this day all of her employees who she's told multiple times to just refer to her has Miss, Potter or Cordelia still refuse. Each and every one of them refer to her as my lady. They say it's because without her many of them would have died on the side of the street like a mangy stray.
"We are here to put on a show Marius and I plan on making it subtly flashy in a snobbish I'm richer than you way. So in other words pull right up in front as if we were a trophy on display to the lesser people."
A cruel smirk carves it's way onto Marius's face as he nods before quickly schooling his features back into a blank mask. He knew full well what they were doing at private drive. Cordelia had filled him in on why she needed to use one of the best limos they had on hand as she asked for him personally as her driver today. His job was to stay by the limo and wait for her to signal to him to call the child welfare department and report the Dursley's if things were as horrible as they feared for young Aster.
It took only a few minutes for the limo to pull up to the curve in front of its target and only a minute for people to start peaking out windows and pretend to do their outdoor work. Both driver and occupant found it quite comical how they thought they were subtle in their spying but it just worked to their own advantage. After all if things were bad for the young heiress residing within the modest two story home that looked like all the others they would need an audience. Maybe even have the police and child welfare office look into the other families depending on how horrible little Asters situation is.
Calmly Marius got out of the limo and made his way to the left side door that faced the Dursley residence. With a perfect ninety degree bow and blank face as he pulled open the door with a white leather gloved hand. He held his free hand out to assist his lady from the vehicle.
Giving a soft smile to her her driver Cordelia graciously accepted the help as she lifted Aquarius up onto her shoulders like a living scarf. Using Marius as slight leverage she pulled herself gracefully out of the back of the limo her face set into a serene countenance.
Gently brushing her dress down she squared her shoulders holding her head high as she approached the door to number four private drive. Her gate was measured as she subtly listened to the excited whispers of the neighbors wondering why a obviously rich young woman would be visiting the lovely Dursley family.
Yet through all this gossip not one person mentioned her niece not until she was about to knock on the door and what she heard did not endear her to the family inside. It seems according to the gossip that the elder Dursley's may be getting a reward for taking care of their mentally unstable niece. Well that won't do especially since it seems in their eyes her brother was a drunken wastrel and her sister-in-law was a drug addict.
Taking a deep breath she gently knocked on the door on,y for it to be quickly opened by a woman closely resembling a horse. She had a long neck and long face with perfectly curled blonde hair and a pinched look even as she gave a bright fake smile to Cordelia. Her long sundress did not help her looks in any form except to show off a bony frame.
Standing behind her with a bright smile and beady eyes with a glint of greed flickering in them as he eyed the limo and specialized plates was a whale of a man. He had a well trimmed mustache that just made his three chins more prominent and short blond hair perfectly styled to his head. He wore what looked to be his business suit as if he always aimed to be presentable.
Cordelias guess was as soon as he saw the limo and it's plates he quickly changed into the attired and warned his wife. It didn't take much for Cordelia to realize that wherever this man worked ordered their business cars from Cordelias lot. Meaning this man worked for a squib owned company since they were the ones who usually rented their general cars for their employees. It seems the walrus had recognized her from various visits to wherever he worked.
"My lady! Welcome to my humble abode, if you would have warned us my lovely wife could have prepared a wonderful spread for one of Grunnings most prized costumers."
Cordelia quirked her brow at the man. A costumer indeed, little did he know that Grunning had given her some shares in his company as thanks for the start up from her family and giving him work when he was kicked out. It seemed to be a reoccurring theme of the Potter family to help squibs in need when their own families abandon them. Luckily for Mr, Grunnings himself his squib status was caused by a near fatal accident when young instead if inbreeding. His family has worked for and with the Potters for generations so it was nothing to her father to help the man.
"Indeed Mr, Dursley but I am not her for anything more than to have a small meeting with Grunnings top employees to see how the cars are working for them. We pride ourselves on having the best vehicles available to the companies under our contracts. Thus I personally come to check things out every so often when I'm in the country."
Cordelia flashed a bright smile at the Dursley's couple that relaxed the pair as Mr, Dursley flashed a smug grin towards her neighbors before schooling her features into a pleasant smile once more.
"Please come into our home, would you like some tea and biscuits?"
Cordelia gave a small nod has she stepped up into the doorway before verbally responding.
"That would be absolutely lovely. I hope you don't mind if I let my friend here wander a bit through your lovely home."
Gently patting Aquarius to keep him from hissing at the flash of disgust that crossed Petunias face before being hidden behind her fake smile. It wasn't hard to see this woman liked everything to be prim and proper. Her home reflected this in her floral wall papered walls with a smattering of pictures here and there. Most of which portrayed the couple and a young piggy boy with a small flop of blonde hair that could only be their offspring.
Being led into the living rooms she noticed as she turned into the room a set of stairs with a cupboard under it. Straight down the hallway from the cupboard was the entrance to the kitchen where Petunia had bustled off to with a sour look on her face.
Sitting down in one of the comfortable arm chairs that sat around a glass coffee table Cordelia set Aquarius down motioning for him to search. Her job for now was to distract the elder Dursley couple while her loyal familiar hunted down her niece. She then crossed her legs and laced her fingers together on her knee giving a serene smile to the obese man who ogled her like a piece of meat. Oh Cordelia was definitely going to ruin this man even if they took good care of her niece, which she highly doubted just by the rumors she heard walking up to the door.
Aquarius knew what his mistress wished of him as he quietly padded his way through the house. He didn't like this place that smelled of flowery perfume and greasy cooked meats. It was much different than his first home of woods and small animals and greatly different from his mistress's place. His mistress's home smells of pure and ancient magic that has done nothing but grown with constant care and devotion.
Better yet his mistress's place is home to some of his greater brothers that soar through the floating sky shapes that he himself could never touch. It's the paradise his first home once was. Yet that is neither here nor there no matter how much Aquarius wished they were back home on their island or traveling the ruins of dust and cobwebs.
Approaching the stairs Aquarius cast his gaze up the steps taking slow, deep breaths to see if he couldn't catch a whiff of what his mistress calls the family magic. Although Aquarius knows what it really is, a building of greater magic that his mistress's kind is able to bring into the world. He has watched and kept his senses open enough to feel, smell and taste the difference. The ones is mistress calls Muggleborns or new bloods magic feels fuzzy and ever expanding. It tastes and tests the world around it as if it's trying to figure out where it fits in. It's like the strange fuzzy drink his mistress showed him that when shook turned from liquid to a fountain of fizzing bubbles.
The ones his mistress calls halfbloods were different from the ones she calls new bloods. Their magic has settled and feels like thick liquid in a maze. The magic slowly flows through the maze as if testing the waters and trying to coat and absorb everything it touches on its path. It reminds Aquarius of the bright yellow sap that oozes from trees.
Finally the pure bloods like his mistress, their magic is the greater magic each having a different feel and taste to it. His mistress's magic the part that tastes the the same as her younger nest mate is like life and death as one. It feels of safety and guardianship like one his greater sisters watching over a new clutch. Yet her younger nest mates mate felt of calculating and fighting as if he were looking at a great lion with a snake hidden in the shadows to help the roaring beast.
Those were the things he was searching out now. He knew that the young hatchling of his mistress's younger nest mate would smell of all those things in one. Of life and death, guardian and the great lions and snakes fighting by one another within her.
It didn't take him long to find the trail at its thickest but he was not pleased where it lead to. The thickest feeling of the special magic was coming from the small room that smelled of chemicals that made Aquarius want to sneeze. It made his lips curl back and a hiss want to escape from within his chest. These beings have done bad to his mistress's family by forcing them into a small den. He will be sure to point it out to his mistress so she knows that the small den is most likely the hatchlings sleeping nest.
He quickly trotted his way towards the small den of chemicals easily avoiding the walking twig woman who sneered down at him before heading to where his mistress was. He slowed as soon as he got to the door of the small den and took in the scents trailing out of the small cuts in a metal frame within the door.
Indeed the scent was strongest from within the tiny den but not fresh so Aquarius field the room away before making his way towards the next room. It didn't take him long to hear the subtle shuffling of small feet and the light clanking of glass and metal.
Cocking his head to the side Aquarius slowly pushed the slightly ajar door open further and slinked his way into the warm room. The room was bright with a small four person table at one end and a counter with a sink at the other. Standing at the sink up on a wobbly stool was the source of the scent of magic.
Her back was facing him but from what he could see his mistress would not be pleased at all. The young girl standing before him was a mere waif of a thing with thin shoulders poking out from the neck line of a shirt three times her size. It looked more like a tattered dress than a shirt and it seems that's what she wore it as. Her mass of midnight black hair with a inch thick stripe of auburn just behind her bangs on the left side of her head was matted and sheared in a pathetic attempt at layers.
When the girl moved her head to the side Aquarius caught a glimpse of the famed lightning bolt scar above her left brow and far finger shaped bruises on the side of her neck. It was clear to him that someone often grabbed her quite roughly by the back of the neck to force her to move. He just had to get her attention so he could get her to his mistress especially if this was just what he could see on the surface.
Aster knew there was someone important from her uncles work that had decided to drop by on a surprise visit. Her aunt had told her in her usual harsh voice filled with contempt to stay quiet and finish her chores. She knew of the lady who decided to visit even sees a peak of her she would be thrown in her cupboard without food for who knows how long. So she remained diligently washing the dishes from her families grease filled lunch while thinking about how one day maybe a hidden family member would come and whisk her away from the Dursley's. Maybe they would tell her all about her mother and father even if it was before they became drunks and died in a car crash.
A sudden and loud purring startled Aster from her daydream causing her to flinch so hard she nearly toppled off her stool. Her eyes had become wide as fear thrummed through her. Did her aunt realize that she was daydreaming and come back to hit her with the towel for taking up time and space.
No that wasn't it her aunt doesn't purr nor does her uncle who would surly have just smacked her instead of making a sound to get her attention. Unless it was yelling and calling her a worthless freak and Dudley would have just pushed her off her stool.
Looking around the kitchen it wasn't until she felt the soft padding of paws that she looked down to see a beautiful midnight black cat with startling bright blue eyes staring soulfully up at her. It's fur was glossy from regular brushing and it's body filled out with good food and a steady diet. This was definitely no stray that had somehow wondered into the home of the Dursley's.
Slowly so she wouldn't startle the cat Aster set down her rag and got off her stool while wiping her hands Dry on her to large shirt. Once off the stool she bent down until she could put her chin on her knees and stare into the too intelligent eyes of the animal before her. She couldn't help but feel a warmth rush through her when after a few seconds of staring did the cat rub its head against her cheek while purring.
A small giggle and slight smile was pulled from Aster as she reached out and gently pet the soft, silky fur of the cat until she felt something leather against her fingers. Curious she slipped her small fingers through the cord of leather until she could see it where a name was emblazoned into the braided piece. Frowning she stared at the word slowly sounding out each letter in a whisper so light one would wonder if they were hearing things.
"A-q-u-a-r-i-u-s? Aquar'us, is that your name? You shouldn't be wandering around here Aquar'us my cousin isn't very nice. He would hurt you and I don't want that to happen, your such a pretty kitty and the pretty lady out there would be sad and unca Vernon would blame me."
Still petting the kitty sitting contently in front of her Aster almost missed the sound of the back door opening and her cousins heavy footfall on the floor. Panic filled her for the safety of the kitty so she quickly scooped him up as best she could and quickly made her way to the door leading to the hall. Yet it was to late as her cousins loud and obnoxious voice came from behind her.
"Hey freak whatcha got, mommy and daddy won't be happy if you stealing food from us!"
Aster slowly looked back at her overweight cousin who stood there with his piggy face twisted into a sneer his fat fingers balled into a fist. It didn't take long for his beady eyes to zero in on the cat in her hands and for his sneer to twist into a cruel smirk. She paled slightly as worry twinged in her heart, her eyes going from Dudleys hand twitching in and out of its fist to his cruel eyes focused on the innocent animal in her arms.
"Mommy and daddy are goin' to be so mad at you freak! Mommy hates animals so give it ere, I will get rid of it."
The cruel glint in Dudleys eyes intensified which causes Aster to tighten her grip on the cat her fingers mussing up the silky fur as she pulled him closer to her small frame. It took only a few seconds for Aster to decide that for the cat's safety from her cruel cousin she would take what was coming to her. Turning as fast as she could Aster bolted from the kitchen cat in hand and cousin lumbering after her like a menacing shadow.
Cordelia was annoyed and truly done with this whole endeavor. For the past fifteen minutes or so all she has done is sit drinking lukewarm bland tea and listen to the obese man in front of her talk about how amazing his family is. The main thing that annoyed her was that not once had the multi chinned walrus masquerading as a human didn't say one thing about her niece. On top of all this his beanpole of a wife keeps shooting her body jealous filled looks. As if it was her fault that she didn't have a near perfect figure that catches the attention of men everywhere.
As soon as she opened her mouth to speak and let her more brash side out the soft tap of small feet followed by the thunder of heavy footfall interrupted the one sided conversation. All three adults looked to where the sound came from to see a little girl carrying a cat and an particularly overweight child stomping after her.
It took Cordelia only two seconds to realize who the young girl was before a cold rage filled her being. Her face blanked in the matter of seconds and her body became rigid at the sight of her beautiful nieces battered form. Her thick hair was matted into dreads in some places as if it scarcely got a brush pulled through it and her pale skin was tinged red from spending a little to much time out in the sun. Her once vibrant killing curse green eyes that had been filled with happiness were now weighed down by the life she's had so far.
Casting her eyes to the two elder Dursley's she noticed that Vernon had slowly turned purple while Petunias scowl had become hateful as they directed their attention on her niece. She also noticed that Vernons eyes kept flicking her direction and each time he became filled with more rage that he directed at the little girl.
"Girl! What do you think your doing? Put that cat down now!"
Spittle flew from Vernons mouth as he yelled at little Aster who violently flinched dropping Aquarius to the floor who hissed at the boy attempting to stomp on him. Quick as lightning Aquarius ran to the window table and hissed arching his back and puffing up his tail flicking his eyes from the room to outside before settling. He sat straight glaring at the Dursley's family looking ready to spit his highly flammable acid at each one of them.
Petunia Dursley's claw like hands quickly farted out and snatched Aster by the arm before turning a strained smile to Cordelia. Only to flinch as her eyes made contact with Cordelias frozen gaze but her words didn't falter.
"Forgive my niece she is a bit mentally challenged so we try to keep her away from guests. The girls parents were a pair of drunken wastrels who got themselves killed in a car accident you see. She-"
Petunias placating words were cut short by Cordelias healed foot coming down loud and hard against the floor. By this point she had crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair. Her eyes were void of any friendly spark as she stared down the Dursley couple as if she was bored with them. Like they were beneath here yet she deigned to grant them with her scrutiny.
"Oh? So your telling me that my little brother and his wife were worthless? Even though James was working to become an Auror for the war while planning the possibly opening of a joke owl order form. Let's not forget dear beautify Lily who wanted to do good in the world and had just finished her healer training while working on her charms mastery so she could help develop new spells to help others. Two of the brightest minds of their generation were drunken bums?"
She had arched her brow during her speech causing the elder Dursley's to pale a pasty white color and Aster to look at her as if she had just grown two heads.
"Y-you, your one of those freaks!?"
Petunias shriek echoed in the room bringing a truly cruel smile to Cordelias Cupid's bow lips. Giving a quick flick of her wrist her wand holster became visible spitting out her Purple Heart and oak wand with rune carved shaft and wyvern shaped handle into her hand. She pointed the sparking tip at the thin woman who screamed in fear pulling her son to her side as she tossed the girl in her claws to the floor like a sacrifice.
Vernon got to his feet as fast as his rotund body would let him, his face purpling in rage at the perceived threat to his family. He moved to his wife's side with his meaty hand balled into fists ready to strike at a moments notice. That is until Cordelia turned her wand on him her head tilted slightly to the side in challenge causing the man to pale once more.
"Now then how about I introduce myself to you ungrateful swine. My name is lady Cordelia Lira Potter eldest daughter of the Most Ancient and Noble house of Potter and you two have someone I want. You know at first I was going to see if you treated my baby brothers only child right and if you did allow things to continue as they were."
Cordelias sharp eyes cut into the Dursley family like knifes as she glared in their direction before softening her gaze as she focused on Aster.
"Now sweet one as you probably no doubt have figured out I am your auntie Cordelia your fathers elder sister. I have come to take you away from here since legally you were supposed to come into my custody when your parents passed. Magic after all is to be raised by those with magic in order to help the child grow, especially if there is a magic blessed relative still living. Not a pair of simple and close minded people who know nothing of common decency towards an orphaned child."
Asters eyes widened and pooled with tears as all her dreams both night and day ones were coming true. She had prayed and hoped that a hidden family member would come and take her away from the Dursley's and love her. She just couldn't believe this was happening and opened her mouth to say as much only to be interrupted by her uncles thunderous voice brimming with anger.
"Now see here, I want you out of my house with your freakishness. We good normal folks don't need your kind coming in and messing about our normal lives. Coming in here waving your magic stick around accusing us of abuse when we let her into our home, fed her food from our table taking from our sons mouth-"
A derisive scoff cut off Vernons tirade as Cordelia got to her feet and pulling herself up to her full height glaring down her nose at the obese man. Sneering at the man she turned to her niece and picked her up feeling every rib in her young frame through her long shirt. Her hear ached when she felt Aster flinch and remain tense in her arms as she approached the door.
She felt Aquarius land on her shoulder and give a chirp and motion his head towards the cupboard under the stairs a few times. Nodding slightly Cordelia cast a charm to keep everything in the cupboard preserved before sliding her wand back into its holster where it became invisible once more. She then harshly opened the front door letting it bang against the wall as she stormed out of the house with her niece in her arms.
In a few quick strides she was to the limo when she heard the loud yell coming from Vernon Dursley as he stormed after her. Knowing a confrontation was coming she quickly passed Aster to Marius motioning for him to settle her in the limo before turning to face the enraged man.
"Now what makes you think you have the right to take our niece from us? Like I said we took her in, gave her a roof over her head, clothed her and took food from our precious Dudders mouth to feed her."
An unladylike snort escaped past Cordelias lips as Petunia tried hushing her husband. After all the neighbors had by now stopped pretending to not be listening in and we're watching the show.
"Personally I think she needed to take more from your sons plate. The boy is morbidly over weight and would,be lucky to live past his thirties. The cloths she wear look as if they've been put through the ringer and clearly don't fit her and on top of all that you don't even own this home. It is still in Lily's name after she bought it for you two to pay off as a wedding gift. Let's not forget the two thousand pounds you get a month for the care and upkeep of the heiress to the vast potter estate. I did my homework before coming here Mr, Dursley and had kept track of everything that involved my baby brother before I went to finish my masters in zoology.
Not long after you two had married Lily had used the money she had earned to buy this place and sell it to you Mrs, Dursley for a fraction of its original price so you'd have a loving home. She also figured that if anything happened to her or James if they were to marry and have a child that you wouldn't be without a safe home to take in her child of it was needed. Which apparently it was because I was in the depths for the forest when they passed and have been so for the past four years or so.
The main stipulation in the contract is that if at any time you were to be given custody of her child in the event she had one, that if the child were to come to any form of harm at the hands of you or your husband that the property were to return to the Potter estate. It is clear to me that you have not taken the proper care of my niece to the point of abusing her thus your home now belongs to me in compensation for the money you have clearly been taking for yourselves and not Aster."
Cordelia held out her hand for Marius to place a folder before he backed back up to guard the door. He had a sense of immense satisfaction watching the Dursley couple turn ghost white as she handed over the copy of the contract for number four private drive. He was lucky enough to be with her when she got those documents through a delayed owl. It was at times like that that Marius saw Lily for the pure slytherin side of her. When it came to her loved ones the woman was as cunning as any snake. She knew full well what kind of woman her sister was and what kind of man her brother in law was as well. She had set up her own version of revenge against her sister if anything like this were to happen most likely hoping that it would never be needed.
The sound of sirens echoed in the distance as as several police cars came down private drive with a couple of sleek black cars in the mix. The vehicles stopped right next to the limo leaving enough room for it to get out when it was time for them to leave. From within the first black car stepped out a young woman with her brown hair tied into a severe bun and glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. She gave off a strict air as her dark brown eyes studied everyone with a sharp look. She wore a beige dress suit with dark brown heals and carried a clip board with a pen attached to a chain.
As she turned her head towards their group the sun glinted off the clear beads stringed to her glasses and around her neck. Her eyes widened slightly when they landed on Cordelia as recognition flashed in her eyes. It took Cordelia a few minutes to register who the woman was before a beaming smile envelope her face.
"Julia is that you? It's been so long since I've seen you how have you been?"
The one named Julia gave a small smile to Cordelia giving her a slight nod as she approached them. Julia's older brother was born with magic and was a year behind Cordelia in school. He was sorted into Hufflepuff and they had become friends when he had run into Cordelia quite literally on his way to astronomy one night. He had managed to get his robes tangled into the banister making Cordelia laugh a deep belly laugh breaking her normal Slytherin mask. She had met Julia when she had gone over to their place one summer and the two had become good friends.
"I have been great lady Potter and I would love to catch up but that can happen later when we have time for now I am here on a call about some abuse going on."
Cordelia modded a grim look etching on her face as she nodded towards the house behind her.
"Indeed, it was I who had called it in. My niece has been here in the ever so loving care of her aunt Petunia until my return from the forests of the world. Sadly it seems they have done a poor job of taking care of her."
She then motioned to the limo where a young man who had stepped out of the other car was talking with Aster taking pictures of her bruises, slightly exposed ribs and matted hair as evidence. Standing by Asters side was the ever vigilant Marius who kept a gently hand on her shoulder and gave her a soft smile as she endured the questions and pictures.
"I fear that her room was the cupboard under the stairs. Aquarius kept indicating as such when we were leaving the home. On top of all this their own bow see,s to be dealing with a different kind of abuse. The exact opposite of my dear niece, not to mention I find it hard to believe that no one on this street didn't see the signs."
Cordelia shot the nosy crowd a scathing glare causing many to flinch. Seeing the flinch as well Julia made a note of who reacted and to have them checked for any signs of abuse or over indulgence of any sorts within their homes. She just knew it was going to be a long day, maybe even few months. There was no way this was going to be a quick investigation and the grim look on her partners face told her he was thinking the same thing.
Julia could only sigh wondering how anyone could mistreat or ignore mistreatment of a child. It was just deplorable in her books and was the main reason why she joined the child services.
"Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me same with you since it seems you plan on taking in that young girl."
Cordelia slowly nodded as she looked to her niece who was slowly dozing in the warmth of the limo.
"Indeed, contact me through your brother when it's time to go to court but Julie I want to make sure we don't need to bring Aster into the court room anytime soon. I want her to heal before she enters those rooms and stare her abusers in the face if it is needed of her."
Julia nodded in full agreement. Luckily most of the time a child so young isn't needed in the court room unless their testimony is absolutely needed.
"I'll be honest with you Cordelia I don't think she will be needed in court, not with the pictures of her current state and whatever that house holds secret within its walls. I'll be sure to contact you if we do need her though."
With that Julia's face became stone once more as she left to talk to the constable before entering the home. Cordelia just stood there watching for a moment before heading over and getting into the back of the limo a feeling of contentment simmering inside her. She knew that the battle was just beginning and that they had a long road ahead of them but the important part was that they have taken their first step in the right direction.
"Take me to Diagon Marius and take your time."
Marius gave a curt nod of his head as he pulled away from private drive smiling slightly at the image of Cordelia pulling Asters head into her lap and messing with the girls matted head of hair. It was definitely going to be a long and ruff road with many ups and downs but he knew if anyone can pull it off it would be Cordelia and may mother magic have mercy on any who try to harm that girl.