A Wonder

On the other side she found two small children with bright blonde curly hair. They were dirty and thin. The girl had a stuffed owl clasped tightly on her arms and the boy was holding her hand. They looked to be about 10 and 8 years old. 

“Oh my…” she whispered, “how on earth did you two end up here…”

She dropped down to their level and looked at them closer, she gasped. 

“Your…” she grabbed the girl, scooping her up into her arms and taking the boys hand led them down the empty halls to the hospital wing. 

“Poppy!!” She yelled as soon as they entered. The sleepy looking woman emerged and rushed to their side.

“Minerva who.. are these children?” She asked.

“They’ve been missing. Someone’s left them at my door, please, look them over and keep them here I’m off to find Albus.”

As soon as she let go of Quinn the girl started screaming and crying. 

“No!!!” The older woman turned back to her. 

“I’ll be right back, just stay with your brother.”

“No no no!! He said you’d stay with us!!” She cried.

“He?” She asked and Ro shook his head.

“He didn’t tell us his name and he said it had to stay a secret.”

“But he brought you to me, he took you from somewhere.”

They nodded, “the bad place. Mammy and Ry are still at the bad place…”

“Okay, it’s okay, we’re going to find them alright?” 

Xx

When Luna woke that morning there was a note taped to her nightstand. She grabbed it and read it quickly. 

‘Gryffindor common room, special single use password: wonder’

She grabbed her clothes, dressed and ran toward Gryffindor tower as fast as she could. 

The fat lady looked her up and down before asking, “Luna Lovegood?” She nodded and gave the password then the portrait swung open. 

Inside were her friends, Harry Ron Hermione and Ginny. 

“What’s going on?” She panted, “did someone hear from Ryleigh?”

“No. Luna come here.” Ginny said. 

“Someone left this for us.” Hermione said. 

They all looked down at the parchment. It was a potion recipe.

“For what?” Ron asked, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. 

“I’ve read it over. I think it’s attempting to be a locator potion. You drink it, think of who you’re looking for and you’ll know where they are.” Hermione explained. “But it’s really complicated. And you’ve got to be able to use legilemency to use it.” 

They all looked to Harry. “Oi! Your a potions pro this term.” Ron said.

Ginny took the recipe from Hermione. 

“Ryleigh made this.” 

“Yeah.” Luna agree looking over the page, “last term she finally finished it.”

“She made it?” Hermione asked. “It’s… very impressive.” The girl bristled. 

“Okay. So we’ll brew it and then what?” Ginny asked. “Go and get her? That didn’t really work out well last time.”

“Well we’ve got to try! I mean no one else is doing anything!” Harry shouted.

“Someone is. They left us this.” Luna said.

“It doesn’t matter, let’s get to work.” Hermione said.

Xx

After madam pomfrey had cleaned them up and given them some nutrient potions she sent them off with Minerva to her rooms. 

“You’ll stay with me until we find your Mother and sister.” She explained and they nodded. 

“Alright, I’ve set up a space for you here. Some beds and washed that owl for you.” She explained and led them to the next room where she had indeed created a room just for them. “I have to go and talk with someone, but you to stay right here and I’ll be back.” Ro nodded.

Xx

“Albus i need to speak with you.” She said and he sighed. 

“Minerva, I cannot locate the girl, I have tried.” He said.

“It’s not that. Someone’s dropped her siblings at my door. I took them to poppy and she said they’re fine, a little malnourished but not hurt.”

“Where are they now?” He asked.

“They’re in my chambers. And they will stay there until we find their mother. They have no other family left.”

Xx

The door to Snapes office slammed open as Dumbledore walked in. 

“You’ve taken those children.” Dumbledore hissed.

Severus looked up at the man before him he looked angry but the Professor couldn’t bring himself to care. 

“I have no idea what you’re referring to.”

“You could have ruined everything.”

“I did as you instructed and left the girl.” Snape responded. 

Xx

The young children lived almost completely in McGonagalls office and chambers for about a week. They seemed to be improving although they didn’t spend much time talking with her. She would really only leave them during the times that she taught a class and was back to them as soon as she could. Finally she agreed to show them around the school so long as they promised not to leave her side. She brought them along for her classes, Quinn spend most of the time in the corner playing with her owl, Ro listen adamantly to the lessons and made quiet pleasantries with the first years. 

When her 5th year class entered she saw Ginny and Lunas eyes widen and run over to the boy immediately.

“Ro!” They shouted and the boy jumped. 

“Oh, hi.” He said quietly. 

They looked up to McGonagall who shook her head.

“Oh I haven’t seen you in forever buddy! Look how big you’ve gotten.” Luna said and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, the boy blushed bright red. “Is your sister here to?” Ginny asked. 

Ro pointed to the back corner where Quinn was playing. 

Quietly and carefully this time the girls walked over to greet the younger girl. 

“Hi Quinny.”

“Hi Luna, Hi Ginny.” She whispered back.

“We’re so glad to see you both…” Ginny said sadly. 

“Ryleigh isn’t here with us.” Quinn said. 

“I know but, don’t you worry because we are gonna find her real soon okay?” Ginny said. McGonagall raised a brow at the girl who just looked away. 

“I’d like to speak with you girls after class, but for now, please take your seats.” She asked and they complied, Ro followed them. 

“Can I sit here Minerva?” He asked sweetly and the other students nearly choked at her first name.

She ignored them and nodded to the boy. 

“Just be careful not to touch anything.”

After class ahead concluded she told the small children to head into the office and play. 

“Where did they come from? Have you found Ryleigh? Is she okay?” Ginny rushed out.

“No, we haven’t found her yet but I’m working as hard as I can to locate her. From what I understand they move locations frequently to avoid ministry suspicion.” 

“Where did they come from then?” Luna asked.

“They we’re just.. here. I’m going to keep them with me until we locate Ms Walsh and Mrs Walsh. But you girls are welcome to visit with them, I’m sure they’d appreciate someone else to speak with.”

Xx

“Why is it when something happens it’s always you three?” McGonagall asked as Harry Ron and Hermione stood in her classroom. 

“Believe me Professor, I’ve been asking myself the same question for six years.” Ron said.

“Oh, Severus.” She called to the defense teacher as he entered. “It’s here.” She said.

He made his way to the necklace, using his wand he levitated it up into the air as he examined it. 

“What do you think?” She asked.

“I think.. that Ms Bell is lucky to be alive.” He responded. 

“She was cursed wasn’t she?” Harry asked. “I know Katie, off the quidditch pitch, she wouldn’t hurt a fly. If she was delivering that to Professor Dumbledore she wasn’t doing it willingly.”

“Yes, she was cursed.” McGonagall responded.

“It was Malfoy.” Harry said back.

They all turned to look at him.

“That is a very serious accusation Potter.” McGonagall hissed.

“Indeed.” Snape said. “Your evidence?” 

“I just know.” Was Harry’s poor excuse.

“You just.. know…. Once again you astonish me with your gifts, Potter. Gifts mere mortal can only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the chosen one.”

McGonagall looked to him then back to the students. “I suggest you go back to your dormitories. All of you.”

They exited and Minerva looked back to Snape. 

“Ho-“ she started but the door to her office opened and Quinn’s blonde curls popped out. 

“Minerva?” She called and the woman spun to meet her gaze.

“What is it?” She asked kindly. 

“Could I get a snack?” The little girl asked, then she looked past her to Snape, and gave him a small smile and wave. McGonagall followed her gaze to see the man turn and walk away from them with haste. 

“Yes, come along we’ll find you something to eat.”

Xx

They’d taken her. She was all alone now. Her mother was dead. Her father was dead. Her siblings gone. 

She simply laid on the cold stone ground and waited. What for she wasn’t sure. Her body was numb and at the same time hurt everywhere. She couldn’t think she could move. 

Days went by, weeks even and they just left her there. She hadn’t a clue she was even still alive. What use was she now? Just entertainment? Apparently. Bellatrix would drag her out, force her to eat and drink and then… she didn’t want to think about it anymore. She closed her eyes.

Xx

On November 10th they we’re seated quietly in the great hall together, Ginny whispering to Luna as the girl pushed the food around on her plate.

“It’s ready!” Hermione called, running into the great hall. 

“Ms Granger! Please keep your voice down.” McGonagall scolded as she walked past them, she was carrying two plates of food out of the great hall with her. 

“I got it. Are you ready?” She asked them and they followed her out and up to the Astronomy tower. 

“Who’s best at legilimency?” 

No one spoke. “I’ve done it on accident. That’s all.” Harry said quietly. They handed him the potion and he looked at it. It shined like diamond dust in liquid form.

“Okay, so you’ll drink it, then think about Ryleigh, only Ryleigh and it should let you see where she is.” Hermione explained.

Harry took the potion vial to his lips and chugged it back. He closed his eyes and thought about the black haired girl he’d gotten to know over the last few years. He thought about her with Luna and Sirius.

When he opened his eyes again he looked between them.

“Let’s go.”

Xx

They rode the thestrals again once the cover of darkness was available. 

“Just follow me.” Harry said as they flew over the clouds. How he could tell which way to go was beyond them but they trusted him so they followed. 

When he landed they landed with him, in a forest near the edge. They left the thestrals there and hoped they would stay as they crept around to an abandoned ware house looking building.

“She’s in there.” He said, “but so is Bellatrix at least.” He said.

“How do you know?” Ginny asked. 

“I just.. do.” He said.

They crept along the side of the building until they found a door. 

“Alohamora” Hermione whispered and flicked her wand at the door. It clicked open and they snuck inside. 

They searched the place room by room as quietly as they could. Finding it completely empty. Finally they came to a room on the second floor that was locked. 

“Alohamora” she said again and this time a small ripple signaled that this room had been locked with a locking charm not just a regular lock. She pushed it open nervously and gasped at the sight. Ryleigh was sprawled on the floor. Her black hair covering her face, her skin pale white and covered in dark blue and purple marks as well as bright red gashes. Beneath her hair her face looked hallow and thin. 

“Ryleigh…” Luna whispered and rushed to her side, grabbing her and pulling her close. 

“Is she…?” Ginny asked.

“She’s alive. She’s alive…” Luna whispered. 

“Come on let’s get her out of here.” Ron said and walked over to them, he scooped her up and her head lulled against his chest with a sickly thud. He swallowed hard and looked up the the rest of them.