The Tabby, the Phoenix and the kitten

Chapter fourteen

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Minerva said smiling at the girl's expression. The gates in front of them opened, and as they walked up towards the castle, Arianna's hand in Minerva's, she tried to take everything in around her, an expression of excitement and wonder on her face.

They soon entered the castle and made their way up to the hospital wing where Poppy was organizing and getting ready for the oncoming school year.

"Poppy!" Minerva called, helping Arianna to sit on a bed. Poppy heard her friend call her and came over to where she was standing, surprised to see she wasn't alone.

"Well hello, Minerva what can I do for you?" Poppy asked giving her friend a questioning look.

"Poppy, this is Arianna, Arianna Winters." Minerva replied and slightly pulled her away from Arianna.

"I need you to take a look at her, she is a student this year, I had to take her away from those awful muggles Poppy, they beat her, not to mention she has a nasty bite on her leg, from a dog." Minerva explained quietly, Poppy eyes grew wide, and she turned to look at the girl, her hair was in front of her face, but she could see her tied ankle quite clearly. Poppy nodded and headed over to Arianna.

"Arianna, this is Madam Pomfrey, our medi-witch, she is going to take a look at your bruises and your ankle. I don't want you to hide anything from her." She said sternly, "I have to go and talk with Professor Dumbledore, I will be back shortly." Arianna looked up at her, fear in her eyes.

"It's alright Arianna, Madam Pomfrey will help you, she's my friend." Minerva said giving the girl a comforting smile. Arianna nodded and as Poppy began to examine her, Minerva left the wing to go and speak with Albus.

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"Albus?" Minerva called walking into his office, she found him sitting at his desk reading a letter. When he looked up to see his wife, he smiled and put down the letter.

"Did you inform Miss. Winters parents of their daughter's letter being no joke?" He asked curiously,

"No not exactly, Albus those muggles are not her parents! She told me, and I don't blame her, Albus they beat her! She gets sever injuries from tending to animals, and they do nothing for her! Not to mention how thin she is," Minerva said continuing on telling Albus how worried she was for this child.

"Where is she now?" Albus asked, his face serious, concern written on it as well.

"The hospital wing, with Poppy." Minerva replied, Albus stood and the two of them began to walk to the hospital wing.

"Albus there is something else," Minerva said and Albus stopped and turned to her curiously, "Albus, she has your eyes, your exact eye colour, you and our daughter are the only people I have ever seen with that colour. Albus, is it, do you think, is it possible that she could be our daughter?" Minerva asked rushed, hope in her eyes and on her face. Albus closed his eyes and sighed.

"No, Arianna is gone Minerva. It isn't her." He said and before Minerva could protest, he continued walking to the hospital wing.

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"Miss Winters, is there anywhere else that you have been hurt?" Poppy asked softly, after finishing with the girls nastily bitten ankle, and rubbing a salve on her bruised face. Arianna looked down and mumbled something.

Popppy looked at her expectantly, "What was that?" She asked.

"Just some bruises, it's nothing really." She said not looking at the medi-witch. Poppy looked at her suspiciously, "well, lets see these bruises then." Arianna took a deep breath and pointed to her ribs.