Within minutes Dumbledore had arrived at the hospital. He looked at Severus who had a look in his eyes that told him something wasn't right. The screams of the girl could not be heard from where they were, but as Dumbledore made his way closer and closer to the room he could hear her screams. When he walked into the room everything went silent. Everyone was shocked when the girl had stopped screaming. Careful not to scare her, Dumbledore slowly made his way closer to her bed. With each step she shrunk tinier and tinier, and then he saw her eyes. Not only could you see the intense color, but if you looked close enough you could see all of the pain that a 10 year old should not know.
"Mommy misses you." Up to that moment nobody has heard her voice or seen her looked less frightened. Dumbledore went to go pat her back, only then did he realize the bruises and burns that showed him he couldn't.
"Is she going to be okay?" Concern filled his voice as well as anger that someone could do this to a poor child.
"A few potions and some time and she will be good as new. Well except for the emotional toll." Dumbledore nodded in understanding and then he turned to the little girl.
"I will be back. Everything is going to be alright child, they are here to help you." He knew it wouldn't help a child who has seen many horrors. How can you tell a child who has been abused and lied to that people are going to help her. Still some part of him hoped that she wouldn't scream, for it tore him apart. To his dismay as soon as he left the screaming started again.
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He came back again except this time the child was asleep and no longer in the ICU. Silently he stroked her hair and thought about what to do. Obviously she had to stay with him, for she would be going to Hogwarts soon. The question was how was she going to make it through. She flinched every time someone moved their hand and she cowered when someone simply walked past her. Under his hand he felt her tense up at the touch of someone, only to simply relax when she realized it was him.
"She always talked about you, she said you would save us." Her eyes were twinkling unlike her normal dull eyes.
"But I didn't." For the first time she sat up and hugged him. Not caring how painful it was or ignoring the fire that she felt was inside her.
"You saved me, but you gave her hope. That's all that matters." Dumbledore looked at her. How could a child who seemed so helpless be braver than anyone? She noticed the upset look on his face and decided to talk when a single tear fell. "Good people always have the worst fates. It was her time, and she was ready, she knew she had to." Dumbledore stroked her hair as she lied back down ready to sleep again. He thought to himself how a child could be so wise and hopeful. The nurses made their way back in and told him it was time to go. When he returned back to Hogwarts her words were stuck in his head, "Good people always have the worst fates."
