A Lifetime *Hiatus*

Chapter 5

A/N: Hey Buddies!

I'm back!

I don't own Harry Potter.

I have no beta unfortunately seeing as having a new set of eyes will find mistakes that could be made and I overlook when checking the story.

I hope you like this one, Bon Appetit!

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This story is NOW updated there!

The Head Matron's office was probably the best and cleanest thing about Wool's Orphanage and honestly Albus wasn't even surprised. Just like it had been in the past; when he first came to visit, it seemed that the caretakers of the children in the muggle world cared more about themselves then who they were actually paid to provide for.

Images of the last time he was here introducing the new world to Tom Riddle plagued his mind when the young woman who never even gave her name lead them into the office and told them to sit while she found Mrs. Hornhill.

Would the savior of the wizarding world end up like the very person she supposedly conquered? It would ruin all of Albus' contingency plans if she went down the wrong road; all because that damned sister of Lily couldn't do her one job.

Dumbledore was by no means simple or naive and knew exactly what would have happened to the girl if she'd lived with Petunia and the Dursleys. It wouldn't have been necessarily happy and very borderline dangerous to the girl's health but it was all part of a plan that would save the world. What was a little girl's happiness and safety compared to that of thousands of other little girls and boys living?

It was all for the greater good and while it wasn't really the nicest way to think about what he would have put Bella through despite her parents' wishes, it would have been the BEST way that Dumbledore's plans could come to fruition.

Now however, everything was different. One of his little pawns had ended up in the last place Albus would even think of putting it which means his strategy would have to change to fit new occurrences.

From his left came the clicking of heels and a pattering of feet from what Albus and Severus assumed was the Head Matron and the previous helper.

When she entered the room Albus noticed that Mrs. Hornhill had brown hair in a very short bob with chocolate brown eyes that seemed to try and pull the bitter ugly truth out of you. It seemed that just as before, he was dealing with someone who wasn't just a gullible fool wanting to get rid of a kid for ten months a year, and if Mrs. Hornhill wasn't at least distantly related to the late caretaker that once sat in that exact chair before her, Albus would be fairly surprised.

"So..." she started. Her voice was smooth with low undertones and she seemed as if she was trying desperately not to look at Albus' choice of clothing which the man in question wouldn't blame her for.

"You are here to speak with Bella about a Scholarship to a school you preside over? If she's been down on your list since birth, does she have any other family members who could possibly take her in? What is your school's name again? Hogwarts? Well never in my life have I ever heard such a ludicrous name for a school! And what do you both do there? Headmaster you say! Do you personally come to the residences of any of your other students?

On and on she went. Question after question that were answered as brief as possible without suspicion until finally she sipped at the tea that was placed on her table without even offering them refreshments afterwards.

So much for hospitality.

Snape during the entire ordeal seemed to be patiently waiting in the seat next to the Headmaster. On the inside however he was very irritated at how long this process was taking compared to the other orphanages he has visited.

As he saw her sip on her tea he finally butted into what probably would have been further questioning because for whatever reason Dumbledore was letting her prattle on instead of just getting to the girl with a few compulsions here and there.

"What can you tell us about Bella Potter? If she to be attending our school, the least we can do is see if she needs any extra... help." He paused a bit at the end because while it was procedure to ask these questions, he never thought he'd have to say those words to anybody in regards to anyone of James Potter's blood.

Mrs. Hornhill or Jacklyn as the plaque on her desk signified, smacked her lips and sat her cup down. "So Bella is already guaranteed a spot in you school Hoggywerts?" "Hogwarts." Echoed both Dumbledore and Snape with the latter wanting to curl his lip as doing anything the same as the fool.

Both nodded and then she proceeded, "And nothing I say will prevent her from going with you?"

Albus gave a sigh in resignation and he nodded again. This was beginning to sound way too much like the conversation he had years prior with Mrs. Cole about a boy who would later be called the darkest wizard of all time.

"Bella... well there isn't anything that she's really done that makes us cautious of her, it's really just an overall observation. Ever since she came here even as a babe, she's been very quiet and observing.

She's of the upper levels in all her classes smarter than all her peers by a landslide, but is always seen alone without any friends which may be one of the causes. If it wasn't for reports or attendance, nobody wouldn't even realize she was there. I personally feel guilt for it sometimes, but she is different; in a way that we don't really understand. The way that she can look at you with piercing green eyes that should never be on a child her age, the way that she silently watches everyone but never says a word- I highly doubt if she can even speak- just makes her stand out in a way that people notice.

She is not like us so we leave her alone and the children don't associate with her and since she has never reached out it has been that way for a very long time now."

She ended her little recap with her head slightly bowed and although the potion's professor wanted nothing to do with the child he couldn't not hold a feeling of contempt for Jacklyn and the other caretakers for how they treated a child.

"Let me get this straight," drawled Severus slowly, "Because a girl is quiet and smart, you deem that a valid reason to isolate her to herself? Because she is very observing and highly intelligent, you say it makes her different enough that as her caretakers you don't even acknowledge her? Don't you think that you should be helping and goading the child into talking and involving her into social interaction to get the best results? Have you ever even gave her a look over or examination to see if she can indeed actually talk or is she so different that she doesn't even get that service?"

Before the frazzled caretaker could rise in defense of herself Albus rose his hand in a placated gesture before saying, "I'm sure that Professor Snape didn't mean that in a defaming way." He placated with a congenial smile. "After all I'm sure you tried your very best to try and raise Bella proper. Perhaps we can help where you could not. May we see her?"

Jacklyn Hornhill who was once only a minute ago angered by the lashes that were whipped at her character by the man in all black, was now slightly calmer sitting and agreeing with what the old man said about seeing Bella.

"Yes. Very well. Let me go and introduce you to her. Follow me." She said rising to her feet.

After going up a flight of stairs, down a hall, and turning to the left down another, Snape and Dumbledore were now in front of a room labeled 7B.

"This is Bella's room and since it's almost lunchtime, she should be in here getting ready."

As the head matron told them this information, the two men just stood there, both for different meeting waiting to meet Bella Potter.

Then, she knocked.


This. Right here, is my. LONGEST CHAPTER!!!!!!! Definitely for sure it is and I feel freaking fantastic!

So what did you think?

We will most definitely be getting back to Bella next chapter.

How do you think I played off the scene with the New matron and the wizards?

I'm giving this chapter early because I will not be able to submit for the rest of the week


I JUST WON A TICKET TO SEE HAMILTON EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!!!

I won a writing contest for a poem and now get to join a writing workshop and I got a free ticket to see them perform Hamilton live!

Comment. Like and All that jazz. See you soon with another update.
DCthewriter