Sis Dora stands in the doorway with a happy smile. Behind her is the small figure of a child hiding behind her cloak barely peeking her head around.

"Hello, Soren."

"What are you doing here so late? Wait no, what are you doing here at all?" I ask in confusion.

She quickly looks around "Do you mind if we speak inside the room?"

I nod as I move out of the way letting the two by. Sis is wearing a cloak over her Auror robes with her hood up; the child is in a similar dark cloak covering her small face. The glance I get of her face shows she is no older than seven, with dark bags under her eyes and dead fishlike eyes. She obviously hasn't gotten to rest in a while.

Sis sighs deeply as she sits on the bed I'm not using and gives me a tired smile. "I suppose I should give you an explanation. Aria, please sit." She gives the child a kind smile as she pats the bed beside her. Slowly the child obediently listens sitting next to her with her head down.

I look between the two before gesturing for Sis to continue. "...Do you remember when I was assigned to the dock incident a while back?"

I get a bit nervous as I nod "Yeah."

"Well, this child is one of the things the dark wizards were smuggling that night. She was hard to find and almost died… They had her in a sealed container filled with runes and seals while also being held down by chains." She says patting the child's back softly.

I put my hand over my face as I begin to think 'I missed someone? I should have done worse to them… dammit'

Although I'm upset I don't miss a beat and my eyes return to Sis "Why was she locked up so tightly?" I ask keeping my assumptions in check.

Sis sighs again as the child lays her head on Sis's lap, looking at me with the same dead eyes as before. "Have you ever heard of Obscurials?" Sis speaks slowly watching my expression.

My eyes widen as I look at the little girl "You're not saying she-"

Before I finish my words Sis nods patting the child's head. "Dumbledore requested Shacklebolt's aid in bringing her to him. He will be taking guardianship of this child. The ministry requested my aid to eliminate the dark sorcerer in the dungeons, it turned out to be a good excuse to come."

I hesitate a moment. "Does the ministry know?"

Sis looks surprised at my knowledge of the situation "No, Shacklebolt had me leave her out of the report. As far as the ministry knows she is still just a missing child that they aren't even looking for."

I let out a thankful sigh "So what brings you here?"

She looks a bit nervous as she pulls the child closer "Can you watch over this child for me?" seeing my odd expression she continues "The ministry officials are at Hogwarts right now. I only need you to watch her till tomorrow night, that's when we raid the dungeon."

My expression turns a bit serious "You are actually taking part in the raid?"

She nods as she smiles at the child now sleeping on her lap. "It is my first combat mission since… the incident."

I suppress the rising darkness as I am angered just thinking about the filthy vampires "You still have the Seeker Coin, yes?"

She nods "I do."

I let out a sigh releasing my pent feelings "If you are ever in trouble, USE IT. I may wish to hide my casting abilities, but your life is far more important."

She lifts her head revealing a heart-felt smile "Of course."

'She won't use it… It appears my time of hiding may be over…'

I step forwards hugging her, setting her head on my chest "If they so much as put a scratch on your cheek, I will remove every dark wizard from the isles."

I hear Sis Dora laugh a bit as she hugs me with one arm "Perhaps I should let them hit me, just once."

I roll my eyes "Don't joke about such things."

She scoffs "Why do I feel like sometimes you are the older sibling?"

I shrug as I release her from the hug taking a step back "I just matured early."

"Of course, so mature...Lockfart… really?"

I genuinely get a good laugh from her words "How did you hear about that?"

A smirk forms on her lips "I am well informed. So, can you watch her? It's only for 24 hours."

I nod "Of course. Even if the sky falls I'll keep her safe."

Sis softly lays the girl in the bed pulling the covers over her. "So dependable." She says as she ruffles the hair on my head.

"You too Sin." She says patting Sin who is a bit outstretched towards her.

I smirk at Sin's pur as she walks to the door "Thank you, Soren, I have to get to Hogwarts now, I'm late."

With a soft smile, I see her out "Be safe."

She waves as she pulls up her hood and steps out "I will."

I let out a long sigh as I close the door. I stare at the girl in the bed with a pitiful gaze as I sit on my own. It's a good thing I don't have to sleep, I can make sure she is fine through the night.

Since there is nothing better to do I spend the night practicing chantless spells. I am mainly training to cast Sectum Sempra without a verbal component for its terrifying effectiveness. Not only that but using your wand like a sword is pretty awesome; or as Ron would say, 'Wicked'.

Throughout the night I have kept track of every single time I practiced the spell. Perhaps it was excessive but time is basically all I have. Six thousand four hundred and twenty-two attempts, four hundred and eight successes. Each success is a small mark on the wall across from my bed.

My mind feels hazy as I've used my magic core to its max. I don't feel like I need to sleep but I desperately need to take a break. I have only stopped because I reached my goal of a fifty-percent success rate. It is far more complex than the simple 'Protego'.

I know it is a low bar but I feel accomplished that it worked. With this I have a second secret weapon while in human form, the first being able to cast reducto without a chant. Both are deadly spells but Sectum Sempra is most definitely harder to predict. The next step may be wandless chanting.

That being said I don't trust my ability to keep a clear mind without my wand. The darkness seems to use every chance it gets to advance. With my wand, it is a minor annoyance… but without it… I don't wish to think about it.

I smile as I see the sun is beginning to show itself through the window. I turn to the child as I hear her begin to stir. She slowly sits up while rubbing her eyes. Her hood is fallen so now I can see her short blonde hair and big brown eyes. I notice her face is a bit dirty as she looks around the room probably looking for my sister.

I start to stand up to explain the situation to her but stop as I see a tear fall. She stares blankly at the dirty wood wall in front of her as her eyes well with tears. She softly begins to sob as she curls into a ball.

'...fuck.' I think to myself as I remember I've never cared for a child before.