The m, Eda went to find Professonagall to hand over the Galleons. Learning from past experiences, she felt uneasy about suddenly finding a sum of money irunk, even though the pouth had her name on it.

  Professonagall carefully examihe small poud the Galleons inside. She didn't find anything unusual—her the pouor the money was dangerous, and it wasn't some kind of prank item.

  Based on the name on the pouch, it was clear that someone had indeed sent this moo Eda. Though it wasn't a rge amount, it could still help improve her dire financial situation.

  However, Professonagall, being cautious, decided to temporarily fiscate the Galleons.

  She believed it was best not to spend mohat came from an unclear source. Once she figured out where the money came from, she would return it to Eda.

  After leaving the office, Eda met up with the twins. Today was the day they were leaving Hogwarts.

  Hogwarts didn't allow any students to stay over the summer holidays, so Eda had no choice but to return to the orphanage. Eda had ional attat to the orphanage, aside from Mrs. Mary, a no particur longing to be there.

  But there was nothing she could do; she had to go bad live there for the time being. She promised herself that once she had enough money, she would get her own house, even if it meant being saddled with a me.

  On the way to the statioold the twins about the Galleons and shared her thoughts.

  The brothers both agreed that the money was likely from Dumbledore. Dumbledore had prevehe Daily Prophet from publishing Eda's name, so this might have been his way of privately pensating her.

  As for the possibility that Snape had sent the mohe twins pletely dismissed the idea.

  They believed Snape had no reason to do such a thing and cked the sce to feel guilty enough to give Eda any pensation.

  Eda thought to herself: Since I 't figure out who sent the mohere's no point in stressing over it. The money isn't even in my hands anymore—better to leave it to Professonagall to handle. I'll get it eventually... right?

  Orain, the six of them squeezed into a partment together. The twins and Lee Jordan sat on one side, while the three girls sat oher. They spent the journey pying cards and ughing, just like they did when they first arrived.

  The tryside outside the windreener and tidier as they passed through one Muggle town after another. As the sery became more urban, Eda and her friends ged out of their wizarding robes and into Muggle clothes.

  Wherain finally pulled into Ptform 9? at King's Cross Station, the students poured out, their excitement to return home dulling the sadness of saying goodbye.

  It took them a while to get off the ptform. An old, shriveled guard stood by the barrier, allowing only two or three people through at a time so that a rge crowd wouldn't suddenly emerge from the solid wall, which might draw the attention of the Muggles.

  Eda exited the passageway with the twins.

  "Here! e quick!" Mrs. Weasley, along with Ron and Ginny, was waiting there, waving at them.

  Ign her own twin sons, the plump Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly at Eda and said, "Dear, you must e to our house during the holidays. I'll have Arthur e and pick you up."

  "Mom, Eda's not your daughter—Ginny standing right o you is!"

  "We're your sons! We haven't seen you in half a year!"

  The twins sounded a bit jealous, but her Eda nor Mrs. Weasley paid them any mind.

  "Thank you for the invitation. I'm really looking forward to experieng life in a wizarding family," Eda said, embrag Mrs. Weasley as if they were mother and daughter, while the twins seemed more like the neighbors' kids.

  Eda didn't linger long with Mrs. Weasley, as she still had to make her way across half of London to get back to the orphanage.

  Dragging her suitcase, Eda took Muggle public transportation to the neighborhood where the orphanage was located. Even though it had only been a year, the area felt strangely unfamiliar to her.

  She followed the path she remembered, one she had walked many times, so there was no way she could have made a mistake. But when Eda finally stood in front of the orphanage, her mi pletely bnk—the orphanage was gone!

  "My orphanage? Where's my big orphanage?" Eda muttered to herself. "Did I go the wrong way? No, I didn't!"

  Eda rubbed her eyes hard, but nothing ged.

  The orphanage wasn't pying hide-and-seek with her; it was really gone, leaving nothing but a pile of rubble.

  Looking around, she noticed that some houses he orphanage had also been torn down.

  A group of stru workers was zily w over the ruins, indig that the demolition had taken pe time ago.

  Even though Eda had never been particurly fond of the orpha had been a pce that sheltered her from the elements. Now that it was gone, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of bitterness.

  The sky was already darkening, so there was no point in staying here unless Eda wao sleep oreets.

  After taking o, long look at the ruins of the orphanage, Eda turned away, dragging her suitcase behind her. She decided to check out the neighb street, which was still standing.

  Eda entered a small, modest café, a pce where the locals often gathered due to its low prices. She had been here once or twice before.

  Sitting in a er of the café, Eda ate a meat pie while eavesdropping on the versations around her.

  However, all she heard were people boasting or discussing football—nothing of any real value.

  After sitting for a while without pig up any useful information, Eda was about to leave when a familiar voice suddenly spoke near her.

  "Esmeralda Twist?"

  Eda looked up and saw a man standing in front of her. His voice was familiar, and so was his appearance. Unsure, Eda asked, "Mr. Kirk?"

  "It's me." Mr. Kirk g the suitcase on the floor and asked, "Did you just get back?"

  (A/N: The one who dropped her at the station in the initial chapter... I Think..)

  "Yes, sir. We're on summer break, but when I got back, I found out that the orphanage had been demolished."

  Mr. Kirk took a pen from his pocket and began scribbling something on a napkin. "The orphanage's block was torn down after Christmas," he expined. "They're pnning to build a ercial area there."

  "This area is known for being less affluent, practically a gathering pce for the poor. Building a ercial district here—aren't they worried it will be a total loss?" Mr. Kirk tinued.

  "And what about Mrs. Mary?"

  "Ahh! She and the children were relocated to another orphanage, ohat's in much better dition than this pce," Mr. Kirk said, handihe napkin with the address written on it. "Take a look; this is the address of the new orphanage."

  Eda took the napkin and frowned slightly as she looked at the address.

  "Mrs. Mary couldn't get in touch with you, so she asked a few people in the neighborhood to give you the address if they saw you," Mr. Kirk tinued. "The pce is in the tryside near Surrey, not too far from here."

  "Yeah.. My school is very strict, and I've been very busy with my studies, so I haven't been able to tact Mrs. Mary."

  Eda had only sent oer during Christmas, which Mr. Weasley had mailed for her, but she hadn't left any taformation. Mrs. Mary was a nun, and Eda was a witch, so she had never shared this fact with Mrs. Mary, fearing that the older woman wouldn't be able to hahe shock.

  "Do you need me to take you there?" Mr. Kirk offered kindly. "I visited the pce."

  "There's o trouble yourself, sir. I'll take the train myself," Eda replied evasively. "I think I should get going now."

  Mr. Kirk g his watd then said, "Be careful on your way. It's getting te, so if you're on your own, it might be best to go tomorrow instead."

  "Thank you. I'll stay at a cssmate's house tonight."

  After bidding farewell to Mr. Kirk, Eda left the café ao buy envelopes and stamps.

  She had no iion of going to Surrey, but she at least felt obligated to let Mrs. Mary know that she was safe.

  After dropping the letter into the mailbox, Eda pulled her suitcase ahe neighborhood. As the sky grew darker, she knew she o find a pce to stay.

  Where would a witch think to go when she needed a pce to stay? Eda thought of the Leaky Cauldron. It might look shabby, but it was her first gateway into the magical world.

  Eda's shadow stretched long and thin oreet as she walked away. Everything had started at the orphanage.

  It was there that Eda had first entered the new world, and there that she had met Professonagall for the first time. But now, the orphanage was gone.

  With no pce to return to, the only option was to move forward.

  Perhaps this was the mysterious way fate worked(?)

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