I hurried to the library to meet Hermione. I walked in and she was already there with her nose in a book.

"Whatcha reading?" I asked her and sat across from her.

"Hogwarts: A History. I grabbed it for a bit of light reading."

"I'm going to study. I already have a quiz in Charms in two days." I sighed and pulled out my books.

"In my charms class a Hufflepuff boy distracted the teacher so we don't have a quiz yet but I'm sure the Professor will give them out tomorrow."

"More than likely. Was it the cute Hufflepuff boy with dark blue eyes and dreamy blond hair?" I asked excitedly but still in a hushed voice.

"Yes! But I didn't catch his name."

"I didn't either. But we have to tomorrow. I have him in History of Magic. But it was terrible. Draco kept teasing him and since I was sitting by Draco he must've thought I was mean to."

"If you keep hanging around Malfoy everyone will think you're mean."

"I know. But I have to. Professor Snape said so. He's not mean to me all the time. He was actually quite nice to me this morning. I didn't know how to put my tie on and he helped me."

"Because you're in Slytherin. Or maybe Snape is making him."

"Maybe. I was kind of hoping he was just nice deep down but you're probably right."

"I still can't believe the Sorting Hat put you in Slytherin."

"Me either. It kept talking about how my parent's didn't want me. I said I didn't care and I didn't need them. I guess I sounded cruel. Maybe if my reaction was different it would've put me somewhere else."

"That's odd."

"But it gets even stranger. It told me that my Father looks upon me and turns his head."

"It sounds like he's saying your Father is here."

"That's what I thought. But it can't be."

"Maybe Dumbledore is your Father." She suggested.

"No. My Grandmother gave me that name because my Mom didn't want me to find out who my Father is." I explained.

"We're going to find out. Everyone deserves to know who their parent's are."

"I think Professor McGonagall knows something. I planned on going to talk to her when I finished here. Would you like to come with me?"

"If you don't mind." She said while putting the big book in her bag.

"We didn't get much reading or studying done did we."

"No. But we will tomorrow." She laughed. We made our way to Professor McGonagall's office.

I knocked on her door.

"Come in." Her voice rang out. I slowly made my way in with Hermione behind me.

"Professor McGonagall?" I squeaked out.

"Yes my dear?"

"I came to ask you some questions."

"Yes?"

"Do you know who I am? I mean do you know my family? Who my parent's are and why my last name is Dumbledore?"

"Have a seat." She motioned to two chairs in front of her. Me and Hermione sat down.

"I can tell you part of your story and I know someone else who can tell you another part. But there's one piece that remains a mystery." She said.

"What piece is that?"

"I'll get there. But let me start where I come in. See me and Grandmother were the best of friends. I came to see you when you were first born. When your Grandmother was sick I promised her I would look after you. I couldn't care for you personally so I put you in the orphanage. I know it wasn't the best life and I'm terribly sorry but I knew Ms. Simmons would take care of you, she's my niece. Your Grandmother also left you a fortune in Gringotts bank. I'll take you there later. That's my part, now let me take you to the man that can tell you the other part." She stood up from her desk.

"Thank you." I smile. "Can Hermione come as well?"

"Of course she can." We followed her out of her office and up some stair cases and down hallways.

"Maybe we're going to meet you Father." Hermione whispered to me.

"Maybe." I whispered back. We stopped in front of a gargoyle.

"Lemon drop!" she said. This was evidently a password, because the gargoyle sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside as the wall behind him split in two. Behind the wall was a spiraling staircase. The three of us stepped on. We rose higher and higher. We finally stopped in front of a gleaming oak door with a brass griffin knocker. It was a beautiful place. Professor McGonagall knocked and the door opened. We followed her in.

"I'll be right back." She told us and vanished into another room. We looked around the room we were in. There were all kinds of cool things in it.

"What's that?" I asked Hermione pointing at a big red and orange bird.

"I think it's a phoenix." She replied.

"You're quite right Ms. Granger. That's Fawkes." A voice said. I looked towards the voice and it was Professor Dumbledore.

"Good evening Professor Dumbledore." I said politely.

"Good evening to you two as well. Please have a seat." We at down in chairs in front of his desk. He made his way to his desk and sat down.

"First off I would like to apologize for my absence in your life. I didn't know a thing about you until a couple days ago when Professor McGonagall told me. It was quite a shock. But I will do my very best to make up for everything."

"It's okay. If you didn't know then I guess it's not your fault."

"Oh but it is. I was told it is my turn to tell my part. It started a very long time ago when I was younger. I was attending a meeting with the Ministry of Magic. I walked into the waiting room area and saw a beautiful woman, Florence Nighthawk, your Grandmother. Her Father, your Great-Grandfather, was a member of the Ministry of Magic. He didn't much care for me. You could say we were on different teams. But anyway I ended up marrying her. Years later something happened. A lot of people don't care for me. I was gone one night on important business. When I returned the house was burned to the ground and your Grandmother and Mother were gone. Your Mother was just a baby. I searched for years, I still did till I found out about you. Turns out what happened was some people who were against me came and raided our house and tried to kill them. Florence fled with the baby and never returned because she was told if she did that they would kill your Mother and I. Florence hid very well. She used a spell, Fidelius Charm, that disguised her so that even if I did find her I wouldn't recognize her. People called me crazy for searching. Everyone swore they were both dead. But here we are today. "

"So you're my Grandfather?" I asked trying to wrap my head around it all.

"Yes. I know this is a lot to take in."

"What is the Fidelius Charm?"

"An immensely complex spell," he said squeakily, "involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find — unless, of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to speak, I could search the village where Florence and Elizabeth were staying for years and never find them, not even if I had my nose pressed against their sitting room window!"

"Who was her Secret-Keeper?"

"Me." Professor McGonagall stated.

"My Mother, Elizabeth, is still out there. She left right after I was born. I was told my Father broke her heart and she couldn't stand to be around me. Is that true?"

"I'm afraid so." Professor McGonagall replied.

"Who is my Father?"

"I don't know. The only one who knows is your Mother. You're Grandmother didn't even know. Elizabeth got pregnant with you when she was on vacation to Italy with some friends. It was the first time Florence let her go anywhere alone." Professor McGonagall said.

"You heard what the Sorting Hat said, my Father looks upon me and turns his head. Could he be here?"

"I don't believe so. I think the Hat meant your Father knows about you. Obviously when he found out your Mother was pregnant he left her. And no one here would do such a thing I think." Dumbledore said.

"And supposedly you look like you Father. You don't look like anyone here." Professor McGonagall piped in.

"So I'll never know who my Father is?" I said sadly.

"You didn't think you'd find me did you?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"You're right." I smiled. There was a knock at the door. Professor Dumbledore nodded at Professor McGonagall and she opened the door. Most of the teachers were behind it.

"You called for a meeting in here before dinner?" Professor Snape said in his usually tone.

"Yes everyone come on in. They were just leaving." Dumbledore announced. I stood up and walked behind his desk and hugged him.

"Thank you." I said. He was shocked but hugged back.

"It was no problem dear. If you need anything at all come see me."

"I will. Maybe if we keep searching we can find him." I said talking about my Father.

"Possibly. But I'm scared if you do find him that he might not accept you like I have. That he'll push you away like he did your Mother."

"Maybe so but I want to know." Me and Hermione made our way through the crowd of teachers and out the door.

"This is amazing Shelby! We know almost everything! Maybe even enough to find your Father." Hermione said once we were off the spiraling stairs.

"Maybe so. I wonder if he's Italian or if he was just visiting as well?"

"I don't know. But I know where to start looking."

"Where?" I asked.

"Ms. Simmons. We can ask if your Mother has ever checked on you. If she has then maybe we can track her and find her. We can have her tell you who your Father is."

"I hope it's as easy as you make it sound Hermione."

"Me too. I guess we'll find out."

"Thanks for helping me."

"It's what friends are for."

At five to three I met Harry and Ron and we went to Hagrid's. He lived in a small wooden cottage by the Forbidden Forest. A crossbow and a pair galoshes were the first things I noticed. When Harry knocked on the door I heard a lot of noise, including a loud bark.

"Back Fang." I heard Hagrid say. Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.

"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang." He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound. There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.

"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.

"This is Ron," Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate.

"Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid, glancing at Ron's freckles. "I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."

"And this is Shelby." Harry said.

"Shelby? I don't suppose you have any brothers or sisters here that I could compare you with?" Hagrid asked me.

"No sir. I'm an only child."

Ron and Harry told Hagrid about their first day and Hagrid gave them his input.

"How was your day?" Harry asked me.

"It was okay. Me and Hermione talked to Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall about my family."

"Really? What'd you find out?" I told them everything.

"Italy eh? Seems like I remember I was talking to someone who was going to Italy a few years ago. Said he was going to relive some memories. Whatever that meant." Hagrid said.

"Do you remember who? Was he a professor here?" I asked anxiously.

"Nope, I was drunk that night I believe."

"Hagrid! That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!" Harry suddenly burst out.

"What?" I asked confused. Harry told me everything.

"So obviously Dumbledore knew that someone was coming after whatever was in that vault." I said

"Exactly!" Harry said.

"You three bes' be going back." Hagrid said. We nodded and went to the door.

"And Shelby, wear your Dumbledore name with pride. Even if you don't find out who your Father is you have a very strong and proud name." He said to me.

"Thank you Hagrid. I will."

"Have fun with your little boyfriend?" Draco spat as soon as I walked in the Common Room.

"Who are you talking about?"

"You know who. Harry Potter."

"We're just friends."

"He's sweet on you. It's pathetic really."

"Maybe he is. Maybe I'm sweet on him too. I don't see how it's any of your business."

"It's not my business and I don't care. I'm just in shock that somone could like you. Even your parents left you." He snarled. I ran up to my dormitory.

"Shelby wait." He called. I ignored him and locked my door. I noticed a note on Athena's leg. I untied it. It read...

"Dear Shelby

I'm glad you like Hogwart's and I'm glad you made friends. And about this Malfoy boy, if I'm thinking of the right family he probably is bad news but be nice and give him a chance. You don't know what he's gone through. No, not everyone in Slytherin goes bad. That's just a stereotype. And Athena is a great name for your owl. It suits her well. Have fun and try your best in everything. And one more thing, I want to adopt you. I'm sure you've already learned about your family and all. I promise I won't keep you from them but this way you'll have a place to go during holidays. I've considered you my own for a long time and would've done it sooner but I always hoped your Mother would've came back for you. Please write me back soon with your answer.

Love,

Ms. Simmons"

I smiled widely.

"Shelby, we have to go eat. If you don't show up for dinner Snape will kill me." Draco said from the other side of my door. I opened it.

"I'm being adopted." I told him.

"What?"

"Ms. Simmons wants to adopt me!"

"Who's Ms. Simmons?"

"The lady who took care of me in the orphanage. She's Professor McGonagall's niece."

"Oh. Cool. Let's go." He said plainly.

"I bet Harry will be so excited and happy for me." I said to aggravate him.

"When you leave take him with you."

"I'm not leaving."

"What a shame."

"They're all right." I whispered.

"What?"

"You don't care. Yes, I put myself first. That's how I had to survive but I still care about people and treat them decent. But you just don't care at all. I tried not to listen to people and give you a chance but I can see I wasted my time."

"Perhaps you have."

"Forget it. Don't talk to me. We can pretend for the points but that's it." I shoved passed him and walked downstairs.

"Wait." He sighed. I stopped but didn't look at him.

"Me and Professor Snape are worried about you." He said.

"Why?"

"You're hanging out with them. They just want you for your name. Their parents are the reason you don't know your family."

"You mean their parents are the ones that raided Dumbledore's house?" I asked shocked.

"Uhhhh....yeah!"

"But that doesn't mean they're like that."

"Shelby, Professor Snape is looking into it. Don't say anything to anybody. Only talk to them if I'm with you and keep it short. Tomorrow after potions class we'll talk to Professor Snape about it. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Oh and stay away from the Hufflepuff boy." He added.

"The cute one with deep blue eyes and dreamy blond hair?"

"Yes. That'd be the one."

"Whyyyyy?" I whined.

"He's one of them too."

"Nooooo! Why do all the cute ones have to be bad?!"

"Maybe you're just attracted to bad boys."

"No. Not all the guys I like are bad."

"Guys? As in more than one?"

"Yeah. I like quite a few boys but I wouldn't actually date them."

"That doesn't make sense."

" 'Cause you're not a girl."

"Thank goodness."