The Girl and the Horse

For a child...

Their upbringing determines their personality.

They are basically a blank, white canvas, with a painter and the color he has determining what picture a child can be.

Thus for one Selene Potter, she who grew up the Cinderella and Matilda under her relatives' custody...

...her painting was focused on two things...her well-being and self-preservation.

She sought and read books regarding survival and much-needed life skills.

When she was confident in those chances, she began acing her schoolwork, beatings be damned and snuck in letters urging her teachers to see the pattern regarding her absences and if they figure it out, they should do the right thing.

When some teachers figured it out, they talked about it in the Faculty Room after one long year...and they stormed Number 4 with Police and some Reporters.

What they found, was something she was banking on.

Her situation aired out in the media because Selene tried the usual way to attract attention to her situation, her helpers mysteriously disappear or her case forgotten.

She knew something was at work, hellbent on keeping her here.

Someone with...magic.

She knows.

She has magic.

Survival aside, she read comic books with magic or anything related to ability like X-Men.

She began practicing on her own too and began protecting her mind with her new powers while in custody of the law due to her situation...unaware that she caused quite a scandal in the media...of two worlds, not just one world.

And a month before her 11th birthday, a lot of people came to see her while she was in her hospital room in London.

'Selene! These officials wants to meet you.' said a nurse with a forced smile.

Not that she could blame her.

These people have...questionable fashion sense you'd have trouble believing they're officials too.

'Officials?' she asked in utter skepticism.

'Er, we really are but hey, its cold.' said one of the robed men. 'Winter and all.'

'Let's start with introductions.' said the middle-aged woman. 'I am Amelia Bones, Director of Law Enforcement and we are here about your situation Ms. Potter...and on behalf of our society, we apologize for failing to see your situation sooner.' she said, utterly sorry. 'We are here to explain as much as possible but...what are those things in your arms?' she asked, looking at her Dextroses warily.

Selene wondered if this woman has never been to a hospital all her life. Lucky woman.

'Oh these? I was told its for my Malnutrition Treatment. The tubes and needles stuck in me is for Intravenous Therapy. See these plastic tubes linking to that bottle up there?' Selene pointed out. 'They are nutrients directly injected into my body through my veins. This therapy will not stop until my weekly laboratory results declare me medically-OK.'

'Ah...'

'Its a bothersome discomfort but an evil necessity anyway.' Selene sighed. 'So what's going on ma'am?'

'Let's start with our society, shall we? And we'll progress from there...'

Thus, Selene learned of the Magical World, about her parents(these officials were incensed with the lies the Dursleys fed her when they were put on trial as her parents died tragic heroes), and who she was to them, and they never dreamed her situation would happen.

'So...magic huh? Then have you found out who was responsible for keeping me with them?' Selene asked Madam Bones with a steely gaze. 'I tried everything. Everything to bring my situation to light but anyone who helps me mysteriously disappears! Police records also vanish and the police having no memories of it whatsoever. So I took another step though it took me a whole year this time, and it paid off.'

'WHAT?!'

'Rest assured we WILL find out who's doing this, Ms. Potter.' an Auror swore. 'But how did you do it?'

'The Dursleys hated me outshining their incompetent son. So at the expense of beatings,' the officials flinched horribly, 'I left letters in the Faculty Room during recess, in my teachers' chairs.' said Selene darkly. 'I told them to see a pattern in my acing quizzes and exams, and my absences in school. When I ace quizzes and exams, I get a beating and locked up for days with just water, and Petunia lies to school that I'm sick. When the teachers put it together, they stormed Number 4 with police and some reporters and on that day, Vernon was using me for stress relief because he failed a business deal and I was black and blue since I'm always blamed for anything gone wrong in their lives. My saviors were pissed and my situation was so public that cover-ups are impossible this time as I intended. They will not disappear like my previous helpers.'

'I see...we will investigate that matter, we promise you.' said Madam Bones, getting more livid by the revelations as something is clearly at work here. 'But regarding your hospitalization, St. Mungo's is much more efficient.' she fretted, 'Your injuries and malnutrition will be healed within two days!'

'Yes, but I'm not too sure about being brought to magical society just yet...for obvious reasons.' said Selene with a grimace. 'They'll make an exotic zoo animal out of me! No way! I'd rather stay here.'

'...she has a point boss. Privacy just don't exist where we're from.' said another Auror. 'Rita Skeeter.'

'I suppose.' Madam Bones sighed. 'But for now, we will put this hospital under Fidelius with myself as Secret Keeper for her safety.'

'Yeah, and keep me away from people with unusually-deep interest in me too. Too interested beyond healthy levels.' Selene requested. 'I'm a target for Child Exploitation as we speak. Please help me using all laws possible. Even obscure laws and play dirty. I survived by playing dirty and they will do the same, no doubt.'

'Ah, a budding Slytherin.' the third Auror chuckled. 'I understand where you're coming from.'

'We have a lot of work to do then.' said Madam Bones. 'I can see that happening too.' she griped. 'Our department will be busy boys.' upon bidding Selene farewell, she was left alone with occasional nurse visits to replace her drips and delivering her meals, and helping her bathe by removing her many attachments so she could do the deed herself, and then re-apply her needles again after. And she could read books and magazines to keep her from getting bored when she's awake.

She spent much of her time sleeping as her medications make her so sleepy.

Due to her choices, she was months late into her first Hogwarts year, so she would go next year, using the current year to recover in hospital, and then accompanied in shopping by a fresh Hogwarts Graduate by the name of Nymphadora Tonks who was her distant cousin through the Black Family. After a thorough magical and personality check, she would be in the custody of the Tonks Family. Her cousin would soon join the Auror Academy to become an Auror. And with them, are two fresh Auror Graduates, their duty being bodyguards.

Right now, she's shopping for clothes she actually likes, after using Manegro Potion to regrow her hair after shaving it all off as due to malnutrition, her hair...is dry, wiry and ugly. Now her hair is shoulder-length and healthy. But she took a 'chunk' of her fortune, converted it into muggle money, and shopped in London's boutiques.

'Wow, you got high taste in clothes.' Tonks remarked, eyeballing Selene's choices.

'When you showed me what Diagon Alley has to offer while I'm invisible, I had to put my foot down.' Selene huffed. 'They're all hilariously outdated you'd stand out by simply being fashionably outdated, you'd be laughed at out here! Well, if you're gonna be an Auror, blending in two worlds will be your first lesson from moi, starting with fashion!'

'Oh bugger, you're not going to let me live this down are you?'

'Nope!'

Needless to say, the officers got quite the fashion lecture from a kid of all people...as they went from shop to shop.

However, during eating in a fancy restaurant for the rich that got the officers gawking as they've never been to a high-class place before...much less have the chance to eat in an All-You-Can-Eat Asian Buffet Restaurant for a set price!

'I always wanted to eat out in places like this!' Selene chimed. 'I was curious about Gourmet Food my whole life I don't even want to look at fast-food!'

'So today's dresses and shoes and ahem, unmentionables...what's our target tomorrow Selene?' Tonks asked her.

'Our target tomorrow is casual wear and matching shoes, then on the final day is Cold Season Wear.' Selene quipped when suddenly, a young man around Tonks' age came in with a toddler sitting on his shoulder, flanked by men in black.

'Whoa, check that out mate...'

'You see really rich folk in here, we stand out like a sore thumb huh?'

'Selene? Selene?' Tonks croaked out as Selene was STARING at the teenager, struck. 'Oh hell, what a time to be struck by puberty cousin! Can't blame you, he's good looking...' she sweatdropped.

The infant spoke to the boy in a foreign language...and they looked at them that got them nervous and Selene blushing stark red as the blonde hunk approached her.

'Hello little principessa.' he greeted with all his charm, taking her left hand into his. 'Its a pleasure to meet you. I'm Dino Cavallone.'

'S-Selendris Potter...hello.' Selene squeaked nervously.

'Hey, you're making our young charge nervous mate and aren't you like, too old for her?' one of the aurors sputtered.

'Fufu, its a perfect match.' the infant spoke, startling the bejeezus out of them.

"The baby can talk straight?!"

'Selendris, is it?' the baby spoke in a rather crisp, professional manner. 'You are a perfect match for my student here,' the aurors and Tonks' eyes popped at him for his words. '-heir to the Cavallone Family and we wish to get to know you better.'

'Oh my god, if you're thinking marriage, have a talk with my parents first!' Tonks cried in hysterical freakout while poor Selene fainted. 'She's under my parents' custody!'

The foreigners fell silent and trying hard not to laugh.

'Ahaha, its not marriage she's matched with me with...' Dino chuckled. 'Its something else though I can't speak of it due to laws of my society...however, given the situation I can only talk to Signorina Potter about it as its legal only to her and we have to gain permission to talk about it with her family first.' that got the interest of the Aurors as the man with glasses took out smelling salts to rouse the poor girl.

'OK, I'm not dreaming, I'm engaged so soon...' Selene squeaked. 'Dora, Uncle Ted won't strangle him won't he? He seems nice...'

'We'll call for your parents and take home the shopping Ms. Tonks.' said the Aurors. 'Stay here with Ms. Potter.'

'Duh, I will, her future is on the line here and I'm her chaperone!' thus their bodyguard left with all the shopping.

'Oh dear, this escalated though I'm glad Signorina Potter's willing to consider...' Dino smiled. 'So as her relative, may we have a background check?'

'Well...Selene didn't have a good childhood for the past ten years of her life.' said Tonks glumly. 'Since her parents' death, she was given as an infant to her mum's sister who's a real piece of work with her husband. Basically she's the Cinderella and Matilda, plus child abuse.' the party froze. 'Selene craftily got her teachers' attention for help by making them see a pattern in her schoolwork and absences...and they caught her Uncle Vernon in the act. It was a scandal six months ago and she just got out of hospital, wanting to shop for real clothes instead of those oversized castoffs she put up with for years, and my parents recently got custody of her. Her case is on the news that got the law cracking down on homes to catch hidden child abuse cases like hers.'

They did NOT expect to hear that. They were rather hoping they were simply out shopping and dining!

'I'm sorry to hear that...' Dino shook his head in dismay. 'But has she recovered well, Signorina?'

'Yeah, but she needs to put on more weight, she's terribly underweight. Bloody bastards starved her for years she's more than eager to have tasty food for once.' said Tonks darkly. 'She's gonna be 12 soon though she didn't look the part...malnutrition stunted her so she didn't buy much clothes incase she grows more.'

'...understandable.' the baby mused, looking at Selene who was looking all awkward in her seat. Indeed, she did NOT look twelve, she looked nine! 'If things work out, she will come home with us. Rest assured Dino will treat her well as she is now Family.'

Tonks took note that the word was spoken with a capital letter to it in emphasis.

Until her parents got here, the group moved to a larger table, and the women's orders moved

When the Tonks' came, plus Bodyguards...

...what came next was Selene's panicked outburst...around the same time the infant took out his gun...

'DOWN! NOW!'

Gunfire ensued!

'Bloody hell!' the Aurors cried as the foreigners opened fire, causing panic in the cafe, while Dino calmly took out a checkbook and cheerfully wrote down an amount.

'Usual day for you huh?' Tonks swore as her parents covered her and her little cousin with their own bodies while the Aurors also took out their own guns but unlike the foreigners, they clearly can't shoot the broad side of a barn.

'Well, a lot of people are enemies of my clan, having assassins is a usual thing in my life, that's all.'

'I think we'll wait for a few years before letting Selendris live with you!' Ted Tonks choked. 'Get them out of your hair first!'

'That's a reasonable request, but until then, let's make it binding shall we?' Dino smiled cheerfully. 'I'm looking forward to having her in my Family when we kill off all my assassins. Today, let's get to know each other.'

'Selendris, good job in sensing irritants. You would really do well with us.' the baby praised the embarrassed-looking child before he glowered at the adults. 'As for the lot of you...re-training is in order or else.'

'Eep...'

"What's with this baby sounding all authoritative? And worse, we actually feel it!"

The witches and wizards can feel his authoritative aura, a true superior to their subordinate.