Finding a Father.

Ch. 1.

By: Waterlili

A/N: Ok… this story is a bit different( and completely un-related to) At Last. When I began posting At Last it was almost completely written. Yay for me. This however is not. I'm willing to accept ideas from anyone. Isabelle's character might be a bit off at first. She is definetly not a Mary-Sue as you will find out in later chapters….I have many things planned for young Miss Wood. Ok I'll stop rambling and let you read now. Thankies.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. There I said it. As much as it saddens me I do not own Harry Potter or anything else associated with him. I do own Isabelle Wood and Madison Kingsley.

Here we go………

The sun shone brightly over Diagon Alley. The street was bustling as people rushed around buying supplies, yet a puzzling serenity had settled over the cramped street. Isabelle Wood sat with her mother Norah at small table outside Florean Fortesque's. The mid- august wind ruffled Isabelle's coffee and cream colored hair and her jade eyes sparkled with laughter.

"Mum" Isabelle said exasperatedly. " I've told a zillion times, Harry and I are just friends. He's with Adria" she said the other girls name with a slight shiver.

"Belle...." her mum laughed.

"BELLE" a shout came from behind them.

Isabelle twisted around in her seat scanning the crowd. She saw Harry Potter and beamed. "Harry!" she jumped up out of her seat and hugged him. "Out without supervision?" she questioned.

"Of course he isn't out without supervision." Adria Hall stepped out from behind a street vendor who had blocked her path. "I certainly wouldn't let him come see the likes of you without me around" the blonde girl spat out.

"I meant real supervision as in an adult or guardian of some sort." Isabelle said surveying Adria, the girl was the perfect type of girl for Harry's high profile life. She was perfect from the top of her white blonde head and crystal blue eyes, down to her perfectly manicured toes. in short Adria loved the spotlight, and she wasn't about to let go of Harry who was her free ride.

"Sirius is my new guardian. He isn't here with us today though. He had to finish some business at the Ministry." Harry said complacently.

"Harry, That's Fantastic" Belle hugged him tightly, ignoring Adria. "Is someone else here with you then?"

"Yeah. You probably already know him. He was the Defense Professor in my third, your second...."

"Harry..." Adria cut him off. " We really should go to Flourish and Blott's."

"Dria" Harry said smiling at her. "We already went there."

"I know, I forgot parchment though." she pouted, sticking out her bottom lip.

"Dria, doll face, you can go by yourself. I promised I'd meet Re...my prison warden. If I go we won't be back in time, he'll flip" Harry said logically.

"Oh, Fine. I'll just Floo home from there then." Adria said huffily, before stalking off. Harry stared dumbly after her before Isabelle coughed loudly ands grinned at him.

"Prison warden huh? Hey. Come meet my Mum." she said happily as she dragged him over to where her mum was reading the paper. "Mum, this is Harry Potter. Harry This is my mum, Norah Wood."

"Hello Harry. Would you like to sit?" Norah asked in a friendly manner.

"Certainly." He grinned. "Thank you Mrs. Wood."

" It's Miss same as Belle, but just call me Norah." she smiled as Harry and Isabelle sat down. They chatted amiably for a bit when Isabelle noticed Harry eyeing the remains of her chocolate fudge sundae. (A/N: Yummy!)

"Ugh!...You are such a guy Harry." she said with mock annoyance as she pushed the ice cream across the table to him. "Just take it."

"Belle, you are the love of my life. Have I told you that?" he grinned as he dug into the ice cream. Isabelle just laughed and resumed and animated conversation with her mother when Norah suddenly jumped up.

"I forgot to bye you that purple ink you like to write home with, kiddo, I'll be back soon." she kissed the top of Isabelle's head and waved at Harry as she ran off.

"She reminds me of you." Harry said laughingly.

"She is my Mum, and my only parent." Isabelle mused.

"I thought you lived with Oliver?"

"We do, I mean did. Mum and I live at Wood's Run with Uncle Jack and Aunt Elisabeth. the house is Mum's but the land belongs to Uncle Jack." she explained.

"That makes sense...Remus" Harry said suddenly. "Belle, Remus is my new 'guardian's' best friend. Great huh?" he beamed.

"I'm sure it would be if I knew who Remus was" she said semi-sarcastically.

"Remus Lupin" Harry said in disbelief. "He was the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor in your second year."

"Harry, I wasn't at Hogwarts my second year." she reminded him gently.

"Oh, right." he said quietly.

"An allergic reaction wasn't it Miss Wood?" Remus asked speaking for the first time.

"Yes, Oh please forgive me. You must think I have the manners of a Hippogriff." she jumped out of her chair and walked over to him. "I'm Isabelle. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well Miss Wood. I'm Remus Lupin if you hadn't already guessed." he smiled kindly before looking at Harry. "and where did your lovely girlfriend go?" he asked. Isabelle couldn't help but smile at the way he phrased the question.

"Dria and Isabelle don't really get along. So Dria left." Harry said casually. Remus coughed and looked at him.

"I'm impressed Harry. Choosing a friend over a girlfriend, very mature."

"Isabelle, they didn't have the lilac............." her mum trailed off when she saw Remus.

"It's alright mum, I don't have to have purple." she said quietly as she caught the tense look passing between Remus and her mum.

"Oh, I just got you lavender instead." Norah said cheerfully. "We really should get going though. Oliver's coming home for dinner, so...." she trailed off as she began gathering bags.

"Right, ok then." she hugged Harry good-bye quickly and smiled at Remus. Once all of their bags were gathered they headed for the Leaky Cauldron. "Mum?" she asked when they got home.

"Yes sweet pea."

"Did you know Remus ,Harry's friend,? You seemed a bit tense."

"It's a long story sweet pea. I'll tell you later." Norah smiled and hugged her daughter.

"Mummy" she said softly.

"What is it sweetie, you haven't called me Mummy since you were 12"

"I love you, and I'm glad we have each other."

"I'm glad we have each other as well, I love you more than you could ever possibly imagine, and I'm so proud of you." she hugged her daughter closer before releasing her. "Now I forgot to go to the market for milk so take Oliver and go would you?"

"Sure Mum." she smiled and dashed down the stairs. "ORLI" she yelled as she ran into the kitchen. She flung her arms around his neck hugging him. "I've missed you brother dear." she grinned. Everyone assumed they were siblings although they were actually cousins.

"Hey Belle." Oliver Wood smiled at his younger cousin. Her energy level amazed him sometimes.

"Mum says we're to go for milk." she said as she popped around the kitchen munching on a carrot she'd gotten out of the refrigerator.

"Milk it is then." they both traveled by Floo to a market in town.

Isabelle and Oliver wandered the aisles of the market aimlessly. Norah and Oliver's mum, Elisabeth, had told them they didn't need the milk right away so to take their time. They talked quidditch for a while and Isabelle chattered about going back to school.

"Hells Bells" Oliver exclaimed when he caught a glance of his watch.

"What?"

"We've been here nearly an hour and a half."

"We should get the milk and go then. Dinner should be nearly ready." she grabbed a container of milk and headed for checkout. They quickly headed for the Floo Point. Oliver threw in some powder and said 'Wood's Run'' perfectly clearly. Both of them were shocked when the fire only popped slightly.

"What in the name of....." Oliver dragged Isabelle out of the fireplace and back in before trying again. When nothing happened he groaned. "Apparating it is I suppose.''

"Minor problem Orli, I can't apparate." she rolled her eyes.

" Double apparition Kiddo." Her slipped an arm around her waist and apparated away. When he disapparated and Isabelle opened her eyes she gasped in shock.

The entire house lay in rubble on the ground. Smoke wafted up from where fireplaces were still slightly standing. Everything was gone and there was no trace of their parents. Isabelle let out a strangled cry and crumbled to her knees. She sobbed hysterically even as she heard the 'pop's of apparation all around.

"Miss Wood." she heard a strong voice next to her. She looked up to see Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Miss Wood, you're going to have to come with me, we're going to place you in the care of your father." he said kindly as he helped her up.

"Ok" she said numbly. "Let me say good-bye to Orli." she walked over to him slowly. "Orli?" she questioned quietly.

"Belle...oh Belle, I'm so sorry." he stood and engulfed her in a tight hug. she began to sob against his shoulder. She could feel his tears as well. All of the sudden a flame shot from one of the fireplaces and it all sunk in.

"No." the first word cam as a whisper but her voice gradually increased. "No, NO NO NO MUM" she started towards the rubble but Oliver clamped an arm around her waist holding her back. She struggled against him, screaming and crying.

"Belle, she's gone sweetheart." Oliver said quietly. She calmed slightly as she cried clinging to Oliver as if he was all that was left on earth.

"Miss, we have to go." Kingsley said when he came over.

"No, I'm staying with Oliver. I don't have a father anyway." she stepped closer to her cousin.

"You do and you have to come." Kingsley said kindly. He gently placed an arm around her waist so he could apparate with her.

"NO, please Oliver. NO I WANT TO STAY HERE" she kicked and screamed and pounded her fists against Kingsley's arms. She heard a whisper of words and the world went black around her.

A/N: What'd you think? Leave me a review and let me know.