The wind blew softly, the leaves billowing in the evening wind. The small village was in the midst of a celebration. The dark lord Dracula had been defeated, their land was saved once again. The celebration was legendary. Food, drinks and dancing was all in high supply on this date.

However not anyone was having a good time. Off to the side was a young woman clothed in a forest green shirt laced with some light blue endings. She had brown arm length gloves, white stockings, a long yellow bow was wrapped around her midsection that swayed in the wind.

Her long blond hair was let loose showing off her beautiful, a green bow lied in her hand. Her name was Maria Renard. She watched over the villagers with a frown. She was glad that the darkness was vanquished once again, but her heart ached.

The people had thought that Richter Belmont had defeated the dark lord like he had done before, yet they did not know the full truth. It was not a hunter who killed the dark lord, but his own son. A son that she had grown quite fond off, yet he had vanished after the fight. Never to be seen again.

It hurt the young girl, she wanted to help him, wanted to try and convince him that he did not need to suffer alone. Yet…she couldn't. She would never say she understood, but she knew he needed this to heel and to maybe one-day return to her.

She shook her head lightly as she watched the villagers swing and dance. She did not wish to join them. She started to walk away but paused as a something caught her eye. A small child had wondered into the party.

The boy looked around timidly, staring at all the people surrounding him. He looked like he was trying not to be noticed for some reason. Maria tilted her head. 'Why on Earth is that boy here...? I don't believe he's with the villagers...'

"Don't look so down, child!" The woman turned to see one of the men from the village smiling at the boy. "Dark days are over! You should be happy!" The boy looked down and mumbled something inaudible. The man appeared to chuckle before returning to dancing. Looking at the boy, however, it didn't seem that the man's words had the desired effect. In fact the boy looked more upset than before. Frowning, the young woman decided maybe this lively party wasn't the best place for a sad child to be... And so, she began to approach, slowly, so as not to frighten the poor dear.

"Hello there, small one." She greeted when she was in earshot, crouching down to his level. He jumped and turned to look at her when he heard her voice. She smiled. "Where did you come from?" He looked down.

"M-My cupboard..."

Maria tilted her head in confusion, "I'm sorry child. But where again?"

"M-My cupboard…I'm…I'm not allowed out of my…cupboard…" he spoke softly twitching with nerves.

Maria raised a brow at the boy and gave him a once over. He was small maybe around the age of two…yet he spoke like he was older. He was wearing a tattered shirt that looked three sizes too big for him, and he was shaking lightly, that might not have been due to the cold.

Maria did not like this. She understood what a cupboard was yet they were too small to hold children. "Child where are your parents?" she asked kneeling down to be eye level with him.

The boy looked up giving the young woman a chance to see his bright emerald green eyes and a trembling lip. She also noticed bruises on his face, "They…they did not want me…" he mumbled softly.

Maria's eyes widened. "Didn't want you...?" She asked softly. The boy nodded.

"Uh-huh..." He replied. "They hated me because I was too freaky. They gave me to my aunt and uncle when I was a baby...My aunt and uncle are nice...They tried to help me..."

"I see...That's very good. They tried to help you feel better?"

"No...They tried to help me get rid of the freakiness." Alarms went off in Maria's head.

"...I beg your pardon, dear?"

"They told me if they hit me enough and if I worked hard enough, all the freaky stuff would get beaten out of me. Then maybe mommy and daddy will want me again..."

Maria's eyes had grown wide with shock, she felt something inside her snap as she gently wrapped her arms around the child and held him to her.

Harry blinked slightly confused at the action but did not say anything. He snuggled into her embrace liking the warmth she provided.

Maria was not aware of the outside world at the moment, only the child in her arms. She was trying her best not to snap and let tears fall. She had grown up from the small little girl she once was. She however felt deep sorrow over this child and wanted to hold him to herself. She ran a hand through his messy black hair witch seemed to relax him more into her embrace. "Never again…you aren't going back there." She spoke softly with conviction.

Harry's eyes were wide as he stared up at her. "Wh…?"

She smiled lightly down at him. "What they did was wrong. They should never have done that to you." She whispered.

Harry felt fresh tears enter his eyes and he tried to stop himself from crying.

"Shhh." Maria spoke softly hugging him tighter. "It's okay now…it's okay."

"Maria!" A voice shouted causing the boy to stiffen in her arms lightly and causing her to jump before relaxing and turning her head to see Richter running over to her.

"Are you…?" his eyes widened slightly as he saw the small child looking up at him with wide scared eyes. He looked back over at Maria and raised a concerned brow seeing her saddened expression. "What's going on?"

"Richter..." Maria replied softly. "Have you seen this child before?" The belmont blinked, then looked Harry over. The little boy shrunk further into the woman's hug, making himself seem absolutely tiny. Richter shook his head.

"No...I can't say I have." He replied. "I don't think he's from the village..."

"Yes, I had the same thoughts." Maria agreed. "He's new here..."

"It was the freaky stuff..." Both adults looked at him with raised brows. "The freaky stuff brought me...I wasn't supposed to use it, but I did...And now I'm here...Not at home anymore..."

"From what you told me, that place was FAR from a home." Maria said soothingly. "You're not losing anything truly important."

"But...the chores!"

Richter raised a brow at him and Maria held him tighter, "Shh. Don't worry about that…" she looked up at her brother figure. "Can I borrow your cabin for a little bit?"

The Belmont nodded. "Go ahead. I'll ask around see if I can find anything." He said handing her a small key and walking off.

Maria placed the key in her pocket and lifted the boy into her arms. She was surprised and concerned by how light he was. She cradled him like a toddler as she walked down the roadway ignoring the other villagers.

She looked down at the trembling child in her arms and felt a pain in her heart. She hated seeing small innocent things hurt. From her lovable animals to children, she hated to see them hurt or sad. So seeing this child who was in so much pain pained her more than she was expecting.

She made it to his cabin and used the key to unlock it. She opened the door and closed it behind her as she walked down the hallway and into a small living room and sat down with the child in her arms. She wanted answers but she had to be careful.

"...I want you to answer a few questions for me...Okay?" She said softly, stroking his hair. He looked up at her and nodded slowly. "Okay...What's your name, dear?"

"H-Harry..."

"Hello there, Harry. My name is Maria."

"Hi, Miss Maria..." The young woman giggled.

"So well-mannered." She said in approval. "Now...Please...Tell me...some things about your life."

"Wh-Why...?"

"So I can help you."

"But…I'm a freak…"

Maria frowned at him and shook her head. "Why do you think that dear?" she asked rubbing his cheek softly.

"I do…freaky things. Like fixing broken things, lifting things up without hands…and changing my uncle's shirt a different color." He mumbled softly.

Maria frowned in thought at that. It was strange but not enough to hurt the child, honestly it all sounded like, "Magic."

The little boys head snapped up at her with wide scared eyes. "That's a bad word!"

Maria shook her head with a smile. "No, my dear. No it most certainly isn't." She replied. "Magic is simply a part of life that people are growing accustomed to every day. Not everyone has it...But from what I've heard, you seem to."

"But...But...I...I'm confused..."

"That's understandable. Many are confused at first. But they all understand it over time. And you will too. I know it."

"Really...?"

"Of course." Maria replied. "You have a great gift, child. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"It's...a gift...?"

"Of course." She replied tightening her hold on him. "Magic is no different than the changing wind, or the raging tides. It may seem scary to some, but it is also a gift to aid us in life. Only a few have this gift, and it makes them all the special for it."

Harry stared up at her with wide eyes. "S…Special? Yo…You think I'm special?" his voice was so small and fragile but held so much hope.

Maria smiled down at the child tenderly. "Of course I do." She said running her hand through his hair.

Harry felt tears enter his eyes as he buried his head into her chest and let out a sob. "Thank you…thank you…" he sobbed.

Maria gave him a sad smile and held the trembling child closer. "You're very welcome, my dear." She cooed. He had yet to let out any more sobs, but she could tell from his body language he wanted to. Desperately. "...You don't have to bottle it up anymore, dear." She said gently. He slowly looked up at her.

"H-Huh...?"

"If you want to cry, then go ahead. Cry. I encourage it."

"But...But I was told not to-"

"By whom? Your 'family' that harmed you?" She asked, causing him to flinch. "It's okay. They're not here. I am here. And I say it's okay to cry."

He stared up at her with uncertainty before another sob escaped him and he pretty much collapsed in her arms and cried.

Maria held him close and ran her hand through his hair. She knew he needed this, yet his sobs made her heart ache.

The boy cried well into the night and Maria felt her eyes get heavy many times but she held fast and stern, she would not let him go when he needed comfort more. Lucky for her his sobs had degraded to quite sniffles.

She leaned down and kissed the top of his head and moved him back so she could see his face. She felt her heart break at the sight of his tear stains face and his blood shot eyes. She wiped away some left over tears with her fingers and smiled down at him. "There you go. Feel better?"

Harry let out a soft sniffle and nodded slightly. He did feel a bit better.

Maria smiled lightly at him and kissed his little nose causing him to giggle lightly. The pair were interrupted however when a soft tapping was heard on the window. Curious Maria stood up and walked over to the window to see who it was smiled warmly.

It was a snow white owl and it was staring into the house with a tilted head asking to come in.

Smiling, Maria rose to her feet and stepped up to the window, pulling it open. "Hello there." She greeted the owl, holding out her arm. The owl tilted its head and stepped onto her arm and clambered onto her shoulder. "I see you came to visit." The owl let out a hoot. She stroked its feathers. "You're a very sweet thing..." She cooed.

"B-Birdie...?" Harry asked, innocently looking at the owl, who tilted its head curiously and made its way over to him. Maria watched in amusement as the little bird stepped down to study the boy in her arms.

"It looks like you've made a friend." She said with a smile. Harry tilted his head...then blinked when he felt the owl walk onto his hand. He looked at it with wide eyes. It stared back and tilted its head, letting out a hoo. Harry slowly reached his hand out. The owl drew back very slightly, but allowed itself to be petted...and quickly leaned closer into the touch with a content hoo. Harry giggled.

"She's a pretty birdie..."

Maria smiled down at the pare in her arms. "Yes…how did you now she was a girl?" She asked him curious.

Harry looked up at Maria still betting the content Owl. "I don't know…I just do." He said softly. He closed his eyes and smiled at the owl. "Hello…Ms…Owl…" he said softly.

The owl let out a soft hoot and climbed up his arm and onto his shoulder where she nuzzled him causing him to giggle as her soft feathers tickled his ear and cheek.

Maria smiled at them and rocked the boy gently in her arms. She looked over at the own and raised a brow at the content look on the birds features. She was a young snow white owl, yet there was something strange about her, she looked far wiser than any other owl she had ever seen.

The owl looked up at Maria and the woman blinked back some surprise when she saw a flash of emerald within its amber eyes before giving a soft hoot and nuzzling more into the child.

Maria decided not to worry about it. The owl and Harry were both happy, and that was enough to keep her content. Smiling, she ruffled Harry's hair. "It's late out dear." She said gently. "Why don't you get some rest?"

"Mmkay..." Harry replied. He closed his eyes, and almost immediately fell into slumber. The owl tilted her head and let out a soft hoot.

"You're more than welcome to stay." Maria replied gently, ruffling the owl's feathers. The small bird closed her eyes in content, then flew on top of a shelf. She looked down on Harry, watching over him. Maria smiled. "Good girl." She smiled down at Harry. "Rest well, my dear." She said, stroking his hair. Harry subconsciously snuggled in closer and clutched at her clothes. This delighted Maria, who responded with a giggle. "You're adorable..." She whispered. The boy mumbled something in his sleep.

"Mama..."

Maria's eyes grew wide as she felt her heart warm at his words. She covered her mouth witch was stretched with a large smile. 'Mama…her?' she shook her head and took a deep breath to try and calm her beating heart.

She couldn't keep the warm smile off her face however as she gazed down at the sleeping child lightly moving some hair from his face. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Sleep well…my little robin." She whispered in his ear causing him to smile and lean more into her.

She did not notice the door opening or the footsteps approached her location, the owl did but did nothing as she sensed the light within the person.

"I see you two have bonded."

Maria smiled down at him and ran a hand through his hair. "He called me mama…oh Richter…he called me mama." She said giddy.

The Belmont chuckled at her giddiness and sat down in front of her on another chair. "I'm glad."

"Did you find anything?"

He let out a defeated sigh. "From those who were not totally intoxicated, nothing. They have never seen him before."

Maria let out a soft sigh and looked up at the Belmont with a determined expression. "I'm keeping him."

Richter laughed and shook his head again. "I have no doubt" He gazed at the sleeping child. "Still I would like to know a bit more about him if I don't mind. As the future uncle I need to know some things." He joked lightly.

Maria blushed red before giving him a stern glare. "Like?"

"Like who he is? And why he looks the way he does?" he said seriously.

Maria let out a tired sad sigh and looked back down at the sleeping child.

"Not tonight. Get him and yourself to bed." He spoke up with a small smile.

Maria smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course. Thank you." She replied gratefully. Richter nodded.

"I will leave you two in peace." He said before heading to a different room upstairs. Maria smiled as she watched him go, then looked back at the little boy.

"Your uncle is a great man, dear." She said softly, stroking his hair. She let out a loud yawn. "Now...I must join you in sleep..."

She stood up and looked over at the Owl who flew her way over and landed on her shoulder with a firm hoot. She giggled lightly at the owl. "Good girl." She praised the female bid and walked up the steps and into her own room.

The owl flew off and landed on a perch by the bed and nestled itself to overlook the pare while they slept. Maria smiled down at the child and her smile soon turned to one of amusement when his grip on her clothes were iron tight.

To tired and having too much heart to wake him she decided to get into bed with him in her arms. She laid on her side to allow the little boys head to rest on the pillow. She gave him a kiss on the forehead and closed her eyes. "Goodnight my little robin."