A Flower in the Dark

The school Southly Belongs to my friend Ella Princess of Animals, however, I have changed it slightly.

Note: Southly: Their first year starts when the bulk of the Students are 10. And there will be Ron bashing (I hate him) and Dumbledore bashing, or at the very least, not 100% good Dumbledore. AND! THIS IS AN AU! THAT MEANS THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF NON CANON STUFF! IF NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE UP YOUR ALLEY! LEAVE NOW!

Pairing Tags: Alstroemeria (but from now on, I will just call her Mia) X Tom Riddle/Voldemort. Severus X Bellatrix. I probably won't have any Slash! Though.

Warnings: Well, at there will be swearing at some point, but I will make sure it consists with their age, there's the pairings, and the thing about Dumbledore, and this being an AU! But also, at the very least there will be suicidal thoughts, but probably attempts as well, and self-harm, maybe. I have this because, i am picturing Mia being quite depressed, and I can just see Voldemort running to rescue the girl he loves from killing herself, (Snigger at that thought).

To anyone wanting to review: People who have ideas, for story line (By the way, I only have a very, VERY vague idea of what will happen), Pairing wise, or just wanting to help improve grammar and/or punctuation, as long as you're nice, your reviews are very welcome!

To people expressing their opinion: That's fine, just be honest, then leave me alone.

People using swear words: I will report or delete your comment, so please don't swear!

People who I see are being abusive, or bullying: I will report you, or delete your comment. All writers are trying their best, and I know some might annoy you, but just count to 10, or walk away. As they say, 'if it ain't fun, walk away.'

And I am allowed to do that, because this site does say Reviewers might not always praise your work, but they don't say that is't Ok to swear, or bully.

I will put this at the end of each chapter so you can't forget, just by the way.

Beta: Spittingllama7856 and Sylmarils. Thank you so much guys! Do check them out, they're both really nice people.

Sorry for the long Author's note! And also, updates will vary. Mostly on what I am doing, but also on interest in the story. You see, my idea is to write two chapters, then see what you guys want. If I get a lot of people loving it, I will update as soon as I can, but if I don't, I will finish writing it, then update as I edit.

Another note: I would read these chapter's quite frequently as they can change and I will try, but I might forget to inform you.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR THE AUSTRALIAN WIZARD WORLD!

Chapter 1. The Child who just appeared

An eleven-year-old Alstroemeria (Mia) Lestrange ran, as fast as she could go. Like every day when she left the safety of the orphanage, she was being chased by those blasted bullies. The only way she could escape them was by running.

Mia had black hair, which had a few light curls in it. She was quite pale and had onyx eyes. She was quite slender built, and she moderate height for her age. But Mia at least is sure her growth will be either stunted or slowed down because everyone at her Orphanage had to share a small amount of food. Nothing against the orphanage or anything: it was just the Government being tight-fisted with giving out money to Orphanage.

The bullies were a gang of boys who bullied anyone they felt like, but they had a particular dislike for Mia. Mia suspected that the reason they hated her so much, was because from a young age, she had done magic, and they were jealous of her because they couldn't. After all, it had been a lot worse since she was invited to the Southern Academy for Australian Witches and Wizards, (Also known as just Southly) which every child with or without magic dreamed of going to, because it was so prestigious; and it was a type of school that only Australia had.

Southly was a very selective school, they only choose the very best students to attend, and they choose only the very best teachers. Because in Australia the school was widely known by non-magics and witches and wizards. Mia had known about the school and hoped she would get invited, ever since she was seven-years-old. And her dream had come true! She'd been invited. That had been the happiest day of her life; back then.

Mia quickly turned down a back alley to try and lose the bullies. But, this proved to be a bad idea, as they had laid a trap for her. About halfway down the alley, they had laid a trip wire, for Mia to tripped over. And their plot worked, too. Mia didn't see it, because she was busy trying to work out her next path.

Mia heard laughing behind her as she hit the ground, she looked around to see said boys approaching her. Mia knew this was bad, and she couldn't get out because they had her surrounded. Mia was scared about what she thought they might do to her. The leader said, "Tat, tat, Freak; can't run now, can you? How about we teach you a lesson?"

The other boys sniggered, and Mia was so scared she started to cry as they approached, hoping, just hoping they might be nice to her. Knowing that was never going to be likely, she wished with all her heart, "I just wanna be safe!"

Then she felt the feeling of being sucked through a tube. Mia had felt it before: when the teacher from Southly had come to take her school supplies shopping, they had done it then, and she had the unfortunate thing of being sick when they arrived at their destination; so, she hoped that didn't happen again. Disapparating, Mia believed it was called. When the feeling stopped, Mia realised she was on top of a very high building! Being afraid of heights, Mia quickly grabbed onto the flagpole, which was right next to her.

She clung on for dear life; being terrified beyond measure and cried, "Help! Someone! Anyone!"

Meanwhile…

A middle-aged dark brown witch named Rolanda Hooch was just going back into the castle, from going for a fly; when she heard someone crying, "Help! Someone! Anyone!"

Confused, she went back out to investigate. Rolanda couldn't see anyone, but then she heard the call again, and it sounded like it was coming from the roof of the castle! Rolanda looked up to see a curly black-haired young witch, on top of one of the towers, looking very afraid, while she clanged onto a flagpole for dear life. Rolanda was shocked to see someone up there, especially a child. But it was scary, too.

Rolanda called trying to stop the girl from getting more scared, "Hang on, girl! I'll get help to you!"

"Hurry, I can feel my grip going!" the girl cried back, panicked.

Rolanda called, seeing someone in the entrance hall, "Minerva, quick! Get Albus!"

"Why?" asked Minerva McGonagall, as she came out to stand with Rolanda, being confused on why Rolanda was telling her to get Albus. Minerva had black hair which was going grey and grey eyes. Her square glasses and tight bun made her look fierce.

When Minerva reached Rolanda, Rolanda pointed up, and Minerva followed her finger to see the child on top of one of the towers. Minerva nodded, then said, "You stay here, and I'll get Albus."

Then she hurried off. Rolanda called to the child, "Don't worry, little girl! Help is on the way!"

"I can't hold on anymore!" the girl cried, and then, Rolanda saw her fall. Terrified, but having to think fast, she quickly used a cushioning spell where she believed the child would land, then she used another spell to slow her fall.

When the child landed, she went unconscious. But, Rolanda could see if she hadn't thought so fast, the girl would be dead. However, she didn't get out of it that easily: as had an injury to her head, which was bleeding.

Rolanda conjured a stretcher, placed the girl on it, and then levitated it so she could take her to the school's healer: Poppy Pomfrey. As Rolanda entered the castle, she met Albus Dumbledore and Minerva. Albus had snowy white hair, a very long beard and blue eyes that often looked like they were twinkling. He wore half-moon spectacles and at the moment, he was wearing violet robes and hat. He asked, "Is the child alright?"

"Should be, but I'm rushing her to Poppy: just to be safe," said Rolanda, the other two teachers nodded, and they went to the Hospital Wing together.

When they got there, Poppy gasped at seeing the girl, and then she asked, "Where did she come from?"

"No idea. I was coming back into the castle when I heard a cry, and I looked at the top of one of the towers, and there she was! Poor thing, from the looks of it, she's afraid of heights," said Rolanda recalling the last ten minutes.

Poppy laid the girl on the bed, then went on to examine her while Rolanda banished the stretcher. After a while, Poppy finally said with a reassuring smile, "She will be alright. The wound to the head was not serious, and she has a mild concussion, but I can handle that. But, wherever she lives, she can't be getting enough food, because she is a little malnourished, and underweight."

Poppy was quite an old witch, but not old enough that people called her old. She had grey hair which was bright yellow in her youth. She had amber eyes as well, which made quite a few people weary of her.

"We need to find out who she is: so we can inform her parents or guardians," said Minerva being the sort to always think of that.

Albus nodded, and said, "Minerva's right. Would do you think is the best way of finding out, Poppy?"

"Well, a family revealing potion would be best. But, as I am fresh out of them, and I'm pretty sure Severus is brooding grumpily in the dungeon: the parent revealing spell would have to do. It only reveals their name; unless they're not born, of course. And the child's parents and adoptive parents. Only if they have been blood adopted, though. They don't get a mention if it was a muggle adoption. Well, here I go… Parent Reavelio!" said Poppy, waving her wand in a P shape. When she had finished, a cloud appeared above there girl, and names appeared within it. The girl was called Alstroemeria Aquila Lestrange, and she had two sets of parents! one set to their surprise, said 'Lily and James Potter,' but then, they saw underneath their names 'adoptive parents,' was written. Getting a big shock from that, they looked to the left, the see her birth parents and got an even bigger shock. They all gasped as they read it, (and Minerva at least looked like she was going to faint.) It said, 'Bellatrix Lestrange Nee Black, and Severus Snape.'

"Well, I guess someone will have to go and fetch Severus," said Minerva, sincerely hoping it would not her.

Rolanda nodded (thinking the same as Minerva) and said, "Well, off you go, Albus! You're the only one who will not get their head bitten off if you disturb him."

"Quite true, Rolanda. Fine, I will go," said Albus, then he left to go get Severus.

Minerva said, "Alstroemeria is a long name: I wonder if she has a shortened name she calls herself?"

"Mia, probably. I would never have guessed it, but now I know, she does look quite a lot like both her parents," said Rolanda feeling shell-shocked about everything that had happened.

Minerva said, "She is also blood adopted by the Potters, and yet, it doesn't really show on her like it did when she was a baby."

"Don't forget Minerva; there are some blood adoptions that last forever, but the changes it makes to the baby, don't. Either that or Lily just charmed her and they wore off when Lily died, which is more likely. And we don't know, do we? She just disappeared when You-know-who attacked the Potter's home." said Poppy; who was in two minds about the whole thing.

Minerva said feeling like she was being picked on, "Well, be fair, Poppy! I never was that good at Potions! And you had to be because you're a healer and you need to make Potions!"

Rolanda thought, then said changing the subject before someone got hurt, "We still don't know what happened that night, do we?"

"No, but I guess someone found her before us, or she Disapparated herself away, which would be a pretty impressive feat for a baby, but possible," said Minerva.

"Normally I wouldn't even think of it; but in this case, she would have had to have Disaparated herself," Poppy said, working out what potions she was going to use.

When Albus found Severus.

When Albus searched Severus's Lab and classroom for Severus. Not finding him there, Albus knocked on Severus's Quarters. "Albus isn't a man allowed some peace!?" Severus said upon opening the door and allowing the headmaster in. They walked to Severus' living room.

"You are. I'm sorry for disturbing you, Severus: but I'm afraid something has come up. You misplaced a child quite a while ago, and she's just turned up in the Hospital Wing," said Albus gravely, which was almost certainly the wrong way to say it.

Severus looked murderously at Albus for a while before he said, "Albus! You've gone mad! I haven't slept with anyone!"

"Ah, yes, but didn't you mention once that Voldemort's Death Eater Parties could get a bit, shall we say, wild?" said Albus proving he did listen every now and then, much to Severus's chagrin.

Severus paled then he collapsed into a chair and some realisation. He asked, "The child's mother is Bellatrix, isn't it? I can't recall any other female Death Eaters, and Narcissa never went to the parties, as she is not marked and she never approved of them."

"Yes, that's right," confirmed Albus.

Severus thought for a moment, then asked, "But, I don't understand, how did she get here?"

"Who knows? All we know is, that Rolanda was coming back from the Quidditch Pitch when she heard a cry, and she saw Alstroemeria; that's your child's name, on top of one of the towers," said Albus explaining what had happened.

Severus said returning to his normal self, "I suppose you want me to come up, don't you?"

"Yes. Since we don't know where she was before she turned up here, she will stay with you: being her father and all. There is something else, somehow, the Potter's got hold of her. They adopted her, I can only assume that their child died, and they took this one in without telling anyone; for whatever reason," said Albus. Albus knew he was lying slightly with that last bit, as he knew full well how they ended up with her.

Severus feeling overwhelmed had paled again. After a short time, he returned to normal colouring. Severus said, "Let's go. I will need to ask Poppy if there are any potions she needs, and I want to see Alstroemeria."

Albus's eyes had a very bright twinkle in them, which made Severus think he was forming a plan, but Severus didn't ask the headmaster what he had thought up now because he had had more than enough shock for one day; and he certainly did not need to know the old Headmaster's newest scheme. But they stayed twinkling for the rest of the day.

Chapter 1 ends…

From this chapter, we see Dumbledore has been up to something, but we don't know yet if it's for the better or worse. And this story is going to have a bit of secrets and other things been revealed as time goes on.

To anyone wanting to review: People who have ideas, for story line (By the way, I only have a very, VERY vague idea of what will happen), Pairing wise, or just wanting to help improve grammar and/or punctuation, as long as you're nice, your reviews are very welcome!

To people expressing their opinion: That's fine, just be honest, then leave me alone.

People using swear words: I will report or delete your comment, so please don't swear!

People who I see are being abusive, or bullying: I will report you, or delete your comment. All writers are trying their best, and I know some might annoy you, but just count to 10, or walk away. As they say, 'if it ain't fun, walk away.' And I can tell you, if I sent hate mail to every writer, or gave a bad review to every/who's story I didn't like for whatever reason, I'd be 160, and still be going.

And I am allowed to do that, because this site does say Reviewers might not always praise your work, but they don't define what's report worthy. Also, I should have mention this earlier, but I didn't so here it is. Mia is a little odd in the head, like, she is suicidal, but quite a few of those, are going to be from her mind just snapping, and seeing dying as an easy way out. Also, at the beginning, Mia should seem a little weak, and don't worry, she will get stronger, that is just part of her journey.

Also, soon it shall be revealed why she has Lestrange as her last name.

(Curse long Author's notes!)