Disclaimer: Do I look like JKR? It's all hers, not mine.

This is my first try at a Harry Potter fic, so feedback would be very appreciated, as long as it is constructive.

Warnings: I am not a native speaker and I don't have a beta, so if you stumble over any grammatical errors, don't be offended. This story might develop some slash (male/male pairing) in the future.

"Hello" = speech

"Hello" = thoughts

Hope's Nest

Chapter 1

It was a sunny day that found Draco Malfoy standing in front of the quite unknown orphanage "Hope's Nest". He had been surprised to learn that the orphanage was not a run down little hut, but a big mansion with huge gardens and a small lake. It was not every day that someone rich enough to own such grounds decided to take in war orphans in his own home, without getting anything out of it in return.

The orphanage's owner, a mysterious person called Nicodemus Stormcrow, was apparently a wizard of old blood, who harboured a strong dislike against publicity of any kind.

The only reason Draco knew about "Hope's Nest" was that some of his former housemates children had been take in by Mr.Stormcrow. Regardless of the fact that they were children of publicly known Death Eaters. Every other orphanage denied those children entrance, their halls and beds reserved for the children of war heroes. So many children had to live on the streets, where they were easy prey to anti-dark fanatics, child-molesters and other criminals.

How the Wizarding World hoped to avoid another dark movement when they abandoned over one third of their magical children, many of them already trained in the Dark Arts, was truly beyond him.

After some careful investigations Draco learned that Mr.Stormcrow took in every single child that he could find, regardless of their parents beliefs, their heritage or their race. The children were homeschooled, not only learning about Wirzarding traditions, culture and history, but also in everything their muggle counterparts learned in primary and secondary school.

Draco's curiosity was picked, so he called and made an appointment with Mr.Stormcrow to visit the orphanage. If the children were treated as well as it seemed, he would personally look to it that the orphanage got plenty of donations and would never know need of anything.

The orphanage's name and motto adorned the magnificent iron gates in bold, silver letters: "Hope's Nest-Home for All".

You mean a home for Slytherins and half-breeds. As far as he knew no Stormcrow had ever attended Hogwarts. Which made him wonder how Mr.Stormcrow could take in children that were so heavily prejudiced by the whole Wizarding World, when he didn't know any Slytherins personally. How could he be sure the Wizarding World was in the wrong?

Without further delays Draco rang the little silver bell, next to the gates. A few seconds later a small house-elf, dressed in a nice blue on white uniform, which was adorned with the crest of "Hope's Nest", a dark phoenix who cradled three children in his wings, one holding a wand, one holding a book and one half-transformed werewolf.

"Welcome at "Hope's Nest" Mr.Malfoy, sir. Master Stormcrow sir, is awaiting you in the sitting room, sir. If sir were so kind as to follow Bellsy?"

Draco was quite impressed by the well mannered, articulate house-elf and followed her on the passage that lead to the main entrance of the mansion. He noticed the lovely arranged and well cared for flowerbeds and ancient trees that surrounded the way, as well as the children playgrounds that could be see farther away.

Knowing about house-elves love of talking about their masters, Draco started to interrogate the house elf: "You are very well mannered, Bellsy. How long have you been working for your master?"

The small creature squealed with delight at being able to praise her kind master. "Mr.Malfoy, sir, is being too kind. Bellsy is a young elf, Bellsy was born here, Bellsy was helped to life by great Master Stormcrow himself. Bellsy's mother Cammy was owned by Master Stormcrow when the bad snakeman was dead. Cammy helped Master Stormcrow find all the little ones and made the old rooms nice for them."

"Was your master sad after the bad snakeman's death?" If he plans to build a new army, it would make sense to gather the children of Death Eaters. Nobody would suspect the head of an orphanage to be the next Dark Lord in hiding.

"Master Stormcrow was happy and sad at the same time. He was happy at day and cried on his sleep. Master Stormcrow had very bad dreams, but they got better when he took all those little ones in. Master Stormcrow likes children."

He couldn't be a child molester, could he? I don't think the children would stay here if he was, but better be safe than sorry.

"How do you know that he likes children, Bellsy?"

"Master Stormcrow buys them toys and plays with them and comforts them when they is crying, sir."

Draco wanted to ask more questions, but they had arrived at the mansion. With a little "pop" Bellsy disappeared. The doors opened and another house-elf greeted him.

"Good day, Mr.Malfoy sir. Master Stormcrow will be a little late, sir. He bids your pardon, one of the little ones is crying. If Mr.Malfoy sir would be so kind to follow Cammy?"

He followed Cammy to a big, comfortable looking sitting room, where he was immediately directed to a chair. The house-elf seemed anxious to make him be as comfortable as possible.

"Is Mr.Malfoy sir needing anything else?"

"No, thank you, Cammy. You can go." After the house-elf had vanished, Draco took a good look at his surroundings. The room was decorated in a rich ocean blue; the furniture was of a soft white colour.

The bookshelves were filled with tomes from the topic of Muggle history to the topic of Ancient Runes. Pictures of various children were placed on shelves or hang on the wall. The whole room radiated the feeling of finally being at home.

Well, whoever you are, Mr.Stormcrow, it seems you only have the well being of the children in mind.

TBC