The Winter was cold. Harsh winds met with the cold to make it worse. For most people, tucked up in their houses with a cup of hot chocolate, it was fine, but not everyone was like that. Some people had no home to go to, they lived off of the generocity of others, or by resorting to theft. During the Winter, people like this tried to find the sympathy of others to find shelter.

Adia wasn't like that. Adia tried her hardest to live a life which would be called acceptable. If she had been old enough, she'd have taken up a job, but at five there weren't many jobs you could manage and so she was left on the streets, unsheltered, unfed and ill.

She was sat on the steps on Gringotts, watching helplessly as many people walked past, seeming to ignore her. A fit of coughs racked her system and she winced. It was getting worse, it affected her whole frail body, and it hurt. She let her head drop into her hands as tears fell down her face, she was alone, and it was all her mother's fault.

Mei had taken the Sunday off work; choosing to shop in Diagon Ally. She needed a few basic supplies for class and as nice as Hogsmeade was it just didn't have the magical creature supplies she needed. She smiled happily to herself as she exited the post office, choosing to have owls deliver her purchases off back at apartment whilst she did a bit of personal shopping to cheer herself up.

Mei tugged at her warm cloak, pulling the hood further down and the entire thing closer to her small frame. It was freezing outside and she couldn't wait to get inside at the next shop. She was walking past Gringotts steps as her thoughts were interrupted by a coughing fit. She whipped her head around hoping someone was not going to pass on the flu when amber eyes set upon a small girl sat on the steps.

Mei visibly frowned at the child's state and pulled her hood from her head. As feisty as she was Mei could not stand not helping out a child, she had often cared for her own younger siblings. She walked towards the girl pulling her scarf from around her neck and offering it towards the small being, who currently held her head in her hands.

"Hi there..." she paused unsure what to say next, though purposefully keeping her tone its normal bright self. "My name is Mei, like the month. Whats yours?...Where is you family little one?"

Someone spoke and Adia looked up with her big, chocolate coloured eyes and noticed she was being offered a scarf. She took it thankfully with shaking hands. "Th-thankyou." she stuttered., as she wrapped the scarf around her neck, feeling the warmth greatfully.

"I... I'm Adia Lestrange and... I don't know where they are, I've been alone for a long time." she was a trusting youth in need of companionship and here was her ticket, maybe.

She watched girl gratefully accept the warmth the scarf gave her. It seemed odd someone would abandon a small child in the middle of winter. There were plenty to services both muggle and magic to deal with this kind of thing. She smiled at the child kneeling down to eye level; not that far of a shift form the short Mei.

"Okay Adia, its nice to meet you...Do you live out here?" she paused trying to think of the best way to help the child immediately whilst her mind tried to think of a plan. "I know would you like to come get some hot chocolate with me, then we can get you some help?" She extended her hand towards Adia for the girl to take, speaking in that voice most adults use towards children.

Adia nodded. "Yes. It has been like this for a long time. The Winter's are cold, but you learn to get by." The child's eyes shone brightly, there was still happiness in her soul despite being left on the streets. In fact, the life she led made it so she enjoyed things most would take for granted. For example, Adia was happy to just sit and talk, she didn't need to do anything, she could just sit and talk, it was more interesting than sitting, as she usually did, with noone but herself.

The child took the woman's hand and smiled at her. "I'd like that."

Mei smiled in a sisterly fashion and it was clear she was a the oldest child of a large family just by the way she acted. She gripped the Adia's hand tightly with her own gloved hand and stood up, waiting for the girl to stand up to so the pair could walk to the nearest warm cafe.

"Adia, how long have you been out here? Has no one offered you help?" She was tyring to gather background information. Figure out the best thing to do for the girl, if it came to last resort she supposed she could watch her in between teaching but that would be pain and surely the Protectors could find somewhere for the young witch to live?