Compulsion
The street of Privet Drive can be described as many things to different people. One living on it might think it's the perfect and normal place in the world to live and raise a family, or the place where you feel constricted and your personality and talents are stared down upon and constantly attacked for being different. A place where the local crime rate in the area, and around it, is low or nonexistent, or the complaints are ignored and forgotten. A place where a extremely old man just popped into existence. A place where the story of Harry Potter takes place.
It was a little after midnight, the clouds obscured the night sky, and the sun wouldn't be out for another four hours. The street was dark and empty of any occupants except for a curious looking cat. The cat has been sitting for still for so long that some people mistook it for a lawn decoration. 'If I have to sit here on this fence for another minute, he is going to be in more pain then when his lemon drop dish is empty' This cat was Professor, Minerva McGonagall. While she wasn't supposed to be here, she couldn't see the point of what he was going to do. Of course, she could have mistaken the plan, Hagrid was a little drunk when he told her where he was going. She turned her head quickly when she saw a figure materialize out of nowhere down the street. 'Ah, there he is' When he got close enough to her, the the cat jumped off the wall and transformed into what looked like a middle aged woman, with her feet firmly planted on the ground.
The old man stopped for a second, looked at the woman and kept walking towards, then past her, like there was nothing wrong about a cat changing into a person, and to him there wasn't. "Professor McGonagall, I should have known you would be here" he chuckled. He continued to walk till he was standing in front of #4 Privet Drive, with Minerva close behind. "I had to know, so it true what everyone is saying Albus?" Minerva said, finally catching up with him. Albus Dumbledore stopped chuckling. He sighed, "I'm afraid so Minerva, the Potters where attacked by Voldemort." McGonagall let a few tears drop, "What about Harry?" "Hagrid is bringing him to be with his relatives where he can be protected." Minerva looked furious, "Surely not here Albus! These muggles that live here are horrible." Albus frowned, "They are the only family he has left." They where interrupted by the arrival of Hagrid carrying a bundle. His huge feet making the concrete strain as he made his way to his friends "Ah thank you Hagrid," Dumbledore said, "Let me see him." Dumbledore took the bundle from a sniffling Hagrid, and walked up to the front door of number four. He took out his wand and looked for something to transfigure.
A simple flick of his wand towards a rock was all it took to conjure a comfortable looking basket for little Harry. He reached in robes and took out a carefully thought out letter and, along with Harry, put them in the basket. He stood and watched the rise and fall of the child's chest. One more look at the lightning bolt scar and he rose and turned away walking back towards his friends. Minerva was looking incredulously at Dumbledore. "A basket and a letter Albus! You can't expect them to take him in without explaining anything in person!" Hagrid was looking at Dumbledore to, but stayed quite.
He frowned at them, "If what you said about them is correct Minerva, it is best we not interact with the Dursleys at all." She sighed tiredly, "You must remember Lily always used to worry about her sisters hate toward magic." At his nod she continued "If her sister never accepted her then what makes you think she would ever accept her son?" The real question about how he would be treated because of the hate was left unsaid. His mind was swimming at the possible outcomes. Harry needed the blood wards to be protected, but if he was be received differently then expected would the wards hold? "Yes, I have the perfect solution" With that, he abruptly turned around and walked back towards the basket. He bent down and picked up the letter waved his wand a few times, muttered a few words and put it back with the boy.
"I put a little compulsion on the letter" Albus explained to their questioning eyes. "To help them see Harry as a Dursley and not a Potter."
Albus Dumbledore will come to regret those words in a few years.