A/N: New Story, new times. This story is a collaboration between me and littlemiss. Any relation between real events is purely coincidental. Oh and I also don't own Harry Potter… yet.

New Beginnings

Chapter 1

Mr. Dursley was beyond angry. In fact he was quite furious. First, it was the cat he had seen while getting to his car that morning. She was in the corner of the street, staring, her golden eyes fixed on him. He had tried to shoo the cat back to Mrs. Figg's, where it most likely belonged, but it stayed affixed to its spot. Throughout the day he kept seeing unusual sights, weirdly dressed people celebrating in the streets on his way to work. Odd lights flashing in the window all throughout the day as he tried to reestablish the normalcy that was his preference. On his way home he was infuriated about the fact that all the freaks were still about and that the police had not arrested the whole lot of them.

He thought he was free of the strange people when he arrived home, however, the cat was still there, sitting on the wall now, only she wasn't alone. Mrs. Figg was there petting and talking with the cat, like it could understand. Mr. Dursley had finally had enough. He slammed the door to his car nearly breaking the window and stormed over to the wretched woman.

"Mrs. Figg," he growled as politely as possible. "I will ask you once, will you please take that abomination of yours and yourself back to your house and off of my property?"

"It's not your property, Vernon. Besides, we were just looking around the neighborhood while chatting," she replied coolly. Mr. Dursley was about to chase her away himself when his wife stepped out.

"Oh, Vernon, leave the madwoman be. It's not like she can do any harm," stated Mrs. Dursley. "Besides, your supper will get cold." Mr. Dursley growled once more at the woman before entering the house.

The news didn't help Mr. Dursley's mood by mentioning unusual happenings, like shooting stars and mobs of owls about during the day time. It was enough for him to stop and think but now he was supposed to go to sleep. He finally did manage to nod off around midnight and that's when more unusual event happened.

The cat was gone by the time and old man appeared, seemingly out of thin air. He pulled out and odd device and proceeded to remove all of the light form the streetlamps, making the street too dark for prying eyes. He noticed the woman and muttered, "I should have known."

Mrs. Figg smiled and then her appearance changed to that of a much more beautiful, younger woman. "Albus, it's good to see you again," she stated formally.

"Andromeda," he nodded to her, standing beside her.

"Is it true, Albus? Is it true that James and Lily were murdered and that Harry is still alive when You-Know-How is dead now?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Voldemort was defeated tonight, yet I do not believe he is defeated," he replied calmly. He checked his watch and frowned slightly. "He should be here soon."

"You can't be serious. Here," she stated darkly indicating the Dursley's house.

Dumbledore held out a hand. "They are his only family now."

"You're making a mistake, Albus. Minerva and I have been watching the Dursley's all day and we both agree that he would be better with me," she stated firmly. "I have raised someone and can raise him better than them. Besides, he will still be away from all of that fame, that you are most likely protecting him from."

Just then, loud noises of a motorcycle was heard. The pair looked up to see and motorcycle drop down onto the street. The large man was carrying a sleeping baby.

"Ah, Hagrid. No problems, were there?" Dumbledore asked.

No, sir. I took Harry out of the house before too much commotion happened, with the house almost destroyed and all," replied Hagrid

"How's Harry?" asked Andromeda.

"Fine ma'am. He fell asleep while flying over Bristol," he replied. She attempted to hold Harry, but, the child was given to Dumbledore instead. He turned to walked right up to the house, placing Harry on the doorstep. He pulled out a letter and placed it on top of the sleeping boy. Hagrid sniffed but left on the motorcycle without another word.

"Or you certain this is the best option for him, Albus?" she asked.

"It is what Lily would have wanted," he replied calmly. She opened her mouth to protest, but closed it without a word as she glided past her.

"What about the scar?" she asked.

"What about it?" he inquired.

"Can't we get rid of it?" she asked. "I mean it would be better or him and would help him with his newfound fame."

Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars are a powerful thing when dealing with the fact that magic and produced it. Harry will be cursed with this scar for the rest of his life, I fear, however, I believe this is best for all of us, Harry included," he replied walking away as he began returning the light to the streetlamps.

Andromeda changed back into Mrs. Figg just as the last light returned. The man left out of thin air once again as Mrs. Figg returned to her own home.

A robed man melded out from the nearby shadows only to fading back into the darkness after uttering only a few words to the world around him.

"And so it has begun."