A/N: Hi guys! This is my first story on Fanfiction, and English isn't my mother tongue (learning English in Vietnam really sucks sometimes ) so please bear with my mistakes. I really want to read a story with a female protagonist, but most stories labeled Fem!Harry aren't to my liking so I decided to write my own story :D. Anyways, I like reading reviews, but you don't have to leave one if you don't want to. I don't want to sound desperate (Even though I am :P)
Disclaimer: Err…what exactly is a disclaimer?
Chapter 1: Irish McGonagall
"What about the girl, Albus? You can't separate them like that! They are siblings!" Professor McGonagall shouted, not caring that they're standing in a street full of sleeping Muggles.
"Half-sibling, my dear Professor. James and Lily have told me that she wasn't Lily's daughter as well as whom her mother was. But it's not actually my place to reveal their secret. Rest assured, Irish will be told the truth when the time comes. Anyways, Lily had sacrificed herself to create a protection blood seal that shield them from Voldemort's killing curse. However, only Harry obtained the seal. It was pure luck that Voldemort decided to attack Harry first. The seal was activated and reflect the curse, killing Voldemort in the process. Harry will be protected by the seal simply by staying near his blood relative to recharge the seal's magic."
"Unfortunately, the seal won't be able to protect young Irish like it will her brother as she doesn't have Lily's blood. We can't risk leaving her vulnerable here when there're still many Dark Eaters out there. Furthermore, her being her mother's daughter will only make her life more dangerous. I'm doing this for her own good."
Dumbledore paused and looked at the infant with a warm fatherly smile.
"Of course I won't put her in an orphanage. That'll just be plain suicidal, and Lily and James would kill me again when I finally met them." He chuckled.
"You mean you're going to…"
"If you're thinking that I'm going to adopted her, no. A senile old man like me can't bring up a child to save his life. But it's close enough."
"I'm afraid I don't understand, Albus."
"Oh, but I think it's quite obvious, Professor McGonagall." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"You don't mean…"
"Yes, Professor. There's nobody I can trust more to protect and care for Irish more than you. Besides, James and Lily have already made you her godmother."
"M-me?" Professor McGonagall stuttered. "Don't get me wrong, Albus. It's an honor to me, but I'm not sure I can be a good enough mother for her."
Dumbledore laughed whole-heartedly.
"Not to worry, my dear Professor. I'm sure you will. Just don't be too strict with Irish and let your maternal instinct do the rest. I'm confident that she will grow up to be a good girl and a formidable witch under your care. Anyways, as her and Harry's magical guardian in the goblins' law, I've arranged for her trust vault to be refilled yearly with the money from the Potter vault. As for accommodation, I can prepare the paperwork for you to by a cottage in Hogsmeade for convenience. It'll also be easier for me and you to reach her if she's in danger. Is that alright?"
Seeing the look on Professor McGonagall's face, he decided to add.
"Don't worry. Once it's safe for her to reclaim her family name and legacy, I'll personally make sure that she will have her rightful position as the heiress of the Potter family."
Professor McGonagall sighed in relief. She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding the two infants underneath it, as unlikely as it might sound.
"Hagrid's bringing them."
"You think it…wise…to trust Hagrid with something as important as this? He can't use magic to apparate and Knight Bus is out of the question. Not to mention a giant man carrying two infants isn't exactly a common sight, especially on Muggle streets if he resorts to Muggle transportation."
"I would trust Hagrid with my life, Professor. Besides, he may not be the sharpest tool in the box, but he can be quite resourceful sometimes. He'll figure something out eventually." Dumbledore chuckle, remembering how Hagrid used tea to make his infamous stone cakes somewhat edible when he visited the man's hut. The poor headmaster lost one tooth or two that day, and that was how he discovered the sweet for the gods that was Lemon Drops.
"I'm not saying he can't use his head, Albus." Professor McGonagall said grudgingly. "But you have to admit that he tends to be…careless…sometimes. And what's that noise?"
A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them, sounding suspiciously like an old cab with rusted engine. It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight. It swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky. A huge motorbike fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them. If the motorbike was huge, it was nothing comparing to the man sitting astride it. He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide, muscles budging under his skin so much that could scare a professional sumo wrestler witless. He looked simply too big to be allowed, and so wild with long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face, he had hands the size of dustbin lids and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins. In his vast, muscular arms he was holding two bundles of blankets. Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall and mouthed 'see', making her roll her eyes.
"Hagrid," Said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. "At last. And where did you get that motorbike?"
"Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir." Said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorbike as he spoke. "Young Sirius Black lent it me. I've got them, sir."
"No problems, were there?"
"No, sir. The house was almost destroyed but I got them out all right before Muggles started swarmin' around. They fell asleep as we were flyin' over Bristol."
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundles of blankets. Inside, just visible, were two babies, a boy and a girl, fast asleep. Under a tuft of raven hair over the boy's forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning.
"Is that…" Whispered Professor McGonagall.
"Yes." Said Dumbledore. "He'll have that scar for ever."
"Couldn't you do something about it, Dumbledore?"
"Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars can come in useful. I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well, give me the boy, Hagrid. We'd better get this over with." Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned towards the Dursleys' house.
"Could I…could I say goodbye to him, sir?" Asked Hagrid.
He bent his great, shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy, whiskery kiss. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog.
"Shhh!" Hissed Professor McGonagall. "You'll wake the Muggles!"
"S-s-sorry," Sobbed Hagrid, still holding the baby girl. He then taking out a large spotted handkerchief with his right hand and burying his face in it, making a rather comical sight. "But I c-c-can't stand it…Lily an'…James dead, and poor little Harry and Iris' off to live with Muggles…"
"Yes, yes, it's all very sad, but gets a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we'll be found." Professor McGonagall whispered, patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm. "And little Irish will stay with me, Hagrid. Professor Dumbledore has arranged for me to adopt her. I can bring her to Hogwarts sometimes so that you can meet her, okay?"
"Real-really, Professor?" The giant asked with teary eyes.
"Yes, Hagrid. Besides, you can meet Harry when he goes to Hogwarts."
While Professor McGonagall was comforting a crying Hagrid, Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door. He laid Harry gently on the doorstep, took a letter out of his cloak, tucked it inside Harry's blankets and cast a warming charm and a calming charm in case he woke up. Once done, he came back to the other two. For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle. Hagrid's shoulders shook, Professor McGonagall blinked furiously and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledore's eyes seemed to have gone out.
"Well," Said Dumbledore finally. "That's that. We've no business staying here.. Hagrid, you can return to Hogwarts now. Bet people at Hogsmeade are throwing a big celebration."
"Yeah," said Hagrid in a muffled voice. He carefully gave the child on his arm to Professor McGonagall.
"I'd best get this bike away. Goodnight, Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, sir." Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve, Hagrid swung himself on to the motorbike and kicked the engine into life. "Goodbye, little Irish." With a roar it rose into the air and off into the night.
It was then that the two professors noticed that the girl had woke up and was staring intently at them. Her emerald green eyes shining peculiarly under the moonlight. Dumbledore lowered his head to smile at the baby.
"Isn't she adorable, my dear Professor? I won't be surprised if she makes Head Girl at Hogwarts just with her charm."
Irish stared curiously then held onto the old headmaster's beard, making him winced. The Transfiguration Professor had to stiff a laugh.
"I think she has taken a liking to Care for Mystical Creatures, Albus."
But then the little girl laughed at the old man's expression and the two professors suddenly felt a surge of joy, as if each of them was experiencing the happiest thing in their life. It was coupled with a strange sensation, like a small boost of energy. Magic was practically radiating from the child's body in faint white waves, making her body glowing lightly.
"Albus. The girl…"
"Yes. The girl's magic reserve is monstrous. One year and a half and her power is even bigger than an adult's. She'll grow up to be a formidable witch. I'm sure of that."
"Yes, Albus. She is truly special."
"Professor McGonagall, you should take young Irish home and plan a shopping list for her things. I shall see you soon, I expect. You can come to me at any time should anything arise. I'll try my best to help. Oh, and you'd better hire a house elf to look after Irish when you're in classes" said Dumbledore.
"Thanks for the advice, Albus. I'd better get going." Professor McGonagall replied with a big smile on her usual stoic face. She then used side-apparate to bring the baby girl to her cottage in Hogsmeade, intending to go to Flourish and Blotts for some books on child-caring.
Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street. On the corner he stopped and took out the silver Put-Outer. He clicked it once and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street. He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four.
"Good luck, Harry. You and your sister will be family again soon, I promise." He murmured.
Thinking about the soon-to-be witch, he chuckled. 'Irish, you are a Half-blood in more ways than you think. I look forward to see your potentials released in the future…'
He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak he was gone.
'…daughter of Hecate.'