Harry Potter and First The Rejection of Canon
Chapter 1:
The Boy Who Got Rejected
Mr. and Mrs. Tonks were very adamant about being normal, thank you very much. All of their neighbors agree that they are not even on the list of suspects regarding strange goings-on in the area. In fact, no one knows where they live precisely, nor that they were there.
Mr. Tonks was a nurse at a local hospital, which no one in the area knew about, hidden as it was. He primarily dealt with all manner of ailments of a calcium-based nature, which mostly means he deals with broken bones. He was an average man, with an average body and an average sized neck to be sure. Mrs. Tonks was a lithe woman with long, wavy black hair. Her hair served no particular purpose, save her love life... Also, she was a Doctor. The Tonks had a daughter called…erm...Nymphadora "Don't Call Me That!" Tonks, and in their opinion, she's a rebellious fire sprite bent on causing them all manner of grief.
The Tonks had everything they ever wanted, but they also had a secret. Obviously. Refer to the previous two paragraphs. What is this secret, you may ask? Well, suffice it to say, this charade is getting old; they can do magic. We all knew this. You had to be somewhat familiar with the worldwide phenomenon of Harry "I'm Doing the Thing!" Potter, otherwise you wouldn't even be reading this.
Now…where was I?
Edward and Andromeda were happily celebrating the fourth greatest news they've ever heard. The first was when Andromeda proposed to Edward, and the second when they heard they would have a daughter. The third happened to be when they found out the same daughter was a metamorphmagus - a shape changer. This one happened to be the death of a particular wizard terrorist by the name of Voldemort. As they were celebrating the end of "He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named" in their own unique way - Ted yelled as he knocked over a vase, Andy was launching fireworks inside her own home, and an 11-year-old Nym was passed out on the floor with ice cream surrounding her form – there was a knock at the door.
Wands were pointed at the door instantly, even by the previously passed out young girl. Cautiously, Ted crept over and began to open the door. Outside, standing with a bundle, was a magnificent beard attached to a face which belonged to one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Because with that name, there can be only one.
"Might I enter?" He kindly asked the trio with wands still pointed at him, a dim twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
The young girl was the first to speak, "Only if you tell us when you became Headmaster of BoarAcne and whatcha got in your arms Mister Albus Brian Percival Wulfric Dumbledore...if that is your real name!" To which the adults snickered silently at the young girl's attempt at constant vigilance.
Nevertheless, Headmaster Dumbledore replied thusly. "To answer your question: I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore have been Headmaster at Hogwarts for 20 years since 1956. I took four years off in 1966 so I could return in 1970 with a fresh perspective. So many fascinating events, so many - erm…" Between his ruminating on past events, he finally noticed that the girl had ended up face down in ice cream and her parents were waiting for him to enter. Clearing his throat, he joined the Tonks' in their home.
Setting himself down on a transfigured chair, he adjusted the bundle and began to speak to the oppositely seated parents. "As you may have heard, Voldemort was recently defeated. Unfortunately…this momentous occasion came at a cost." He stared morosely down at the bundle. "Young Harry here has defeated Voldemort through the Sacrificial Counter-Charm his parents provided for him." He paused in memory of his two past students. "The willing sacrifice of both his parents allowed for the charm to reflect even the killing curse cast by Voldemort himself. Surrounding his form is a sort of protection against Voldemort should he still through some foul magics wander this Earth." Young Harry began to fuss, and Albus began to rock him. "I come to you with the request to look after the boy, until the time comes for him to take over the Potter Estate."
With his eyes still on Harry's form, the headmaster missed Andromeda rushing up the stairs to prepare Nymphadora's old cradle after sending the house elf, Tipsy, to fetch some baby supplies. Meanwhile, her husband had noticed that his jaw had ended up on the floor. "I know this may be hard on you with young Nymphadora about to start Hogwarts, but though Voldemort may be defeated, his forces still linger." At the mention of her name, Nym's conditioned response to thrash about kicked in and she stubbed her toe on the nearby table due to it. This caused her to wake up briefly, groan, then fall back asleep. In the ice cream.
"You see, I know of a charm which will expand upon Harry's already present protection to extend along an entire house. This is entirely dependent on the blood relation of the recipient and their overall relationship. I had originally intended for Lily's sister to take him in, but the Dursley's declined. Petunia said that they already had one son to take care of, and while Mr. Dursley's job is stable, it is only enough for a modest family of three, and they couldn't take any money for fear of his workplace wondering where the extra money is coming from. She also pointed out how a magical family would be better equipped in dealing with a newborn pure-bloods' magical outbursts. So, with your consent, as young Harry's last living relatives, I would ask-"
"Give the poor dear over already Albus, I prepared his crib, and he needs to sleep comfortably!" Andromeda interrupted and snatched the bundle from his arms and was already up the stairs before the older man could even blink. Ted carried Nymphadora up soon after while attending to the cleaning of both her and the floor was taken by the ecstatic house elves. As Ted neared the top of the stairs, he cast a low powered Patronus and sent it down to pass a message onto Albus. "Of course we'll take him. Do be sure to come and visit every now and again, Headmaster. For now though, the young ones need to be put to bed. You can see yourself out. Goodbye."
Wordlessly, Albus Dumbledore left the house and met with his colleagues. He was met by a tabby cat, a giant, an Animagus that morphed from a dog to a man with long black hair and a beard, a man who obviously was a werewolf and a blonde spiky-haired young man who appeared to be no older than a seventh-year year student. It seemed he was oddly dressed in Hogwarts Professor attire underneath a dark brown overcoat. He chuckled and addressed the group, "They took him in."
A wave of relief seemed to wash over his companions.
"Sirius, Remus," Dumbledore began to address them individually, "I expect you to be on your best behavior when you come to visit. No pranking until he's at least six." The animagus and werewolf grinned sheepishly, looking at each other as they held in a possible plea for making it at least four years of age. "Hagrid, thank you for accompanying us and fending off the crowd of well-wishers." The named half giant shyly glanced away with a blush for the praise. "Professor McGonnagal, thank you for watching over his relatives and speaking to them for me." The tabby cat transformed into a strict looking woman with her black hair tied in a bun. The woman gave a bittersweet smile as she nodded.
Finally, he addressed the young man who seemed out of place. "And thank you, Professor Zaine, for arriving earlier than the rest of us and preserving the young couple's bodies. I can't even begin to imagine what would happen if some of Voldemort's forces came and..." Memories of the war and those irredeemable monsters forced him to hold back tears. Leader of the Light he may be, but there are lines you do not cross.
Professor Zaine held up one hand, his one good ocean blue eye and the other horribly scarred one closing as if he too knew what the headmaster was thinking about. "It was the least I could do, Albus."
The Animagus, Sirius by name, then spoke up to the same young man. "I'd like to both apologize and thank you for knocking me unconscious when I tried to attack you. When I saw you performing magic around the still cooling bodies of my best friends...I...Well..." He sighed.
Zaine smiled, shrugging. "Think nothing of it. I should be the one apologizing for you losing the opportunity to hunt the Traitor down." He frowned then, looking down at the ground in thought. "I still don't understand how Voldemort was able to bypass the charms though...You'd have to invite him in, and no one in their right mind would willingly let a monster like him into their home."
Remus looked confused. "You mean the Fidelius Charm? You don't need to be invited for that."
Dumbledore adopted a thoughtful look. After a moment, he realized something. "Professor Zaine, did you add some protections without informing the rest of us?" He didn't look disappointed, but rather curious instead.
Zaine nodded, gaze still lowered as he now rubbed his chin. "We meant to tell you; it was done at the last minute. Yes, I added a few things at the behest of Lily. Well, okay it wasn't me. I contacted an...associate...of mine to add a few protections to the house and Harry. Only someone who lives in the house can invite someone in, and..." His gaze then gained an ashen look as he looked up slowly. "James offered Peter a place to crash whenever he needed it. That would explain how Voldemort was able to come in. It's a loophole we'll address shortly..."
"I suppose now we'll just have to settle for seeing Prongslet grow up while we clean house," Remus spoke with a frown. His Inner Beast was growling at him to tear into those who threatened his pack, and he was of a similar mindset.
Zaine snorted, a look of distaste growing on his face. "That's assuming the Minister will allow us to send the 'upstanding citizens' to Azkaban. Or even put them under house arrest. No doubt we'll be seeing the Ministry coffers grow with the coinciding trials to the those behind bars." The look of anger on his face matched the feeling that Remus was feeling. However, it soon seemed to pass, and the blonde sighed heavily. "If you don't mind, I'll be seeing myself off..." He still had a few bodies to take care of after all.
With that, and a gleam reflecting off his right arm, he vanished from the spot. The rest of the group frowned as well; they knew the politics, and Dumbledore's influence can only get them so far. Likely the worst of them, the Inner Circle, would end up smelling like roses.
Sirius and Remus turned to each other, shared a look, then turned back to Dumbledore. Sirius spoke first: "We'll be heading off too. Remus needs a place to stay while the Ministry rescinds the law forbidding travel outside Britain. And I need to get back to work. I may not be able to kill them, but by Merlin, I'll rough them up some before carting them off to the cells." They turned and popped away. Literally.
Hagrid was next. "I should be off too, sir. The animals need tendin', and the centaurs need some 'elp with the unicorns." He nodded to the remaining two and palmed a sock while speaking a seemingly random phrase until he too disappeared.
With only Dumbledore and McGonnagal remaining, they turned to look at the house. After a few moments of silent contemplation, McGonnagal spoke up. "Did...the boy at least make it through alright? If there was any residual magic left over after what happened…"
Dumbledore sighed. "With the exception of a lightning bolt scar on his forehead, which was the result of the Darkest of Black Magic, he is fully unharmed. I fear I will be busy searching for a solution to his problem for some time. Would you mind taking the position of Deputy Headmistress for some time?"
McGonagall smiled morosely. "If it would help the son of my two favorite students of their time, I wouldn't mind a few extra responsibilities. That is, as long as you don't work yourself to death and leave me as the full Headmistress of Hogwarts. I daresay I would resort to summing you from beyond the grave to relieve some of my burdens."
Albus chuckled. "I fear you'll have to put up with me for some years more, Minnie." He deftly avoided a smack to the shoulder. "Don't worry my dear, I know what foul magics Tom used, and that should make it easier to help Harry. I shouldn't need but a few months, a year at most." After all, Horcrux's have existed for many, many, many, years. Surely someone would have developed something, anything at all to deal with the situation.
They both chuckled and turned to the Tonks house and heard a faint lullaby. With a chuckle following the thoughts of days with his own family, he left McGonnagal.
Before she left herself, she whispered, "I wish you a happy life, Harry Potter." And she promptly disappeared.
For a minute, the street which the gaggle of odd persons had stood became silent once again. But from the shadows, menacing shapes began to take form, talking and chuckling to themselves in what seemed to be some unknown language.
Suddenly, another shape joined them with a menacing wave as it seemed to materialize from the shadow of a lamppost. "We should depart before we are seen in this place."
"Indeed…," said another, "…But it is exhilarating seeing the beginning of what will surely be a very entertaining time."
The shapes nodded and murmured amongst themselves more before they sunk into the ground to depart. The final shadow that stayed behind turned to look back at the house and manage a raspy 'good luck' and farewell to Harry Potter, the "Boy Who Lived," before snapping back into place as if it was never there at all.