Holding Me up High
By: game-overgal
Disclaimer : I Don't own any Hp characters unless they are not in the Hp book series then there my own original characters ok
A/N:I 'm looking for another beta because my beta has been loaded down by her own work I don't mind I hope someone will volunteer to be my beta please
beta: Hair Brush User
Chapter One: The Arrival
One cold November night, a few hours since October 31 passed, all was silent as every person slept soundly in their beds on Privet Drive. But two remained awake in this quiet street. On the side of the road, there walked an elderly fellow, looking as withered as a hundred-year-old man would look. He had a white beard so long that he could tuck it into his belt and wore strangely colored robes. One could mistake him for an insane retirement home escapee. He stopped and gazed at the sky with blue eyes framed by half-moon glasses, waiting for something. He then put the lights out with a lighter to make sure no one could see him if they peered out their windows.
On the brick wall beside the old man sat an oddly stiff tabby cat, with strange markings around its green-yellow eyes. The feline glanced to the man quickly, but then looked off conspicuously. A smile appeared on the elderly man's face and he had a glittering twinkle in is eye.
"Hello, Minerva."
The cat puffed out her chest indignantly and shifted into a younger, but still elderly woman. Her name was Minerva McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the greatest magic school in the Wizarding world. Minerva narrowed her eyes at the colorful man and spoke clearly.
"How did you know it was me, Albus?" she inquired, pursing her lips.
Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, was probably one of the most powerful wizards in the world, not to mention oldest. He just smiled again and returned her glare with another twinkle.
"Why, Minnie, I have never seen a cat sit so stiffly while staring, not moving at all, at one particular house."
"You would be sitting in such a manner, also, if you had been perched on a wall all day," Minerva replied, irritated at his blatant cheerfulness.
"Why are you not celebrating with the rest of the world? This is a wonderful, if not horribly depressing day," Albus asked Minnie, raising his white eyebrows at his co-worker.
"Because you are sending the boy to this place and I want to see how they were. May I ask you… is it true that…that Lily and
James Potter didn't make it?" the deputy headmistress asked gravely.
Albus sighed heavily and answered, "I'm afraid so, Minnie; they didn't make it. Lord Voldemort got to them first."
Minerva choked a sob back and shuddered when Dumbledore uttered the Dark Lord's name. She hushed him after a few moments of silence she spoke, "Don't say that name around me, Albus… you know I can't stand it... Is what everyone is saying true? After all the death he and his followers caused... he couldn't kill a lone child. And now, he's dead?"
"Yes, and no, Minerva. It is true that he couldn't kill the child. Even I cannot explain precisely how it happened, but yes, the Dark Lord was destroyed. Unfortunately, Voldemort is not truly dead, though weakened. One day he will return, just as powerful and maybe more. That is why the boy will remain here at Number Four until it is his time to enter the Wizarding world."
She stared at Dumbledore disbelievingly.
"The boy is to remain here! These muggles are vile, disgusting people. The only one that is decent was the eldest boy of the family! The other two twin girls came up the street with their mother while kicking, screaming, and crying until they received the candy they wanted! And their father is an ox and tried to hit me with the morning paper!" At this, Albus began to choke up in chuckles but gulped them down when the transfiguration teacher glared at him sharply.
She looked to the ground. "And Albus... what if Vol…Vol… You-Know-Who or one of his followers comes and kidnap the child?" She gazed at her wrinkled hands worriedly.
"No need to worry, Minerva, no one needs more stress after what has happened over all these years." She muttered under her breath that 'he was the person that had mostly stressed her out.' Albus shook his head and continued, "There are blood protections around the house and these muggles will come to love the child like their own. It is not polite to talk as such about the boy's family."
"...Alright, Albus, I understand that much... But why can't he stay with his godfather, Sirius Black... or perhaps the godmother?...Or even Remus Lupin?"
She paused, and when he did not answer right away, she continued.
"These muggles are not even Harry's blood relatives. They are Lily's adoptive family and from what I have heard her sister does not like Lily or our kind," she murmured to him. They walked along the road, pacing in front of Number Four.
The wizard sighed. "It is for the boys own good. He must remain here. And as for Sirius, he was arrested for the murder of Lily and James and also their friend Peter Pettigrew, and thirteen other muggles. To the Ministry, Remus is considered a dark creature because he is a lycan, so he will not be allowed custody over."
"He was arrested! I never thought that of Sirius, but I suppose it is better if he's off the streets and somewhere where he'll learn something…I... I guess I can't argue with you anymore, Albus. Very well... where is our savior now?"
He just smiled. "Hagrid is bringing him," he said simply.
Minerva blinked. "Do you think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this? He's not the most responsible or sharp people I have ever met..."
Dumbledore waved her off. "Minnie, I trust Hagrid with my life. He may be a giant and has a strange interest in dangerous creatures..." he trailed off uncertainly, finally regaining his voice and continued, "but I trust him to help others. Especially with Harry."
All of a sudden there was a whooshing noise and a huge shadow appeared at the curb of the street. Albus pulled out his pocket watch and nodded to the hairy brute.
"Right on time Hagrid."
The shadow moved and revealed a large man with a long, bushy beard. In his arms, he held a small, swaddled baby. The elderly duo moved closer, inspecting the child.
"Is this him?" Albus asked, looking into the giant's black, beady eyes.
Hagrid nodded gruffly while wiping a tear from his eye. He passed the bundle to Minerva carefully.
"Yup, tha's little 'arry.'E fell asleep just before I fire ported out of the house. Made it jus' in time, too; the house was collapsing."
"Good job, Hagrid. Now, for the next eleven years he will remain here. Then, he will enter the Wizarding World. None of us are to set foot anywhere near here for the duration of that time. Mrs. Figg, the squib down the street will watch him from afar." The other two nodded obediently and said their goodbyes to the sleeping child.
With that said, Albus walked up to the doorstep of the perfectly normal house and placed Harry on the doormat, along with a box of letters that he conjured. As the elderly wizard put Harry down, both Minerva and fire ported away; back to the school to join in the celebrations.
Albus then turned and walked off the property. He looked back to the sleeping child and spoke to the wind.
"Good luck, Harry Potter, for when you enter the Wizarding World, you will be know as the savior of our world. The Boy-Who-Lived... but for now... farewell, child."
With one final look, the headmaster apparated away, leaving the bundle alone on the 'Welcome' doormat. Throughout the night, Harry slept soundly, never realizing that he would spend eleven years being pushed around, neglected, treated like a servant, and made fun of at the hands of his relatives.
The morning was greeted with a high pitched screech. The bundle was pulled in, and thus began the hard part of Harry Potter's life.
End Chapter One: Arrival
A/N: OK, just tell me if you like it or you don't, or if I spelled something wrong (HBU: Shouldn't be!). Please review!
PS. My beta has been really busy lately and I was hoping if someone would volunteer to also be my beta reply soon
