Prologue – And I will never be the same
"Everyone can learn from the past. Today, you have to learn from the future." – Hermann Kahn
The Dursleys went to sleep. Mr Vernon Dursley forbade himself to think about today's strange events any longer.
Surely all those owls, shooting stars and strange clothed people that whispered the Potter name had all been coincidences. Throwing one last look to the cat on the garden wall in front of the house, he switched off the light and went to bed.
Soon after, there was a quiet pop and a man appeared at the end of the road. He looked quite unusual and if Mr Dursley had known that this man was clothed similar to all the people he'd seen today, he would immediately sit upright in bed.
The cat got up, jumped elegantly from the wall and placed her big eyes on the man who was busy, turning off the lights of the streetlamps.
This man was Albus Dumbledore. He walked up in front of the cat. "Pleasure to meet you here, Minerva."
The cat blinked and in her place stood a woman, Minerva McGonagall.
"Now", Dumbledore continued, "you looked quite stiff. Did you watch the house the whole day? One should assume, a party would've been a better place to be on a day such as today."
The woman replied, "Party? Even the muggles know that something has happened. They brought it in their news. Showers of shooting stars!", she snorted, „I bet it was Daedalus Diggle, he's never been sensible, not even in school."
Dumbledore laughed, amused. "We had nothing to celebrate for 11 years, Minerva. Leave them be."
Both grew quiet.
"Is it actually true?", McGonagall then asked, "You-Know-Who is truly gone?"
"As far as we know, yes… Sherbet lemon?"
Minerva McGonagall stared at him incredulously. How could he think about sherbet lemons right now?"
"But You-Know-Who…"
"You should call him Voldemort", interrupted Dumbledore. "It is time to call him by his real name."
"You always were brave enough. It is said you are the only one, Voldemort ever feared", she retorted.
Again, Dumbledore laughed but he was serious when Minerva asked the question she'd wanted to hear the answer to the whole day. She knew it, of course, but she wanted it confirmed by none other than Dumbledore himself.
"Is it true, what they're saying? Voldemort went to Godric's Hollow. He looked for the Potters. Lily and James, are they… dead?"
Her voice broke. Dumbledore remained silent.
"Oh God", whispered McGonagall. "It can't be true. It can't be."
„But it is, Minerva", Dumbledore said quietly. "They're dead."
Again, there was silence. It seemed as if McGonagall needed to process the information correctly.
"I heard something else. Voldemort wanted to murder their son. They say, he lost all his power when he tried and then he was gone. Is it true, Albus?", she asked. "In Merlin's name, how could Harry survive?"
"We don't know. Maybe we'll never know", Dumbledore answered. McGonagall had difficulties, staying calm.
"What's with the girl?", she then asked and Dumbledore's face darkened a bit. McGonagall looked at him and raised her eyebrows. "Is she…?"
"Dead? No, she lives. She survived it as well. It's quite a miracle", he replied.
McGonagall inhaled sharply. "How's it possible? They say…"
"I know what they say, Minerva. And yet, she lives." He gazed down at an ancient looking pocket watch. "Hagrid should be here any minute."
"Would you be so kind as to explain to me what exactly we are going to do? Terrible people live here. I had to watch them the whole day", asked McGonagall indignant.
"We're going to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle."
Minerva McGonagall's face fell.
"What?", she hissed. "Harry Potter is to live here?"
"It's his place", Dumbledore retorted sharply. "They will explain everything. I wrote a letter that is going to explain to them and to Harry, too, when he's older."
McGonagall snorted.
There was a loud, grumbling sound and soon after, a motor-cycle landed on the street in front of them. A giant of a man sat on it.
"Hagrid, nice to see you. Any problems?", Dumbledore asked.
"Nope, Professor. Young Sirius Black gave me the bike. I got Harry 'ere, Sir", Hagrid answered.
McGonagall and Dumbledore looked at the little bundle in Hagrid's arms. The lightning bolt like scar was clearly visible on the boy's forehead. Dumbledore took him from Hagrid and put it in front of the door. All three of them watched the boy sleep.
„Now", Dumbledore said. „Time to go."
Minerva snorted angrily. „With due respect, Albus, but Harry can't possibly live with these people. He's legend, as is his sister… When will she arrive?"
"Oh, I nearly forgot. She won't live here. I will watch her personally, as will some other members of the Order. I hope, I can count on you, too, Minerva?", Dumbledore explained soberly.
"What?" She was sure she had heard it wrong.
"She will live with me. I'm sure, it's for the best."
"At least one of them will grow up, knowing they're wizards", she murmured. Loudly, she said: "Of course, you can count on me. Where is she right now?"
"Come, you can accompany me and meet her."
McGonagall nodded and both turned to Hagrid, who had listened quietly to their conversation.
"Thank you, Hagrid, for bringing Harry."
The half-giant nodded, sobbing and sat on the motor-cycle. "Take care of the lil' girl, professor." Then he flew away.
Dumbledore and McGonagall apparated to a house right on a cliff at Scotland's coast. They walked through the gate and approached the front door which was opened from the inside.
They entered and found themselves face to face with the whole Order of the Phoenix. Everyone was stony-faced and some of the women had clearly been crying.
Dumbledore raised his voice, "My friends, what happened today, could never have been anticipated. Today we mourn the terrible demise of Lily and James Potter."
Some people sobbed.
"But even this dark hour has a bright side because it's true what they say. Lord Voldemort is gone and through Lily and James' death they saved their children. Harry Potter and his sister are fine. I left Harry with his muggle relatives, it's what's best", he continued.
Then he walked across the room to a corner. There, Alastor Moody sat on a chair and next to him was a crib, Fawkes sitting on it.
Dumbledore gazed into it.
After a very long time, something like a little smile appeared on Moody's face. He already loved the girl, for he'd been the one to get her out of the destroyed remnants of her home.
That moment, the young Potter turned in her sleep. She didn't know that, right now, countless parties took place, people lifted their glasses and hushed voices announced: "To Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, and to his sister."
And Dumbledore whispered, „You're going to be a great one, Catherine Lily Potter."
AN: I don't own this story, it's a translation from a german one by Zauberkatze on fanfiktion . de
I'm no english mothertongue so I hope you'll excuse my mistakes.
I'd like to hear what you think about this. Give Catherine a chance, will you?
Read and review, guys!
