Prologue

1st November, 1981

Little Whinging, Surrey

United Kingdom

Mrs Arabella Figg left her home at number 8 Wisteria Walk, dressed as usual in her tartan carpet slippers and housecoat, to go down to the corner market to pick up something to eat for her precious cats, Tibbles, Snowy, Mr. Paws, and Tufty. She turned down the corner and started down Privit Drive, and as she passed Number 4, she heard the fainted of whimpering. She glanced around and saw a rather large wicker basket sitting on the stoop.

"What have we here?" Arabella murmurs, as she glances around to make sure no one was watching her. She walked up to the stoop and glanced in the basket.

"Oh dear Lord!" she gasped. "Who in their right mind leaves a BABY on the stoop of a house? Well, humph."

Noticing a parchment tied to the handle, she reached out and grabbed it and, glancing around furtively, she breaks the seal and reads the lettre.

Dear Mrs. Dursley,

I am quite sorry to announce the loss of your sister, Lily. She and James were murdered last night by the Dark Lord Voldemort. Harry, their one year old son, somehow managed to survive the attack. Not only did he survive the Killing Curse, but made it rebound upon the Dark Lord, and brought about His downfall. Unfourtunately, the Dark Lord, I fear, is not gone forever. Nor are His Death Eaters gone.

I have placed blood wards around your home, based upon Lily sacrificing herself for Harry, and, as long as Harry can call No. 4 Privit Drive home, both he and your family will be safe from the Death Eaters. Please contact me if you need any assistance, Petunia. I am sure you remember how.

Cordially yours,

Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore

Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Order of Merlin, First Class, et al.

"Humph. Those rotten Dursleys would more than likely neglect Harry and make his life miserable. I had best take him with me until I can get these blood wards looked into by someone trustworthy," Arabella muttered, picking Harry up out of the basket and holding him close to her chest. She would have transfigured a pram and a warm blanket, but as a Squib, she didn't have that luxury. "Come on, Harry, dear. Let's go down to market and get you some milk and such. Then we will go home and contact someone who can help."

Glancing down at the baby in her arms, she smiled faintly when she saw that Harry had fallen fast asleep, his thumb planted in his mouth.

Chapter 1

Arriving home from the market with an armload of baby necessities and her usual order of cat food, she sat them down on the kitchen counter before going into the bathroom to change Harry's diaper for him. Once that was done, she took him back into the kitchen and proclaimed, "Let's see about getting something warm and nutricious into your little tummy, hmm, Harry?"

Putting Harry into the high chair that she still kept around from when her children were little, she went about making up a bottle for Harry, all the while talking away, both to keep Harry occupied and to help herself figure out what she needed to do.

"All right, then. We need to go see the goblins at Gringott's today, Harry, to take care of your parents' wills, checking out the wards at the Dursleys', and I need to get some money out of my family vault. That's one good thing about being an only child of an only child. At least I couldn't be disowned for being a Squib. After we get done at Gringott's, we need to go see Madam Maulkin to get you some more baby outfits. After that, we need to go to the Ministry and figure out what in Merlin's name gave Albus the right to put you with the Dursley's. Surely your parents named godparents and alternative guardians, because I couldn't see Lily wanting you to be placed with that snobby giraffe-neck of a sister and walrus of a brother-in-law. Here you go, Harry, a nice warm ba-ba to fill you right up," Arabella said, turning around and walking over to give Harry his bottle.

Harry reached up and grabbed the bottle and started to drink. Arabella looked down fondly on Harry and smiled. "You know, Harry, your eyes are exactly like your mother's were. I am sure you will be hearing that alot throughout your life. I am truly sad to see your parents gone, even though it brought about the greatest day that we've seen in a long while. You will be famous, Harry. You're the only one who has survived the Killing Curse. Who'd have thunk that You-Know-Who would be brought down by a cute little baby like you?

"Now, finish up your bottle, and then we will get you cleaned up and floo over to Gringott's and get our day going, alright?"

---

Stepping out of the Floo into Gringott's lobby, Arabella strode up to the nearest available Goblin and asked to speak to a manager.

"GRIPHOOK, take this lady back to see Ragnok and do so quickly!" the goblin said, looking pointedly at the scar on Harry's forehead.

"Y-y-y-yes, s-s-sir. Right this way, ma'am," Griphook stuttered, and led Arabella and Harry towards Goblin Clan Leader Ragnok's office.

Upon arriving at the office door, Griphook whispered to Arabella to "Wait here, please," before knocking thrice upon the door and stepping inside when a voice called out, "Enter!"

Several minutes later, Griphook came back to the door, and said, "Ragnok will see you now," and bowed her through the door.

Arabella stepped into the office with Harry, now sleeping, in her arms. Griphook excused himself as Ragnok gestured toward a seat in front of his desk. Arabella sat down in the ornately carved chair, and murmered, "When I asked to speak to a manager, I never expected to be taken to the Clan Leader himself."

Ragnok chuckled lightly and said, "Well, ma'am, it's because of your little companion. The news of what Mr. Potter accomplished last night has travelled quickly, and has affected not only the human world, but all magical creatures, as well. He has saved us all from a terrible fate, however temporarily. Now, what may I do for you today, ma'am?"

"Well, Mr. Ragnok, first off, let me introduce myself properly. I am Arabella Figg, nee Cadogan. I was on my way to the market this morning to buy my kitties some food, when I saw, well heard, rather, Harry here crying. I looked around and saw him laying in a basket on the stoop of No. 4 Privit Drive, which is supposedly his maternal aunt's house, as there was a note attached to his basket from Albus Dumbledore, claiming that You-Know-Who killed the Potters, and that he, that is, Albus, set blood wards around the Dursleys house based upon Lily's sacrifice..."

"Did you happen to bring this note with you?" Ragnok interrupted.

"Yes. Here it is," she replied, handing Ragnok the note, who quickly read it and scowled. "Is there a problem, Mr Ragnok?"

"Yes. First off, the Potter will was brought in to me today, and it clearly stated that young Mr. Potter was to go to an orphanage or be adopted by a magical family before going to the Dursleys, if all the appointed guardians were unavailable to take care of him. His godfather, Sirius Black, was imprisoned about two hours ago, due to his "betrayel" of the Potters to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, which, by the way, did not happen. Peter Pettigrew was the Secret Keeper, according to the will, but will the Wizengamot even give him a fair trial? More than likely not. His godmother, Alice Longbottom, along with her husband, Frank, were murdered in their home last night. Luckily, their baby, Neville, was staying with his grandmother. However, that is not likely to be for long, as she is ill. You, Mrs. Figg, were named a guardian, if you choose to accept, that is."

Arabella's heart leapt. "Of course! I would love to take care of Harry!"

"Very well. That is a relief. Now, more importantly, how to keep the Bumblebee from interfering. For all his claims of blood wards based on Lily Potter's sacrifice, there could be no such thing, as Lily was adopted. She was the sister of Alice Longbottom, nee Prewitt, and for some reason, had been put up for adoption. That is why Petunia was so spiteful and cold-hearted about her "sister". So, while Harry would have been safe staying in the Muggle world, he would not have been very happy with the Dursleys. With Mr. Black and Mrs. Longbottom no longer in the picture, there is nowhere where blood wards could be erected, unless you were to take in young Mr. Longbottom. However, Dumbledore is already going to attempt to interfere with you adopting Mr. Potter, much less Mr. Longbottom."

"I don't care. I could blood-adopt both of them, which would give them my familial traits, and I could move out of the country. I have a family home in Connecticut. I could move there."

"That would be a wise idea. Let me get ahold of Madame Longbottom, and we can arrange for the ceremony to blood-adopt both Messrs. Potter and Longbottom later this morning. Would you mind waiting here for a little while while I get everything arranged, or would you like to pay a visit to your vault?"

"I will pay my vault a visit, if you don't mind, Mr Ragnok. I need to get out some money to do some shopping later, especially if I am going to be taking care of a couple of toddlers."

"Not a problem, Madam. I will have Griphook take you down to your vault, and I will see you again in a little while."

"Thank you, Mr. Ragnok. Until then, may your gold flow freely."

"And may your enemies die forcefully. Until later, Madam Figg."

Tbc...