A/N: Hello, everyone! This is my first Harry Potter fanfiction! It's gonna be... Different. Usually I don't have any plan whatsoever, but I do this time!
In other words, this should go much more smoothly than my other fanfictions- which you may notice, if you're here checking this out because I posted this link on that page. And, well, here this is. Enjoy.
Chapter One: The Burden Who Lived
An old man walks through his office, watching the cot, and glancing at the door every few seconds. His silver hair and beard sway with each step he takes.
"A dreary night, is it not, Albus?"
Albus looks back, his blue eyes saddened, and looking older and thinner than he ever has before. "I fear for the future of this boy, Minerva. He is but a infant and already a celebrity."
"It's true, then?" Minerva inquires. "He defeated You-Know-Who?"
"Please, Minerva. It is childish to call him that. Call him, instead, by his chosen name: Voldemort." Albus spat the name, like poison. Minerva flinched both from the name itself and the way he said it, but remained quiet.
"He lived, Minerva. He survived an Unforgivable, and left the boy with nothing but a scar on his forehead! The poor boy will be in the papers everyday... Which is why he may not remain in this world."
"I'm assuming, then, that you have decided to have the boy stay with his relatives in the Muggle London?" Minerva grimaced. "I was watching them today, Albus. They are retched people. They will not raise him right."
"I will have him removed if something goes wrong, believe me. It will give the boy time to grow, though. He does not need to be harassed and in the papers every time he moves or goes outside." Albus walks back to the cot and stares down at the infant. "He is but a year and a half old. Think of the rottenness he would have if he was to be raised in Wizarding London."
"I do understand, Albus. But the boy should still have someone who is wither witch or wizard to look after him-"
"Minerva, please. Trust in me."
Minerva frowns. "If you have already made up your mind, Albus, then why am I here?"
Albus nods and gestures to a plush chair. Minerva sits, her back straight, features rigid. "I am old, my friend. My age is finally catching up to me. I estimate having only a few years left- I would like you to be my successor."
Minerva, if possible, becomes even more rigid. "Albus, surely you are mistaken! This boy-"
"Has defeated Voldemort-" he kindly waits for to stop flinching before continuing on- "for now. He will rise again. And Harry, poor boy!, will have to defeat him: again. And I will not be here to help the child, whom holds this reached burden that he never asked for! A burden he will wish was not his. Alas, Minerva, he is our only chance of surviving this war."
Minerva shakes her head. "Albus, you just feel old for now. It's just been a few days, and the man and woman you felt love for as daughter and son have died, and their son, as you said, has this weight or the world-"
"I will not feel young again, friend. I am sorry, but this is unavoidable. You will become Headmistress, even before my funeral."
"Headmaster-"
"We are here tonight, Minerva, as friends, not as Professor and Headmaster. Please. I need you to keep the boy safe."
"You have notes for me, I presume, Headmaster?" Minerva sighs.
Albus nods. "Notes on everything, Professor, from how to take control or the wards, to how to give one of my famous speeches. As well as everything in between."
"Will I be allowed to remove the boy, or shall I be forced to let him remain?"
"Let him remain, Minerva. He should be as shielded away from the Wizarding World as he can be until it is time for him to return."
Minerva shakes her head. "No contact at all, Headmaster? Surely he should have some-"
"No, Minerva. Now, I have prepared a letter for his relatives, and e shall leave as soon as Hagrid gets here."
Minerva scowls. "Hagrid?" she asks, stiffly.
The Headmaster smiles for the first time since Voldemort's fall. He turns from Minerva and the the cot again. "He wants to wish the boy goodbye. Hagrid has been taking care to Harry the past few days. Would you care for a lemon drop?" He turns back to her, lemon drop in hand.
"A what?"
"It's a Muggle treat. They've started selling them in Honeydukes, as well now- they really are quite good. I wonder if Harry ill ever take a liking to them?"
Albus look into the cot once more, emerald green eyes meeting his. The baby make no noise, just gazes into the Headmaster's kind blue eyes. A loud knock sounds on the door, and Albus breathes out a soft, "Come, Hagrid."
"Headmaster Dumbledore, sir, sorry tha' I took so long. I 'ad ter feed Fang befer comin' 'er-"
"No need for explanations, Hagrid. Come, bid Harry your farewell, so Minerva and I can be on our way."
Hagrid sniffs and picks up the still silent Harry, cradling him. He mummers a few soft, sob covered words, and hands Harry back to Dumbledore, his sobbing increasing more and more. "Will I ever see 'em again, Headmaster?" he sobs out.
The Headmaster smiles softly. "Of coarse, Hagrid. He'll be going to Hogwarts. Now, Minerva, it's time to Apparition to number four, Privet Drive."
They do just that, Albus still holding Harry, who puked once the Apparition was over, and Minerva comes along with a soft pop a few moments afterward. "Scourgify," Albus mutters, pointing his wand to his violet robes.
Once clean, he pulls out what appears to be a cigarette lighter. He clicked it, and the nearest street lamp went out with a small pop. Twelve times he clicks the Put-Outer, until the only lights left on the whole street are far in the background. If anyone looked out the windows, they could not see anything happening on the pavement. He places the Put-Outer back into his pocket, and turns back the the woman.
"He is going to be tormented by these people, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore shakes his head. "Even the worse of Muggles know better than to hurt a higher force. Harry is strong, already."
"We should just-"
"Minerva, his parents are dead, his godfather helped murder them, there is nowhere he will be safe, but here."
Minerva frowns deeply, and glares from under the square glasses she wears. "What about Lupin? Surely he could protect Harry?"
Dumbledore frowns and shakes his head. "Remus has his own demons to fight. He would be neglecting in his own way, once every month. You know that, Minerva."
Minerva says nothing, just paces forward, towards number four. Albus follows, Harry still in his arms.
When they got there, Albus handed Harry to Minerva. "Accio cot and blanket."
The two items fly at him, he places the cot on the doorstep, wraps Harry in it, and then places Harry into the cot. He took a letter out of his cloak, and tucked it into Harry's blanket.
"Well, that's that." Dumbledore looked up at the sky. "May as well go and join in the celebrations, now."
Minerva nods, and walks a few feet. "I shall see you soon, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore nods, "Yes, yes. Go on and join the fun, Minerva. I will see you in my office tomorrow."
She nods, lifts her head. "To Harry Potter- the boy who lived!" Then she Disapparates.
The Headmaster looks back once more, before Disapparating as well, with the final words, "Good luck, my boy."
The lights return, and Harry Potter remains still, his magic swirling around him, silent. The boy would never see the Headmaster again, and it would be the last time for a very long time that he would ever feel love around him.
The next morning conjured up a surprise, as Mr. Dursley walked out the front door to go to work, almost stepping on Harry in the process. His face became a red color, and then pale. "PETUNIA!"
Said woman comes to the door, and almost faints as she reads the letter.
They ere not happy to have this burden upon them.