A/N: Let me just say, I'm pretty nervous posting this story. It's my first official HP fanfiction. I just sincerely hope that you like it, seeing as I've worked hard on it! So, please read on.

Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. I'm just playing in her sandbox and letting the characters dance around in my head for a while. If you recognize it, it's not mine.


The giant cradled the baby, no more than the size of a bowtruckle in his great arms. He sat on a magically reinforced chair in the Headmaster's office of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The giant, baby and old man in the ornately carved chair were all lightly dozing.

The clock struck midnight. Bong. Bong. Bong.

The baby stirred.

Bong. Bong. Bong.

The giant snuffled in his sleep, his hand never leaving the baby.

Bong. Bong. Bong.

The phoenix, on his stand, opened one beady eye and glanced at the window.

Bong. Bong. Bong.

Man, giant and baby all opened their eyes, as though they had been given an electric shock.

An owl tapped on the window.

The baby began to cry.

The giant pulled out a bottle from his many-pocketed coat, and gave it to the baby.

The man opened the window and took the letter, watching the owl fly off into the night. "It seems we have multiple bidders, Hagrid," he said quietly to the giant.

"Oh?" Hagrid replied, "And who'd dem be, Professor Dumbledore,"

"Hagrid, I've told you before. Please, call me Albus."

"Oh…erm…Sorry, Prof—I mean, Albus. I mean, I 'ave half a mind to take 'im in meself…"

"Not yet, Hagrid," replied Dumbledore. "It seems the Malfoys, Weasleys, Notts, Longbottoms, Lovegoods, Macmilians, Zabinis, Remus Lupin, and Tonkses would all be honored to take him in, along with….others."

"The…The Malfoys?" Hagrid sounded dumbfounded. "But…Professor…yeh…yeh can't let 'im go ter the Malfoys! Bad blood, everyone knows tha'!"

Dumbledore sighed. "While, Hagrid, you and I would like him to stay in the company of the Tonkses and Weasleys for his life, this is the best thing to do. Which, unfortunately, means that little Harry is just going to have to live there."

Hagrid looked at the Headmaster. "Are..are yeh sure, Headmaster? I..I kin take 'im in if I need ter."

"It's only a year, Hagrid," Dumbledore said, conjuring the giant a handkerchief.

"Well…" Hagrid said reluctantly.

"He will be here in ten years, Hagrid," pointed out Dumbledore. "Goodness knows, you'll get enough of him then."

"I..well…They're gonna take real good care of 'im, right?"

"The best that I can provide," said Dumbledore, although one might say he sounded a little unsure.

"This family," he pointed to one on the list, "has a good house-elf. I think they might be persuaded to take in this house-guest for a year."

"Okay then." Hagrid looked a little crestfallen.

Dumbledore patted his arm. "You'll see him again soon."

"But now," he concluded, "I believe that we owe somebody a late-night pleasure."

Hagrid clutched Harry tightly, and grabbed onto Dumbledore's arm.

Two point three-one-two seconds later, there was no-one left in the office.

Some say you can't Apparate two people, let alone a half-giant and the most famous wizard in the world.

But Albus Dumbledore was an extraordinary wizard.

Yet, as wise as he was, he had no idea the way so many lives would be changed forever by the result of his decision.


"Fred! George!" Molly Weasley shouted as she ran over to the wireless. "Be quiet! This might be important!"

'You-Know-Who has struck again,' announced the wireless. 'But he has paid. Half an hour ago, he went to Godric's Hollow, searching the Potter family. He had found them. Lily and James Potter are dead.'

Molly gasped. It was horrible! The man had nothing, she thought, murdering innocents..with a year old son no less.

'For reasons unknown, Harry Potter survived. Rubeus Hagrid and Warlock Albus Dumbledore are currently taking care of the boy, until a home for him can be found.'

Molly was nearly in tears by now. The whole thing was just so, so, so awful. Poor, poor orphan Harry.

'You-Know-Who has disappeared. We believe him to be dead.'

The static beep that signified the end of a broadcast.

Molly sat by the hearth, watching the fire and staring off into space. That was how Arthur Weasley found her, hours later.

"Molly," he said, gently shaking, her, "you heard?"

"Yes," sighed Molly. "It's just, Arthur! It's just so awful!"

"I know." Arthur replied. "But Dumbledore's looking for a pureblood family to take him in for a year. Raise him."

"Oh!" Molly gasped. "Do you think…."

"I do think," her husband replied. "I submitted an application. So hopefully one of these years we'll get him. See, Dumbledore wants a new family, every year. So we have a pretty good chance."

"That's perfect," she said.

"I know. Come on, it's nearly one-o-clock in the morning."

Wife and husband clasped hands and trudged up the stairs.


In a different part of the country, another woman was weeping, but for entirely different reasons.

"Master!" she sobbed, throwing back her long, dark curls. "Master, why, why?"

She screamed with agony, "Why did you leave? I loved you! You were the one to lead us to glory! Come back, come back!"

The wind whistled in the night. I will always come back, it seemed to say.


In a cold and drafty manor, two blonde people looked at each other. One was thinking about what would happen, now that his Master was gone, and the other gazed off into space, thankful it hadn't been her son, sleeping peacefully upstairs with the house-elf tending to him.


A sleeping baby with brown hair slept quietly in his father's house, unaware of the two men at the door, and his father talking, frowing.

The house-elf of that particular house readied a nursery, placing diapers and bottles on their shelves, hanging up a picture of the snake on the green and silver walls.


The Healer and her husband went to a party that night. It was her husband's first magical party. They drank firewhiskey and celebrated the downfall of You-Know-Who, giddy with delight that the terror was gone. They went home very, very late.

Their four-year old daughter was safe, a neighbor was keeping her. She stood in the bathroom and entertained herself by imitating all the people she knew until she finally fell asleep with her head in the sink, overcome by sheer exhaustion.


A werewolf howled in the light of the full moon.


An elderly witch went to a ball with her young grandson, yawning in his tiny tuxedo.


And a dank, lonely forest in Albania became the home of one more thing.


Yes, lots of unnamed people. For a reason, guys. Everything happens for a reason. How many do you guys know? Firebolts to the first to identify all nine! (Yes, there are nine.)

Anyways, let me know what you think of this fic. I am seriously so nervous posting it. Good? Bad? Please, please review! With sugar and a broomstick on top?

~~FuzzySocksAndWriting