From
Steph's page (so you guys understand where I'm coming from ...)
"You
have your Snape rescues and raises Harry, you had you Mcgonagall
rescues and raises Harry, you had Dumbledore, Remus and Sirius, even
the occasionall Death Eater. But what about Professor Sprout and
Professor Flitwick? My challenge is that you have an abused Harry
rescued by either Sprout or Flitwick, Harry must be sorted into their
house (Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw) but he can still be friends with
Ron/Hermione/Neville. MUST BE CANNON SHIPPER!"
RIGHTIO. So, this is for Lady Clark of Book's challenge... which I gladly accepted. This part ... huh. It's ok xD Enjoy.
It was not a normal night for Professor Sprout.
Not
only had her shrubberies been torn apart by Slugs (for this, she
blamed Hagrid) but she had been unsettled from her duties as
Professor for Herbology by Professor Dumbledore. He had been worried
and pleased at the same time; another glimpse at what a marvelling
wizard he was. He Who Must Not Be Named had died - supposedly, and
Death Eaters were being rounded up and sent to Azkaban. Sprout had
been delighted - a bloody good reason to get drunk! But Dumbledore
saw negativity to this positive note of The Dark Lord falling. "I
do not believe, my dear," Dumbledore said in his soft voice,
"That Voldemort-"
Sprout gave a renewed shudder.
Dumbledore ignored this, and continued: "has fallen. All that's
left of Lily and James Potter is their son - Harry."
"What
are you going to do with him, Albus?" asked Sprout, resting one
hand on his desk and one on her hip. He surveyed her from those
twinkling blue eyes, and his lips turned into a smile. "My dear
Pomona,
trusted friend and rewarding teacher at Hogwarts, I ask you a simple
favour. Perhaps not the safest ... but safe."
"Anything,
headmaster," replied Sprout, inclining her head as if bowing.
"I would like you to raise the boy as if he were your own."
He stated simply, stroking his beard mid contemplation. "However,
should you not be able to, I can see that the Dursleys will raise
him. Petunia Dursley is Harry's aunt, so perhaps it would make sense.
What says you, Pomona?"
Sprout was quite shocked at the
sudden request, and her eyes clouded slightly. "I - the Dursleys
are the worst kind of muggles, Minerva told me-"
"Then
it would make perfect sense for Harry to be raised by a kind
teacher," said Dumbledore, selecting a Chocolate Frog from his
collection in a golden bowl, placed upon a stack of papers. "Would
you care for a Chocolate Frog? They're quite delicious. Oho, look,"
he said happily, "I got the card with me on." He broke off
with a chuckle, taking a bite of the Chocolate, continuing to smile.
"N-no thank you, Albus ... I would be delighted to take the
boy." A hint of sarcasam flitted across these words, but
Dumbledore did not appear to notice. He swallowed the remains of his
Chocolate Frog, and selected another one. "Do excuse me,"
he said, "I have a sweet tooth. And, that is excellent news. The
boy is with Hagrid at the moment, he should be here any moment ..."
At
that moment, the door swung open and in entered Rubeus Hagrid,
carrying what appeared to be a small parcel wrapped in a blue blanket
in his arms. "Dumbledore," greeted Hagrid cheerfully,
approaching the headmaster and Sprout happily. "Is'n he
lovely?"
Dumbledore smiled. "I see you've taken a shine
to the boy, Hagrid." When Hagrid nodded enthusastically in
response, Dumbledore continued to smile, before inclining his head
towards a slightly mystified Sprout. "Pomona has agreed to bring
up the boy, in a healthy, happy enviroment, rather than an unhappy
one he would be facing at the Dursleys."
Hagrid beamed.
Sprout sighed, and stepped closer to Hagrid, glancing at the baby
in his arms. The child had a strange, lightning mark on it's
forehead. She touched it gingerly, and the baby awoke, twinging as if
in pain. "My god ..." she murmured, "What is
that,
headmaster?"
"I am guessing," replied Dumbledore
through a mouthful of Chocolate, "That it is a curse. What it
will do, I'm not sure ... time will tell."
Yes. Time would tell.