Author's Note: From now on, the character of Joyce Stenson will be known by her middle name of Cornelia, Lia for short, or by Aunt Lia by Harry and his future adopted siblings.

A two year old Harry sat in his high chair in the kitchen, being fed by Aunt Lia. "Come on, Harry. Open your mouth wide and let the ariplane in!" She waved the spoon around carefully, like a plane flying, then Harry obligingly opened his mouth. The spoonful of food popped into his mouth and he began chewing his food, then swallowing.

Harry giggled, then reached his hand out for the spoon. "Me feed self!" Lia shook his head, for the last time she had let Harry feed himself, it had been a complete mess. More food fell on the tray or the ground that in his mouth, and once, he accidentally flung a spoonful of food on Lia's blouse. Right after that, she had decided that it was enough and used her wand to clean up the mess, including the stain on her clothes. Harry had not been allowed to feed himself ever since.

Harry did not like being told no and began shouting, "Me feed self!"

"No, Harry," said Lia firmly. "You're just going to make a mess again. When you're older, you can feed yourself." She sighed, wondering if motherhood was worth it. Had she been like that once to her parents, wanting to feed herself and making messes? And there was potty training, which Harry was also going through right now.

Finally Lia got Harry fed, then put him down in his crib for a nap. After he was sleep, she went downstairs and summoned Kana, the house-elf. "Harry's taking a nap now, Kana. Could you clean up the kitchen, please?"

Kana was part of the house and Lia had decided to keep her, especially when she realized what a big job looking after a baby and toddler was. Lia did not treat Kana the way most house-elves were treated, however. She had given Kana several outfits to wear, consisting of cap, blouse, skirt, and apron, and always said please and thank-you to her. Her duties were not at all onerous, and Kana had the complete freedom to call her mistress names if she wanted. Kana did not have to punish herself at all, but if she felt she needed punishment, she told Lia, who then gave her an extra chore to do.

After half an hour, Lia checked in on Harry to make sure he was still asleep, then left for her weekly visit to see what Dumbledore was up to. So far, Dumbledore hadn't realized that Harry was at the Dursleys, but he would soon. Mrs. Figgs, a Squib and member of the Order, had moved near Privet Drive to keep an eye on Harry. Eventually she would notice that Harry wasn't there and report it to Dumbledore, who would then investigate it.

She landed on the windowsill of Dumbledore's office as a hawk and watched through the window. Dumbledore was busy reading a book. After an hour, the fireplace flared up and a head appeared. Dumbledore got up and hurried over to the fire. Thanks to the hawk's keen hearing, Lia heard every word.

"Dumbledore, I'm starting to wonder if Harry is at the Dursleys at all. I've noticed lately that Mr. and Mrs. Dursley frquently take their son out, but I've never seen Harry."

"That is not good, Arabella," said Dumbledore. "But it could be that they are taking Harry's safety seriously and aren't letting him out of the house until he has to go to school. Still, I will have it checked into, just in case."

Lia watched and finally saw that McGonagall was to be dispatched to check on the Dursleys. Lia quickly flew into Hogsmeade, transformed back into human, and Apparated to Privet Drive. She then turned back into a hawk and hid in a nearby tree, where she could see and hear everything. Not long after, McGonagall appeared and rang the doorbell. Petunia Dursley answered the door.

"Hello, what is it you waat?" she asked politely.

"I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts," responded McGonagall. "I am here about your nephew Harry."

Petunai's face turned pale and she was about to slam the door, but McGonagall stopped her. " Almost a year ago, on Halloween, Lily and James Potter were murdered. Their son, Harry was brought to you and left on your doorstep for you to take in. A letter explaining everything was left, too."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" snapped Petunia. "No baby was left on my doorstep, not even a freak one! Now leave the premises immediately!"

"At least let me search the house to make sure Harry Potter isn't in here," said McGonagall. "Then I will leave."

Petunia looked even more angry, but she reluctantly let McGonagall inside. When a search of the house proved that the only child in there was Dudley, McGonagall left. Lia Apparated to Hogsmeade, then flew to Dumbledore's office. Through the window, she saw McGonagall enter and tell Dumbledore that Harry was not at the Dursleys. Dumbledore suddenly looked very odl and said, "Now what do we do? the savior of the wizarding world has disappeared."

Lia Apparated back home. Well, the wards on her house would hold, but it would be best if she put Harry's and hers whereabouts under the Fidelus Charm. She did so, then began composing a short letter to Dumbledore assuring him that Harry was all right.

"Dear Professor Dumbledore,

I have Harry. After you left him on the Dursley's doorstep, I came and took him away. He is now being brought up with me and will have a much better life than he would have had with his aunt and uncle. Do not attempt to find him, for his whereabouts is concealed by a Fidelus Charm and I am not going to tell you where he is.

Suffice it to say that Harry is safe as I can make it and will not come to any harm. You may or may not see Harry again when he is eleven, depending on whether or not Harry attends Hogwarts or if I send him to an American school.

Sincerely yours,

J. S.

P.S. I am writing this letter to you to assure you that Harry is safe, since you have no doubt by now discovered he's not at the Dursleys."

Dumbledore might figure out that the initials J.S. stood for Joyce Stenson, but he still wouldn't be able to find her. She then took the letter and Apparated to Hogsmeade. Once there, she transformed into her owl form and flew to Hogwarts, carrying the letter in her beak. While Lia was registered as an Animagus, only her day form of a hawk was public. She had not revealed that she also had an owl form to be on the safe side, so Dumbledore would not recognize her.

Once she arrived at the window to Dumbledore' office, she began tapping at window to demand entrance. After a minute, Dumbledore opened the window and she flew in, dropping the letter on his desk and hooting. He gazed up at her, frowning, then picked up the letter and read it. His brow furrowed even more as he read and when he finished, he sighed and said, "This is unexpected. Who is this J. S. that took Harry? I suspect it's Joyce Stenson, for she has disappeared ever since Lily and James died."

He took out a sheet of parchment and began writing. When he finished, he folded it up and handed it to Lia. "Take this to your mistress, please." She blinked, then flew out of the room.

Once back home, she read the letter.

"Dear J. S.,

What you are doing is very wrong. Harry is protected at the Dursleys, or he would have been if you hadn't taken him away. If you are Joyce Stenson, as I suspect, you therefore know that Lily sacrificed herself for Harry. Wards were put on the Dursley home and as long as his aunt will still alive, he would have blood protection, since his aunt and mother share the same blood.

I have no idea as to where you live, and since you are under the Fidelus Charm, putting a tracking spell on your owl is no use, though it would show me the general area as to where you live. In any case, I beg of you to see me and have Harry be returned to the home he should be living in, at his aunt and uncles. You may be reluctant to give up Harry, but it's for his own good. You may have wards and the Fidelus Charm on your own house, but the Dursley's house is even safer, especially with the blood protection. Please consider what I have written.

Yours truly,

Albus Dumbledore"

Lia frowned. She was most certainly not going to be giving Harry up. She quickly wrote a reply letter.

"Dear Professor Dumbledore,

I am not this Joyce Stenson you think I am. In fact, I am not even female. I am merely someone who cares for Harry and knows that the Dursleys are unfit people to raise him. He is safe with me, and will not have to deal with any nonsense over being famous until he attends Hogwarts or some other magical school.

I have no intention of revealing myself to you or giving Harry up. He will live with me, and there is nothing more to be said on the subject. Do not bother sending replies, for my owl will leave as soon as this letter is delivered, and no owl you send will find me, for it is very well hidden.

Sincerely,

J. S."

This letter she sent by her owl, Sapphire, since she didn't care to stick around and see Dumbledore's reaction to the second letter. Dumbledore's letter she burned, on the off chance that it was spelled in any way to locate her. Lia was aware that she had lied in the reply letter about her name and gender, but she needed to throw Dumbledore off the track.

Harry woke up then, so the rest of the afternoon was spent in keeping Harry occupied with toys and teaching him to recite the alphabet.