Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling
Rescued
Chapter 3
At first Harry was shocked but he pet the cat nonetheless. However when she turned back into a witch she startled him to say the least. He threw his arms in the air and started yelling, he jumped off the bed desperately searching for a way out. He found the door, yanked it open, ran past the three people standing outside and screamed all the way down the stairs.
Minerva was shocked. Never in a million years did she expect him to react that way. Albus was the first of the three eavesdroppers to come to his senses. He came bustling into the bedroom demanding that Minerva explain herself.
"He asked me to do some magic so I showed him my animagus ability."
"Well he is obviously overwhelmed we best find him. Poppy, Arabella come on help us find him."
After having searched the closet and the living room Albus headed into the kitchen. Hiding under the table was Harry. Albus took off his hat, bent down and crawled under the table to join him. Harry just stared in awe.
"I know who you are." Harry finally managed to say.
Albus raised his eyebrows in amusement and asked,
"Oh you do, do you? Who am I then?"
"You're Merlin of course!"
Merlin? Haha, bless his little heart, how could I ever deny him anything? I'm a foolish old man who has finally come to his senses.
Laughing Albus answered,
"I may be old but I'm not that old!"
"Of course you're Merlin! You're a wizard aren't you?"
Albus nodded eager to see where his train of thought was leading.
"And you're old, you have white hair and a big long white beard don't you?"
I can see why Minerva has fallen in love with him.
Again Albus just nodded in agreement.
"And I bet you live in a castle?"
"I do."
"Well then you must be Merlin!" Harry said as if what the most obvious thing in the world.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you Harry but I'm not Merlin."
Harry scratched his head in confusion.
"Well if you're not Merlin then who are you?"
Holding out his hand Albus introduced himself.
"My name is Albus Dumbledore and I'm the Headmaster of Hogwarts."
Shaking his hand Harry replied,
"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
"And it's a pleasure to meet you again Harry but do you think maybe we could continue this conversation elsewhere? Only my back is starting to ache having to crouch so low."
"Of course Mr. Headmaster Dumbelton Sir."
Giggling Harry helped Albus up.
"Minerva, Poppy, Arabella! I've found him! We're in the kitchen!"
The three ladies came rushing into the kitchen. Minerva scooped Harry up into a hug and squeezed him tightly, Poppy pinched his cheeks and Arabella patted the top of his head.
"Oh Harry, I'm so sorry! Are you all right? Why did you run off? Did I scare you? Oh I'm so sorry if I did! Are you all right Harry? Harry? Harry? Harry, answer me!"
"I…can't…breath…squashing…me!"
Letting go immediately Minerva apologized whilst everyone else just laughed. When Harry caught his breath he asked Minerva,
"Are you the same kitty cat that I play with when Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia aren't looking?"
"Yes Harry, that's me."
Turning to Albus Harry asked,
"Are you the frog I caught the day before yesterday?"
Laughing Albus heartily answered,
"No Harry, I can honestly say I am not the frog you caught the day before yesterday. Unfortunately I do not posses the ability to turn into a frog."
"Oh."
"Before you ask anymore questions I want you to eat something. My name is Poppy Pomfrey by the way."
"Yes I am hungry Miss Poppy Pomfrey."
With that Albus clapped his hands and an array of sandwiches appeared on the table along with goblets full of pumpkin juice. Harry squealed with delight!
"You can call me Aunt Poppy dear, now eat up!"
Arabella pulled out a chair and Harry sat himself down.
"Thanks Mrs. Figg."
"Your welcome Harry."
"Now Harry, which sandwich would you like? Cheese, ham, jam, chicken, peanut butter…?"
"Cheese please Miss Merva Mc..Mc…Miss Merva."
Handing him a cheese sandwich she explained that her name was Minerva McGonagall.
"Sorry."
"That's alright Harry."
Sensing he boy's embarrassment Poppy suggested,
"Why don't you just call her Aunt Minerva?"
"Or Aunt Min." Mrs. Figg added.
Little Harry just looked confused, realizing the best medicine is laughter the medi-witch decided to at least bring a smile to his face.
"Minnie?" Poppy giggled knowing full well how much Minerva hated nicknames.
Cocking on Arabella countered,
"Or Merv."
"Aunt Mac?"
"MacGee"
"Tabby?"
"Kitty."
"Cat."
"KittyCat"
"Kit-Kat."
"Or…"
"Alright that's enough Poppy and Arabella, you know how I detest ridiculous nicknames!"
"What do other kids call you?" Harry asked.
"Professor?" Poppy laughed.
"Poppy don't be so silly, Min's niece and nephews call her Auntie Min or Aunt Minnie." Mrs. Figg explained.
"I know that Bella I'm only joking!"
"Aunt Minnie it is then!" Albus stated, trying to break up the little quarrel.
"Are you sure I can't persuade you to call her Aunt Merv, Harry? I think with time she will grow to love that name."
"I can see Rolanda has finally rubbed off on you." Minerva commented dryly.
"Maybe I should stick to Aunt Min, Aunt Poppy." Looking up at Minerva expectantly.
She simply smiled, it warmed her heart to hear him address her as Aunt.
She is beautiful when she smiles…
"That's my boy Harry, now eat up!" Albus said ruffling Harry's hair.
In between mouthfuls Harry inquired
"Do you live at the castle as well Aunt Poppy?"
"Yes Harry I do, I'm the school medi-witch."
"Medi-witch?" Harry asked puzzled.
"She's the school nurse." Mrs. Figg explained.
"Oh. Is that why you're dressed funny?" Harry asked spitting cheese everywhere.
"Harry, it's not polite to speak with your mouth full."
"Sorry Aunt Minerva." Harry apologized sheepishly.
"There, there my boy that's quite alright, I do it all the time and Minerva always scolds me for it." Albus reassured him. "So Harry, would you like to come and live with us at Hogwarts?"
Is Albus suggesting Harry stay at Hogwarts? Merlin's beard what happened when I was comforting Harry? What have I missed?
So he has finally come to his senses, thank Merlin!
I knew he'd listen to me, young Harry has managed to worm his way into Albus heart already.
"I'm not sure, what's it like?"
Poppy quickly answered,
"Oh Harry dear, you'd love it there. There's a quidditch pitch where I'm sure Rolanda will be more than happy to teach you to fly but then again I'm sure you're a natural taking after your father…"
"Fly? Aunt Poppy what do you mean? Could my dad fly? And what's kwidicht?"
"She means flying on a broomstick Harry. Quidditch is a sport where you fly about on a broomstick, your father was a brilliant quidditch player." Minerva answered.
"As were you Minerva if I remember correctly."
Minerva blushed slightly at Albus comment while Poppy and Arabella exchanged a knowing glance.
"Do you think I could be a quidditch player too?" Harry asked his eyes lit up with excitement.
"Of course Harry, I'm sure you can be anything you want to be so long as put your mind to it." Minerva assured him.
"Can I be a wizard?"
Albus answered this question.
"Harry my boy, you are a wizard."
Harry eyed him skeptically.
"If I'm a wizard how comes when the other kids pick on me I can't turn them into bats and snails?"
"That's because you haven't learnt how to yet." Albus said with a mischievous grin.
"Albus! Don't put ideas into his head!" Minerva said in a rather harsh, motherly tone of voice.
"Will I be able to turn into a cat just like you Aunt Min?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Perhaps little one, perhaps. Your father could turn into a large, proud stag."
For a brief moment Harry's eyes lit up with excitement only to be abashed.
"I'm sorry but I don't think I'm the right Harry Potter."
His eyes welled up with tears.
"Whatever do you mean Harry?"
"I can't be the Harry Potter you're looking for because if my Mum and Dad were a witch and a wizard they wouldn't have died in a car crash. They would have used magic to save themselves."
The four adults looked at each other in confusion. Minerva was the first to realize it was another one of Dursley's lies.
"Is that what your Aunt and Uncle told you happened to your parents?" Minerva gently asked.
In between sobs Harry managed,
"Yes…and…they ended up…with me…useless…so…are you going…to…send…send me…send me back?"
Minerva couldn't bear to see him cry, she got up walked around the table and sat him in her lap. For the third time that day Harry cuddled close to her and let her console him. He found her soft voice, gentle hands and lavender smell comforting.
The other three adults sitting at the table were all thinking the same thing She's a natural.
"If he is to enter our world he has to know what happened." Poppy whispered.
"Alas Poppy I'm inclined to agree with you, this is one heartache we cannot spare him."
Minerva simply nodded wondering where to start.
"Harry honey, there is something we need to tell you."
Harry just continued to cry,
"I don't…I can't…please…don't send me...b-b-back!"
Rocking him back and forth Minerva replied,
"I've told you Harry, you don't ever have to go back there again. You can come stay with me. Poppy and Albus live there too, you can see them everyday. Would you like that Harry?"
Minerva couldn't help but glance at Albus for confirmation. She beamed when he nodded his head, looking at her with his sparkling blue eyes.
But Harry just carried on sobbing, not daring to believe them.
"Harry my boy, I believe you'll like it at the castle. There are lots of things for you to do. There are hidden passageways to be explored and I'm sure the ghosts, Argus and Mrs Norris will teach all the secrets they know about the castle. In the summer you can go swimming in the lake with the giant squid. In the winter you can have snowball fights with our friendly half-giant, Hagrid and his dog Fang. I'm sure Rolanda can't wait to take you flying. You can come play with me in my office anytime you want and I have an endless supply of lemon drops that I am more than happy to share."
"Albus is right Harry, and you can come and visit me in the Hospital Wing whenever you want! But only on social visits mind, don't you dare come because you have injured yourself mister! I won't hear of it …let's just hope you take after your mother in that sense."
"And Harry don't tell your Aunt Min but I'll show you the shortcut to the kitchen. The house-elves will make you any snack you like!"
Harry had stopped crying as soon as the Headmaster mentioned ghosts but when he mentioned house-elves, well curiosity got the better of him.
"What's a house-elf? And did you say ghosts? Are they mean and scary? A giant squid, is that like an octopus because I read about them in school once? And a giant! WOW!"
The three adults chuckled at the child's awe.
"So does that mean you would like to come and live with us?" Minerva asked hopefully.
Harry's awe faded and disappointment filled his eyes.
"I would love to but I'm not the right Harry."
Poppy whispered once again,
"He has to know what happened."
Albus looked at Minerva, her eyes shone with unshed tears. He decided to take it upon himself to tell little Harry.
"Harry, there is something you need to know."
"What's that the Mr Headmaster Dumbly Sir?" Harry tearfully asked.
"Well first of all, please don't call me Mr Headmaster Sir, it makes me feel so old. Just Albus or you can call me Uncle Albus or, if you'd rather, Uncle Dumbly as you so sweetly put it." Albus said smiling.
"OK, Uncle Albus."
"Uncle Alby?" Poppy interjected but everyone chose to ignore her.
"Now secondly Harry, I have something very important to tell you."
With this he shifted in Minerva's lap so he was sitting upright looking straight at Albus.
"Well Harry, a long time ago there lived an evil dark wizard. He called himself Lord Voldemort."
Poppy, Minerva and Arabella shuddered.
"He was a bad, bad wizard Harry, he killed and tortured people. Those were dark times my boy, dark times. Many tried to stand up against him but most were killed. Then one night Voldemort tried to kill a family. First he killed the father who fought ever so bravely and then he killed the mother as she tried to protect her baby boy whom she loved so very much. However, when the evil wizard tried to kill their little baby boy he couldn't. The mother's love was so great that it protected her baby and the spell Voldemort cast backfired vanquishing him."
"What do you mean vanquishing? What does that mean?" Harry interrupted.
"Well my boy, Voldemort was vanqished, that means he was defeated. He was conquered and the dark and terrible days were over."
All eyes were on Harry to see if he managed to piece together the information.
"Wow, a baby managed to win! A baby defeated the bad, bad wizard! He was lucky his mum loved him so much!"
"Yes Harry, he was very lucky. Both his mother and father loved him more than anything in the world, they were willing to die for him." Minerva said hugging the boy reassuringly.
"I wish I was loved like that." Harry mumbled.
Minerva gasped, hugging him even tighter.
"Oh Harry, dear Harry." Poppy whispered.
"Harry honey, the dark lord was defeated four years ago."
Harry turned in Minerva's lap, eyebrows furrowing in confusion unsure of what that meant.
Looking him square in the eye Minerva asked,
"Harry what else happened four years ago?"
Minerva watched as the child's face changed from puzzlement to realization.
"My Mum and Dad died!"
"Yes Harry, so do you know what that means?"
"I'm the same age as the boy Uncle Albus talked about, the boy-hero!"
Minerva bit her lip, looked up at Albus then at Poppy and Arabella.
"Harry, you are that boy. You're the Boy-Who-Lived."
"I-I-I'm…n-n-no!" Harry gulped looking from one nodding face to another. "B-b-but how?"
Minerva looked at Albus, unsure of how to answer.
"Your mother and father loved you so much, when your mother died to save you she used ancient magic, her love protected you. It made it impossible for Voldemort to harm you."
Harry looked up at Minerva confused.
"The only mark he left was your scar. Have you never wondered how you got such an unusual scar on your forehead?"
Unable to express his emotions any other way Harry began to cry.
So my Mum and Dad did love me! They loved me so much they died! Me, as a baby killed a bad, evil wizard! And now these strangers want me to live with them in a castle with a squid!
Harry looked at Minerva, teary green eyes met another pair of teary green eyes. Can I trust her?
He looked around the room, this time his teary green eyes met a pair of sparkling blue. As soon as they locked eyes, Harry felt calm, reassured, at ease. Can I trust him?
"Ah I suppose you are wondering if you can trust us. How do you know we are telling the truth?"
Harry eyes grew wide in surprise. That was exactly what he was wondering!
"I'm sorry my dear boy but there is no way we can prove we are telling the truth, you just have to trust us."
"Harry honey, we all love you dearly, we knew your parents and we knew you as a baby. I've sat in the shadows and watched you grow. It's time for you to come home. What do you say Harry, would you like to live with me and the others at Hogwarts?"
Harry looked at Minerva, both pairs of eyes full of tears; he could tell she loved him. He hugged her and caught Albus' eye. He wasn't sure why but he trusted Albus. When he turned his head to the left he saw Poppy and Arabella. They were both smiling and he thought they both seemed very kind. Aunt Poppy's funny and Mrs. Figg is a bit strange but very nice.
"Aunt Minnie, I'd love to come and stay with you."
This made Minerva the happiest witch in the world! She squeezed him so tight she needed to be reminded to let the child breath.
With that Albus got up off his chair and said,
"Well then Harry it's off to Hogwarts we go!"
A/N: Well thanks for all the reviews! I never imagined so many would be interested in reading anything I had to write! Please continue to review and tell me what you think. I'm still worried about the tempo; actually I'm worried about the whole thing! Any advice you may have is appreciated. Thanks!