(Disclaimer and A/Ns can be found in my profile - Thank you)
(italics are direct quotes from the book PS/SS)
The two wizards arrived in front of a perfectly normal looking house in Surrey. The younger of the wizards sneered at the way that all the houses looked like it other.
"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall." the headmaster said to a cat that was sitting on a low wall in front of the house. "What brings you here."
The cat was no longer sitting on the wall. In its place was the stern looking transfigurations professor.
"Hmph," she snorted, "Much the same as you I suppose. I had heard the news, of James and Lily... The boy, he is well?"
"Yes, quite, I believe - considering the circumstances." the headmaster replied. "My guess is we all understand why we are here this evening.
"You can't mean to leave the boy here. Dumbledore – you can't. I've been watching them all day. You couldn't find two people who are less like us. And they've got this son – I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. Harry Potter come and live here!"
"It's the best place for him," said Dumbledore firmly.
"I will be explaining everything to them shortly. That is one of the reasons Mr. Snape has accompanied me."
Professor McGonagall noticed for the first time the younger man, cloaked in black, blending in with the darkness of the evening..
"If you would be so kind as to wait for Hagrid to bring the boy? I would like to speak to them uninterrupted. I will tell you when I am ready." the headmaster requested.
"Yes, certainly..." and with that Professor McGonagall changed back into a cat and took up sentinel on the wall.
Dumbledore and Snape walked the path up to the house. Snape clung to the shadows as Dumbledore knocked. A thin faces lady answered the door.
"May I help you?" she asked, looking disaprovingly at the headmasters sparkling robes.
"Indeed you may, Petunia." Dumbledore replied smoothly.
Petunia Dursley started at the sound of her name. Her eyes narrowed as she began to piece together just who this man standing before her was. Before she could express her outrage a smooth voice spoke.
"Let us in, Tuney" Snape all but mocked, "You wouldn't want the neighbors to notice us, now would you?"
She allowed the men into her home but immediately began to scream, pointing at Snape "You! How dare you... you awful..."
"Pet? What's going on? Who are these men" Vernon Dursley in all his 300 pound glory inquired as he tramped heavily up the hall from the kitchen.
"Mrs. Dursley calm yourself. " the headmaster cut in. While his voice was calm and quiet , yet it demanded obedience.
"Mr. Dursley, nice to meet you. May we sit? We have much to discuss."
Petunia, never wanting to appear like a bad hostess, led the men to her living room.
The headmaster proceeded to inform the Dursleys about the deaths of Petunia's sister and brother-in-law. He explained about the Dark Lord that had been terrorizing both the wizard and muggle worlds for the last eleven years. The aged wizard continued to relate just how that happened, through his trying to kill Harry Potter and the magics that may have been involved. He concluded his monologue by explaining why the only safe place for her young nephew would be with her. The whole time the Dursleys didn't speak a word but many emotions crossed their faces, mostly anger and disgust.
"No!" Vernon Dursley bellowed, "I will not have some freak living in this house, influencing my son, using up our money."
"Mr. Dursley, I assure you there is no way that any of you will start to preform magic because of the presence of a wizard in your home. It is not a condition that is infectious or contagious. Now, I have taken into account both the extra cost and stress on Mrs. Dursley that having another child in the house will cause." The headmaster gave Petunia a calming look, "I have set up a debit card for your use. The funds for this card will be arranged by myself. The card had no limit on it." The headmaster watched as Vernon's eyes grew large with greed. "This said, I must explain that any purchase that is overly frivolous, or excludes young Harry, will not be authorized. For example, a new car would be frivolous. Trying to buy clothes or toys for your son but not Harry would be rejected. Taking things away from Harry that was purchased with this card will lead to, I believe the muggle term is the repo man, to come to your home. The card works both by intent and action. It is meant not only to relieve your financial burden but also as a tool to teach you to treat the boy equally."
Vernon looked a bit like he swallowed something bitter, seeing no way that he could use the card for selfish purposes.
"Now, Mrs. Dursley, I am well aware that raising two boys of similar ages will be difficult. It is because of this that I have enlisted the help of Arabella Figg. She has no magic herself but comes from a magical family so she is the perfect person to bridge our worlds together. I have asked her to help you every weekday between the hours of 3 and 7 in the evening. This will give you time to prepare your evening meal unhindered and to rest a bit. She has offered to feed and bathe the boys during that time, if you like. In addition she will take Harry every Saturday afternoon from 12 and return him at 4. Harry needs time with magical toys in order to help suppress any bouts of wild magic that he may have. This will also give the boy time to learn about our world. Also, Mrs. Figg has offered baby-sitting services so that you and Vernon can go out and have time together. Finally, since she has a regular telephone, any time you need to contact us - for questions or emergencies - you may do so through her."
"Well," Vernon said gruffly, "That's all fine and good but I don't want any of those freak things in this house!"
"I understand, " soothed the headmaster. "There will be no magical items brought into the home. That is the reason for the weekly visits to Arabella's house"
"And he'll pull his weight around here!" Vernon screamed.
"Sir," the old wizard cut in coldly, "the boy is just over a year old, the same as your son. I am sure that when you start teaching your own boy " Dumbledore emphasized " about chores and responsibilities that Harry will be old enough to learn the lesson as well."
"What is his reason for being here?" Petunia asked, pointing at Snape.
"Very good that you asked, I was just getting to that. Mr. Snape is to be the boy's wizard guardian if you will. He will be visiting frequently both here and at Mrs. Figg's. He will be monitoring the boy's phisical, mental, emotional and magical progress. He will be his tutor in magical subjects and history when the time is right. In addition, he is a wonderful potions brewer and will be solely in charge of any potions Harry, or any of you for that matter, may need."
"Potions.." Vernon asked.
"Well, yes.." the headmaster said hesitantly, trying to think of the right way to translate that into muggle-speak. "If the boy needs medicine because he is sick, or if he needs vitamin supplements as many youngsters do. I believe we have finished explaining, and we need to set up Harry's room before he arrives - you do have a spare room I believe." the headmaster said knowingly.
"I really don't like being forced into this" Petunia said.
"Petunia," Snape spoke before the headmaster could, "You will take the boy in. You will protect him. I am not saying this as a threat, though I am sure you are aware of the things we could do. I am saying it because you will, for the same reason that I have agreed to take guardianship of a boy I have never met, nor never wanted to. Because we both loved Lily, and we both lost her because of our own stupidity and insecurities. And now, because our chance to make amends with her is gone, all we can do to have some part of her in our lives is to care for this child."
Snape looked away, out the window, to hide his embarrassment for saying far too much and laying himself open far more than he had planned.
"Umm... We have a room, but its being used for storage." Petunia said quietly. Vernon looked at her in shock, never expecting her to give in to the demands of these people. She reached for his hand and nodded gently. "It will be OK Vern." She said calmly. "They'll help if we need them to."
Vernon, who could never deny his wife anything simply nodded. "I'll show you the way." He said while standing.
The room that they were led to was cluttered with discarded toys and clothes. The wizards quickly banished everything to the attic, as per the muggles request. Within moments the room was refilled with a crib, chest of drawers, changing table and toy chest. The Dursley's eyes grew wide every time magic was used, but seemed pleased that the end result was tasteful and very... normal.
The group went to return to the living room. On the way the headmaster opened the door to let in Professor McGonagall and Hagrid - who was holding a sleeping baby Harry. The muggles boggled by Hagrid's size. Its not every day a half giant enters ones home after all. Hagrid handed Petunia the child, who chose that very moment to open his eyes.
Petunia gasped. "Lily's eyes." she said, almost reverently.
At that moment Harry began to cry. He had recognized no one upon waking. He was confused and scared after what had happened to him the night before. All he wanted was his Mum. Petunia rocked him and soothed him with nonsense until he fell back asleep. She settled Harry into his crib and rejoined the group.
"He's so confused." Petunia said. "He doesn't know any of us, he doesn't know where he is. He wont even recognize his clothes!"
"Until things settle down, Arabella will be here at 7 every morning." the old man informed her. "Severus will also visit frequently for the next few weeks. the child has been through a major trauma but I believe that he will adjust quickly. Here is Arabella's phone number, " the headmaster handed over a small scrap of parchment. "Be sure to call her if you need anything."
As one, all of the magical guests rose to leave. "Thank you Petunia, and you Vernon." the headmaster said as he shook each of their hands. From the doorway the muggles watched the half giant mounted a large motorcycle and took off down the street. The remaining magical people turned to the door and nodded their good-byes, and with a crack they were gone.
