IV. The Finder of the Key
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June 23, 2003
Glasgow, Scotland
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Maureen stared at her computer screen blankly. Kaye had just emailed her. Privet Drive exists. Aunt Tuni, Unce Venom and Duddy exist. The cupboard under the stairs exists. Harry Potter existed. She sighed deeply and once again dialed a number on speed dial. Why won't Mike answer the phone? She suddenly felt inexplicably nervous. She grabbed her bag and phone without even turning off the computer.
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"I'll be out Jen."
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Without waiting for any reply, she left the building out into the early afternoon air. Her high heeled shoes made sharp clicking sounds on the pavement as she hurried towards her car. She needs to go home and it should be quick.
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Same Day
O'Malley Residence,
Glasgow, Scotland
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"Mavin here Ma'am, sleeping."
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Suddenly there was a sound of a crying child from upstairs. The Asian-looking woman looked up to the direction of the noise as she cradled the telephone receiver with both hands.
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"What's that noise? See if Mavin is alright. I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Call me if something comes up okay?"
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"Yes Ma'am."
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The woman ran up the stairs, pulling up her ankle-length skirt along the way. She directly went into a wide hallway. She opened the first door on the left and was greeted by a silent Mavin who was innocently sitting on his bed and playing on his stuffed animals.
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"Ayah."
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"You okay?"
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Mavin just nodded but his nanny worriedly eyed what looked to be half of the sheets pooled on the floor. She went to Mavin's side and hugged the boy from behind.
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"Really okay?"
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Mavin giggled as he once again nodded and made a flapping motion with his arms. The nanny was about to open her mouth to tell Mavin something when the doorbell rang.
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"Your mommy is here."
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She carried Mavin up and headed to the opposite direction from where she came from earlier and descended on a grand staircase. She was halfway on the stairs when a loud clap of thunder and flash of a bright light appeared just outside the window.
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"Whoa."
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Mavin pointed to the lights. As the lights disappeared, dark-clad figures appeared in its place. There were about six of them, carrying sticks and running towards the front door's direction. The nanny cried in surprise and hugged Mavin closer.
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"Witchards! Witchards!"
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Mavin wiggled from his nanny's grasped but the nanny only held him closer. There was an urgent knock on the door that was punctuated by shouts and bursts of different-colored lights.
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"We can't let you kill more children, Death Eater!"
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Mavin's eyes widened upon hearing those words and hid his face on his nanny's blouse. Dull thuds could be heard from outside and then a shout of 'Alohamora'. The door clicked open and three men burst in. They were wearing burgundy military-style uniform with a short black cape. On their hands were wands that were sharply pointed in front of them.
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"Aurors?"
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"No child, we are International Wizarding Police. We are here to keep you safe."
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Mavin just looked quizzically at the men, while playfully biting on his fingers. The men started casting spells all around them. The nanny panicked upon seeing this and hurriedly climbed the stairs but she tripped on her long skirt and fell. Mavin's cries resounded as his head hit on the stairs with a thud.
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"Don't worry, we won't hurt you."
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This did not appease the nanny. She tried to stand up but before she could do so, a jet of red light hit her on the back. One of the police's hurriedly scooped Mavin up.
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"C'mon August, do the routinary spells. Olsen, Obliviate the woman."
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The tall wizarding police carried Mavin down to the foyer where a smaller colleague waited for him. While the other member of the team headed to up to the nanny. Mavin just observed him but after he was put down to the floor, he suddenly spoke.
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"You know me, Harry Potter?"
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The two wizarding police eyed each other curiously. The smaller one just ignored Mavin and started chanting some spells while pointing the wand towards the boy.
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"But Dumblydor put that spell on me before!"
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"Really? He'd been dead even before you're born boy."
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"Don't believe me? I'm Harry Potter! Harry James Potter!"
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The wizarding police that was holding Mavin in place just shook his head and chuckled.
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"This one's certainly a Half-Blood. Heard too many stories about Harry Potter huh? Your parents should've headed the War Council's advice and warded your house against magic detection. There's no use pretending to be Muggles when you have a magical child."
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"No! I'm Harry Potter. Believe me!"
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"Okay. Settle down little boy. Just answer our questions okay, and we will not bother you anymore. What's your name?"
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"Harry Potter!"
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"Real name."
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"My name now?"
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The police impatiently waited for an answer. The other police that went to Obliviate the nanny was now peering on the windows and toting his wand as if it was a gun.
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"Mavin O'Malley."
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"How old are you Mavin and what's your parent's name?"
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"I'm three."
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Mavin cutely showed his three fingers as he peered on what the police was writing on his notepad.
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"Tell Mione and Ron where I am Mr. Police."
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"That's not possible little one. We would be Obliviated after this. It would be too dangerous for you. There are bad guys that are after magicals like you that are in the Muggle world. Now, what are your parent's names?"
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"Death Eaters? Voldie's still alive?"
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At this the smaller police scoffed and whispered 'Who in their right mind would tell a toddler about Voldemort?'
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"Yes. Will you please answer the question?"
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Mavin just looked at them with deep sadness before he whispered his parents' name. The police just scribbled it down and hurriedly pocketed the notepad before pointing the wand to Mavin and uttering: 'Obliviate'. After this, the men hurriedly left, meeting three other colleagues in the yard with four men in tow. The men were unconscious and dressed as repairmen with toolboxes and all. As they converged, they chanted as one, directing their wands in the air. They disappeared with a flash of lightning and the clap of thunder, leaving everything as they are before they appeared.
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Mere moments after they disappeared, Maureen's car came in view. She blew her horn on the gate. Mavin ran towards the gate and tried to open it with no success.
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"Baby, what are you doing here? Where are your shoes? Where's your nanny?"
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"Ayah's sleeping in the stairs!"
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"Sleeping in the stairs?"
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Maureen felt nervous about that statement and tried opening the gate herself by forcing her arm in between the gate's railings.
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"Stay on the side baby; I will park the car."
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Mavin complied and waited by the lawn. Maureen's car was barely in the driveway when she stopped in and hurriedly went outside. She scooped Mavin up and headed to the front door. 'She did not lock the door!' Maureen furiously whispered to herself. Her head immediately turned to the stairs; there she found the still unconscious nanny.
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"Elena! Elena, wake up!"
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There was no answer. Elena did not even stir. 'Oh this is bad.' Maureen dialed the emergency number and called for an ambulance. She knew that something bad will happen. She is just glad that it isn't his Mavin who was in danger. She hugged and kissed Mavin as she waited for the ambulance to come.