I realized again that I'm going out of town, so here's the update a couple days early. I'd like to thank all of you who have reviewed, added this story to your favorites and/or alerts list. Keep it up! And welcome, to any new readers; I hope you're enjoying the story.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series is not mine (and neither is the scene of Harry being dropped off at the Dursley's though I have tweaked it a bit). Emily, however, is completely my creation; if not, this story wouldn't really exist would it?

The sun was setting as a car turned onto Privet Drive and pulled into Number 4. A big, beefy man extricated himself from the car and headed toward the door only to stop and scowl when he spotted a tabby cat with square markings around its eyes sitting on the wall. Glaring at the cat, he proceeded to the door and slammed it shut behind him.

The cat glanced back at where he disappeared then returned its attention to the street, waiting. The cat was still there when hours later the stars had come out, and all the residents of Privet Drive had gone to bed. All was quiet.

Crack! The cat's head whipped in the direction of the sound and watched as a man straightened, his long silver beard glittering in the light from the streetlamps. He took a small silver object from his pocket and clicked it. With every click, the nearest streetlamp winked out. Job complete, he stowed the device back in his pocket and walked over to the cat, sitting down beside it.

"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall," he said turning toward the cat, but in its place sat a woman wearing an emerald green cloak, her black hair pulled back in a tight bun.

"Dumbledore," she acknowledged.

"What are you doing here, Minerva?" he asked.

"Waiting for you," she replied. "What happened, Dumbledore? Is it true? Are the Potters really dead?"

He nodded, his eyes subdued. "Yes, Lily and James are dead."

"Oh, Albus. And Harry? Are the rumors true?"

Again, Dumbledore nodded. "Somehow the boy survived."

"And now, what's to become of him?"

"He'll live with his aunt and uncle," replied Dumbledore glancing at the house behind them.

McGonagall caught the look and said, "You don't mean these people, surely, Albus? There isn't a family in the world less like us. The boy will grow up ignorant of our world."

Dumbledore shook his head. "They are his only family. Besides, I've written a letter to them explaining the matter."

McGonagall rolled her eyes. A letter, no matter how long, could never explain all this. But Dumbledore must have his reasons; he always did even if he chose not to share them. "Where is the boy now?" she asked squinting at Dumbledore as if suspecting him of hiding the boy under his cloak.

"He's with Hagrid. They should be here shortly." Before he had even finished the sentence, they heard a roaring from above them. A gigantic black motorcycle descended from the sky. Sitting behind the wheel a bundle of blankets in his arms, was Hagrid. He clambered down from the motorcycle holding the bundle in his arms with utmost care.

"Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall," he said.

"Any trouble, Hagrid?" asked Dumbledore.

"Nope," replied Hagrid. "The lad's sleeping now."

Taking the boy from Hagrid, Dumbledore placed Harry on the doorstep and set the letter addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Dursley beside him. Stepping back, Dumbledore murmured, "Goodbye, Harry. Good luck." The three of them left, Hagrid disappearing into the dark sky on the motorcycle and Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall with a loud crack. The little boy slept on, oblivious to everything, the lightning bolt scar on his forehead gleaming in the dark.

The sun was shining brightly, and Mary, sighing often, was making a pot of tea early in the morning when there was a loud, insistent knock at the door that brought her back to the world of the living. She hurried to open the door before the noise woke the children. On the other side of the door stood Dumbledore who was examining the ivy creeping up the rails of the porch.

"Dumbledore," exclaimed Mary surprised. "Come in," she said stepping back from the door.

"Thank you," he said smiling at her as he stepped over the threshold. He followed her into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

"Tea?" asked Mary.

"Please."

She poured two cups from the pot and sat down across from Dumbledore. "What can I do for you, Professor?" asked Mary.

"Well, I'm sure you have some sort of idea of why I'm here," he began.

Mary interrupted him before he could continue. "You're here because of Emily."

"Yes."

"What is going to happen to her?"

"What do you mean?" asked Dumbledore stalling. Mary just looked at him, waiting. He sighed and smiled hopefully at her. "Well, I was rather hoping you and your husband would raise her, Mary. You are, I believe, the girl's legal guardians."

"We are," confirmed Mary. Then she smiled, her whole face brightening. "Could we? Could we really raise Emily?" Dumbledore smiled gently at her and nodded. "I'll admit it; I was hoping we'd be able to. I just couldn't bear the thought of losing Emily as well as Lily." She paused as she suddenly thought of something. "What about Harry? What will happen to him?"

"Harry is going to live with his aunt and uncle, Lily's sister and her husband."

"Shouldn't Emily and Harry stay together? We could take Harry in as well; it wouldn't be any trouble"

Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid that the twins cannot stay together. While Voldemort is indeed gone, he is not dead. He will return one day maybe in a year, maybe in ten years, and he will most assuredly try to kill Harry again." Mary opened her mouth, but Dumbledore raised a hand to stop her and continued. "It's safer for both of them to remain separated. And it's safer for Emily if no one knows she is Harry's twin sister. You must make her your daughter, even in name. No one must suspect she's anything but your daughter. Can you do that?"

Mary looked thoughtful. "Yes," she said nodding. "Of course. But what about Emily? Can she know?"

"Yes," he said finally. "But not right now. You should tell her before she comes to Hogwarts, but you must teach her discretion." Mary nodded. "I'll tell her. After all, she should know, and I'll make sure she keeps it secret. But what about the rest of the world? There are many people who know Lily and James had a daughter as well as a son."

"When I return to school, I will cast a General Forgetting Spell. No one will remember that she is anything but your daughter. Only you, your husband, and I will remember the truth. Not anyone else in the wizarding world, not anyone in the Muggle world. James and Lily's friends won't remember, your own children won't remember, and not even Emily and Harry themselves will remember. The only way someone could know is if they are told," said Dumbledore rising. "Now, I really must return to the school. Thank you for the tea, Mary. And thank you for agreeing to take her in." She started to rise, but Dumbledore stopped her. "I can see myself out, Mary. Thank you."

Mary sat back down and watched Dumbledore go. No one would remember. Only Dumbledore could cast a spell like that, she thought shaking her head.

Reviews are great! I'd really like to hear from you, and I can promise that no matter what you say, I will respond, so ask questions, give advice, anything. (It might take a bit to get a response, though, since I'm going out of town—no internet access where I'm going.)

Just a comment about the General Forgetting Spell: Dumbledore says that for someone to learn Emily's identity, they must be told the truth, but there are those with exceptionally strong minds who can recognize the resemblance between Emily and Lily and figure out the truth on their own. This will come up later. (hint, hint)