Dear mummy 4
Wishing… wishing… darn! The Harry Potter universe isn't mine…. Maybe on this star over here…
As the police left, taking Vernon with them to the police station, Harry and Father Gibbons quickly got into Father Gibbons car and started making their way to Crawley.
Realising that it was already 2pm Father Gibbons stopped at a McDonalds restaurant on the way. It was the only place open to get some food that would not involve a long wait.
"What would you like Harry?" he asked as they walked into the restaurant.
"I've never had any of this before. Dudley goes every week and said it's really good. I thought he was just teasing me again."
"Would you like me to order for you?"
"Yes please."
The look on Harry's face when he first tried a big mac was as heart wrenching as it was amusing. The burger and fries were quickly demolished and they were soon on their way again.
They had been traveling for a while and Harry was sitting quietly when he had a sudden thought.
"Father Gibbons"
"Yes Harry?"
"Today is Mother's Day and I … I…" Harry stammered.
"You what Harry?" asked the priest gently.
'Um… I was wondering if I … never mind."
"If you what Harry? You can ask me anything you like."
"Should we get some flowers or something for the lady who will be looking after me?" Harry asked in a rush.
"I hadn't thought about that. Good idea. Keep a lookout for someone selling flowers and you can pick some out for Dorothy. That was a very thoughtful idea." Father Gibbons said, surprised but pleased at the suggestion.
Seeing a flower vendor they stopped and Harry chose a bouquet of multi coloured chrysanthemums for the woman who, hopefully, would be like a new mother to him.
At a little before 5pm they pulled up outside a modest but nice looking house.
"This is it. Let's go and meet the Grangers shall we?"
As they walked up the path Harry hesitantly looked around. It was completely different to what he was used to. There was no uniformity between the houses on the street. None of the houses looked like its neighbour and all the gardens, while neat, were totally different to the one next to it.
'This looks great' Harry thought.
The front door was flung open and a brown haired blur threw itself into Father Gibbons arms.
"Father Monkey! I am so glad you're here. You haven't been here to see us for ages! Oh! Is this the boy who is going to live with us? Hi, I'm Hermione. Your room is upstairs next to mine. What do you like to do for fun? I…"
"Hermione! At least let people walk into the house before bombarding them with questions! Go put the kettle on. Now miss!" Called Dorothy, laughing.
"Ok Mummy." Hermione called as she ran back into the house.
"Father, come in please. It's good to… what happened? Who did this to you?" Dorothy asked, shocked.
"Now, now, it is alright. The man who did this has been arrested. I have been checked over and I will be fine, so don't worry." Replied Father Gibbons calmly.
"Good. And this must be Harry." Dorothy said holding out her hand. "It is nice to meet you. Please come inside."
Harry nervously shook her hand and then handed her the flowers.
"I'm sorry I interrupted your Mother's Day." He said quietly.
Taking the flowers Dorothy said "Harry, they are beautiful. Thank you. You haven't interrupted anything and you are very welcome here. Please come inside."
Harry followed the adults into the house.
"Please, sit down and relax while I make the tea and find a vase. Stan should be in shortly."
Sitting on the couch Harry leaned over to Father Gibbons.
"Why did that girl call you 'Father Monkey'?" whispered a puzzled Harry.
"Gibbons are a type of monkey so it is a nickname Hermione came up with a few years ago. I quite like it."
"Oh."
A tall man walked in and saw the pair sitting on the couch.
"Father! Good to see you. And this is Harry? Good to see you too. Dot told me that you ran onto some trouble. Anything we can do to help?"
"Looking after Harry is a good start. We need to keep him safe."
"That won't be a problem. Anything we need to know?" asked Stan.
"Nothing that can't wait until Dorothy and Hermione are with us."
"Ok" said Stan as he started making small talk.
Dorothy and Hermione came in carrying trays with tea and small biscuits. They placed them on the coffee table and after everyone was served the serious talk began.
Father Gibbons explained what he knew about Harry and his home life and what had happened earlier that day. Harry was gently asked questions and he responded as honestly as he could.
The Granger family were outraged. That anyone could mistreat a child the way that Harry had been treated was inexcusable! And the adults knew that there was more that had not been covered yet. During the conversation Hermione had moved over to sit next to Harry and the pair were holding hands whenever Harry answered the adults questions.
After a few minutes thought Stan spoke. "Now that we know what's what we can start making plans. Harry you are welcome to live here as long as you want to. We will have to go and see some people and go to court to make it all legal but we will do everything we can to help, if you want us to. And before you say anything, you will not be a bother to us. We want you here. We promise that we will treat you the same as we treat Hermione. We don't have to make any life changing decisions today, but just think about what you want and what YOU think would be best for you. Alright, kiddo?"
"Yes sir" Harry murmured.
"One thing, you can call me Stan and this is Dot. We would like it if you called us by our names. Not Sir or Ma'am. Is that ok?"
"Yes si… Stan."
"Good. I think dinner is nearly ready so why don't we wash up?"
After a succulent roast lamb dinner everyone returned to the living room to continue talking.
"There is something that I need to tell you, and it affects Hermione as well." Father Gibbons said.
"What is it?" asked Stan, concerned.
"You are going to have to take a lot of what I say on faith because it is going to sound unbelievable."
"I think we are all curious now," said Dorothy, "please go on."
"You may have noticed that Hermione has had some strange things happen around her when emotions are running high. Objects moving, things breaking for no reason, things may have appeared or disappeared." Father Gibbons started.
"Yes… but it hasn't happened for a long time now." Hermione said.
"These things happening are what are called 'Accidental Magic' outbursts. Magic is real and both Hermione and Harry are blessed enough to be able to do it."
"What? You mean that they can pull rabbits from hats and turn people into frogs?" Cried Dorothy.
"No, well they may learn to transfigure people to frogs by the time they graduate, but I never saw the point. What is worse, one annoying person or a few hundred irritating frogs? Yuck, they breed at a very fast rate you know. Sorry, back to the main point. This magic is much more serious. In a month or so you will be getting a visit from a teacher from a school called Hogwarts. They will be inviting you, Hermione and Harry, to attend their school. It is located in a castle in Scotland and you can only go there if you are Magical. No stage magician can match what you are going to be taught there, even after only your first year."
"So, do we get any say in this?" Stan asked, concerned that they may be losing their daughter to a magical world that they, her parents, would not, and could not, be a part of.
"Yes. You can say that no, you don't want Hermione to attend and then the teacher would remove your memory of the meeting and any reference to magic from your minds. This is a separate world hidden from ours and they guard their secrecy with everything they can."
"And Harry is magical too! How did this happen? And how do you know all of this?" asked Hermione.
"I explained this to Harry today. I am known in the magical world as a 'squib'. My parents and siblings are all able to use magic but I am not. You, Hermione, are my opposite. You are a 'Muggle born'. Someone who can use magic but your parents cannot. I grew up in the magical world but I left when I became an adult because there are very few jobs for people like me in that world."
"Is Harry a 'muggleborn' too?" asked Hermione.
"No. Harry's parents were a witch and wizard but his mother was a muggleborn like you." Father Gibbons replied.
"What about the kids' education?" asked Dorothy.
"I have heard about muggleborn children doing both. You simply need to register the children as being home schooled and they can study both muggle and magical subjects at the same time. They can take their exams during the summer holidays after they return from Hogwarts and then they can have a well-earned rest before starting again the next school year."
"That sounds feasible."
"And it keeps the children on the muggle 'radar' so to speak. Many muggleborns often are only on muggle records until the end of primary school and then they disappear for seven year only to reappear again with no explanation of where they have been. It may be a bit difficult but in the long run it is the better option."
"Do you think that you can show us a bit of this 'magical world'? I think we need to know more before we make any decisions."
"Certainly. What about next Saturday? Around 9am? The children would be out of school and you won't have to go to work that day."
"Alright. Next Saturday at 9 it is then. Are there any more explanations of things that we need to know?" Stan asked with a smile.
"There is one." A very serious Father Gibbons said. "In the magical world Harry is rather famous. The night that his parents died something happened and Harry somehow defeated the most terrible dark lord in living memory. Many people call him 'the Boy Who Lived'. Somehow, pictures and likenesses of Harry are circulating around the magical world so we will need to make a simple disguise for him. Some concealer on his scar and a hat should be all that is required. But when we go I will have to ask that Harry not stray far from me so I can protect him and divert attention if I need to. I know these people and know how to act."
"Alright Father. We will see you next Saturday. Are you sure you will be ok for the drive home?" asked Dorothy.
"I will be fine. Thank you for dinner and everything else, dear. Good night all!" Called Father Gibbons as he drove away.
"Well now, I think it is time for bed. Hermione, please show Harry where everything is. I will be up to tuck you both in soon." Said Dorothy.
"Ok Mum, come on Harry! I'll show you your room. It's right next to mine."
As Dorothy walked into Harry's room she could see he was feeling a little unsure of himself.
"Is everything alright? Is there something you want?
"No, it's just… I've never slept in a bedroom before." Harry said simply.
"Oh… where did you sleep then?"
"In a cupboard. I wondered why sometimes. Dudley had two rooms for him and his stuff, but I only got to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs."
"Well, this is your room now, and it will be yours for as long as you live with us. Tomorrow we need to go and talk to some people about you staying with us but after that, do you want to go and get some things for in here?"
"What things? There is plenty here. There's a bed, blankets and a cupboard to put my clothes. What else do I need?"
Dorothy pretended to think for a minute. "How about some clothes that fit you? And some toys and books? Or a nice bed spread that you can pick for yourself? Those sort of things."
"But they cost lots of money and I don't have any."
"They won't cost very much and Stan and I want to get them for you. Will you let us, please?"
"Um…ok. But can you keep notes about how much you spend on me so that when I grow up I can pay you back?" Harry asked earnestly.
Dorothy's heart broke just a little more hearing that. Such a young boy worrying about repaying what should have been his just for being a child!
"How about I start a notebook tomorrow and we can go through it as you get older if you want to. Alright?"
"Ok." Harry smiled.
"Now, into bed."
Harry clambered into the bed and Dorothy pulled the covers up to his chin.
"You know where Stan and I sleep and where the bathroom is if you need us or the toilet?"
"Yes thanks" Harry yawned.
"Just please don't mix up the two rooms, ok?" Dorothy giggled.
Harry laughed. "I won't."
"Ok, goodnight Harry. We are glad you are here."
"Goodnight Dot."