Inori - You Raise Me Up by Lena Park

In the depths of my teared-up eyes

There's your unchanging figure

"Where will the world continue to?"

Are the words from the days have ceased

On the freezing, stormy nights

I continue to go toward the still unseen you, too

Tell me, oh the wind that spreads across the ocean

Prayers surpass time

Prayers surpass time

Chapter 10 - Meanwhile

Petunia Dursley

Petunia Dursley always was a normal woman. She had normal parents, normal friends and a normal home and went to a normal school. The only unnatural thing anywhere near her was her little sister Lily. When she was a child, a sweet innocent young child, she would have liked to go with Lily to this magical school, until she really understood the freakishness of the whole thing. Once she understood, she also tried to make her parents understand, but they did not want to hear one word against Lily, their beloved little witch, the special one in their family. They were always so proud to have a witch in their house. They would look at Lily with pride shining in their eyes and once they looked at her, the normal child, this light, this pride dimmed immediately. Like a silent accusation, 'why could you not be like your sister?' She hated the looks they send her way, she hated every moment of it. Each and every day was the same. And her little freak sister, the unnatural one, found another unnatural one, equally freakish, a boy called Snape who lived in their neighborhood. They would always play together and again once she wanted to play with them, they just looked at her like 'you are normal, you have no place here'. And she hated them even more. When Lily then started her school education, if people could even call it that, she once again tried to make her parents understand, but they were too fascinated from the teacups which she turned into rats, to even consider her words. And her parents would talk about Lily this and Lily that and Lily was the most wonderful person in the world, even through Lily was the most time away. She was always the topic of the conversation. Only Lily, always Lily. She was somewhere forgotten along the way. Nobody spoke about her, to her anymore. Later on Lily took notice about what happened between all of them and so she wanted to apologize after so many years, but it was already too late. They were all too far apart. Too long had she lived in the shadow of her grandiose little sister. She was already walking her own way away from her parents and the freaks.

That was why the first chance she got, she was out of her parent's house, away from the freaks and the freak's fans, working and searching for her perfect man. And she eventually found him, he was not the prettiest or the richest, but he was normal and that was enough for her. Lily sometime later also married someone named Pater or Popper or Potter or something like that, they sent an invitation to their marriage, to which she and her husband did not go of course. When she told Vernon the tragic and disgusting truth about her family, he was enraged. 'How dare those freaks treat my wife like that, forgetting her in favor of something so unnatural' he said. From this day on they loved each other even more, no more secrets between them and both of them completely normal. After their beloved son Dudley was born, they got again a letter from Lily informing her that she got a son named Harry, what a boring name. But even after the letter, they lived happily ever after. A normal life, a normal family, a normal house, a normal garden, everything normal. Even when a baby was left on their doorstep, they were calm and objectively looked at the situation. Someone thought that they were the best ones from the whole neighborhood to care for the child. It was a nice compliment, but unfortunately they had enough to do with their little Dudders. Thus Vernon took the baby boy to the best orphanage he could find and everything was normal again.

Then the outsider came, the crazy cat woman, who seemed to be mentally a bit behind. She was creepy and looked slightly insane. After she moved into one of their neighbor houses, her family came over, like the good neighbors they are, to introduce themselves. Once they entered the house they were attacked by the smell of cat something, which was quite disgusting and was voiced so by Dudley. After sitting down on the dirty old couch they got to served already cold coffee and a hard chocolate cake. They excused themselves after ten minutes and went straight to the other neighbors to warn them about Arabella Figg. She became the outsider of the neighborhood; nobody would speak to her voluntary and everyone avoided even looking at her.

Meanwhile she, as the typical housewife, worked the past years at the house, cleaning their cozy home, cooking for her beloved family, taking care of the garden and caring for her most important thing: her gorgeous son Dudley. Vernon was promoted to deputy chief of the management department and was getting more money than ever before, which made not only him, but his whole family happy. Dudley started preschool a little while ago and was fast becoming friends with everyone in his age group. His best friend Piers was even in the same class as him. They meet when they were three in the park and since then were inseparable. Either they would play at their house or at Mrs. Polkiss who was always a very good gossip partner. They certainly were like brothers, she could not be happier.

There were still some strange things like since Dudley was little, the crazy Figg would come to their house and ask stupid questions, which were just confusing and slightly irritating about their supposed nephew. She had a nephew? She had to think about it a bit before she grasped what the old hag was talking about. Figg was talking about her freak sister. Nobody in her neighborhood knew she even had a sister, but the crazy old woman knew. She was one of them, one of the freaks. That made her really angry. She was finally away from her freak-fan parents and the freak herself and wanted to be left alone, away from them and she certainly did not want to think about her sister or her freakish offspring. The woman wanted something from her, to get her away from her family she told the cat woman that he was fine, that everything was okay. Figg seemed to buy it and left their family alone. After this discussion she went again to her other gossip partners and told them some lies about Figg and she was even more hated now and became a complete outcast. She was not even allowed near their children or the park. If they could, they would throw her out onto the street or sent her to a nursery home for the elderly. And that she managed, luckily the cat freak broke her leg while tripping over one of her cats and since she had neither family nor friends there, they had her sent to a nursery home. After she was more or less dragged out of her own home screaming obscenities at them, she felt quite happy again. She managed to get the freakishness away from her beloved family. She kept them save.

Arabella Figg

She was sent to Surrey quite unwillingly by Albus Dumbledore, who was an old friend of her. Before she went to Little Whinging, she lived peacefully at a little farm outside an even smaller village, where her beloved cats had enough room to play and move. It was beautiful there, no cars which could kill her cats or noisy neighbors. But then Albus came, with a secret mission especially for her. Once she was told she had to leave the farm her deceased husband left her, she was extremely mad, even if Albus was one of her last friends and she owed him a little bit for making sure the wizarding world was save. And he said she was the only one who could do this. So she agreed with a heavy heart. She sold her farm and most of her cats and bought a house in Little Whinging.

When she asked Albus, he said that she should just keep an eye on the Dursleys and their nephew, the savior of the wizarding world Harry Potter. The little boy was sent here to live among muggles. She always thought their hero should live in the magical world, getting the things his parents were not able to give him anymore and learning everything with their children. But apparently she was wrong. When asked why he would stay there in the house of muggles, Albus replied shortly: 'So that he would not get a big head from all the fame in their world' and she understood. The fame of being the hero of the whole magical world could make everyone arrogant, egoistical and stupid. So she understood and agreed with Albus.

But her neighbors did not seem to welcome her one bit. She heard whispers from them that she was insane and a cat freak and a crazy old woman. Especially the children seemed to mind her, but she could not understand why.

But in the first year she did not see anything from him, nothing of little Harry. Maybe Petunia had brought him to an orphanage or something like that she thought. She tried asking Petunia, but she just said that he was fine and she believed her. She looked a little disgusted at the end of their conversation, but it did not matter. She was such a caring mother to Dudley; surely Harry will be just as spoiled. At first she thought that Harry might live like a prisoner in their house, since he was never outside, so she wrote some letters to Albus and explained the situation to him. He said that she should not worry and that everything was alright, that Harry was quite happy there. And she believed him. Maybe the boy was a bit sickly? Who knew? It was too bad that she could not ask other people about him, because everyone normally seemed to avoid her.

However she was relieved to finally see him outside after a year and a half, playing with his cousin. His black hair could be seen from far away next to his cousins blond one. She of course informed Albus of this who then told her to just sit back and only if Harry's life was in danger should she write to him. So she stopped, Harry was happy with his family and meanwhile the behavior of her neighbors against her got worse. And she broke her leg while tripping over one of her cats, so those neighbors decided to send her to a nursery home. At first he was vehemently against it, but later on it was quite comfortable living there. Being cared for everyday, no noisy neighbors and the nurses were listening to her stories, of course they were only the muggle versions, but these people listened to her. That made her really happy.

Severus Snape

Now for the last years, the bane of his existence called James Potter was dead. Oh how he loathed that man, his stupid friends and his even stupider pranks. But the ultimate embarrassment was that this bully managed to marry his childhood friend, the only woman he ever loved. This unworthy worm got her, because of a little mistake on his part. His son probably will be as spoiled and arrogant as his father once he began his schooling in Hogwarts. He could see it before his inner eye: Harry Potter striding down the hallways as if he owned them, behind him his loyal and just as dump friends, salivating over his clothes, his fangirls and the press walking some more feet behind them, praising him as he stood and walked, spouting nonsense like 'Slytherins are bad' and 'Snape is an ass' and other crap. Only thinking about this, made him want to go into a rage. But he would get him back. He would make his life a living hell as best as he could. Yes, the revenge was his. Or that was what he thought not too long ago.

He was silently walking through Hogwarts at night, checking for some students out of bed. But he only found the destroyed trophy room and went up to the headmaster's office to tell him the unfortunate news. At first he was a bit undecided what to do. On one hand Albus told them all, he would be busy today and if it was an emergency they could disturb him. On the other hand it could be seen as an emergency. He just had to be quiet, not to interrupt something significant. The gargoyle moved away and he walked up the stairs before he heard someone talking. He stopped dead in his tracks. His years as spy now came in handy.

"Albus, I told you those thrice damned goblins are not stupid! They probably send some hexes at you, to show your true form. What about my money now?" If he remembered correctly this was the voice of Mundungus Fletcher, a thief and member of the Orden. They tried the rob Gringotts, or so it sounded.

"Do not worry, my dear friend. Even if we do not manage to get the boy's money now, once he starts Hogwarts I will become his magical guardian and then we can officially and without problems take as much money as we want from him. Don't you think, I would not be angry at the moment? I spent most of the money I get through my various jobs to keep the Weasleys alive?" That was Dumbledore speaking. Of course the Weasleys would need help. They get children like rabbits.

"Why do you support them anyways? They are not really good for anything." Too true. Two of the children were already going to Hogwarts and he had to teach them. Five still to go.

"They have an important role to play once Harry Potter starts school. Ron Weasley will become his best friend, distract Harry from learning and bring him into dangerous situations. Ginny Weasley will later become first his girlfriend and then his wife. They are already poisoning her mind with 'Harry Potter is a hero and you will be this hero's wife' nonsense. Molly will be the loving and caring mother for when Harry gets a bit away from the Dursleys." Why would the brat need another family? Did not the last one spoil him enough?

"How is the brat doing there by the way? Being properly abused?" What? Abused?

"Yes, yes. Everything is going according to the plan. The Dursleys hate him; they did not even let him out of the house for the first year. I have a squib there keeping an eye on things. Once he comes to the magical world he will see me as a grandfatherly figure, who is always right and knows best and he will do everything I say."

After that they shared a few laughs and when the man flooed away and he knew now was the time to get out. He silently and nevertheless as fast as possible went down into the dungeons were his private quarters were, closed the door and drank a few shoots of firewiskey before he felt calm enough. Lily's child was abused and possible in danger. If not now than later once he started Hogwarts. He knew it was the brat of James Potter, but he also swore to protect Lily's child. And Lily would lynch him in the afterlife. Or kick him so hard in the balls; he would never stand straight again. Or castrate him. He had to find the child. Fast. But he had to be careful, Dumbledore should never know. He would somehow find a way to protect him.

Minerva McGonagall

She was working just like normal. In five more years the child of her two best Gryffindors will come to Hogwarts and start his schooling. She really could not wait to see the little boy again. Would he be like his father, courageous, helpful and loud, or more like his mother, kind, loving with the temper of a mother tiger? Will he be better in transfiguration or charms? Thinking about little Harry made her cheerful.

But sometimes she thought, she was not remembering things correctly, but that was probably her old age getting to her or the stress from the classes and students. If it did not get better, she would go to St. Mundo.

Albus Dumbledore

Five years did go by rather fast, but another five to go until the official beginning of his game. He managed to secure all important positions in the magical world. He was the headmaster of the Hogwarts School and the supreme MUGWUP. The incompetent Minister Fudge was always asking him for advice on how to lead all these people. Everyone believed and adored him and he managed to perfect his grandfatherly role. The teachers were also content. So everything went well until now, no problems at all, mostly.

His long-term project short called 'Harry' was coming along quite nicely too. He was still at the Dursleys being properly abused. No new letter from Arabella came after the first two. If he remembered correctly number one was something like 'Haven't seen Harry out for the last year, is this normal Albus?' which he answered with 'Don't worry, I know Harry's fine'. The Dursleys were probably too afraid to let the boy out of the house because of his freakishness, which he did not write her. Arabella was easily assured, her worries were evened out, and it was as easy at that since everyone believed him, the great almighty Dumbledore. In her second letter was something standing like she finally saw the child, so the logical conclusion pointed at an alive Harry and therefore everything was fine. He told her to ignore anything else and not to write if it was not serious aka life threatening. So Harry was still with the Dursley's, which was the only thing that mattered. Once he would enter Platform 9 ¾, he would meet the Weasleys, who would direct Harry into the right direction.

Speaking of the Weasleys, one of his biggest supporters were up until now only trouble for his wallet. This month again, like the last four years, they did not have enough money to support their whole family. If they do not have money, why do not they just stop getting children, but it could have been worse. Molly could have gotten more than seven children, but thank god there were complications with the little girl's birth, so Molly was now unable to get anymore. But that did not mean he was not a little bit happy as well. He supported the family through money donations from his vaults and they supported him by whatever he did. The seven children would be once they reached maturity seven new supporters for him. And he promised them to make an unbreakable marriage contract between Harry and Ginny once he turned eleven and she ten. With this he shackled their savior to the light side for eternity and made the Weasley rich along the way.

But at the moment everything would be easier, if he could just gain entrance to his project's vaults. Maybe he should have been more careful. From the wreck of the house he took some of Harry's hairs and blood from the bleeding scar on his forehead. He then went to his potion master ordered him to brew a Polyjuice Potion and aging solution and bring them to him once he was finished. He waited for three years to start for the first time. He contacted Mundungus Fletcher, a man who would kill his own mother for some gold, what he already did, and let him pose behind another potion as his guardian. He himself took the modified Polyjuice Potion and changed into a five year old looking Harry Potter. They flooed to the leaky Cauldron and went to Gringotts. He did have a bad feeling when he stepped into the building, but he was the great Albus Dumbledore, he could do anything. The tellers looked warily at him, as if they knew, but they could not of course, or so he thought. He was then separated from his 'guardian' and went through many rooms and halls until he suddenly turned back into his normal form. To say that the goblins were angry, would be a great understatement, they were pissed. Through guards he was dragged out, his 'guardian' vanished once he saw the guards. He, the Light Lord, man of everything light and good, was thrown out like a miserable rag doll. The goblins would get killed for this. He went straight to the Ministry and ordered that idiot Fudge to ban or kill or whatever those creatures, but like the wuss he was Fudge declined saying that they had all their money and the wizards would not go through another goblin revolution.

Half a year later, he tried again, but was promptly thrown out again, before he could say anything. Then he sent Mundungus down there who was also kicked out. The goblins then threatened him to take all his money away if he were to try again. So he waited and had to wait another five years until he became Harry's magical guardian. This was his only way to get officially into the vaults and the goblins could do nothing against it. And then he would again fill his vaults and continue to pay the Weasleys, but till then he had to pay for them himself. His poor poor wallet.

At Hogwarts most things also went smoothly. Nobody knew about his plans and probably would ever know. McGonagall still had his compulsion charm on her with a few memory charms and was behaving quite nicely. Always taking his side and doing what he wanted her to do. Perfect. But his potions master, Snape was behaving a bit weird lately. He did not know why, but he always had some of the portrays out spying on his dear little spy. Even through Severus made an Unbreakable Vow to protect Lily's child, he still did not trust him. Once a death eater, always a death eater. The other teacher had no real connection to his project. His pet werewolf was always happy to hear that Harry is happily living with his new family and there were no problems as well. No other questions asked. Sirius still was in Azkaban, happy or not, he was out of the way.

He could not wait for the beginning of the school year 1991 when all his plans for the greater good would finally start.

Sirius Black

Peter betrayed James and Lily and little Harry to that bastard Voldemort. He would never forgive them, never. If he ever got the chance to get his hands onto the rat, he would wring that damned rodent's neck until he could take the head of its body. But because of his stupid Gryffindor brashness he went after the little stupid traitor, who screamed at him, killed thirteen muggles, cut of his finger, transformed into the rat he was and ran into the sewers. He was so surprised about Peter's actions that he stood there in the middle of the street, eyes wide, mouth open like a gapping idiot, forgot time and was therefore caught by aurors. This was so fucking shit that he just started to laugh madly. Who would not? Little innocent Peter, the weakest of the four marauders, who could not seriously harm a fly, the one who always ran behind them not knowing the way even after seven years and the one who always asked them for every little thing turned traitor. How damned funny is this?

But he also was an idiot. He should have stayed with his godson. Little lovely Harry. The last link to his now dead best friends, people he would never see again. Would they forgive him for leaving Harry there once he saw them in the afterlife again? If he answered the questions sincerely Lily would probably take both of his ankles in her hands, spread his legs wide and then kick the living daylights out of his genitalia. The thought alone send chills down his spine. He really should not have left Harry there. Was he even okay? Did his adoptive family love him enough? Did he have a nice comfortable life? Would he be more like James, playing pranks and making a nuisance out of himself, or more like Lily, a nice kind bookworm? He probably never knew. There was no way out. He would rot in this prison. Would his godson even accept him? After leaving him for the rat? Would he understand? Questions which nobody could answer in his small cell. His future grave.

He was just happy for his animagus form, his unregistered animagus form. If they knew, they would have sealed it and he would have to suffer the full wrath of the dementors. Those soul sucking demons. Whoever was in their vicinity could feel their foul effects, animals not as bad as humans. Everything got ice cold around them, the air, the stone walls and floors, their whole bodies. Day after day, hour after hour, they let him experience his biggest crimes, his worst memories. But as Padfoot it was not as bad. They would leave him alone. He would not know if you would still be sane without his animal form. Probably not. Like his oh so dear cousin Bellatrix some cells up ahead. She was already bat shit crazy. She was singing happily while those creatures flew through the corridors.

But since a while strange things started to happen. They suddenly heard shrill laughter, clearly non human laughter. Some of the other prisoners started to think that the dementors started to laugh at them and their defenselessness. Some others said that the demons finally managed to get out of hell to torture their souls and send them straight to damnation for eternity. Others just thought that they finally went insane. But it would not stop. Something was laughing and nobody knew what. It sounded as childlike as it sounded creepy. It sent chills all over their bodies. Even Bella was afraid. One time they even saw a dementor fleeing from a big white blur which was snickering madly behind it. They were too fast for them to clearly see in this twilight. He thought he saw an illusion, but his cousin some cells further said she saw it too. But the whole point was that the dementors were fleeing from it. What kind of animal was this? When aurors passed once a month they told them, but were ignored. After all there could be no animal alive here, laughing around chasing dementors in Azkaban. He thought insanity finally hit him too.

AN: So Undertaker is now in HP universe and has Harry's body. Well this chapter was all about the other characters and what they have been up to until now. Next chapter will be 'first meetings'. The questions I have: should Luna's mother live or die, different pairings (Ron/Hermione, Sirius/Remus,…) and animagus forms for Voldemort, Dumbledore and maybe other teachers. If you review and answer the question please also state why so that I can understand it too. Thanks!