The Mutt who Lived
by Teddylonglong

All recognizable Harry Potter characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC, Dumbledore/Weasley bashing.

"Dumbledore's phoenix Fawkes, who was already my familiar in my time," Godric continued, "is slowly getting fed up with Dumbledore's behaviour and is thinking about changing his nest. He's a very loyal character, and Dumbledore must have really wronged people for him to leave a person he once bonded to. However, ever after that Halloween, he told me that he'd like to bond with Inu and Harry. He's just waiting for them to grow up some more."

Everyone's eyes wandered to the play corner in the staff room, where the toddlers were engrossed in brewing fruit drops together with the twins in the Toddler's Potions sets, which Harry and Neville had received from Severus for their birthdays.

"Severus, you seem to be raising four Potions apprentices," Poppy commented what everyone else thought.

Severus smirked. "Oh well, maybe at least one of them will be willing to teach Potions in the future, as I have several matters, which I'd love to research given time," he replied, glancing at Lily.

"I'm in," she added in determination, resolving to take some time for research to perhaps sometime in the future be able to cure the Longbottoms as well as Remus.

HP

Narcissa Malfoy let out a deep sigh, as she observed her two-year-old son Draco sleep. Ever since not only her sister Bellatrix but also her husband Lucius had been given one-way tickets to Azkaban, she had felt extremely lonely. At first, she had hoped to be pregnant with another child; however, this wish had not been granted. 'Malfoy Manor is much too big for the two of us, and considering that the goblins froze all of our assets until the time, when Draco is of age to accept the lordship, we can't even buy something small just for the two of us to live in,' she thought, feeling very much depressed at the idea of continuing to live in such a large house.

'At Hogwarts, they're looking for teachers,' she thought, pondering if she would like to teach students, only to decide, 'not under Dumbledore as the headmaster.' She recalled that there had been another school opened, something like Mummy, even if she had forgotten the exact title.

For the first time since her other sister, Andromeda, had been kicked out of the Black family, Narcissa toyed with the idea of contacting her. 'What good did it do to marry a pureblood if he's evil enough to get himself chucked into Azkaban?' she wondered. 'Perhaps Andy was not only courageous but also cleverer than Bella and me to marry a muggleborn lawyer, who never worked for the Dark Lord.'

Sighing in frustration and at the same time determination, Narcissa penned a letter to her sister, asking her if she would be willing to meet her for a private conversation.

"Barnabas!" she called the family raven, instructing him to take the letter to Andromeda Tonks.

'Oh well, now I can only wait and see,' she thought. For a few minutes, she pondered the idea to also contact Draco's godfather Severus, however, finally dismissed the idea. While Severus had sent a birthday present for Draco's second birthday, she had no idea where he was and what he was doing. 'Maybe if Drommy doesn't reply, I'll contact him,' she consoled herself – only to be brought back to reality by Draco's crying.

HP

At the Merlin Academy for Magical Arts, the preparation for the first real school year were in full swing. Especially, the four new teachers for the primary school, who had just taken their NEWTs in June, had much work making lesson plans and preparing their classrooms with the assistance of the house-elves.

Glenda Chittock, a half-blood witch, was the teacher of the Unicorn and the Lynx class. She already employed two of her new pupils, the twins, along with Harry and Neville and had them assist and give her ideas about the equipment of the classroom, and all four children and Inu were very fond of her.

Linda O'Brian, the daughter of the head healer of St. Mungo's, who was a good friend of Poppy, took over the six-year-olds' Griffin class and the seven-year-olds' Phoenix class. She was also a very kind witch, and the twins and the trio absolutely adored her.

Gilderoy Lockhart, Linda's best friend, was responsible for the eight-year-olds' Hippogriff class and the nine-year-olds' Basilisk class. While he was not very magically powerful, he had excelled in the theoretical parts of his NEWTs and was extremely patient, something that was very much required for the position. Moreover, Inu approved of him.

Finally, Evelyn Jones, a muggleborn witch, who had received the best NEWT results of her year, was going to instruct the ten-year-olds' Dragon class, even if no one expected her to remain on the position for ages, as the young witch would probably decide to pursue her own studies at some stage. Nevertheless, she was more than adequate for the beginning.

The curriculum for the primary school classes included Reading and Writing, Maths, Music, Arts, Physical Education as well as Wizarding and Muggle Culture, Easy Spells and Charms for Beginners. The class about Magical Creatures was taught from the Hippogriff class onwards, Geography commenced from the Basilisk class onwards and History of the Magical and Mundane World only from the Dragon class onwards.

Apart from Inu, the only magical animals present on the grounds of the MAMA were three winged horses and two unicorns; however, James and Remus intended to remedy the situation in the near future.

HP

Narcissa headed to the private room at the Leaky Cauldron with apprehension, carrying Draco in her arms. As much as she appreciated that her sister was willing to meet with her, she detested her choice of the place. 'Oh well, never mind. I just hope she'll hear me out,' she thought, feeling annoyed at her own excitement at the idea of meeting her sister.

The meeting was awkward to say the least; however, Drommy made it easy for her. She gently greeted Draco and introduced her own, nine-year-old daughter to him, instructing Nymphadora to keep an eye on Draco, so that their mothers could talk for a while.

"Tell me," she then turned to Narcissa, who let out a deep sigh, before she opened up and told her older sister everything that was on her mind.

'It's strange,' she then thought. 'I can talk to her, as if we had only met yesterday and not more than a decade ago.'

"Just make a new beginning," Andromeda advised her. "I believe that you have two choices. One would be to speak with Uncle Arcturus. He's the head of the Black family by now, and he's less harsh than our father, who kicked me out of the family. I've even considered asking him to add me back, but so far I didn't. There's not really a necessity for it, you know."

Narcissa nodded in understanding. "Anyway, he'd be able to annul your marriage and take you and Draco back into the family. The other option would be to look for a job, which might be difficult if you don't have anyone to look after Draco," Andromeda continued, thoughtfully.

"I could apply to Hogwarts, but I don't want to work with Dumbledore," Narcissa explained. "I need something where I can take Draco with me, and jobs like that are rare."

"Ah, that's it then," Drommy replied, smiling. "I just know the right thing. Apply to the Merlin Academy for Magical Arts. Minerva McGonagall is leading the school together with the Potters. They accept children from the age of four, and they will probably be able to hire some more staff if you don't mind what you're doing. They're only slowly building up the school. Dora is going to attend it from next week onwards," she added, smiling.

"Yeah, it's a brilliant place. They even gave me a tour around the grounds to see the winged horses and unicorns," Nymphadora spoke up, grinning in apparent anticipation.

"I might contact Professor McGonagall then," Narcissa decided. "Thank you so much for your advice."

The sisters spent some more time talking about this and that like in old times and decided to remain in contact, before they finally separated. Narcissa felt extremely happy to finally have got her sister back. 'Thank Merlin Drommy understands that it was only because of Lucius that I had broken off contact with her,' Narcissa thought, as she stepped out of the fireplace at Malfoy Manor.

As soon as Draco was in bed that evening, she penned a letter to Professor McGonagall, even if she assumed that the chances were low that the school would hire her just three days before the beginning of the new school year.

HP

Only by chance did Lily realise that her children apparently expected to attend classes together with the twins, when she overheard them making plans together.

Deciding to act immediately, she took the four children and Inu aside and gently informed them that, while the twins were four years old and were going to attend the unicorn class beginning the day after tomorrow, the trio would have to wait for two more years before being able to attend classes together with other students.

The trio did not take it well to say the least. While Harry and Neville, who had become as fluent in speaking as Harry, threw the worst temper tantrums she had ever seen, Inu sat there growling and barking at her.

Unfortunately, the baby that was due in about a fortnight, seemed to sense how upset her brothers were and began her own temper tantrum, causing Lily to merely stand there holding her stomach without being able to properly react to the boys' behaviour. 'Oh Merlin, what's the baby doing? I hope she'll be all right,' she thought in shock.

She did not even notice that the older twins dashed away only to return with Minerva and Poppy in tow a few minutes later.

While Minerva took care of the children, who were standing there staring at her in apparent shock upon noticing that something was wrong, Poppy gently led her out of the room and into the master suite, where she informed her after a quick flick of her wand that the baby was going to be born soon.

In the wee hours of August 31, Dorea Rose Potter was born, named after her late grandmothers.

HP

'She looks nice,' Harry thought, eyeing his sister, who had red hair and green eyes, with interest. 'She's very tiny though,' he thought in disappointment.

"She's too tiny," he whispered to Neville and Inu, his twins, who always understood him best.

"Yeah," Neville confirmed, while Inu gently licked his face.

The arrival of their baby sister helped the two-year-olds to become distracted from the disappointment that they were not allowed to attend classes yet.

While the four-year-old twins headed to their first class in the morning of the first of September, Harry and Neville assisted Lily and Poppy taking care of little Dorea. Inu was sitting in front of Dorea's crib and did not budge, however, barked at everyone who came near their baby sister who was not family.

"Thank Merlin he considers the two of us as family," Minerva said to Poppy, chuckling, as she gently caressed the crup's ears.

HP

At Hogwarts, Molly Weasley ushered her oldest, Bill, to get ready, so that she could apparate him to King's Cross on time for the Hogwarts Express.

"Mum," Bill informed her, rolling his eyes in annoyance, "first of all, I don't want to be apparated to London just to take the train back. Hagrid offered to take me to Hogsmeade, when the train arrives. Secondly, I don't want that rat as familiar. I really don't like it. Look, it seems to like Percy. Let him have it," he added, pointing at the spot, where his seven-year-old brother was cuddling with the garden rat, which had found its way into their family almost a year ago.

"All right, fine," Molly gave in, shaking her head at her oldest, when nine-year-old Charlie spoke up.

"Why can't Bill and I go to live with Dad and the twins and attend the MAMA school?" he asked, grumpily. "Dad wrote that they take children from the age of four, and the twins are going to attend school from today onwards."

"I'd prefer the MAMA school, too," Bill added, feeling extremely grateful that his brother had addressed the topic.

"They didn't accept you," Molly pointed out.

"Yeah, but that was because you and Dumbledore made some strange arrangements," Bill replied, glaring at his mother, before he returned to his room, deciding to use the time, which he would otherwise spend on the train, to write a letter to his father. However, when he entered the room, which he shared with Charlie, a sudden thought crossed his mind.

"Let's go and see Hagrid," he whispered to his brother, who was all for it.

HP

'What a timing,' Minerva thought, when she returned to her office after greeting the pupils of the primary school in Lily's stead. 'Still, little Dorea is an absolute cutie.'

Gratefully accepting a cup of tea from Malcolm, she cast a glance at the Daily Prophet, rolling her eyes at the double headline.

'Students, be careful to board the right train – the Hogwarts Express leaves at 11 a.m., the MAMA Express at 2 p.m from the same platform nine and three quarters!'

'So far, the students always managed to get onto the train on time,' she mused, recalling one or the other incident, where students had to be taken through the fireplace by their parents.

'The former Hogwarts students will be glad that the train ride only takes half as long as to Scotland,' she thought, as she recalled her own first train ride together with Poppy and Rolanda. 'Rolanda seems happy to be able to teach general physical education to the younger ones instead of only Flying classes,' she thought, once again pondering if they had thought of everything that was necessary for a general magical and mundane education.

'Oh well, we can still add things at any time,' she thought. 'It would be good to find something to employ Narcissa Malfoy as well. I'll wait until the first days have passed, before discussing her case with the others and replying to her,' she resolved, as she finished her tea and readied herself for the last staff meeting before the beginning of the school year for the older students, who were only going to arrive at dinner time.

'I like that the younger pupils are going to return home before dinner and only return on time for breakfast,' she thought. They had led long discussions about the matter, however, had finally decided on this schedule to give all students the same choice of breakfast before their classes.

HP

Most of the teachers decided to accompany James Potter to the station to lead the new students to the school, while Arthur Weasley promised to keep an eye on the twins and Harry and Neville. The twins had just returned from their first day in the Unicorn class and were busily relaying everything about it to the younger boys, who were eagerly listening.

After the events of the previous January, where Sirius had seen not only Molly Weasley but also Peter Pettigrew on the platform, James decided to take Inu with him to the station. Together with nine of his colleagues, he and Inu headed to Dragonsedge a few minutes before the train was supposed to arrive.

He quickly cast a Sonorus charm on himself, introduced himself and Inu, just like he had done in January, and instructed everyone to head up the street leading away from the village.

Inu was busily running through the crowd, greeting several of the new sixth- and seventh-years in apparent excitement. However, he appeared to not have detected anything out of the order, and James sighed in relief.

'Thank Merlin,' he thought, as he slowly left the station to follow the last of the students to the school. "Come on, don't dawdle," he told a specifically slow group of what he assumed were third- or fourth-years, knowing that Minerva was already waiting for them to arrive. 'It's strange to come here and greet the students without Lily though.' However, he could not help feeling happy at the reason why his wife had not been able to accompany them to the station. 'Immediately after dinner, I'm going to return home and help her with Dorea,' he resolved, feeling relieved that due to being the deputy headmaster he did not have any obligations like his colleagues had as teachers of a specific class.

HP

As soon as James arrived in the atrium with the last students in tow motioning them to sit down quickly, Minerva rose from her chair at the high table.

"Dear students, welcome to the Merlin Academy for Magical Arts, welcome back to our sixth- and seventh-years," she said, pleasantly. "First of all, I'd like to introduce our teachers to you. Since we don't have houses like at Hogwarts, your class will be your family. You will share your common room with your classmates as well as your dormitories. Every class has one teacher, who is responsible for your personal wellbeing. Teacher for the first-years is Madam Hooch, our instructor for Flying and Physical Education."

Rolanda rose from her chair and was greeted with huge applause from the older students, who still remembered her from their time at Hogwarts.

"Teacher for the second-years is Professor Sprout, our Professor for Herbology," Minerva continued, smiling when her best friend also received huge applause.

"Responsible for the third-years is Professor Weasley, our Professor for Arithmancy," Minerva continued and not waiting for the applause to end introduced Flitwick for the fourth-years, Remus for the fifth-years, Sirius for the sixth-years and Severus for the seventh-years.

"After the welcoming feast, I expect everyone to gather around the teachers, whom I just mentioned as your class teacher. They will lead you to your common rooms and will be available to answer any questions you might have."

With that, she sat down, tapped the table in front of her with her wand, and the meal appeared on the tables.

It was only half-way through the Welcoming Feast that Minerva suddenly let out a huge gasp, causing everyone to stare at the headmistress in apparent surprise.

tbc...

Thank you so very much for the many kind reviews for the previous chapter. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and what you expect from this story. Any ideas or opinions are welcome.

Have a happy New Year!

Next chapter: "Mischief managed".