Dumbledore stared at Privet Drive with the lights all out. He'd set young Harry Potter down on the doorstep of number 4, where the charms that would keep him safe through the night would also ensure he would not wake until the Dursleys took him into their home. He knew they would, between family loyalty Petunia still had for Lily and the - he was forced to admit - rather grisly warnings that had been included in the note regarding what might happen if they tried to abdicate responsibility for Harry. However, he also knew that Petunia and Vernon both actively disliked magic and had a child of their own, which would make them most put out, to put it mildly, about being saddled with another child without consultation. This would leave Harry in for a rather rough decade of growing up with them. Both Hagrid and Minerva had voiced their disapproval of this approach...and to be perfectly honest, Dumbledore was unfond of it as well.
But he didn't exactly have a choice. Voldemort's defeat had to be publicized to break the will of his followers and rally Wizarding Britain to drive back the Dark he'd brought to the land...and just an announcement wouldn't be enough. Wizarding Britain needed a symbol - a hero - to rally around, and the only one there was to offer was Harry James Potter, soon to be known throughout the land as the Boy-Who-Lived. This would put a target on Harry's back from those who would seek to use him, to be seen with him, or who sought vengeance. The only way he could grow up as an even remotely emotionally-stable young boy would be to hide him so only those who knew where he was could find him.
He'd considered the Fidelius Charm...but that would involve hiding an entire family to raise him, and making a whole family vanish would draw immediate attention, and after what had happened with the last Fidelius Charm Dumbledore had tried to use for a Potter, he was no longer certain it was as reliable as it was thought. The idea that Sirius would betray his brother in all but blood...
No, the only spells available to hide young Harry involved placing him with living blood relatives, and to keep anyone in Wizarding Britain from noticing it would have to be with Muggle blood relatives...which was unfortunately only Petunia and her son, Dudley. There were no other safe places for Harry in Wizarding Britain...as unpleasant an option as it was. To safeguard the country, he had to condemn its savior to a decade of what could potentially be the worst childhood imaginable...and he didn't even dare interfere too overtly to try and ensure Harry's emotional well being, because he was such a public persona...and there was no one he could trust with Harry's location that could take the time to do so and manage it covertly. ...with Sirius' betrayal of the Potters, he wasn't entirely sure he fully trusted anyone anymore. He'd promised James and Lily that they would be safe, and he had failed. He would ensure Harry's safety, and that meant both giving hope to the nation to break the Dark and keeping him hidden from the nation's sight...and this was the only way to do that, wasn't it?
"You're not the sort to agonize over decisions like this," a throaty, playful voice purred as fur brushed against Albus' arm. "You've always been far more certain of yourself, Albus."
Dumbledore blinked in surprise. "Yozora," he greeted as warmly as he could manage as he turned to face the four-tailed fox woman who stood before him, her kimono tied to cover herself far more than was her normal approach. She was one of the few from the Far East he had contact with, as the Eastern and Western Wizarding Worlds did not exactly communicate all that much...mostly because those in the Far East were constantly seeking ways to circumvent the Secrecy Act...and more often than not found success. He was one of the few in the Western Wizarding World who pushed to follow that example, though with limited success. He had to pick his battles, after all. "I wasn't expecting you."
"With how much shadow was on your heart in this moment, are you really surprised?" Yozora asked calmly with a sad smile. "You know what purpose I and mine have in this world. And we are old friends, even if we can't meet frequently."
Dumbledore nodded with a sigh. "I doubt you can dispel this cloud, though," he observed with a troubled frown. "There rests Harry Potter, soon to be known far and wide as the Savior of Wizarding Britain, the one who defeated the Dark Lord...and yet the Prophecy indicates that Tom is not truly gone, and will return. Harry must grow up safe, hidden away for his own protection...and yet the only place in all of Wizarding Britain to keep him safe from Wizards who would misuse him is with his relatives...who I fear will abuse him. And yet I have no other option..." His voice trailed off as Yozora chuckled. "Is something amusing?"
"Only that you're as blind as you've always been," Yozora teased playfully. "You're not seeing the forest for the trees, and the obvious for the obscure. If this is the only option to keep him hidden in Britain, then why limit yourself to Britain to hide him in?"
Dumbledore blinked as the idea bounced through his head. He had to admit, the idea had appeal...but he would need to be certain that Harry was safe, hidden...and that he'd be able to give him the guidance he would need to handle what awaited in his future, which meant getting him to Hogwarts when he was old enough. That last was part of why he'd limited himself to Britain for hiding spots. "I...don't suppose you have a suggestion?" he asked uncertainly. "There...are not many I fully trust anymore..."
Yozora chuckled sadly. "I do not blame you...but I think I know the perfect place. One of my subordinates has chosen to reside permanently among humans for the lifetime of a mortal she's become attached to, dedicating herself to taking care of him. I think she can handle one more to care for, and young Harry will grow up safe, loved, and aware of both the advantages and dangers of magic so that when he's old enough, he'll be ready to attend Hogwarts...and for whatever else is to come."
Dumbledore let that turn over in his mind as he stroked his beard. To be perfectly honest, this was the perfect solution he was hoping for. It would have Harry safely hidden, and far away from anyone who might stumble on him...and he could discreetly get regular reports of his progress and well being. Still... "And...you trust this subordinate?" he asked carefully, not wanting to give offense but...trust was still hard for him just now.
"With the well being of a youngster? Without hesitation," Yozora promised warmly. "She is a natural mother in behavior and abilities. She's even better at mothering than I am...and she owes me a favor for giving her permission to stay in the mortal realms with her human. Even if she - or he - aren't inclined to do this, that will get them to agree...and once she has young Harry in her arms, it will take more than we could bring to bear to make her give him up."
Dumbledore could feel the sincerity in Yozora's words. "And...he'll be hidden?"
"There's more than one way to hide, Albus," Yozora responded with a smile. "Go collect the boy, and I'll take you to meet her. It's not far." Turning, she walked towards a shrine gate that hadn't been there a moment ago.
Realizing that things had been decided for him, Dumbledore walked over and collected Harry. He'd inform Minerva and Hagrid of the change in plan, though not of all the details. This would be better for Harry...wouldn't it?
The trip through the Inari realm between the gates took barely any time at all, and then Dumbledore found himself walking up the steps to an apartment complex. From the language on the signs, he knew he was now in Japan...and yet no one blinked twice at an obvious wizard in star-speckled robes walking alongside a four-tailed fox woman in a too small kimono with a baby in his arms. They also didn't blink at the chimera pulling a carriage, though a few foreign Muggles took pictures talking about the 'amazing effects' and 'animatronics'. "Is this...normal?" he found himself asking uncertainly.
Yozora shrugged. "I don't actually spend that much time in the mortal realm," she allowed easily. "The job has more than its fair share of paperwork." Walking right up to a door, she knocked firmly.
"Coming!" a soft, happy, adorable sounding voice called as small footsteps raced towards the door. Within a moment, the door opened to reveal a young seeming fox girl dressed in an outfit akin to the robes of a shrine maiden. Her brown-orange hair matched the fur of her ears and her tail, and her bright golden eyes gleamed with joy and motherly love as she gasped at the visitors. "Yozora-sama! We weren't expecting you!"
"Yozora's here?" a male voice asked in surprise as heavier footsteps approached. A young man at least twice the fox-girl's height stepped into view, dressed in dark slacks and a white button down shirt, the top button unbuttoned, his dark eyes under his messy dark hair friendly and a little excited. "Oh, who's this?" he asked as he caught sight of Dumbledore.
Dumbledore smiled, glad he'd taken the precaution of applying a translation charm to himself as Yozora led him through the shrine gates. It wouldn't affect writing, but it would enable him to understand spoken language and be understood in turn. "I am Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Chief Warlock and Supreme Mugwump of Magical Britain, and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. I'm an old friend of Yozora's, and she suggested you might be able to help me with a...rather sticky situation-"
At that moment, young Harry began to fuss, startling Albus. The charms meant to keep him asleep until he was taken in should have held still, and yet when he looked down he saw that something - he wasn't certain what - had all but shredded them. Was it the trip through the shrine gates? Something else? What-
"Oh, the poor dear!" the young-seeming fox girl suddenly spoke up, lifting Harry from his arms and expertly cradling the young boy against her, her aura of motherly love instantly enveloping the little boy and brushing the last of the charms away like cobwebs. "You must be hungry. Come in, please. I'll get this little one something to eat while you tell Kuroto-kun about your sticky situation."
"Senko-san..." the man - Kuroto, presumably - groaned in a tone of rueful amusement, shaking his head ruefully.
As Dumbledore stepped in, shucking his shoes as Yozora did and slipping his feet into guest slippers, he realized what had shredded his charms. They were designed to release to allow Harry to adjust to his new home when he was accepted and welcomed...and Senko apparently welcomed and mothered everyone she encountered, giving everyone the care and pampering her own aura told her they needed without judgement or hesitation. A natural mother indeed...and a promise of protection and care so strong that the charms dissolved from its very presence despite him being unable to sense it until he'd actually stepped inside. Yozora had been right, there was nowhere in the world where young Harry would possibly be safer, happier...more loved. He was glad he had hesitated so long before making a decision.
"So what brings you both here?" Kuroto asked curiously as they all took a seat as Senko expertly balanced preparing tea and tending to young Harry, bracing him with her tail while one hand handled the tea and the other handled feeding him, dishes and utensils hovering in the air around her in tiny blue flames she controlled.
"Congratulations, Kuroto-kun," Yozora stated bluntly, gesturing to Harry. "You're parents."
"...wat?" Kuroto finally managed to say, his eyes wide as he was plainly completely stupefied. Senko looked rather stunned herself, though it in no way interfered with her work.
"I can't help but feel that would have been more amusing to drop after everyone had something to drink with them," Albus commented dryly to Yozora.
"And waste Senko's tea in a spit-take?" Yozora chided in amusement. "Perish the thought."