A/N: Thanks to all who read and reviewed the first several stories. Since the italics haven't transferred here well, I have used * to mark where italics have been used. Please review; critiques are welcome!

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Arabella's Strange Account

The end of October was nearing and Arabella Figg was staring at her closet. She was about to go out for dinner with Remus Lupin, her boyfriend of a couple of years. For some reason, she wanted to look extra special that evening. After much deliberation, she chose a stunning red dress that flared in just the right places. Smoothing her hair, she smiled at her reflection, as there was a knock at her door.

Arabella opened the door and Remus stood staring at her. She blushed as she noticed how good he looked. His brown hair, starting to mix with gray, was standing up, as always, but there was something about him and his crooked smile. As she smiled, Remus stammered, "You, you look, v-v-very nice tonight."

"Thanks, Remus," she replied with a laugh. "That suit looks good on you, too."

Remus blushed, and quickly offered her his arm. "I thought we could walk," he explained.

Arabella took his arm happily.

As soon as the couple's dinner dishes had disappeared, she sighed happily and looked over at Remus. To her amazement, he was down on one knee.

"Will you marry me?" he asked simply, holding out a beautiful diamond ring.

Arabella's brown eyes sparkled with tears of happiness. "Yes, Remus, I will."

He placed the ring on her finger and Arabella felt like the luckiest girl on earth. Remus put a hand on her cheek then pulled her close in a soft kiss. When they broke apart, they were both smiling widely.

Dessert arrived and the happily affianced couple fed each other chocolate cake, Arabella's ring sparkling merrily each time she moved her hand, reminding her of how wonderful her life was, and how wonderful it was going to be.

Arabella spent the next week in a blissful state. Though part of her was murmuring a warning to pay attention, she was completely oblivious to all outside events until the early hours of November 1.

"Arabella, please wake up."

She recognized Remus' voice and stirred, then her eyes fluttered open. She was surprised, but not entirely unhappy. She smiled, reaching for his hand, and was about to speak when the look on his face stopped her. A feeling of apprehension washed over her.

"What is it?" she asked nervously, noticing Professor Dumbledore standing behind Remus.

Remus didn't answer, only looked at Dumbledore in a way that Arabella could only think of as forlorn.

"I have some very serious news that I am afraid I must share," the older man began. Remus sat down on the bed, and held Arabella's hand, which was beginning to shake.

"Voldemort has found and killed Lily and James."

"What?" Remus asked, while Arabella sat in stunned silence. She had gotten to know James and Lily quite well as she had gotten to know Remus, and she could hardly believe they were gone.

Dumbledore nodded. "Their house has been destroyed and their bodies found. It happened only an hour ago."

Remus sat, stunned by shock and grief as tears streamed silently down Arabella's face. "What about little Harry?" she asked, looking terrified to hear the answer. She thought of the many hours that she had spent cooing at baby Harry and her face crumbled.

"That," Dumbledore answered with a hint of triumph in his eyes, "is the most mind boggling part. Harry is fine, quite untouched, actually. The spell Voldemort attempted to use on him apparently backfired and he took the brunt of it himself. We don't know where he's gone, but Harry is safe with Hagrid now."

A weight lifted from Arabella's heart. Harry was safe!

"He couldn't be safer," Remus replied, trying to smile, but failing. After a moment of silence, he added, "Their secret was hidden, though. Only Sirius knew where they were. Only Sirius." He trailed off, the implications of this statement hitting him and his tears overcoming him. "How could he betray them like this? How could he?" he exclaimed through a throat tightened by tears. Arabella embraced him, rubbing his back as his body shook with sobs.

"I must ask for your help, though," Dumbledore reminded the couple sternly after a minute.

"Anything we can do to help, sir," Arabella said bravely.

Remus looked up and echoed, "Anything." His eyes looked more determined than Arabella had ever seen them.

"Harry will be taken to Lily's sister's house- Harry's Muggle aunt- until he comes to Hogwarts. I will have several spells in place that will keep him safe from Voldemort there, but I would still like to have one of us nearby always. I am sure Voldemort will be back once he recovers from tonight's events. There is just no telling how long that will be." Dumbledore looked meaningfully at Arabella. "I would like you to go, my dear, and live near Harry and keep an eye on him."

"Of course," Arabella answered immediately, glad to be doing something worthwhile to help.

"When do you want us ready to go?" Remus asked eagerly.

Sadly, Dumbledore shook his head. "No, Mr. Lupin, just Miss Figg. I have a house for her to move into that is two streets from the Dursley's. I would like to see you moved in by tomorrow when Harry arrives, Miss Figg."

Arabella felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her as her fiancee protested.

"But-" Remus started, "I-I want to go too! Harry is very important to me and so is Arabella! The two of us could take care of Voldemort, should he choose to call." His face looked as determined and defiant as he Arabella had ever seen it.

Arabella looked pleadingly at Dumbledore for a moment, but when his face remained set, she turned back to Remus. She knew what she had to do, as much as it hurt.

"Remus, you know I love you. You also know I have to do this. For Lily and James, and Harry, too." She looked into his eyes, pleading with him to understand. "You are much more closely connected with the Potters, Remus. Your presence may attract attention; you may be too close to the situation to do the right thing. Or maybe Dumbledore just needs your help somewhere else."

Remus nodded silently, tears still streaming down his face. "You're right, Arabella," he choked. "You have to do this. When Voldemort is gone for good and Harry has nothing left to fear, we will be together again. Until then, we must do our part to make sure the unspeakable monster is eradicated."

Arabella didn't say a word, just kissed Remus full on the mouth. He responded instantly, pulling her closer, feeling their tongues collide and their tears mix together. A slight cough from Dumbledore reminded Arabella of his presence and they reluctantly pulled apart.

"I have other things I must do before Harry arrives on Privet Drive," Dumbledore said. "I must thank you for your cooperation and excuse myself." With that, he disapparated, and Remus and Arabella were alone on her bed.

"Well," Arabella began, straining to keep her voice cheerful. "We certainly have a lot to do." She looked uncertainly at Remus. "That is, if you are willing to help me get ready."

"Look," Remus said, looking at Arabella with his startling grey eyes full of grief, love and determination. "I don't like the idea of us being apart, but I support you 100 percent. It will be difficult, but we must do it. I am not going to waste our last hours together sulking at home. We had best get packing."

Nodding, Arabella rose from the bed and began looking about her room. She was thankful beyond words that Remus was going to help her. "What is the best way to do this?" she thought aloud.

"You'll be going to a Muggle neighborhood," Remus reminded her patiently. "You need to put all of your things in boxes and hire a truck to take it to your new house."

"Oh, yes," Arabella smiled. "Thank goodness you're here."

They spent the rest of the night and most of the day packing the souvenirs of Arabella's twenty some years of life. Many things she sadly sent over to Remus' house, being too 'wizarding' to go unnoticed in a Muggle home. As the tired couple began to think a lot about dinner, Albus Dumbledore appeared in the room.

He nodded, tiredly. "I am glad to see you have packed in the Muggle fashion," he said without preamble. "Are you almost ready to go?"

"I am ready, sir," Arabella responded immediately.

"I will give you a few minutes to say goodbye, but as soon as the moving truck arrives, you need to have changed into Muggle clothing and taken a sip of this Aging Serum. Age will be your disguise from evil and your camouflage in the neighborhood. If you take a drink every day, you will remain old in appearance without many lasting effects when this terrible ordeal is over." He handed her a vial. "I trust you can remember the ingredients for an Aging Serum so you can make more?"

Arabella nodded silently.

As Dumbledore gave her a firm handshake and a grim good luck, Arabella suddenly asked, "Is it alright if I take Tibbles?"

The kind headmaster looked from Arabella to the cat that sat beside her and back. The Arabella he saw was Arabella at 13, sitting in his office, looking innocent and pure. He didn't even know what he was sending her into. He shook his head, dismissing the thought and returning Arabella to her grown woman self. Arabella nodded sadly, not having really expected to be allowed to take Tibbles, but the professor quickly spoke up. "Yes, you may take Tibbles with you. I see no harm in that." He allowed himself one kind, and somewhat sad, smile before disapparating to her new house ahead of her.

Arabella felt tears welling in her eyes as Remus looked into them. She tried hard to hold them back; she didn't want Remus to see her like this. He had to stay strong, too.

"Don't cry," he said firmly. "You have to have all of your strength for this adventure."

He smiled and she forced herself to smile back. In that moment, she had no words, no way to express how much she loved him, how much she'd miss him, how worried she would be for his safety. There were no words, but there was an embrace. Being held in his arms, she knew he understood everything she felt. But it couldn't last forever, she knew she had to be on her way.

"The truck will be here any moment," Arabella said, moving an arm's length from Remus. "I want you to take care of yourself. I love you so much." Her heart felt deflated.

"I love you, too," Remus replied. "I know you'll keep Harry safe, but I want you to keep yourself safe as well."

A horn honked outside, preventing Arabella from voicing what she was about to say. She only nodded, took a sip of cabbage flavored Aging Serum and removed her robe to reveal a particularly ugly Muggle housedress. As Remus looked on, the potion took affect and Arabella aged fifty years. Her insides wriggled as she felt her skin sag. Looking meaningfully at him, she turned to open the door and let the movers in. As she did, she heard a faint pop behind her and knew that Remus was gone.

Putting on a less miserable face for the movers, Arabella opened the door and allowed the Muggles in. Loading quite efficiently for not using any magic, the truck was soon ready to go. She left the house without looking back, and reluctantly journeyed with the movers to her new home near Privet Drive.

The men at last finished putting the many boxes into the nondescript house that was to be Arabella's home until Voldemort was no longer a threat. She thanked them kindly and when she had shut the door, Dumbledore appeared in the room. Before speaking to him, she opened the door to the pet carrier Tibbles was in and let the cat out. She smiled as she watched him stretch and start sniffing out the new house.

"Miss Figg," Dumbledore began. "I wish to remind you of a few things before I leave. Harry's aunt and uncle only associate with 'normal' people. Therefore, I would like you to remain as unobtrusive as you can, and get to know them a bit without being out of the ordinary. I have cast some spells that would convince weak minds that you are the only sitter for Harry, rather like the Jedis in Star Wars (a delightful Muggle moving picture, in my opinion), for it would be best if they can trust you to watch Harry when they leave the house, but if you do anything to draw attention to yourself, their distrust will overcome my 'suggestions.'"

Arabella nodded. She was beginning to understand what these Muggles must be like, and how they would probably treat Harry.

"If you do get to interact with Harry, you will be tempted to spoil him with affection and attention, but I must warn you against this. You must not draw attention or cause him to be attached to you because he must think the Durselys are his only resource, as bad as that may be," he said sternly. "I will drop in when it seems safe to see how you and Harry are doing, but I will be your only contact with the wizarding world. Do you have any questions?"

Starting to feel a bit nervous, she asked timidly, "Could you take letters back to Remus after you drop by?"

Dumbledore's face softened, but he shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot do that. If any such letter were to fall into the wrong hands." His voice trailed off suggestively. They both knew what could happen if Arabella's cover was blown, and neither wanted to think of it.

"I understand," Arabella replied, holding her head high. "I want to thank you for trusting me with this assignment, Albus."

"I know I can count on you, Miss Figg," he said gravely. "Or should I say MRS. Figg?" He winked and vanished, leaving Arabella alone in her strange new world. She started unpacking boxes, anxious to eat dinner, but she soon realized she didn't have any food with her. Resigning herself to her first trip to a Muggle supermarket, she finished the box she was on and grabbed her purse.

As Arabella was about to open her door, there was a knock at it. Opening it cautiously, she was surprised to see a tall, thin woman with fair hair. Before Arabella could open her mouth, the woman smiled with her horse-like teeth displayed, and said, "I'm Petunia Dursely, I live down the street. I couldn't help but notice the moving truck at your house earlier and thought you might like a casserole." As she spoke, she craned her long neck, trying to see into the house.

"I'm Mrs. Bella Figg," Arabella said smiling. "Thank you for the casserole. Would you like to come in?"

"Why thank you, Mrs. Figg," Mrs. Dursely replied. "But I can't stay long, or my little Dudley will get cranky."

Sitting down at the kitchen table she had luckily already set up, Arabella asked politely, "Oh, you have a little one at home?"

"Yes, my Dudley-kins is almost a year old and a perfect angel," Mrs. Dursely said with a sigh. "But tell me more about yourself, Mrs. Figg. Do you have any family?"

Arabella struggled to keep calm as she answered, "My husband was taken from me very recently, and we had no children." She figured the pain in her voice would move her new neighbor to change the subject, but to her surprise, Mrs. Dursely asked how long she had been married.

Shocked at the bad manners of her neighbor, the only thing she could think to say was, "The subject is rather painful, I'd rather not discuss it right now."

Instead of nodding sympathetically, Mrs. Petunia Dursely plowed right ahead and asked, "Why?"

Bowing her head to disguise the increasing exasperation she felt, Arabella quietly asked how long the Dursely's had lived in the neighborhood.

"Oh, three years now," Mrs. Dursely said cheerfully. "Vernon and I got away from my awful family as soon as we could!" Then she gasped. "Not that they're odd in any way! My family is completely normal, only they try one's nerves a bit, you know." She laughed nervously.

Smiling in what she hoped was a sympathetic way, Arabella nodded, wondering at Petunia's strange reaction. After a few more minutes of Arabella patiently changing the subject when her neighbor's prying got to be too much, she exclaimed, "You'll have to excuse me, Mrs. Dursely, but I have a lot to do tonight before I can get to bed and I am already quite tired. Thank you so much for the casserole."

Her nosy neighbor got the hint and departed as gracefully as she could manage, calling out a cheery goodbye as she walked down the sidewalk. Arabella waved cheerfully, then quickly shut the door and leaned against it, sighing. "What a perfectly awful woman," she remarked to Tibbles, who was sitting nearby. "I can't imagine what she'll do when she finds a wizard baby on her doorstep tomorrow morning."

As interesting as the subject was to Arabella, she couldn't dwell on it long for her stomach was begging for attention. She warmed up the casserole and quickly ate it before getting her bed set up. Having done a great many things the inefficient Muggle way, she was quite exhausted when she finally did get to bed, and she fell asleep faster than she ever had before.

Early the next morning, she thought that she heard a scream, which seemed to have come from a few streets over. She spent a moment musing about whether it could be the Dursley's finding baby Harry, but that didn't seem logical, so she sipped her Aging Serum and went back to the business of setting up house. It took her most of the day to get everything just the way she wanted it, but she welcomed the task. It kept her mind off of Lily, James and Remus at least, and she was thankful for that.

In the evening, Arabella decided that she should probably pay the Dursley's a call, not only to repay Mrs. Dursley's call, but also to make sure that Harry had arrived there as planned. Throwing on a shawl, she shut her door and walked casually to Number 4 Privet Drive. The house looked quiet and absolutely normal, and Arabella began to have doubts that Harry was even there, but she carefully climbed the steps to the stoop and rang the doorbell.

A very disheveled Petunia Dursley opened the door. "Oh, hello Mrs. Figg," she said, seeming somewhat out of breath. "You'll have to excuse me, today was quite hectic."

"I can call later if this is a bad time," Arabella said, trying to sound old and hesitant.

Mrs. Dursley shook her head. "Oh, no, dear. You're fine. Come in."

As Arabella did so, Mrs. Dursley continued, "It's just that my sister and her husband were killed last night, and their son Harry has come to live with us."

Arabella attempted to keep her expression one of uninterested sympathy as she replied quietly, "You must be very devastated."

Mrs. Dursley dismissed that allegation with a wave of her hand. "We didn't associate with the boy's parents, actually." Then she rushed Arabella into the kitchen and offered her cookies before she could ask any more questions. Arabella strained her ears for baby noises over the Muggle woman's incessant chatter and was rewarded with the sound of two babies screeching. In a moment the sound became overwhelming.

"Vernon!" Mrs. Dursley shrieked.

A very large man with a very red face appeared in the kitchen. "Petunia, I have no time to prevent that wretched orphan from stealing Dudley's toys. Come in here and do something about him!" With a glare, Vernon Dursley left the room to return to his work,

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Figg," Mrs. Dursley said, rising. "I'm afraid I have to go tend to my Dudley-kins."

"Not at all, Mrs. Dursley," Arabella replied. "I know this must be a tough day for you. I hope you will bring the children to visit me when you are more settled."

"Of course," Mrs. Dursley said, opening the door. "I'll bring Dudley by soon. Good night."

*Oh dear,* thought Arabella, *I hope she doesn't feel this antagonistic towards Harry for long.* Little did she know that this foul treatment would last for over fifteen years.

When she returned to her house, she decided to restock her dwindling supply of Aging Serum, so she set to work mixing another batch. She had forgotten how much it smelt like cabbage, as the scent wafted through her new house. *I'll never get that smell out of the furniture,* she thought with a sigh.

Not a moment too soon, she was finished with the potion and collapsed on her faded couch. Tibbles leaped onto her lap, curled up and began to purr. Without even thinking, Arabella began stroking her beloved pet, thankful that she was allowed to keep something of her former life. It was comforting to know that Remus still had Sirius, Peter, and Fletcher, to keep him company. A moment later, she remembered herself, and shook the thought from her head. She couldn't keep dwelling on her old life; she had to stay on task, for Harry's sake.

Gently pushing Tibbles aside, Arabella moved to the window and pushed the curtain over to look out the window. The street was still and quiet, as she had expected, but she stood there, looking to the sky as if any moment someone or something would appear out of the darkness. She had sworn to protect Harry from all evil magic, and she would follow Dumbledore's instructions to the letter, but she couldn't help but think that maybe what he needed most right now was rescuing from Number 4 Privet Drive.