The following events take place between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Hagrid was a mess. He had been great admirers of the Potters and had taken the word of their deaths quite hard. Not even finished with breakfast, Dumbledore noticed the strong smell of alcohol rolling off his gamekeeper.

"Hagrid!" he said sharply, drawing the half-giant's attention. "Did you hear me?"

"Yes, sir." Hagrid said miserably. "I'm ta go 'n fetch lil' Harry this evenin' and take him to Surrey for you. I'll be meetin' you there, sir. Don't you worry, I'll have everythin' under control."

"Thank you, Hagrid." said Dumbledore, placing a comforting hand on Hagrid's large one.

"Is he really gone, sir?" Hagrid said suddenly. "I mean to say, is You-Know-Who really gone fer good?"

Dumbledore stood and began pacing. "I would not say for good, no, Hagrid. Something about Harry did stop him, though. I would say he had been reduced to next to nothing. Voldemort," Hagrid winced, "took great pains to rid himself of mortality. He was not, however, able to make himself invincible. Time will tell, Hagrid. Time will tell." he finished.

Hagrid look up at him through bleary eyes. "Poor 'Arry." was all he said.

"I cannot agree with you more." Dumbledore said, opening the door and exiting Hagrid's hut.

-----7:23

Sirius had padded through the halls on all three floors of the Leaky Cauldron with no luck. He still thought Peter was in here, but the damn rat moved too fast. I should check the cellar. Looking around, he thought he spied where Tom had placed the door.

He walked over to it and sniffed around the edges. So far, he'd been lucky, with the early hour, not to have been seen. His luck ran out.

"Hey!" Tom cried, spying Sirius-dog as he walked behind the bar. "Get out, you mangy dog!" he pulled his wand.

Sirius slunk down and crept around Tom to the door opening out in to Muggle London.

So much for that, Sirius thought bitterly. No bother, he told himself. Peter would have to come out sometime. And Sirius would be waiting for him.

--------7:31

Severus had been waiting for Lucius for almost thirty minutes. Narcissa had received him, after a house elf opened the door. She had left when the nanny informed her she couldn't get Draco to stop crying. Exhaling irritably, Narcissa had left Severus alone in the parlor to wait for Lucius.

Severus made his third circuit around the room. He knew everything in here so well that the exercise had long since become mundane. He closed his eyes and paced, muttering under his breath the decor, centimeter by grueling centimeter.

He thought he heard the door open, but no other sound came-he must have been mistaken. Suddenly, though, a wand pressed against his cheek halted his progress around the room.

"Move if you dare." the voice whispered dangerously.

Severus inhaled silently. He had not wanted to deal with any of this. Withdrawing his wand without making a sound, his eyes flashed open as he brought his wand up to stop directly in front of Lucius Malfoy's heart.

"Your move, Lucius." he sneered.

Lucius blinked once, twice, then burst out laughing. "Come one on, Snape," he said, lowering his wand. "Lighten up."

"Not today, Lucius. The situation is far too serious for such frivolity." he said curtly.

"Ah," said Lucius. "You refer to the Dark Lord's apparent defeat. Never fear, Severus, I am not worried."

"You sound overconfident." Severus warned him.

"You should sound more confident. It is now up to us to find ways to prove our innocence. You have a fool-proof alibi. You are the Old Fool's lackey. For Hade's sake, Severus, he already has vouched for you twice, and in front of Barty Crouch! You are taken care of. I, on the other hand," here Lucius paused, lifting a delicate croissant from the tray of breakfast goods a house elf had brought in, "need to rely on my wits."

Severus snorted before he could stop himself. Lucius turned and raised one elegant eyebrow, but continued, "I am afraid, my dear boy, that I woke up this morning feeling a new man. I saw things clearer, brighter. I was more focused than I have been in years. I cannot explain it. But I feel in charge of my life once again."

"You are going to claim you were under the Imperious this entire time?" Severus drawled.

"Not the entire time, of course; Narcissa could be questioned, but part of the time absolutely." Lucius sat down and faced Severus. "It will work, you know. The Wizengamot will not convict me. Crouch may try, but he will not succeed. It is brilliant, is it not?" he asked.

Severus resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Presuming it works, yes," he said no more on the subject. "I must return to Hogwarts, McGonagall will be waiting for me."

Lucius nodded and called for a house elf to show him out.

-----7:44

Minerva was keeping her pace in check, though she felt like running down to Hagrid's hut. She had seen Albus exit moments before. Perhaps if caught up with him he could explain things.

Flinging the door open unceremoniously, Minerva paused and took in Hagrid's state. Two tankards were overturned on the table, the bed was more a mess than usual and Hagrid himself was rummaging through a trunk in the back corner.

"Hagrid!" Minerva called. He straightened up and bumped his head on a rafter.

"Oi, Prof'sser McGonagall. What may I help you with this morning?" he asked, more cheerful than she would have given him credit for.

"I'm looking for Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid. Where has he gone?" she asked anxiously.

"Ah, I'm afraid I don' really know. He gave me some instructions and then took off." Hagrid answered, looking puzzled.

Minerva frowned. "What instructions, Hagrid?" she asked. He looked hesitantly at the witch, but answered.

"I'm ta' take Harry Potter to Number 4, Privet Drive, Little Whining, in Surrey, tonight, late." he blurted.

"Why Hagrid?" Minerva asked.

"Dunno. Dumbledore asked me to. I don't question the headmaster, Professor." he said, moving towards the door. "Now, I hate to be rude, but I'm afraid I have a few chores to do before I get going. Thanks fer stoppin' by." he said, bustling her out the door.

Minerva left and walked back up to Hogwarts, her mind racing furiously. Well, that's settled. I'll leave Hogwarts to the other heads of house and go to Privet Drive and wait for Dumbledore.

-------7:55

Remus awoke for the last time. This was ridiculous. Without a dreamless sleep potion, he'd never get any rest. Grudgingly realizing he'd have to find the potions classroom, which meant finding Snape, Remus slipped on his socks and shoes and headed down the stairs for the dungeons.