Chapter 2-Christening

Dumbledore used the Wingardium Leviosa charm to float all of Harry's belongings into the boot of the car. It never ceased to amaze Harry that all his stuff could fit into the small space of the Ford's boot. Harry secured Hedwig and her cage into the back seat.

Dumbledore climbed into the drivers seat and started the engine. "Come on in Harry, I know what I am doing" he said looking at the apprehensive young man. "Its not the first time I've ever driven a muggle car." Harry climbed in and closed the passenger side door. Dumbledore slowly pulled the car out of the driveway and onto Privet Drive.

"Um, Professor, " Harry asked curiously, "how do you know how to drive?"

Dumbledore smiled to Harry as he turned left onto Wisteria Walk a block away from the Dursleys. "I spent a few years in a muggle community in London, Harry." Dumbledore explained. He turned to wave to Mr. Tibbles, one of Mrs. Figgs cats, who was lazily laying on Mrs. Figgs' porch watching them drive by. "In my much younger days, I owned a scarlet red 1905 De Dietrech, with gold trim. It was a beauty, I was one of the first in the neighborhood to have one. Aberforth and I would, how do you say it, 'go crusin'.'' Dumbledore let out a nostalgic sigh.

Harry laughed at the thought of the Dumbledore brothers 'crusin'. "I guess driving is a lot like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it." Harry himself having never operated either a bike or a car.

"Oh, no Harry, I had Madam Hooch give me a refresher course a few weeks after we found the car." Dumbledore replied stopping at a pedestrian crossing allowing a family of ducks to pass.

"Why did Mr. Weasley want this car back?" Harry asked while watching the smallest duck reach the other side of the road, "Won't he get in trouble with the Ministry?"

"For some reason I am reminded of a nice joke about ducks crossing the street at this moment." Dumbledore said cheerfully before answering Harry. "Many things are changing at the Ministry, Harry. Cornelius Fudge has realized the importance of getting the word of Voldemort's return out to the world. Even to leaders of the muggle world." He said in a way that made Harry think that Dumbledore was impressed with the Minister's new way of handling the situation.

Dumbledore continued, "Arthur was promoted to be the Head of the new Department of Muggle/Wizard Relations. He is in constant contact with the British prime minister, and he believed it would be best if he used muggle transportation when traveling to meet with him." Harry smiled at the thought of Arthur Weasley getting to mix with actual muggles, and the prime minister no less.

Harry thought that Mr. Weasley could have gotten another car but he found his old one. He asked Dumbledore how they got the old Ford back from the Forbidden Forest.

"Well," Dumbledore started, "Arthur was quite fond of this car, since he took it apart and put it back together. He and Hagrid were able to bait the car out of the forest with a gallon of gasoline and a pint of motor oil they left at the edge of the forest. It took a couple of days to tame it but once that was done, we were able repair the damage and correct the charms placed on it."

Moments later, Dumbledore glanced at Harry's lap, "Buckle up Harry, once we get out of Little Whinging, we are going to be airborne." Harry quickly reached for his seat belt remembering the trip he had with Ron when they flew to Hogwarts in their second year.

After reaching a nice altitude, Harry saw Dumbledore take out his wand and tap the steering wheel. "We added a new feature when its flying, Harry. You can now tell it the destination and it will fly itself there. We got the idea after Hermione told us about something muggles use on their airplanes called auto-pilot. It sometimes amazes me how muggles find ways to do things without magic." Dumbledore said while reaching for bag of peppermint humbugs. He nodded to Harry offering him one.

"No thanks." Harry said politely, "I thought Grimmauld was unplottable?"

"Well, it is, however I am secret keeper therefore, I know where it is. So, I have the car going to the neighbors house." Harry thought that it was quite clever. However, the issue of why had it been Dumbledore that came to take him back to Grimmauld Place arose in Harry's mind.

"Professor can I ask you something, and you wouldn't be put out by it?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Sure, Harry, ask away" Dumbledore smiled as he took another peppermint humbug out of the bag.

"Why did you come to pick me up?" Harry asked, "I--I mean, all the other years its has been someone else?"

"Oh, that's a valid question." Dumbledore nodded, "Most of the Order are doing something for me at the moment, and it was easier for me to get you there since I am the secret keeper." Harry's face showed that he was not satisfied with that answer.

"Plus," Dumbledore continued after a sideways glance at Harry, "I thought it would give me an opportunity to answer any questions you might have. I believe it wise to change my policy on keeping things from you, due to the events earlier this summer. That doesn't mean everything but I will try to be as open as possible from now on. So feel free ask me anything."

Harry winced at the mention of what happened to him and Sirius a few months ago. If he knew what the Dept. of Mysteries was protecting, he would have never fallen for Voldemort's trap, and Sirius could have been the one to pick him up. Before the tears started to swell in his eyes, Harry thought to change the subject, "So, how does Aunt Petunia know you?"

"Ah, I was waiting for that one." Dumbledore smiled while looking out the front window at a flock of seagulls. "We met once before in person, Harry. It was at your Christening…"

"My Christening?" Harry interrupted. "She would never have come to my Christening. She would never have wanted to be in a room full of wizards and witches."

Dumbledore thought for a moment before he began, "She was very jealous of your mother and her new wizarding companions. I believe Lily once told me that Petunia thought she might get a letter from Hogwarts, but it wasn't meant to be."

Harry listened to his Headmaster's story while watching the car overtake an irate flock of seagulls.

"Harry, she was jealous, but she did not hate your mother then. It probably began at your Christening that she started to hate your mother. She felt a sense of obligation to her family, wizard or not, to attend."

"What happened at my Christening that would make her hate wizards?"

"Well you have to understand what was happening before the Christening. It was a dark time, we had learned of the prophesy several months before. However we did not know which one, you or Neville, was the one who the prophesy was about. We felt that we should have you two christened the wizarding way to guarantee that you would have a place at Hogwarts and people to protect you if anything should happen to your parents."

Dumbledore continued after placing the empty bag of peppermint humbugs onto the back seat next to Hedwig's cage. Hedwig gave a little hoot with the presence of Dumbledore's hand near her cage. "Neville's family had him Christened a week before you. I was the one who christened you both…"

"How does christening us guarantee us a place a Hogwarts?" Harry interrupted.

"Well, that is an old wizard tradition that is not used much anymore. Mostly from old wizarding families. I believe James' family held the tradition. It allows the child a place at Hogwarts after the christening has taken place. It's not really a guarantee, because parents could later decide to send them elsewhere."

"Oh." Harry said trying to figure if the Weasleys and the Malfoys had also been Christened.

"It was a small ceremony. Sirius, Lupin, and Peter were there, as you know Sirius was your godfather. Well, your mom introduced everyone to your Aunt. She came by herself without your uncle, understandably. Everything was going well until after the ceremony. Several Death Eaters appeared." Harry gasped realizing the reason for a small ceremony.

Dumbledore continued, "A few people were stunned, Peter was one of them. Only after your third year did I realize that was a ruse. However, after I cursed a few they fled quickly. Your Aunt was frightened, and rightfully so. She said to everyone there that she never wanted to have anything to do with wizards or her sister again. But she didn't totally mean it."

"How do you figure, Professor?" Harry said angrily, "She never liked me and hated that I am a wizard!"

"Ah, but Harry, she did have something to do with wizards." Dumbledore said calmly, "She took you in. She did not even speak to Lily after the ceremony, but when you were at her doorstep, she took you in. She took you in knowing what could happen. Whether it be due to her sense of obligation or her not wanting to look like a heartless person, she took you in. And by doing that, she might as well have saved the wizarding world."

Harry sat for a moment, thinking about all Dumbledore had just said. "Why do you think Uncle Vernon allowed her to do that after what happened at my christening?"

"Harry," Dumbledore answered, "I will wager you that your Uncle is finding out about exactly what happened at your christening right about now as well."

Harry felt the car descend a few moments later. He could see the block of Grimmauld Place a few thousand feet below them. Harry wanted to ask more questions before they arrived. "Professor, if Sirius was my godfather, who was my godmother?" Harry asked with a bit of worry on his face, " It couldn't be Aunt Petunia?"

"Oh no, Harry, Petunia was not your godmother, even though she has taken care of you for all these years. I am afraid that I cannot tell you who your godmother is. It was her request that you should not know and I can respect that." Dumbledore noticed that this wasn't sufficient for Harry. Dumbledore continued "There is no harm in keeping it from you, but I do believe she will tell you when she feels ready."

Harry remained quiet for the last few minutes of their descent. Once they landed, Dumbledore pulled out of the driveway of number 10 Grimmauld Place and parked in front of an empty space next to it. "We are here. I will take care of your things, if you could manage Hedwig." Dumbledore requested. "I am sure the Weasleys and Mrs. Granger are anxious to see you."