Ch. 3

There was no denying Moody's reaction. He was thunderstruck. Just as he was starting to get very nervous about a life sentence in Azkaban, he heard James get up.

"Damnit, Potter. Don't be doing that to me," as James started laughing, but stopped when Moody's magical eye fell on him. "Still, that was a mighty good defense mechanism, but I think playing dead is more meant for Sirius. He is after all a canine in Animagus form."

James stood up and brushed himself off. He loved playing around with Moody, due to the fact that Moody jumped at any little noise. Moody really didn't return the compliment. He usually scolded James every time he did this.

"You have mail, Potter," said Moody, retrieving the rolled up piece of parchment from Chars's leg.

James unrolled the letter and sighed. "Finally, I have a boy of my own. You hear that Moody! I have a son!"

Moody looked mighty uneasy. Children weren't his favorite part of the human world. He detested them almost as much as Severus did. They were such troublemakers.

"Maybe that kid will teach you responsibility, Potter. You sure could use some. I hope Lily is happy, but I thought Voldemort sterilized her?" asked Moody.

"That bastard did sterilize her. Professor McGonagall gave her newborn up for me and Lily to adopt. His name, now, is Harry James Potter. He's a gorgeous little boy too. He has the Potter traits and the McGonagall traits all rolled into one."

"And the Moody traits...," muttered Moody, under his breath.

"What was that Mad-Eye?" asked James, caught off-guard

"Oh, nothing son. Well, you best reply to Sirius and then return home to your wife and child. I will see you in a few months. Best of luck, Potter."

* * * * Hogwarts * * * *

Professor Minerva McGonagall stood at the front of the class, her hands clasped in front of her. "Class! Please come to order! Today, we will be studying Metamorphagi. Now, who knows what Metamorphagi are?"

A girl with bright pink hair shot her hand up, narrowly missing the girl sitting beside her.

"Yes, Miss Tonks?"

"A metamorphagus is a human that change his or her appearance at will."

"Ten points to Ravenclaw. Now, Miss Tonks, would you care to demonstrate?" asked Professor McGonagall, beckoning her to come forward.

The girl walked up to front of the class. Squeezing her eyes together, the class watched in awe as her hair changed from bright pink to neon purple. When she opened her eyes, several guys were applauding her in the back.

"That is enough, Shacklebolt," scolded Professor McGonagall. "Thank you, Miss Tonks. For homework, I want you to write a roll of parchment on how metamorphagi change their appearance at will. This is due in two weeks and will be graded harshly. Class dismissed."

After the class had filed out in the corridor, Professor McGonagall set herself down in her easy chair. She had no more classes for the day and she was glad of it. Her students hadn't really performed as well as she hoped this year, except for Miss Tonks of course, who was an excellent Transfigurations student; however, she still missed the unforgettable Marauder's. Although, they were a nightmare to teach, they were sometimes the only reason she still taught. She glanced down at her biscuit tin. Lily had send it a few months ago. It had a picture of Harry on it. Really and truly, she couldn't bear to give her baby up, but it was for the best. Besides, by the time Harry was eleven, she would probably be teaching him here also.

She sighed as she ate the sugar biscuit. It was now mid-October and James, Lily, and Harry had all moved into Godric's Hollow, which was a beautiful suburban neighborhood in the magical community. It was near Helga's Den, Rowena's Flock, and Salazar's Lair, which did not house Dark Wizards. In fact, Dumbledore lived in Salazar's Lair as a boy, and it still is one of his favorite places to visit. But she made her home in Scotland. She liked to call her place, Old Fezziwig, after the Charles Dickens character. Her home was always a place full of laughter, or it used to be.

And as she sat reminiscing, Albus Dumbledore Apparated in front of her desk, nearly sending the biscuit ten feet into the air.

"Albus, that was not funny!" yelled the professor, as she made her way to pick up the biscuits on the floor, but his arm stopped her. "What is it, Albus?"

"Minerva, do you remember when I told you that Sirius Black was the Potters' secret-keeper?" Minerva nodded her head in response. "Voldemort found where they were staying and last night, he..." He cut off suddenly and collapsed onto the floor. "He killed all three occupants of the house!"

Minerva felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. Sirius Black would never betray James. None of this could be true. "Albus, was Harry alive?"

"All three occupants, Minerva."

This was a real blow for Minerva. Harry wasn't even a year old. To her, he was still the newborn she had left. Damn Voldemort, she thought. He has killed five two of my best students, manipulated another, and he's killed my baby! That bloody bastard! "NOOOOO!" screamed Professor McGonagall, crying into Albus's shoulder. "This can't be true, Albus. We have to go to Godric's Hollow. We just have to."

"Very well, Minerva, though I don't know if you will be able to take it," he said as the two of them Apparated to the cursed neighborhood.

* * * * Godric's Hollow * * * *

Smoke rose from the ashes of a house once widely loved in the magical community. Parties were held quite frequently, especially the Halloween parties, whether it was Halloween or not. The werewolf spectacular was quite good.

Minerva and Albus Apparated on the corner and made their way towards the house. He spotted a couple also searching through the remains.

"Frank? Alice? Have you found them yet?" he called out to the couple.

"Yes, Albus. They're over here," Alice Longbottom said, beckoning them to come over her. Alice was a pretty woman who was also an Auror at the Ministry. In her hands was a little blue bundle, affectionately known as Neville.

Frank noticed who had arrived and went over to greet them. "Albus," he nodded, "Minerva. This is my son, Neville Franklin Longbottom, professors," motioning his hand towards his wife.

"We have found two bodies, Albus, both with a look of terror on their face," said Frank removing a few long wooden beams to reveal two crumpled bodies.

"James! Lily!" gasped Minerva.

"But Frank, where is Harry?" asked Albus.

It was only then that everybody realized how silent it was, until a cry broke the eerie spell of the night.

"What the..," gasped Frank. He ran over to where a few charred clothes and blankets lay and underneath was a bundle wrapped in a yellow and blue Quidditch blanket. "Hey, little guy. I've got you now." He picked the little one up and carried him back over to where Minerva was standing. "I believe I have that something that belongs to you, professor."

He smiled and handed the baby to Minerva who was silently weeping. Harry immediately stopped crying as soon as he entered his mother's arms. She noticed a vivid lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead.

"Well, I'll be damned. The youngster managed to outsmart Voldemort. I guess he'll be taking my job in the near future," chuckled Albus. "He'll have that scar forever. Well, well, well, Harry Potter."

"Should I change his last name back to McGonagall, Albus?"

"Well, technically, Minerva, his last name actually should be Moody, but I would leave it as Potter. The Dark Lord may be gone, but his followers remain and it would be safer for him to remain with that last name. When he's older, he may change it if he so desires."

"Very well. Where will he stay?"

"I think I will arrange for Lily's sister, Petunia Dursley to take him in."

"I forbid it, Albus. I have met Petunia and she is the most horrid woman I have ever seen. No, he is coming with me. I lost him once, and I will not lose him again."

Minerva gathered herself after her lecture to her elder and started walking towards the curb. "Come, Harry. Let's go home."