Chapter 2 – somebody cares about Harry

London, the same night

The front door opened but as soon as the small figure following the tall Potion master was more then barely visible in the antechamber, the painted Black matriarch stopped her whining and started praising the new guest just arrived

The strange and sudden change of behaviour from the portrait acted like a summon for the wizards still in the house, they all gathered in awe …

How could such a small and unimposing figure bring the awful Mrs Black to high words full of prise, sweet words aimed to please the stranger ?

Albus Dumbledore was the first to regain a modicum of wit

" Welcome in England and in wizard word Guardian, my name is Albus Dumbledore and I'm … "

" Your name will be enough, any titles will grant you no additional grain of value in my eyes, you will be judged and valued only by your actions and so will be for you all gentlemen … your names ? "

" Remus Lupin and I'm a werewolf, just to not scare you … "

" There are really a few things that could scare me Remus, and fear is my cane, twisted with sorrow and pain … "

" Alastor Moody, and you've got quite a backbone to tell your mind aloud in front of 4 full grown wizards you bonnie lassie … "

" Brave lad you are … but a silly one …. YOU called for my help, so I've nothing to fear to be here … how could I fear you when Deads had walked at my side all my life ? Death is my best friend, I have no fear in embracing Her and all you could treat me with is either sorrow or death, and I fear neither of them … still so sure I'm being brainless? Or are you ? "

" Merlin lassie, you are a vision … will you help us? "

" If you all are sure … if you will pay what will be asked from you … beware, there could be no way back once started … so ? are all of you sure of what you ask for ? "

" Lassie, help us to get rid of that monster and you could tear me apart and use me for potions !"

" Madame, please, help Harry to defeat the Dark Lord and I'm yours … I'll do anything to save my best friends' son … "

" Madame your help is needed and I'll promise you a fitting compensation for all your work … "

"ENOUGH ! "

While she has been silent and nice, smiling at the words of Moody and Lupin, she stormed like an enraged banshee after the words of Dumbledore, furious glares enflaming her golden eyes

" I will help Harry but you have better keep off my path old meddling coot, I DO NOT TRUST YOU so you have better watch your manners, your words and do not dare to interfere with my teaching … do not suppose you are allowed to see or to get to know what I'm teaching him, that is none of your business and never will be, wizard world will not gain this knowledge, not from me!

My quarters will be warded and keyed to whom I will grant access to, the others will have better to keep away for their own sake …. Moreover I will pick up under my tutelage any fitting soul and YOU WILL NOT INTERFERE ! understood ? Well .. let's go fetch my new charge, Severus, better if you come with us Remus, I presume Harry knows and trusts you … "

" Yes, we are friends and perhaps my presence may help … and it will never be soon enough for him being away from his relatives "

" Then let's go, Severus, darling, please be so kind to embrace me … apparition is faster but later we will travel in a more comfortable way, would you mind ? "

" Excuse me , Madame where are you going to hold your lessons to young Harry? And do you know he need the protection granted him by his mother's blood? Else Voldemort could track him and kidnap him –"

" From the instant I put my hands on him he will be under my protection, the Deads will hold vigil upon both of us and his well-being will be my duty and charge only … you do not need to worry any longer, he will be well cared for, Remus and Severus too, from now on they both belongs to me, only to me "

The smile that went along those quiet words was not too different from Snape's sneer at its highest rank, but while Moody and Lupin were relieved from this Albus became redder at each word, fuming with distaste … too late … the three of them had departed without further ceremonies

leaving Moody to deal with and old enraged Headmaster, outwitted by a bonnie lassie with more balls then brains, perhaps … or perhaps not … sure life was not going to be boring from now on