Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone: Take Two
by MysticSong1978
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot switch and any original characters I may add in as I deem necessary. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling. Should any other literary references be used, they will be so noted at that point.
Dialogue is in double quotes (" ") and Thoughts are in single quotes (' ').
The next morning felt different to Harry; like the air was electrically charged and ready for quite the severe storm. But the sky was blue and there were no clouds in sight. No one in Harry's family seemed to think anything was amiss and went about the day as usual. This year, Harry was being taught to mow the lawn. He struggled with the machine, neither truly big nor strong enough to push it across the lawn. This was made more difficult by Vernon's watchful stare - one that could easily be turned into the look of a nervous parent watching a beloved child to make sure no injuries were had. Harry knew when he was finished and hidden inside from the neighbor's prying eyes to expect a beating. His back stung and twitched just thinking about it.
Finally he was done. Before Vernon could usher him back inside, the mail came and Harry trudged down the walk to retrieve it. He saw a small cat watching him from across the way. She was a lovely light gray with markings on her face that made her appear to be wearing spectacles. She seemed a lot more attentive to him than Harry thought a cat he'd never seen before should be. She watched his every move. 'Maybe,' thought Harry, 'she's just hungry, like me. Poor kitty'. Shock widened Harry's eyes when he drew the mail out and found a large and heavy envelope addressed to him. The cat was forgotten.
Mr. Harry Potter
The Cupboard Under the Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
It was sealed with a fancy gold shield imprinted with a decorative H. He walked even slower back to the house, staring at the envelope. Before he could open it, however, it was snatched out of his hands by his Uncle. "That's mine!" Harry exclaimed, as he made to grab for it until he saw Vernon's face turn from his usual pasty white to a purplish rage.
Harry was furious but knew he was helpless to retrieve his mail from his Uncle who had stormed inside, ripping the letter to shreds as he went. Unbeknownst to him, the little cat had watched the entire scene. Harry felt his skin prickle and turned to see the cat vanish into thin air. He knew better than to mention this to anyone, and in despair, went inside to a certain punishment.
Later that day at Hogwarts
An older woman in gray tartan robes and wearing thin spectacles was arguing vehemently with an even older man who sported a long white beard, spectacles and fancy red robes. "Albus, we simply cannot leave him with those horrible Muggles!" exclaimed Professor Minerva McGonagall. "They treat him terribly and his Uncle tore his Hogwarts letter to bits! I cannot believe Harry is related to them and I cannot believe you left him there for eleven years! What good are wards if the people meant to protect him are hurting him?"
"Ah, Minerva. You know the power of blood magic made it the safest place for him in case Voldemort returned. The Muggles cannot be that bad," he continued, apparently not seeing his colleague flinch when he spoke the name of Voldemort, or her scowl at his cavalier opinion of what she had seen with her own eyes. "Growing up as a celebrity in our world wouldn't have done him any good. Poor, young Harry. The only person to ever survive that particular Unforgivable curse – at the loss of his parents and their secret keeper. He was the Boy Who Lived. Famous for something he couldn't possibly even remember."
Albus paused a moment to consider, ignoring the stony glare from Minerva. But I suppose if he isn't receiving his mail properly we can send someone to fetch him. No, not you my dear; I need you here. But when school is not in session, Privet Drive, is, however unfortunate, the safest place for the dear child."
Minerva sighed. She looked beseechingly at Albus. "I know you are doing what you feel you must, but if some opportunity presents itself that we have previously overlooked, please promise me you'll weigh it carefully."
Albus nodded. "Of course my dear." He then snapped his fingers thrice and a house elf appeared. Minerva wasn't sure she trusted him, and vowed to keep a close eye on Harry's situation – and perhaps to alert Madam Pomfrey to bring him into the Hospital Wing for a start-of-term check-up.
"What does Master Dumbledore require?" asked the creature.
"Fetch Professor Snape for me, please, Pinky, and tell him I need him immediately in my chambers."
Pinky nodded and vanished. Minerva raised an eyebrow. "You're sending Severus after the child? The child of a most hated classmate of Severus?"
"I know that James Potter and Severus did not get along, but surely Severus will not take it out on an innocent child. Especially Lily's child." Minerva wasn't too sure; especially after having seen how much Harry took after his father in appearance. "He's truly the best choice. I'd send Hagrid but he's simply too busy getting the Thestrals ready for another school year. Severus has the best chance of getting young Harry away safely. Ideally he'll simply take Harry shopping for supplies and bring everything but Harry's robes and owl back with him so that Harry can experience the Hogwarts Express with the other students. Maybe make some friends. But I'll leave it up to Severus. If he feels it best that Harry come back immediately to Hogwarts, that will be fine as well."
Minerva could only shake her head. 'What if they ran into any wizards who had been Death Eaters under You Know Who's reign?' she wondered. She knew Severus couldn't risk letting anything slip that might indicate he had been working as a spy for the side of the Light when so many people assumed he was a bonafide Death Eater. Severus would not be pleased with his unexpected assignment. She could not imagine him taking anyone shopping. Much less the son of James and Lilly Potter.
As expected, Severus was not happy about the task Albus had created for him, but he grudgingly agreed to handle it. Then again, when Albus made a request, it was really a thinly veiled demand, and it was best to give in sooner than later. "I will leave immediately for Surrey, Albus."
"Very good, my boy. Here, take Harry's key to Gringotts with you. He'll need to withdraw some funds in order to purchase his school supplies. And take this letter with you so that you can retrieve a little something for me." Snape nodded seriously and pocketed both the key and the letter. "Only for you, Albus, would I agree to baby-sit the Potter boy and take a ride on those wretched Gringotts cars in the same day."
"Now Severus, Harry is not his father. Try not to prejudge him. And . . . we're not sure he'll know anything about us after all. I don't think, from what Minerva has told me, that they're very fond of wizards. You may have some explaining to do." Minerva snorted under her breath. Severus was one of the most private people she had ever met and was not fond of conversation.
Snape glanced at Minerva. "So be it. I'll do what I need to do, but I am not bringing him back with me unless it is absolutely necessary. And I am not telling him anymore than I deem necessary. You left him with those people, Albus, even though you know full well Lilly would have never left her little bundle of joy with her sister. You can provide further details." He turned and marched out of the Headmaster's office, black, robes billowing behind him.
"Be nice, my dear boy!" Albus called after the Potions Master.
"Albus, my dear, Severus doesn't know how to be nice."
Albus just smiled, blue eyes twinkling with untold mischief.
When nothing further arrived for that freak, Vernon calmed down and decided that the boy could have food again. What Vernon didn't know was that something far more disturbing than a letter was already on its way to Privet Drive.
Updated 27 January 2017
