(A/N: There are plenty of lines from the first book in this chapter. I do not own the Harry Potter series, all rights go to J.K. in those regards)
This isn't fair, none of this was at all fair.
"Albus, do you honestly believe leaving my nephew with those Muggles is the only option?" I ask him.
As we walk the down path side-by-side towards Privet Drive, my heels click against the stone as we leisurely make our way there.
"He needs to live a normal life until the time is right for him to be introduced to magic and sent his letter. I know how hard this is for you, Ms. Potter. But the Ministry already decided that you were unfit to take him in at such a young age."
"That's a load of rubbish, they just don't like that I have a Muggle-ish job while still being part of the magical world, bunch of prejudiced bastards," I wave off his words like nothing. He gave me a side eye that would be considered disapproving had his lip not quirked up at my statement. "Besides, just because I'm a year younger than James doesn't mean that should hinder my ability to raise a child. Especially James and Lily's child, I'm still listed as Harry's godmother as well as Sirius being his godfather."
At the mention of Sirius he stops in his place causing me to stop with him. "You didn't hear the news?" He asked me with an incredulous look on his face.
"What news? I came here as soon as you owled me to get to your office. I haven't been anywhere else." I'm now very worried, what happened? Why isn't Sirius here to counter Albus' decision with me?
"Sirius has been looking for Peter since last night, nobody has found them yet. There are speculations that Sirius was the Secret Keeper," He informs me.
When I come out of my thoughts, I realize that the look on his face is more disbelief than serious. "You don't think he was, do you?" He shrugged and gave me a wink, not an answer. I scoff in annoyance, "Of course he wasn't, even I wouldn't have disputed a plan like Sirius probably had. Pettigrew was most likely the Keeper to keep death eaters from torturing the secret out of Sirius if they ever managed to catch him. " So not only am I left alone in this, but Sirius is still looking for a man that gave away the secret. "Why wont they let me have him? It is absolutely ridiculous, I haven't done anything wrong!"
"The Ministry believes that you were consorting with Sirius who has yet to be found as he hasn't come across Peter, though there is word that the Aurors are right behind him on his hunt. Both the Minister and the Head of the DMLE believe that he fell to his family's views and, unknown to any of us, became a death eater."
"Oh and they can't just give me some Veritaserum to prove that wrong, that would just be giving me what I want. Aiding a perceived blood traitor would be most disgraceful." Oh I bet it was that stupid Corneilious Fudge's idea as well, never did like that man."
They have finally made it through the shrub and are at one end of Privet Drive underneath a street light, Albus starts to dig around in his pockets for something. I'm guessing for the lights on this street, don't really need any muggles seeing anything out of the ordinary. I look straight ahead and notice an oddly placed cat that honestly could've been fake had it not just blinked. Cats don't sit still and straight like that normally, I release a small huff of a laugh which gathers Albus' attention.
He looks in the direction that I'm looking at and mutters, "I should have known." He finally manages to pull out a silver torch, and starts stealing the light from each of the lamps along the street. He puts his Put-Outer back in his pocket and starts walking down the sidewalk in the pitch black.
Walking towards number four Privet Drive, before perching himself on the wall next to the 'cat'. "Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall."
All of a sudden Minerva is standing there instead of the cat in her fancy emerald green cloak and her sleek black hair pulled tight into a bun. "How did you know it was me?" She asked.
"Oh, Aunt Minnie, cats don't sit that stiffly, you must have been out here all day." I cut into the conversation making my presence known on the other side of Albus. They go on their conversation of the celebrations that are going on. Minerva is quite irritated about the lack of precaution that is showing with all the odd sightings that have happened throughout the day.
Nothing terribly unusual, just unexpected according to Muggles. She is quite miffed with the behavior of the wizarding community currently. Albus goes on to say we have much to be thankful for and offer Minerva a lemon drop, I roll my eyes at his antics.
"Unless you have forgotten, Albus. Most of my biological family that I have left has been taken from me today. No less due to the fact that the Ministry has a problem with me. I don't see what there is to be thankful for right now, " I say looking down at my hands. I can practically sense the sympathy radiating from the two other parties, "Besides even if Voldemort has gone, which I honestly find a bit unlikely. My nephew lived and he was the one that Voldemort was truly after to begin with." I noticed Minerva flinch at the sound of his name, "You shouldn't be afraid of someone's name Minnie, it only increases the fear of the thing itself."
"I can understand why you two have no problem saying his name," she says sounding both exasperated and admiring, "but you're different. Everyone knows that Albus is the only one who You-Know- oh, all right, Voldemort, was frightened of." Albus seems to have this look on his face that almost gives away the fact that he is blushing, if there was light on the street I bet his whole face would be red.
"You flatter me, " he said calmly. "Voldemort had powers I will never have."
I give a snort of amusement as Minerva says, "only because you're too - well - noble to use them." He goes on to make a comment about him blushing so much, I knew it.
"There are rumors going around that he tried to kill the Potter's son, Harry. But - he couldn't. He couldn't kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but they're saying that when he couldn't kill Harry Potter, Voldemort's power somehow broke - and that's why he's gone." Albus and I nod glumly. "It's - it's true?" faltered McGonagall. "After all he's done... all the people he's killed ... he couldn't kill a little boy? It's just astounding ... of all the things to stop him ... but how in the name of heaven did Harry survive?" That is a fantastic question, how did I not think of that? How did he survive the killing curse?
"We can only guess," said Albus. "We may never know." Albus pulls out his odd pocket watch before announcing that Hagrid is late then asks Minerva if he was the one who said that Albus would be here.
"Yes, " said Minerva. "And I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you're here, of all places?"
"I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They're the only family that is allowed to have him now. '' Minerva casts me a sad look when I cast my eyes downward.
"You don't mean - you can't mean the people who live here?" Cried Minerva pointing at number four. "Dumbledore - you can't. I've been watching them all day. You couldn't find two people who ate less like us. And they've got this son - I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. Harry Potter come and live here!"
"It's the best place for him, " Albus says firmly which makes me scoff in disbelief. "His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he's older. I've written them a letter. "
"A letter?" Minerva repeats faintly, sitting on the wall again. "Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand him! He'll be famous - a legend - I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in the future - there will be books written about Harry - every child in or world will know his name!"
"Exactly, " said Albus, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. "It would be enough to turn any boy's head. Fannie's before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won't even remember! Can't you see how much better off he'll be, growing up away from all that until he's ready to take it?"
My mouth was agape at the revelation, I never even thought about it like that. Minerva opened her mouth as if to say something and then changes her mind and instead says, "Yes - yes, you're right, of course. But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore?" She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it.
"Hagrid's bringing him."
"You think it - wise - to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?"
"I would trust Hagrid with my life," said Albus.
"As would I," I mumble to myself. Even though I am aggravated that I can't have Harry myself.
"I'm not saying his heart isn't in the right place," said Minerva grudgingly, "but you can't pretend he's not careless. He does tend to - what was that?"
Suddenly a low rumbling had broken the silence around them. It grew louder as we all looked up and down the street looking for the noise not seeing anything. The noise grew to a roar before we looked up at the sky - and a big motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them. And there is Hagrid in all his glory, the half giant being larger than the three of us combined. In his large arms he is holding what looks like a bundle of blankets. My nephew. I feel myself start to tear up, the reality of the situation hitting me full force now. My brother is dead, my only sister is dead, I can't take care of Harry like James and Lily would have wanted, he's going to be so alone. I put one of my hands over my mouth to silence the sob that wanted to break through.
"Hagrid," said Albus, sounding relieved. "At last. And where did you get that motorcycle?"
"Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir," said the half giant, climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. "Young Sirius Black lent it to me. I've got him, sir." At the mention of Sirius the tears that were welled up started falling, of course he would lend his precious motorcycle to him.
"No problems, were there?"
"No, sir - house was almost destroyed, but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin' around. He fell asleep as we was flyin' or Bristol."
Albus, Minerva and I bent forward over the bundle of blankets. Inside, just visible, was a baby boy, fast asleep. Under a tuft of jet-black hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning.
"Is that where -?" whispered Minerva.
"Yes," said Albus. "He'll have that scar forever."
"Couldn't you do something about it, Dumbledore?"
"Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well - give him to Anastasia, Hagrid - we'd better get this over with." Hagrid reluctantly passes Harry over to me, I slowly turn to number four which unfortunately houses Lily's Muggle sister and her wretched husband.
"Could I - could I say good-bye to him, Ana?" Asked Hagrid. He bent his great, shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy, whiskery kiss.
Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog. "Shhh!" Hissed Minerva, "you'll wake the Muggles!"
"S-s-sorry," sobbed Hagrid, taking out a large, spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it. "But I c-c-can't stand it - Lily an' James dead - an' poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles -"
"Yes, yes, it's all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we'll be found," Minerva whispered, while patting Hagrid softly on the arm as I stepped over the low garden on the wall and walked to the front door. Albus following me to the door, before I laid him on the doorstep I look down at him.
"You will make it back to me one of these days, I won't let them keep me away from you," I whisper to his sleeping figure and give him a ginger kiss on the forehead next to his scar. I placed him down gently on the doorstep, Albus took a letter out of his cloak, tucked it inside Harry's blankets, and then we walked back to the other two.
For a minute the four of us stood and looked at the bundle of blankets, Hagrid sobbing silently, Minerva was busy blinking away all the tears that tried to fall, Albus' normally twinkling blue eyes seemed to harden, and I was standing stiff holding back all the emotions that made me want to scream in anger and sadness. "Albus - you better pray that nothing happens to that boy, or it will be your head." I say coldly, then disapparated from the street all together.