CHAPTER 11

Memory number 5 soon immersed them in a dark street, only lit by an occasional streetlight. That was when they noticed Dumbledore using some complicated device to swallow the lights in the street. Following behind him closely, they heard him muttering to himself, "But how… it doesn't seem right…there's no way" until he finally broke off, standing outside the front of a standard brick house, apparently a muggles, as there was a box for their letters. They took in the surroundings, and determined it to be privet drive, based on a sign at the corner.

Dumbledore seemed confused by the quiet surroundings and then smiled. "Of course", he muttered to himself, facing the tabby cat now sitting on the fence. "Minerva. You can come out", from the cat, a frail woman emerged. "Dumbledore", she said, her eyes laced with grief, "I've heard…Lily and James", then seeing the look on his face allowed for the tears to run freely down her face, "It's just not fair. You never would meet finer people than Lily and James… but that's not all… they've also been saying that Harry…little Harry…he…he…" and with that she broke into convulsive sobs. Dumbledore placed his arms around her and comforted her; she looked up at him, eyes still glistening, "Is it true Albus. Is he really gone? Did little Harry really…Oh Lord", she screamed, as a motorbike screamed from the air and Hagrid arrived with the baby still wrapped in his bed blankets.

"The little tyke fell asleep just as we were passing over Bristol", a giant man spoke heartily, but he had tears in his eyes as he spoke. Unexpectedly, he let out an almighty wail, "It's just not fair, Lily and James, and now Harry off to live with these muggles"

"It's for the best", Dumbledore reassured him, "Imagine being famous for something he can't even remember before he can walk and talk. No, I think its best if he stayed away from all that, let him live a fairly normal childhood"

Hagrid now pulled out a handkerchief and started sobbing as Dumbledore lifted up Harry and carried him over to the door. Tucking him in gently on the door step with a detailed letter, he straightened up and regarded the tiny lad, "Good Luck Harry Potter", he muttered, and strode away, pausing only briefly to put the lights back on in Privet Drive, and apparated back to a house they knew so well.

Thud. They landed back in the office to the sound of angry voices. "Who's up there?" "Show yourself", and "Does anyone know the password?" Snape beckoned to them insistently, as he motioned towards the other room. "Quickly", he said, "They don't know about this room", and Peter, Snape and Violet all squeezed themselves into the cluttered space, quickly closing the door behind them. Just in time, as they watched three men and a severe but worn, older woman come in and sit in they chairs they had occupied only minutes before.

"I must have imagined it", a dishevelled man replied, after noticing the room was now empty.

"Here Remus" the woman said, motioning to a chair, "Scrimgeour, Moody"

"Minerva, this is terrible", a lion like man said, "First of all losing Dumbledore, and now the boy. Do you think there is any chance he might relent? You don't have any idea what they were doing that night do you?"

"Unfortunately Scrimgeour, no idea", she grimaced, "And I doubt you'll get it out of him. Anyway, we are not here to talk about the inner workings of Harry Potter's brain, or Albus' for that matter. What are we going to do about Hogwarts? Estimates show that approximately only 200 people would return, across all the years, and that's barely a house worth of people."

"Well maybe if we advertised that Potter would be here to protect…" Scrimgeour trailed off at the look on Mc Gonagall's face,

"Harry Potter is not to be used as a puppet Scrimgeour!" she shouted, "Besides, the boy isn't coming back to stay. He will only be attending part-time, as will his friends Ms Granger and Mr. Weasley. They believe they have 'more important'", at this she sniffed disapprovingly, "things to do. And another question still remains. Who is to be the new potions teacher? Slughorn has fled and I do not plan on asking Severus any time soon, and of course, the defence against the dark arts position still stands, though I assume one of you will be able to take that spot", she said motioning to Moody and Lupin.

"Can't Minerva", Moody retorted, "Ministry got me working overtime to find that little grease ball Snape. I couldn't do both"

"I was hoping to take up the potions", Lupin said decidedly, "It'll be much easier for you to find a defence teacher rather than a potions, and I'll keep a lookout for someone for you for the defence position"

"So it will open then?", Minerva questioned, looking at Scrimgeour.

"Yes, fine", he said, "Send out the letters today", and with that, he touched his hat to them all, and left the room.

Snape smiled at the two of them, and motioned on his fingers, only three more to go, he mouthed.

"Well, we best be off Minerva", Moody returned civilly, "Promised Molly I'd take Arthur's shifts tonight so he could attend the practice for the ceremony. Leaving it a bit late if you ask me. The day before is hardly the best time to know your procession isn't going to work, anyway, see you at Molly's tomorrow", and he and Lupin swept from the room. Minerva collected some of the papers sitting on the desk that they had been working on before, and stood up and finally exited the room, just as Peter, Violet and Snape all came tumbling out of the cupboard…

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