A man dressed in lavish periwinkle robes arrived at the end of a neighborhood road. To the common eye, he seemed rather frail and elderly, with a long, wrinkled face, long white hair and beard, and twinkling blue eyes that sat behind half-moon spectacles.
He stood in the shadows for a moment as he pulled what looked to be a pocket lighter from his inside pocket. He raised the lighter in the air and clicked it once. As he did so the light from the nearest post lamp shot into the device. He quickly continued this until all twelve post lamps' light was held side the device, rendering the street completely dark.
The black pavement was silent under his feet as he walked down the quiet street. The homes lining the wide path were uniform in appearance. Immaculate lawns trimmed to equal heights, nothing displayed on the exterior that would make any house more distinguishable than the other, all were perfectly ordinary.
The man made his way towards the house labeled with a gold-colored four marked on the building. He walked with slow, sure steps. Once he reached the half wall lining the pathway and the small front garden of the home, he took a seat and spoke quietly to the night air.
"I should have expected to see you here," his voice was quiet but amused, "Professor McGonagall."
As he spoke, he turned and directed his attention to a tabby cat that too was sitting on the half wall. The cat looked at him a quizzical and pointed sort of way before quickly jumping off the stone and in midleap turned into a woman. She was wearing robes of bottle green and a pointed hat. Her face was stern, and her lips were as tight as the bun on her head.
"How did you know it was me?" she asked.
"My dear Minerva, I've never seen a cat sit so stiffly before," the man answered amused.
She responded with a slight huff and straightened her already crisp robes.
"Why are we here Albus?" She asked pointedly, "I arrived here early this morning after receiving word you intended to make an appearance."
The Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, remained silent for a moment.
"I intend to make a delivery of sorts," he replied, "or so you can say," he added quietly. "I, however, must turn the question back to you, my dear Minerva. What brings you to Surrey?"
The witch in question wrung her hands together.
"There has been talk Albus," she started, "surely you must have heard it. What they are saying…" she found her voice stopping itself, "…Oh Albus is what they are saying true?"
The old wizard looked tired for a moment, he remained quiet in his response.
"If you are referring to the Potters," he found he needed a moment before continuing, "then yes, my friend. The rumors are true."
The witch gasped.
"Oh Albus," she cried, "Oh please, tell me this is lies! Lily and James? They are saying You-Know-Who went to Godric's Hallow. Albus, they are saying the Potters were killed!"
She found herself at a loss for words. She did not want to believe what she was hearing. Her friend did not reply with words, however. Instead, he simply lowered his head.
The witch gasped and covered her mouth with a hand and tears filled her eyes. Before they could fully fall, she pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes free.
"It is now more dire than ever that we do not allow ourselves to fear the name Voldemort, Minerva," Dumbledore gently scolded.
"And their boy?" she remembered brushing past what he just said, "Albus, is what they are saying true? It cannot be fact that You-Know—" Albus gave a pointed look, "alright Voldemort, is it fact that Voldemort turned his wand onto Harry? Albus, they are saying he couldn't kill the boy. That his spell was deflected back onto himself! Albus, they are saying he was defeated."
"Yes, it is true my friend," the old wizard replied, "It would seem that Lord Voldemort has indeed been defeated."
Minerva McGonagall had never felt the mix of happiness and absolute sadness fill her all at once. The war was over. Lord Voldemort had been defeated and the wizarding world was free of him at last…but at what cost?
The two professors sat in silence for a moment. Each contemplating the news they had just shared.
"Albus, why are we here?" Minerva asked, "I have been watching these muggles all day. They are the worst sort imaginable. Whatever is going through your mind that would have cause for them?"
Albus Dumbledore sat quietly for a moment, mulling over the words, before gesturing slightly to the house in front of them.
"This is the home of Vernon and Petunia Dursley," he stated, "Lily Potter was Petunia's sister."
Professor McGonagall's eyes widened, "Surely you cannot be thinking of bringing the boy here?"
"They are his only family left," was his only reply.
"Albus, you cannot! They know nothing of our way of life," she started in, "This boy will be hailed a hero. Everyone in the magical world will know his name. Surely he deserves more than what they can offer him."
Dumbledore remained quiet, looking at the house, "Yes, the boy will be, if not already is, famous," his voice was quiet, "and its best he be raised away from all that."
Minerva had no reply to this comment. Before she could voice a reply at all a loud rumble filled the air.
The witch and wizard looked to the sky, as it sounded as if that was where the sound originated from. In the distance, there was a small light that was slowly growing larger.
"What is that Albus?" asked Minerva.
"I do believe that would be Hagrid," replied Dumbledore, "I asked him to fetch the boy for me."
"Hagrid?" she exclaimed, "Do you really think it wise to trust Hagrid with something like this?"
"Oh, my dear Minerva," Dumbledore smiled, "I would trust Hagrid with my life."
As he finished saying this the rumbling got louder and the two watched as a giant motorcycle fell from the sky and drove down the dark street. Aboard sat a large, giant of a man with a wild mane of brown hair and beard. As the two approached him the man climbed off the giant bike and reached into the sidecar to cradle a swaddled form in blankets.
Once the child was settled in his arms the man spoke.
"Evening Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall shouldn't be surprised to see you here," Hagrid remarked, "always are steps ahead of the rest of us, you are."
"From where did you get this bike, Hagrid?" Dumbledore asked.
"I borrowed it, sir," he replied, "From the young Sirius Black. He gave it to me before heading off. Said he had some business with a rat, he did."
Dumbledore's eye looked slightly inquisitive at that, "No trouble I presume?"
"Oh no, sir. The little tyke fell asleep as we were flying over Bristol," he spoke as he handled the headmaster the sleeping child.
The air grew heavy as the moment lingered. A loud sniff and blowing of a nose turned the professors' attention to the giant.
"Hagrid, you must stay quiet," McGonagall scolded, "we mustn't wake the muggles."
"I'm sorry," cried Hagrid, "I've held it together only until now. Oh, the poor little tyke. Lily and James dead—and little Harry off to live with muggles. You should've seen the house. All destroyed. Poor Sirius couldn't even bear it…"
Dumbledore gently patted the large man on the arm, "We will all have the chance to grieve later my friend. However, now is unfortunately not the proper moment."
Hagrid gave one final, large sniff before collecting himself as much as possible. "Right Professor, right…"
"Very good," said Dumbledore, "Now, thank you Hagrid, I cannot appreciate your help enough. I do believe I have it all from here."
"You're sure Professor Dumbledore, sir?" Hagrid questioned.
"Quite sure, Hagrid," Dumbledore replied.
Hagrid nodded and began to turn around but stopped himself.
"Would it—would it be alright if I said by to the tyke?" Hagrid questioned softly.
Dumbledore's eyes softened and he moved the blankets softly to reveal the boy's face. All three of them stood of various amounts of shock at the sight of a lightning bolt shaped scar that cascaded across the boy's forehead.
"Is," started Minerva, "is that where his curse landed?"
Dumbledore hummed in reply, "Yes, it will mark him forever."
Minerva closed her eyes and shook her head. Seemingly at a loss for words. Hagrid placed a large hand on the child gently. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at the boy.
"Worry not Hagrid," Dumbledore said, "it is not goodbye forever."
Hagrid only responded with a hard nod and turned to walk back to the motorcycle he flew in on.
"Very well then," Hagrid gave a sigh, "Best be off anyway to return the bike to Sirius if I can find him. Seemed right determined when we set off," he commented as he climbed back onto the giant motorcycle.
With a roar, the motorcycle stirred to life. Minerva and Dumbledore stood and watched as the Hagrid sped down the dark street and up into the night sky.
Dumbledore watched as Hagrid sped off into the sky before turning back to Minerva.
"You as well now," he said pointedly.
Minerva looked down at the baby in Albus' arms. Her eyes misted and her lips tightened further, "Albus, I must ask you to reconsider. There has to be someone better suited for this. These muggles…please there must be someone else," she had to pause to collect herself, "Is this what James and Lily would have wanted?" As she spoke a tear she'd been holding back slowly fell from her eye.
Albus looked at her with sympathy before looking down at the small bundle in his arms, "I wish I had a better alternative my dear friend," he spoke with a sigh, "however, it seems our options are limited to this." He looked back up to the woman, "Now please, my friend, trust me and go. It is better to go now than to wait and leave with me. Trust me, Minerva."
Another tear fell as she looked again to the small child sleeping in her companion's arms and nodded before turning her gaze to the steady light blue of one of Albus Dumbledore. She composed herself with a firmer nod and began to turn and make to walk back down the road. However, before she made her move, she quickly spun back around and placed a gentle hand atop the sleeping child.
"Be brave my child," she whispered and then promptly turned and walked quickly down the road. She made it not a full seven steps before with a quiet, almost inaudible pop she was gone.
Dumbledore sighed and once again looked down at the small boy in his arms. He lightly adjusted the blanket swaddling the child before speaking softly.
"I have weighed the options greatly, my boy," he said with a sigh, "I do believe this is our only hope."
With that, he made to begin walking towards Number Four. Before he took his first step, however, a light breeze swept over the two beings in the front garden. With the breeze came a whispering voice,
"Ni am símen an-estel," it spoke.
It sounded female and brought a sense of soothing calmness.
Despite the overwhelming sense of peace, the voice brought, Albus Dumbledore stood alert. He made no notable changes to his appearance but stood still before the overwhelming sense of another's presence was made noticeable.
To the left of Dumbledore, out of the darkness consuming the street, walked forward a woman. She was tall, of equal height to Albus himself, and was cloaked in a simmering gray cloak. As she stepped into the moonlight Albus was able to distinguish more of her features. Her body was slender and moved with an ethereal grace that he'd never witnessed in a person. Her hair was the blackest of black and shimmered in the moonlight. Her skin was colored of the finest porcelain and when he looked to her eyes, he found them to be the color of crystal water. Her eyes were large and the look in them, matched with the natural fullness of her lips, gave her the appearance of embodied sadness. Despite this, Dumbledore felt at peace in her presence.
She walked until they were only a short distance apart; separated by only the half stone wall between them.
Dumbledore and the woman stood before each other, neither speaking until the woman moved her gaze to the child in the wizard's arms. Her eyes softened gently, and a small smile turned her lips.
"You are Albus Dumbledore," her voice was a whisper, an ethereal music that traveled to Albus' ears.
His eyes became more inquisitive and with a slight tilt of his head responded with, "I am."
In all of his many years, he had never been in the presence of a being such as the woman before him. It was easy to feel the magnificent power she held; magical or otherwise. It seemed to consume the entirety of the space around them. However, unlike the dark energies brought by beings such as Tom Riddle and the like, this energy was that of an all-consuming, honest peace. Despite what had become of the world before this night, Albus felt no need to keep his guard up.
"I must apologize, my lady," he spoke after a moment, "it seems that you are aware of my name, yet I find myself at a loss of yours."
The woman returned her crystal eyes to the man before her.
Despite all of his worldly accomplishments and magical power, Albus Dumbledore found himself feeling a sense of powerlessness when caught in her sight. That despite her physical appearance he was well aware of who the more powerful being between the two of them was.
"I am Nienna," was her whispered reply, "Lady of Mercy."
The air remained at peace after her introduction, a feeling Albus was not accustomed to in situations similar to this if he'd ever had one before.
"Ah yes," the wizard replied, "and what do I owe the pleasure of your company Lady Nienna?"
The woman regarded him briefly before speaking, "You were seeking hope for this boy, and we have heard you Albus Dumbledore."
"Who has heard me?" he questioned aloud.
"We the Valar," she spoke clearly, "and in response to you, I have come to collect this child."
Dumbledore's arms tightened slightly around the boy he held at the words the woman spoke; thankfully the child remained asleep. "Yes, and by collecting this child you would mean what precisely?"
Nienna remained silent for a moment before giving her reply, "We know of the great darkness that has consumed this world as of late Albus Dumbledore. We are aware of its future and what it means for the boy sleeping in your arms." Despite the heaviness of what she spoke of, her voice remained whisps of a peaceful tune through the air, "We know of the darkness thought defeated and the piece of that darkness that resides in this child, of the prophecy told of him."
Before Dumbledore could reply woman continued, "We believe we can help you Albus Dumbledore. You and Harry Potter."
At the mention of the boy's name, the arms holding the child tightened considerably. The small boy gave a whimper which caused the elder wizard to look down.
"I do not speak falsely to you. The great Eru Ilúvatar has seen what is to come of this child. He has seen the darkness that will consume this world, and with it consume The-Boy-Who-Lived."
The calm wizard listened as the woman before him spoke. The knowledge she possessed concerned him. He and only one other knew of the prophecy concerning Harry Potter. If what she was saying was to be believed, what he feared was true, Voldemort had not been defeated on this night.
"How do you know this?" he questioned.
"The great Eru sees and knows many things," was her only reply.
The hour was sitting between later and earlier, Dumbledore knew that before long the inhabitance of the neighborhood would be rising. "You seem to know of me and yet despite my knowledge of this world I cannot place any knowledge of you or this Valar of which you speak."
Nienna smiled slightly again, "You are correct, you would not know of the Valar in this world, for I am a part of another. One of which I assisted in creating. One that too has light and darkness's of its own."
Dumbledore's eyes tightened slightly at her response. Magic was capable of many things, but he'd never known it to be capable of creating other worlds. However, as a man of intuition, he was having difficulty finding fault in this woman's words. "You stated you wanted to offer help," the woman hummed to reply, "How?"
Nienna's eyes looked to the small boy again, "This boy is seen as the defeater of the darkness named Voldemort; his family destroyed in the powerful darkness that consumed your magical and nonmagical realms. You believe the only hope to keep the child safe from the harms of his magical past and powerful future is to hide him away from all that celebrate his new accomplishments. Hide him in this nonmagical world with the last of his blood-kin."
"He is only a child," Dumbledore gave, "one that did not ask for the future he will be given. Is it not best to keep him from the people that would celebrate a defeat the boy will never remember accomplishing? Does the boy not deserve happiness and peace?"
"You are not wrong Albus Dumbledore. This child deserves to grow happily with peace after all that he has seemingly lost," her ethereal voice carried, "however if the prophecy is to be considered, retaining the boy in the dark will help no one, especially not the child himself."
Dumbledore looked back down at the baby he was holding, "What would you have me do?" he questioned, "He has no one left."
The Vala walked effortlessly around the stone half-wall, she moved in such a way that it seemed as if she was simply floating over the ground.
"I have been sent to collect him Albus Dumbledore," she stated again, "We believe the greatness of his future lies not only in this world but in ours as well."
As she spoke Dumbledore lifted his gaze to hers again, questions filling his eyes.
"We too find our created world filling with darkness," she continued, "Eru has had visions of Arda's future. Visions that concern this child. It was seen that he is to become a champion of my brother Námo; a master of death and a bringer of peace in our creation."
Before Albus could counter the Vala continued, "We know what the prophecy between Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter foretold. We know that Voldemort declared Harry Potter his equal this previous night and we are aware of the darkness that now lies in the boy," she continued solemnly, "We know what is held in the scar marking his skin." Her eyes shown with a growing mist, "We can help to cleans him of this darkness Albus Dumbledore. We can help to prepare him for the futures he will inevitably face. All of this taking place away from this fame you so fear for him."
Once again Dumbledore looked down to the still slumbering child. He had no reason to trust this woman before him, yet the feeling to trust what she spoke of was growing more and more. The second of the greatest wizarding wars had less than a day before, trust had never been something Albus Dumbledore gave without considerable thought. Yet within moments of introduction, he knew what this woman spoke of to be the truth. He simply needed the proof.
He kept his gaze on the boy as he spoke, "Show me."
The Vala tilted her head in reply.
"Show me this world you speak of," he continued. "This boy's parents put their lives in my hands, and I failed. I cannot betray Lily and James Potter's trust with their son. Show me before I can agree to anything more."
A pitying understanding settled again in the woman's eyes. She stepped forward and held out her hand. "Give me your hand Albus Dumbledore, and I will show you the world of which I speak."
In response, the famed wizard raised his hand, only pausing briefly before placing it in the woman's own.
In an instant, a world flashed before his eyes. An immaculate world of men, dwarves, and elves was shown to him. A world that too held immense magic, both light and dark. He witnessed battles being fought with valor against an array of dark forces. Elves and men and dwarves fighting together against vile creatures called orcs and goblins. A flash of brightness brought forth a wizard wielding a long staff, dressed in gray cloaks, riding on the back of a horse. Another flash of light showed a man with piercing bright green eyes and long black hair that swept around him in an unknown wind, reveling slightly pointed ears, in his hand was a long, knotted piece of wood, and on his forehead a silver scar shot across like a bolt of lightning. His eyes were looking determinedly into the distance and an unearthly voice spoke 'Ho na-i herdir-o gurth. Mán-o sídh."
Before he was aware of it, Dumbledore's vision was his own again. As he came back into himself, he steadied his breathing and adjusted his hold on the child that was remarkably still sleeping.
The Vala before him remained stoic with a gently yet pitying regard, "Do you trust me now Albus Dumbledore?" she asked, "Now that you have witnessed the world, I would bring him to? I have shown you a glimpse of Eru's vision."
Dumbledore found that he was unsure of how to answer her question. While he found himself believing she was of another world, one that she apparently had a hand in creating, the idea of handing over The-Boy-Who-Lived to a complete stranger, of sending him to an unknown world, was an unbelievable thought that he simply could not believe he was considering.
"What would you do?" he asked. The question came out in a clenched whisper. "What would become of him?"
He could not send the boy away without the knowledge of his fate. While the Dursleys were some of the ugliest of muggles, Harry's fate with them was predictable. While possibly ignored and most likely not growing to be overly loved by the ones given the title of family to the boy, he would grow up relatively normally. Hidden from the claustrophobic fame the wizarding world will have already placed on the poor child.
But to send him away with no knowledge of his possible fate was uncalled for in the elder wizard's eye.
The question caused a third small smile to form on the Vala's kind face.
"He would be placed with our most trusted of kin in the land of Arda. Raised among the children of Eru and trained by my most trusted and valued student. You saw him in the vision I gave you."
Dumbledore's mind pictured the gray cloaked wizard welding the staff.
"And what of these children of Eru?" he questioned back, "How am I to know they are able to be trusted?"
Nienna's face became more fierce, almost protective as she spoke next, "Despite the distant past, I would trust none other than the kin of Finarfin with this task. There are few left who were taught by the Valar directly. I would trust no other with our hope's future."
Dumbledore remained silent for another moment, "How would he be brought back to us?" he questioned, "His formal magical education would begin ten years from now."
Nienna's eyes shifted back to their original, slightly sad look, "Have no worry for his magical education Albus Dumbledore. Time will revolve differently between our two worlds. When your world is ready for Harry Potter to return, he will come. Until that moment, he will be trained in the many magical arts Arda beholds. And he will be ready for the futures he is destined to face."
Despite what the Vala was saying, Albus Dumbledore could not bring himself to relinquish the child held securely in his arms. Despite knowing what the future would bring this boy, he truly only wanted happiness for Harry Potter.
"He will be loved, Albus Dumbledore," this comment caused the wizard's eyes to raise, "he will be deeply cherished by those he calls kin," Nienna continued. "Is that not what your greatest wish for this child is?"
The great wizard looked to the boy and then back to the woman before him.
"He will be returned to us?" he felt the need to clarify.
The Vala nodded, "The prophecy will be fulfilled."
It seemed as if his choice was being made for him. The boy had already lost enough in a mere twenty-four hours. It now seemed wrong to condemn him to a muggle childhood when the option for a life of love and happiness was within reach. The grand wizard sighed, he simply needed to relinquish a sense of control over the situation and trust the ethereal being before him.
With a nod of his head, he stepped forward. As he did so he bend his head down, "Have courage my boy," he whispered to the sleeping child, and handed the small bundle over to the woman before him.
She handled the transfer with an unparalleled grace and smiled forlornly down at the sleeping babe.
"I must thank you, Albus Dumbledore," her continually whispered voice spoke, "It is possible your choice will have just saved two worlds," she finished with a small smile.
He gave a slight nod in reply and watched as the woman turned to make her leave. Before she could fully make her first step, however, he spoke:
"Take this with you," it came out also as an afterthought.
Nienna turned and found the wizard standing in the same spot he had been during their conversation. However, now he was holding a long, thin piece of knotted wood between his two hands. He raised his eyes to look directly into hers.
"Have his caretakers present it to him when he is ready," he continued, "I believe it might come in handy."
Nienna looked to the piece of wood being presented to her and then back to the wizard's eyes. They spoke silently for a brief moment before the Vala nodded and accepted what was given to her.
With that, the woman turned and effortlessly made her way out of the front garden of Number Four Privet Drive. She and her small, sleeping bundle made their way into the darkness of the road. Albus Dumbledore followed them with his eyes until they seemly disappeared into the night.
"Until we meet again, Harry Potter," he said to himself.
Then he too made his way out through the front gate and down the dark road. He took out his Put-Outer from his pocket and lit the streetlights along the path. Once the last of them was lit he pulled a wooden wand out of his inner robe pocket.
"Hello, old friend," he smiled down at it and made to continue on his way. After a few steps, he disappeared without a sound.
A/N Hello everyone! I'm back with a different story. This too has been sitting in my mind for years and I wanted to give it a go! I will be bouncing between this story and my HP/Thor (Avengers) story when I can. I'm going to do my best with updates. Life got busy and I pushed writing to the side for a while. But I missed it so much that I'm back! This truly brings me so much happiness.
I've always hated how little regard Dumbledore and McGonagall truly gave Harry and his future childhood when they let him with the Dursleys. I wanted to give them more compassion and show that they honestly felt there wasn't another alternative choice. Let me know your thoughts!
Please please please let me know what you think of this in the comments!
