Chapter 1 - Outrage

Minerva McGonagall became livid upon reading the address listed for one Harry James Potter,

Number 4 Privet Drive,

The Cupboard Under the Stairs.

The enchanted book of names had never been wrong before and she doubted it would start now, which was why she was storming into the headmaster's office with her cloak flowing behind her, regal and full of fury.

"Albus!" she cried out, her fury startling the many headmasters which littered the wall. "I warned you this would happen, I told you they were the worst sort of muggles imaginable but did you believe me?! Of course not!" she rambled on like this for a few moments, leaving one Albus Dumbledore extremely confused with his deputy headmistress.

"Minerva, whatever are you going on about?" he asked during a break in her tirade.

In response, she threw her hands in the air and said, "I resign! I warned you about those muggles you were leaving young Harry with, and you didn't listen, so now I'm taking matters into my own hands, he will not be attending this school, and I will be keeping him far away from you since you cannot seem to use proper judgment where the boy is concerned!"

Dumbledore was quick to try and change her mind. "I understand that you are well within your rights as his guardian, but please Minerva, surely we can come to some type of understanding!"

"No. Albus," Minerva shook with rage. "We absolutely cannot!"

She stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind her, descending the steps in a flurry and making her way back to her office. She gathered what things she couldn't bring herself to leave behind. Making a quick floo call to the ministry, she arranged for a portkey for two before settling down at her desk to ink a letter for one of her acquaintances in France.

Dear Apolline,

Something has come to my attention and I require your aid in a most delicate matter. Please send me your owl at the earliest convenience for when we might meet in person. I have already arranged for an international portkey and will be arriving in France within the week.

Sincerely, Minerva


The black and grey striped tabby that was Minerva had spent the greater part of the morning watching Number 4 Privet Drive and was growing impatient. She adjusted her position, trying to find something a bit more comfortable, just a bit longer and they'll be out of there. Her back ached and she let out the closest thing to a groan a cat could make, 'should have gotten an earlier portkey…'.

One of her ears twitched as she heard a loud yell come from the fat lump that had been chasing Harry around all day, her heart pained at the sight, he was only six years old, but Harry was far too small for his age. He was winding up a punch aimed straight at the smaller boy's face! She rocketed towards the larger boy in her cat form, hissing at him and swiping at his leg. Harry's eyes widened as Dudley aimed a kick at the small cat, yelling at it in frustration after it scratched him.

Harry reacted by pure instinct, shoving Dudley with all the strength he could muster, which wasn't much, but he did it from a low enough angle that the larger boy was knocked over. Minerva felt a swell of affection and pride that the smaller boy had moved so swiftly to defend her. It showed that despite his small form, there was a lion's heart beating in that chest.

Minerva took off down the road, and to her surprise, he followed her! She led him down a side street and into an alleyway where no one was around. Once sure the coast was clear, she shifted back into her true form, wearing her emerald green robes and half-moon glasses. She looked down at Harry with as warm a smile as she could muster. He just stared wide-eyed at her after witnessing magic for the first time. "I… you… how?!" he stuttered out in his dazed and confused state

"Magic," she answered with a teasing smirk.

"B- But, my uncle always told me that magic isn't real!" he said, completely flabbergasted.

"Oh, I assure you, Harry, magic is very real! If you put your mind to it, one day I'm sure you could do what I just did and so much more!" she said, still smiling at him, he was adorable, and he most certainly had his mother's eyes. She pointed her wand at his broken, taped-together glasses, and the tape was whisked away as they mended themselves with a faint golden glow. "There you are, that's much better, isn't it?" she asked, he merely nodded, mouth still agape.

"Now Harry, I have a very serious question to ask you," she said. "Would you like to come with me, to the magical world, or would you like to stay here, with your aunt and uncle?" she gave him a stern look, but otherwise just waited patiently for his answer.

"I want to come with you!" he said, little to no hesitation in his voice as he responded, his gaze hopeful on the woman.

She simply nodded and took him by the hand. "Now hold on tight, and don't let go whatever you do," she said, and she picked him up and he wrapped his tiny little arms around her, causing her to smile as she turned on her heel and apparated them both to the Ministry in London.


Hushed whispers and pointed fingers surrounded them as people noticed the lightning bolt scar on the little boy's forehead. He didn't understand why everyone was making such a big deal out of him. He'd never received this kind of attention before. "Uh, ma'am? Why is everyone staring at me?" he asked, tilting his little head up at the witch.

"Well, Harry, you're famous in our world, right now isn't the time to tell you the story, but one day I'll tell it to you, I promise." she smiled down at him once more before moving up in the line.

When it was finally their turn, she smiled a bit tersely at the witch who pointed at an ordinary-looking mug. "France, right? Quickly then, we don't have all day."

Minerva scoffed and held on tightly to Harry as she took hold of the handle of the mug and felt the familiar if unwelcome sensation of being hooked behind her navel as the world spun around them before finally, she floated gently down to the ground at the Ministry in France. "Welcome to France, Harry!" she said, beaming down at the dizzy-looking boy. Secretly it was one of her favorite places to visit. She had received a response from Apolline earlier that very day and had arranged to meet her at a little café in Marseille, a place she frequented whenever the need for a vacation from the stresses of Scotland and home became too much. So, once she had her bearings, she turned on her heel once more, clutching Harry to her and apparating them once more.

Harry nearly vomited the first time they had done this, but this time he was a little more composed. The feeling was akin to being sucked through a straw that had twists and turns the whole way through. Minerva had assured him that the more he did it, the less uncomfortable it would feel. He wasn't sure if he believed her. He didn't think he'd ever get used to such a feeling.

The café was quaint and homely, well lit and the perfect place for a quiet meeting between friends. Minerva ordered some tea, and sat down, waiting for Appoline at a back corner table. She pulled Harry into her lap, not wanting to let him wander off too far from her sight. He didn't seem to mind, though he did look a little tired. "It's alright if you fall asleep, dear," she said, ruffling his shaggy hair.

Finally, Apolline arrived, with her two little daughters in tow. She ordered them some cakes and tea and sat down across from Minerva with a smile that said she'd had a bit of a long day already. "Minerva, I came as soon as I could, it's so good to see you!" she said, forcing a brighter smile into her features.

"Indeed! It has been too long!" came Minerva's reply. "I'll get straight to the point," she said, looking around to make sure no one was listening. "It's about Harry Potter. I need to get him out of Britain. He's not safe there, Albus placed him with muggle relatives, and all they do is abuse the poor boy. They're the worst sort, and I won't let him go through that any longer."

Apolline stared in a mixture of shock and horror at the thought. "We cannot 'ave that! 'E can come and stay with us! We will take 'im in." she said at once.

Minerva nodded, grateful for such a quick decision. "When can you take him?" she asked.

Apolline considered the question for a moment. "I'll have to speak with Sebastian, but I think we can 'ave him with us by tonight."

Minerva looked relieved, and she was. She had been worried that they'd have to stay in a hotel or something temporarily, she trusted Apolline and knew she would keep her word, if she said tonight, she meant it. "I will stay with you for a few days as well if that's alright, It can't be easy on the boy being plucked from his home and placed with complete strangers in a completely different country. Not to mention learning of the magical world." The boy in question had begun to nod off in Minerva's lap, barely able to keep his emerald eyes open.

Fleur giggled at him as did her sister Gabrielle. "Mama, he is cute, non?" she asked, covering her mouth as she continued to giggle.

Apolline just smiled at her daughters. "He is indeed," she replied.


The sun was setting over the horizon on the eastern side of France, and Harry was still asleep in Minerva's lap, she gently combed through his hair with her fingers, she couldn't believe how much she'd come to care for the boy in such a short amount of time. He'd taken to calling her Minnie, and she found it quite endearing. She gently shook his shoulder, waking him. "Harry, it's time to go see your new home, are you ready?"

Harry blinked sleepily and nodded a bit. "Okay, Minnie!" he said, sounding a little excited. She took him from the café and turned on her heel once more apparating them just outside the wards of the Delacour home. Harry was stunned, it was a huge white mansion, at least three stories tall. There was a pond and a large driveway with a fountain and they were standing at a gate at the beginning of the driveway. A man Harry didn't recognize came to open the gate for them.

"Sebastian, good to see you as always!" said Minerva.

The man smiled at her. "Good to see you too, Minerva. We've got the rooms all ready for the both of you, sorry it took so long!"

She waved him off. "I'm just grateful you're taking him in at all," she said honestly. It was a lot for her to ask of the family, they already had two children of their own to look after.

They made their way into the home, Harry couldn't help but stare with wide eyes as he took everything in. He had never seen a home even half as extravagant as this one was. He was in awe. They made their way into the foyer and up the stairs, taking a right before moving down the hall. Sebastian opened one of the doors to a large bedroom and smiled at the boy. "This is going to be your new room, Harry! Do you like it?" he asked. Harry nodded emphatically, unsure of what to say at the moment. He wandered over to the bed and struggled a bit to get into it, but managed after a few attempts. It was the softest thing he'd ever felt! He was in heaven.

After a moment Sebastian moved over to a large wardrobe and opened it, there were some clothes inside that seemed like they'd be much better fits for Harry's small frame than what he currently wore. "Harry, these clothes are for you as well, why don't you get changed, and then you can come down and play with the girls, they're eager to meet you!"

Harry's eyes widened as he took in the clothes within the wardrobe. He had never owned clothes of his own before. He got up out of the bed and moved over to the wardrobe, reaching out with a tentative hand and feeling the fabric of one of the shirts. He then nodded and quickly made his way to change while the two adults stepped out of the room to give him some privacy.

He changed quickly and made his way back downstairs where he found two little blonde girls chasing each other around the large sitting room. "Hi," he said hesitantly. Both girls stopped and stared at him, before giggling, one of them, the older one, running up to him and taking him by the arm. They spent the rest of the evening chasing each other around the house and just generally playing with one another. Harry had never had such fun in his entire life. He was quite tuckered out by the time nightfall came, and he fell asleep easily in his comfortable new bed.