Chapter 1: Seeking Help
Minerva took the Potter Heir to McGonagall Manor. Once there she immediate summoned Filius Flitwit to her home. She left Harry with her personal house elf Nora while her colleague was in her home. She left the room, casting silencing charms on the door so her guest would not hear the boy if he got fussy or too playful while Filius was in the Manor. The small wizard had arrived as requested seemingly coming from a party.
Minerva looked at him coldly, "Filius…how could you? Lily was one of your favorite students…and your out celebrating her death." She gave him a look of total disappointment.
Filius immediately looked ashamed of himself, "You're…You're right…I shouldn't be celebrating…"
Minerva shook her head, "I called you here to give you this." She walked over to the small wizard and handed him a letter, "Please give this to Albus when he…finally returns to Hogwarts…it is my notice of a sabbatical. I'm not well…after the loss of Lily and James," she had tears on her eyes as she spoke, "…my magical core is wavering. I need time to recover and properly process my grief please tell Albus I do not wish for any correspondence until I send word. I do not wish for any visitors either. I simply wish to be alone."
"Minerva…" Filius looked at her worried, "Are you sure?"
"Yes…I'll be temporarily turning over my duties as Deputy Headmaster to you. I have requested Dumbledore find a temporary replacement as Head of Gryffindor House. Once I'm feeling well again I shall return to my duties…until such time…I request not to be disturbed."
Filius bowed his head, "Very well. I'll deliver your letter. Please get well as soon as possible." He said.
"Thank you old friend now please, I'd like to be alone." She said turning away her shoulders shaking, "Billie will show you out." She said as another one of her elves appeared and escorted Filius out.
As soon as her colleague was out of the Manor, she sighed wiping away her tears. "Damn…acting was never my forte…fortunately there was plenty of tragedy lately to help make my request for sabbatical seem much more real." She assumed Albus would ask for a copy of Filius' memory to prove everything he would tell the Headmaster. She had put on quite the show. "That bought me at least a couple months to sort this out before Dumbledore begins requesting my return to Hogwarts. I must find Sirius and Remus immediately."
She began to search for the Potter's best friends immediately. Unfortunately she found out exactly where Sirius was two days later. The Daily Prophet delivered her copy to her home and the front page made her choke:
Sirius Black Sentanced to Azkaban!
Sirius Black, Heir to the Notorious House of Black, has been apprehended. On November 1st, at approximately 8:30AM. Sirius Black arrived at muggle street in London looking for Peter Pettigrew. Witnesses claim Sirius looked as if he was insane as he began screaming for Peter Pettigrew, who lived somewhere on the street.
Soon Peter emerged on to the street, and immediately began screaming, "Sirius how could you…How could you betray James and Lily!"
It was this that leads us to believe that Sirius Black was the Secret Keeper for the Potters who had been under the Fidelius Charm. Pettigrew's statement insinuates Sirius Black was not only the Potter's Secret Keeper but also that he gave that information to You-Know-Who. As our readers know this action lead to the deaths of the infamous Potters, and the orphaning of their only son Harry James Potter. But this does not end here. Sirius Black in an apparent attempt to silence Pettigrew then cast a Blasting Curse on the street causing a major explosion which killed not only Pettigrew, leaving behind only a finger, but also 12 Muggles that had made their way onto the street during the commotion. Sirius Black then dropped to his knees and laughed maniacally until the Aurors showed up and arrested him. Sirius Black has now been sentenced to life in Azkaban, and Peter Pettigrew has been award with an Order of Merlin: First Class. His award has been presented to his mother the only remaining relative Peter Pettigrew had.
But, this story does not end here. Possibly the worst and most appalling fact of this is Sirius Black was and remains even after his betrayal, Harry Potter's godfather! Meaning, even though the man was trusted by the couple enough to be named Harry Potter's godfather he still betrayed them. Its speculated Black was a Death Eater the entire time like most of his family. It only goes to show you can never trust a member of a prominently Dark family even if they were sorted into Gryffindor.
Minerva stared at the paper with her mouth gaped. No this is impossible! She thought, Sirius would never betray James and Lily. Then it occurred to her. A line in the prophecy she had received barley a year ago, Should the Lioness succeed more than one Heir will be spared suffering. Heed Me Lioness. "Morgana! Sirius is innocent!! What I do?" she began to panic. Calm down Minerva! She told herself , I Must resolve this but first I need help…but who? She thought for a moment then it came to her, Remus Lupin! He must know something!
"Billie!" she called. A small pop was heard behind her and she whipped aroung to face her young house elf, "Forgive me for this abrupt request Billie but I need you to do something immediately. Find Remus Lupin and bring him here immediately inform him that his best friends son is in danger! Go now!"
"Right away Mistress!" the elf squeaked and snapped his fingers vanishing with a pop.
Minerva panted as she leaned against a nearby chair. Please Remus…please have some information that can help me, she thought. At that moment she heard a cry for the sitting room, "Oh Harry!" she said rushing off to retrieve the boy who must had been startled by the rising tone in her voice when speaking to Billie. She rushed in finding Nora attempting to calm the young boy. "Its okay my Lion Cub…Nana Minnie is here." She said in a soothing voice as she made her way to her crib.
The boy immediately stopped crying when he saw Minerva's face. He reached up at her opening and closing his hands to her clearly asking to be picked up. Minerva chuckled, "Such a heart breaker you are." She said smiling and picking the boy up. "You look just like your father…but those eyes…they are beautiful like your mother's." She held the boy close. "Worry not my Lion Cub…Nana Minnie is going to fix this…I promise." She told him bouncing the boy in her arms.
Two weeks had passed before Billie returned with a very distraught Remus with him. The werewolf burst through his former head of house door, "PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL!" he shouted.
Minerva had been in the sitting room. Harry was sleeping in his bassinet. Fortunately she had cast a Silencing Charm on Harry's bassinet so the sudden shouting did not wake the boy. She stood, "In here Remus." She called.
The man rushed into the room, "What happened where is the pup." He said looking at her with a ragged expression. He had clearly been drinking when Billie found him.
"Calm yourself." She said stepping aside showing him the bassinet holding the sleeping Harry.
Remus let out a sigh of relief as he stumbled over and knelt in front of the boy's bassinet, "Thank god…but…your elf she said Harry was in danger."
"Indeed he is Remus but first I need to see this." She said as she passed him the paper implicating Sirius in the Potter's death.
Remus read the paper and it was clear the man wolfish nature was trying to come out. His calm eyes were flashing golden yellow repeatedly, "Damn you Sirius!" he growled and began sobbing.
Minerva knelt beside her former student, "Remus calm down and listen to me…I don't believe Sirius is guilty."
Remus whipped her head towards here tears in his eye, "But how? He was obviously their Secret Keeper."
"I will explain but first I need you thinking clearly." She looked to her elf, "Billie get our guest a Hangover Cure and an Invigorating Draught. Quickly please."
The elf popped off and returned moment later holding two vials of potion. Remus took them from the elf and downed them immediately. It took a moment due to his werewolf affliction, but in a matter of minutes he looked much better still a bit ragged but his eyes seem more focused his breathing calmed, "Oh Merlin…that's much better." He said.
"Good please have a seat…this will be a very difficult story to hear." She said.
Remus did as requested and looked at her, "Please…tell me everything."
Minerva immediately explained the night two months before Harry was born, were she received a prophecy from an old friend. She gave him the first half of the prophecy word for word, "So she prophesized Dumbledore would cause suffering to the Child of prophecy, and the one Dumbledore heard named Harry as this Child of Prohecy."
"Not exactly." Minerva said, "In fact there were two children who fit the discerption of the Child of Prophecy. One of course was Harry the other however…"
Remus pondered for a moment, "The Longbottoms! There son Neville…he was born a day before Harry! Lily and Alice were in St Mungos at the same time. Frank and Alice had also defied Voldemort three times."
"Exactly but what makes Harry the child of prophecy was that Voldemort chose Harry, and marked him as his equal." She said pointing to the scar on Harry's head.
"Then it could have been Neville had Voldemort gone after him?" Remus asked.
"Yes, but he chose Harry which made Harry the child of both prophecies. I personally don't know the full prophecy Dumbledore received, but the one I received implicated Dumbledore himself would cause Harry pain and suffering. It demanded I make a choice Obey him or defy him and protect Harry. As you can see I've done the latter."
"What did Dumbledore do?" Remus asked.
"He attempted to leave Harry with Lily's sister." McGonagall said looking at Remus sternly.
"What?!" he exclaimed then quickly looked to see Harry was still sleeping. He let out a sigh of relief and turned back to Minerva, "Lily and James specifically stated in their will Harry was never to be involved with her sisters family. They told me a Sirius as much. We never saw the will directly but they informed we were both in it."
"Finally something I can use. Remus there is another part of the prophecy I received that I haven't told you about yet…"
"I'm listening." He tells her.
Minerva takes a deep breath, "Should the Lioness wish to spare the child take him to the treasures resting place. Should the Lioness succeed more than one Heir will be spared suffering. Heed Me Lioness." She told him.
"Sirius is the Black Family Heir just as Harry is the Potter family Heir. So now you need to take Harry to the 'Treasure's resting place'…well that obvious…we have to go to Gringotts where Lily and James's Final Will and Testament will reside."
Minerva face palmed herself, "Of course Gringotts…why didn't I think of that! The Will in question must prove Sirius' innocence!"
"Lets go tomorrow. I could do with a day of rest. I want to make myself more presentable as well." Remus said.
"Wise plan indeed. I will place a Disillusionment Charm on Harry and we will go straight to my account manager's office then request he bring the Potter family account manager to us." She said.
"Good…might I request a comfortable bed to lay in Professor. I'm rather haggard." He told her.
"Very well, Nora." She called. The little elf appeared with a pop, "Please escort my guest to a comfortable room to rest for the evening and bring him dinner later."
"Yes Mistress, Nora will show Mister Wolfie to a room." The elf said, "Come Mister Wolfie you need sleeps." The elf beckoned for Remus to follow her.
Remus stood and looked to the sleeping Harry with a longing expression. He wished to hold the boy, but didn't want to wake him, "Never fear Remus I bring you nephew to you when he wakes so you may hold him."
He smiled to her, "Thank you. The Lioness of Gryffindor is one to be wary of…Dumbledore better watch himself."
"Indeed," she tell him, "After what we discover tomorrow Dumbledore better hope he hasn't meddled any further in Harry's life so help me I will destroy him!" she said her expression looking rather ferocious. "Now go rest Remus."
"Thank you Professor." He told her and followed the elf out.
Up Next: Remus and Minerva make their way to Gringots to find a way to protect Harry. Upon hearing the Potter's Will they summon someone to aid them in protecting Harry and saving Sirius.