Hi, Sorry for being so late in posting this chapter. Real life and writer's block got in the way. Hope you enjoy this chapter and from now on I will try to post twice a week but no promises. Enjoy
Chapter 4
Harry peeked through his eyelashes looking at his friends. Ron and Hermione both had a contemplative expression on their face. Ron opened his mouth and shut it again. After hearing the noise McGonagall quickly assured them back to the castle. Very soon teachers came down and the rest of the students were congregated into the great hall. Later they were told that classes were cancelled and they had to disperse to their dorms. Arriving at the Gryffindor common room, Harry immediately went up to his bed and took the invisibility cloak. Assuring Hermione that what he had to say required privacy, the three of them slipped out of the common room in the chaos and Harry took them to the room where he found the Mirror of Erised as that was the only empty classroom he knew. Slipping inside and making sure no one saw or heard them, Harry told them everything. After being stunned, both hugged him in happiness but now they looked at him in confusion.
Hermione said "I don't get it Harry, your parents are alive. You are happy. Right?" Harry nodded his head. Ron said "of course, he is happy. And its a bloody miracle. How did they survive is a question that will be in everyone's lips." Harry said "No, the wizarding world cannot know that my parents survived." Ron and Hermione looked at him with confused expression. Harry signed and uttered one word which made what he said sensible "Voldemort." Ron paled hearing the name and Hermione scoffed. Hermione said " Come on Harry, Voldemort is in no condition to make any plans of attack." Harry said " What was last year then?". Hermione opened her mouth and shut it again. She crossed her arms scowling. Ron said " They are still your parents Harry? Don't you want to meet them?". Harry replies " I do want to meet them Ron. But would they want to meet me? It has been 11 years. They have a life. What if I just end up reminding them about the bad?". Ron and Hermione looked at each other. They have never heard Harry sound so insecure before. Even when they suspected about his home condition and Ron told Hermione about what he saw when they rescued Harry even then both didn't know how to approach this topic and make Harry open up to them. But hearing the insecurity in Harry's voice they could easily discern that his home life maybe more horrible than thought initially.
Ron suddenly brightened an idea emerging in his mind "Write a letter." Harry and Hermione looked at him puzzled. Ron explains " write a letter to your parents asking them whether they want to meet you or not. Give them a choice of saying no. If they want to meet you set a location. I can get Dad to accompany us to that location. When you meet with them, if you feel that it is an obli...obli whatever was that word Hermione?". Hermione said "obligatory visit". Ron says" yeah that visit, we can go back and you don't have to meet them again." Harry said "But Professor McGonagall said that they wanted to meet me". Ron rolls his eyes and said "This is Professor McGonagall we are talking about. She is the only teacher who can have a stare down with Snape and win. And besides you yourself said that you weren't sure whether your parents wanted to meet you. Doesn't this way work as you are giving them a choice in the end?" Hermione smiles and says " That is a brilliant idea Ron. It can actually work. What do you say Harry?". Harry looked down a deep frown being his expression. It clears after a few seconds and he looks up at them, smiles and nods his head. Hermione says with enthusiasm "Great, let's start on that letter now". At that moment a loud groan is heard from Ron's stomach. Hearing the groan, all of them smiles and the tensed atmosphere fades. Harry teases "I think Ron's stomach has different ideas." Ron snarks back " Of course it has different ideas. It has been almost 3 hrs since I have had food. Come on let's go. Its almost dinner time and I don't want Fred and George to take all the sweets". Hermione asks " Isn't there anything else you can think apart from food?" Ron replies "I thought up the letter idea, which just according to you a few moments ago, it was brilliant." Harry said "He is right Hermione." Hermione hid a smile and said "Fine let's go fulfil His Highness Ron's obligation with food." Both of them start bickering with Harry trailing behind him having a fond expression hearing them bicker. No one saw the lady standing in the darkest corner of the room away from any light that could reach in her corner camouflaging herself well in darkness. No one saw the tears in her green eyes as she stares at the messy head that disappears as the door closes.
Dumbledore stares pensively outside the window looking for something which he knew he wouldn't find. Getting up he walks to the pensieve, he removes his wand from his cloak, puts the wand on his forehead and concentrates on the moment which changed his whole world.
Dumbledore was reading the letter from the Ministry seeking his advice on the Hungarian diplomats. Hearing an insistent tapping on the window he looks up to see an owl waiting at the window and insistently tapping it. Opening it, he sees that the owl was a post owl and carried a letter with it. Taking the letter from the owl, he fed him some bacon and saw him on his way. The letter seemed like a common muggle envelope addressed to him and written as he notes with surprise from Petunia. Opening the letter the message written was 'Come today at 12 midnight. Do not get noticed by neighbours. Do you have a portion that confirms the identity of people?"
Finding the letter intriguing Dumbledore replied back and agreed using one of the owls from the owlery to sent the letter back. He informs Minerva of him going to Petunia's place and she insisted on going with him. Snape also insisted on coming along with them bringing the blood identity portion with them. He then remembers the next moment,
They apparated at the corner of the Privet Drive street. Walking down the Privet Drive, they stop in front of Petunia's house. Frowning, Dumbledore reaches out and pulls back his hand as a shock goes through his arm. Catching him, McGonagall asks "Dumbledore?". Dumbledore says "The wards, they is something different about them. They feel stronger." Snape and McGonagall take out their wands placing it discreetly in their hands. Taking a deep breath, all 3 of them walk towards the door. As Dumbledore reaches the bell to ring it, the door quickly opens before the bell rings and Petunia half hiding herself behind the door and only her face and long neck seen hisses "Get in." All 3 of them come inside and she closes the door. She gestures them to walk ahead and asks "You got any blood identity potion?". Dumbledore confirms and asks "I am curious Petunia. What made you call us and at such an unusual time?" Petunia replies "See for yourself." By that time they reach the door and inside is a room looking like the living room. She gestures them to go inside. As soon as they were inside, Petunia closed the door. Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall saw 3 people sitting on the sofa. Hearing the noise of the door close, all 3 of them turned. Dumbledore for the first time in his life felt his age as he stared into the face of Lily and James Potter. And the next second, he heard a cocking sound and turned around to see two guns pointed at McGonagall and Snape's head as their wands were pointed at Lily and James Potter.