Chapter 3: A Halloween to Remember
It was October 31, 1981.
And behind a huge oval desk, it's very surface crammed with parchments and important documents, an old man had his head buried in his hands and wept, his shoulders shaking with grief. The portraits of the former headmaster's and headmistresses were looking down on the distraught man in silence and pity, united in their sad regret that they had not been able to help ease his pain.
Dumbledore had been sitting at his desk, which was cluttered with battle plans, teachers' reports, and some odd shiny instruments with no apparent purpose when he received the news.
*1 hour ago*
'I'm glad that the feast had gone well as usual,' thought Albus Dumbledore as he remembered watching the students sitting at the tables before him. This was a time when he could just sit back and relax from the stress that had been dragging him down for the past several months. He hoped that two of his best students, Lily and James Potter, were settling down into their home as best they could.
He remembered glancing down the table at his new Potions master. Severus Snape's head was bowed low over his food and lately he had not been meeting anybody's eyes. It seemed like only yesterday that Severus had come to him with the news that Lily and James Potter had been singled out by Lord Voldemort as a target for death.
Most of the staff couldn't understand why Albus would employ someone who was once on Voldemort's side. But from what Severus had told him, Dumbledore knew there was a reason that he had left the Death Eaters to come to his former teacher. He had guessed that Severus had said and done things that he regretted. And the reason for his decision to join the dark side was one of the reasons why he hated James Potter so dearly. It was because of Lily Potter.
Dumbledore had often assumed that Severus had been driven to the Death Eaters out of jealousy. After all, the only friends that Snape seemed to have were all Death Eaters and many of the people from the light side refused to see Snape for what he was. Inside, buried under the weight of countless disappointment and empty promises, was a lost little boy who was desperate for someone to love him and see past the outward shell.
Lily had once seen past the disguise, but she fell in love with James Potter and that had most likely driven him to the point of no return. The only thing that could have brought him back was the same thing that drove him away.
Dumbledore's thoughts turned to his former students. What were they doing right now and were they safe? When would this nightmare end? When could everybody go back to the way things were before Lord Voldemort began ridiculous war?
(Before the night was over, however, Albus would regret his thoughts and remember the muggle saying, "Be careful what you wish for.")
He had just finished filling out a report when he heard it.
A spine-chilling song of mourning and grief filled the room, its heart-rending melody seeming to seep into the very stone walls of the castle, even sweeping out of the room and down the staircase, gripping the inhabitants of the magical portraits in its melancholy tones.
*Present*
Fawkes the Phoenix, whose song had just confirmed the destruction of Godric's Hollow, glided to rest in front of the Headmaster. He laid his red, scarlet, and gold head on Dumbledore's arm trying to give any comfort he could offer. They remained this way for a long while, and eventfully, the agony had been diminished slightly, and the heart breaking grief seemed to ease up a bit.
Inhaling unsteadily, the tear stricken face of Albus Dumbledore rose until his eyes were level with that of his glorious companion. Faded blue eyes, without its customary twinkle, met black, and a silent communication proceeded.
Visions were sent forth from the beautiful familiar, showing the destruction of what was once a charming home. The charred remains of a two story cottage, still alight with magical flames, was revealed, hideous and angry, nothing like the warm comfortable dwelling it had been only hours before. Residue of what was once protection and secrecy wards, lay scattered in the air, unseen to the human eyes.
And there it was.
The traces of a darker and heavier presence of a recently performed killing curse, its empty glowing haze signifying its use.
Fawkes opened his mind more, and Albus was able to pick up some sounds. He heard the cackling and popping of still burning embers, the sound of falling debris and… the unmistakable cries of a baby.
Rearing back in shock Albus' eyes narrowed in confusion before widening in understanding. Staring back into the eyes of his phoenix he asked to be shown the little baby. There was no mistake, young Harry was still alive, and there was definitely no mistaking the remains of a failed unforgiveable curse on him… a bleeding cut on his forehead.
He looked at the floor where Lily Potter's body lay… right in front of the crib as if she died protecting Harry.
It took him less than a second to understand what had happened.
"My God," he whispered hoarsely, quickly taking out a piece of parchment from his desk and grabbing a feathered quill.
Face set with determination and purpose he swiftly composed a letter, reading over it again before he rolled the parchment, tied it, and giving it to Fawkes.
Hagrid,
The Potters home at Godric's Hollow has been destroyed. James and Lily are dead, but young Harry is still alive.
I need you to go and retrieve him. Keep him with you for the next few hours until I have prepared Harry's new home. It is very important that Harry is in your care, regardless of who may try to stop you.
Bring Harry to Vernon and Petunia Dursley of Number four Privet Drive. Fawkes will be sent to you when all is ready.
Be safe my friend,
Albus
"Fawkes, take this to Hagrid. Wait until he has read it, and departs to Godric's Hollow. Then return to me. Promptly, without delay my friend."
Trilling in understanding the beautiful bird took the parchment in his claws and disappeared in a burst of bright flames, leaving behind an even wearier master.
Exhaling, Dumbledore ran an aged hand over his face, feeling like he had aged ten years in a matter of seconds. Moving towards his fireplace, he reflected on what he had to do, and how he had to do it. Ignoring his still raw grief at the deaths of the night, he mentally composed what he had to say to Ministry of Magic, and to the Order. He then had to make sure that Privet Drive would be ready, before finally delivering the child to his aunt and uncle.
Dumbledore stumbled around his office and stared into the foe glass that stood in the corner of the room. No longer was the shadow of the man that once went by the name Tom Riddle in the glass. In fact, many foes had disappeared. He looked for the one man that should have appeared in the glass, but Sirius Black was nowhere to be seen. There was, however, an indistinct shape of someone that had never been before but they were unrecognizable. He felt for a chair and sat down miserably. What was he going to do? How was he going to break the news to Remus Lupin that two of his best friends were dead and the other was a traitor?
As he sat there, his hand touched something soft and fluid. He looked up to see that he had touched Jame's Invisibility Cloak. He felt as if his heart would break by the sight of it. He had planned to take the cloak back tomorrow…
It looks like he wasn't going to give the Cloak back to Harry as soon as he thought.
*Later*
It was almost two in the morning, and Hogwarts was illuminated only by the full moon. In the distance a pack of werewolves could be heard howling in unison, their voices providing an eerie setting to the nights events. Off Hogwarts, in the Wizarding town of Hogsmeade, time had been forgotten as news spread of the miraculous happenings of Halloween night. The Wizard floo network was busy, people trying to find out the truth in the rumors, it seemed too much to hope for.
All this seemed to escape the inhabitants of a hut off the grounds of the majestic school. A light burned brightly within, as the silhouette of its large owner could be seen slowly pacing from one side of the hut to the other. A black Motorcycle stood outside, next to the pumpkin patch.
Inside, Hagrid paced and hummed a gruff lullaby, occasionally moving his right hand in what would have been a rocking motion. Looking down at the precious bundle, the half-giant sniffed yet again, taking in the vulnerable looking thing, with a full mop of black hair as he slept uneasily. Little Harry fit in just one hand, and Hagrid couldn't understand why anyone would have wanted to harm such an innocent little thing.
Sniffing again, Hagrid wiped his face with the sleeve of his coat. Tears were running down his face, fat large drops which had escaped his attempt to halt them fell into his wild beard. Baby Harry winced in pain as one large drop fell onto his still bleeding scar, red and swollen, it stood out angrily on his pale forehead. Lifting up the edge of the baby blanket, Hagrid gently patted Harry's forehead.
The little child, sensing the care of someone other than his mother started to squirm and fuss again, whimpering for his mama in his anxious sleep, sucking gently on his bottom lip.
"Lily an' James dead," Hagrid said to himself as he sniffed yet again. "Poor Harry…"
He resumed his pacing and rocking, he took large ragged breaths, trying to restrain himself from sobbing aloud.
He had been waiting for Dumbledore's phoenix for almost two hours now, having arrived from the Potters former residence with Harry in hand after an hour's journey. He had been worried when he got there, apprehension which was replaced by horror when he saw the charred remains. He hadn't been able to stifle the cry that had escaped him, nor the moan of pity that he had felt when he saw young Sirius Black jumping off his motorcycle and scrambling over the smoking ruins to reach Harry in Hagrids arms.
He had felt like a heartless monster taking Harry from Sirius, and practically hated himself as he watched Sirius wrap his godson up in his baby blanket before placing a very soft kiss on his head. Sirius had then given his bike to Hagrid to bring baby Harry here, once more kissing his godson before he rode off.
Sighing heavily, Hagrid sat down in his chair and looked down at the small child in his arms. Even he knew that things weren't going to be easy for the child, there were still Death Eaters running around, and Harry was just a baby. And he had just lost both his parents.
'Dumbledore will take care of it,' he thought sadly, 'Great man Dumbledore, will figure something out.'
*Dumbledore*
Stepping out of his fireplace, Dumbledore dusted himself off before getting back to work. His brow furrowed in thought as he walked across his office to sink heavily into a chair.
He had had a difficult time at the ministry. After years of constant threats and attacks from the Dark Lord, the ministry had been a little reluctant to believe that the threat was gone. He had shown them what Fawkes had shown him, they had gasped when they saw the Potter's home destroyed, and letting them see what he had seen with young Harry provoked an outcry of shock, and it was only then that they started to hope. Visiting Godrics Hollow and its destruction, fully convinced the doubting wizards.
Those that had known Lily and James Potter mourned on sight, others apparated away to share the glad tidings and miraculous news. The events of the night would soon descend into Wizarding legend, and would become noted in every single history book. Harry Potter: the first person to ever survive the Killing Curse. Harry Potter the boy who lived.
Albus had sent Emmeline Vance, an Auror who was also part of the Order of the Phoenix to retrieve Sirius, "Find him, and bring him to me."
He had then returned to the Ministry, where he had proceeded to keep the prediction concerning Harry. It was important that the Prophecy be kept within The Hall of Prophecy, just in case anything should happened to him, Albus Dumbledore.
If he had any reservations that the Ministry would object to keeping the matter confidential, he need not have.
"Lily and James Potter were a credit to parents everywhere," said Arthur Weasley.
"But there will be parents out there that will be flooding our offices with letters concerning young Mr. Potter's welfare. If having all this secrecy surrounding his whereabouts is vital to his safety and Health, then so be it. We will do whatever is needed of us," said young Kingsley Shacklebolt
"I am glad Albus that maybe the dark times have passed us by. Maybe the next generations will not live in the fear that gripped us for so long. But, I know that it would have been much worse had you not been here to help us. Should there ever be a time when we do not heed your warnings, the Ministry and the Wizarding world will suffer. Thank you… I think that these days may be the last of my reign," said the current Minster of Magic. "I want to see and experience the peace that we have all worked so hard for."
A full team of Unspeakables and Aurors (Including Alastor Moody) were sent to Little Whinging, Surrey, to erect protection and magical-detection wards, as per Albus instructions.
Looking back over the last few hours, Dumbledore quietly concurred that it could have been more difficult to handle had they been under a more incompetent minister. The Ministry's role was now over concerning young Harry, and he was now hoping that this plan was going to work. He didn't trust everyone in the Ministry and the sending of wizards to Privet Drive was more of a distraction than anything. But all his plans for Harry's safety and upbringing would be for nothing if he did not get the Ministry's agreement.
Pulling his golden pocket watch out of his robes he stared thoughtfully at it for a few minutes. Nodding his head, he pulled out a parchment and a quill to construct another letter, this time to Lily Potter's sister.
To Vernon and Petunia Dursley of Number four Privet Drive
Upstairs second room on the left,
November 1, 1981
What you have in your care is a boy far more special than you may think. He was born on the 31 of July 1980 to his parents James and Lily Potter. Your nephew Harry James Potter.
I am sorry to say that your sister and her husband have suffered a tragic accident. A dark wizard named Voldemort murdered Harry's parents on October 31 using the darkest magic known in the wizarding world. Thus, leaving Harry an orphan. Voldemort tried to kill Harry as well but Lily's protection and love saved his life, defeating this dark wizard among us. We can only guess why he tried to kill the Potters.
Lily's love is protecting Harry which is why I feel it is safe to place Harry in the hands of his mother's sister. Harry is shielded from harm as long as he can call wherever his mother's blood lies 'home'. It will be my deepest gratitude if you take care of Harry and treat him as your own until he becomes of age.
I ask of you to not turn Harry away because then the shielding charm will break and Harry will no longer be protected from the world that awaits him in the future. The fate of the Wizarding World lay on Harry's shoulders. My wishes are with you.
Albus Dumbledore,
Headmaster of Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Once he had finished he placed a wrinkled hand on Fawkes head and stroked the silky feathers, knowing that he had to go and meet Hagrid soon.
This was definitely a Halloween that no one will ever forget.
Reivew PLEASE!
