A/N: I don't know that I'm particularly in love with this chapter, but I think it's rather important nonetheless. For those of you who haven't read the other stories in this series, parts of this chapter might be confusing. My story "the squib" goes into more detail about Heigward. Barring that, you can also find information about the universe itself on my profile page. But, um, yeah... Let me know what you think, please :) I really do like reviews. (And hopefully this chapter answers some of the questions I've received in unsigned reviews that I couldn't personally respond to).

Albus Dumbledore and Lisa Cuddy sat together at a table in his office to discuss the school charter for Heigward, as well as to update their rosters for the coming term. They each had papers spread out in front of them, while between them was a tea service.

"It'll take time to get Heigward really going, I think," Cuddy said. "If it weren't for the program we have going for orphaned and abandoned children, I'd fear we wouldn't have any students at all."

Dumbledore shook his head. "Hogwarts' reputation will spread on to Heigward to some extent, I believe. In any case, we do have the PWAC in effect, so it's no matter."

"I'm sure," Cuddy said. "My concern is what happens when the PWAC dies down. You don't have a limitless supply of parents ready to join that cause, Albus, and even if you did, I can't imagine the ministry will have patience with it forever. They've always been wishy-washy about those sorts of things."

"My hope," Dumbledore said, "is that by the time the PWAC dies down, Heigward's reputation will have spread enough in its own right that it will be able to self-sustain."

"Huh," Cuddy said. "Either that, or the existence of Heigward will wind up running Hogwarts right into the ground."

Before Dumbledore could respond to that claim, the floo flared to life and a the head of MLE officer Adonis DeLacey appeared. "Headmaster Dumbledore. Headmistress Cuddy. I've a matter of some urgency to discuss with you, if you've the time?"

Dumbledore inclined his head. "Of course, Don."

DeLacey floo'd fully into the office at that point. He wasted no time in telling Dumbledore and Cuddy what was on his mind. "Two boys have gone missing from Surrey. One of them is a wizard, and the other is his Muggle cousin. From what we can tell from the evidence Muggle law enforcement officers gave us, it seems the wizard found his aunt dead in the living room and decided to run away rather than be sent to an orphanage. It seems his cousin decided to follow him."

Dumbledore's eyes darkened with concern.

Cuddy said, "What can we do to help?"

DeLacey said, "In point of fact, we've managed to locate the boys. My department is keeping an eye on them as we speak."

"Ah," Dumbledore said. "So you're requesting we find room for them post haste so that they don't spend too long in foster care?"

"My department is keeping an eye on them," DeLacey repeated. "They have not, in fact, taken the boys into custody."

Cuddy shook her head. "Why not?"

"Well, for one thing, the wizard—boy by the name of Potter—is completely against the idea of orphanages, and I hardly thought it would endear him to the wizarding world to be put in one right away."

Dumbledore frowned slightly. "Did you say Potter?"

Cuddy shook her head at Dumbledore, thinking that to be the least of their concerns, and turned to DeLacey instead. "For one thing, you said. What's the other thing?"

"The other thing," DeLacey said, "is that the two boys have another housemate. A Muggle orphan, and a friend of Potter's, from what I can tell."

"And?" Cuddy said.

Dumbledore looked at her, a sad smile on his lips. "The deal I made with the ministry said that they would hand matters over to me in concerns to abandoned wizards, squibs, or knowledgeable relatives of wizards or squibs. Undoubtedly, while Potter's friend needs a home as much as he and his cousin do, the ministry would have no qualms about sending him to a regular Muggle orphanage."

"Oh," Cuddy thought.

"On the other hand," Dumbledore said, "Fudge isn't quite stupid enough to challenge me if I take the boy in before Wizarding Family Services hears anything about it."

"That was my assessment as well," DeLacey said.

Dumbledore gave DeLacey a cool look. "It may take some time for me to get matters arranged so that they boys can come immediately into custody. How long can you keep an eye on matters?"

"Not too long," DeLacey said. "Today, sure. Maybe tomorrow if my teammates are cooperative. After that, my superiors will wonder why we haven't reported back on the matter."

"Lisa and I will make sure we have the matter well in hand by tomorrow midday," Dumbledore said. "Will that suffice?"

DeLacey nodded.

Liam's hands were over Harry's eyes. They were soft, Harry realized, and smelled like playground dirt. It was actually a comforting scent, and for a moment Harry let himself relax into the smell. Then he heard the sound of Dudley's heavy footsteps and light panting, and a clink as something was set on the floor in front of him.

"Ready?" Liam asked.

Harry nodded.

A moment later, Liam's hand were removed from Harry's eyes, and Harry was looking down at the last donut from the box Dudley had nicked three days ago. This one was a jelly donut, set in the center of the lid of an old pot. One of Harry's toy soldiers had been placed in the middle of the donut like a candle, and around the donut the other two had painstakingly written the words "Happy Birthday Harry" in peanut butter.

"Woah," Harry breathed.

Dudley said, "Make a wish, Harry."

Harry closed his eyes at the command. He didn't know what to wish for, not really. As strange and sad as it was, the days since Aunt Petunia's death had been some of the happiest days Harry had known. In that moment, however, Harry thought of the letter Dudley had brought with him—the letter that even know lay folded up in the front pocket of Harry's backpack—and he wished with all his might that Hogwarts was a real place, and that he could really go.

Harry opened his eyes again, and he flashed a smile at Dudley and Liam. "Thanks, guys. This means a lot."

Dudley reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out two Jellos. He handed one to Liam, and they ate Jello while Harry worked on the donut. When they were done, Dudley carried the trash to the can and brought the pot lid to the loo to wash. Harry, meanwhile, fetched a book from his backpack and continued the job he'd been doing the past few days of improving Liam's reading. After all, Harry was no teacher, but he did believe in education, and he couldn't believe that Liam would have no need to read when he got older.

Dumbledore wasn't expecting, when he floo'd into Severus's sitting room, that the man would be having visitors. It was just as well, he supposed, as his eyes landed on Tony and Gibbs. He'd already decided back in his office that it would be too much to expect Severus to take in all three boys—not so soon after he'd taken in Brinley—but at the same time, Dumbledore believed he'd be remiss in not mentioning this particular runaway to Severus. In point of fact, Dumbledore didn't think Severus would forgive him if that ever came to light.

"Headmaster," Severus said coolly. "To what do I owe the honor?"

Dumbledore ignored the touch of sarcasm in Severus's tone. It was not long until the full moon, and he knew how much of a strain it was for Severus to brew the potion for his niece and brother-in-law. Instead of mentioning any of that, Dumbledore merely seated himself near the fire. He said, "I trust the boys are currently entertained?"

Tony wrinkled his nose. "Well, we're not making them play fifty-two pick-up if that's what you're asking."

Gibbs reached over and smacked Tony on the back of the head. "Don't be an idiot."

"Indeed," Severus said. "I rather think the headmaster was making sure we're not about to be interrupted."

Tony's eyes widened. "Oh."

Gibbs frowned. "Zach isn't really in the habit of eavesdropping, I don't think, but…"

Severus grabbed his wand from the table and warded the door. "We'll be able to hear if they knock or if something happens, but they won't be able to hear us. And so?"

Dumbledore nodded at Severus in acknowledgement, and then he said, "Severus, if I say the name Potter to you, does it ring any bells?"

Severus's left hand clenched. "You know it does."

"Hmm." Dumbledore's voice was non-committal. "Well, it might interest you to know that ministry law enforcement officers have located three run-away boys and are offering them to use for the PWAC program. One of these boys happens to be an eleven-year-old by the name of Harry Potter."

Severus's face paled. "I thought… I asked for custody of him after Lily died, damn it! I was told that his Muggle relations had precedence."

"His Muggle relations are now dead," Dumbledore said.

Severus said, "I want him."

"I can't think that it would behoove your relationship with Brinley for you to bring three new children into the fold," Dumbledore said.

"Albus, please." There was a raw note in Severus's voice. "I loved her…"

A light smile tinged Dumbledore's lips. "Of course. I was merely suggesting that it might be prudent for the other two boys to be sent to live in a different household. A household close enough that Harry would still see them regularly, of course, but one which would relieve you from the unnecessary hassle of forcing your newly adopted son to compete with two many other children all at once."

Tony and Gibbs exchanged looks.

Tony said, "We'll take the other two."

Dumbledore smiled. "Will you really?"

Gibbs said, "We've had Zach a number of years. He's secure enough with us, I think, that it will be okay to bring a couple more children in."

Tony nodded. "He's good with kids, too. I think he might like having some brothers."

Dumbledore smiled and clapped his hands. "That's settled, then. I leave the three of you to your nights. Do pass on hellos to Zachary and Brinley for me."