It was late at night on October 31st, 1981, in the dark swamps of the Bayou of Louisiana. A vast wilderness still somehow untouched by human development throughout the centuries of humanity spreading out through the new world. Despite such the large city of New Orleans within a few hours of walking away, the swamp was quiet except for the sounds of the natural wildlife.
And it was where Albus Dumbledore was walking around, holding out his Deluminator and using it as a powerful light to guide his way through the vast swamp as he looked for his destination.
Albus soon heard a familiar pop, and he glanced to the side with a smile, "Ah, I trust the portkey wasn't too much trouble, dear Minerva?".
Minevra scoffed lightly, "If you didn't count on the measures that the MACUSA Aurors did to make sure that I was only here to accompany you, then yes, the portkey wasn't much trouble for me, but Albus, are you sure about this person, this Waylon Jones?".
"Very much so... even if almost no others will." Albus told her as they walked forward, though the two of them were careful since this part of the swamp was treacherous. "I must warn you now Minerva, Jones is... very uncommon of a person, to be honest." He explained. "But I assure you, he's trustworthy despite his appearances."
Minerva sighed heavily, "Any American person would do much better in my eyes than those horrible Dursleys. I've observed them for the whole morning, and I am glad you have followed your instincts about Lily's sister. Petunia has been quite offensive about magic ever since she and Lily were children.", before glancing at Albus, "If this Waylon is a werewolf like Remus, does he have all the preparations to make sure that he has Wolfsbane and such?".
"Waylon isn't a werewolf, Minerva.", Albus answered her. "He's much more different, for starters, he's a squib like Filch, but very different looking which is why he's lived out here for much of his life. Especially since his mother passed.", He then stopped. "And yes, it was a hard decision, not to leave him with his family, but unfortunately, we can't fully know if they can be trusted. In case the Dark Lord...". McGonagall clearly still wasn't fully convinced with Albus's fears.
Minerva sighed, holding the urge to scoff, and nodded, "I know, Albus. His followers are dangerous either way, and they would be hard pressed to know that Harry Potter is not in Britain anymore, not that they would know.".
Albus smiled at Minerva, "Don't worry, dear Minerva, James and Lily's spirits will be relieved to see their son safe, and where else would be better than in Louisiana itself?", before hearing a particularly loud pop, both professors looking over to see Hagrid holding a bundle, with a nod.
"Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall. Evening.", Hagrid smiled at them as he walked up to them, "Little tyke's gone to sleep a half hour ago. He exhausted himself overlooking for his parents, poor tyke. Had to ask Nurse Pomfrey for a baby-sized dreamless sleep potion.", with a sad frown.
"It is a true pity what has happened these past hours.", Albus lowered his head. "What is a celebration for many is a somber time for the few at the moment.".
"And he's still out there, somewhere...", Minerva shook her head.
"For the time being, he's broken, it has given us time to slowly recover; how so few could push us to a breaking point is truly telling of the world.", Albus continued before the low sound of a growling came nearby as the group turned with the Deluminator's light to reveal an alligator slowly stalking towards them on the marsh surface. Albus pointed his wand and cast a spell that soon caused the reptile to turn and leave them alone. Clearly, they were not going to be an easy snack, so better to move on for something else it could eat.
In the nearby shadows of a few swamp trees, a rough voice spoke, "Teach? Teacher Albus, is that ya?", and Albus smiled warmly, "It's me, Waylon. I fondly remember that time you chased a swarm of pygmy puffs when you were simply a tot.".
The voice laughed lightly, "Haven't seen ya in five years, Teach! How you been?", and Albus replied, "Not too well, Waylon. Voldemort has truly laid Britain a mighty blow. He's been defeated, for the time being. You remember my stories about James and Lily?".
The voice chuckled, "Sure do, Teach. Did they get hitched?", and Albus nodded, "Indeed, they had, but that's why I'm here. They got killed by Voldemort, leaving their only son as the sole survivor of the attack.".
"Damn.", That was all the voice said. "I'm sorry to hear that, Teach. They sounded like good folks from what you said. That's war for you, I guess, you just know how to really feel about it when you've never seen it before. Closest for me, of course, was Mama, and some of the folks that tend to dump bodies out here.".
"Bodies?", McGonagall sounded appalled.
"Yeah, that's Muggle America for you, especially in the big cities. You get a lot of crime and some folks want to hide their evidence in the swamp since it's unlikely to be found. Of course, sometimes on the rare occasion, a little karmic justice works when the gators get them when they're not looking.".
Albus chuckled, "Indeed, and it doesn't hurt when you do your unique skill of scaring them off as well, Waylon. You are a good one, even if others say otherwise.".
The voice sighed lightly, "Aw, Teach. Ya trust me to look after this little bubba? What about a wizarding family?".
"He's certainly a smart fella.". Hagrid whistled as he was impressed.
"And ugly too.", the voice said before he finally started to move into the light. Even from a bit away, it was clear that he was quite large, though Hagrid still had well over a foot and a half in height on him. He had all the appearances of a bipedal alligator right down to his reptilian eyes. He was dressed in a fairly marsh covered tank top and a pair of worn out blue jeans, "Trust me, I don't bite... unless any of you are secretly those 'Death Eaters'.".
"Albus...", Minerva turned to look at the older wizard. "Who... what is he?", She clearly had many questions and looked like she was about to totally flip over Albus's plans. Now she was starting to think that maybe the Dursleys were a better idea if this was the alternative.
Albus smiled softly, "Minevra, meet my great-godson. His mother, Caroline, was a witch, and she was my goddaughter, thanks to her parents having been great friends of mine. Unfortunately, Caroline was hit by a curse, making her infertile, but she asked me to make a powerful potion, and with a donation from the father, Waylon was born. Within months, he changed physically, and I thought the amount of the potion was too much...".
Waylon rolled his eyes, "Teach, it wasn't your fault or mine. Being a forced Animagus of sorts is quite handy.".
"A permanent Animagus?", Hagrid asked.
"I think the phrase 'mutated freak' fits a bit more at times.", Waylon shrugged. "The whole situation did require getting involved with some bad juju, even if it was for more pure intentions. Mama said I already looked off when I was born, it just was a bit later that I more just looked like I am now.".
"I see.", Minevra took a deep breath, calming down knowing the situation a bit more. Maybe she was too quick to judge. After all, at least Waylon seemed to have a history with the Wizarding World and not a bitter relation with it like Petunia Dursley.
"But, Teach, to answer my previous question, why the boy? Why is it you think he's better off here? What danger is he in?", Waylon clearly wasn't putting together somethings, though how could he? All he knew was the Dark Lord was defeated, but not the circumstances that revolved around young Harry.
Albus sighed heavily, bowed his head, "Why he survived was because of a sacrifice Lily Potter made, but the Wizarding World presumed that Harry himself killed Voldemort.".
Waylon scoffed, "A baby defeating a dark lord, that's completely ridiculous! I would understand if Lily Potter sacrificed herself for the boy because in your stories about her, Lily was one of the greatest minds of her generation. A ritual, right?".
Albus nodded, "Something along those lines, powerful magic that the Dark Lord will never truly know if my guesses are correct. But unfortunately, it appears that the Dark Lord might not truly be dead but broken and hiding somewhere far away for the time being. As of now, we've earned quite the respite in this war. But...".
"You fear he'll be back, and probably wanting revenge on the kid, right?", Waylon sharply replied. "Exactly.", Albus frowned lightly.
Waylon exhaled lightly, "America's the last place he'd look, huh?", and Albus replied, "Yes, and that's why I chose you to raise Harry, so he couldn't know the impact he made on Britain's wizarding world, and you can handle anything that comes at you including spells.".
Minerva blinked, "You're impervious to magic?", and Waylon nodded, "Teach tested me out, no magic would pass through my skin, but I can still be hurt the Muggle way.".
"That being?", Hagrid asked. Waylon got closer and showed what looked to be two scars on his shoulder.
"38s. Pretty high caliber bullet when I jumped a scum bag who was planning on killing a girl and leaving her in the swamp. It's funny, a Squib like me can take on most spells, you put bullets in me though, I'm going down if not careful. Of course, it might be more fitting to use an elephant gun to take me out, and I'm pretty sure the Dark Lord don't think in terms of using Muggle weapons.", Waylon pointed out.
Albus chuckled lightly, "You will not fear that as Voldemort hates Muggles, and Muggle technology will grow beyond what he remembers. All the same, will you have Harry to look after?".
Waylon smiled softly at the bundle in Hagrid's arms, "I'd be happy to look after the little bubba. You sure James and Lily wouldn't have minded?".
"I know that they would want their child to grow up and be cared for by those that would love and protect him.", Albus explained.
"Well, I understand now your reasoning of why you bring him all the way here. I promise you, Teach, none of Voldemort's followers or himself will catch a whiff of this kid.", Waylon nodded.
"Until, of course, he's to be admitted to Hogwarts where we can keep him safe.", Minerva pointed out. Waylon nodded, "Perhaps we could come to a compromise when that time comes. I may be a squib, but I am a permanent Animagus.".
Albus smiled warmly, "We'll figure it out, Waylon. I'll check in every now and then. Hagrid?", and Hagrid smiled, walking up to Waylon, "Little tyke will wake up in the morning. Look after him, eh?", carefully handing the slumbering babe into Waylon's arms.
Waylon grinned lightly, "Don't worry, Hagrid. Bubba will grow up just fine.", as he looked upon Harry, and blinked lightly with a sniff, "That scar ain't normal.".
"A leftover gift of the Dark Lord using the Killing Curse on him.", Dumbledore said. "Seriously? He tried to kill the kid? What for?", Waylon's eyes widen, staring at Albus in shock.
"We're still not entirely sure, but it was something that the Dark Lord himself thought so important.", Minerva explained. Of course, unbeknownst to the other three, Albus knew the truth, but was keeping his cards to his chest.
Waylon nodded, "All the same, y'all good people, and I will see ya when check-ins come and all. Bubba will have a normal childhood as much as I could give him.".
Albus smiled, "That's my wish for little Harry. Now, it's getting very late. We must get back. Hogwarts isn't one without the Headmaster or the Deputy Headmistress, or the Groundskeeper.".
"Yes, there's still quite a lot of work that needs to be done. The Death Eaters are leaderless, but not defeated yet.", Minerva pointed out as the group began to walk away, leaving Harry in the arms of Waylon Jones.
Waylon glanced one last time to the group as he heard pops, knowing that the trio took return portkeys, and then looked down at Harry with a smile, "I'll always be here for you, Harry.".
The baby gently rustled in his arms as he stayed asleep. "Come on then, I'll take you to the shack then. Get you out of this swamp at least... don't want to accidently make you a meal for the animals out here.", Waylon said.
Waylon walked on, knowing his life is now coming into a new chapter, and he cannot wait to see what holds for him and the little bubba in his arms. Indeed, Harry James Potter is one special boy, and he doesn't know that he is famous nor that he's to be known as the Boy Who Lived.