Author's Note: I originally only meant for this to be half a chapter, but I got kind of carried away. As such, I'm not sure this is one of my best chapters, but it will do. Anyways, this is for Brodus, and I hope this fixes the qualms you had. Thank you all for reviewing.
Lily
After the rules in general had been discussed and posted, Harry, Albus, and Minerva discussed guidelines for Harry. After all, he was only 11, and he couldn't be allowed to run around as he pleased. Therefore, the thrown together family had sat down to come up with something that seemed fair yet realistic. Neither Albus, nor Minerva had raised children before, and both only knew what they had experienced as children themselves, and what they enforced at Hogwarts. Harry only knew the two extremes. Dudley had been allowed to do whatever he wanted, while Harry had not been allowed to do anything he wanted. Therefore, he wasn't exactly sure what was normal either. He was however, absolutely thrilled to have a say in the matter.
"I believe 11 years old is old enough have some freedom without having to be supervised constantly." Albus spoke softly, and Harry couldn't keep from smiling.
"I agree Albus, but we also must remember that he is only 11, and can't go gallivanting across the country whenever he feels like it." Minerva spoke sternly, and Harry made a face feeling like she made it sound like he was 5 years old.
"I won't go gallivanting across the country." Harry assured them quickly. "I do want to play outside however."
After a good half hour of discussion, the group decided that Harry was to let either Minerva or Albus know where he was going to be at all times, and ask for permission to leave the house. He would not leave the property by himself, and he would be in the house by 7. In addition, Harry was to spend an hour a day on his studies, be in his room by 9, and be in bed by 10. He also had a few chores he was expected to do each day, but other than that; Harry's day belonged to him. He was free to do what he wanted, as long as it was within reason, and stuck to the boundaries laid out. He wasn't to be in the lake unsupervised, and he was not allowed to wander off the trail in the forest, and was to stay close enough that he would be able to hear his name be called.
Yes, everything had been absolutely fantastic last night. When nine-o-clock came however, Harry actually had time to think in his room, and his brain was buzzing with hundreds of questions. He had been more comfortable than he could ever remember being in his life, and yet Harry hadn't been able to shut his mind off and go to sleep until after midnight. Then the sun had woken him, and he had quickly gotten dressed and headed for the kitchen.
Harry was halfway through cooking a very silent breakfast when Minerva stepped out of her room. "Good morning." Harry gave a distracted smile, and wave.
"Good morning Harry." Minerva gave him a puzzled look, but stepped to the counter, took out a coffee pot. "What has you up so early?"
"I couldn't sleep. I'm used to being up with the son, or being kicked around all morning for being lazy." Harry just shrugged it off, and was busy with some eggs so didn't see Minerva purse her lips.
"They kicked you?" Minerva's tone was sharp, and Harry spun to face her quickly.
"Only kicked me around a bit." Harry stated simply. "Not enough to seriously hurt me. I was too fast for them, and they just made threats mostly. It was my cousin that I really had to worry about when it came to getting hurt. If he could catch me he liked to use me as a punching bag."
"I swear Albus, I'm going to..." Minerva's angry voice trailed off as she distracted herself with adding water and coffee beans to the coffee pot and placing it on the stove.
"Minerva..." That was the first time Harry had used the name, and he couldn't help but feel that it felt rather odd. As a result, he paused to truly think about actually calling an adult by their first name. Without even placing a title in front of it.
"Yes?" Minerva could see the boy lost in thought, and decided to aid him a bit. If only to distract her from wanting to ring Albus' neck. She figured it was probably a good thing the man liked to take early morning strolls.
"How did you guys know I was at my aunt and uncles?" Upon hearing Harry's words, Minerva realized that this discussion probably wasn't going to distract her from wanting to do Albus severe bodily harm.
"Albus, Hagrid, and I left you on your aunt's doorstep the night your parents were killed Harry." Minerva focused on breathing evenly. There was no need to tell the boy it was contrary to her better judgment. After just one day of watching the Dursley's as a cat she had thought they were despicable. Now she knew she wouldn't be able to keep her temper while she spoke about them.
"I see." Harry mulled this over in his brain a moment as Minerva took the plate of eggs from him, and flicked her wand over them without a word. "What does that do?"
"It keeps the eggs warm and fresh." Minerva replied simply with a kind smile. There was something about the innocence of the boy that was keeping her calm.
"How did you know Mrs. Figg? And what was with the fireplace? Do all fireplaces do that? Can you travel anywhere by fireplace?" Harry knew he was spouting off questions faster than anyone would be able to answer them, but they all came to his mind so fast, especially when they were so closely connected.
"Slow down Harry, I have plenty of time to explain everything." Minerva gave a small laugh at the boy's rambling. "Arabella Figg is what we call a squib."
"What's a..." Harry didn't get to finish as Minerva's lips tightened.
"Don't interrupt me please Harry." Minerva was a lot more patient than some people, namely her colleague Severus Snape, but she was not one to accept interruptions. "A squib is a term in the wizarding world. It means that Arabella was born to magical parents, but she herself possesses no magical abilities. It is quite rare, but happens now and then. More often if one parent is muggle while the other is magical."
Harry chewed this over all in his mind, but didn't speak. He liked Minerva, but there was no doubt that her sternness intimidated him just a bit. He would get over it soon enough though. At least he hoped so.
"As for the fireplace," Minerva continued on as she set the breakfast table. "That is what we call travelling by floo. Most of the wizarding fireplaces are connected to the floo network, and by using floo powder, one can step into one fireplace, and come out another. Though, you must speak clearly to get where you want to go. The fireplace also has to be connected to the floo network for you to be able to travel through it."
"I see." There were a million other questions running through Harry's mind, but he didn't feel like being annoying on his first day. After all, he wasn't even allowed to ask questions at the Dursley's.
"The Dursley's never treated you well. Did they?" Minerva took the coffee pot off the stove, but she searched Harry with a solemn gaze as if searching his soul.
"No ma'am." It was all Harry could really say. That was one of his questions. Why now? Why would they come rescue him now when he had lived with the sodding Dursley's for 10 years. Nothing had changed. Their treatment of him hadn't gotten any worse. In fact, one could argue that it had gotten better actually. Now they were all scared of him, so didn't end up ordering him around, and trying to kick him all over Surrey.
All of this brought Harry's mind back to Mrs. Figg. He had stayed with her several times while the Dursley's went out. She had definitely not been Harry's favorite person with all of her talk of cats, but it had been better than life at the Dursley's. Mrs. Figg had also known just how the Dursley's treated him. Granted she might not know all of the details since she was only a neighbor, and not everyone was as nosy as Aunt Petunia, but Harry knew that Mrs. Figg at least knew about his situation. So why now? Why was he suddenly saved all of a sudden? Had Mrs. Figg told how Harry was treated? Why now? Why had she waited so long?
"Harry, be careful!" Minerva's loud voice suddenly penetrated Harry's thoughts, and he jumped. Looking down he could see the pot of porridge in front of him boiling over. He hadn't even been paying attention to the porridge!
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Harry stammered as he spun around looking for something to clean up the mess. "That can be my share since I was stupid enough to spill it."
"Don't be foolish you silly boy." Minerva spoke sharply as she waved her wand and the mess disappeared, but the porridge in the pot remained. "There is plenty, you just need to be paying attention." Minerva's tone was firm, and her lips were pursed tightly as she watched the boy in front of her. Why had he thought that he would have the spilled porridge?
She watched him closely. He was still in extremely baggy clothes that hung limp from his scrawny frame. Suddenly realization hit her. The boy had probably been half starved. Yes he ate some, that was obvious by the fact that he was alive. He hadn't been well nourished however. Minerva thought back to the night before when they had eaten dinner together. He had eaten a bit of everything, but that had just been it. He had only eaten a bit. Harry hadn't asked for seconds, and the helpings he had eaten had not be terrifically large. The only consolation she could find was that they had at least been halfway decent helpings.
Minerva angrily squeezed the glass in her hand, and was startled out of her thoughts when it suddenly shattered, cutting her hand in several places while the broken pieces fell to the floor. She saw Harry jump, and immediately bend down to start picking up the shattered glass.
"Don't touch it Harry." Minerva snapped. Honestly, why would the child try picking it up with his bare hands? With a wave of her wand the pieces floated into the air, and quickly repaired themselves into the glass Minerva had been holding moments before. Her hand was still cut, but Minerva quickly made her way to the medicine cabinet and withdrew a simple potion. Making a face as she drank a little vial, she placed it in the sink, and watched Harry's amazed expression as her hand healed itself.
"That was brilliant." Harry muttered with wide eyes.
Minerva couldn't help but smile. The child really knew nothing about magic.
Several hours later Harry was curled up in leather armchair flipping through his Transfiguration book. Albus was reading several letters that had been delivered at breakfast, and Minerva was flipping through lesson plans. This morning's magical display had distracted Harry for the time being, but he was quickly losing control of his thoughts again.
"I have found Harry, that it is better to speak your mind, than to let it be trampled through." Dumbledore didn't look up, and Harry just ogled at him. How did he know?
"Oh, er..." Harry stammered.
"Alas, the articulate loss of too many thoughts." Dumbledore lowered his letters, and looked kindly at Harry.
Harry went bright red. He had pinned Minerva as stern but reasonable. He seemed to observe quietly, but Albus had an unnerving way of making Harry feel as if he were seeing right into his mind. Now even Minerva had paused in her work, and was watching Harry.
"Sorry, it's just that, I've been thinking." Harry mumbled lamely.
"That is usually the price that comes with having a mind." Albus nodded, and Harry relaxed a bit. Albus had such a way of making Harry calm.
"I just don't want to bother you with all of my questions.
"I can assure you, that you are not a bother my boy." Albus' smile faded, and Harry saw Minerva shoot Albus a glare.
"It's just that I've asked so many questions today, and I don't want to be a bother. At my aunt and uncle's house questions are forbidden." Harry sat up in the chair, folded his legs in criss cross form, and sat on his ankles.
"Questions are the only way to find answers Harry." This time it was Minerva that spoke. "Albus and I have taught for many years, and I can assure you that without questions to answer, we would be out of a job."
"I guess." Harry mumbled picking absent mindedly at a loose thread on his baggy t-shirt.
"We'll go shopping for new clothes for you after lunch." Minerva spoke firmly once more, and Harry could only smile. Despite her sternness, Harry couldn't help but like her already.
Taking a deep breath, Harry decided to just spill it all out. "Why now?" He blurted, and then mentally kicked himself. Yeah because that makes a lot of sense you idiot. He thought to himself. Taking a deep breath, Harry sighed. "I mean, why did you decide to take me from the Dursley's now?"
Minerva shot Dumbledore an icy glare deciding to let him take this question since she didn't trust herself to keep calm. Even Dumbledore had to take a deep breath before speaking.
"Harry my boy." Dumbledore's voice was kind, but he looked sad and tired. "We did not know the severity of your situation."
There was silence as Harry thought about this for a moment. How had they not known the severity of his situation?
Dumbledore continued quietly, and Harry listened patiently. "When I left you on the doorstep of number 4 ten years ago, I knew that your life would not be ideal. Minerva told me about your aunt and uncle when I informed her of my intention, and I knew that you would not be the shining star in your new family, as you had been with your parents. I did however, hope that your aunt and uncle would be able to find room enough in their hearts to accept you, and treat you as a second son."
Harry scoffed at this. The Dursley's treat him like a son? As if.
"As you probably know by now, Arabella Figg is somewhat connected to the Wizarding world, and I asked her to keep an eye on you." Dumbledore continued gravely. "Arabella tends to be a little over dramatic however. I can't blame her, after all, living with nobody but all of those cats. However, I knew that I wouldn't be able to handle her theatrics when it came to you. Therefore, I asked her to keep an eye on you, and informed her that when you went off to Hogwarts I would return and speak with her. I told myself that then I would decide if living with your relatives was in deed the best thing for you."
Dumbledore paused a moment, and Harry sighed. He was about to start Hogwarts now, and obviously living with his relatives was not the best place for him.
"I instructed Arabella to keep an eye on you, but to not worry about anything, and only contact me if she felt that your situation was a matter between life and death." Harry cringed at the glare that Minerva shot McGonagall. Seriously, if looks could kill. "I expected to hear from Arabella with a bunch of wild stories since she is very dramatic, but I did not receive a thing. It seems that Arabella actually listened to me for once. She took the fact that you remained out of the hospital to mean that you were not in a life or death situation. When I didn't hear from Arabella I figured that you must have been decently taken care of since I wasn't even getting her over exaggerations."
The explanation was so simple, Harry could just nod. He had never truly discussed life at the Dursley's with Mrs. Figg. In fact, Harry had never discussed life at the Dursley's with anyone. Harry had learned long ago that it was best to just keep his mouth shut. Complaining got him nowhere, and just annoyed whoever was willing to talk to him. Therefore there had been no real reason for Mrs. Figg to be theatrical and make it seem as if Harry's situation was one between life and death.
"Maybe I shouldn't have told her to only contact me if it was a matter between life and death Harry." Albus continued gravely. "I apologize for it Harry. I just wanted you to have the maximum protection that only comes with your living with legal relations. I am also an old fashioned man who believes it is not healthy for a child to be famous before he can walk and talk. Famous for something you don't even remember." Harry had to agree with this. "Therefore, living in the wizarding world was not something that I wanted for you. I am an optimistic old man Harry. I hoped that you would have a nice life with your relatives. Maybe not your ideal situation, but definitely not something that you would hate. The fact that you were willing to come with two perfect strangers was proof of just how wrong I was dear boy. I hope you can forgive me for putting you through all of that."
"I see." Harry could just stare at Albus. It all really did make sense. Harry might not like it, but it made sense. With that thought in mind, Harry gave a small smile and nodded. "I can forgive you."
Minerva had remained silent through this discussion, but that hadn't kept her from shooting death glares at Albus. Really, what had the man been thinking? As it all wrapped up however, she was stunned. Was Albus truly saying that he had been wrong about something? Albus was always so confident, and seemed to know absolutely everything. Yet here he was, admitting that, this time, his optimistic nature had failed him.