Story warnings: Mentions of abuse, mentions of self-harm/suicide, mentions of S/A, mentions of substance misuse, swearing throughout.
No amount of denial about the fact Voldemort was back made it any less true and those who acknowledged this terrifying truth were getting ready to fight back. A group of trusted individuals gathered round the dirty, damp, dust filled kitchen of number 12 Grimmauld place. The childhood house of Sirius Black. Very few knew of it's existence but with Dumbledore as the secret keeper, anybody who might have thought about the place as a base wouldn't be able to find it.
The adults around the table were talking loudly to and across one another. Some holding several conversations at once. Suddenly, Sirius Black slammed his hand down on the kitchen table. "What we should be doing is moving Harry to safety as soon as possible" The man spoke, wanting his godson by his side where he could protect him.
Dumbledore raised a calm hand Sirius's way. "Harrys safety is a top priority for us all" The wise wizard spoke and the people around the table nodded in agreement. "However, he is currently at the safest place he could possibly be. Watches will of course be set up for protection, but Harry must stay at the Dursleys until which time he can return to Hogwarts" once again Sirius went to argue but Dumbledore silence him with a look. "There is currently a more pressing matter at hand"
The old wizard sighed heavily and shook his head, his long silver beard moving side to side as he did. Taking a seat Dumbledore let his fingers tips touch in front of him as he peered at everybody in front of him over his half-moon spectacles. "Iris Potter-" he spoke the name with a great sadness that filled many of the people in the room, people lowering their heads at the thought of James and Lily's daughter. "-Is not dead" Dumbledore finished after a dramatic pause.
At this, several people jumped to their feet. In surprise, anger, outrage, disbelief. "What do you mean Albus?" McGonagall asked, her usually passive face sharing in the disbelief of her peers. "How could she have survived?" The witch spoke the question on everybody's tongues.
"That night almost fourteen years ago- after Voldemort killed both Lily and James- he tried to kill Harry as we all know- and failed. He didn't try and kill Iris because it would have been wasted time at that point." Dumbledore informed them, finishing with an almost a shrug of the shoulders.
"So where is she? Why has nobody heard from her? Surely she would have gone to Hogwarts? Why does the world think she's dead?" Questions fired from all around but it was Arthur Weasley who managed to sum them up.
"I made the decision all those years ago that it would be better if Harry and Iris were separated. Their magic... clashed. Something did happen to Iris that night, although no curse hit her directly I believe dark magic may have found it's way into her and so I bound her magic and brought her to a muggle orphanage where she could be raised as a normal little girl. The problem we have now, however, is Voldemort knows she is alive and will no doubt want to get to her as well" The diplomatic tone Albus Dumbledore spoke in and the calm expression carved into his face despite the outrage people were directing at him, was a skill only obtainable after decades of practice. "Enough!" He finally bellowed- silencing the room immediately. "What's done is done, now we must look to the future. The first step is I need somebody to track Iris down"
A couple people volunteered, saying it would be an honour, but one voice broke through them all "I'll do it" Remus said firmly, standing up "She's my god-daughter after all" he added with a glance around the room, almost daring anybody to argue.
"Then it's settled, excellent. Now on to the next matter at hand" The chirpy voice Dumbledore was using didn't suit the mood that had developed over the lulled room. It appeared he was oblivious to how upset people were with the news he had bound the magic of Iris Potter and left her to fend for herself in the muggle world. As far as Dumbledore was concerned that was the best decision for them all.
