I do not own any of JK Rowling's characters

13 Years Earlier

"Meghana" Dumbledore greeted me as I opened the door "Thank you for agreeing to see me," he said as though I had had a choice in the matter.

I had no response to this so I blinked, my eyes stinging from crying and exhaustion.

"I hate to intrude on you at the present time, but I need your help"

Of course he did, why else would he be here?

When I again didn't respond he cleared his throat and continued. "I frequently read academic papers in my spare time and, I came across one written by yourself last year"

He looked at me very carefully and I frowned wondering what this had to do with anything going on right now. I wrote that paper as part of my portfolio to get into the ministry, I didn't know it had been published.

I shook my head as though a fly had landed on my face and said "Albus, I don't mean to be rude but can you please get to the point" I honestly tried to keep the rudeness from my voice, but I had heard the rumours about the Potter's murder, I hadn't been able to contact Lily or James and I was out of my mind with worry for Sirius' welfare. I hadn't seen him since he left to head out the Potter's place and he wasn't himself when he left. I couldn't even search for him as the Order had instructed me to stay here until further notice.

Dumbledore looked at me sadly and continued "Yes, of course - so the paper you wrote concerned ancient magic -" I nodded, still completely unsure where he was going with this "- I need to know everything you know about blood bonds."

"Blood bonds?" I repeated my frown deepening.

"Yes, and I must add, unfortunately, I require the Information rather quickly," he said grimly.

"Well, -" I started slowly moving closer to the sofa, which I noticed with a sharp pang in my chest had Sirius' cloak draped across the back of it.

"-It's a very rare and obscure type of magic - I haven't yet come across any account of it being performed in modern times."

I looked across at Dumbledore who was looking thoughtful.

"I assumed it was long-forgotten magic" I mumbled more to myself than him.

My hand had found its way on top of Sirius' cloak and I absentmindedly began stroking the soft material with the tips of my fingers.

Dumbledore reached into his robes and pulled out a very tattered piece of parchment. He walked over to me holding out the parchment which I took.

"What is this?" I asked my eyes gliding over it, taking in words I didn't quite understand.

"I believe this is the instructions for the blood bond charm-" he replied looking down at it "-can you understand it?"

"It's an ancient language-" I replied looking closely at each word "-but I think I can translate it," my mind thinking of some of the oldest books I had taken from my father's library.

"I was hoping you would say that," Dumbledore said and I looked up to find him smiling down at me "I do need it quickly though"

I nodded and looked back down at the parchment "Can I ask why you need such a spell?"

"I will explain everything once we have all the information" Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at me as though expecting me to retort. I would have done it in any other circumstance, but I really was too exhausted at this moment. Plus, I really did need to figure out where Sirius was and I knew I couldn't do that whilst Dumbledore was here. I nodded and he smiled warmly, placing a hand on my shoulder, and gripping it ever so slightly "Thank you Meg." he said and he walked back over to the front door, opened it and paused holding the door. He looked over his shoulder and said "Send me a message when you're done." I nodded and he stepped out.

The door swung shut and I stood staring at it for a moment or two before leaving the living room and making my way to the study where the books I took from my father's library were in a trunk at the bottom of the cupboard. I placed the parchment on the desk and opened up the cupboard door, the musty smell of the old books hitting my senses as I lifted the lid of the trunk. The book I was thinking of was conveniently on top and I grabbed it carefully to pull it out.

I stood up holding the fragile book in my hands like it was going to explode and placed it gently on the desk. I looked over my shoulder as though someone was standing behind me and sighed again. My senses were on high alert, listening for any sign of Sirius coming home. I squeezed my eyes closed and mentally told myself to deal with one problem at a time. Sirius could look after himself but, I longed to be in his arms right now, my soul aching from the loss of the Potters - I wouldn't be able to take it if something had happened to Sirius as well.

No - I shook my head - just translate this first I silently told myself it would at least distract my overthinking mind and overwhelming grief for an hour or two. I sat down pulled the parchment towards myself and opened the book, flicking the pages to the language I suspected this spell was written in.

I wasn't wrong with my suspicions but it did take me longer to translate than I initially anticipated. It took me nearly 3 hours to fully translate and I felt even more exhausted than I did when Dumbledore had arrived. I had never heard of a spell like this before, the basic nature of the charm being intentional spellcasting on someone's part to activate the magic, although this seemed to invoke ancient magic, which wasn't your normal everyday magic. It also required the decision of a family member to seal it which didn't make much sense to me but I didn't have the energy to fully comprehend what it meant. Regardless, I sent my message to Dumbledore via a patronus and waited for his reply.

I started to walk around the empty apartment, my mind wandering back to Sirius. I was sure he would have heard about the Potters or worse - lying dead with them.

I shook my head as though to dislodge the intrusive thought but I did nothing to stop the worry that was about to consume me.

Suddenly a silvery phoenix appeared and spoke in Dumbledore's voice "Thank you Meghana - please meet me at 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey as soon as possible" and as quick as it had appeared it vanished.

Surrey?

What an odd place to meet, although I felt like I had heard someone speak of Little Whinging in passing … I just couldn't remember who.

I sighed again and took a cloak out of my wardrobe, fastened it around my neck before picking up the parchment and translation notes I had made and taking one more look at the room, I disapparated to Surrey.

I appeared on the corner of Privet Drive. I glanced up at the street sign "Privet Drive" and was briefly surprised at the accuracy of my apparition. It was dark, as it appeared none of the street lights were working. It had been raining which gave a chill in the air that made me pull my cloak tighter around my neck as I made my way down the wet pavement peering at each house number before stopping in front of number 4. I was so engrossed in my own thoughts that I didn't spot Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall sitting on a brick wall until Dumbledore spoke my name.

"Meghana," He said "Thank you for coming."

I didn't speak but placed my hand inside my robes and pulled out the translation from inside my pocket. I handed it to Dumbledore, who took it gently and quickly read it.

He nodded and looked up at me.

"Do you understand how it works?" he asked me.

I frowned at him, taken slightly aback as I had not expected to be asked this question.

I nodded slowly "I think so," I replied.

"Will you perform it?"

I stared at him, as did Minerva.

"I-I don't understand - on who?" my frown deepened.

Dumbledore had reached inside his robes and pulled a small paper bag out holding it out to me "Would you care for a lemon drop?"

"Sorry, what?" I staggered.

"A lemon drop. They're a Muggle sweet I'm rather fond of" he offered the bag to Minerva.

"No, thank you," she said coldly, "Albus, as I was saying, the rumours are that You-Know-Who has gone -"

"My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name? All this 'You-Know-Who' nonsense - for eleven years I have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Voldemort." he said as he popped a lemon drop into his mouth.

Minerva flinched, but ignored him as she continued "You know what everyone's saying? About why he's disappeared? About what finally stopped him?"

She sounded anxious. I looked away from the pair of them, focusing on the house behind them not wanting to be a part of this conversation.

There was an awkward silence before Minerva pressed on.

"What they're saying is that You-Know-Who turned up in Godric's Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumour is that Lily and James Potter are - are - that they're - dead. Lily and James... I can't believe it... I don't want to believe it... Oh, Albus..."

Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "I know... I know..." he said heavily.

Minerva looked sadly at me but I did not return her gaze. I couldn't bear her pity.

Minerva's voice trembled as she went on. "That's not all."

My eyes snapped to her and I started to listen actively. What else were they saying? I thought, panic rising in my chest.

"They're saying he tried to kill the Potter's son, Harry. Lily … s-she stood in the way so he killed her and moved on to Harry - But - he couldn't. He couldn't kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but they're saying that when he couldn't kill Harry Potter, Voldemort's power somehow broke - and that's why he's gone."

I turned my head to look at Dumbledore who nodded glumly.

"Wait, what?" I said sharply.

"It's - it's true?" faltered Minerva. "After all he's done... all the people he's killed... he couldn't kill a little boy? It's just astounding... of all the things to stop him...?"

"But how?" I breathed.

How could anyone, let alone an infant, survive that?

"We can only guess," said Dumbledore. "We may never know."

I watched Minerva pull out a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes beneath her spectacles. Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he took a golden watch from his pocket and examined it.

"If Harry is alive - where is he?" I asked curtly as Dumbledore ignored me.

"Hagrid's late. I suppose it was he who told you I'd be here, by the way?" He turned his head to Minerva.

"Yes," she replied. "And I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you're here, of all places?"

"I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They're the only family he has left now."

"Petunia?" I was astounded.

"You don't mean - you can't mean the people who live here?" cried Minerva, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. "Dumbledore - you can't. I've been watching them all day. You couldn't find two people who are less like us. Harry Potter, come and live here!"

"It's the best place for him," said Dumbledore firmly, looking from Minerva to me. "His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he's older. I've written them a letter."

"A letter?" repeated Minerva faintly, sitting back down on the wall. "Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand him! He'll be famous - a legend - I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in the future - there will be books written about Harry - every child in our world will know his name!"

"Exactly," said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. "Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won't even remember! Can't you see how much better off he'll be, growing up away from all that until he's ready to take it?"

I bit my lower lip trying to process all that had happened and the inconceivable fact that Harry was alive. Harry, who now had to be raised by muggles because Lily and James were dead. My heart clenched as I thought of my best friend shielding her son from Voldemort … my mind suddenly realised what we were doing here. It finally made sense why Dumbledore had asked me to translate the Bond of Blood charm, why he was sending Harry to live with his only blood relative.

Minerva opened her mouth, changed her mind, swallowed, and then said, "Yes - yes, you're right, of course. But how is the boy getting here Dumbledore - what was that?"

A low rumbling sound broke the silence around us. It grew steadily louder as a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them. Sirius' bike! My heart leapt before I realised that it was not Sirius who was sitting upon it, holding a bundle of blankets.

"Hagrid," said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. "At last. And where did you get that motorcycle?"

"Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sit," said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. "Young Sirius Black lent it to me. I've got him, sir."

"Where did you see Sirius?" I asked desperately.

"He was at the house…" Hagrid croaked as he trailed off and looked down at me.

I frowned and swallowed the lump rising in my throat. The panic in my chest was becoming overwhelming. It didn't make any sense, where was he now? My mind instantly went to the most disastrous places. He would never keep me in the dark - would never leave me waiting like this.

"No problems, were there?" Dumbledore asked.

"No, sir - house was almost destroyed, but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin' around. He fell asleep as we was flyin' over Bristol."

We all stepped forward and bent over the bundle of blankets. Inside, just visible, was Harry fast asleep. He looked as perfect as ever although I jolted as I noticed a lightning bolt-shaped cut on his forehead under a tuft of jet-black hair that resembled James' in more ways than one.

"Is that where -?" whispered Minerva.

"Yes," said Dumbledore. "He'll have that scar forever."

"Couldn't you do something about it, Dumbledore?"

"Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars can come in handy."

I frowned as I wondered briefly how scars could ever come in handy.

Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward Petunia's house. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog.

"Shhh!" hissed Minerva, "you'll wake the Muggles!"

"S-s-sorry," sobbed Hagrid, taking out a large, spotted handkerchief and burying his face in it. "But I c-c-can't stand it - Lily an' James dead - an' poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles -"

His grief resounded mine and I suddenly felt the urge to collapse on the floor and never get back up again. I managed to resist this by gripping the brick wall, the coolness making contact with my hands somehow bringing me back to my senses.

"Yes, yes, it's all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we'll be found," I heard Minerva whisper from behind me as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and turned to me.

"It's time," He said softly, peering into my face. I swallowed my grief and pulled my wand from my sleeve. I took Harry as Dumbledore handed him to me.

I moved him enough that he was supported in my left arm as I focused my mind on the charm I had translated - I had never even thought about invoking ancient magic before. The charm itself was simple, but the actual execution required a colossal amount of concentration.

As much as it hurt my broken heart, I forced my mind to think of Lily sacrificing her own life to protect Harry. The fear and desperation she must have felt as she used her own body to shield her son. I thought of the promise I made to her to protect Harry if anything ever happened to her and James and I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the tears from falling.

Why did I dismiss her fears? I scolded myself.

She had told me she was worried something was going to happen. I pushed my feelings down further as I felt a tingling in my arm holding my wand. This was a different type of magic, old and powerful - I had never felt anything like it before. I raised my arm and held my wand to Harry's chest, the magic silently instructing me. The power of the magic coursing through me made me tremble as I cast the charm wordlessly. The magic did not create a light like other spells and charms but, I knew it had been cast.

Now the only thing left was down to Petunia.

I opened my eyes and stared down at Harry still sleeping, unaware of what I had just done, unaware of where he was and a tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek.

He was just an innocent baby caught up in something he did not deserve. That his parents did not deserve.

I gently wrapped my wand arm around him and lowered my head to kiss him softly on his chubby cheek. I reluctantly held him out to Dumbledore who took him and turned to lay Harry gently on the doorstep.

He took a letter out of his cloak, tucked it inside Harry's blankets, and turned back to us.

For a full minute, we all stood and looked at the little bundle.

"Well," said Dumbledore finally, "that's that. We've no business staying here. We may as well go and join the celebrations."

I impatiently wiped another tear from my cheek and turned to look at Minerva, Hagrid and Dumbledore.

"Yeah," said Hagrid in a very muffled voice, "G'night, Meghana, Professor McGonagall - Professor Dumbledore, sir."

Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve, Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life; with a roar, it rose into the air and off into the night.

"I shall see you soon, I expect, Professor McGonagall," said Dumbledore, nodding to Minerva who blew her nose in reply.

She turned and in a moment she was a tabby cat, slinking away down the street.

"Thank you once again Meghana." Dumbledore turned to me "Your knowledge has been invaluable." he bowed his head to me as I nodded, unable to speak.

Dumbledore paused peering into my face before he turned and walked back down the street and was gone.

I looked over to the bundle of blankets on the step and wondered if I would ever see Harry again. I sighed sadly and turned on my heel, my cloak swishing around me as I apparated back to our empty house. Now I had the unpleasant task of finding where the hell my husband was.