A/N I don't own these characters, but I own some socks.
"You don't mean to leave the child with these people do you Albus? They're the worst kind of muggles. But besides all that they just flew off to Holiday in Majorca. From what I overheard they took the 11PM out of Heathrow and should be back in a week." Minerva exclaimed.
Her companion looked like he had swallowed a lemon. Or perhaps it was the rest of the lemon drops from his moleskin pouch. Sure enough a wandless and silent hominum revelio revealed Number 4 Privet Drive to be uninhabited. "Well I guess I could try and drop him off at the hotel? Did you get the name? " He asked hesitantly, knowing it wouldn't work but hopelessly trying anyhow.
"Nonsense, Albus, while I can see the merit of keeping him out of fame and danger, we'll have to find him some sort of temporary guardians," Minerva explained.
Albus Perceval Brian Wulfric Dumbledore pulled out his Atlas Friend Finder IV, "Ah Hagrid must be nearly here then. I can't stuff Harry in a Gringott's vault now can I Minerva?" He said knowing it wouldn't do. "I suppose Hagrid's hut is protected by Hogwarts wards. It might be the next best thing then. Hagrid can take care of young Harry until his relatives return. Next Monday, is it?" Albus stated, feeling relieved to have a way out of this mess.
Minerva couldn't fault his logic. Although she knew, Sirius Black was the rightful guardian to Harry, she evaluated what was right. While Sirius was rather immature and self centered, Hagrid could hardly be counted on to teach the boy intellectual pursuits. Both had their hearts in the right place and certainly loved Harry's parents, but then again what would she know. To determine a child's ideal guardian was not necessarily her forte nor her duty, and come to think of it, nor was it Albus'.
Minerva gave Albus another sharp look and began to lecture, "But what about his parents wishes, Albus? Surely we must use his godfather. The Ancient and Most Noble house of Black's heir might hear about Harry with Hagrid rather than him. I can't imagine Lily and James (well at least James) letting us arbitrarily choose his guardian against their wishes. Sirius has to be involved for at least the week until those Muggles are back?"
While not Chief Mugwumps, Harry's parents were highly intelligent, accomplished and upstanding people that had a right to pick a replacement guardian. She held back tears in her throat as she considered the couple, some of her favorite Lions. She had always had a bit of a weakness for the quidditch star and Transfiguration natural. Let's face it James could get away with anything short of murder with her as his head of house. He was fun loving, quick witted and had shed his immaturity as he grew up. Well as he grew up with Lily, a true gem in the classroom or out. Intelligent and never afraid to fight for the greater good, even if it was against housemates or old friends. Would she be doing their memory justice by giving Harry to these...people?
Well now she'd just have to see about extending these few weeks to decades. These muggles would raise their own son to kick the mother for sweets. Besides, Hagrid helped thestrals, hippogriffs, and illegal Blast Ended Skrewts flourish with ease, how hard could one sweet little baby be? Soon she'd realize how wrong she was.
Though sorted into Gryffindor, Minerva, was crafty enough to occasionally make overlooked "mistakes" while following Albus' orders to the letter. Mostly they were aligned but occasionally she had to make sure he would be aligned. Yes, she might not lie outright, but a bit of truth bending couldn't hurt. "Actually, Albus I wasn't exactly sure when it would be that they would return. I believe they said a week but it might've been weekend or was it first week of December? I suppose I'll have to come check on them starting next week to see when they've returned." Then to herself she continued while making a point to avoid Dumbledore's eye contact, "unless I get quite busy".
Yes, the tutelage of Hagrid and Sirius within Castle grounds could suite the boy splendidly and if it could avoid her an eternity of well deserved pranks from James in the afterlife that was just a cherry. A firm scolding here and there from Auntie Minerva and he'll keep his head on his shoulders.
Minerva was interrupted from her thoughts to the sound of Albus breaking open a metal container of lemon drops. He crushed one and licked his fingers to extract their soothing and decadent flavor.
As he consumed his delicacy, their thoughts were interrupted by a loud blasting noise interrupting the otherwise silent street.
Albus sighed and said with exasperation, "Very well, Minerva, touché. My thoughts were that while James and Lily had excellent judgement in choosing a guardian, they might have chosen differently with the hindsight. Harry is facing so many threats to his safety and tremendous celebrity in the magical world. Also, a blood relative would be able to protect him uniquely. But you're correct that we should do our best with what's available and try to respect their wishes. Anyway, it's only for a week."
"Or so" Minerva quickly cut in.
"Uh, yes or so, since there no other blood relatives it may be safest for him to stay with Hagrid, and the Potters preferred guardian of Sirius."
Then seeing as how Hagrid had walked up, he stretched out his palm to his distraught Gamekeeper. "Lemon drop?" When he declined, he continued "Well Rubeus, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage. There's been a bit of a change of plans."
"Change'uh plans, Dumbledore?" Hagrid asked.
"Well first do tell me where did you get this most interesting magical technology from?" Asked Albus.
"Young Sirius Black len'it to meh--beats riding a broom innit?" Hagrid said while sniffling and brushing aside massive tears.
"Ah speak of the devil. Well yes, we were about to leave Harry here with his relatives where special circumstances make it the safest place for him. But I'm afraid we'll have to see about changing up your Hut for a bit until Harry's relatives return from Holiday, and perhaps make space for the owner of this motorcycle. Where was it you said you saw him, Hagrid?" He then added "Black that is" upon seeing his Gamekeeper's look of concentration.
With a quiet crack Dumbledore seemed to have vanished and while normal Privet drive onlookers may have been surprised by his disappearance his companions kept talking. The mass of blankets with black hair snuggled a bit tighter into the massive hands of the man holding him.
Minerva used the opportunity to better explain the situation to Hagrid and help align him towards the most sensible goals. To protect the child not only from external threats but those who care for him.
As Dumbledore reappeared 100 miles away in Godric's Hollow, it occurred to him. Sirius was the secret betrayer. Albus was not in his best fighting state. After several parties and a few libations, he would have preferred avoiding Death Eater spies. Nevertheless he steeled his sparkling blue eyes, preparing for an unavoidable confrontation.
Sirius was no where to be found, but perhaps it was a trap. He sniffed and opened his magic receptors to the stench of Death Soul magic, and realized Aurors would probably be around collecting evidence. Sirius would be foolish to attack here.
He drew his Elder wand and silently cast a weak form of Revelio. Hominem Revelio was a great spell, however to the magically attuned, it was obvious they were being revealed. Revelio the precursor spell revealed a general direction of even the slightest movement.
He determined that the only movement came from the pair of Aurors outside the Potter home. Just to confirm he lit his wand with a silent and powerful blue and white lumos maxima to see if anyone would stir at its sight.
Where was Black? He asked himself for the fourth time that night. "Good evening, John Dawlish? Congratulations on the appointment... Alastor." He continued with a nod to his grizzled and trusted friend.
"Sorry to trouble you during your investigation but have you seen a Mr. Black?" asked Dumbledore nonchalantly. He kept his voice casual, while he was sure that Black was Secret keeper it would be best not to make any sudden moves and approach the situation with delicacy.
"He mentioned he would head to his house Albus. Why is there trouble?" Alastor responded. Alastor deemed that Albus was being a bit too casual given he came out here in the middle of the night and drew his wand.
"Oh no trouble, Alastor" pressed Albus. "Well I'll be off then" he said as he apparated quickly with a loud pop.
Alastor was just admonishing the junior auror about constant vigilance, and Dumbledore comes by to ask about Sirius. They didn't even interview him, despite Black being at the scene of the crime.
"Constant Vigilance!" Barked a hoarse Moody as he grabbed John by each shoulder and side along apprated both of them after Dumbledore. It was the 4th time he had been able to grab the man unaware and he felt slighted by his partner assignment.
Albus noticed the whish of air behind him, and sensed that it belonged to the Aurors. He considered telling them off, but decided that would put them at even greater risk. It might not be so bad to have them at his back. So feeling a bit more confident, he planned his entry.
At #12 Gosfield Street, he began casting anti-apparition charms, and transfigured a few lemon drops into a swarm of bees that he might enlarge if he needed to protect himself or his allies. Finally, he cast sonorousstructo to enhance noises within the house and listened. Then he knocked, keeping everything sociable and friendly.
Finally, he was able to hear something. All of a sudden three things happened at once. Sirius had landed hard on his back after some sort of umbrella stand tripped him, one of Dumbledore's bees stung him on his thigh exactly on King's cross station of his London Tube scar, and John Dawlish squeaked in surprise as Moody whacked him with his cane.