Chapter 1

The Twins That Lived

It was a dark and misty Tuesday night on Privet Drive. Privet Drive was the most ordinary street, in the most ordinary town in London. Each house had the same look, with the same perfectly mowed grass, and the most ordinary people. One of them was the most ordinary family you would ever meet. The Dursley family was plain and boring, and they were proud of it. This family consisted of Vernon Dursley, a plump fat man that at times almost looked purple; Petunia a slim blond woman with a jutting out face that resembled a horse; and their son Dudley, an equally fat baby that had the most horrible temper a child could ever have. Tonight, however, would be the last night that the Dursleys would ever be ordinary. At the end of the street was an elderly man. He wore the most colorful cloak anyone has ever seen with a pointed hat on his head to match. On his face was a pair of half-moon spectacles, and a long white beard that reached down to his waist. In his hand was a device that when used collected each individual light from each street lamp that stood. Sitting next to him was a small tabby cat looking up at him. The man looked down at the tabby cat with a smirk coming across his face.

"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall."

The tabby cat then shifted into a stern looking woman with long green robes a matching pointed hat, and square glasses over her eyes.

"How did you know it was me?"

"My dear Professor, I've never seen a cat sit so stiffly."

"You'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on a wall all day."

"All day? When you could have been out celebrating? I must have passed at least a dozen parties on my way here."

McGonagall huffed at the mention of all the celebrations.

"Oh yes, everybody's celebrating, all right. You would think they'd be a bit more careful, but no-even the muggles have noticed something's going on. It was on their news. Flocks of owls, shooting stars, they were bound to notice something. I bet the shooting stars in Kent were due to Dedalus Diggle, he never had much sense."

"You can't blame them, we've had so little to celebrate for eleven years."

"I know that, but that's no reason to be so careless. They are walking around in broad daylight, not even in their muggle clothes, swapping rumors. The last thing we need is the muggles finding out about us right as we are finally rid of You-Know-Who. He really is gone, isn't he?"

"It seems so Professor. And must you use that ridiculous term, for eleven years I've had to hear that nonsense. His name was Voldemort. Like I say `fear of the name, only increases fear of the thing itself. `"

"Yes but you are different. The only reason you are not as powerful as he was is because you are to kind and humble to gain that kind of power the way he did."

"It's lucky its dark, I haven't blushed like this since madam Pomfrey complemented my new earmuffs."

The Professor shot a sharp look at him.

"The owls are nothing compared to the rumors they have been spouting about how he disappeared. They are saying that he was defeated by twin babies. That he died from going to the house of James and Lily Potter, killing them both, then trying to kill their son and daughter. It couldn't possibly be true, right Albus?"

Albus just bowed his head and the realization slowly crept over McGonagall's face. She put a hand to her face as he eyes streamed with tears. She cried for her two friends, two friends she watched grow up, two friends she would never see again.

"But how could he not kill twins, only a year, after all he's done?"

"I do not know Professor, and we may never find out."

He then pulled out an unusual pocket watch. It was round and golden but inside it held planets instead of numbers, and twelve hands instead of two. If anyone else was looking at it, they would never be able to figure it out. But Albus could read it perfectly.

"Hagrid is late. I suppose he is the one to tell you to meet me here?"

"Yes, and I don't suppose you are going to tell me why we are meeting here in the first place."

"I've come to bring Harry and Hope to their aunt and uncle."

They stopped in front of Number Four Privet Drive, and McGonagall realized exactly who he was taking them to.

"Albus, you can't possibly mean the people who live here, they are as far as you can get from us. And their son is terrible. He was kicking and screaming at his mother all the while she treated him as if he were a perfect angel."

"It's the best place for him, away from all that fame. I've written a letter explaining everything. When the time is right, they will tell them."

"Dumbledore, these people couldn't possible understand him. They'll be famous, there will be books written about them, there won't be a child in our world that won't know his name."

"Exactly Professor, they are better to grow up away from all that. Fame like that at such a young age, famous before you can walk or talk, can give anyone a big head. When they find out when they're older, they will be better prepared."

McGonagall opened her mouth to protest, but shut it when she realized he was right.

"You're right, as usual, but how are they getting here?"

"Hagrid is bringing them."

"You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?"

"Professor, I would trust Hagrid with my life."

Before she could protest further, a bright white light was coming towards them from the sky following a rumble that was getting louder by the second. A minute later and what landed was a flying motorbike. The driver of the motorbike, however was larger than any man you would ever meet. He was at least double the height of the average man with a face barely visible behind his dark curly hair from his head and beard. From what you could see though were shining eyes that were as black as night, a large round button nose, and full lips that seemed to be pulled in a constant smile. Hi hands were as large as trash lids, and his giant feet were covered in leather boots. As he walked you could almost feel the vibrations of his great size walking towards you. And around his middle was a bunch of blankets'

"Hagrid, at last, I hope there was no trouble. And where in the world did you get that motorbike?"

"Borrowed it sir, from young Sirius Black, lent it to me so I could get here safely. There was no trouble, house was almost destroyed, but I got there before the muggle started swarmin' it. The boy fell asleep as we were flyin' over Bristol. The girl is still awake, she keeps looking around as if she is studying everything around her, a smart one she is."

The professors looked into the bundle of blankets to see the twins. One fast asleep with a tuft of messy black hair on his head and a lightning scar on his forehead. The other was a girl with long dark red hair that was almost black. Her hazel eyes were wide open and curious as she held tightly onto her brother, as if she had known what happened tonight. Professor McGonagall noticed the scar on the young boy and looked at Dumbledore.

"Is that where-?"

"Yes, he will have that scar forever."

"Couldn't you do something about it? And what about the girl, how do you think she was affected by this?"

"Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars can come in useful. I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground. As for the girl we will have to see. It is obvious that she has no physical marks but we do not know what has happened with her being in such close proximity when the event happened. It will be something we will have to keep an eye on in the future. Well Hagrid- we best get this done with- if you can hand them over."

Dumbledore took the babies in his arms and started to walk toward the door of the Dursley's home. Before he could get up the walkway Hagrid cried out to him.

"Could I- could I say goodbye to them, sir?"

Dumbledore brought the twins back over to Hagrid and bent down to give them what must have been a scratchy kiss due to his beard. As he raised his head Hope reached her small hand up and gave his a soft pat on the cheek, as if to say 'It's ok'. When he felt the tapping on his cheek he let out a great howl for all to hear. Professor McGonagall quickly reached up to try and stifle his cries before he woke up the whole street.

"Shhhh! You'll wake the muggles!"

She removed her hand but Hagrid, while quieter, couldn't stop blubbering.

"S-s-sorry, but I c-c-can't stand it- Lilly an' James dead – an' poor Harry and Hope off ter' live with Muggles."

'Yes, yes it's all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we'll be found!"

McGonagall patted Hagrid gently on the arm as to try and comfort him. Dumbledore then stepped through the gate of the identical white picket fence that matched all the other houses on Privet Drive, and laid the newly orphaned babies on the doorstep of what will become their new home. He took the letter out of his cloak and placed it in the many blankets. He looked Hope in the eyes and spoke to her as if he knew she would understand.

"Take care of yourself and your brother."

The one year old nodded and placed her tiny arm around Harry and pulled him closer, finally shutting her eyes to go to sleep. When he walked back to his fellow professor and friend they all looked back at the small babies before going their separate ways. Hagrid to take the borrowed bike back to its original owner, and McGonagall back to the school. Before leaving Dumbledore turned back to the still dark street lights and used hid device to put it back the way they were, all lit up down the street casting a low glow on the once ordinary street that will never be just ordinary again. Before disappearing into the night he spoke once more.

"Good luck Harry and Hope."

With that he turned his back and disappeared into the night as if he had never been there at all. That night the twins slept not knowing just how special the two of them were, not expecting to be woken up by the scream of their aunt the next morning. For the next few weeks, other than Harry being pinched and poked by Dudley, and Hope protecting her brother by pinching Dudley back, may people cheered and celebrated. Each celebration was met with exclamations.

"To Harry and Hope Potter – the twins who lived!"