Chapter 2

"Albus, the recent attacks on the new graduates are cause for great concern," Minster of Magic Jerrison Turpin started, his hands twisting in nervous apprehension. "And not just for the Ministry! The public outcry is beyond anything we have previously experienced."

The highly respected and decorated Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat back in the chair of his office, slowly drawing on a long stemmed pipe, staring at the head of British magical government, his scorn carefully concealed. It was just like the man to panic in a new situation. It was a good thing that his term would be coming to an end within the year, perhaps then a real leader could be elevated to the position.

"I am not unaware of the political repercussions of Voldemort's change in tactics, Minister, though I find them secondary to the consideration that my students are being assassinated. I have seven years investment into each student who leaves Hogwarts, they are the best and brightest of our world, to lose even one is a loss that we should not bear."

Jerrison Turpin flinched at the cold steel of the Supreme Mugwump's voice.

"I suspect that this time Voldemort has made a fatal mistake. He does not understand the way others care about progeny and those families that have lost a piece of their future will be all the more committed to his destruction. I know that you have already accepted the financial aid offered by the Zabinis and Goldsteins. I urge you to throw the funding into the aurors and to bring in the help you have been unwilling to pay for that the Australians have offered.

"As for the safety of the next year's Hogwarts graduates I have already decided on a course of action. A newly established foundation has provided Hogwarts with the financial means of its own to pursue the establishment of an institute of higher learning."

The Minister sucked in his breath harshly as Dumbledore's gaze pierced him and inwardly he cursed viciously.

The Hogwarts Charter was drafted in 979AD by the Four Founders in agreement with the British Monarchy, which at the time was the legal government of both the Magical and Muggle worlds. Aethelred II, known to history as the Unready, had sat upon the throne for just a year after murder of his elder brother. His rule was pockmarked by invasions of the British Isles by the Danes, and he squandered nearly one hundred thousand pounds of silver buying temporary non-aggression over two decades.

His incessant need of funds had made it easy for the Four Founders of Hogwarts to take advantage of his position for a favorable Charter, and they did. In return for the land, legitimacy, and assurance that Hogwarts would remain solely in the hands of its headmaster and board, which was chosen from the existing faculty, the Four Founders provided yearly payments of fifteen hundred pounds of silver for a single decade. They had also provided a court wizard, who was charged with Aethelred's safety. The contract itself was a magical one at the insistence of the four and bound all future British governments to its terms. The ten years ran their course, and Aethelred II passed in 1016 AD, and with his passing any control the government had over Hogwarts expired. Generations of leaders afterward had forever cursed Aethelred's name for placing a gold mine outside of their control.

In the thousand years that followed, Hogwarts became the model for other magical institutions that rose up around the world. Beauxbatons was a product of the Renaissance and was the model on which Versailles was later built. Durmstrang followed in 1618 and its first ten graduating classes contributed directly to the start of the Thirty Years War. Salem began as little more than a schoolhouse in 1690 and was almost immediately struck by tragedy. It reformed in 1720 with proper wards to protect its students.

The Middle East erected its first in Damascus. Shortly after, concessions and agreements with imperialized countries led to the Dutch forming a magical university in Johannesburg, and the English founding another in Delhi. Hong Kong and Beijing soon constructed their own and those two were followed almost immediately by the founding of another in Tokyo. Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Brazil all followed in the late 19th century.

Some of these schools, like Hogwarts, accepted only those with certain aptitude. Others took any who could pay. Small, government funded schools became commonplace in Britain and most 2nd and 1st world countries in the 1900s. These schools operated mostly as trade schools, training the majority of the skilled labor force within the magical community. Graduates of these schools often resented the success of the alumni of the larger magical institutions.

Within the last hundred years the Ministry of Magic, with the backing of the voters, had been attempting to find a foothold in Hogwarts. Pressure was put on the Hogwarts coffers by passing a law that taxed donations to private institutions and Hogwarts was forced to put off plans to open up the world's first magical institute for higher magical education. As donations ebbed the ministry had graciously offered to fund the school if it could have a vote on the Hogwarts board.

Then Headmaster Dippet's rage was legendary when the offer was made. Taking advantage of little known provisions of the Charter he had revoked the diplomas of several alumni who had attempted to use the pressure being put on Hogwarts to raise their own personal public standing. This action instantly changed the status of their eligibility to serve on the Wizengamot and they were removed from those offices by the magic of the oaths they swore.

Two World Wars and a number of other international conflicts came and went, and the Ministry refused to back down from its stance. Now, ninety-one years later, the financial windfall Hogwarts had needed had arrived.

Dumbledore continued, "It will start as a three year programme. Those who wish to stay at the school will be allowed to remain here, in relative safety."

Jerrison caught the meaning clearly. The ministry had four years to end the threat of Voldemort and prevent the massacre of another year's graduates from Hogwarts. Of course, the new Magical University would not provide a safe haven to graduates of other British schools and hoping he had an opening, the Minister of Magic took it. The response was chilling.

"Minister Turpin, it is not Hogwarts job to act as protector of the populace as a whole. I am doing what I am allowed to do by the guidelines of the Charter. It is your responsibility to provide protection for the magicals of Britain. Use aurors or fund the warding of homes through the goblins, but do not attempt to place this burden outside of your control. I am not heartless, and I no more like that the graduating classes of Greenwich and Edinburgh suffered the same fate as my own, but I am still just a private citizen, and this is a private business. You will not force Hogwarts to shoulder Atlas' burden."

There was a brief pause before the shamed Minister bid his farewell and the floo connection ended. Dumbledore took a deep drag from his pipe in an effort to calm his raging magic before turning towards his office entrance, a corner not visible from the fireplace, and gesturing for his Deputy Headmistress to come forward.

"It's true then, Albus? We truly have received the funding?"

"I have received confirmation of such this morning Minerva, along with news I'm sure will delight you. Young Lily Potter is expecting." A grin split the elderly woman's face. Lily Potter, or Lily Evans as she had been when she had attended Hogwarts, was amongst the favorites of all the faculty. Though muggleborn, she had adapted splendidly to Hogwarts and the magical community as a whole. She was widely regarded as the brightest star to have graduated Hogwarts in recent years.

Her engagement and subsequent marriage to James Potter, who had become Head of the Potter family with the death of his parents in his fifth year at Hogwarts, had been something out of a fairy tale. And not just because James had broken out of an arranged marriage in order to follow his heart.

The Potters were amongst the oldest of the British Wizarding families, their lineage traced back to the Peverells of legend. Their vast holdings around the area of Godric's hollow and their strong backing of the Glorious revolution alongside William Cavendish had caused them to be elevated to the peerage, and they were granted the hereditary title of the Magical Dukedom of Devonshire. The Potters and the Cavendishes maintained favorable relations through the split of the magical and muggle governments and a number of joint ventures fell fully into Potter control when the fifth Duke of Devonshire died a bachelor.

"What wonderful news!" Minerva McGonagall exclaimed. "I could not be happier for the two of them!"

Dumbledore gave her a knowing smile, recognizing his second's joy for her favorite student. "Indeed, and I must add, it is due to the Potters that we are have procured the funding we have so needed. Young Duke Potter has graciously ceded full control of the Cavendish to the Hogwarts Foundation for Higher Magical Education. Minerva's jaw dropped at the news and the now jovial Headmaster laughed at her sudden comprehension.


October 31st, 1981

"It's Voldemort! Take our son and run! I'll delay him!"

"No! I won't leave you!"

"You must! Please, you must save -"

An explosion ripped through house as the last of the wards protecting the ancient manor fell against an onslaught of magic it was ill-equipped to handle.

The woman met her husband's eyes and saw the plea there. Each of them knew of the possibility their son could be necessary to the defeat of the Dark Lord that plagued their country. With tears in her eyes she forced an "I love you" to roll off her tongue and turned away from her husband, desolate in the knowledge that he was about to die for her and their child.

Fleeing to the nursery she grabbed her child, bundled in a blanket, from his crib. A magical backlash slammed into her through her marriage bond and she knew, unequivocally, that her husband had just given his life in her defense. Grief held her immobile for an instant before determination to make her husband's sacrifice count for something rose within her breast.

She spun in place and the distinctive CRACK of apparition sounded through the nursery, but the woman and her child did not disappear. Panic began to set as she frantically murmured Portus over a small rattle. Grasping hold of the baby's toy she felt the magic of a portkey grab ahold of her, and release its power, but once again she remained within the small room. She sank to her knees, despair flooding her body as she comprehended the totality of her failure.

She and her son were about to join her husband. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. She clenched her son to her chest with all the strength her arms could manage through her wracking sobs, unable to even understand that she was hurting her child with the force of her crushing hug. His cries joined her own as the door of the nursery opened, revealing her husband's murderer.

He may have been considered a handsome man once, strong facial features and frame could each have been developed into something beautiful, but the man had rejected his physical form for his magic. His skin pulled tight over his strong cheekbones, making him look gaunt, his dark eyes were sunk back into their sockets. His robes hung loose over his sickly-pale skin.

"Foolish woman," his scorn dripping from each word. "Did you really think you could escape me?"

The woman pushed herself back into a corner of the room, shielding her child within her protective embrace.

"I've no quarrel with you, girl. Separate yourself from your son and I shall allow you to live."

Still sobbing, she shook her head in rejection of Voldemort's offer.

"Very well, give my regards to your husband." A skeletal hand rose and two fateful words were spoken. "Avada Kedavra." A sickly green light shot from the wand held between those frail fingers and quickly traversed the distance between the caster and victims.

The curse threaded the woman's arms and struck the babe's forehead. The energy of the lethal magic should have instantly ended the life of the baby boy, but the unstoppable force suddenly met another power – the immovable object. Deterred from seeking the babe's life-force, the energy of the curse continued through to the mother and claimed her life instead.

Having claimed the mother's life the curse again tried to claim the child's, but its power had been dimmed in the taking of the mother. It was no longer as unstoppable as it had been upon its casting. Forcefully, the immovable object denied the Killing Curse its second victim and the spell was returned in a backlash to the one who had cast it.

Even if he had expected the impossible to happen, Voldemort had no time in which to dodge. The curse, denied its intended victim, was more than happy to claim its new host. The threat was over. It would be several hours before someone came to the house and discovered what had occurred.

When Dumbledore was informed of the events he bowed his head in mourning. The fulfillment of prophecy seemed to always demand a high price.

A special edition of the Daily Prophet ran the next morning.

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Vanquished at Longbottom Manor!

Neville Longbottom Hailed as Boy-Who-Lived!

It was not tears of joy that held every face as perused the Prophet, however. Staring at page ten many were forced to confront news which broke their hearts.

Duke and Duchess Potter Murdered at Home

Heir Found Alive in Smoldering Ruins


"James and Lily, Sirius! How could you?!"

The outburst caught the young Black completely by surprise. He knew that James and Lily had chosen Peter as the secret keeper. But, could that have been misdirection as well? Had they chosen Remus? Or possibly another? His inattention was his downfall.

Peter Pettigrew, by all accounts the least powerful magically of the four friends throughout his school years, showed that subterfuge and guile could match raw magical talent. A slicing charm removed a finger from his left hand, and an overpowered blasting hex removed half the muggle street behind him. Dropping his wand, nothing but a burned out core now, he morphed into his animagus form of a rat and scurried into a nearby sewage drain.

Ministry aurors, still monitoring all magic cast throughout the isles, arrived in response to the massive magical reading from the area. Sirius Black, in a moment of rage and insanity, was found holding his old friend's finger and wand, alternating between barking laughs and sobs.

He was immediately taken into custody on suspicion of murder, breaking of the statutes of secrecy, and of conspiracy. His family history was a mark against him, and the inquiry held determined that he had killed his friend Peter Pettigrew and betrayed the Potters whilst acting as their Secret Keeper. He was brought to Azkaban until such time that a formal trial could be held.

Sirius was introduced to the pleasures of the dementors, and lost himself in the pain and misery they brought. He would not get his trial any time soon. The Magna Carta was not magically binding and Habeus Corpus was not a right guaranteed a wizard.


November 2nd, 1981

"Remus Lupin?" the magistrate called.

"Yes, your honor." The young man who answered stood tall and proud, despite clothes that seemed a size too large and eyes that far older than they should be.

"I regret to tell you that your petition for guardianship of one Harold James Potter has been denied. It is the feeling of the state that because of your affliction you would not be able to provide a completely safe environment for the child. Guardianship will be passed to young Mr. Potter's aunt. A child care stipend will be paid from his trust vault to ensure his care."

"But, your honor, his relatives are muggles."

"Your objection is noted. However, in this situation the muggles in question already know about the world of magic. There are many witches and wizards that come from the muggle world, and the court has no issue with having the child raised by his muggle relatives."

"Your honor, in most cases I agree. But muggleborns do not have the station in the Wizarding world that Harry Potter will have. If the court is set on placing him with his relatives, might I apply for magical guardianship?"

"I apologize, Mr. Lupin. The court has made its decision. The child will have his muggle relatives. The anonymity granted him in the muggle world may even help protect him from those that seek him. Additionally, once again, your lycanthropy prevents my granting you magical guardianship."

Remus Lupin did not respond other than to look down to the floor. He had lost everyone dear to him. His curse had prevented him from garnering many friends throughout his Hogwarts years, but James, Sirius, and Peter had been all he could have wished for. Now James and Peter lay dead, Sirius was imprisoned for being a Death Eater, and he could not even raise the child of his best friend because of an illness he had contracted as a child himself.

"Very well, your honor. If it is the court's will?"

"It is."

The man left the courtroom broken, unshed tears in his eyes.


"Coming!"

Irritation was evident in the cry, the knock at the door had interrupted her housecleaning. Petunia Dursley had never been accused of being easy-going, and her single-minded focus on appearances was hardly an endearing trait.

Nonetheless, she felt contentment with her life. She had a husband, albeit one that was neither affectionate nor doting, and a wonderful little boy. Though it was not the perfect life she had imagined as a child whilst playing House, it was good. Vernon's income was enough that she could be the homemaker she always wanted to be, and her little Dudley was quickly growing, clearly inheriting his father's genes for girth.

Another rap ran through the house.

"I said I'm coming!"

Opening the door with a little more force than required Petunia was brought face to face with a man and woman in morning dress.

"May I help you?" Petunia's irritation with the two was curbed somewhat by their smart appearance.

"Missus Dursley?" the man inquired with a tip of his hat.

"I am she."

"Fantastic, we were worried you would not still be living at your last known residence. My name is Nathaniel Buckley, and this is my colleague Prudence. We are here bearing unfortunate news and a proposition." Concern creased Petunia's face as Nathaniel's voice became solemn. "Missus Dursley, I regret to inform you that your sister, one Lily Potter, nee Evans, was murdered on the night of October 31st." Shock ran through Petunia's core.

She had broken contact with her sister some years before, jealousy souring a relationship that had once been close. When Lily had received that cursed letter Petunia's world had fallen apart. Why was it Lily got to be the one to go off to a special school, why did Lily get to have the world of magic open up to her, and why was she, Petunia, left in a mundane world, jaded by the possibilities of what could have been?

Still, Petunia would never have wished this upon her estranged sister. Memories of playground fun ran through her mind as grief paralyzed her power of speech.

"I apologize for having to be the bearer of this news, Missus Dursley. Your sister's husband -"

Lily was married?

"- had no family left alive, or we would not be here. You see, you are the only family left for your nephew."

With a child? I can't deal with this right now!

"I'm sorry Mister Buckley. I broke contact with my sister many years ago." A shadow of pain flashed across Petunia's face. "I was unaware she was married, yet alone had a child." She paused.

"I don't think that my husband's and my situation permits us at this time to take care of another child. I recently had a child of my own, and our finances are strained as it is."

"I understand the difficulties a child can cause with regards to finances, Ma'am," Nathaniel spoke, "but young Mister Potter does need a home. Additionally, from his family's estate, the courts have decided a lump sum payment of five hundred thousand pounds sterling would be made for his upbringing. That should offset any possible financial difficulties you could have."

Petunia stood in shock. Half a million pounds was more than she ever expected to see. The things she always wanted as a child seemed more in reach. But even as greed took ahold in her mind, guilt gnawed at her stomach. She did not want this child, Lily's child. It would be painful to look at him if he looked like Lily. Was she considering taking him now just to profit off her sister's death?

"That is – a most generous offer, Mister Buckley. Might I have a moment to attempt to reach my husband, to consult with him about the situation? I could serve you tea while you wait?"

Nathaniel turned from her and quickly consulted with his colleague. "That will be fine, Missus Dursley. We can stay only a quarter hour, however, we do have other pressing business to attend to."

The two newcomers followed Petunia into the sitting room and each settled into a lounge. Petunia dismissed herself into the kitchen where she put a kettle of water on the stove to boil and then quickly lifted the phone from the receiver to dial her husband at work.

Five minutes later she had an answer for the two visitors, but felt no better. Vernon had been unequivocal. Take the money, they would deal with everything that came with an extra child. Returning to her guests she spoke with a confidence she did not feel.

"Mister Buckley, Prudence, my husband and I have decided we are able to take my nephew in with the generous stipend provided."

Her company both stood, and Prudence produced several scrolls of old, yellowed paper. These were handed to Petunia with Nathaniel explaining that they were both the adoption papers and the papers for the execution of the transfer of funds. As soon as her signature was imprinted Prudence handed her unsigned copies of the documents for Petunia's record, and then pulled out a stick roughly a foot long.

Though she had known these visitors must be magicians, the sight of the wand invoked the buried feelings of jealousy in Petunia's stomach once again. With a few unintelligible words a baby's crib was revealed upon Petunia's couch and she gasped in shock.

"Missus Dursley," Nathaniel began, "as you can see, we brought your nephew Harry Potter along with us in hopes you would take guardianship." With an easy motion he removed the blanket covering the child from view.

Petunia involuntarily flinched, the expectation of seeing some piece of Lily creating a sinking feeling in her gut. But facing her was a babe that seemingly had nothing of her sister. Relief flooded Petunia just as shame at what she was feeling took hold.

Nathaniel took Petunia's silence as his queue to leave. "Thank you, Missus Dursley, for taking in your nephew. Prudence and I do need to return to the Ministry at this time, we will leave you to get to know your new son. Also, your stipend will be wired to your account at the Bank of England from Gringotts. We will make sure there are no tax implications to you from Her Majesty's Government. Have a good rest of your day, Ma'am."

"Good day to you as well Mister Buckley." With that said, both guests disappeared from her sitting room with a CRACK that caused Petunia to jump in fright. Her new charge was awakened by the sharp report and all the relief Petunia felt at his appearance vanished as she stared into his bright green eyes.


Over four years had passed since Petunia and Vernon had made the biggest mistake of their lives. Taking in their nephew had seemed to make good sense when the offer had been made, and it had been. The couple had been able to pay off their mortgage, get a new car, and start a college fund for their son Dudley, but neither had anticipated the constant feeling of being watched.

At first both had ignored the feeling, putting it off as unnecessary paranoia. But, each was also woefully ignorant of the Wizarding world, and the idea that its members could do anything had rapidly infiltrated their minds. Petunia had, after all, seen them make a child invisible to her, as well as disappear straight out of her home.

Every backfire of a car became the arrival or departure of some unseen watcher in their minds, the feeling of being watched pervaded their lives. Petunia could no longer leave windows open in the house, for fear of being observed. Vernon became nervous for his wife's safety when he left the house to go to work. Each of them subconsciously knew that this was not their nephew's fault, but each had come to regard their adopted son with anger, and a small amount of fear.

Each was afraid that the watchers outside would hurt them if they treated their son with any more preference than 'the boy,' and so they worked hard to pretend they loved the child as much as their own. As they ran the charade, their loathing of the boy grew. He was taking from them the time they should be able to spend with Dudley! Harry Potter was the cause of the watchers, of the constant unease!

For two years Petunia had strained her brain, trying to come up with some way out of the magical contract she had signed without giving up the funds she and Vernon had been granted. Then, one day, it clicked.

"Vernon!" Petunia screamed into the phone, tears of joy running out of her eyes, "Vernon I've done it! I figured out how we can escape most of the responsibility of the contract!"

"How, Pet?"

"I was thinking about Lily. Just before we broke contact she had told me that when I married and my name changed, I would need to inform her of the change. Without the correct name, their methods of finding people are horribly unreliable. It had something to do with a name change being recognized by – Magic – itself. Then I got to thinking that if we changed our last name, and the boy's, then we could disappear. They cannot track non-magicals well anyway, and they would not be able to track the boy if they did not know his new name. He wouldn't be Harry Potter anymore!"

Petunia could feel Vernon's excitement over the line.

"Pet, darling, do you really think it will work? We'll sort out the details when I get home!"


January 11th, 1986 became the day the Wizarding world lost one of the orphans of Allantide, though it would be many months before anyone would know. The ministry, in its usual efficiency, made yearly observations of magical children in muggle households. Thus it was not until the anniversary of Harry Potter's adoption that anyone from the Wizarding world thought to look at the Potter file.


June 31st, 1996

"Albus!" the voice came from the fireplace almost before the green tinted floo-face showed in the hearth. "Albus! Fantastic news!" The face shined bright with an "I know something you don't know" visage.

The elderly Headmaster of Hogwarts turned from his desk with a deliberate slowness towards the voice he had quickly recognized as belonging to Cornelius Fudge, the current Minster of Magic.

"Cornelius. It's wonderful to see you as well. What, if I may ask, has brought you to my fireplace aglow?"

The middle-aged politician laughed gaily. "Potter, Albus! Harry Potter has reappeared!"

This proclamation was completely unexpected and the Supreme Mugwump could not help looking over at a shelf that held numerous arcane objects. One, mostly hidden by a wealth of others, which had been stationary for a decade was indeed slowly rotating again. Dumbledore quickly took stock of the situation. What did the return of Harry Potter to the Wizarding world mean to him, personally? What did the lad's return mean for Hogwarts? And what did it mean for Wizarding Britain as a whole?

Dumbledore immediately analyzed his own stock in the situation and discovered that he harbored some small personal attachment to the boy due to his parentage. Lily and James had enabled Dumbledore's personal influence to expand tremendously with their grant of the Cavendish to Hogwarts. The loss of the same in the Potter holdings was no doubt a tremendous sacrifice.

Which led to what the Potter boy's return would mean to Hogwarts. Though there would likely be no academic or monetary benefit to the school to have the child attending, it would bring a certain amount of prestige. Additionally, it would send the idea that the Potter family still supported the school, having already made it the premier learning institution in the world. That notion would make the Ministry of Magic much more cautious in how they handled their often heavy handed attempts to gain some measure of influence over the school.

For Wizarding Britain the child's return would bring celebration. Though it had been the Longbottom's sacrifice which was responsible for the destruction of Tom Riddle, it was Duke and Duchess Potter that had eviscerated Voldemort's Inner Circle in defense of their home. The Potters' sacrifices, though overlooked in the initial jubilation were in many families just as celebrated as the Longbottoms'. Cornelius, Dumbledore thought, was clearly after the popularity boost that Harry Potter could bring to his lackluster administration.

The older wizard took a moment to make sure he was composed before responding.

"And have we made contact with the young Lord Potter?"

The question led to the minute dimming of Cornelius' attitude. "Not at this time, but we are pursuing all available leads and avenues by which to bring Harry Potter back into the fold of our world."

It was a politician's answer, Albus noted with sadness, and probably meant that the Ministry of Magic had no idea where the boy was.

"I see. When, exactly, did Mister Potter re-emerge?"

"We noticed the change yesterday evening, during a routine examination."

"And when did the change occur, Cornelius?" Dumbledore posed, noting the politico doublespeak.

The statesman's mood dimmed slightly once more. "June 3rd."

"So we are a month behind the curve. No doubt the goblins have already attempted contact with Mister Potter. Have we contacted them about his current status?"

"Albus! We've hardly even mobilized our own resources and you're advocating we outsource?" Fudge sounded scandalized.

Dumbledore cursed the man's stupidity. Was not it proof enough of the Ministry's incompetence that it had taken a full month for the Department of Magic Monitoring to notice the return of one of the most sought after magical children to the grid?

"Cornelius, I merely think that we should take every opportunity we can in order to make contact with Mister Potter with all haste. Has he not been parted from the world of his birth for long enough?"

Albus could see the visage of the Minister crumple in thought.

"Perhaps you are right, Albus. I will have my aides pursue any avenue of contact available to us."

"That is all I ask, Cornelius. Now, while I thank you for the most welcome news, I must attend to other matters. May we continue this conversation some other time?"

"Of course, Albus."

"Thank you. Godspeed, Cornelius."


The storm broke several days later when an intrepid reporter got her hands upon an internal memo detailing the progress of the search. Said reporter broke the news to the Wizarding public through the Daily Prophet. The public's clamoring was loud and demanding. They wanted Fudge and the Ministry of Magic to bring Harry Potter back, but the teen was nowhere to be found.

Pleas for his return were printed in the editorials of the papers. Unconfirmed sightings of the lad rained through the ministry floos. Fudge even stepped on the toes of Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and ordered an auror task force assembled.

It had been a month since the aurors had been tasked with finding Harry Potter, and not one sighting had been confirmed. The goblins, with their usual scorn, declined to give any assistance to the wizards looking for their client, only confirming that he had met with them on June 15th. Amelia Bones sat at her desk, frustrated with her situation. She had known the Potters. James and Lily had come to Hogwarts in her own 5th year. He, heir to the Potter dukedom, was destined to become one of Wizarding Britain's most eligible bachelors. She, a muggleborn prodigy, had made a name for herself even by the time Amelia had graduated.

It was not long after Amelia had graduated through Auror academy that the two graduated Hogwarts and married. She had assisted with some of the testing for James Potter as he toyed with the idea of joining the aurory. It was a terribly sad day for her when the young couple passed. Now though, she was feeling a certain amount of frustration regarding their son. Intellectually, she knew and could accept that Harry was not at fault for her current situation, but she just wished that he could toss her a bone regarding his location!

A knock at her office door broke her from her reverie. "Come in!"

She was mildly surprised to find that the minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge, walked into her office. She immediately stood.

"Minister, good morning to you."

"Amelia, a wonderful morning to you as well." Amelia noticed there was a little skip in Fudge's step.

"How could I help you today, Cornelius?" she opted for a less formal address due to her superior's good mood.

"I have news, Amelia. A recent audit of Flourish and Blotts has revealed that young Mister Potter has been making recent purchases in Diagon Alley through the use of a house elf." He smiled, pleased with the information he had uncovered.

"That is good news, Cornelius. It all but proves our suspicion that Harry Potter has taken up residence in one of the Potter estates. If the goblins had been willing to assist earlier, I'm sure we could have had this information a month ago."

"You can find him from here I hope?" queried Fudge with an obvious misunderstanding of how important such information would be.

Amelia chose to be careful with the information she imparted next. "Minister, as I mentioned, we have suspected for quite some time that Harry Potter was living at one of his family properties. We have already mounted a search of those properties which we could. Young Mister Potter is not residing at any of them we could access." Fudge frowned.

"We believe that he may be at the Potter manor house in Devonshire. The property wards are formidable. We ran diagnostics on them, of course, what came back was not promising. We may as well try to invade Hogwarts."

The pudgy Minister cut in, "Surely it can't be so bad, Amelia. After all, if the wards were so significant, Lord and Lady Potter would have hidden there, rather than in Godric's Hollow."

"There is evidence that the wards are goblin constructed sir," Amelia countered. "The decay rates seem to indicate that they were completed at some point after the deaths of Lily and James. Perhaps the Potters had commissioned the wards and planned to move back to the property when the wards were completed?"

Fudge nodded. "It is possible. That does not leave us in an envious position though. If Harry Potter does not come out from behind the wards, how are we to contact him?"

"There may be two possibilities for that, Minister. Though I am loathe to suggest at least one."

Fudge motioned for her to continue.

"It is possible that the Potters had certain acquaintances keyed to their warding scheme. Remus John Lupin, perhaps. He was a good friend of theirs through school, though he is a registered werewolf."

Fudge bristled. "I hope, Amelia, Mister Lupin is the suggestion you were loath to make!"

"Unfortunately not, Minister. In fact, it is because of his malady that I believe the Potters may not have included Mister Lupin into the warding scheme." The head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement made herself speak in the most non-threatening tones she could manage.

"The suggestion I am loathe to make is that seeing as the Potters had already trusted him with such an important task, it is almost a certainty that Sirius Black has access to the Potter Manor."

Fudge looked on the brink of apoplexy and Amelia rushed to assure him that she was mentioning the possibility to him only to fully explore the options, no matter how insane. It did not take long to calm the Minster down long enough for him to think about both options.

"Lupin is not an option," Fudge declared after a few minutes of silence. "I can only imagine how the press would chew me up if it came out we had used the services of a werewolf in the search for Harry Potter! Gods! What if he were bitten?" Amelia held her tongue with some difficulty. The minster was not a man known for his moments of brilliance. She remained quiet as he continued to muse.

"That leaves us Black. That would be an even larger PR disaster than Lupin, but one also much easier to cover up. After all, no one has visited Black since his stay in Azkaban began. Yes, the more I think about this, the more I think it could work.

"Amelia, get with Croaker and his spooks down in the DoM. Find a way to have those wards broken if we can get Black on the inside. I want this foolproof. Give me a report on the matter before the end of the week. I want the Potter boy found as soon as possible, the public is not letting this issue drop and I need to put it to bed!" Privately, Amelia thought the man was making a mistake, but she held her tongue. When Cornelius Fudge decided on a course of action, as it seemed he had here, it was nigh impossible to dissuade him, and trying could only be bad for her own career.