Chapter Three
As Minerva looked up at the moldering house, a trembling of worry shot through her. She thanked God that Harry hadn't been placed with those horrible Dursleys, but she had worried the past ten years what sort of influence these Addamses would have on the poor boy. She remembered the day she and Dumbledore had left Harry in their care.
Harry had been at Hogwarts briefly after the Dursleys refused to take him, and Minerva spent considerable time with the tiny babe. Harry had been so beautiful with the softest hair and sparkling eyes, the perfect combination of Lily and James. Her heart ached for the loss of two of her favorite students. Despite his antics with his fellow Marauders, James was exceptionally skilled in Transfiguration. She had never been prouder of him than the day he had mastered becoming an Animagus at only fifteen years old.
As wild as James had been, Lily was just as kind and gentle, always willing to help someone in need, no matter their House. Despite Lily's professed annoyance with James, Minerva could see the girl's growing affection for him, and it warmed her heart when the two stopped fighting each other and became a couple. She wept with joy as she watched her two students walk down the aisle. Minerva beamed with pride when it was announced they would be expecting a child. And she cried with sorrow when they were killed far too young, leaving their infant son alone in the world.
Minerva had experience raising children from her younger siblings and many nieces and nephews. She had considered herself a potential guardian of the young boy, but Dumbledore had insisted he be raised amongst family. For an entire day, Minerva had watched the Dursleys and their deplorable nature as humans, let alone Muggles, and she had been so thankful when Petunia had outright refused to take Harry in. Once more, she had implored Dumbledore to let her take care of Harry, and for a few days, the boy had been loved and safe in her care, but Albus had found these Addamses and snatched Harry away from her.
Now, as she stood before the ancient-looking mansion, she hoped the son of James and Lily Potter had not been harmed or corrupted by these unusual people's macabre and bizarre nature. She had dressed in a green tartan ladies suit befitting Muggle fashion, her hair tightly pulled back into a bun, held in place by a green, short-brimmed hat; being a Half-Blood, she was more familiar with non-magical customs and styles than other Witches. Her companion, however, there was little that could be done to make him seem unnoticed by Muggles due to his sheer size.
Hagrid, the groundskeeper of Hogwarts, had come with her for protection, he said, in case the Addamses tried causing her any trouble. However, Minerva suspected he wanted to tag along because he'd never been out of Britain before and wanted to see what it was like here in America.
The two had taken a portkey from the London Ministry to MACUSA in New York, a train to Kingsport, New Jersey, and finally a Taxi to arrive at the Addams house. The Cab driver had been shocked to see Hagrid and protested that he'd never fit in the car. Minerva deftly cast an undetectable extension charm to aid in squeezing the half-giant into the small cab.
When told where they were going, the driver was shocked and asked if they wanted to go to the creepy old Addams place. That worried Minerva, but she confirmed that was indeed where they wished to go. The driver had dropped them off, muttering about 'weirdos' and 'freaks,' which only fueled Minerva's apprehensions.
Gathering her wits, Minerva walked forward to open the gate, but it swung open of its own accord, creaking loudly. That was not a good sign in her book. Carefully, she looked around in case anybody was watching, but thankfully, the neighbors remained within their homes. Minerva walked through the gate, and Hagrid squeezed through with some effort. As soon as they were through, the gate slammed shut loudly and latched itself. Shaking her head, Minerva walked up to the front door.
She remembered what Dumbledore told her about the doorbell, so she knocked instead. Just as Albus had described, the door creaked open, and Minerva found herself face to face with the towering butler, looking as though he'd climbed out of the grave.
"Follow me." The cadaverous butler intoned and motioned for the two to enter. The inside of the house was moderately better than the outside, undoubtedly bizarre but nothing too different than most Wizarding houses. Gingerly, Minerva walked around the polar bear rug Albus had warned her about. Hagrid, unfortunately, could not be so delicate and trod directly onto the carpet. An angry roar came from the bear's head, startling Minerva's nerves. Hagrid looked down and chuckled, then stepped off the rug.
Lurch motioned for the two to wait in the living room as he stalked to find his Master and Mistress. Minerva carefully sat on a dusty loveseat and surveyed the room. It was elaborately and eclectically decorated, just as Albus had described. She glanced over at the sneering samurai armor and the taxidermy head of a swordfish with a human leg sticking out of its mouth and shook her head resignedly. Hagrid was fascinated by the two-headed tortoise, wondering where he could find such a fabulous specimen alive. From down the stairs bounded Mr. Addams, his eyes agleam with childlike mischief.
"Ah, Professor, so glad to welcome you to our lovely home!" Gomez reached out his hand to Minerva, who carefully took it. Gomez brought Minerva's hand up to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles. Gomez turned to face Hagrid, and a look of thrill filled his face.
"¡Caramba! My good man, you're even taller than Lurch! Wonderful to meet you, old man!" Gomez enthusiastically shook Hagrid's hand despite its size being nearly three times his own. Hagrid smiled and thanked Mr. Addams. Unlike Minerva, Hagrid seemed quite at home with these Addamses already.
"Mr. Addams, perhaps we could see your young cousin? We must discuss his future at Hogwarts." Gomez turned and gestured upstairs.
"Aw yes, young Harry is up in the attic with his siblings and Uncle Fester!" Suddenly, an explosion shook the house, jolting Minerva from her chair. Gomez chuckled and shook his head.
"Ah, children, what will they get up to next?" Gomez motioned for the two Wizards to follow him upstairs. Minerva followed Mr. Addams up the stairs, passing several unusual portraits. One picture seemed to depict a married couple, but closer examination revealed that the two figures shared one body. Another picture depicted a sailing frigate blown in half, the canvas trickling out water.
Gomez led the two Wizards to a door marked with a skull, crossbones, and a notice to keep out. Another explosion rumbled behind the door. Gomez opened the door and entered the room. Various knives and guns lined the walls, furniture, chests, and suitcases were stacked here and there, and in the corner was a Muggle electric chair that looked suspiciously well-maintained. Beside it sat a small guillotine and a basket of severed doll's heads. This did not settle Minerva's already jangled nerves. She looked towards the window where a small group was gathered. The fat baldheaded man in the dark coat sat by the window of the attic room, a slingshot in one hand and a small, smoking grenade in the other. Three children sat beside him.
"This time, I'll get him right between the eyes!" Fester cackled and drew back his slingshot and fired the grenade. A whistling filled the air as the small projectile flew before landing with a loud explosion. A small girl in pigtails with a pair of spyglasses was watching out the window.
"Missed, just three degrees off, Uncle Fester." Fester frowned and snapped his fingers, then moved over to allow a chubby boy in a striped shirt to line up his shot. Minerva moved closer and glanced out the window. A scarecrow was poised in the back garden, surrounded by smoking craters.
"Go on, Pugsley, blow him sky-high!" encouraged Fester. Pugsley closed one eye, lined up his shot, and loosed his grenade. The projectile flew and collided with the scarecrow. Another explosion and the straw and rag figure was reduced to a smoking ruin.
Fester and Pugsley cheered, and the girl politely applauded. In the garden, Lurch positioned another scarecrow where the last one stood. Pugsley stepped aside to allow a dark-haired boy to take his position. The boy lit a grenade and lined up his shot. He took a breath and then loosed his grenade. The bomb hit the scarecrow square in the face and exploded in flame and fury.
The boy turned with a triumphant smile. Minerva's heart caught at the sight of this young boy; he was growing handsome and strong and looking like James, but his eyes were the same beautiful green as Lily's.
Harry was handsomely dressed in a dark green shirt, a black waistcoat, dark trousers, and boots. His hair was swept back, prominently displaying his scar. Minerva had asked Albus if anything could be done to heal it, but he told her such a dark curse could not be easily hidden, and even so, some scars could come in handy.
Harry noticed Gomez and his guests and stood up, smoothing his clothes of wrinkles. Fester and the others stood from their game as Gomez, McGonagall, and Hagrid entered the room.
"My friends, allow me to introduce my dear brother, Fester, and my beloved children, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Harry." Fester walked up with a big smile and offered his hand.
"Hey there, big fella, put 'er there!" Hagrid took hold of Fester's hand to shake when an arc of electricity sparked between their hands. Hagrid gave a brief yelp of surprise, inspecting his hand, but he wasn't hurt. Fester apologized for the sudden spark between them, saying he needed to remember to ground himself before shaking hands.
Minerva approached Harry, inspecting the boy closely. He seemed to be perfectly healthy as far as she could tell. The Potters had always been lithe of frame, but Harry was strong and wiry. She suspected he'd make quite a Quidditch player once he was older; his Father had been a natural on a broom, and she wondered if Harry would share his talents.
Minerva held out her hand to the boy. Harry shook her hand courteously, a pensive look on his face. He seemed to be examining her, just as she had, with him. Minerva felt somewhat self-conscious about this, not used to being sized up by a child, but she mentally shook herself of the uncomfortable feeling. Hagrid offered his hand to Harry.
"Ye probably don' remember me, 'Arry, but I were the one what rescued ye ten year ago." Harry thought for a moment. He did have recurring dreams of a giant picking him up and carrying him away.
"Yes, I think I remember you; you had a flying motorcycle, didn't you?" Hagrid nearly burst into tears at being remembered after so long ago. The house suddenly shook, and a loud reverberating gong sounded. Gomez looked at his wristwatch and pulled a pocket watch from his coat. He compared the two and smiled.
"Ah, Fester, children, come along. If you would follow us, Professors, my wife Morticia has prepared a sumptuous lunch for us all!" Gomez led the way out of the room. Minerva followed, her eyes still trained on Harry. The group walked downstairs and through a dusty pair of curtains to the dining room.
The long, dark wood table was set with antique china and silverware. A rolling cart was filled with covered platters, which Lurch placed one by one in the middle of the table. Morticia finished the table setting and greeted her husband and their children. She then turned to Minerva and Hagrid.
"Professor McGonagall, welcome to our lovely home!" Minerva was shocked at how thin Mrs. Addams was, almost deathly frail, and her black dress clung to her frame tightly. Gomez pulled out his wife's chair, seating her at one end of the table, kissing her cheek tenderly. Fester and the children sat themselves. From the kitchen came the hag-like woman Minerva had seen before. A tray of crystal goblets in her hands, each filled with a smoking, blue liquid. Morticia thanked the wizened woman, addressing her as Mother. The Addams' Grandmother sat beside her daughter and smiled a crooked and toothless grin at Minerva and Hagrid.
Minerva took her seat at the table. Hagrid gingerly, at least as carefully as possible, sat on the high-backed chair Lurch offered him. The chair creaked noisily but withstood his weight. Lurch took the covers off the plates of food. On one plate was a roast with scaly skin and spines along the back. On another were large, purple tentacles covered with a reddish sauce. The last was a smoking, silver tureen filled with a greenish soup, with odd lumpy vegetables and pieces of meat.
Lurch served each person sitting at the table. Minerva sat perfectly still to avoid any bizarre food spilling on her suit. She thanked the burly Butler, if only for being courteous. Lurch grumbled a reply. On the other hand, Hagrid seemed quite interested in the food offered.
Minerva picked at her meal carefully, only taking small bites. The food seemed edible, if highly unusual, and not to her taste. The smoking goblets appeared to contain a sour variety of lemonade. Hagrid tucked into his meal with gusto, talking happily with Gomez and Fester while dining. Hagrid had been worried about what kind of Wizards these Addamses were, just as Minerva had done, but now he seemed pretty at home with the unusual family.
Once the meal was finished and Lurch took away the plates and leftovers, Gomez directed everyone into the parlor for coffee. Minerva again sat in the dusty loveseat and was given a china cup filled with pitch-black coffee that bubbled and smoked. Hagrid was given a giant beer stein for his coffee, as his massive hands would easily crush a china cup into dust.
As with the lunch, the coffee seemed benign, just unusual. She took a small sip and felt steam from her nose and ears. Carefully, she set the cup down, daring not to spill a drop lest it eat through the furniture or floor. She cleared her throat and addressed the family.
"Mr. and Mrs. Addams, thank you for your hospitality, but now I must insist we begin discussing Harry's attendance at Hogwarts." Minerva pulled out her wand and gave a brief flick, producing a stack of folders from thin air. She often performed this presentation for Muggle-Born students and their families.
Often, it took a few demonstrations of magic for the Muggles to believe that she was indeed a Witch, but the Addams family were anything but Muggles. She handed a file to Mrs. Addams. Inside were photographs of the school and a description of its history and curriculum. Gomez and Morticia looked it over as Minerva continued her presentation.
"Hogwarts has been the premiere school for Witchcraft and Wizardry in Great Britain for over a millennium. Its teachers are the finest experts in their field, and the classes are quite comprehensive to prepare the students for a future in the Wizarding world. The students are sorted into four houses, each named after the four founders of the school: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The students are sorted into these houses depending on their inner attributes, such as bravery, dedication, intelligence, and cunning. I am the head of Gryffindor house and the Transfiguration teacher."
Harry looked over Morticia's shoulder as she and Gomez examined the papers given by Prof. McGonagall. He had to admit that the school looked impressive, and several classes listed sounded fascinating. The photographs moved like small television screens; tiny Wizards and Witches went about their lives, learning magic, brewing potions, and casting spells. There was an impressive photo of the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, sitting straight and regally in a throne-like chair.
Harry listened carefully to the Professor's speech, and she described some of the classes he would learn: Charms, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and even Broom Flying. Grandmama had an antique broom she liked to take out on full moon nights to fly about the neighborhood, high above the town's ordinary folk. While skilled at flying the broom, she could have been better at landing, often crashing into the attic or the family cemetery.
When Minerva finished her spiel, she asked the family if they had any questions. To her surprise and slight delight, Harry lifted his hand to ask. Lily had always been curious, wanting to learn more about nearly everything.
"I must admit, Hogwarts looks impressive, but why must I attend the school? Why can't I stay here with my family and learn from Grandmama? She's already taught Wednesday and me many useful potions and hexes. Could I not learn everything I need to here with my family?"
Minerva was quite shocked at this question. She thought Harry would have inquiries about the curriculum or the school's Houses, but it never occurred to her that James and Lily Potter's son wouldn't even want to attend Hogwarts. She wondered again what kind of environment these Addamses had given Harry to cause him to consider such a notion.
"Mr. Potter, your name has been in the book of admittance ever since you were born, as all Wizards and Witches of Great Britain have been, for over a thousand years. While you currently reside here in America, you were born in England. Thus, your name was recorded in the Book of Hogwarts. You don't need to attend school; some families prefer homeschooling their children, but nearly all young Wizards and Witches of your generation attend Hogwarts. Its teachers are the finest in their respective fields, and the education provided is exemplary, compared to individual study."
"Come now, 'Arry, t'ain't no better school than 'Ogwarts!" exclaimed Hagrid. Minerva felt a little pride swell inside her at Hagrid's statement. She continued to explain that as a resident of the United States, he could apply to be a student at Ilvermorny School, but everything was already in place for him at Hogwarts.
"Harry, dear, I do believe it would be good for you to attend the school of your heritage, " said Morticia.
"Exactly, my boy; great opportunity lies in store for you there!" Gomez added.
"Besides, you would be honoring not only us but your ancestral line as well. Generations of Potter's have attended this academy, such as your birth parents! Harry continued to think about it. He didn't want to leave his family, his beloved brother and sister, but he did want to make his family proud.
He loved Gomez and Morticia like his Mother and Father, but he still wondered what Lily and James had been like and what sort of life he could have had with them. When Gomez and Morticia adopted him, they christened him one full moon night in the family crypt, welcoming him into the Addams clan. Before their honored dead, he was accepted into their home.
He turned to Wednesday to see what she thought. Wednesday had been his partner since their bond was made ten years ago. Despite her intense mask of stoicism, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes and a burning warning that if he denied himself this chance, she would lose all respect for him. Harry turned back to Prof. McGonagall.
"Very well, I shall attend Hogwarts." Minerva breathed a sigh of relief, glad she would finally have the honor of teaching and guiding Lilly and James's son.
"Term begins on September 1st; a special portkey will be sent to you, which will take you from here to King's Cross Station in London. You will meet the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 at 11:00 AM. First, however, you must purchase your school supplies. Your admittance letter includes the books and instruments you will need at Hogwarts. Another portkey will be delivered, taking you to the Leaky Cauldron pub, the gateway to Diagon Alley, where all your supplies can be found."
Gomez and Morticia thanked Minerva for clarifying things and bid her and Hagrid a warm farewell. The Addams family was indeed bizarre, even compared to Wizards. However, they seemed to be a loving and supportive family, a far better sight than the Dursleys, and Harry was raised with love and care.
Minerva and Hagrid said their goodbyes and called for another taxi to take them back to begin the return trip to Hogwarts. As she and Hagrid rode the train, trying to ignore the stares of the Muggles, shocked at Hagrid's size, Minerva thought back to James and Lily. Harry had been quite a gentleman during their meeting, a boy who would have made his parents proud. She could see Lily's traits in his manner and speaking, but she wondered if he might have inherited James's knack for attracting trouble.
She worried about what might happen during his first year at Hogwarts, especially with what Dumbledore had in place at the school this year. She couldn't imagine what Dumbledore could be thinking, placing such an important object within the castle when it was filled with students, but she knew whatever his reasons, they had to be good ones. She put the matter out of her head and tried to enjoy the ride back to New York. Perhaps she would visit her friend who worked for MACUSA before they left back home.