Okay so I'm back. First of all thanks so much to everyone whose read, reviewed and/or favourited this so far. This is amazing. I never thought this would be so damn popular but thanks so much, I really appreciate it. Secondly, 107 favourites!? That's more than I ever dreamed would happen! You guys are awesome!

Now on with the show!

Quick note this is kind of an OC chapter but I promise that it will make sense as you read it. Please give it a chance.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter Twenty Six

By Rosa241

Abby POV:

Walking up the drive way I stop for a moment before continuing. On the surface this looks like a lovely family place truthfully the whole street looks perfect. The street seems like it's made for families and their children to live and grow in a wonderful way. As for the house in front of me…

Number four privet drive.

Home to Petunia and Vernon Dursley as well as their son Dudley.

And of course the reason for me visit.

Harry Potter.

For a moment my mind lingers on the name before I push it out of my mind.

Focus on the facts not the name.

An 11 year old boy orphaned as a baby and then left with his aunt and uncle. Allegations of neglect and abuse made from friends of the boy and backed up by a worried teacher. This could of course be nothing more than hurtful allegations, it wouldn't be the first time after all, especially given that the boy in question hadn't made any allegations himself. There was one fact however that was standing out at me.

Professor McGonagall.

It may have been ten years since I'd left Hogwarts but I'll never be able to think of her as anything other than Professor McGonagall. From everything that I learned of her whilst being her student I doubt that she's the kind of woman to make these kinds of allegations lightly. Shaking my head I focus my attentions on the task at hand. Raising my hand I knock on the door and it doesn't take long for someone to open the door.

"Hello, can I help you?" The woman at the door matches the description I've been given from my boss and something in me shudders slightly. There's something about this woman.

"Petunia Dursely?" At the nod of her head I continue. "My names Abigail Montgomary. I'm here about your nephew Harry."

I've learnt over the years that this was the best way to gage the reactions of a guardian. When given this small piece of information they usually reacted in one of two ways. The first was the immediate concern over the child in question whilst the second was immediate enquiry into who I am and what I'm doing here. Of course over the last ten years I've had a few different responses but the words she says next have me reeling.

"Oh what's the boy done then?" Her words strike me and for a moment I have no idea how to respond. The boy?

"I'm sorry?" She rolls her eyes as she speaks.

"The boy. What is it he's done? If you're here then he must have done something." Why does she assume he's in trouble? I've just turned up at her doorstep enquiring about her nephew and rather than wondering who I am, whether or not he's okay, she assumes he's done something wrong. Narrowing my eyes I speak in a harsher tone than I'd originally intended.

"My name is Abigail Montgomary. I work with the child protection department at the ministry of magic." Her face falls as she reigns her eyes over the badge I've shoved under the nose. "I'm here because there have been a few concerns raised in regards to the welfare of your nephew Harry Potter. May I come in?"

"Um…oh of course come in." She welcomes me in with a shaking hand and ushers me through to the living room and for a moment I find myself staring around. Just like the outside this place looks perfect, like it should be the perfect family home, but something just doesn't feel right. It's almost as if it's too perfect.

"Now I'm sure my presence here must be a shock and I promise you all I want to do is find the truth." She gives a shaky nod as she gestures for me to sit down and sits herself opposite me.

"You said this was about Harry." Her words are shaky and kind of tense, not to mention that her voice seems to get stuck on her nephew's name. Almost like she doesn't use it.

"Yes. You see there are some people who are a little…concerned shall I say about Harry's home life. I'm just here to ask some questions and get to the bottom of things." For a moment she says nothing and if possible her pale skin goes even paler as she registers my words.

"Tea. Why don't I make some tea?" Giving her what I hope is a reassuring smile she shoots off into the kitchen and within seconds I can hear her words.

"Vernon…there's a woman here about the boy…" The boy. Once again I find myself at a loss at that phrase. Making a note of it on the pad in front of me I move to examine the photographs on the wall. Looking through all of them it's quite obvious that there's something not right. It takes a moment before I realise that there isn't a single photograph of Harry. There's plenty of a rather large child who I assume to be Dudley but not even one photograph of their nephew. Why not?

"Yes, yes…Just come home." Hearing her hang up the phone she rattles about the kitchen for a moment and I continue making notes. By the time she steps back in the room with the tea I'm back seated in the chair.

"You keep a lovely home." Truth be told the décor wasn't to my liking but the place was clean and certainly looks like a nice home. But then again there's that feeling…

"Thank you." Truth be told I've never been a fan of tea but I take a few begrudging sips before setting the cup down resisting the urge to shudder as I do. Tea is not for me.

"Now why don't we get down to business?" She manages a shaky nod and I take this as a chance to get on with things.

"You mentioned concerns. What exactly would these be?" Judging from her nervous face there is definitely something she doesn't want me to know about.

"Yes. One of Harry's teachers and a few of his friends have raised a few concerns about his home life. A few people have noticed that Harry's a bit on the thin side and a few behavioural traits have come to light." One of the notes in the file I was given was how surprised he acts when people are nice to him. Kids who are raised in loving households don't react the way that Harry did to simple things. "It was noted that Harry seems rather reluctant to talk about his home life and they were worried. That's why I'm here. I just want to put those worries to bed."

For the next forty minutes she answers every question I ask. From what she says you would think she was a loving, caring aunt but the way that she hesitates, the way that her voice shakes as she speaks and the nervous jittering she does…something is very wrong. Of course this could all be taken to mean that my presence was making her nervous but something about the way that she was acting was setting off all of my sensors.

"Right. Well I think that I have enough to be getting on with. I'm sure I'll be in touch. Thank you for the tea it was quite lovely." I've barely gotten to my feet before a huge hulk of a man barges in through the door.

"So what's he done then?" My surprise at his words doesn't register on him. "Come on what's the boy done. What troubles he causing then?"

"Vernon!" His wife hisses and succeeds in getting his attention. Why would they automatically assume that I'm here about Harry causing trouble? Then there's that phrase again. 'The boy'.

"My Dursley." My snapped words have his pig like eyes focusing on me. "My name is Abigail Montgomary and I'm from the ministry of magic."

"Magic!" He squeaks out as he backs up slightly.

"Yes. I work with the Child Protection Department and I'm here because there have been a few concerns that have been raised in regards to Harry's welfare." This has him seeping into silence and the same nervous frown that had littered his wifes face now sits on his own. "I've spoken to your wife and I think I have everything that I'm going to need. I was just on my way out."

Ordinarily I'd stop and speak to him but his reaction has pretty much told me everything I need to know for the moment.

"Whatever that boys been spouting is a complete lie." Now that has me stopping in place. "Boy ought to be grateful that we've taken him in and looked after him, not making up stupid allegations."

"Mr Dursley as I have already explained to your wife the concerns were not raised from Harry." Apparently that thought hadn't even crossed his pig headed mind. "One of his teachers and some of his friends have raised their concerns, as far as I am aware young Harry is yet to be informed about any of this. Good day to you sir."

As I make to leave I can hear them following behind me in the hall and for a moment I allow them to think that this is over. I really shouldn't take so much pleasure in lulling people into a false sense of security but with these two something in me is crying out. I get to the front door before I speak again.

"Oh. Silly me, I totally forgot. Before I leave there is one more thing that I need to ask you." Again I shouldn't feel so much pleasure at the almost terrified look they share but right now I'm counting it as a victory. "I'm going to need to see Harry's bedroom."

Gotcha.

Jennet POV:

Reading the report that Abigail had put on my desk I can feel the weight settle on my shoulders. I shouldn't be surprised, I knew that this would happen after all I'd sent her for a reason.

Every time that Minerva McGonagall walks through my door I know that there is something very wrong. She's not a fool that woman and she doesn't stand for any nonsense. If she thought something was wrong then that meant that something was wrong. I know that she didn't walk through my door easily nor did she do so without reason. That was why I'd sent Abigail.

Abigail had worked here for ten years and had been performing home visits for seven of those years. She had a talent for being able to sniff out when something wasn't right and she was no fool. Any parent, or guardian, trying to pull the wool over her eyes would quickly find that she was not to be taken lightly. Due to her small stature and, to be frank, the fact that she looked to be as terrifying as a puppy many people did just that. They thought that they could get one over on her. Those people were wrong.

No photographs of the child in question were seen in the house.

Naturally she hasn't been able to inspect the entire house but she'd seen enough to worry her. It was the next phrase in the report that had my mind worrying.

In fact, if I didn't already know differently, I would swear that there was only the one child living in that house. It appears to me that there is no obvious evidence of his existence.

Of everything I've read this was the one that angered me the most. How can they have no evidence of the child living there? It's preposterous. Looking my attention back to the top of the report I glance across the page again.

Both guardians used the term 'the boy' to describe the child in question. Upon first introductions both assumed that my presence was an indicator that the child was in fact in trouble of some sort. Neither enquired as to his welfare or as to how he was currently doing for the duration of my visit.

The boy. They referred to their own nephew as 'the boy'. What in merlins name is wrong with these people?

When asked about the child's bedroom both guardians were reluctant to allow me to see it. In fact Mr Dursley grew quite angered with me and at one point threatened to call the police. It was only after it was pointed out that I was permitted by the ministry to be there that he stopped in his threats. It took many more minutes of conversation before they finally permitted me to see an upstairs bedroom filled with old toys and a small bed. When asked about the state of the room the female guardian, one Petunia Dursley, explained that they were using it as a spare room whilst the child in question was away from the house. However it is in my opinion, judging from the dust that had accumulated as well as the general condition of the room, that this bedroom has not in fact been used for some time. I do not believe that this is the bedroom of the child in question as was instructed to me by both guardians.

Leaning back in my chair I can't help sighing. Of course I knew that Minerva wouldn't have come here if she didn't have a genuine concern but part of me had hoped, as I always do, that this was a case of overreaction. A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts.

"You read my report then?" Nodding my head I usher the girl in. Of course she's hardly a girl these days but given that she's 20 years my junior it seems an appropriate thing to think.

"Yes I have. I had hoped you were going to tell me that this was a simple case of exaggeration, or overreaction." Judging from her smile she'd hoped that was the case as well.

"I know. There is definitely something we need to investigate in that house." She's right of course I know she is. Taking a deep breath I steady myself before speaking again.

"Right well first things first. We need to speak to the children that Minvera mentioned." Looking towards the notes I'd made during our first meeting I quickly pick out the three names.

Ron Weasley.

Hermione Granger.

Percy Weasley.

"Do you want me to get started?" Shaking my head I can see the confusion on her face.

"In the morning why don't you head over to speak to the young girl. She's muggle born." At my words she nods her head. Abigail herself was muggle born and she's proven herself to be a good person to deal with those who are not familiar with the magical world. "I'll go speak to the boys myself."

She doesn't question it but I can tell that she's intrigued. I knew Arthur well enough, having been forced to conduct an investigation about his son Charlie several years ago, so my presence would be better. Truth be told Abigail was more than competent enough and if this were any other child then I would probably allow her to deal with them all herself. The problem is that this isn't just any other child. This is Harry Potter. We are dealing with the boy who lived and it needed to be handled delicately.

Okay and that's your lot. I know this was an odd chapter but I kind of wanted to focus on what's happening with Harry for a bit. I promise next chapter we'll get back to the cannon characters but just for this one I wanted to explain what was going to happen.

Something tells me that Dumbledore won't be pleased when he finds out what's happened however I think McGonagall has a few choice words for him herself so he better watch out.

Hopefully you enjoyed this.

Until next time,

Bye Bye x