The sun had long set on Privet Drive when Arthur Kirkland set foot in the suburban street. The lamps along the road had been snuffed out magically for the time being, yet he knew where he was going as he walked with urgency toward house number 4 where three figures already stood. He didn't need to be here, he shouldn't be here. His bosses had already told him that the matter was being handled, that he shouldn't be bothered with such formalities. He didn't argue, there would be no point; humans really were stubborn creatures. But he felt like he should at least see. He wanted- no, needed, to see the baby who was now being called Boy Who Lived.
As he neared the small gathering, they noticed his presence. Though most of them didn't know him, he knew of them. Rubeus Hagrid was a half giant who was the gamekeeper at Hogwarts, a kind fellow if the stories he heard were true. Then there was Minerva McGonagall, a professor at that same school. Arthur had a sneaking suspicion that she'd been waiting there longer than the others. Finally, there was Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts and the only one there that Arthur had met prior and was aware of his position.
While McGonagall and Hagrid looked surprised and even skeptical at the sight of the blond man, Dumbledore welcomed him with a sad yet warm smile.
"Ah, Arthur, I had a feeling we'd be seeing you tonight." He mused, causing Arthur to give a small smile of his own in return.
"It's been too long, Albus. Although, I wish our meeting was under better circumstances."
"You're here for the boy?"
"As observant as ever, I see." Arthur's smile fell and his eyes shifted to look at the bundle of blankets in the old wizard's arms, at the face of a baby sleeping peacefully poking out of it. Under light tuffs of dark hair, he could make out the shape of a lightning bolt carved into the baby's forehead. "I wish there was more I could have done, but you can't change the past."
"Albus…?" McGonagall looked to the bearded man, unsure about his interactions with this new person.
"Rest assured, Arthur is a friend and has had much staked on the last few years, possibly more than anyone else affected by the war. He means Harry no harm." With that, Dumbledore began to step up the walkway of the house's front yard toward the door. He settled Harry down on the door mat where he'd be seen once the occupants opened it.
"Are you sure this is wise?" McGonagall voiced her concerns, concerns no doubt in all of their minds, "Leaving him with these people? He'll never know of our world, what he's done, until he starts school."
"It's for the best. He'd be living the life of a celebrity for something he'll barely even remember happening. That's hardly a childhood." Arthur sighed. He could hear Hagrid beginning to sob about Harry's parents as Dumbledore returned to them.
Knowing they could do no more, their task completed, the group dispersed. Hagrid flew off on the flying motorcycle he'd driven there, McGonagall decided to turn into a cat to keep watch over Harry until his aunt or uncle found him, and Arthur and Dumbledore apparated away from Privet Drive to Hogsmade.
"Well?" The headmaster asked expectantly, "What did you think of everything that's transpired?"
"I think people are acting way too careless." Arthur stated. "All day I've seen and heard reports of owl sighting all across the world, witches and wizards not taking the code of conduct for what they're wearing seriously, and magic use in public has also been a problem. Just this morning alone I've had to obliviate multiple people I've come across who witnessed one thing after another; even Vladimir looked to be at his wit's end at today's meeting." He sighed, calming down now that he's gotten most of his complaints out, "And to top it off, they're celebrating a child who's lost both of his parents in a single night. Yes, the defeat of Volde… him was a great thing, but at what cost? A child growing up in a household who would probably disown him just because of his special abilities? A man and woman never being able to love and watch over their son as he grows? The lives taken and ruined by this whole war?"
"Arthur?" Dumbledore gazed at the man after a moment of silence, his eyes searching the blond's face for clues. Even in the dim moonlight, he could see how pale the young man was, paler than usual he noted. The war that had been waging the past few years had done a number on his health. Still, despite his young appearance, Arthur's emerald green eyes held a sense of maturity far beyond even his own.
Arthur let out another long sigh, "I'm sorry, Albus, but I'm just tired of all of this. People act like everything bad is done and over with, blissfully ignorant that history has shown otherwise. The Death Eaters won't go away overnight and neither will any stigma or hatred stemming from either side of this conflict."
"It is never that easy, but all we can do is to prepare for any outcome we can foresee."
"If only it were that easy." He shook his head, "I'm afraid I must return to the muggle world. I've neglected it too long, what with the war going on here. With it over, I suspect the Ministry of Magic won't be needing me to help micromanage every little thing like they have been."
"Perhaps it is for the best. Forgive my bluntness, but you do look awful."
Arthur cracked a smile, "Is it that obvious? Either way, I must get going." He looked up into the distance where he could see the outline of Hogwarts castle, a few windows were illuminated against the darkness of night. Oh, how he wished he could visit it more often, but alas, his condition kept him from doing so more than necessary. "Take care of yourself and your school, Professor."
With a swift crack, Arthur had apparated away, leaving the old headmaster alone in the darkened streets of the small village.
"Until next time, England."