A/N – Chapter 2 is now edited.

Chapter 2 – The Ugly Truth

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, was sitting in the highly decorated office of the Minister of Magic currently held by Cornelius Fudge.

Fudge began his career in the Ministry as Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. He then succeeded Millicent Bagnold as Minister for Magic. He was also required to maintain contact with Muggle Prime Minister as an when required.

Fudge was ranting about such a meeting with the newly appointed Muggle Prime Minister, where he had to introduce himself and explained the world of magic. The man had first laughed in his face thinking of him as a nut-case, but when he was given the information by his out-going predecessor as part of his exit who was fortunately present at the meeting, he had become serious and wanted Fudge to ensure that there were no freak shows.

Fudge ranted, "I am not going to listen to a mud-blood talk to me like that, but alas we have to maintain the contact and working relationship with him to ensure that Statute of Secrecy is maintained. What do you suggest Dumbledore?"

Albus was bored with the rants and complaints of the Minister, who he himself had supported for this office. Dumbledore was aware that Fudge was greedy yet spineless but not completely un-intelligent. Infact in last many years he had been dependent on Dumbledore for even basic decisions. Since Fudge was easy to keep in control he had continued supporting him. However lately Fudge's greed had only increased multifold and he had been accepting bribes from former death eaters. He was almost in pocket of Lucious Malfoy, who had blocked many important reforms by bribing Fudge and other people in the ministry.

He had had enough of Fudge's ranting and casually responded, "Cornelius, why don't you assign an attaché to the Muggle Prime Minister. But make sure you assign someone intelligent and trustworthy. We cannot antagonize your counterpart with a Pureblood fool and we need a smart person to maintain good relationship so as to get enough support when wizards do mess up and we need cover stories for their actions.".

Fudge sneered at the word 'counterpart', but then again asked, "Albus, do you think Kingsley will be a good choice for this?"

Dumbledore responded, "Excellent choice Cornelius!. Is there anything else I can help you with?".

Fudge had just started, "Albus!, I need your help with…er….", that Dumbledore felt tripping of the alarm he had put on the wards at No.4 Privet Drive in case Harry Potter was in danger.

He immediately got up and told Fudge, "I will speak later with you Cornelius, I must attend to a very serious and urgent matter".

"Ofcourse Albus" Fudge replied.

Dumbledore rushed from Minister's office and almost ran to the ministry atrium apparition point, and dis-apparated. He materialized by an alley next to Privet Drive and rushed to Privet Drive. He saw the damage to Privet Drive closer to No. 4 but was relieved to see that there was no attack by the followers of Voldemort.

He cautiously reached the main door of No. 4 and knocked, but there was no response. He quickly unlocked the door with his wand and slipped inside the house.

Dumbledore had on that fateful night left a very young child at the door of Harry's relatives with only a letter explaining the situation and had expected them to take care of Harry. He had reasoned with himself, 'Petunia is sister to Lily after all, she will surely raise Harry well and the boy needs to be raised where his fame will not go to his head'. His most loyal ally and a friend Minerva though had warned him that those muggle relatives of Harry Potter were of worst kind, but he had not headed her advise. Now he was anxious and doubting his judgement and decision that day which will impact the whole magical world. He made him invisible and crept into the living room.

When he reached inside he saw the damage to the place. There was an unconscious child who seemed quite smaller for his age with a shrunken white scar on his forehead who he recognized to be Harry, lying on the bare floor while the Dursleys were busy having an argument as to whether or not shall they take him to a doctor.

Vernon seemed to be of opinion that the 'freak' shall be thrown back to his cupboard as he was still alive and healed already, while Petunia wanted Vernon to take Harry to a doctor for a quick check up to avoid any gossip by the neighbours and in case something did happen to the 'freak' they will be in trouble and then what will happen to her dear and precious Duddikins!

They were so engrossed in their bickering which was unusual as Vernon would usually immediately give into demands of Petunia, that they never heard the door open and entry of Dumbledore to their house.

Albus had heard the conversation between the Dursleys and was shocked that they were so indifferent to the plight of the unconscious and probably dying child. While he had walked into the living room, he had had a time to survey the Living room which was well furnished with latest items. The kitchen next was also very stylish and modern with all the new apparatus and costly cutlery. He had already seen a brand new Audi parked outside, which clearly showed that Vernon was doing well in his job at Grunnings.

He had silently put a notice me not charm on himself so that the Dursleys were yet to acknowledge him. He had started to look around and found that there were many photos on the wall of the living room but wondered why Harry appeared in none.

When Vernon mentioned the cupboard, his eyes went to the now torn and damaged cupboard under the stairs. He could still see the locks on the damaged door of the cupboard which would open only from outside. His hands shook as he opened the door of the cupboard, which revealed, a burnt thin worn-out mattress and a shabby blanket. There was a lump now forming in his throat when he saw the words engraved inside the torn wall of the cupboard which read 'Harry's Bedroom' and couple of pictures drawn by the child of a cake with words 'Happy Birthday Harry' in tiny and loopy handwriting. Tears formed in his eyes as he asked himself as to how badly had he failed the son of James and Lily. He wiped unshed tears from his eyes and cancelled the charm to make his presence known.

As soon as Venon saw Dumbledore, he started to shout angrily as to who he was and how did he get inside their house. Dumbledore introduced himself and asked to see Harry.

He explained to Dursleys that at the night Harry's parents had died, it was him who had left the young Potter at their doorstep. Hearing this Vernon became angrier with his face becoming purple, and he started to shout that a freak was left at their doorstep and that he had to bear the expense to raise the insolent bastard. He kept on ranting about how Harry had been useless and could not do a simple chore properly and why he continuously needed to pull out the freakiness from the child. Albus Dumbledore was a very smart and intelligent man, and he had heard enough to understand that he had made a mistake to leave Harry with these people. He had wrongly believed that he had made a mistake in presuming that Petunia will take care of her sister's son with love.

He realized that he might have saved him from outside forces, but he had left him alone to the abuse within the house. As Vernon kept ranting Albus became angry enough in a long time that his aura must have showed, that stopped Vernon and let Petunia and the whale of her son cowering behind the sofa.

He stunned and immobilized Vernon and performed legilimency to figure out what actually had happened. When he had withdrawn from Vernon's mind, he was sure that Harry Potter will never ever return to Privet Drive. He left Vernon unmoving at the floor while telling Petunia that he was removing the wards around Privet Drive and taking Harry with him. With that he picked up the unconscious Harry gently in his arms and cancelled the wards with a flick of his wand. He looked one last time with a look of disappointment and disgust at Petunia and Vernon and dis-apparated to the gate of Hogwarts.

A/N – This will be a story where Sirius will raise Harry as if he is his son, but Dumbledore will play a great deal of role as his mentor. Harry will be angry with Dumbledore when he will see him first but will understand his motives were not to harm him.