As they reached the door, Minerva stopped and turned. "I brought Harry plenty of clothes. The drawers were filled. That woman has done something with them. He's clearly wearing something her own son has dirtied."

"Perhaps she's using the clothes you bought for Harry for her son instead," Remus suggested.

"Those clothes wouldn't fit her son. He's larger than Harry by far."

"Then we'll ask her about them."

"Yes, we certainly will," she said, "but first, let's fix what he's wearing."

"Good idea," Remus replied and set Harry back down in the crib. "You should do it. I've not done much work with clothes lately, and I'm a bit rusty. I'd hate to make it too tight for him."

Minerva took her wand from her sleeve and gestured at the child. His pajamas shrunk down to fit, and the stains disappeared. She moved her wand again, and trails of light flared around the boy.

"What was that?"

"I wanted to be sure he was well cared for," Minerva said. "I cast a monitoring charm that would let me know if he'd been neglected. It's tied to this." She held up her arm, the sleeve of her shirt slipping down to show a thin band of black circling her wrist.

"How does it work?" Remus asked.

"It will warm up if he's been ignored for too long. If he hasn't been interacted with, that denotes he probably hasn't been fed or changed. I've never actually used the spell before. It might need a little work. I worry that his red bottom is a sign it's not exact enough."

"It's not that bad. I wouldn't worry about it. I'd concentrate more on whether or not he's being fed. By the way, how long is too long?"

She shook her head. "Honestly, never having had a child of my own, I'm not sure, so I took a guess. Being that he's not the only child in the house if he's been alone for more than three hours and he's awake the whole time, it will let me know. I thought that was reasonable."

"I don't know much about babies or toddlers either. Harry, is the only one I've interacted with, and he was an only child. Perhaps you should speak to someone with more children or to one of the pediatric healers at St. Mungo's for a better idea of timing for the charm."

"That is an excellent idea. Why didn't I think of that?"

He reached out and patted her arm. "You had his best interests in mind, and like the rest of those who knew James and Lily, you were likely reeling from that news. Add in the fact that you were concerned about Dumbledore's choices and Sirius's imprisonment. I think you can give yourself a pass on this. Can that charm be changed via the band alone, or will you need to be in the room with Harry to do so?"

"I can do it with simply the band. Thank you for the suggestion. I know just who to talk to and I'll do that soon. Now then," she reached out for Harry, but he leaned towards Remus.

"Moony," the boy said.

The witch stepped back. "Remus," she said, gesturing to the baby.

"Come here, little man," he said, lifting the child to his hip. Hugging the boy, he sighed. "I've missed you, Buddy, but I wish I weren't seeing you again this way."

Minerva led the way down the stairs and down the hall to the kitchen, where they found Petunia peering out the window while Dudley once again sat in the high chair. This time, the boy had a tray full of biscuits that he alternated between eating and smashing.

"Mrs. Dursley," Minerva began.

"When are you taking that thing out of here?" Petunia demanded, pointing at Harry when she turned from the window.

"Madam, I would advise you to speak more kindly of your nephew, the last link you have with your family of origin, the last remnant of your sister," McGonagall said tightly.

Petunia sniffed. "My sister was a freak. That freak of hers is not welcome in my house. My husband and I have made that clear to you."

"And yet, you have not taken him to child services," Remus observed.

"We can't do that!" Petunia snapped. "She made sure of that when she had the delivery men bring all of that furniture. The whole neighborhood saw. We can't just get rid of the boy. Someone will ask-"

She stopped and looked again at Harry in Remus's arms. "Where did that come from?"

Remus looked down at the boy, then back up at the woman, and said, "Where did what come from?"

"That outfit? That is not what he was wearing. Did you bring more clothes?"

"Interesting you should ask," Minerva began. "Where might I ask are the clothes I brought for Harry last week? The outfit we found him in clearly belongs to your son."

"I sold them," Petunia announced.

"Sold them?" Minerva's voice went dangerously quiet. "Why?"

"You want me to feed a second child, but you gave me no money."

"I'm sorry," Minerva said quickly.

"You lot think you can just… what?" Petunia cocked her head and stopped.

"I said I'm sorry," Minerva repeated. "You're correct. I brought you clothing, furniture, and nappies, but I failed to think about the money it would cost to feed an additional child, and I apologize."

"As if that makes it all better."

"No, I don't imagine it does. How much would you need to feed Harry?"

Petunia sneered. "Don't need to worry about money much when you can just make things appear?"

"It's not that simple," Remus began but stopped when Minerva held up a hand.

"I'm not familiar with how much money it takes to feed a young child, as I have never had children of my own. While I do oversee the kitchens at Hogwarts as part of my duties to the school, the cost of feeding hundreds of children and teenagers is quite different, I'm sure."

"You don't know how to use our money, do you?" Petunia accused the other woman.

"On the contrary, I am quite familiar with Muggle money. I had to become so, as I've helped Muggleborn students like your sister prepare for their first year at Hogwarts. You do know all of the items I brought and had delivered to your house were of Muggle-make."

"So you say."

"Do you really think she somehow got Muggle delivery men to bring magically made items into your house?" Remus asked. "Lily had to have told you at some point that things like that are against our laws."

"But I know of your existence and that child is… So that changes the rules, doesn't it? That was always her excuse when she was turning teacups into mice."

"She did that?" Remus asked, shocked.

Petunia snorted. "Of course, and our parents just loved it. They thought it was wonderful."

"Interesting," he murmured and exchanged a glance with McGonagall. Both chose not to mention that use of magic on school breaks was against wizarding law and should have resulted in a reprimand.

"You are correct that your knowledge of wizarding kind would change how the laws apply to your home, but as you and your husband have made clear your feelings and live in a Muggle area, everything I purchased and provided to you was bought in Muggle shops," Minerva explained. "Magic can be performed in front of you but not your son or husband until the time that Harry receives his letter to Hogwarts. At this point, they will be aware of magic. That means that adults could perform magic in front of them as well. All that to say, we will not be performing magic in your home. Harry will likely have accidental magical outbursts as magical children do. That most likely won't happen for a few years. I will leave contact information so that you can let me know when that begins happening. I will come-"

"Or I will," Remus put in.

"I don't even know who you are!" she snapped. "You just waltzed right into my house as if you had the right."

"I apologize. I should have introduced myself. My name is Remus Lupin. I was a friend of your sister's and her husband and have spent quite a bit of time with Harry."

Petunia sneered. "Then you take him!"

"Would that I could.

Minerva nodded. "And we will help him learn to contain that magic."

"Magic is not allowed in my house!" Petunia insisted.

"Ma'am," Remus began.

"He will not be a wizard. If he's living in my house, he won't do magic!" She snapped.

"That is not something you can prevent or change in any way," Minerva said. "When a child has magical capabilities, they will show themselves. On the rare occasion that children are punished for this, the magic can turn inwards and become much more dangerous to themselves and those around them."

"Is that a threat?"

"It is a statement of fact. Now then, I will return again a week from today."

Petunia glared at the other woman. "You won't be allowed in."

"Then, if necessary, I shall contact the correct authorities to check on the state of the boy. We'll take our leave now."

Minerva stood up and looked at Remus, who also stood. He then looked at Harry still in his arms. He leaned over and whispered in the boy's ear, and then held out the boy to Petunia with a look of regret.

When she would not take the boy he looked to Minerva. She stepped down the hall and returned with a second high chair which she placed next to the table. Remus nodded and slid Harry down into the chair.

"Obviously there are still items that you could use, please make a list and I'll pick it up next Saturday when I return. We do want to be sure that you are fully equipped to care for two children. Now, we need to be on our way."

Not waiting for Petunia to respond or Minerva turned and strode off down the hall. Remus waited only a second before following her.

"Just a second."

Stopping just before the door, McGonagall whispered and waved her arm. A piece of parchment flew into her hand seconds later. She again whispered and moved her hand. The parchment duplicated itself. She stuck the new copy in her pocket and, with one last muttered word and wave, sent the original back where it had come from.

"Time to go."


Remus shook his head as they stepped out of the Dursleys' home. "Lily was definitely the smarter sister."

"What makes you say that?" Minerva asked.

"You told me that you had a house elf watch over Harry, and then you personally delivered him to Petunia. Is it likely that the neighbors saw you enter with him and leave without? Is it likely that they watch so consistently that any one neighbor saw this and put together that they have an additional child? Isn't it more likely they saw you drop off the things and guessed that you were a family member or an old family friend who just learned about their son and was delivering gifts? She's so concerned with appearances she hasn't made the most likely correct guess that no one else even knows Harry is there."

"True, but I also wouldn't be surprised if there are other stay-at-home mothers in that neighborhood keeping a close watch on each other and gossiping. Still, you are correct; they would have to assume he was there to stay. Honestly, I think as much as she complains, she doesn't truly want to give up the last link to her sister."

Remus sighed. "Does he really have to stay there?"

"For now," she replied. "I'm still working on it. There may be another option. In the meantime, I need to go back to the ministry and arrange funding to be sent to the Dursleys to cover the cost of Harry's care."

"Lily and James had a vault at Gringotts. He'd inherited his parents' vault. There is bound to be enough there to cover the costs."

"Yes, but I'd rather leave that for Harry to use when he begins at Hogwarts, and I most definitely do not want the Dursleys to find out Harry has money waiting for him."

Remus turned back and looked at the house just as they reached Arabella's front step. "Ah, yes, they seem the type to take everything they can get their hands on and actually use none of it for Harry. Perhaps you should consider the delivery of food and clothes rather than money. We can still check in on him weekly to be sure it's going to Harry and not Dudley."

"Perhaps I'll discuss it with Milicent and whomever she directs me to. Are you going to head home?"

"I think I'll come with you. Maybe I can see Sirius and let him know I've seen Harry," Remus replied. "That's bound to raise his spirits."

"Will it be a good idea for him to know Harry is with Petunia?"

Remus thought for a moment. "I don't have to tell him where Harry is; I can just say I've seen him." He opened the door and stuck his head in. "Ms. Figg?"

"Come on in, dearie," she called. "I'm a bit busy with my cats at the moment. You can go on out to the back garden."

"Thank you, ma'am," he returned.

"You're quite welcome! And thank you for the sweets."

Minerva peeked into the room where Arabella sat on the floor next to a box of kittens. "It was the least I could do. I'll be back in a week. If either of us needs to return earlier, we'll be sure to owl."

"Not a problem. If it's an emergency, just pop on in, but knock before you come in just in case I have a Muggle client."

"Will do."

When they reached the back garden, Minerva held out her arm. "To the Ministry, shall we?"

Remus nodded and wrapped his hand around her elbow.