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Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
" You're welcome" James Potter, Sirius Black, Fabian and Gideon Prewett chorused then shot each other matching smirks
They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious because they just didn't hold with such nonsense.
"That's boring" Evan Rosier commented, his nose crinkled in distaste.
Mr. Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunnings, which made drills. He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large mustache.
"Man of my dreams," Marlene said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
" What a shame he is married" Alice added, her tone matching Marlene
Mrs. Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbors.
Lily, who was quiet the entire time, suddenly straightened herself. Alice shot her questioning look which she dismissed with a smile.
Recently her sister introduced her boyfriend to her family who had the surname Dursley. But it could be anyone else, like why would Lily's family be mentioned in a book about Potters future son? Being the smartest witch of her age, she knew the possibility why but her heart wouldn't accept the explanation her mind provided.
The Dursleys had a small son called Dudley and in their opinion, there was no finer boy anywhere.
" Is the world divided between unimpressed and overly proud parents?" Asteria Black mumbled to her brother while looking at their parents.
" Guess so" Regulus replied with a sigh.
The Dursleys had everything they wanted, but they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that somebody would discover it. They didn't think they could bear it if anyone found out about the Potters. Mrs. Potter was Mrs. Dursley's sister, but they hadn't met for several years; in fact, Mrs. Dursley pretended she didn't have a sister, because her sister and her good-for-nothing husband were as unDursleyish as it was possible to be.
It was amazing that Lucas Leroy was able to complete the paragraph without anyone's interruption. As soon as he stopped, a girlish scream echoed. everyone turned to look at the culprit of the voice who was looking at James in terror
" You are related to these people" Sirius cried out
Laughter echoed in the hall but one person became tense as her speculation was coming true.
" She is my wife's sister" James mumbled, looking at Lily. How he wished to marry her, to show her how much he loved her. But after all these years, he was not sure he would be able to. He didn't say anything else as he didn't want to degrade his future wife, who might not be Lily.
"Well we are proud that our son and daughter are undursleyish" Fleamont Potter mumbled, being one of the few who noticed the insult
"Not even a word," His wife said, shaking her head.
The Dursleys shuddered to think what the neighbors would say if the Potters arrived in the street. The Dursleys knew that the Potters had a small son, too, but they had never even seen him. This boy was another good reason for keeping the Potters away; they didn't want Dudley mixing with a child like that.
" I don't even want my son near you" James snapped, then thought. My son? It sounded so foreign yet so sweet.
"Why do I think they are going to meet" Asteria mumbled to her brother, who shot her a questioning look "I mean, we started the book from these people, they surely hold some importance in future Potter's life"
Regulus hummed back, accepting the theory.
When Mr. and Mrs. Dursley woke up on the dull, gray Tuesday our story starts, there was nothing about the cloudy sky outside to suggest that strange and mysterious things would soon be happening all over the country. Mr. Dursley hummed as he picked out his most boring tie for work, and Mrs. Dursley gossiped away happily as she wrestled a screaming Dudley into his high chair.
"Why will he pick his most boring tie?" Sylvie Lyrant, a half-blood Ravenclaw, questioned her friend.
" Um.. because they are boring?" Lucas Leroy replied. Sure he was a muggle born but he had, thankfully, never come across such a lot.
"That's not how you parent!" Molly Weasley cried, looking at her sons
' strange and mysterious' Arcturus Black thought. Interesting
None of them noticed a large, tawny owl flutter past the window.
At half past eight, Mr. Dursley picked up his briefcase and pecked Mrs. Dursley on the cheek, and tried to kiss Dudley goodbye but missed,because Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls. "Little tyke," chortled Mr. Dursley as he left the house. He got into his car and backed out of number four's drive.
The women looked appalled. There is spoiling then there was this.
It was on the corner of the street that he noticed the first sign of
something peculiar -- a cat reading a map.......... As he drove toward town he thought of nothing except a large order of drills he was hoping to get that day.
All eyes turned to Minerva McGonagall as she turned a bit red.
" What are you doing there minnie?" Sirius Black questioned with a mischievous look
Some people, mainly the first years, looked shocked at how he addressed the professor . Also why, why will their professor have anything to do with that cat.
" It's the future Mr Black and you are not even sure its me" the Professor replied sternly and Sirius waved her off.
"10 galleons it's Professor McGonagall" Rabastan Lestrange asked his friends.
" No one will -" Regulus Black started only to be cut off by Evan Rosier
" Sure I will take the bet"
Regulus stared at the Rosier heir, wondering how can someone be this stupid.
But on the edge of town, drills were driven out of his mind by something else. As he sat in the usual morning traffic jam, he couldn't help noticing that there seemed to be a lot of strangely dressed people about. People in cloaks. .......The traffic moved on and a few minutes later, Mr. Dursley arrived in the Grunnings parking lot, his mind back on drills.
" Cloaks are normal?" Asteria Black's words came out louder than she intended as the entire hall turned to look at the famous ice queen of Slytherin.
" In the muggle world, Cloaks are very much out dated" Lucas Leroy replied, earning a nod back. He continued reading, saving the black heiress from stares and glare from her mother.
. He didn't see the owls swoop ing past in broad daylight, though people down in the street did; they pointed and gazed open- mouthed as owl after owl sped overhead. Most of them had never seen an owl even at nighttime.
" Owls are not common in the muggle world?" Arthur questioned.
"Not really" Lily replied, at last socialising " owls come out only at night in our world"
This statement raised more questions
" How do you communicate then?" Marlene McKinnon asked curiously.
" A man posts our letter from one place to another, we are also developing technology so we can communicate by sitting at our home" Remus said, unable to decide how to explain the concept of telephone.
He'd forgotten all about the people in cloaks until he passed a group of them next to the baker's. He eyed them angrily as he passed. He didn't know why, but they made him uneasy. This bunch were whispering excitedly, too, and he couldn't see a single collecting tin.
"Merlin's sake, he is so annoying" a third year Hufflepuff said and all agreed silently
It was on his way back past them, clutching a large doughnut in a bag, that he caught a few words of what they were saying.
"The Potters, that's right, that's what I heard yes, their son, Harry"
The Potters straightened up, scared for their son and future heir.
Mr. Dursley stopped dead. Fear flooded him. He looked back at the
whisperers as if he wanted to say something to them, but thought better of it.
" Sadly he didn't drop dead" Barty said, earning raised eyebrows from his friends. "What? That man is getting on my nerves."
He dashed back across the road,.... Potter wasn't such an unusual name.
" It is" James and Sirius exclaimed, irritated by the suspense
" Not in the muggle world" a muggle born mumbled.
He was sure there were lots of people called Potter who had a son called Harry. -- if he'd had a sister like that... but all the same, those people in cloaks...
"How dare he!" James snapped, he doesn't know who his future wife is but he was already protective of her.
Lily had stopped denying the fact that there was a high possibility that she married Potter in future. She didn't have time to ponder about that due to the continuous jabs coming from her sisters family. It hurt. After all this time, it still hurt. Knowing that even in future, she was unable to mend their relationship.
"Sorry," he grunted, as the tiny old man stumbled and almost fell.
" He knows that word?" Remus Lupin asked, as people laughed at his shocked tone.
It was a few seconds before Mr. Dursley realized that the man was wearing a violet cloak. He didn't seem at all upset at being almost knocked to the ground. On the contrary, his face split into a wide smile and he said in a squeaky voice that made passersby stare, "Don't be sorry, my dear sir,for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice, for You-Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating, this happy, happy day!"
It took a moment for everyone to realise what Lucas said and then the hell broke loose.
The Light and neutral side cheered and sighed in relief.
" No" Bellatrix screamed, earning warning glances from the blacks and Lestranges
The dark lord supporters tensed up, looks like they chose the wrong side.
After 10 minutes, everyone calmed down,, especially James and Sirius who had started chanting "We won! We won!"
And the old man hugged Mr. Dursley around the middle and walked off. Mr. Dursley stood rooted to the spot. He had been hugged by a complete stranger. He also thought he had been called a Muggle, whatever that was.
" It will not be surprising if we get caught" Professor McGonagall muttered.
"Shoo!" said Mr. Dursley loudly. The cat didn't move. It just gave him a stern look. Was this normal cat behavior?
" Nah it's normal Minnie behaviour" Sirius whispered to James and they burst into a fit of giggles.
. She told him over dinner all about Mrs. Next Door's problems with her daughter and how Dudley had learned a new word ("Won't!").
" Call the news paper" A seventh year raveclaw said, annoyed. This was not something to be extremely proud of.
Mr. Dursley tried to act normally. When Dudley had been put to bed, he went into the living room in time to catch the last report on the evening news:
"And finally, bird-watchers everywhere have reported that the nation's owls have been behaving very unusually today. Jim?"
The pure bloods nodded at the already explained explanation.
"Well, Ted," said the weatherman, "I don't know about that, but it's not only the owls that have been acting oddly today. But I can promise a wet night tonight."
"Looks like you became a reporter in the end" Andromeda said softly to Ted Tonks. Ted had already told her he was more interested in a muggle job, which was better considering the blacks were out for blood.
Mr. Dursley sat frozen in his armchair. Shooting stars all over Britain? Owls flying by daylight? Mysterious people in cloaks all over the place? And a whisper, a whisper about the Potters...
"ย Why is he being so dramatic? It's not like 3rd world war is being declared" a muggle snapped, earning laughs from other muggle borns and muggle raised half bloods.
Mrs. Dursley came into the living room carrying two cups of tea. It was no good. He'd have to say something to her. He cleared his throat nervously. "Er -- Petunia, dear -- you haven't heard from your sister lately, have you?"
As he had expected, Mrs. Dursley looked shocked and angry. After all, they normally pretended she didn't have a sister.
" Lils, you alright?" Alice asked in a concerned filled tone.
Lily, who was unaware of the tears leaking from her eyes, nodded her head.
he wiped her eyes while ignoring the stare of a certain messy haired boy.
"No," she said sharply. "Why?"
"Funny stuff on the news," Mr. Dursley mumbled. "Owls... shooting
stars... and there were a lot of funny-looking people in town today..."
"So?" snapped Mrs. Dursley.
"Well, I just thought... maybe... it was something to do with... you
know... her crowd."
Many people blinked, astonished by how he was treating witches a and wizards.
Mrs. Dursley sipped her tea through pursued lips."What's his name again? Howard, isn't it?".
"Harry. Nasty, common name, if you ask me."
"And Dudley is such an amazing name, isn't it?" Sirius said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, yes," said Mr. Dursley, his heart sinking horribly. "Yes, I quit
agree. He didn't say another word on the subject as they went upstairs to Was he imagining things? Could all this have anything to do with the Potters? If it did... if it got out that they were related to a pair of-- well, he didn't think he could bear it.
"Related to a pair of what?" James snapped
" Magical people" Lily said slowly, but James heard it.
The Dursleys got into bed. Mrs. Dursley fell asleep quickly but Mr.
He couldn't see how he and Petunia could get mixed up in anything tha t might be going on -- he yawned and turned over -- it couldn't affect them....
"ย Petunia.." Lily thought as she closed her eyes
" He jinxed it" Rabastan Lestrange said
How very wrong he was.
"Called it"
Mr. Dursley might have been drifting into an uneasy sleep.In fact, it was nearly midnight before the cat moved at all.
" I want this amount of patience in my life" Marlene McKinnon said.
"We are not even sure if it's McGonagall" Evan said
Regulus just shook his head.
A man appeared on the corner the cat had been watching, appeared so suddenly and silently you'd have thought he'd just popped out of the ground. The cat's tail twitched and its eyes narrowed.
' apparition' everyone thought
Nothing like this man had ever been seen on Privet Drive. This man's name was Albus Dumbledore
The Gryffindors cheered and Albus Dumbledore smiled at them.
" How was your nose broken professor?" Sirius asked with a grin
" That's a story for another time mister Black" Albus said with a smile.
" What is he doing in a muggle street?" Asteria asked, her eyes narrowed
" Well looks like your theory was correct sister" Regulus mumbled back.
Albus Dumbledore didn't seem to realize that he had just arrived in a street where everything from his name to his boots was unwelcome.
" I am pretty sure he just doesn't care" Frank long bottom said.
He was busy rummaging in his cloak, looking for something. But he did seem to realize he was being watched, because he looked up suddenly at the cat, which was still staring at him from the other end of the street. For some reason, the sight of the cat seemed to amuse him. He chuckled and muttered, "I should have known."
"Get your galleons ready Rosier" Rabastan said with a smirk
He found what he was looking for in his inside pocket. It seemed to be a silver cigarette lighter. He flicked it open, held it up in the air, and clicked it. The nearest street lamp went out with a little pop. He clicked it again -- the next lamp flickered into darkness. Twelve times he clicked the Put-Outer, until the only lights left on the whole street were two tiny pinpricks in the distance, which were the eyes of the cat watching him If anyone looked out of their window now, even beady-eyed Mrs. Dursley, they wouldn't be able to see anything that was happening down on the pavement. Dumbledore slipped the Put-Outer back inside his cloak and set off down the street toward number four, where he sat down on the wall next to the cat. He didn't look at it, but after a moment he spoke to it.
"Daym" Sirius mumbled.
" We want it" Sirius, James, the Prewett twins chorused. People looked at them wide eyed.
" Sadly boys, it's one of my own creation" Albus Dumbledore said with a chuckle.
"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall."
Evan Rosier grumbled as he handed the money to a smirking Rabastan Lestrange.
He turned to smile at the tabby, but it had gone. Instead he was smiling at a rather severe-looking woman who was wearing square glasses exactly the shape of the markings the cat had had around its eyes. She, too, was wearing a cloak, an emerald one. Her black hair was drawn into a tight bun. She looked distinctly ruffled.
" I can't imagine her being ruffled" Marlene McKinnon said
"How did you know it was me?" she asked.
"My dear Professor, I 've never seen a cat sit so stiffly."
"I was unable to see her. If I had- " Rosier started only to be cut-off
" Quite it" Asteria Black hissed causing him to shutup.
She was not known for being the scariest Black for nothing.
"You'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on a brick wall all day," said
Professor McGonagall.
"All day? When you could have been celebrating? I must have passed a dozen feasts and parties on my way here."
Professor McGonagall sniffed angrily.
"Oh yes, everyone's celebrating, all right," she said impatiently.
" Ofcourse you will be the only one not celebrating" James said as his professor gave him a stern look.
"You'd think they'd be a bit more careful, but no -- even the Muggles have noticed something's going on. It was on their news." She jerked her head back at the Dursleys' dark living-room window. "I heard it. Flocks of owls... shooting stars.... Well, they're not completely stupid. They were bound to notice something. Shooting stars down in Kent -- I'll bet that was Dedalus Diggle. He never had much sense."
" He is real cool" James said , defending Dedalus Diggle. Sirius Black nodded in agreement.
" How do you know him?" Euphumia Potter asked, her eyes narrowed.
James secretly gestured Lucas Leroy to carry on who obliged.
"You can't blame them," said Dumbledore gently. "We've had precious little to celebrate for eleven years."
" 11 years?" Amelia bones and mad eye moody shared a look. This was not good.
"I know that," said Professor McGonagall irritably. "But that's no reason to lose our heads. People are being downright careless, out on the streets in broad daylight, not even dressed in Muggle clothes, swapping rumors."
' Rumors about the Potters" Arcturus Black whispered to his wife.
She threw a sharp, sideways glance at Dumbledore here, as though hoping he was going to tell her something, but he didn't, so she went on. "A fine thing it would be if, on the very day YouKnow-Who seems to have disappeared at last, the Muggles found out about us all. I suppose he really has gone, Dumbledore?"
Everyone leaned forward, half hoping for a positive response while the others for a negative.
"It certainly seems so," said Dumbledore. "We have much to be thankful for. Would you care for a lemon drop?"
"A what?"
"A lemon drop. They're a kind of Muggle sweet I'm rather fond of"
"No, thank you," said Professor McGonagall coldly, as though she didn't think this was the moment for lemon drops. "As I say, even if You-Know-Who has gone -"
Few people looked at James and Sirius, who had not made any remark. The duo just shook their head, they knew that there was something important in this discussion.
"My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name? All this 'You- Know-Who' nonsense -- for eleven years I have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Voldemort." Professor McGonagall flinched
So did the people in the hallย
, but Dumbledore, who was unsticking two lemon drops, seemed not to notice. "It all gets so confusing if we keep saying 'You-Know-Who.' I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemort's name.
Mad eye nodded in agreementย
"I know you haven't, said Professor McGonagall, sounding half exasperated, half admiring. "But you're different. Everyone knows you're the only one You-Know- oh, all right, Voldemort, was frightened of."
"You flatter me," said Dumbledore calmly. "Voldemort had powers I will never have."
"Only because you're too -- well -- noble to use them."
The dark side rolled their eyes,even those who didn't follow voldemort. Just because Dumbledore was light didn't mean he was pure as Angel.
"It's lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey Told me she liked my new earmuffs."
People cringed but didn't dare say anything.
Professor McGonagall shot a sharp look at Dumbledore and said, "The owls are nothing next to the rumors that are flying around. You know what everyone's saying? About why he's disappeared? About what finally stopped him?"
"That's what we all want to know" Peter Pettigrew said as everyone hushed him
It seemed that Professor McGonagall had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss, the real reason she had been waiting on a cold, hard wall all day, for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she did now. It was plain that whatever "everyone" was saying, she was not going to believe it until Dumbledore told her it was true. Dumbledore, however, was choosing another lemon drop and did not answer.
" Kill us with the suspense, won't you?" Alice said
"What they're saying," she pressed on, "is that last night Voldemort urned up in Godric's Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumor is that Lily and James Potter are -- are -- that they're -- dead. "
There was a moment of silence and then-
" NO!" Sirius screamed, pain filled in his tone. He looked at the book then James, who was still in shock " no no its a lie"
" 1980..." Euphumia Potter mumbled "only 21 oh dear...oh James"
" Did everyone hear it correctly?" Andromeda said as everyone looked at her
" It said 'James and Lily Potter" she looked at Lily
" I know" Lily said, her eyes tearing up as her friend hugged her. Severus just glanced at her, a mix of sadness and betrayal. How did she Marry his childhood bully?
James was in his own dilemma. He married his love of life but he died so soon. And what about his-
"Wait what about Harry then?" He chorused along with Lily
" Let's see" Lucas said sympathetically and he read on
Dumbledore bowed his head. Professor McGonagall gasped.
"Lily and James... I can't believe it... I didn't want to believe it...Oh, Albus..."
"Glad to know you care Minnie " James joked, looking at his teary eyed house head.
Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "I know... I know..." he said heavily.
Professor McGonagall's voice trembled as she went on. "That's not all. They're saying he tried to kill the Potter's son, Harry. But -- he couldn't. He couldn't kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how,but they're saying that when he couldn't kill Harry Potter, Voldemort's power somehow broke -- and that's why he's gone.
" What?" The entire hall screamed in disbelief. It was unbelievable that the dark lord was defeated by a mere baby.
" Not possible..not at all" Bellatrix muttered to herself "maybe we should kill their son before hand.." she kept muttering to herself, much to the annoyance of her familyย
" I bet you she cause us to pay for her future deeds" Regulus mumbled to Asteria.
Dumbledore nodded glumly.
"It's -- it's true?" faltered Professor McGonagall. "After all he'sd one... all the people he's killed... he couldn't kill a little boy? It's just astounding... of all the things to stop him... but how in then ame of heaven did Harry survive?"
" That's what we want to know" The Potters said
"We can only guess," said Dumbledore. "We may never know."
Mad eye looked at his friend. As Nobel he was, that old man had his own games.
Professor McGonagall pulled out a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes beneath her spectacles. Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he took a golden watch from his pocket and examined it. It was a very odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead, little planets were moving around the edge. It must have made sense to Dumbledore, though, because he put it back in his pocket and said, "Hagrid's late. I suppose it was he who told you I'd be here, by the way?"
"Yes," said Professor McGonagall. "And I don't suppose you're going to tell me why you're here, of all places?"
"I've come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. They're the only family he has left now"
"Are you insane?!" Lily's scream echoed before anyone else. Many looked at the calm , kind red head in alarm, the goody two sho scream at a teacher? But she was not done yet " My magic hating sister, who as we have just heard have not change at all! How do you think my son will be safe there?"
"My dear- Albus Dumbledore tried but was cut off by the disowned Black.
"Only family? I am pretty sure we will take harry without any issues" Sirius said gesturing to his and Lilys friend, who all nodded in agreement.
A dangerous thought stuck James as he looked at his parents, who still looked shock at their sons death. No...he can't lose them...
Feeling eyes on themselves, The Elder Potters turned their gaze towards their tear-eyed son.
"Oh James" Euphumia Potter mumbled as her son hugged her.
"You don't mean -- you can't mean the people who live here?" cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. "Dumbledore -- you can't. I've been watching them all day. You couldn't find two people who are less like us. And they've got this son -- I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. Harry Potter come and live here!"
"It's the best place for him," said Dumbledore firmly. "His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he's older . I've written them a letter."
"A letter?" Remus Lupin asked, astonished. "How can you think the most appropriate means to convey your message will be letter?
Albus Dumbledore remained silent.
"A letter?" repeated Professor McGonagall faintly, sitting back down on the wall. "Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand him! He'll be famous -- a legend -- I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in the future -- there will be books written about Harry -- every child in our world will know his name!"
" Great, he will turn out just like his father" Severus Snape hissed.
"Exactly," said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. "It would be enough to turn any boy's head. Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won't even remember! Cant you see how much better off he'll be, growing up away from all that until he's ready to take it?"
"Just because he is famous does not mean he has to grow up with people like that!" Marlene McKinnon snapped.
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, changed her mind, swallowed, and then said, "Yes -- yes, you're right, of course. But how is the boy getting here, Dumbledore?" She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it.
Many crinkled their nose in distaste.
"Hagrid's bringing him.
"You think it -- wise -- to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?"
McGonagall Flinched slightly, noticing how tensed Hagrid had gone next to her. While she didn't disagree with her counterpart, she didn't want Hagrid to hear it.
I would trust Hagrid with my life," said Dumbledore.
"I'm not saying his heart isn't in the right place," said Professor
McGonagall grudgingly, "but you can't pretend he's not careless. He does tend to -- what was that?"
A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them. It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight; it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky -- and a huge motorcycle fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them.
"Woah Sirius mumbled, eyes filled with fascination.
If the motorcycle was huge, it was nothing to the man sitting astride it. He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide. He looked simply too big to be allowed, and so wild - long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face, he had hands the size of trash can lids, and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins. In his vast, muscular arms he was holding a bundle of blankets.
"The description makes him look scary" Alice whispered to her herself.
"Hagrid," said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. "At last. And where did you get that motorcycle?"
"Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sit," said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. "Young Sirius Black lent it to me. I've got him, sir."
"Damn padfoot" James whistledย
Euphumia and Remus looked like they were wondering who on the Earth let him buy a flying motorcycle.
"No problems, were there?"
"No, sir -- house was almost destroyed, but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin' around. He fell asleep as we was flyin' over Bristol."
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets. Inside, just visible, was a baby boy, fast asleep. Under a tuft of jet-black hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning.
Many women cooed at the descriptionย
Asteria looked at her Grandfather, who after a minute, nodded. So it was indeed a cursed scar.
"Is that where -?" whispered Professor McGonagall.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "He'll have that scar forever."
"Couldn't you do something about it, Dumbledore?"
"Even if I could, I wouldn't. Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well -- give him here, Hagrid -- we'd better get this over with."
" Wha-" Marlene McKinnon started but then shook her head I don't even want to know".
Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys' house.
"Could I -- could I say good-bye to him, sir?" asked Hagrid. He bent his great, shaggy head over Harry and gave him what must have been a very scratchy, whiskery kiss. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl like a wounded dog.
Many Slytherins and clean freaks felt disgusted.ย
The marauders laughed seeing Sirius face at the mention of wounded dog.
"Shhh!" hissed Professor McGonagall, "you'll wake the Muggles!"
"S-s-sorry," sobbed Hagrid, taking out a large, spotted handkerchief andburying his face in it. "But I c-c-can't stand it -- Lily an' James dead-- an' poor little Harry off ter live with Muggles -"
" Thankyou Hagrid" Lily smiled genuinely, James nodding in agreement. Hagrid gave them a teary smile.
"Yes, yes, it's all very sad, but get a grip on yourself, Hagrid, or we'll be found," Professor McGonagall whispered, patting Hagrid gingerly on the arm as Dumbledore stepped over the low garden wall and walked to the front door. He laid Harry gently on the doorstep, took a letter out of his cloak, tucked it inside Harry's blankets, and then came back to the other two.ย
"Come again?" Euphumia Potter said softly, her warth hidden beneath her words " Doorstep? YOU LEFT MY GRANDSON ON DOORSTEPS!"
Her wand was raised at the professor and she was not alone, Lily was beside her glaring at the head master.
"My dear- Albus Dumbledore started again.
"No don't even try to justify yourself, he could have been kidnapped!" Lily snapped.
James pulled Lily down as his father did the same to his mother. Lily's blazing eyes turned towards James and softenedย
" I know you are angry, so am I" James whispered "But we have been warned against using magic and besides, we are here to change the future right"
Lily nodded with a small smile.
For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle; Hagrid's shoulders shook, Professor McGonagall blinked furiously, and the twinkling light that usually shone from Dumbledore's eyes seemed to have gone out.
"Bloody twinkle" Melania Black mumbled making her husband smirk.
"Well," said Dumbledore finally, "that's that. We've no business staying here. We may as well go and join the celebrations."
"Yeah," said Hagrid in a very muffled voice, "I'll be takin' Sirius his bike back. G'night, Professor McGonagall -- Professor Dumbledore, sir."
The Potters could hardly tolerate the disrespect. Their Son had died and people were celebrating. True the war ended, but at what cost?
Sirius couldn't understand, It was clear he was alive. Then why didn't he take Harry?
Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve, Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle and kicked the engine into life; with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night.
"I shall see you soon, I expect, Professor McGonagall," said Dumbledore, nodding to her. Professor McGonagall blew her nose in reply. Dumbledore turned and walked back down the street. On the corner he stopped and took out the silver Put-Outer. He clicked it once, and twelve balls of light sped back to their street lamps so that Privet Drive glowed suddenly orange and he could make out a tabby cat slinking around the corner at the other end of the street. He could just see the bundle of blankets on the step of number four.
"Good luck, Harry," he murmured. He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak, he was gone.
" He will need it" Lily mumbled.
A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky, the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen. Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up. One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on, not knowing he was special, not knowing he was famous, not knowing he would be woken in a few hours' time by Mrs.Dursley's scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles,
Lily and Severus shivered, very much used to her screams.
ย nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley... He couldn't know that at this verym oment, people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices: "To Harry Potter -- the boy who lived!"
"That's the end of the chapter" Lucas Leroy said. Just as he was about to ask about the next reader, a hologram appeared infront of them.
A boy, around the age of 18 was seen with messy black hair, sharp features and tan skin.but the most prominent were his emerald green eyes behind his round glass. It was obvious he was James son, Harry James Potter.
James and Lily took a sharp breath looking at their, who looked as though he had been through so much.
The hologram started speaking.
" Hello everyone" Harry started, awkwardly waving his hand " Hi mom, Hi dad" He said, the words sounded foreign from his mouth breaking his parents heart " Actually, this hologram was supposed to come with books and a spell, but due to someone" he glared at someone infront of him, as a faded "hey!" Was heard. It was definitely a girls voice. Harry rolled his eyes, but everyone could see his fondness hidden beneath. "As I was saying, this spell will make the book read by itself you will see what is being read..umm like a muggle television" He nodded to himself, satisfied with the example "And please don't start judging anyone until all the books are read, this decision was made to prevent wars, keep that in mind. Will see you after the first book ends".ย
With that, the hologram disappeared and a piece of parchment was left behind. Mad eye Moody took the parchment and casted the spell on the book, after being handed by Lucas Leroy.
A huge screen appeared, startling everyone. Pure bloods stared in awe as the screen started and the hall lights dimmed.
As everyone settled, the title of the chapter appeared:
The Vanishing glassย
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