Chapter 1
It was midnight on the 31st of October, 1981, and the street of Privat Drive was silent and abandoned. Nobody was there except a cat that had been sitting on the same brick wall for the previous 18 hours. It wasn’t until a man appeared from nowhere that something happened. At the sound of the man appearing, he cat's tail twitched and its eyes narrowed. The man in question was an oddity compared to the usual people that lived on this street. He was tall, thin, and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice. This man's name was Albus Dumbledore. He was looking in the pocket of his robes and as he found what he was looking for, he noticed the cat.
He chuckled and muttered, "I should have known."
Before he spoke further, he pulled out what appeared 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. This was to make sure no one would be able to see anything that was happening down on the pavement.
“Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall."He turned to smile at the tabby, but it had gone. Instead he was smilingat a rather severe-looking woman who was wearing square glasses exactlythe shape of the markings the cat had had around its eyes. She, too, waswearing a cloak, an emerald one. Her black hair was drawn into a tightbun. She looked distinctly ruffled.
A small discussion broke out between the two professors, before beginning to discuss exactly what they were both standing there for.
"What they're saying," she pressed on, "is that last night Voldemortturned up in Godric's Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumour isthat Lily and James Potter are — are — that they're — dead."
Dumbledore bowed his head. Professor McGonagall gasped."Lily and James... I can't believe it... I didn't want to believe it...Oh, Albus..."
Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "I know... Iknow..." 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 daughter, Harper. But — hecouldn't. He couldn't kill that little girl. No one knows why, or how,but they're saying that when he couldn't kill Harper Potter, Voldemort'spower somehow broke — and that's why he's gone.Dumbledore nodded glumly."It's — it's true?" faltered Professor McGonagall. “But how in thename of heaven did Harper survive?"
"We can only guess," said Dumbledore. "We may never know."
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.
"Hagrid's late. I suppose it washe who told you I'd be here, by the way?"
"Yes," said Professor McGonagall. "And I don't suppose you're going totell me why you're here, of all places?"
"I've come to bring Harper to his aunt and uncle. They're the only familyhe has left now."
"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.
"It's the best place for her," said Dumbledore firmly. "His aunt anduncle will be able to explain everything to her when he's older. I'vewritten them a letter."
Thoughts were flying through Professor McGonagall’s head at this knowledge. She looked at Harper as if she was her own grand-daughter. She had adored Lily Potter nee Evans, and James Potter as well, and had always had a special bond with them both. Lily being her smartest student, and James being her god-son, she couldn’t believe Dumbledore was wanting to place Harper with these muggles, that she knew from Lily herself, would never love or care for their niece. Minerva knew that it would be safer for Harper to grow in their own world, even if she was sheltered. She should grow up knowing the sacrifice her parent’s did for her, grow up knowing the history of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter, and the history, etiquette, customs and culture of the wizarding world. They could have wards placed wherever she lived. However, before, Minerva could broadcast her thoughts and opinions, the sound of a motorcycle could be heard. She turned towards the sound, and saw a motorcycle get louder and louder as it got closer to the pair standing in the middle of the road.
"Hagrid," said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. "At last. And where didyou get that motorcycle?"
"Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir," said the giant, climbingcarefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. "Young Sirius Black lent it tome. I've got her, sir."
"No problems, were there?"
"No, sir — house was almost destroyed, but I got her out all rightbefore the Muggles started swarmin' around. She has been awake the entire ride, either crying or screaming, luckily the sound of the bike stopped anyone from hearing."
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle ofblankets. Inside, just visible, was a baby girl, wide awake, staring at them with bright green eyes that seemed to glow in the night. She had a large amount of black wavy hair that reached her chin. Dumbledore pulled aside the edge of the child’s one piece pyjama’s where they could see a curiouslyshaped cut, like a bolt of lightning against her collarbone.
"Is that where -?" whispered Professor McGonagall.
"Yes," said Dumbledore. "She'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 myselfabove my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground. Well— give her here, Hagrid — we'd better get this over with."Dumbledore took Harper in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys' house.
Even though Minerva noticed that Dumbledore made this sound like a chore and an inconvenience, she didn’t voice it. Knowing that Dumbledore would be shaken at what had transpired she decided not to bring this up. Instead, she once again spoke about who they were leaving Harper with.
“I really don’t think it is wise to leave her here,” Minerva started, however Dumbledore held his hand up stopping her from continuing.
“You know that all I think about is what is for the greater good, Minerva, trust me when I sat she will be best placed here.”
With a huff, she nodded, before turning back to the child.
"Could I — could I say good-bye to her, sir?" asked Hagrid. He bent hisgreat, shaggy head over Harper and gave him what must have been a veryscratchy, whiskery kiss. Then, suddenly, Hagrid let out a howl like awounded 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 Harper off ter live with Muggles -"
"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 Harper gently on the doorstep, took a letter outof his cloak, tucked it inside Harper's blankets, and then came back tothe other two. For a full minute the three of them stood and looked at the little bundle; Hagrid's shoulders shook, Professor McGonagallblinked furiously, and the twinkling light that usually shone fromDumbledore's eyes seemed to have gone out.
"Well," said Dumbledore finally, "that's that. We've no business stayinghere. We may as well go and join the celebrations."
"Good luck, Harper," he murmured. He turned on his heel and with a swish of his cloak, he, Hagrid and Professor McGonagall were gone.
It was three hours later, when the shadow of two adults could be seen walking closer to the house that Harper was still laying. One was a tall woman, standing at 6’0, who was extremely slim, with pale almost translucent skin, and black hair that laid flat down her back to the bottom of her ribs. She had aristochratic facial features, with dark brown, almost black eyes that were surrounded by thick black eyelashes. Her skin was contoured darkly, making her bone structure stand out more. She was wearing a black lace dress, with long sleeves. She was wearing a corset, and the skirt of the dress flowed down to the ground. Next to her was her husband, who was shorter, roughly 5’10, with a plumper body, but not large. He had straight white teeth, with a single gold tooth, a button nose, and a pointed chin, that suited his strong jawline. He was wearing a three piece black suit with a black bowtie.
“See Gomez, I told you my dream was true, that she would be left on the doorstep by that Professor. If this is true, then the nightmares of what her life would be in this household would be true.”
“Your dreams really are a blessing my dear. We have been trying for a little baby for such a long time, and as horrible as it is that her parents have perished, we can save her from a life of abuse. She is the perfect child for our family, she has already been touched by death.”
“She will be the perfect addition to the Addam’s family.”
“What she we rebirth her as? Once she has been blood adopted into our clan, she will need a new name.”
Morticia leant down and picked up the child who was staring at them intensely. “Wednesday,” she cooed, stroking a long, pale finger across the baby’s cheeks. “Wednesday Addams.”