Chapter 1
It was late when Minerva Mcgonagall was sitting at her desk. A pair of glasses sat on the bridge of her nose, filling through a pile of Hogwarts letters, making sure they’re ready to be sent out to the young witches and wizards yet to come.
She stacks a few of the letters she had sorted into a box ready to be taken up to the owlery. When she comes across a letter with an unusual address on it, after reading it, she realises the person this letter belongs to. Harry Potter.
Mr. H. Potter
The Cupboard Under the Stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Minerva double-checks the letter, confirming it to be true. She jumps up out of the old armchair and changes into her animagus, as she was faster in that form. When reaching the gargoyle to the headmaster's office, she transforms back, muttering ‘Lemon Drops’ and dashing up the staircase.
The door barges open, her cloak flapping behind her, and she slams the letter down onto Dumbledore’s desk. “Please tell me it’s not what I’m thinking this is,” she yells, her Scottish accent breaking through. “What would that be, Minvera?” questions the old man. “You know fine, well what I mean Albus, you said the boy was safe and loved.” The words come out shakily, terrified to be true. “No need to worry; I have my eyes on the boy, and he is very safe and loved. He just likes to spend time in a cupboard his uncle renovated for him as a little relaxation room,” he claims, smiling and his eyes twinkling.
Mcgonagall doesn't know how to feel about this; an uneasy feeling sits in the pit of her stomach. “Right, well, I best get back to these letters then, evening Albus,” she greets goodbye, picks up the letter, and makes her way out. She decides all she can do is wait for Harry Potter to show up with the upcoming year in September and pray everything is as the Headmaster says it is.
3 Months Later
The first-year students are due to arrive within a few days with the rest of the school. The elves have been making the school perfect, so when everyone arrives back, the professors are moving back into their quarters and setting work plans ready. In the teacher's lounge, there’s a meeting going on between each of the heads of houses; they’re discussing different topics and catching up with each other. “The last few days of peace before were tortured to death by hundreds of dunderheads,” remarks Snape, who is reclined in his chair, hands on his temples. “Don’t be so dramatic, Sev; we know you love them deep down,” laughs Professor Sprout.
Mcgonagall’s mind wanders back to Harry Potter, in a few days she can put her mind to rest when she sees him in perfect condition, a lively mini-James.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” said Professor Mcgonagall. “The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family here at Hogwarts." She leads them up to the front to be sorted, pulling out a scroll and reading off the names.
“Abbott, Hannah” “HUFFLEPUFF
“Bones, Susan” “HUFFLEPUFF”
“Boot, Terry,” “RAVENCLAW”
“Malfoy, Draco,” "SLYTHERIN.”
“Granger, Hermione” “GRYFFINDOR”
“Weasley, Ronald” “GRYFFINDOR”
“Potter, Harry,” silence floods the Great Hall, waiting for him to step out. “Harry Potter?” hushed whispers fill the room. Mcgonagall looks towards Dumbledore in confusion about what to do next. He motions for her to continue. Taken back, she continues reading through the list, hoping to get through the feast fast enough to find out what’s going on. "Uhm, Parkinson, Pansy.”
After the feast is over, the deputy headmistress makes her way to Dumbledore’s office. With Snape on her tail, sprinting up his staircase yet again, they both enter, spewing out a million questions, “Where is the boy, Albus?!” “Where is Potter?” the Headmaster stands up and walks over to them. “Calm down, please. I’m sure Harry is perfectly ok; he could’ve just been caught up with something and missed the train." Minerva and Severus look at each other in silent understanding. Albus knew something about Harry and was hiding it.
A few hours go by, and Mcgonagall is in her office. All you can hear is her quill scratching the parchment in the silent room and the dipping of the ink. She is writing a letter to the Dursley household to get to the bottom of this.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to inquire about the absence of your nephew, Harry Potter, from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As you are aware, Harry is expected to commence his first year at our esteemed institution, and his non-appearance has caused some concern among the staff and fellow students.
Our records indicate that an acceptance letter was sent to Harry through Owl Post, confirming his enrollment at Hogwarts. However, we have not yet received any communication regarding his absence, nor have we been able to establish contact with him. This is quite unusual, as all young witches and wizards, upon receiving their acceptance letters, eagerly await the opportunity to begin their magical education.
Given the unique circumstances surrounding Harry's upbringing, we understand that there may be factors contributing to his absence that we are not aware of. However, it is imperative that we ensure his well-being and address any issues that may have hindered his attendance at Hogwarts. As Deputy Headmistress, it is my duty to safeguard the welfare of all our students, and Harry is no exception.
I kindly request that you provide us with an explanation for Harry's absence at your earliest convenience. It is crucial that we understand the circumstances and take appropriate measures to ensure his educational needs are met. As guardians, your cooperation and prompt response in this matter are greatly appreciated.
Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any concerns or questions. I can be reached at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or by owl post using the enclosed parchment. I assure you that all correspondence will be handled with the utmost discretion.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
A few days later, she received no reply from either of the two letters she had sent previously. She decides to write yet again, and she’s starting to get really concerned about Potter and his whereabouts.
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dursley,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you as Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I regret to inform you that we have not yet received a response to my previous letters regarding Harry Potter's absence from Hogwarts.
As you are aware, Harry Potter is a highly gifted young wizard and has been accepted into our prestigious school. His presence and participation in our educational program are of the utmost importance. However, he has not shown up for his first year at Hogwarts, nor have we received any communication from him or yourselves explaining the reasons for his absence.
Given the significance of this matter, I kindly request that you provide an explanation for Harry's absence without any further delay. It is essential for us to ensure his well-being and to address any concerns or obstacles that might be preventing him from joining us at Hogwarts. We are committed to supporting our students and their families during times of uncertainty or difficulty.
Please understand that this is the third letter I have sent without receiving a reply. I implore you to prioritize this matter and respond promptly. If there are any concerns or issues preventing Harry from attending Hogwarts, please do not hesitate to inform us. We are here to assist and accommodate in any way we can.
I eagerly await your prompt response, as it is crucial for us to address this situation and ensure Harry's educational journey is not compromised. Hogwarts is a place where he can flourish and develop his magical abilities, and we believe it is in his best interest to be a part of our community.
Should you require any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. I can be reached by owl or post. I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Not long after sending this letter, she finally receives a response. Quickly opening it, she reads it, frowns, and throws it across her desk. She knew all along that those people were the cruelest family for the boy to be placed with, and she feels guilty for never having a second thought about it.
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland
Dear Professor McGonagall,
Oh, joy, another letter from Hogwarts. I can't say we're thrilled about it, but here's the deal. Harry Potter, our dear nephew, left our family over a year ago, and guess what? We don't know where he is, and quite frankly, we don't care.
You see, we've had enough of the freakishness that comes with the whole wizarding world. We want nothing to do with it, and that includes Harry and his magical education. So, please, spare us the trouble and leave our family out of your little magical affairs.
We're not interested in being a part of your fancy school or whatever nonsense you're up to over there. We've got our own lives to worry about, and they don't involve any wands or spells. So, do us a favor and forget about us.
We won't be providing any more information or assistance regarding Harry's whereabouts because, frankly, we couldn't care less. We've moved on, and so should you. Stop bothering us with your owl post, and keep Hogwarts and all its magical nonsense far away from us.
I hope this message comes across loud and clear. We want nothing to do with Harry or the wizarding world. So, kindly take the hint and leave us alone.
Not-so-kind regards,
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley