"Something terrible has happened." Mary's voice was quivering more than when she asked out that Hufflepuff in sixth year. I had never known her so terrified. Maybe that's what made me so terrified. What was worse was Remus' reaction though. His face had fallen even before she had explained everything. I think part of him knew then what Sirius had done. Dorcas reached across and clutched my hand as Mary – her face stained with tears – explained what Dumbledore had said.
James and Lily were dead. My best friend and her husband. Gone.
Sirius Black in Azkaban. James' best friend. One of my closest.
Peter Pettigrew was also dead. Always hanging on James' every word. And where had that gotten him?
Where had that gotten any of them?
Dorcas had moved to comfort Remus. It was a miracle that she and I were still alive really. If we hadn't had pre warning about the imminent arrival of Voldemort and his death eaters then we would have been in the same position as James and Lily. Then it hit me.
"What about Harry?" I asked. "Is he alright?" Mary nodded. Thank Merlin. That was something at least.
"Where is he?" I asked, realising that with Sirius – his godfather – gone, it was down to me to look after him. So, where was he? He should have been with me the moment James' and Lily's bodies were discovered. So, why wasn't he? Why wasn't he with me?
Dumbledore. It had to be.
I stood up and apparated from the room and into Hogsmeade. From there, I walked all the way through the grounds and into the school, where I had previously studied.
The Headmaster's office was as horrifically cluttered as it had been the last time I had been there. Granted it had been an entirely different reason as to why I had been in that office then; Sirius and I had been getting revenge on some Slytherins, who had been spouting anti-muggle and muggle born hate. But I couldn't think about Sirius now. Not after what he had done.
"Where's Harry?" I asked, walking into the office and standing opposite Dumbledore. The old man smiled pleasantly and I wanted to smack him for it, either that or hex him into the next decade.
"Miss McKinnon, he is with Hagrid at the moment," He said, busying himself with something on his desk. "And, I'm afraid, I must go and join him."
"Oh no you don't," I said, blocking his path and preventing him from leaving. "Where is Harry?"
"He is being taken to live with his remaining family," Dumbledore said, relenting in the face of my stubbornness.
"Well, since I'm standing right here I'm wondering where he is."
"I apologise for my choice of words, Miss McKinnon. But what I mean is, when he is with his blood relations."
I had never hated the venerable headmaster so much. Even when he had forced me to apologise to a group of Slytherins (who were so clearly in the wrong). He had no idea what Harry's "blood relations" were really like or what they would do to him if he was taken to them. But I did know. I knew how much he would suffer and I refused to let that happen.
"You may think Harry will be safer with his 'blood relations', but you've not met the Dursley's!" I snapped. "They will not care for Harry. I'll be amazed if they actually house him. Whereas, me, Dorcas, Remus and Mary will look after him. He will be cared for and protected by four wizards. Surely that is safer."
Eventually, my persuasion – and threats of violence – convinced the headmaster enough to hand Harry over to me. I cradled him gently; the dark red blanket that he was wrapped in was all that was left of James and Lily. The blanket had been chosen by James as a mark of his son's future as a legendary Gryffindor. For weeks the couple had argued over it because James had brought it a bit too big. Three times too big for a baby. So it had to be followed twice to actually make it of any use to Harry.
The scar on his head was a searing red and – if I'd had a weaker stomach – it would have made me vomit. Voldemort had left a permanent mark on Harry because, just looking at it, I knew that it wouldn't be removable with the typical spells.
I didn't think apparating back to the house with Harry would be a good idea, so I prepared to walk to Hogsmeade to use the floo network in the pub there. Instead, my path was impeded by Professor McGonagall.
"Miss McKinnon," She said, nodding slightly before her eyes fell on Harry. "He really does have her eyes." I couldn't bring myself to smile at the thought of the similarities that Harry would share with my dead friends as I once had. Instead, my face remained blank and my heart remained sealed against the sadness that I knew could overwhelm me at any moment.
"I need to go," I said.
"You can use the floo in my office if you need."
Gracious of her offer, I accepted and soon Harry and I were outside the house. Steeling myself, I opened the door and entered the familiar hallway that was just a bit too quiet.
Mary and Dorcas were sitting in the living room in a solemn silence. Only when I walked across the threshold into the room did she approach me. I handed Harry to her and the sleeping baby adjusted himself slightly to snuggle into her arms.
"Where's Remus?" I asked. She nodded towards the garden; sat on the low wall between the lawn and the small patio sat the faint silhouette of Remus John Lupin.
The air was vicious with its icicle teeth but I sat on the wall beside Remus anyway.
"Move into the house," I said bluntly. "You shouldn't go back to that flat, Harry 'll need you. And I'd rather you were here."
"I can't, Marls," He muttered, staring at the grass. "I'm too dangerous on the full moon."
"And that's why we have a basement in this house. We were all working on it... as your Christmas present I suppose. It's mostly done now anyway. A silencing charm is all that'll be needed."
"It's not fair to you for me to stay here."
"When have I ever cared about fair?" He turned to me and I recognised the ghost of a smile.
From then on, Harry had a family. Not the one he should have had, not the one any of us should have had. But he had one all the same. And I liked to think that that helped somewhat.