Snake Raised Lion Cub

"Albus I really don't think this is such a good idea," Minerva McGonagal fretted as she hurried along side the white haired man walking down the middle of the street, "There was such a commotion the other day and the car that returned wasn't the same, I've been watching since then and there hasn't been any sign," she wrung her hands, "Why don't I just take him and-" she was cut off mid sentence by a gently raised hand.
"Minerva I have made up my mind," the older man rasped, "We have already kept him with us for long enough to discover the truth of how he survived, we can't keep him any longer," he looked towards the sky, "Young Hagrid should be along with him any moment now," at that very moment there was a loud roar followed by the soft thud of tires on pavement as a large black motorcycle rolled to a stop right in front of them, "Hagrid good to see you made it."
A giant of a man lumbered slowly off the motorcycle in question, tears running softly down his face, "Sir you know I'm not one to question wat I'm told, get the order an do it 'at's me," he paused to sniffle a little, "But sendin' 'im off to live wit 'ese muggles just don't sit right wit me."
McGonagal waved her hand at Hagrid in agreement and to emphasize the fact that it was in fact two of them who had a problem with this. Dumbledoor sighed, "It's what must be done, now give me the boy," he held out his arms expectantly, and demandingly, clearly not used to being questioned or disobeyed. With yet another sniffle Hagrid handed over a tiny little bundle wrapped in blue, his large hands shaking slightly as he did so. Dumbledoor rolled his eyes once more before taking the offered bundle and heading towards the door to the house in question, then gently laid the bundle down revealing to the world a tiny baby boy with a lightning bolt shaped cut on his forehead, a tiny bit of blood still oozing from it. "There will not be a child in our world who doesn't know his name," Dumbledoor stated, unaware of the conversation going on behind him.
"Did he look all right when you saw him?" McGonagal whispered to Hagrid, waving her hand towards the motorcycle he'd arrived on, the taller man nodded, keeping a careful eye on the headmaster in front of him.
"Thin as a rail he was," he sighed, "Can't blame 'im though," he shrugged, "All things considered," McGanagal nodded, quickly dabbing a tear from her eye and straightening up as Dumbledoor laid an envelope on top of the now squirming bundle and knocked on the door.
"Let us be off," and so they were with a couple pops and the sound of a revving engine Privet Drive was quiet once more, a quiet soon broken by a baby's cry.
The newly abandoned infant wasn't crying for long though, as the sound of thumping and cursing soon rang out from within house number four, the same one who's stoop the child now sat. The sound of feet on stairs became prevalent, soon followed by the aching creak of the doors hinges as it opened faster than it liked. "Who in the hell," was the growled response from inside, that is until the speaker saw no one except for the tiny squirming crying bundle, and the note that had been knocked to the side, "Holy hell," the speaker, a woman in her late teens with tangled dark brown curls and chocolate brown gold eyes, cursed again, her voice sounding strange in the quaint English air, the Southern drawl she sported would have been expected in a movie or some Western ranch, anywhere but here, "You poor thing," she cooed, scooping the baby up into her arms, bending down to get the note only after he had been secured, "Who in their right mind left you out here in this weather?" She quickly pulled the now whimpering child in against her chest, closing her own robe around the both of them to keep off the cill.
"Poor baby," she cooed again, gently rocking and bouncing him in a soothing manner, "Let's see if this note has any clues huh?" her voice was much softer now, as she moved to shut the door and take the slowly drifting infant back into her home, it's then that she notices the name elegantly scrawled on the envelope the note came in, 'Petunia', she sighed and looked back down at the little boy, "I really hope they just got the wrong house, and weren't looking for that pinched faced woman who I bought this place from," with another sigh she opened the note and read it, growing more and more upset as she did.
By the end of the note mad wouldn't have even begun to describe how the young woman felt, as incandescently furious was much more apt, though absolutely none of it showed as she cuddled the now sleeping and changed baby in her arms, "Don't you worry Harry," she whispered gently kissing his forehead right on top of the now bandaged cut, "I don't know who the hell this 'Headmaster Dumbledoor' is, but if he didn't care enough to check who he was leaving you with then he clearly doesn't deserve to be notified that he was wrong," she gently pulled a long slender stick like object from her robes pocket and pointed it at one of her dining room chairs. In seconds where a simple wooden chair once stood, there now sat a small wooden crib, "It's not much," she hummed softly, "But it'll do for now," she smiled as she laid the bundled little boy down inside the newly made crib, "Sweet dreams honey," she whispered as she slowly began to rock the crib from side to side and hum.
(The Letter)
Dear Mrs. Dursley,
It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the passing of your sister and brother-in-law, Lily and James Potter. I can honestly say they died having done amazing things for our world and that you should be very proud of them. However I know that doesn't bring you much comfort, nor does it fully explain what's going on. As I have said Lily and James have been killed, leaving behind their young son, your nephew Harry, whom this letter was left with. Normally the boy would have gone to his godparents, however due to extenuating circumstances that is currently not an option and I must ask that you please take him in. I know you and Lily were not as close in recent years as you were when I and Hogwarts first came into your lives, however I hope you will still do the correct thing here.
Wishing you the best of luck, and many condolences,
Albus Dumbledoor, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin First Class, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
~Ten years later~
The sunlight filtered in from the window and directly across the head of the bed into the eyes of a woman in her late twenties who groaned while throwing an arm over her face in the hopes of blocking the overly bright light from blinding her, the woman's name was Azalea Rose. At the door to her bedroom a boy, about ten to eleven years old with unruly black hair and bright green eyes hidden behind thick framed glasses, stood looking in and slightly wringing his hands in the shirt he was wearing, "Mum," he called out, barely making any sort of sound.
Azalea stirred slightly, "Hmm," she rubbed her eyes and blearily looked towards the boy, who was still surprised she'd been able to hear him, "Harry, baby, what's wrong?" she asked as she sat up and stretched turning the bed covers down to give the dark haired boy a place to sit if he so chose.
Taking the action for the invitation it was Harry climbed up onto the bed and immediately cuddled into Azalea's side, "I had that nightmare again," he stated as he rested his head on her shoulder, causing her to let out a soft coo.
"Oh baby," she gently began to card her fingers through the unruly mess that was his hair, "Anything you need me to do to help?" she asked, laying a gentle kiss amongst the same locks she had just been carding through. "I can make us both some hot chocolate, or we can plan what to do for your birthday here in about a week," she gave him another kiss, "Any of that sounds good?"
Harry shook his head, "Can we just cuddle for a bit?" he asked softly as he looked up into her eyes, liking that his request earned him a gentle kiss on the forehead over his scar and a gentle smile.
"Of course we can sweetie," she pulled him closer and settled in to cuddle for a little while, only for their peace and quiet to be broken by the soft sound of tapping on their window, the woman gave a sigh, "Sounds like the owl's here," she stood up and moved to the window, giggling softly at the pout Harry shot the small burrowing owl that sat on the windowsill, "Goodness gracious," she hissed, "Hornet please tell me Memaw didn't send you all the way from Carolina," she knew her plea would not be answered, however the fact that the little owl gave a rather energetic hoot, gave her hope, "Alright let me see what you've got," she sighed as she took the mail the little owl held, a package of which looked almost as big as it's carrier, "Holy hell, Harry she sent another present!" she called over her shoulder as she opened the letter meant for her and started reading.
"What did Great Grandma Lacey say Mum?" Harry asked as he took the box with his present and started opening it.
"Not much sweetheart, mostly just letting us know that she's doing well," she read down further, "She sent Hornet and everything with a friend of hers from Liverpool, and had him send it all when he returned home so it wouldn't be such a long trip for the little guy," she gently scratched the owl in question under the chin at that then paused at what she read, reread it again, then cursed, "And to let me know that she was adding more to our account." she sighed.
Harry looked up in shock, "Again?" he asked incredulously.
"Again," Azalea replied shaking her head, "Memaw told me she wasn't giving me everything my parents left all at once, but I would have sworn we'd gone through it by now," she looked over at what Harry had received and snickered, "Aw that is adorable," Harry glared at her looking down at the set of robes in his hands, frilly plum colored robes.
"I'm using the generic pre-filled 'Thank you' card," he stated firmly, the scowl on his face looking more like a pout.
Still snickering Azalea nodded in agreement, "I'll hide those in the closet, and we can give them to Ms. Myrtle the next time we see her," both snickered at the thought before Azalea turned and held her hand out for the owl still on the sill "Come on Hornet, might as well get you some food before sending you off again, I'm sure Daisey won't mind sharing."
With a happy little chirping hoot the burrowing owl hopped on to her extended hand and nuzzled her thumb before hopping even further into the room and landing on Harry's hair, and promptly started trying to groom him, "Aw Hornet cut it out," he gripped half heartedly.
Azalea laughed as she lead the young boy, still being owl groomed, out he bedroom door, with a stop at a hall closet, and then down the stair to the kitchen, this time stopping at the cupboard under the stairs for the owl feed, "Alright you two calm down for breakfast okay?" her request was echoed by the hooting of a big barn owl that sat by the kitchen window on her own perch, "Morning Daisey," Azalea stated as she filled the bowl in front of the owl's perch "You don't mind sharing with Hornet do you girl?" The barn owl gave another hoot and ruffled her feathers.
Taking this for an affirmative Harry walked over so that the little burrowing owl could hop down and eat, "Thanks Daisey," he said with a smile, making the barn owl coo and nuzzle his cheek, just then there was a tap at their kitchen window as well, "Another one?" Harry was shocked.
Azalea shrugged and opened the window for the large horned owl to hop in, "Well hey there hon," she cooed at him, "You lost?" the owl hooted and placed a large thick
envelope in her outstretched hand, "Huh guess not," looking down at the seal she cursed.
Harry looked up shocked, "Mum what is it what's wrong?" he rushed over and started trying to look, clearly worried about whatever it was that had his mother so upset.
"Nothing's wrong baby," Azalea replied, setting the envelope off to the side, "Do you remember what we talked about as you were growing up?"
Harry tilted his head, "You mean about how you and Great Grandma Lacey are witches, but I can't tell anyone, and about how I'm a wizard, who's birth parents were killed and I was supposed to be sent to my aunt and uncle but wound up on your doorstep instead?" he asked somehow all in one breath.
Azalea huffed a laugh, "That's right, do you remember how I told you that at some point you'd get your letter for the wizarding school here in Europe?" he nodded, "Well it came, and it's the same school that the man who left you with me is the headmaster of."
Harry tilted his head, "So not only do I get to go to school and learn how to do magic like you did, I also get to rub it in this man's face that he was wrong, and potentially also how I had a better life with you then I otherwise would have had?" he asked innocently.
Azalea snickered and nodded, trying to hold back more laughter, "T-that sounds about right baby," she snickered again, "G-god you are my kid."
Harry smirked, "Then let's open it," he stated, "If he still thinks I'm with my aunt and uncle then he's probably also talking about sending someone out to help us with Hogsmead and everything else I'll need for school," at this they both rolled their eyes, they didn't go into Hogsmead often, but when they have it was usually a very quick in and out trip, neither of them liked the crowds.
"They'll certainly be in for a surprise won't they baby?" Azalea asked with a laugh, this caused Harry to also start laughing.
After they both stopped laughing they quickly opened the letter and began to read, occasionally Harry would look up at Azalea with a wrinkled nose, "Quill and parchment?" he asked skeptically, causing his mother to giggle.
"That's what it says, don't worry I'll buy you some pens and notebooks at the stationary store down the street for notes and letters so you only have to use the quills and parchment for homework, should save you on hand cramps," Azalea teased, prompting Harry to stick out his tongue at her, "I'm more worried about some of these potion ingredients they want you to get, you're only going to be a first year and some of this stuff is for more advanced potion making," she bit her bottom lip, "Speaking of which I should probably owl Memaw back quickly, I think I had several of these books and a few others on my Ilvermorny list, we maybe able to shave a few of these off before this Rubeus Hagrid person even arrives," She squinted, "Did they even say when they'll get here?"
Harry re-skims the letter, "Looks like sometime around my birthday I think," they shared a look.
"Zoo the day before so your activity isn't ruined?" Azalea asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Sounds good," Harry agreed with a smirk, "Besides that means my best birthday present will be watching their face when they get here."
Azalea snickered and shook her head, "Why are you like this?" she asked with a hand on her heart.
Harry smirked, "Because you are," he answered truthfully, earning himself a shove.
"Stinker," Azalea teased back, "Go pick out your prefilled card to sign while I write the letter to Memaw and we can eat after they're sent off," her request was soon followed by the sound of thundering feet on the stairs while she sat at the table to write, "And it had better be one of the polite ones!" she called out after her son, the sound of his groan and a soft 'Ah Mum!' the only response she received, "Harry James!" she called back, earning a yelp and a 'Okay okay!' she smirked, "Thank you!" Shaking her head Azalea contemplated a pot of coffee, knowing full well that this was going to be a long day.