Prologue
Chapter 1
Privet Drive, England
October 31, 23:47
In the dead of the night a man appeared so suddenly and silently you’d have thought he’d just popped out of the ground. He was tall and thin, and had gold-rimmed glasses perched on a crooked nose that looked as if it were broken at least twice. His bright red robes decorated with stars contrasted with his baby blue eyes. This man’s name was Albus Dumbledore.
Dumbledore was busy rummaging through his cloak when he felt someone’s eyes on him. Looking up, he saw a cat staring at him from the other side of the street. For some reason, the cat seemed to amuse him.
Pulling out an instrument which looked a lot like a cigarette lighter, Dumbledore clicked it once — the nearest streetlamp went off. He clicked it once more — another streetlamp went off. The cigarette lighter looking object was clicked another 12 times, until the street was bare of all light.
Somehow, the cat shifted, turning into a stern looking woman who looked distinctly ruffled. She too, was wearing a cloak — an emerald one — and glasses exactly the same shape of the markings around the cat’s eyes.
“Professor McGonagall, fancy seeing you here,” Dumbledore smiled. The stern looking woman nodded sharply before asking, “Are the rumors true Albus?”
Dumbledore’s smile faded slightly, his head bowing down so that Minerva couldn’t see his small smile. “I’m afraid so.” Minerva’s icy facade crumpled before she composed herself. She lightly dabbed her eyes before saying, “And the girl?”
“Hagrid is bringing her.”
“Do you think that it is wise to trust Hagrid with this?”
“I would trust Hagrid with my life,” Albus said, before a roar of an engine filled the air. “For Heaven’s sake, what is that?!” Minerva cried, before staring in aghast at the massive bike speeding towards them.
The bike landed, quite noisily, and on said bike was someone who could be considered a giant. In his arms was a bundle of pink.
“Ah Hagrid, at last. Where on earth did you get that motorbike?” Dumbledore asked lightly, sounding almost relieved.
“A young Sirius Black lent it to me, Professor Dumbledore sir,” was the answer he got.
“No problems, were there?”
“No, sir — house was almost destroyed, but I got her out all right before the Muggles started swarmin’ around. She 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 girl, fast asleep. A tuft of strawberry blonde hair that looked as if it would darken as she grew older, was swept over her forehead while her inquisitive hazel eyes were closed as the small baby slept.
The child rolled around so that the adults could see the lightning scar adorning her hand.
“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 myself above 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 deposited the bundle of blankets on the doorstep before gently placing a letter, and stepped back. 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.
“Very well, we might as well go join the celebrations,” Dumbledore loudly announced, ignoring the horrified look McGonagall aimed at him. Hagrid nodded before saying, “Yeah, I best get this bike away. G’night, Professor McGonagall — Professor Dumbledore, sir.” And then he was off.
“Goodbye Professor McGonagall,” Dumbledore dipped his head before walking off. Minerva shifted back into her cat form and slinked off into the shadows. After Albus was certain Minerva was gone, he allowed a gleeful smile to stretch on his face. “Goodluck, my little weapon,” he said, endearingly before apparating away. What the great Albus Dumbledore didn’t notice was two beady eyes that could only belong to a cat, watching him leave.
After Albus left, Minerva transformed herself back into her human form and picked the bundle of blankets off of the doorstep.
Contrary to belief, Minerva was well aware of Albus’s scheming. She tried long ago to put a stop to it, but he was too powerful. He somehow managed to convince the ministry that her husband was taking part in dark arts and got him sent to Azkaban. Her husband didn’t last 4 months before passing away.
Since that moment, Minerva decided to keep quiet but silently aid every student that comes her way. She had failed a few times before, one being one of her favourite students Tom Riddle, another being Severus Snape. Now, poor Lily and James paid for her supposed ignorance. She decided then and there that their daughter wouldn’t suffer for Albus’s Greater Good, and that she would be safe and be cared for — unlike what she would be put through at the Dursleys.
“Oh Estelle,” she said to the young child, “Who to leave you with?”
Minerva thought about who to leave the young Potter with before deciding that she would finally call upon her old friend. Making sure that the child in her arms was secure, Minerva apparated.