Heir of Darkness, Year One

Shadow of the Past

Prologue: When One War Ends

Just outside Number Four Privet Drive, a tabby cat sat upon a wall. Her name was Minerva McGonagall and she watched the far end of the street with determined intensity, her mouth set in an expression of firm displeasure.

Rumor claimed the war was over. That He was gone, at long last. Elsewhere, the wizarding populace celebrated in the pubs or streets, threw impromptu parties, incautiously risking exposure and seeming to no longer care about security.

To Minerva, it all seemed terribly presumptuous. Instead of joining the celebrants she came here, the most heavily-protected place she knew, to await the inevitable arrival of the one person whose knowledge of the situation she could actually trust.

While she kept her silent vigil and waited, she contemplated the residents of the house. A large man, Vernon Dursley, his skinny wife, Petunia Dursley, and their large infant son Dudley Dursley. The child screamed and punched his mother as she waved goodbye to her husband as he drove away to do whatever muggles did during the day. The woman then spent most of the morning gossiping over the fence, sending the occasional suspicious glance in Minerva's direction as the day wore on without her leaving or chasing mice or whatever it was muggles expected cats to do.

This being the first time Minerva had occasion to come to Privet Drive, she hadn't realized the emergency safe-house was already occupied. And by muggles no less.

Though she and Filius helped develop the defences here, Albus Dumbledore had been the one personally implementing them over the past year whenever he had a free moment.

Minerva was not pleased with anything she saw of the Dursleys' lives. She couldn't imagine sharing house-space with them, nor could she believe the defences were intended to protect them. Dumbledore was clearly acting on a different set of information than she was privy to.

It made her feel uneasy.

She doubted any objections she might raise would mean anything at this point. Enough powerful magic had already been put in place, enough warding enchantments and heavy protection charms, she doubted that Mad-Eye himself would be able to penetrate the defences. It would take a truly remarkable effort to change the plan after it was so far along, whatever that plan ended up being.

Hours passed, late morning slipping into early afternoon, then from there into evening, night drawing nearer. Vernon Dursley returned home, glared at Minerva and tried to shoo her away, but she merely watched him sternly until he gave up and went indoors.

When the ancient wizard finally appeared, clicking his deluminator to darken the street, Minerva sat up straighter. Her tail flicked in irritated impatience. The whole day she had waited, and now he finally showed up with this casual attitude.

He walked slowly, came at last to stand beside the wall where she waited.

"Minerva, you look quite stiff. Do come down please."

She jumped down to the ground, the cat melting and stretching, returning to her original form. The witch smoothed her rumpled emerald cloak, adjusted her square glasses.

"How long have you been sitting there?" Albus asked, his tone casual.

"Long enough," she said. Hesitated. "Is it true, Albus?" she asked quietly, unable to wait any longer. "What they're saying? Are James and Lily really. . ."

Albus nodded sadly. "They are dead."

"I heard rumors, but. . . I didn't want to believe it. Oh, Albus." Grief overwhelmed her and she fell silent, composed herself.

The more important part of what she had heard must be confirmed as well or she could not dare to believe it.

"Then, is You-Know-Who really gone?"

Albus sighed. "It would seem so. For the moment, at least. Though. . . it might have been better had he not."

Minerva drew in a breath. "How could you say that? Better that he was still at large, still terrorizing and murdering—"

The older wizard held up a hand. "You know why the Potters had to go into hiding?"

"You-Know-Who was targeting them," Minerva said, not quite confidently. "They had no choice, with young Harry to look after. . ." she trailed off, feeling distinctly that she was missing something.

"Not many know this, Minerva," Albus said, lowering his voice, "the true reason they were targeted by Voldemort. There is a prophecy."

Minerva gasped. "Truly?"

"Alas, yes. It is a confusing tangle, one I would not inflict upon another willingly, but I can tell you this. The prophecy foretold 'the one with the power to subdue the Dark Lord', born last year, 'as the seventh month dies'."

It didn't take long for her to put the piece into place. "Harry? So it's true, that You-Know-Who tried to kill Harry and failed? But it was because of a prophecy."

"The one with the power to subdue the Dark Lord. It is he, without a doubt."

"Albus, but surely this is good news?"

He shook his head slowly. "Right now, the people want assurance of safety. Right now, they need a hero to celebrate. Not to fear."

Minerva felt a cold shiver run through her. "Fear? Harry? But why?"

"The full contents of the prophecy are known only by me, and so it shall remain. But there are two parts in particular that you should be aware of. The first part, that Harry will have the power to subdue the Dark Lord. And this: He will rival the greatest, with power of darkness and light."

"Darkness?" Minerva whispered. "But. . . Albus, what does this mean?"

"Among other things, that we must take the greatest of care with what magic young Harry is exposed to. And, more importantly, most essentially, the world must believe that Harry and Voldemort are destined to be mortal foes."

"You're scaring me. Please tell me this isn't what it sounds like?"

"Alas, Minerva, I cannot offer reassurances. We have been granted a reprieve from Voldemort's war, and for that we can be grateful. He will return, I have no doubt of that. The prophecy makes it clear, this is not his final defeat."

"What does that mean for us? For Harry?"

"We will watch, be vigilant, and prepare for Voldemort's return. Harry will come here, with his relatives, where he will be safely away from any Dark influences until it is time for him to come to Hogwarts under our protection."

Minerva glanced disapprovingly toward the house behind them. "You intend to place Harry here?" she asked. "I've been watching them all day, they are the worst sort of muggles, surely anyone else—"

"No," Albus said simply. "It must be here."

"But why?"

"Voldemort will return, and it is vital that we keep him and Harry apart for as long as possible. Only here, protected by blood magic of the greatest strength, will he remain completely secure from any who might mean him harm. And perhaps, by growing up in a normal family away from his fame, he can be prevented from becoming arrogant and overly self-assured."

"I don't like this plan at all, Albus," Minerva said. "I must object to allowing any wizard to be subjected to these people for his entire childhood. And Harry particularly! There are plenty within the Order who could take him in. Defences nearly as impenetrable can be placed anywhere. Wouldn't it be better to have time, to prepare him—"

"No, Minerva, I am quite sure of this. This disaster was of my doing. I had hoped. . . well, had James and Lily survived, things may be different, but now. . . the less contact Harry has with magic, the safer everyone will be. Hagrid will be bringing him along shortly, and then we must leave him."

"I know you've put a lot of effort into defending this place, but why—"

"They are Harry's closest living relatives. His mother died to save him, and with that bond of blood and love he can be protected far more securely here than anywhere else. I have written a letter, explaining everything, so his relatives can inform him of his true nature when he is old enough. We must never return here after tonight, Minerva. Never draw attention to this place. It is a safe haven by virtue of its secrecy far more than by the protections that lie upon it, for Harry will not spend his entire childhood within its walls. And while I can do my utmost to protect him and his abode, there is no defence that cannot be broken."

"But, Albus. . ."

The old wizard held up his hand again. "Ten years is not so long. We will see him again quite soon."

"For a child, it is much longer," Minerva said.

"Perhaps. But I have had a year and more to consider what must be done should my attempts to avert the prophecy fail, and this is truly the only way. Until Harry is old enough and strong enough to protect himself, and wise enough to resist the temptation of the Dark, we must at all costs prevent Voldemort from finding him. I wish it could be different, Minerva, truly."

"Then I will trust you," she replied, "as I always have."

But in the quiet of her own thoughts, doubts could not be so easily silenced.

The one with the power to subdue the Dark Lord.

A vague sense of unease settled itself in the back of her mind. One she didn't quite dare to examine or put into words.

(Soon enough, thoughts of this evening and its mysteries would be driven away by the relentless march of routine, decades-worn habits easily usurping her attention. It would become little more than an idle curiosity in moments when Lily or James were brought to mind, for at Minerva's age time slipped by all too quickly indeed.)

The one with the power to rival the greatest.

But the war was finally over. Now, for a while at least, things could return to normal. The wizarding world could recover from the staggering losses it had sustained, rebuild itself into a semblance of order once again.

Minerva and Albus sat together in the quiet of the night, each lost in their own thoughts, awaiting the arrival of one who could be savior or destroyer.

The one with the power of Darkness and Light.

The orphan baby called Harry Potter.

Author's Notes:

October 2017: This prologue underwent a major revision. The prophecy has been changed even further from the original, and some minor background details were added or altered.

April 2019: Removed foreword.

Special thanks to Obscured Angel, for her invaluable critical input on this chapter!