Part II: Marge Tells Dumbledore

Marge waited in Accident and Emergency with Harry. Harry was lying on a bed while Marge sat in a nearby chair. A doctor patched Harry up the best he could, but Harry would keep his scars forever. In the two days since removing Harry from his irresponsible relatives, Marge still could not figure out why her brother chose to do this to a child the same age as his own son. She watched little Harry sleep restlessly. A nurse poked a head through the door stating they had a visitor. Petunia strode in and threw a worn letter into Marge's lap before immediately exiting. She never spoke.

Marge opened the letter and read it quickly.

Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Dursley,

A great dark wizard murdered Lily Evans Potter, along with her husband James, last night. Their son, your nephew, Harry James Potter survived and is in desperate need of care by a close blood relative. I'm truly sorry for your loss. Lily died protecting her son. Love is a very powerful weapon. When Lord Voldemort tried killing little Harry, it backfired on him. It is not clear whether or not this was the end of Lord Voldemort. I'm leaving Harry with you because your Lily's sister, therefore, you have the blood protection that Harry needs. I hope that you'll love him like one of your own.

Yours,

Albus Dumbledore

Marge was stunned. Magic didn't exist, so why was this man talking as if it did? But then she remembered how Harry told her that strange things happened that he did not understand. She decided to send a letter to this man to find out more information. She also intended to let him know about Harry's new home with her. Marge got a piece of paper and started writing. She wrote everything Harry told her, plus what Vernon told her, and how she was confused about his letter to Petunia.

A few days later, Harry was released from the children's ward of the hospital and Marge took him home. She still needed to clean out a room for him so she settled him on the sofa. She was just covering Harry with a blanket and asking him what he might like to watch on the telly when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to find a tall man with a silver beard standing on the porch.

"Hello Ms. Dursley," he said cheerfully. "May I come in?"

"Who are you?" Marge asked sharply.

"My name is Albus Dumbledore," said the old man.

Marge instantly moved out of the way for him to step into the house.

"I got your letter," Dumbledore said as he and Marge sat down. He looked over to Harry and gasped. There was a cast on his leg and scars on his arms.

"Ms. Dursley," he said. "I can heal Harry's leg…"

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't know you that well," said Marge. "I don't trust you with Harry yet. I only just met you."

"Of course, of course," said Dumbledore. "It may be best if I explain things first. Firstly, I'm truly sorry about my mistake. It was my fault. I left him with Petunia and Vernon. I thought that perhaps they would take him in and love him like one of their own. I was quite wrong. I did not check up on him because I thought that all was well."

"Well, you should have checked! The poor boy was treated more like an animal than a person!"

Dumbledore nodded sadly. "I know that now," he said quietly. "If I'd done the right thing and checked up on him, this would have ended long ago. I want to thank you Ms. Dursley, for doing the right thing and getting Harry out of there. Also, thank you for your letter. And before I go," he made sure that Harry was listening before continuing, "Magic is real." Marge gasped. "Yes," he continued. "Harry here is a wizard. He'll attend Hogwarts when he turns 11."

"What is Hogwarts?" Marge asked.

"A school for witches and wizards to learn magic," said Dumbledore. He stood moved towards the sofa. Harry squeezed his eyes shut and tensed away from the tall man, clearly very scared.

"Harry," said Dumbledore gently. "You are not in trouble. Look at me child."

Harry slowly looked up at the man. "Harry," he said quietly. "Do you want me to heal that leg right up for you? It'll be all fixed in no time."

Harry didn't know this man, but something about him told him that he could trust him. He nodded and saw a stick, no, a magic wand, being pulled out of the man's sleeve. He waved it over Harry's leg. The cast fell away, and a moment later, after a few more waves, a string of unfamiliar words, and a sudden sharp pain that caused Harry to whimper, he took a vial out of his pocket and handed it to Harry.

"Drink it," he said gently, helping the small boy handle the vial. "It'll make the pain disappear."

Harry didn't disobey as he forced the disgusting liquid down his throat.

"Why do you care about me?" Harry asked him.

Dumbledore smiled. "I was a friend of your parents."

"But why would you be friends with drunks who crashed their car?"

Dumbledore gasped. "Harry, your parents did not die in a car crash, and they were not drunks," he said. "A bad wizard killed them."

"Why didn't the bad man kill me?" Harry asked.

"Because your mother saved you," said Dumbledore. "You'll learn more when you are older. I must be going."

He thanked Marge for her time and left the house. Before he walked out the door, however, he took one more look at Harry. He couldn't believe that Harry had been abused, and it had been partially his fault for leaving the boy in the situation. But, he told himself. Marge has him now, and she will take care of him.