"I just want it to be noted, how strongly I am against this."

The past few days have been nothing but confusion with too much to sort out in too little days.

It had been only three days since McGonagall had gotten Harry and in those three days much had happened.

"I mean, I was supportive of you kidnapping the kid, I was VERY supportive when you filed the case against Peter Pettigrew, I was there to tell you Dumbledorf is not going to go down with a fight, I was there to help you plan for the funeral and all. But this? This is ridiculous."

"They're her family Z,"

"DISOWNED family, thank you."

Minerva sighed and rolled her eyes, looking at the clearly perturbed Zaelia by her side. They were sitting on the porch swing, a thick wooly blanket covering both of their laps.

"It is still appropriate to give them the choice."

Zaelia huffed and crossed her arms petulantly.

"Bloody Gryffindors," she muttered under her breath.

Minerva chuckled before nudging her shoulder against Zaelia's playfully.

"Alright, let's get this over with," Zaelia said as she stood up and reached out to pull her friend up.

Sighing, they both headed back into the warmth of the cottage.

It was less crowded now, with only Sirius and Remus remaining. Sophie and Malcolm still had a life to pick back up and three kids to look after so they left, with heavy hearts and the promise to return at the slightest call.

The two friends strolled casually past the living room and past the stairs to the guest room at the back of the cottage. There they found a sleeping Remus, and a conspiring Sirius and Harry.

"Now what trouble have you two planned?" Minerva asked softly, with a chuckle.

Harry only cocked his head slightly before bursting into squeals of joy as his Godfather began to tickle him gently.

Smiling softly at the scene, Minerva placed her hands on her hips and exhaled.

"Alright, I am gonna go now. We'll be back in half hour. You sure you boys don't want to come?"

Two very sharp snorts laced with sarcasm were her answers.

Zaelia smiled brightly, "Great, so Minerva go get changed and let's go," she ordered.

Minerva huffed exasperatedly, before getting up and exiting the room to do as commanded.

Zaelia raised a brow in Sirius' direction before nodding at the still sleeping Remus.

"Even though he's asleep, he's still pretty involved with what's going on. Habit of a werewolf I guess," Sirius shrugged, answering Zaelia's unasked question about how Remus could be asleep and still respond.

"Honestly, it's just best not to question it," Minerva called out, stepping back into the room.

She was now dressed in a white chiffon short sleeved blouse and a dark green satin circle skirt ensemble, her black hair was pulled up into an elaborate french bun.

"Wonderful," Zaelia complimented, clapping in admiration.

Zaelia then stood up and quickly transfigured her robes into a sapphire blue calf-length modest dress, the colour complimenting her dark skin beautifully.

Harry giggled at the transformation and started to clap his hands in delight. Zaelia preened and gave a little twirl, her short thin dark braids that hung loose over her shoulders flouncing along with her movement. Minerva just rolled her eyes with fond exasperation.

"Are you ready now?" Minerva asked, after her friend was done.

Zaelia only smiled impishly before slipping her hand into the crook of Minerva's arm, "Lead the way Madam McGonagall."

Minerva simply blinked before the sinking, swirling feeling of apparition enveloped them. Within a matter of seconds they found themselves in a rather quaint looking neighbourhood.

Zaelia couldn't help but wrinkle her nose in slight disgust at the rather drab and monotonous look that seemed to be duplicated along the whole neighbourhood; each house a carbon copy of the next.

"Such little individuality," she couldn't help but mutter under her breath as Minerva lead them to one of the houses.

Zaelia barely noticed the number 4 on the red brick wall that surrounded the property, as she rushed to catch up with Minerva, who was already marching up the cobbled stone driveway.

She got to Minerva's side just as the woman wrapped her knuckles on the door.

"Coming! Coming!"

"Mind you, if you're salesmen we don't want any-" Petunia cut off at the sight of the two women in front of her, looking perfectly neat, tidy and fashionable. But that didn't disguise the familiar face of that Professor.

Petunia's thin lips instantly twisted into a sneer as she regarded the older lady in front of her, "We don't want your kind here!" she spat.

Minerva raised her hand up, quelling the thin, gaudy lady's anger slightly. "Mrs Dursley, I am afraid I have some terrible news and believe it best not to tell you on your doorstep."

Petunia's brown eyes widened before looking around behind the two ladies', noticing Ms Ducall from across the street peering through her window at them.

Eyes narrowing, she ushered the two ladies in off her front doorstep so as to avoid giving Ms Ducall further reason to gossip. Closing the door behind them, she turned and faced them both,

"What?" she hissed.

"Petunia! Who was it, darling?" Vernon called out, coming into the hallway to check on his wife.

Minerva took control before Petunia could get a word in, "Mr and Mrs Dursley, I am afraid I have some sensitive news regarding Lily and James, if you could possibly take a seat-"

"She's dead, isn't she?" Petunia cut in, her hand covering her mouth in shock.

Minerva closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before opening them, "Yes, Mrs Dursley, I am afraid Lily and her husband James passed away a few nights ago."

Petunia let out a dry sob, reaching out blindly and clutching at her husband who had rushed to her side.

"Good riddance I say," Vernon grouched out, trying to console his now, very still wife. "Less of their kind the better."

Zaelia bristled at that but Minerva simply lay a hand on her arm in warning.

"Mr and Mrs Dursley, I do think it's best for you to be sitting."

"How'd she die?"

Minerva pursed her lips, not fond of relaying such details in the middle of the hallway.

"Lily and James were murdered by Voldemort."

"The terrorist," Petunia breathed, one hand clutching at the string of pearls hanging from her neck and the other hand clutching on to her husband's arm. "A-And the boy?"

Minerva was secretly surprised and pleased that Petunia remembered her nephew. "He's currently in the care of his godparents."

Petunia could only nod, her grip on her husband becoming tighter.

"Now see here!" Vernon exclaimed, trying to get a hold of the situation, "I don't know who you think you are, but I will not have you barging into my house and disturbing my family!" his face becoming redder and redder with anger.

"Very well Mr Dursley," she reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Here are the details of the funeral along with instructions on how to get there," she placed it atop the little side table.

Taking a deep breath, she stared at the two in front of her, one as pale as the other was red. "I am deeply sorry for your loss," she then nodded her head before turning sharply on her heels and heading outside. Barely registering that Zaelia was following.

Her feet had a mind of its own, for they just continued to walk, without a care of where they were going. So caught up was she in her inner thoughts that she didn't even notice Zaelia clasping at her elbow and walking in time with her.

It seemed to be hours before Minerva finally broke out of her contemplative thinking, when it actually was only twenty minutes.

Zaelia worriedly took in Minerva's pallid face and sighed internally. Her friend was really never good at handling negative emotions.

"Let's get you home, Gryff."

Pulling her friend close to her side. She apparated them both out of the bleak muggle world and back to the soothing sanctity of the little stone cottage.