Albus Dumbledore strolled down amused at the strange street. It was half filled with tidy neat houses for the wealthy while the other half was filled with rundown shambles for the poorer half. Of course Lily Potter was raised in a place where everyone was equal; he stopped at the house where her sister lived. It was remarkable, a large old stone cottage with a little sign with 'The Banana House' by the front door.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a cat that was dishevelled and covered in jam. "You look rather untidy this evening, Minerva my dear."

The cat transformed smoothly into a middle-aged woman with untidy black hair and jam splattered on her green robes and face. She was not amused. "Lily's nieces and nephews are the most chaotic children I have ever laid eyes on and I've taught James Potter and his little gang."

Albus chuckled. "You should have trusted my judgement; Harry is better off being raised by his muggle aunt away from all this fame."

The shock of James and Lily's death had worn out a few days ago but the shock of Alice and Frank Longbottom's torture into insanity and Sirius Black's betrayal to the light had meant poor Harry Potter was a homeless ward. Only five people knew where Harry was – Albus Dumbledore of course, his second in command Professor McGonagall who had been godmother to the late James Potter, his most trusted friend Hagrid who had brought the child to him, the school nurse who had checked him for injuries and Severus Snape who had helped Albus search for Lily's remaining relative to raise Harry.

It had turned out that Petunia Dursley had never left her childhood home in Manchester and the lovely cottage with a loving family was just what Harry needed to grow up to be a delightful boy.

McGonagall stepped forward, "May I?" she whispered sadly, Albus nodded and moved his cloak to show the sleeping child. McGonagall picked him up and kissed his forehead. "Blessed be my child, may you have a good life" she placed him on the doorstep and placed the letter addressed to Lily's sister on top of him. She stood up and shot a sharp look at her mentor, "well at least we'll know he won't be lacking love in this home. I've watched these muggles Albus, they're messy and chaotic and lots of trouble but they love each other."

"As long as he is loved, that is all that matters. Care for a nightcap in the Three Broomsticks? I believe Hagrid is waiting for us."

The next morning Harry Potter was not woken up by screaming aunt who wanted nothing to do with her magical sister. Because you see Petunia Dursley had left Manchester a long time ago and had moved to Surrey, only she had kept it a secret in hopes her sister would never find her. Instead Harry Potter was woken up by a young girl's shout to her parents.

"Mummy, Daddy, the stork brought another baby!"

Author's Note: do not expect many updates until the summer. I already have several fics on the go and a lot of work to do. However I'll try my best since I have many ideas rampaging through my mind. First off I didn't follow a cannon start because it would have made a better timeline if Dumbledore had taken Harry for safety to be checked over and in the few days Sirius was captured and Alice was tortured with the lack of safe wizardry relatives Dumbledore would have chosen the Dursleys truly believing they would care for Harry even if it's just a little bit. I do enjoy manipulative!Dumbledore but the Cassons have always been a light and fun series and I rather go through the path where Dumbledore truly tried to make Harry happy before it was confirmed Harry had Voldemort's soul stuck in his head. Also let's face it manipulative! Dumbledore wouldn't last three seconds against the Cassons before committing himself to St Mungo's.