Chapter 1: The Boy Who Lived

November 1st, 1981

All day long, a gray tabby cat sat on a the corner of Privet Drive in a small suburb in Surry. All day long, the cat watched the occupants of Number 4, the Dursleys. If one didn't know better, one would think the cat had a look of disdain in its emerald green eyes. But of course, cats could do no such thing. The cat remained on its street corner from early in the day to very late at night, when all the residents of Privet Drive had gone to sleep.

Out of the darkness came a spectacular looking man. He had a long silver beard with hair to match. His purple robes swished around his tall frame as he walked down the street. His blue eyes twinkled behind half-moon glasses in the glow of the streetlamps. The man stopped and looked directly at the cat.

"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall," he smiled.

The cat twitched its tail before transforming itself to a middle-aged woman with black hair pulled back into a tight bun. Her green eyes gazed at the man behind square-rimmed glasses.

"How did you know it was me?" she asked, not bothering to return his smile.

"My dear professor, I have never known any other cat to sit so stiffly."

She scoffed at his observation and walked with him toward Number 4. "Is it true, Albus? What they're saying?"

"Yes, Minerva. It is true. Voldemort is gone."

She shuddered at the mention of the name. "And the Potters? James and Lily? Are they…"

"I'm afraid so. They were killed. I'm very sorry, my dear. I know how fond you were of them. But tiny Harry survived," he told her, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders.

Silent tears made their way down Minerva McGonagall's pale cheeks. "What is to become of the boy? You don't really intend to leave him here do you?" Albus nodded. "But you can't! I've watched them all day and they're the worst sort of muggles imaginable. He would be much better off…"

"Away from the fame that he now unfortunately has," he interrupted. "He is safer to be here. They are the only family he has, Minerva."

At this, a new wave of tears filled her eyes. She opened her mouth to respond when the roar of an engine came from the sky.

"Ah that will be Hagid. He's bringing Harry."

Minerva raised her eyebrows, doubting Hagrid's abilities, but said nothing as a giant flying motorbike landed in the street beside them.

A giant man with bushy dark hair and beard stepped off the bike, holding a tiny bundle in his oversized hand. "Pr'fessor Dumbledore, sir. Pr'fessor McGonagall," he nodded in greeting at them. "Here he is, sir, safe and sound. Fell asleep as we was makin' our way over Bristol."

Hagrid handed the baby to Albus. Minerva stood by and looked down at his tiny sleeping face. She brushed his black hair out of his face with her slender fingers. A cut shaped like a lightening bolt was etched into his small forehead. Reluctantly, she allowed Albus to place the baby on the doorstep of Number 4. He attached a letter addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Dursley to Harry's blanket.

Hagrid sniffed back tears. "Well I'd better get this bike back to Sirius Black. Good night, Pr'fessors."

"Thank you Hagrid," Albus said as Hagrid restarted the bike and flew off into the night.

Minerva had not taken her eyes off of the baby. "Albus, are you sure it has to be this way? Couldn't we…"

"No, Minerva. He needs to be with family. When he is old enough, he will be told. We shall see him again, never you fear."

"Albus, I have something I need to tell you. But not here." With that, she disappeared on the spot with a tiny 'pop.'

Albus furrowed his brow in confusion. He needed to follow her but first he had to take care of Harry. He rang the doorbell and just as Vernon Dursley opened the door, Albus disappeared just as Minerva had.

His voice echoed on the breeze, "Good luck, Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived."