Care of magical creatures
Note: The premise of this is “what if Dumbledore didn’t know about the blood wardsâ€. I didn’t know how to put that in the story. Title is still to be determined, with a placeholder title for now. Once I have written more and decided on a name, I will move this to the previews section.
“Ah professor McGonagall†Dumbledore tiredly rose his feet to greet the deputy headmistress as she entered his office. “I have asked you here for your advice on the living arrangements of Harry Potter.â€
“The boy who lived? Who is he currently staying with?†asked McGonagall.
“That is precisely the problem. I cannot think of any person or family suitable for the task of caring for him. “
McGonagall thought for a few seconds, before asking “what does the will say?â€
“Well†Dumbledore said gravely “the will names Sirius Black as his godfather.â€
“Well obviously that traitor can’t be given custody†McGonagall said without hesitation.
“The will continues to say that if, for whatever reason, Sirius Black cannot become Harry’s guardian; the task should be given to Peter Pettigrew, who Sirius Black murdered.â€
“Truly a tragedy†McGonagall said sadly.
“And finally the will says that if, by some unfortunate coincidence, neither Sirius black nor Peter Pettigrew can serve as guardians, the task should fall to the Longbottoms, who are currently in the Janus Thickey ward at Mungos, and the healers do not think they will recover for a long time. The will did not see the need to specify any more than three options.†Dumbledore looked at McGonagall expectantly.
“Magical law says that if the will does not specify, guardianship falls to the closest relatives†Mcgonagle said.
“Unfortunately James potter was an only child, and harry is the last of the potter line. Lily potter has relatives, however they are muggles. I fear they would be incapable of protecting harry from death eaters, and unwilling to live their lives under a fidelius.â€
“I’m sure it’s not that bad a problem†Mcgonagle said trying to cheer Dumbledore up “he’s the boy who lived; any number of families would be willing to adopt him.â€
“It’s not a matter of who’s willing to adopt him. It’s a matter of who is powerful enough to protect him, and who won’t try to manipulate or steal from him. It’s a matter of who can be trusted. I would raise him myself if I were not constantly busy.â€
“Could the Weasleys raise him?†McGonagall asked after a few moments of thinking.
“Unfortunately no. they already have 6 children and a seventh on the way. I could not possibly ask them to accept another child, nor do I believe they could provide him an optimal childhood with so many children already.â€
“How about Remus Lupin?†asked McGonagall, remembering that he was on of James Potters closest friends.
“Not Remus… he has a very particular problem that would make it quite dangerous for him to take care of Harryâ€
“What about your brother Aberforth?â€
“Although Aberforth is an excellent duelist, he is also a barman, and I would prefer if Harry was not raised in such an environmentâ€
“Alastar Moody? He served with distinction fighting Voldemorts followers.â€
“I fear fighting has caused Moody to grow excessively paranoid. The last time I saw him he nearly attacked me thinking I was a disguised death eater. Such an environment would not be ideal.â€
“Maybe… I hear you used to work with Nicalas Flamel, could he become Harry’s guardian?†Minerva asked, clearly grasping for straws at this point, finally understanding why Dumbledore was having so much trouble.
“While the Flamels are skilled at hiding, they long ago decided not to have children, and would certainly refuse to adopt. They value spending their time together, alone, out of the public eye, and would not want publicity that caring for the boy who lived would give them.
“Maybe Snape or the Malfoys?†Mcgonagle asked, at this point just throwing out random names.
Dumbledore sighed. “I do hope you are kidding.â€
In the end there was only one sensible choice.
*-----*--------*--------*
“Yer a wizard harryâ€
The baby harry potter said nothing.
“Yer a wizard harry†Hagrid repeated. “an’ a thumpin’ good’un.â€
The boy who lived continued to not say anything as he sat in the crib in Hagrid’s hut.
“Great man Dumbledore†Hagrid said happily.
Note: The premise of this is “what if Dumbledore didn’t know about the blood wardsâ€. I didn’t know how to put that in the story. Title is still to be determined, with a placeholder title for now. Once I have written more and decided on a name, I will move this to the previews section.
“Ah professor McGonagall†Dumbledore tiredly rose his feet to greet the deputy headmistress as she entered his office. “I have asked you here for your advice on the living arrangements of Harry Potter.â€
“The boy who lived? Who is he currently staying with?†asked McGonagall.
“That is precisely the problem. I cannot think of any person or family suitable for the task of caring for him. “
McGonagall thought for a few seconds, before asking “what does the will say?â€
“Well†Dumbledore said gravely “the will names Sirius Black as his godfather.â€
“Well obviously that traitor can’t be given custody†McGonagall said without hesitation.
“The will continues to say that if, for whatever reason, Sirius Black cannot become Harry’s guardian; the task should be given to Peter Pettigrew, who Sirius Black murdered.â€
“Truly a tragedy†McGonagall said sadly.
“And finally the will says that if, by some unfortunate coincidence, neither Sirius black nor Peter Pettigrew can serve as guardians, the task should fall to the Longbottoms, who are currently in the Janus Thickey ward at Mungos, and the healers do not think they will recover for a long time. The will did not see the need to specify any more than three options.†Dumbledore looked at McGonagall expectantly.
“Magical law says that if the will does not specify, guardianship falls to the closest relatives†Mcgonagle said.
“Unfortunately James potter was an only child, and harry is the last of the potter line. Lily potter has relatives, however they are muggles. I fear they would be incapable of protecting harry from death eaters, and unwilling to live their lives under a fidelius.â€
“I’m sure it’s not that bad a problem†Mcgonagle said trying to cheer Dumbledore up “he’s the boy who lived; any number of families would be willing to adopt him.â€
“It’s not a matter of who’s willing to adopt him. It’s a matter of who is powerful enough to protect him, and who won’t try to manipulate or steal from him. It’s a matter of who can be trusted. I would raise him myself if I were not constantly busy.â€
“Could the Weasleys raise him?†McGonagall asked after a few moments of thinking.
“Unfortunately no. they already have 6 children and a seventh on the way. I could not possibly ask them to accept another child, nor do I believe they could provide him an optimal childhood with so many children already.â€
“How about Remus Lupin?†asked McGonagall, remembering that he was on of James Potters closest friends.
“Not Remus… he has a very particular problem that would make it quite dangerous for him to take care of Harryâ€
“What about your brother Aberforth?â€
“Although Aberforth is an excellent duelist, he is also a barman, and I would prefer if Harry was not raised in such an environmentâ€
“Alastar Moody? He served with distinction fighting Voldemorts followers.â€
“I fear fighting has caused Moody to grow excessively paranoid. The last time I saw him he nearly attacked me thinking I was a disguised death eater. Such an environment would not be ideal.â€
“Maybe… I hear you used to work with Nicalas Flamel, could he become Harry’s guardian?†Minerva asked, clearly grasping for straws at this point, finally understanding why Dumbledore was having so much trouble.
“While the Flamels are skilled at hiding, they long ago decided not to have children, and would certainly refuse to adopt. They value spending their time together, alone, out of the public eye, and would not want publicity that caring for the boy who lived would give them.
“Maybe Snape or the Malfoys?†Mcgonagle asked, at this point just throwing out random names.
Dumbledore sighed. “I do hope you are kidding.â€
In the end there was only one sensible choice.
*-----*--------*--------*
“Yer a wizard harryâ€
The baby harry potter said nothing.
“Yer a wizard harry†Hagrid repeated. “an’ a thumpin’ good’un.â€
The boy who lived continued to not say anything as he sat in the crib in Hagrid’s hut.
“Great man Dumbledore†Hagrid said happily.