Reaper's Heir (Book 1)

Chapter 1

Third-person P.O.V (Privet Drive)

An elderly man in robes that looks like something a wizard would wear walks to the end of the street. Being careful not to disturb the sleeping bundle in his arms, he pulls a device that looks like a lighter from his pocket and clicks it, extinguishing the lamp post lights all along the street. He walks over to a house bearing a brass #4 on the door. He sees a grey tabby cat sitting on a ledge, staring at him.

"I should've known you'd be here, Professor McGonagall."

The cat changes into a somewhat elderly woman with grey hair and glasses. "Good evening Professor Dumbledore." Professor McGonagall pauses, seeing the bundle in Dumbledore's arms. She eyes him, seeming to weigh her next words. "Are the rumors true, Albus?"

"I'm afraid so, Professor," Dumbledore replies. "The good and the bad."

Another pointed look at the bundle in Dumbledore's arms. "And the children?"

"Hagrid is bringing Harry." With this comment, Dumbledore hands McGonagall the sleeping girl in his arms.

McGonagall gives him a shocked look, though it's unclear if she's shocked by the news of Hagrid or by being handed the girl. "Do you think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?" Almost subconsciously, she begins rocking the small baby now in her arms.

Dumbledore smiles. "Ah, Professor, I would trust Hagrid with my life."

They hear the sound of a motor and look up, to see a flying motorcycle land near them. A big man gets off, holding a baby in one massive arm.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir. Professor McGonagall," he says in greeting.

"No problems, I trust Hagrid?" Dumbledore asks, taking a step forward.

"No, sir. Little tyke fell asleep as we were flying over Bristol. Try not to wake him. Here you go." Hagrid passes the child into Dumbledore's outstretched arms.

She looks uncertainly at the house, then at Dumbledore. "Albus, do you really think it's safe leaving them with these people? I've watched them all day. They're the worst sort of muggles imaginable. They really are-"

"The only family they have," Dumbledore says, cutting her off.

McGonagall purses her lips. "These children will be famous. There won't be a child in our world who won't know their names. Not to mention how powerful the girl will be."

"Exactly. They're far better off, growing up away from all of that. Until they're ready." Dumbledore pauses, noticing tears on Hagrid's face. "There, there Hagrid. It's not really goodbye after all." He and McGonagall place both children on the doorstep of #4. "Good luck, Harry Potter and Maeve Keres."

10 years later

It was cold. There was a low, chilling voice whispering something-

"Up. Get up. Now!" Knocking and smacking on the door startled me from the dream, and I shivered violently, almost falling into the thin crack between the bed and the wall. Harry groaned and sat up, fumbling for his glasses in the near dark. Being able to see perfectly, I reached for the chain and pulled it, flooding the broom closet with meager light from the single lightbulb.

Suddenly, there was thumping on the stairs above the closet. It stopped halfway down and went back, becoming heavy jumping on the staircase. "Wake up, cousin! We're going to the zoo!" The elephant, better known as Dudley, laughed, coming down the stairs and running for the kitchen. Harry got up, trying to come out of the closet, but was shoved back in by Dudley. The door closed in our faces, as dust from the underside of the stairs settled onto the scrap of fabrics we called blankets. "I could just wish him-"