Book One: Dudley's Memories

Chapter One

"Master?" croaked Kreacher Harry's elderly house elf, appearing in the drawing room with his customary crack.

Harry sat at the table, trying to help little Lily with her maths. Well, Lily wasn't so little. She was ten years old and quite the young lady, as she would remind anyone who mistook her for a little girl.

"Yes, Kreacher?" asked Harry, looking up from the table where they sat.

"Master has a visitor. Would Master like me to bring her here?"

"Who is it?" asked Harry. The only people who ever showed up unannounced were working right now, Harry knew this probably boded no good.

"It's Headmistress McGonagol, Master." replied Kreacher.

Harry winced, wondering what Al or James (or more likely both of them) had gotten up to now. Harry sometimes wondered why he and Ginny had never considered adopting. There had to be something downright unnatural about the unholy mixing of troublemaking DNA that came from the Potters and the Weasleys. He couldn't think of another reason for Minerva to be here. Minerva sometimes made a visit during the summer or Christmas holidays, but it must be pretty dire for her to be here in the middle of the week, at four o'clock in the afternoon, in the middle of term.

"Send her up, Kreacher, and tell Ginny too, if you haven't already," Harry replied, sighing. He shut the book and told Lily, "We'll finish this later, all right?"

"OK, Dad," replied Lily brightly, clearly pleased to have to discontinue the tutoring session.

"If Miss Lily comes down to the kitchen," Kreacher said fondly, "Kreacher has just taken some biscuits out of the oven."

Lily squealed in delight and ran down the stairs in the headlong fashion that never failed to frighten Harry. As always, he sat on his urge to tell her to slow down. Ginny said she'd been just the same at Lily's age and wasn't any the worse for it.

Harry heard Ginny tell Kreacher that it was fine, she'd see their visitor up.

"Hello, Minerva." Harry said politely as the elderly witch came in through the door, followed by Ginny.

"Good afternoon, Harry." She smiled, but the lines around her mouth were tight and her eyebrows drew together in a way that Harry had come to associate with a worried Professor McGonagol.

"Which one is it this time?" asked Ginny, in a resigned voice. She had quite as much experience with Minerva when she was concerned and trying to hide it. More, since Ginny had actually been at Hogwarts the year that Voldemort had taken it over. Ginny remembered that particular expression as the one she used when trying to reassure frightened students.

"Which one...?" asked Minerva, seemingly confused for a second, "Oh. No, it's not either of the boys this time. Although it does seem that they've inherited your," she cleared her throat, looking mock sternly at Harry and Ginny "Sense of adventure."

"Oh. Good." said Harry relaxing, "Well, sit down. Would you like tea, or perhaps we can have Kreacher find something stronger?"

"Tea would be fine." said Minerva, as she sat, "I've actually come to ask you a favor."

Kreacher appeared with a tea tray, put it on the coffee table and disappeared again. Ginny poured the tea for the three of them,

"You see, I've just received the list of Muggle borns for next year's first year class," she said as she took her tea from Ginny, "And, I was wondering, Harry, if you would accompany me to speak with a particular student's parents." she seemed uneasy asking him. Normally very forthright, she seemed to be avoiding his eyes.