Memories & the Stone

Professor Minerva McGonagall

July 25th, 1991

Harry awoke the next morning from the same dream he had the night before. He remembered the events from the day before and sighed, hoping to hear something from the deputy headmistress.

Just like the day before Harry lay in his camp bed for hours, waiting to be let out to cook the breakfast. For a second Harry realized how wrong it sounded, waiting to be let out. He almost felt like a dog waiting to be let outside to relive himself.

Soon enough Harry heard his aunt climbing down the stairs. On her way to the kitchen she pounded on his door and said, "Up," before unlocking his door and going into the kitchen. As soon as the door was unlocked Harry was out of his room and into the restroom. Once finished in the restroom Harry joined his aunt in making the breakfast.

The Dursley family and Harry were just finishing up breakfast when the doorbell rang. Just like yesterday Dudley was asked to get the door but in the end Harry ended up answering the door. Opening the door Harry was met with a very stern looking woman. She was a tall woman, whose black hair was pulled back into a tight bun on the back of her head. The woman wore a simple black dress; it reminded him of something Aunt Petunia would wear only longer and less floral.

The woman looked at Harry for a minute before speaking, "May I come in?" She asked, her voice stern in a no non sense way. He couldn't help but think she must be here for his uncle as they would likely get on very well. Harry nodded and stepped to the side.

Uncle Vernon came thundering into the hallway as the woman stepped inside and the door was closed. "Who are you?" He asked though clenched teeth.

"My name is Minerva McGonagall," the woman said. Harry recognized the name; she was the deputy headmistress at Hogwarts. "I have come to speak to you and your wife about one Harry James Potter."

"What about the boy?" Vernon asked his face turning red. "What has the boy done now?"

McGonagall seemed to just ignore his uncle's face and push on. "Perhaps we can retire to the sitting room and your wife and Mr. Potter can join us." Vernon nodded.

"Boy!" He said surprising Harry. "Go fetch your aunt."

Harry scurried away as Vernon directed the headmistress to the sitting room. As Harry entered the kitchen his aunt asked who was at the door. Harry told her it was a woman named Minerva McGonagall and she wanted to speak to them in the sitting room.

His aunt must not have recognized the name because she just nodded and left the room, Harry on her heels.

Upon entering the sitting room, Harry and his aunt found Uncle Vernon sitting in his large chair, slouched back with his arms crossed over his large belly and McGonagall sitting straight with her back in line with her shoulder. She had a look of pure displeasure on her face.

When she seen us enter the room, she had what Harry would describe as a forced smile or even a grimace.

"Now that we are all here we may begin," McGonagall said, standing from the chair she was seated on. Petunia ignored her and took the seat nearest her husband. Harry stood awkwardly in the doorway. McGonagall smiled at Harry and said, "Mr. Potter why don't you take a seat."

Harry made to sit on the sofa, but when he caught his uncle's look he quickly sat on the floor. McGonagall again frowned before she continued. "As I told your husband and Mr. Potter, my name is Minerva McGonagall. I am a professor and deputy headmistress at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Petunia's face whitened and she let out a little scream. Uncle Vernon on the other hand went completely red in the face and stood up. "Get out!" he shouted, "You don't belong here."

Professor McGonagall's face darkened. "Excuse me?" She asked in a forced calm voice.

"You heard me! Get out! Leave, he's not going to your freaky little school!"

"Really?" She asked. "You really think he's not going to go?" Petunia nods her head stiffly and Vernon's face is starting to turn purple. "Well, I hate to have to inform you that while he my live with you have no legal rights to one Harry James Potter."

Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's faces changed from disgust and rage to one of confusion. "What do you mean?" Petunia finally asked.

Before Professor McGonagall could answer, Harry asked her the question that had been floating around in his head since the beginning. "If they don't have legal rights for me, than who does?"

"That Mr. Potter is a very sensitive subject best not to be discussed at the present time." Professor McGonagall said. She looked a bit nervous even bringing up the subject so Harry thought it best to just let it drop for now. She looked at Petunia and said, "He may live here but you were not the appointed guardians, therefore you have no control over where he does and doesn't go to school."

Aunt Petunia looked as though she had been slapped. Harry couldn't help but wonder if it was the power and control she had lost over Harry or she was shocked to learn that her nephew might leave and never return.

Harry was about to say something when McGonagall interrupted him, "It is getting late in the day and we must go retrieve your school things." Harry nodded and stood up. He started to walk towards the hall when he was yanked back by the collar.

"I said he won't be going." Vernon shouted his face still a pinched red. Harry started to panic, this was very bad, the last time he was this angry Harry had accidently dropped a plate and Dudley had stepped barefooted onto the broken glass. Harry ended up in the cupboard for two weeks nursing one very broken arm.

McGonagall must have seen the panic in his eyes because she had her wand out and pointed at Vernon with in a matter of seconds. "Release him," she said, he voice like ice. Harry couldn't decide who was more frightening, McGonagall or his uncle. When Vernon made no move to let Harry go she add, "Or I'll turn you into a roach and step on you."

Vernon paled and let go of Harry. Harry scurried away from his uncle and all but hid behind the witch. "I'm not paying for it." Vernon said as a last ditch effort to keep Harry.

McGonagall gave a little chuckle and said, "It may not mean much in the Muggle world, but in ours the Potters' are a top five family, meaning you won't have to pay for anything." She reached her hand out and took Harry's and together they left the Dursleys' for what Harry hoped was the very first and final time.