Chapter 5

Andi stood watching the strange but delightful girl scamper back to Harry, as her thoughts jumped from point to point in the strange life of the boy known as Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, and what a stupid name that was. Everything that Andi and her husband had learned about the night that Harry lost his parents, left more questions than answers. Andi's keen analytical mind began to go over all that she and her husband had learned about Harry Potter and his life under the care of Albus Dumbledore. One night not long after they began looking into the guilt or innocence of her cousin Sirius; Ted, Andi, and their friend Amelia Bones sat down and made a list of all the questions they would like answers to about that night and the circumstances surrounding Harry Potter. As she began to mentally retrace that conversation, the questionable 'facts' once more came to the forefront of her analytical mind. If the Potter's were attacked by the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters, then why did Dumbledore send Hagrid, who though nice enough, had no magic to protect himself or the Potter's if the Death Eaters were still around? Second was that if Sirius was a Death Eater and the right hand of Voldemort, why did Hagrid end up riding Sirius's death trap motorcycle away from Godric's Hallow with Harry in his arms.

Amelia had told them that she was on duty that night as an Auror, and they didn't know the Potter's were attacked until Dumbledore floo called them at the ministry to send a cleanup and muggle obliviation crew. When Amelia Bones arrived with her team leader Alistor Moody, and the rest of the team, they observed Alice Longbottom demanding that Harry be given to her as she was Harry's godmother. Dumbledore was at his twinkling best as he assured her that Harry was perfectly safe where he had been taken, and was being examined by a healer to see if he was injured at all. Alice and her husband Frank said that they would expect Harry to be turned over to them the next morning or they would bring him before the Wizengamot as was their right as an Ancient and Noble family. Amelia confided that an owl arrived at the Ministry saying that their son Neville had come down sick and they would be in soon, and then on 2 November, 1981, Albus Dumbledore once again contacted the DMLE to inform them that the Longbottoms had been attacked by Death Eaters and he was too late to keep Frank and Alice from being tortured into insanity from the cruciatus curse cast upon them by the Lestrange brothers, as well as Bellatrix Black-Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr. Once again, Albus Dumbledore was proved right in not giving them The-Boy-Who-Lived, since obviously Harry would not have been safe with them. The same day Sirius murdered Peter Pettigrew along with twelve muggles outside central London, and was given a speedy trial before being sent to Azkaban for betraying the Potters and killing a hero who stood up to him for the murder of his friends. The only reason that he escaped the dementor's kiss for his crimes, was that he came from an old and noble pureblood family, and his younger brother Regulus Black had been killed.

There were many more questions about the behavior of Albus Dumbledore during the whole Boy–Who–Lived saga, but since he was Albus bloody Dumbledore, no one dared ask. On 3 November, 1981, in an emergency session of the Wizengamot, Albus declared the will of James and Lily Potter sealed to 'protect Harry' from the revenge that the dark lord's followers were sure to enact. He tried to do the same with Neville Longbottom, but Neville's grandmother Augusta Longbottom destroyed Dumbledore's notion that he was the only one who could keep the child safe. Albus put on his disappointed Grandfather face, and acceded to her rights to raise the boy, though he got her to allow him to come visit the next day to check the wards and protections that would surround the boy. When asked about Harry's wellbeing, the Chief Wizard assured everyone that he was safe, happy, and loved where he was, away from any threats of harm that were aimed his way. Andi knew after talking to the Smythe sisters, that Dumbledore had lied and was either completely incompetent, or was a part of the treatment that Harry had received all his life. One thing that still plagued Andi's mind, though Amelia and Ted had both told her she was being a little too paranoid, was that the funeral for James and Lily was held with closed caskets instead of being put in stasis so their friends could say goodbye.

Not to look at providence too closely, but the day that Lady Abigail Smythe-Covington and Prudence Ashington-Smythe walked into the Tonks Solicitor firm to ask about the way to go about adopting a little boy they cared for named Harry Potter was an incident that seemed directed by fate to occur. Her husband Ted said to her later, that seemed as if the music that was pumped into the elevator of their building, and the lobby were especially beautiful and relaxing that day. Ted immediately called his wife at the library and told her to come to the office posthaste. When Andi arrived partly out of breath, Ted had the receptionist escort the two sisters into their conference room and encouraged them to tell their tale. They were horrified to hear about the life that Harry had been sentenced to, and were determined to help him escape in any way possible. When Ted asked why they had travelled to London and come to them instead of using a local Solicitor, they told a story that could only be explained by the interference of a wizard or witch using magic. The sisters spoke of their mounting frustration as filed papers were lost, solicitors denied ever meeting them, court dates were cancelled, and police complaints vanished into thin air. Ted assured them that he and his wife would take the case and do whatever it took to get Harry into a safe home and away from the monsters that he lived with now. Several months of frustration passed as Ted and Andi investigated the legal ways to get Harry out of his prison. It was a passing comment by Amelia Bones that led them to the answer they were seeking.

Amelia flopped down in the sitting room of the Tonks's home, letting out a sigh of frustration before gratefully accepting the glass of scotch that Ted handed her. After taking a sip and enjoying the smooth flavor as it slid down her throat, she said almost to herself. "I wish Duke Potter were still alive, Minister Fudge has just cut the budget to the DMLE again so now I cannot accept anyone into Auror training unless they have a potions Newt, and lately there are none that aren't from Slytherin or Ravenclaw at Hogwarts and none of the last graduating class even applied to the Academy. We had four Gryffindors and five Hufflepuffs enter last year, and all of them had to study potions and retake their Newt. We brought in a potions Master to teach them, and they all picked up the knowledge quick enough, but I now do not have the money to hire a tutor for them."

Amelia didn't notice that she had lost the attention of her two friends after her first sentence. Both Andi and Ted zeroed in on the statement 'Duke Potter' and practically danced for joy as they realized that now had the key to free Harry from the Dursleys. Two weeks later, the Tonks met with Lady Abigail and told her that they had progressed to the point that they were ready to head into court with a petition for the adoption of Lord Harry James Potter by the Smythe family. They were sorry to put a hold on the happiness of the sisters when they explained that there were forces lined up against them that could not find out what was going on with their case until it was too late to reverse. The Tonks warned them to avoid an old man with a long white beard at all costs, at which point the sisters told them about his pacing back and forth in front of their house but never approaching the front door. Ted excused himself and left the room, returning five minutes later with a grin, asking their clients if they would mind if he had Andi research their family history as a way of strengthening their case. When they gave him the go ahead, he told them that that was all they needed for now, but that they would be in touch.

Summer had started and the Tonks were doing all they could to get Harry's case heard. Ted called several of his acquaintances and contacts in the court, letting them know that his case was to ensure the welfare of a Peer of the Realm. At first, nothing came of his efforts, but then Ted received a call at his home one Saturday morning, asking him if he could have his case ready to present by the following Thursday. Ted knew that their case was prepared and twelve days would allow him and the Barrister they used to polish up the presentation of evidence, so he enthusiastically accepted. After letting Andi know, he called the Smythe residence and asked if he could meet with the sisters that afternoon. Prudence informed him that they were about to sit down to lunch with Harry, but one of them could come to meet him after they were done.

When Ted arrived at the library that he knew Lady Abigail worked from, he found her waiting for him by the door. Once they had gone into her office and closed the door, Ted handed her a folder containing all the information Ted's investigator had found on the Dursleys and Vernon's ring of collaborators.

"Before you open that, can I ask if you are ready to take Harry into your home today? What happens next depends on whether or not you are willing to take him in full time." Ted didn't even have to wait for her response.

"He is at our family home right now, watching his first full movie with my sister. If there is any way that we can arrange for him to never return to those horrid people, my sister and I are all for it." The venom in her tone when she spoke about the Dursleys showed Ted she was serious.

"Good!" Ted replied. "The folder you are holding contains enough information about Vernon and his friends to bring every agent bucking for a promotion at Scotland Yard down on their heads. Though we do not want that yet, it can be used as leverage for getting Petunia to sign over all rights to Harry and his care. My investigator made a suggestion to sweeten the pot for her, and get her cooperation if she is hesitant. She said that you should offer to have your yard service company take care of her yard for the next year since Harry won't be there to maintain it for her. Only offer her that though after she has seen the information in the folder. Petunia Dursley is a proud woman in her own right, and she will only see your offer of the yard service as her due. If you offer it before you show her the leverage you have, she will accept it and then expect more at the end of the negotiation."

Lady Abigail chuckled and interjected, "Just like dealing with a book seller."

"If you have no more questions, I will let you get on your way since you need to talk to Petunia before Vernon gets home from his golf club. If you need to get a hold of me, I will be at home with my family enjoying this beautiful Sunday. Don't worry about your safety or being threatened, I will be having my investigator watch you the entire time you are at number 4 Privet Dr." Ted waited for a moment to see if Lady Abigail had anything she needed from him or any questions. When she didn't Ted stood up and reached to shake her hand in farewell. As Lady Abigail was leafing through the file, Ted said. "I'm really happy this is going well, and my wife is really looking forward to seeing Harry this week at her library in London." With a wave that she barely noticed, Ted left to go home and appreciate his wife and daughter and the fact that the meddling old man was not interested in his little family.

Abigail finished reading the file and was astounded at the evil and corruption there was hinted at in the folder she was holding. She couldn't believe that their little suburb was so rife with crime, perversion, and downright evil that was happening right under the noses of the majority of the town's folk. Then a giddy smile crossed her face as she realized that after today, if all went according to plan, Harry would never have to go back to the Dursley's again. Even though Abigail knew herself to be no spring chicken, she felt as giddy as a schoolgirl and practically skipped out to her car to go confront Petunia Dursley.

Her little Mini got her the six blocks to the Dursley's house in practically nothing flat, though she probably did drive a little recklessly considering her preoccupation with coming confrontation. Approaching the door, Abigail looked around the cookie-cutter neighborhood and saw two women out in their yards openly staring at her and wondering what she wanted, and at least three more of the nosy neighborhood women peeking out from behind their curtains to see if there was any gossip to be had. Slowly Abigail's joyful smile turned into a devious and almost evil grin as she realized what leverage she would use to get Petunia Dursley to sign over the rights of caring for Harry Potter to the Smythe sisters.