And lead you away from darkness
It was far more easy to carry out my plan as I had expected. The next morning, Albus told me that Harry could leave the Dursley�s.
�The wards are strong enough. I�ve promised Harry to take him away form there as soon as possible�.
�Where will he stay for the rest of the summer?� I asked.
�Arthur and Molly are more then willing to take him in�, Albus replied.
I smiled. The Weasleys, I could have known. But then again, it was the perfect solution. They could provide Harry with the one thing he missed from his life, a warm and loving family.
�Can I go to Little Surrey and collect Harry?� I asked, hoping that he would agree.
He looked at me surprised for a few seconds. �Of course. But why?�
I shrugged my shoulders. �I could do with a change of scenery. I�ve been indoors for a month now. Besides, I haven�t been to the Muggleworld for quite some time now�.
He nodded. �Alright then. You know were he lives, just be careful�.
�I will�, I reassured him, �don�t worry. When can I go?�
�Tomorrow�, he replied, �I will send Harry an owl today that you will come to take him away around one o�clock�.
*****
The next day I changed into a Muggle blouse and skirt and a long coat. I detest Muggle clothes. They are so uncomfortable. I took my purse and put my wand into it. Why do Muggle woman use purses? A nice, big pocket inside your cloak is so much more convenient.
I couldn�t apparate to Little Surrey. We must draw as little magical attention to that place as possible. So first a took the carriage to Hogwarts� station. I thought about my plan. It could work. It could work well, but only if Harry agreed. I planned on talking to Harry, before I took him to the Weasley family and I hoped I could convince him to come with me first to talk to Albus. Poppy was right. Only Harry could change Albus� mood.
If only he knew that Harry still trusted and respected him. But that was the question, wasn�t it? Did Harry still trusted him? And if he didn�t, could I convince him to start trusting him again?
From Hogwarts� station I took the Hogwarts� Express to Kings Cross. From that moment on I had to be careful not to show that I was a witch. I love walking through the Muggle world. Don�t get me wrong, I�m glad that I�m not a Muggle, but I like looking at them. And the way they have learned to deal without magic.
I took a train to the station of Little Surrey. No there�s a village I don�t like. It�s all so neat and tidy. I know I�m strict and organised, but this is too much, even for me.
While walking towards Privet Drive I remembered the last time I was here, fifteen years ago. Fifteen years� Harry had turned sixteen a week ago. It was amazing how quick time passed. That night Albus and I had walked here, relieved beyond words because You Know Who had finally disappeared, even if it was only for a while. But also sad, because we had lost James and Lily.
And now Sirius. I could understand Harry so well. Losing them hurt so much. It felt like a knife, stabbed in my body and everytime another one of my lions got hurt or died, the knife twisted again.
Finally I reached number four. I rang the doorbell, straightening my clothes uncomfortably and waited. A bony woman with a surly face opened. Petunia Evans, or Dursley. For many times I have wondered how she could ever be Lily�s sister. Happy, cheerful, kind Lily. How did she ever get a sister like her.
�Yes�, she snapped, regarding me suspiciously.
�Good afternoon�, I said with as much kindness as I could muster. �My name is Minerva McGonagall and I�m here to collect Harry Potter�.
�You�re... you�re one of them?� Petunia asked apprehensively.
�Yes, I am a witch�, I replied calmly. �Can you call Harry for me now?�
She stepped back, not inviting me in. Over her shoulder she yelled. �Harry_�
There was a noise on the stairs and a second later Harry came rushing downstairs. He looked at me for a moment and blinked. �Hello Professor...�
�Good afternoon Harry�, I replied, �I�m here to collect you and take you to the Weasley family�.
His face broke into an ear to ear grin and he reminded me of James. �Right. I�m glad to see you Professor�.
I couldn�t hold back a smile. �Go get your trunk Harry. We will leave immediately�.
He rushed upstairs again and I returned my attention to Petunia. �Will he have to come back next year?� she asked with a resentful tone in her voice.
I almost couldn�t believe my ears. This was her sister son, the only thing she had left from her and she treated him like a piece of dirt.
�I�m afraid so�, I replied coldly. �Unfortunately this is the only place were he is safe�.
At that moment Harry returned. He looked at us both and I stepped back. �Let�s go, Harry�. Then a thought entered my mind. �Oh, before we leave, has your family been treating you well?�
Harry hesitated for a moment. Then he said, �yeah, they were alright�.
I pulled out my wand and grinned inwardly as Petunia staggered backwards. I pointed at Harry�s trunk and muttered a spell. The trunk shrank to the size of a match-box. Harry stared at me in wonder. Then he said. �To quote Ron, that was bloody brilliant�.
�Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Potter�, I replied dryly. �Put the trunk in your pocket�. He did so and we walked away from the house. Petunia did not greet him and I saw no trace of her husband or her son. Harry didn�t even look back. I felt glad I could take him away from here.
�Listen Harry�, I said as we had left Privet Drive behind us. �How about we go to Diagon Alley for a sundae from Florean Fortescue�s Ice-Cream Parlour? I could do with one and more importantly, there is something I want to talk to you about�.
If my request surprised Harry, he did not show it. �Alright. Let�s go to Diagon Alley�.
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