Chapter Text
Albus put down the letter he was reading with a look of pure concern on his face. His eyebrows were wrinkled and the twinkle in his eyes had vanished. Minerva noticed.
“What is it, Albus?” She asked her husband. “Is something wrong?”
Albus took a moment to think of how to explain what he had just read. If what he read was true, Harry Potter was in a lot of trouble.
“Hermione Granger has written to me,” Albus started.
“Whatever for?” Minerva asked.
“She has concerns regarding Harry Potter. Ms. Granger says that she has written Harry numerous letters in the past month since summer began.” Albus paused and took a breath. “The concerning part is that she says that Harry has not replied to any of her letters. Not one.”
Minerva now shared her husband's concerned look. She asked, “What are we going to do, Albus? We certainly cannot ignore such concerning information, especially since Ms. Granger is not one to tell tales.”
They both knew what had to be done.
“We need to visit him and make sure he is alright,” Albus said simply.
“And if he’s not ok?” Minerva questioned.
“Then we will find him alternate living arrangements.”
— — — — —
They waited until night fell before apparating to Privet Drive. Minerva was reminded harshly of the night that she and Albus left Harry on the steps of his relative’s house. She had a feeling the boy was not ok. The memory of watching the horrid muggles for an entire day before leaving Harry with them would not leave her mind.
“Do not worry, Minerva. I am sure everything is ok.”
How wrong he was.
He regretted the words as soon as he spotted a window on the second floor with metal bars on them. The only one. He could see Harry’s owl in her cage through the open curtains with help from a lamp that was turned on. That was his room.
Minerva looked up and followed his gaze to the window. She let out a gasp of disbelief and horror.
“Albus, these awful muggles have locked him in his room!’ She exclaimed. “What else would those bars be for?”
Albus said nothing for all he could feel was anger and shame. He was angry at these awful people for treating their nephew in such an inhumane way. He was ashamed of himself for allowing this to happen.
“You were right, Minerva. All those years ago. You said they were the worst sort of muggles imaginable, and I did not listen to you. I cannot believe I have allowed this to happen.”
Minerva put a comforting hand on his shoulder. She felt ashamed of herself as well.
“Never mind the past Albus. What matters is that we are here for him now. Let us confront these muggles and get Harry somewhere safe.” Albus nodded with a sigh.
They strode up to the door together. They could hear the faint sounds of chatter and a television playing from somewhere in the house. Albus knocked on the door.
Almost immediately the chattering stopped and turned to whispers. Footsteps made their way to the door then it opened. They were met with Vernon Dursley. He almost immediately spat out, “What do you freaks want? Can my family not live peacefully without having you freaks ruining our lives?”
Minerva was doing her best to not hex the man into next week.
Albus took the courtesy of speaking to Vernon Dursley. His tone was polite, but his eyes were filled with rage.
“Good evening, Mr. Dursley. May we come in?”
Mr. Dursley was furious at Albus’s casual and polite tone.
“You most certainly may not!” he yelled. “How dare you invade my family’s privacy!” His face was turning purple from how loudly he was yelling. Albus thought he looked quite ridiculous. His wife appeared behind him with concerned eyes because of how much he was yelling.
“Ah I believe you misunderstood, Mr. Dursley,” Albus said calmly, “It was not a question.” He casually swept past the man and his wife and Minerva followed right behind him. “Now which way is Harry's room?”
They both ignored the Dursleys screaming at them as they made their way upstairs. They stopped in front of the door that was quite literally bolted shut. There was almost every lock imaginable on the outside of the door and a cat flap was installed at the bottom. They could only wonder what it was used for. Albus and Minerva looked at each other with anger in their eyes. They took out their wands and undid all of the locks of the door and then opened it. What they found inside shocked them.
— — — — —
Harry groaned as his stomach growled painfully. Aunt Petunia had only slipped a piece of stale, moldy bread through the cat flap in his door. He tried his best to nibble around the mold, but ended up feeding most of it to hedwig. He could faintly smell what his relatives were having for dinner. His stomach growled again.
He hated them for acting so normal and happy downstairs while he was locked in his room. They were talking and laughing like they hadn’t locked him in his room for almost a week with almost no food. He hated them for treating him like he was scum.
It took him a moment to realize that his relatives had gone silent downstairs. Something was wrong. He put his ear down towards the cat flap and listened.
It didn't take long for him to hear his uncle screaming at someone at the door. He was confused as he tried to think of who it could be. Then he heard a voice different from his uncles. It was another man, but he spoke softly. It sounded familiar.
He heard footsteps starting up the stairs, and he bolted back to his bed, afraid his uncle was coming to hit him and yell at him. He cowered under the covers as he heard the locks being undone. Then the door opened.
Harry was confused when he didn’t hear footsteps enter his room or anyone yelling at him. He risked a peak from under his thin blanket. He bolted upright in disbelief at the two figures standing in his doorway. He almost started crying in relief.
“Professor Dumbledore? Professor McGonagall? What are you doing here?”
Minerva spoke first. She kept the anger out of her tone as best she could while speaking to the frightened boy.
“Harry, dear, are you alright?” She knew he was anything but ok, but asked nevertheless. She walked over to him and sat at the foot of his bed. Albus shut the door behind them.
Harry was speechless, still trying to process the presence of his professors in his bedroom. How did they know to come find him? He just stared, looking between the two adults with a perplexed look on his face.
Albus joined his wife and stood at the foot of Harry’s bed beside where she was sitting. “Harry, my boy, I know you must be confused, do allow me to explain. Your friend, Ms. Granger, wrote to me and told me you had not been replying to her letters and that she was concerned for you.” He paused and tried to think of what to say next. He decided on an apology and a promise. “I am truly sorry, Harry. I am ashamed of myself for allowing this to happen to you. I promise that you will never set foot into this house again.”
Minerva spoke up after Albus went silent. “Harry, if you would like to collect your things, we can leave all the sooner.” Harry finally was able to speak.
“I would, Professor, but the Dursley’s have locked my trunk in the cupboard under the stairs,” Harry told her.
Minerva sighed with sadness. Albus offered to collect Harry’s trunk for him, and he gratefully accepted. While he was gone, Harry directed a question at Minerva. “Professor, I don't understand. Where am I going to live? Nobody in their right mind would take me in,” he told her. Minerva teared up at how Harry was speaking about himself.
“Don’t you worry about that, dear. Albus and I will sort it all out. Now, why don’t we collect some of your things while Albus is getting your trunk?”
Harry nodded, then asked, “Could you unlock the padlock on Hedwig’s cage, professor? I haven’t been able to let her out all summer.”
“Oh, that poor bird. Of course Harry.” She unlocked the cage, and Hedwig hooted gratefully. She did a small loop around the room. She landed on Harry’s hand and he scratched under her beak. Albus appeared back into the room and floated Harry’s trunk to the foot of his bed. Harry let Hedwig down onto his bed and packed up the few clothes that he cared to take with him. He took his Gryffindor decorations off of his wall and put them into the trunk, then closed it.
“I shall shrink your trunk down for you Harry. And Hedwig’s cage,” he told Harry as he shrunk the items down and put them in his robe pocket. “I suggest we leave before the muggles come to,” he said casually.
“You didn’t stun them did you?” Minerva exclaimed.
The mischievous twinkle finally returned to his eyes. “Of course not, dear. I only put a sleeping charm on them.” He turned to Harry and held out his arm. “Take my arm, won’t you Harry? We shall apparate to the cottage." Harry wasted no time in jumping up and doing as he was told. Albus and Harry apparated away and Minerva followed soon after.