Chapter Text
Rain tapped the concrete outside of #4 Privet Drive. On the steps just outside the door was a basket, inside it sat a baby with a mess of ginger locks on its head. He was fast asleep, sucking on a purple binkie even through his deep slumber.
Farther from the house, on the sidewalk right by the road, stood three figures. One was giant and had long brown hair and a beard, he was sobbing into his hands. Comforting him was an older woman. She wore an emerald-green robe and spectacles on her face. On the other side of the sobbing man was and old man. He wore an odd hat and half-moon spectacles. He was tall and had a long, white beard and wore a periwinkle robe.
"I- I jus' can't *sniff* b-believe the' gone," the giant man sobbed and sniffled.
"It'll be alright, Hagrid," the old woman comforted. She wasn't doing much better herself, but she put on a front and remained strong for her friend. "Go, go say goodbye to Harry. Maybe it'll help you."
The man nodded, wiping his eyes off and shuffling to the steps. He kneeled once he reached the basket. The old woman took this as an opportunity to turn to the old man.
"Albus, are you certain we should leave Harry here," she asked.
The old man, Albus, smiled softly. His eyes had a twinkle in them. To others, the twinkle might seem comforting, but the old woman knew better. "It is what must be done, Minerva," he began, "if the boy grows up in our world, he'll be spoiled by fame. He won't be left alone, ever. This is what is best for him."
"But Albus," she said, "the poor woman is already stressed enough with her own child. Can't Sirius, or even Severus, take care of him. I'm sure they'd keep him safe from the public."
"No, Minerva," Albus said sternly, "this is what the boy needs. For the greater good."
Hagrid approached them, interrupting the two's conversation. He seemed to feel much better, his sobbing now replaced with soft sniffles and only tiny tears.
"We must leave now, the sun rises soon," the old man said.
"Albus, you cannot be serious! You're not even going to knock? You're going to leave a vulnerable baby outside in the rain? Alone." Minerva scolded.
"He'll be fine. He managed to defeat Voldemort after all," and with that, he disappeared.
Hagrid apparated not long after, waving a sad goodbye to the basket. Minerva remained still for a moment, considering. Then she turned and rushed to the door. She knocked only three times before apparating away.
A moment later, the door opened. In the doorway stood a horse-faced woman. She had blond hair and very tired eyes. Behind her trotted a chubby baby, merely one year old. Her eyes widened when she saw the basket.
The baby inside was now awake. it's large, hazel eyes looked up at the woman curiously. He was sucking on a purple binkie, but in his hands, the woman noticed, was an envelope. The tired woman reached down and grabbed the basket, bringing it inside.
"Now, who would leave a child alone at night in the rain," she said.