"There are some truths that are too dangerous for people to know," Dumbledore argued. "But that is an argument for another time. For now, you wanted to know about that night," Again Dumbledore paused before he started his narrative. "I had monitoring charms on you and your parents Harry. Since the Fidelius was breached by the secret being given, I had no way to know there was anything wrong until it was too late. My first warning that something was amiss was when a charm signaled your father had died. Unfortunately Fawkes was only a week past a burning day and since even I can't apparate from inside of this castle, I had to make a portkey to take me Godric's Hollow."
"Voldemort anticipated this and had raised a portkey prevention ward. The time it took me to attempt that method of getting to your parents' house was enough for your mother's death to have occurred," Dumbledore gazed at the two teens again for a few seconds before he continued. "I paused then, expecting you to die any second. That second turned into a minute and yet you were still alive and you were still in your parent's home. The prophecy came to my mind instantly and I did two things, I contacted Professor McGonagall and asked her to go to Privet Drive. I thought that Voldemort might have sent Death Eaters there to cut off an avenue of escape if your parents were to get away from him."
"They would have never gone there," Harry said.
"You and I know that but Voldemort might not have. Though he has disdain for muggles, he knew that your mother and father were very familiar with the muggle world and might seek out those relatives."
Harry nodded. He could understand that logic, though it still didn't explain why the memory modification was performed later. He and Hermione waited for the further explanation.
"I ended up flooing to a friend's house in Godric's Hollow who lives down the street from your parents and made my way to their home."
"That might have been Bathilda's house," Hermione suggested.
"But I thought Hagrid..." Harry started without replying to his wife.
"Allow me to finish and I'll think you will understand," Dumbledore interjected. "As I said, I went to Godric's Hollow, I found your mother and father dead and you crying with the open wound on your forehead. The house had been heavily damaged."
At the description of the Potter's house, Harry and Hermione both started thinking about their visit to Godric's Hollow this past Christmas. Two years in the future they had seen the damage, with much of the rubble hiding amongst the overgrown grass. Wetness crept into Harry's eyes as he remembered that and the statue of him, as a baby with his parents that stands hidden in the middle of village.
Dumbledore saw the tears starting to form in Harry's eyes and paused. "I don't have to tell this part if you don't want me to."
"No," Harry replied as he blinked the tears back. "I want to know what happened."
"Very well," Dumbledore replied and continued the story. "I also found Voldemort's robes lying beside you and your mother but of course there was no body. I started piecing together what had happened. I had to guess at some things, but I think it's been proven that my hunches that night were correct."
"But didn't the police and fire department..."
"Remember the house was under Fidelius. It does not end when the caster dies. Though there were some windows broken in neighboring houses, no one could see your parents' home."
"True, the one at Grimmauld place didn't end when Dumbledore died," Harry said to Hermione who only returned a mental agreement.
"The next part is where it got more complicated," Dumbledore said. "I was positive that the prophecy was in motion. With you having been marked, I knew the fate of the wizarding world rested on a small infant's shoulders, your shoulders."
"I still think you are trying to fit events into making the prophecy work," Hermione replied.
"Miss Granger we could debate that all day, but for now, let me finish the story as you two have requested. I do have a lot that needs to be done now that I have returned to Hogwarts."
"Yes sir."
"Again as I said, I knew the fate of the wizarding world rested on your shoulders. Only you could defeat Voldemort. I did not know how or when, but I knew the day would come. Your safety was paramount to everything else. I sent a message to Hagrid asking him to come to Godric's Hollow; in the meantime I started removing the Fidelius Charm from the house. Eventually Hagrid showed up and I requested he take you to Hogwarts. He was the one above all others who I could trust and could provide the greatest protection for you. He, of course, was curious to what had happened and I told him my beliefs, but asked him to not tell anyone else."
"What about Sirius?" Harry asked. "He was there wasn't he?"
"Yes. Sirius showed up just as Hagrid was leaving. I think you know that part of it. I did not have time to apprehend him then, but I wasn't surprised that he offered Hagrid his motorcycle. I presumed it had tracking charms on it to find out where you were being taken."
"But I thought..." Harry started.
"Just let me finish. You wanted the truth, well I'm giving it to you," Dumbledore replied. "Hagrid took you to Hogwarts, his hut to be exact. From what I garnered the next day, when you were settled and sleeping, Hagrid decided to go to the Hog's Head and drink a few in memory of your mother and father. I think you might guess what happened then. After a few drinks, he started crying about it, and shortly it became known that Harry Potter was the Boy-Who-Lived and Voldemort was gone."
"It was Hagrid's fault?"
....
Join my P*atreon to enjoy 60+ advanced chapters.
Link: p*atreon.com/ScarletRosee (Remove the *)
Free members can get 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.