Disclaimers : I don't own any characters or settings apart from a few. All credits goes to J. K Rowling. ( Normal text is the Harry potter story line and text in bold is Marauders era reactions.)

The streets of Little Whinging were quiet, almost unnaturally so, under the blanket of night. The air was thick with a sense of anticipation. It seemed as though even the stars held their breath, waiting for something monumental to occur. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, whispering secrets that only the night would hear. The houses stood silent and dark, their inhabitants asleep and unaware of the momentous events unfolding in their midst.

At the corner of the street, a man appeared, moving silently through the shadows. Nothing like this man had ever been seen on Privet Drive. He was tall, thin, and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice.

"That's Headmaster," shouted Bill Weasley happily.

This man's name was Albus Dumbledore.

Christian narrowed his eyes, thinking about the unusual presence of their headmaster at a muggle village, that too at night. Something smells rotten, that's for sure.

Albus Dumbledore didn't seem to realize that he had just arrived in a street where everything from his name to his boots was unwelcome. He was busy rummaging in his cloak, looking for something. But he did seem to realize he was being watched, because he looked up suddenly at a cat, which was staring at him from the other end of the street.

"That's Minne," James shouted, only to be ignored by others.

For some reason, the sight of the cat seemed to amuse him. He chuckled and muttered, "I should have known."

He found what he was looking for in his inside pocket. It seemed to be a silver cigarette lighter.

"Aye aye! Albus Dumbledore smoking, who thought?" joked a very amused Anastasia.

"I know, right," said a very surprised Marlene, sharing a smile between the two.

He flicked it open, held it up in the air, and clicked it. The nearest street lamp went out with a little pop.

"Well, I think he's not," Anastasia muttered, making those around her chuckle at her disappointment.

He clicked it again -- the next lamp flickered into darkness.

"I want one!" shouted Barty and Royce at the same time.

Twelve times he clicked the Put-Outer, until the only lights left on the whole street were two tiny pinpricks in the distance, which were the eyes of the cat watching him.

"I am telling you, it's Minnie," said James once again.

Dumbledore slipped the Put-Outer back inside his cloak and set off down the street toward number four, where he sat down on the wall next to the cat. He didn't look at it, but after a moment he spoke to it.

"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall."

"I called it," cried James

"Shut up James," said a very exasperated Dorea.

He turned to smile at the tabby cat, but it had gone. Instead he was smiling at a rather severe-looking woman who was wearing square glasses exactly the shape of the markings the cat had had around its eyes. She, too, was wearing a cloak, an emerald one. Her black hair was drawn into a tight bun. She looked distinctly ruffled.

"How did you know it was me?" she asked.

"My dear Professor, I 've never seen a cat sit so stiffly."

"So true!" Camilla grinned.

"You'd be stiff if you'd been sitting on a brick wall all day," said Professor McGonagall.

"All day?" Alice asked in amazement.

"All day? When you could have been celebrating? I must have passed a dozen feasts and parties on my way here."

"Wait, what party?" Sirius inquired, curiosity evident in his voice. "It sounds like something I wouldn't miss. Maybe it would have been me who is throwing one of it."

"I'm sure you will", agreed Esther, who was sitting opposite to Sirius.

Professor McGonagall sniffed angrily.

"They're celebrating openly, Albus," she said without preamble, her voice tight with disapproval. "Do you think it wise? Muggles have noticed unusual happenings all day. Owls flying by daylight, shooting stars... It's only a matter of time before the Statute of Secrecy is compromised."

"That was a pretty foolish thing to do", Charlus winced, thinking about all the damage control the ministry had to deal with.

Arthur Weasley nodded, agreeing with Charlus.

Dumbledore sighed, pocketing the Deluminator. "Yes, Minerva, I know. But can you blame them? The Dark Lord has finally fallen. For the first time in decades, there is hope."

"Huh! What happened to the wizarding world that they didn't even have any hope for a... DECADE?" asked a very confused Evan Rosier.

McGonagall's eyes softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "Hope is one thing. Recklessness is another. The secrecy must be maintained."

Rabastan smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Funny you should say that, Professor. Isn't recklessness a defining trait of Gryffindor? It seems like you don't much care for your house's main quality."

Marlene's eyes flashed as she sat up straighter. "That's not true! Gryffindor values nerve, bravery, and courage. Recklessness isn't the same thing."

"Oh, of course," Rabastan drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Courage and bravery. Not at all the same as recklessness, I'm sure.

Marlene waved a hand saying, "Whatever you say, Lestrange."

"Indeed," Dumbledore agreed, his eyes now serious. "We must be cautious. But tonight is a night to remember."

She hesitated, then asked, "Is it true? Has Voldemort really gone?"

Anastasia's eyes widened in disbelief, a flicker of joy dancing in their depths, "Wait what? Dark wanker is finally gone?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of shock and elation.

Everyone turned to look at her as if she had grown two heads.

Regulus, sitting beside her, shot her a reproachful look. "You shouldn't speak of him so openly. Its dangerous Ana." he admonished in a low voice.

"What?" Ana asked defensively, crossing her arms. "I don't like that evil psycho."

Beside her, Rabastan let out a resigned sigh and buried his face in his hands, his palm meeting his forehead with a soft thud.

Christian chuckled softly, a look of fond exasperation on his face. He had almost expected such a reaction from Ana.

Across the room, Brianna beamed at Ana, her eyes sparkling with pride. "That's my girl," she murmured under her breath, her voice filled with amusement.

Sirius, who had been listening quietly, looked at the American girl with a newfound admiration, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"It certainly seems so," said Dumbledore. "We have much to be thankful for. Would you care for a lemon drop?"

"A what?"

"A lemon drop. They're a kind of Muggle sweet I'm rather fond of"

"Trust Headmaster to have muggle sweets with him all the time", smiled Lily.

"No, thank you," said Professor McGonagall coldly, as though she didn't think this was the moment for lemon drops.

"The owls are nothing next to the rumors that are flying around. You know what everyone's saying? About why he's disappeared? About what finally stopped him?" It seemed that Professor McGonagall had reached the point she was most anxious to discuss, the real reason she had been waiting on a cold, hard wall all day.

It was plain that whatever "everyone" was saying, she was not going to believe it until Dumbledore told her it was true.

Dumbledore, however, was choosing another lemon drop and did not answer. "What they're saying".

She pressed on, "Is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godric's Hollow? He went to find the Potters. The rumor is that Lily and James Potter are -- are -- that they're -- dead."

Everything went completely still, as if time itself had frozen. James and Lily sat there, pale and shocked.

"No", lily whispered.

Sirius Black stared at the screen with wide eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "No... no, that can't be true," he protested, his voice trembling with emotion. "You can't die, you wanker. You're James Potter, for Merlin's sake!"

Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew sat nearby, at a loss for words. They exchanged glances, their faces mirroring the shock and horror of the news.

Marlene and Camilla rushed to Lily's side, enveloping her in a tight embrace as tears welled in their eyes. "Lily," Marlene choked out, her voice thick with emotion. "I can't... I can't believe this."

Snape watched the scene unfold with a mixture of shock and sorrow. His gaze lingered on Lily, his heart heavy with the weight of her impending fate.

James's parents, who were also present, looked devastated. His mother clutched his father's hand tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

The rest of the room was silent, those who knew James and Lily grieving openly, while even those who had never been fond of them stayed silent, out of respect or shock.

Breaking the tense silence, James managed a weak attempt at humor, his voice strained as he joked, "Well, Lily, looks like you finally fell for my charms, eh?" He went to sit by Lily, taking her hand in his to comfort her.

Lily, catching on to James's attempt to lighten the mood, offered a wry smile through her tears. "Must've hit my head pretty hard to agree to marry a git like you," she teased, though her voice trembled with emotion.

Sirius, his shock slowly morphing into a fierce determination, squared his shoulders and met Remus's gaze with steely resolve. "We won't let this happen," he declared. "We'll fight tooth and nail to change their fate."

James, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere once more, shot Sirius a grateful smile. "You heard the man," he said, his tone laced with forced cheerfulness. "Time to put those infamous Marauder skills to good use, eh?"

"Right," Remus agreed his voice stronger now, laced with determination. "We won't let fate dictate our future. We'll carve our own path."

Dumbledore bowed his head.

Professor McGonagall gasped.

"Lily and James... I can't believe it... I didn't want to believe it... Oh, Albus..."

Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "I know... I know..." he said heavily.

"It's good to know that you care Minnie", grinned James causing Minerva to shot him a teary glare.

Professor McGonagall's voice trembled as she went on. "That's not all. They're saying he tried to kill the Potter's son, Harry. But -- he couldn't. He couldn't kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but they're saying that when he couldn't kill Harry Potter, Voldemort's power somehow broke -- and that's why he's gone. The prophet is calling the baby 'the boy who lived'"

A chorus of "what", "how" were echoed throughout the hall.

"Not my baby," Lily whispered her voice barely audible, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"We have a son," James said, his voice filled with wonder and pride.

"My godson is wicked," Sirius said, his voice tinged with awe.

Remus raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Who said he's your godson?" causing Sirius to shot him a look which clearly state to don't argue him on this.

Lucius Malfoy, usually composed, looked at McGonagall in disbelief. "How could a mere baby defeat the Dark Lord?" he demanded, his voice betraying his incredulity.

Andromeda shook her head in disbelief. "A baby," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "How could a baby have done this?"

Pandora, and Ivanna exchanged a glance, both cousins silent in their shock. The idea of Voldemort being defeated by a baby was almost too much to comprehend.

Dumbledore nodded glumly.

"It's -- it's true?" faltered Professor McGonagall. "After all he's done... all the people he's killed... he couldn't kill a little boy? It's just astounding... of all the things to stop him... but how in the name of heaven did Harry survive?"

"That was what we also wanted to know", said Dorea.

"That," Dumbledore said quietly, "is a mystery we may never solve. But what matters now is his safety. He must be kept away from the magical world, at least for a time."

"Where is he, Albus?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Surely you don't mean to leave him with the Muggles."

Dumbledore's gaze turned towards a house at the end of the street. "That is why I am here. He is to be placed with his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys. They're the only family he has left now."

The news struck Lily like a blow to the chest. She stared at the screen, her mind struggling to process his words.

"Dropped... with the Dursleys?" she whispered, as if speaking the words aloud would make them less real, "Petunia."

Lily's eyes brimmed with tears as she thought of her future son being left in the care of her sister and her fiancé; people she knew didn't like anything related to magic and would be cruel and unkind.

She felt a surge of protectiveness wash over her, her maternal instincts kicking in.

"No," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You can't be serious. Not with them..."

James, sensing Lily's distress, wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Lily..." he began, but his words fell short in the face of her anguish.

Sirius, his expression darkening with anger, stepped forward. "Surely there's another way, headmaster," he protested, his voice laced with frustration. He knows exactly what kind of person Lily's sister is.

"You don't mean -- you can't mean the people who live here?" cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. "Dumbledore -- you can't. I've been watching them all day. They are the worst sort of Muggles imaginable. There are others who would take him in. His Godmother, Remus Lupin, Camilla Davis, or even Andromeda Tonks. Anyone but the Dursleys!"

"Yes, what happened to us?" he asked, pointing to himself, Sirius, Peter, James's parents, and Lily's friends. "We could take Harry in... someone here."

Dumbledore's face softened with sympathy, but his eyes remained clouded with uncertainty. "I wish I knew, Remus," he replied, "I have no idea what has become of any of you."

Dumbledore's face was shadowed with sorrow. "His godmother... she is no longer an option."

McGonagall looked confused and then alarmed. "Is it because she has an infant of her own? Or because of what happened to the child's father? She would still take Harry."

Camilla, one of Lily's close friends, spoke up first. "Who is Harry's godmother?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Sirius, equally perplexed, looked around the room. "Yeah, and what happened to her child's father? Why wouldn't she be an option anymore?" he asked, his voice rising with frustration.

Hearing his question, Laurel, a Slytherin, snapped, "Don't be insensitive, Black. She must have her own reasons for not taking in mini Potter. The world doesn't revolve around you lot."

Sirius's face contorted with anger, ready to retort. "Listen here, Parkinson-"

Before he could continue, Mary put a hand on his shoulder, giving him a look that urged him to stay quiet. "Sirius don't," she said softly, her eyes pleading.

At the same time, Ana moved forward, placing a firm hand on Laurie's arm and giving Sirius a warning glance that dared him to retort. "Laurie, enough," Ana said sternly, her eyes flashing.

Sirius, seething with frustration, clenched his jaw and sighed deeply, forcing himself into silence.

McGonagall, sensing the rising tension, quickly intervened. "We must remain focused on the issue at hand. Our priority is changing the future."

"Minerva," he said gently, "it is not that she wouldn't take him. It's that she can't."

McGonagall stared at him, her breath catching. "What do you mean?"

Dumbledore's voice was pained as he explained, "After Voldemort's fall, his followers went on a rampage. There was an attack on her home. She... and her infant daughter... they did not survive."

McGonagall gasped, her hands covering her mouth in horror. "No... Not her. Not her child. She was like a daughter to me."

Dumbledore reached out and took her hand, offering what comfort he could. "I am sorry, Minerva."

"Does he know Albus...about the attack...?" McGonagall asked, tears welling in her eyes. "Oh! The poor boy, his entire life came crashing down in a night time."

Dumbledore placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she fought back tears. "I know, Minerva. I know."

Minerva McGonagall felt a wave of shock and confusion wash over her at the news. "Who..." she whispered, "Who was she talking about?"

Chris, who had been watching the scene unfold with growing unease, suddenly had a bad feeling. He shared a concerned look with Breanna.

Chris leaned closer to Brianna, his voice low and worried. "Do you think... could it be...?" he began, but trailed off, uncertainty in his eyes.

Brianna nodded slightly, her expression mirroring his concern, "It might be. And if it is, then we have to preventing it."

For a long moment, they stood in silence, sharing the grief that hung heavily in the air. Finally, McGonagall composed herself, though her heart was breaking.

"And what of Harry? Are you sure about this, Albus? Leaving him with those Muggles?"

Dumbledore nodded. "It's the best option for his protection. Here, he will be safe, away from the fame and the dangers of our world. His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when he's older. I've written them a letter."

Dorea Potter exclaimed with frustration, "A letter? You're entrusting my grandson's entire future to a letter?"

Elenore Ferre, who had been silently listening, shook her head in disbelief. "A letter," she repeated, her tone a mixture of protest and dismay. "This is a child's life we're talking about. How can we expect them to understand everything from a letter?"

"This seems too impersonal", Andromeda sighed with disappointment. "Can't they do more?"

James, lily and rest of the marauders were too shocked to even react.

"A letter?" repeated Professor McGonagall faintly, sitting back down on the wall. "Really, Dumbledore, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand him! He'll be famous -- a legend -- I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter day in the future -- there will be books written about Harry -- every child in our world will know his name!"

"Exactly," said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. "He is a celebrated child now. The attention would not be good for him."

McGonagall opened her mouth to protest, changed her mind, swallowed, and then said, "Yes -- yes, you're right, of course. But how is the boy getting here, Dumbledore?" She eyed his cloak suddenly as though she thought he might be hiding Harry underneath it.

"Hagrid's bringing him."

"You think it -- wise -- to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?"

"I would trust Hagrid with my life," said Dumbledore.

"So do we!" shouted the marauders in union.

Across the room, the Slytherins, including those present, exchanged knowing looks and rolled their eyes in unison.

Hyperion leaned back with a smirk, muttering, "Always with the dramatics, aren't they?"

Evanka caught his reaction, couldn't resist a quip "Nowhere near your level, Rion," eliciting a smile from Yvette.

"I'm not saying his heart isn't in the right place," said Professor McGonagall grudgingly, "but you can't pretend he's not careless. He does tend to -- what was that?"

A distant roar interrupted their conversation, growing louder until a giant motorcycle descended from the sky, ridden by a huge man with a wild beard. Hagrid landed gently, cradling a small bundle in his enormous arms.

Sirius Black's eyes lit up with excitement. "Merlin's beard, I want one of those!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm clear as he watched the motorcycle touchdown.

Natasha couldn't hide her fascination. "Imagine flying on something like that," she mused dreamily.

James Potter nudged Sirius with a grin. "Think Hagrid will give us a spin sometime?"

Sirius chuckled, eyes still glued to the motorcycle, "we could always 'borrow' it.

"Evenin', Dumbledore, sir," hagrid greeted

"Hagrid," said Dumbledore, sounding relieved. "At last. And where did you get that motorcycle?"

"Borrowed it, Professor Dumbledore, sir," said the giant, climbing carefully off the motorcycle as he spoke. "Young Sirius Black lent it to me.

Sirius's eyes widened with surprise and delight. "Did he now? That's my bike?!"

Regulus, watched Sirius with slight amusement, but quickly masked his expression when Evanka glanced his way.

"I got 'im sir. Harry Potter." he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"No problems, were there?"

"No, sir -- house was almost destroyed, but I got him out all right before the Muggles started swarmin' around. He fell asleep as we was flyin' over Bristol."

Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall bent forward over the bundle of blankets.

Inside, just visible, was a baby boy, fast asleep. Under a tuft of jet-black hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning.

In that moment, as they gazed upon the infant Harry Potter, a chorus of soft "ohs" and "awws" filled the room.

Lily's eyes widened, her breath catching. "Oh, that's Harry," she whispered, disbelief and awe coloring her voice. "Our son..."

James Potter's face lit up with a mix of pride and wonder. "Look at him, Lily," he said softly, "He's got your eyes."

"Aww, our little Harry," Marlene murmured, her voice trembling with emotion. "He's so tiny."

Sirius couldn't help but smile at the sight of his godson. "Oh, he's perfect," he said softly, his eyes bright with curiosity and affection.

Remus stared in wide-eyed fascination. "A lightning bolt," he breathed, marveling at the mark on Harry's forehead.

"Is that where -?" whispered Professor McGonagall.

"Yes," said Dumbledore. "He'll have that scar forever."

Dumbledore took Harry in his arms and turned toward the Dursleys' house.

"Are you sure about this, Albus?" McGonagall asked one last time, her voice a whisper.

"It is for the best," Dumbledore replied softly, placing a letter addressed to Harry's aunt and uncle beside him. "Good luck, Harry."

McGonagall watched, her heart breaking, as they turned to leave. "I hope you're right, Albus," she said softly. "For his sake."

Dumbledore looked back one last time, his eyes full of an ancient sadness. "So do I, Minerva. So do I."

With that, he clicked the Deluminator again, and the streetlights flickered back to life. In the light of the ordinary world, the three figures turned and walked away, leaving the Boy Who Lived to begin his extraordinary journey in the most ordinary of places.

Fabian was the first to break the silence. "Well, that was something, wasn't it?" He tried to keep his tone light, but his voice trembled with a mixture of awe and trepidation.

Gideon ran a hand through his hair, his usual composed demeanor shaken. "Extraordinary doesn't even begin to cover it," he muttered.

Barty sat rigid, his face pale. "To think...Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. Our future hinges on him," he said, a hint of apprehension in his voice.

Evan, leaning back, remarked, "So, this is the beginning."

Zoe, who had been absent since the story started, suddenly stepped in front of the screen. She took a deep breath and addressed the group. "What we have seen is just a glimpse of what lies ahead. It is both a blessing and a burden. Our journey is far from over," she said. "Shall we move on to the next part?"

As everyone nodded in agreement, she snapped her fingers, and the scene changed.

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A/n: It's been a while since the last update - been buried in exams and just came up for air.😜

What do you guys think so far? ;)😇

Pls vote and comment.🫂❣️