SIRIUS WAS FAIRLY CERTAIN that Charlus did not go back to bed after receiving Harry's letter, despite not getting much sleep to begin with. Instead, when he woke up a few hours later, Charlus was pacing the floors in the bedroom. Moose and Marmalade were watching as he went back and forth, their heads in sync with his movement. Once again, his husband was deep in thought, trying to put together another plan. And Sirius didn't dare to disrupt that.

Reading over Harry's letter was heartbreaking, no matter how short it was. The two had both anticipating Harry thinking the letter was a joke or perhaps the Dursleys intercepting it before it even got to him. It hurt to know that even if Harry didn't know Charlus, he was willing to ask a stranger for help to get out of his current environment. He wasn't just asking, he was pleading, at a mere seven years old, begging to be rescued.

Sirius could see the anger building up on Charlus' face, no words needed to be said. He was absolutely furious, not only with the Dursleys but with Dumbledore. He ranted that if Dumbledore had taken it upon himself to assign guardianship over Harry to the Dursleys, he was also responsible to make sure that Harry was well taken care of. And not only did he fail in doing so, but he also didn't seem to care very much.

Originally, Charlus' plan was to go to Hogwarts and demand that Dumbledore reveal Harry's location, but after thinking it over, Charlus knew it wouldn't be so easy. For whatever reason the headmaster had, he didn't want to give up Harry's location. And Charlus wanted to know what that reason was specifically.

"I'm going to Hogwarts alone," Charlus said out loud, once he noticed that Sirius was awake. "It might be better if Dumbledore and I discuss things one on one. Depending on how this goes, just have everyone ready when I return."

"Ready?" Sirius repeated. "Ready for what, Charlus?"

"Ready for anything. I haven't figured out everything yet, but I need to talk to Dumbledore. Let the others know what's going on. I'll try to be back as soon as possible. Let's be hopeful that Dumbledore will agree, but let's not count on it."

He wasn't given any opportunity to argue as Charlus kissed him on the cheek and grabbed his wand before leaving the bedroom. Seconds later, Sirius only heard the faint cracking sound of Charlus disapparating from the flat.

The noise of his departure attracted Remus and Maeve out of their rooms, leaving Sirius to walk out to find their questioning expressions.

"Something happened last night," he began, " Charlus sent a letter to Harry and Harry managed to sent one back. It's not good, Harry isn't doing well at Dursleys. He needs help. Charlus is going to talk to Dumbledore right now, but if it doesn't go over well, I'm sure things about to get wild. He told us to be ready for anything."

"Ready for anything?" Maeve huffed. "What the hell does that mean? I have to go to work in a bit, how am I supposed to prepare for anything?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you anything else because I don't know anything else. Even Charlus seemed unsure before he left. He's obviously upset about Harry's situation. I woke up to him pacing the floors, I know he hardly got any sleep. And he's about to go up against Dumbledore, who put Harry in that situation, to begin with. I know Charlus is smart, but clearly Dumbledore has more pull and favour in higher places. This is probably going to lead to trouble."

"How am I supposed to go to work after you start spewing shit like that out?" Maeve cried out. " Someone should have gone with him. We all know he's upset, what if he does something irrational?"

Remus cleared his throat. "He wouldn't. Charlus may get upset with Dumbledore, but he knows what game they're playing now. They are both strategists and it'll just become a battle of who is the better one. He wouldn't do anything jeopardise Harry's safety or his own. Because if he's out of the picture, Harry stands little chance of getting out of there. I'm sure Charlus has already assessed all the risks, we're just going to have to wait and see what Dumbledore's move is going to be."

Hogwarts had once been a joyous place for Charlus to venture to, but it recent times, he hated it. He felt weighed down by stress every time he visited, and each time, it was in hopes of talking to Dumbledore. When he arrived in Hogsmeade, he already anticipated the idea of the headmaster not being in the castle, but he didn't mind waiting either. Even if they weren't on good terms, they could at least push their differences to the side for the sake of sparing a child any more pain.

Fortunately, Charlus did have a guardian angel watching over him apparently, because he arrived at the right time to bump into Professor McGonagall once more. It seemed she was doing her weekly shopping at the shops in Hogsmeade and seemed more than surprised to see him there. Of course, by that point, she had heard the wonderful news of Sirius' release but they hadn't seen each other since the capturing of Peter Pettigrew. Nonetheless, McGonagall was thrilled to seem him as she dropped her professional demeanour and wrapped Charlus in a hug.

"Mr Potter, why are you here?" she asked him after she pulled away first, "Shouldn't you be celebrating the holidays still?"

"Professor," Charlus said, "Harry's in trouble."

Her face fell instantly, her eyes scanning his face in worry. "What do you mean he's in trouble? I don't think there has been any message that has come through regarding him-"

"Professor, you know the Dursleys as well as I do. I sent a letter to Harry last night, just to say hello to him. I thought it was the least I could do since I haven't seen him since I've been awake. And I got a message back from him? Do you know what he wrote down? To come and get him. He was asking for help. He's a little boy, asking for help from someone he doesn't even know. I need to talk to Dumbledore. Please, can you escort me to the castle?"

McGonagall knew that after the little Rita Skeeter stunt, Charlus and Dumbledore weren't on the best terms. But even she had advocated years prior that Harry be placed in a different home, any home instead of the Dursleys. She had observed the family with her own eyes and it seemed her fears had come true. She couldn't stand the idea of a little boy asking for help and no one coming to his aid. Even if Dumbledore didn't like Charlus at the moment, he had to know about Harry's situation.

"I'll bring you up to his office, come on, hurry up."

Charlus thanked her profusely and the two made their way to the castle in record time. McGonagall led the way towards the gargoyle statue, gave the password and hurried up the stairs to announce Dumbledore's latest visitor.

Immediately, Dumbledore peered up from the book he had been reading and looked directly at a winded Charlus.

"Charlus, what brings you-"

"Professor," Charlus cut him off as he made his way over and placed the letter on Dumbledore's desk. "I need you to see this with your own eyes. There's been a mistake. Harry can't stay with the Dursleys. He's in trouble, see for yourself."

Taking a moment, Dumbledore looked over the child-like sentences that were scribbled down before giving McGonagall a slight gesture, asking her to give them a moment. She nodded her head and excused herself.

"Look, you and I may have our differences over what happened with Sirius," Charlus told him, " but that has nothing to do with Harry right now. He's clearly not happy where he is right now. Petunia and Vernon have never been known to be nice people, we can agree on that at least, right? Harry deserves to be safe."

"And that is why he must remain at the Dursleys."

"What?"

Charlus stood opened mouth, looking confused as ever, as Dumbledore's words seemed to contradict each other. He wanted Harry to be safe, but he also wanted to keep him at the Dursleys, how did it make any sense?

"We can both agree that we want the best for Harry," Dumbledore said, " this is the best for him. As long as he remains under the Dursley roof, he will be safe."

"I'm afraid I don't understand. Didn't you hear anything I just said? He asked for help, you saw the letter."

"How could I be sure that it was from Harry? After all, I've noticed that you have plenty of tricks up your sleeves. Especially when it comes to the Ministry, Charlus. I'm afraid it won't be that easy to get away with such moves here."

"Tricks?! This isn't a trick! This has to do with my nephew! His safety! I wouldn't go so far to make something like this up. If you don't believe me, why don't you go there and see for yourself? If you think it's so safe, I'm sure Harry will tell you otherwise."

Dumbledore gestured for Charlus to sit, but he immediately refused by shaking his head.

"Fine, you may remain standing, but please understand what I have to say. The Dursleys willingly took Harry into their care. If they didn't, he wouldn't be there as of right now. But they did take him in and due to that, Harry is in the safest place he can be right now."

"Professor, how could you say such a thing? This is the Dursleys we're talking about. Petunia and Vernon weren't on good terms with James and Lily when they were alive. What makes you think they would be caring and loving guardians to the son of the people they hated most? Petunia despised the idea of magic from the time she and Lily were children. "

"Mr Potter," Dumbledore said, pulling the formality card, " are you aware of something called sacrificial protection?"

"I-"

"When Lily Potter died that evening, she was given a choice. To either step aside and be spared or be killed. She chose to be killed protecting her son. This is why Voldemort was unable to kill Harry that night, only marking him with a scar and his own body destroyed. It was Lily's sacrifice that allowed me to create the bond of blood seal as a shield for Harry, and it was Petunia's willingness to take Harry in that sealed it. "

"What are you talking about?"

Dumbledore ignored him and continued. " Lily's blood dwells where Harry calls home. As long as he is there, he will be safe."

"From what exactly?" Charlus questioned. "Forgive my ignorance, but who is going after Harry currently that he would need to be safe from? You claimed Voldemort was destroyed that evening, Death Eaters have been rounded up, the last of the traitors have been caught. You're welcome. So who do you expect is going to go after Harry? Is there something you don't know that no one else does?"

"I'm only looking out for Harry's best interest."

Charlus felt a surge of anger course through his body, he wanted nothing more than to attack Dumbledore at that very moment, but he refrained from doing so. Nothing good would come from it. He couldn't keep a good image if he went after the Headmaster inside the Hogwarts castle.

With a heavy sigh, Charlus submitted to sitting down.

"You said they willingly took him in?"

"Yes, Charlus," he answered, visibly relaxing as he settled back into his own chair. "He's been there since the night it happened."

Reaching across the desk, Charlus took his letter back. "I should have known this wouldn't work," he said, " it was too obvious. Clearly, you're not Fudge. So what now? Do I get to see my nephew at some point? I do have rights as the godfather, don't I?"

"Of course you do. I would be more than willing to have you play a role in Harry's life. We can set something up when the New Year passes."

"You're not just saying that, are you?"

"You have my word. Before the holidays come to an end and term starts up once more, I will personally visit the Dursleys' myself and announce your return. You then can discuss visitation with them and what they are comfortable with."

Charlus nodded his head. "I'm sorry I cam barging in like this. I'm sure you're tired of seeing my face around. But you understand, don't you? I only want what's best for him."

"We all want what's best for him."

With no other option, Charlus decided to take a hint and leave. It was a bit of walk back to Hogsmeade, not to mention a cold one. He apologised once more for disrupting Dumbledore's afternoon of reading before shoving his already crumpled letter into the pocket of his robes. Heading down the stairs, his head hung long and it wasn't long before he reached the gargoyle statue that closed behind him.

McGonagall stood before him with a hopeful expression but he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall. I didn't mean to drag you into all of this. You've been so incredibly helpful to me over the years. I don't know how to thank you enough. But thank you. You probably won't be seeing me around for a while. I think it's for the best, Sirius needs to heal and such..."

"I understand," she said before bringing him into another hug. She pulled away and grabbed his hands in hers for a moment. "Please, take care of yourself."

"I will. I promise. You do the same."

He kissed her cheek, the same as he had done with his mother when he was younger before he pulled his hands away from hers. He knew his way out of the castle, even after many years, it seemed sneaking out with James so many times in their youth had paid off. The walk as he expected was long and cold to Hogsmeade, but as soon as he arrived inside the village, Charlus pulled out his hand from the pocket of his robes.

Slowly, he loosened his fingers to find the small piece of parchment that McGonagall had slipped into his hands during her affection gesture earlier. Charlus took a quick glance around to make sure he was alone before unravelling it.

4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey