The Hidden Snake of the Lions (Harry Potter SI): Chapter 3

Privet Drive, Surrey, England.

In the small suburb belonging to the rich and snobbish people, a cat watched over House number 4, glaring at the disgusting and narrow-minded people that called it home.

This had been her task since the morning, to see if these people were worthy of the burden that was about to be placed upon them.

The result of her investigation was a resounding no.

And yet, her superior and friend still insisted for reasons that made sense but also felt as if they were made with a scattered mind.

Not that she could blame him for it. How could anyone feel fine after some of their closest friends were killed wholesale or tortured to madness in a single night?

Soon, the cat felt the displacement of air with a distinct crack, followed by the appearance of an Old man with strange clothing.

The old man used a strange device to snuff out the street lights, making it nearly impossible for anyone to spot them in the pitch black night.

“Professor McGonagall. It is good to see you.”

The cat transformed into an elderly lady who nodded at the old man.

“You too, Albus. But I must question your mental faculties. These muggles are the worst of their kind. Narrow-minded bigots obsessed with material wealth and status.”

The old man’s stare turned into a cold glare toward the House as he heard the words of his friend and Vice-Headmistress.

“Unfortunately, Lilly used an ancient Sacrificial Protection ritual to protect her son. One that requires the boy to be in the presence of someone related to him by blood. Specifically, someone that shares the blood of his mother. Petunia Evans is the only such person still alive.”

His cold glare turned into a tired one as he looked at McGonagall.

“What choice do we have? Minerva.”

The elderly woman placed her palm on the old man’s shoulder and spoke softly.

“We could take him to the Potters. Afterall, he doesn’t need that protection anymore right?”

“…..No, Minerva. He needs that protection, more so now than ever before.”

A chill shot through McGonagall’s body at those words.

“You don’t mean-?”

“He is not gone yet. At Godric’s Hollow, I felt his foul magic. It is not dissipation into ambient energy. Instead, it is heading somewhere else.”

“Voldemort is not dead, at least, not spiritually. Someday, he will return. And given what I know of that boy, his pettiness would entail that Harry Potter will be the first person he goes after once he revives fully.”

The two elders fell into silence as dread filled their bodies.

However, they did not stay in that situation for long as the distinct noise of a motorcycle resounded in the neighborhood, followed by a light flying straight towards them.

“Ah! Looks like Hagrid is finally here.”

McGonagall smacked her palm on her face.

“That Oaf! What is he thinking by using a bloody motorcycle, a flying one at that, in the dead of night to transport a baby!”

Albus Dumbledore chuckled at the exasperated words of his friend before reassuring her.

“It is alright. I have already placed a few silencing and concealing charms on all the houses the moment I Apparated here.”

Soon, the flying bike touched down and slowed to a stop before them.

“Professor Dumbledore, Sir, Professor McGonagall.”

“Hagrid. I hope the trip went without a problem.”

The half-giant brightened up at those words.

“None whatsoever, Sir. He hasn’t woken up yet despite more than nine hours of going in circles to shake off any persuits.”

The gentle giant’s face changed into one of sadness as he slowly handed over the child.

“I don’t know if that is a good thing or not. The last thing he will probably remember is that damned curse.”

“Hopefully, he will remember none of it, and he will end up a Squib, living a mundane but safe life, away from our society.”

Albus’s face twisted with self-depreciation.

“But we are never that lucky, are we?”

Shaking his head and recentering himself, the old Mage started walking toward House Number 4 with his friends.

“Professor, before I forget, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it, Hagrid?”

“Before we took off, Sirius insisted that Harry be left with him. He said that he was the designated guardian for the boy. Is it true?”

At the mention of his former student’s name, Albus’s face adopted a cold look, but the hurt in his eyes could not be hidden despite his best efforts.

“It is true. But he is no longer of any concern.”

“Sirius Black is to be tried first thing after we are done here for colluding with the Dark Lord.”

“WHAT!? THEN-“

“Hagrid! Not now, please.”

The half-giant fell silent as they finally arrived at the door.

Albus placed the baby at the door with a letter he wrote, explaining the circumstances, along with a rather hefty envelope containing mundane currency. Compensation for the family to look after the child.

“This boy will be famous, a Legend, Albus. I wouldn’t be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in the future. There will be books written about him. Every child in our world will know his name.”

Albus hummed as he reluctantly turned away from the boy who had a massive burn scar on the right side of his face, covering his entire forehead and part of his right eye. Thankfully, the damage did not extend to his eye, but the mark was so distinct and deliberately carved that no one would ever mistake him for someone else.

“Hopefully, none of that will come to pass, and he will be allowed a normal childhood. If not, I can only hope that by keeping him away from such fame, he will not end up as another failure on my part.”

As the three mages disappeared into thin air with a crack, they were unaware that he baby had been pretending to sleep.

The moment they disappeared, twin pools of green opened and glared with baleful hatred at his surroundings.

On that night, for some reason, the sky above Privet Drive turned stormy, with lightning crackling and a powerful downpour.

All the while, the animals around the area fled for safety.

For they sensed the awakening of a predator, and this serpent had murder on his mind.