Standoff on Privet Drive, Part 1/2
Sally arrived in her car, stopping right in front of her garage. She stepped out with an inquisitive expression, observing the scene unfolding before her. Adrien was there, moving in a clearly defensive stance, his eyes fixed on a man with an unfriendly look. Beside him stood another man, looking confused, and next to them was what seemed to be Mrs. Figgs, the neighbor from a few streets down.
The Dursleys were also there, trembling like cornered animals in front of their own house, their faces full of panic.
"Mm… what's going on here?" Sally asked, frowning in a mix of confusion and alertness.
"It's her!" Vernon shouted instantly, as if he had just found a way to divert his misfortune onto someone else. "She's the one who kidnapped the boy! We didn't know anything! She just moved in one day with two kids! We never imagined he was that man's son!" he yelled in a rush, the desperation of someone trying to save himself by throwing another into the fire.
Upon hearing that, Sally's expression hardened. Her hand instinctively moved to her waist, where her bag hung, and inside it, her magical tome. Her gaze shifted to the newcomers who seemed to be looking for Harry; her entire posture turned defensive.
Sirius frowned, watching her with suspicion. Adrien noticed, narrowed his eyes slightly, and lifted his hand. In an instant, all the laser sights turned directly toward Sirius. There were nearly twice as many as before, as if with every passing minute, more sharpshooters arrived and took position.
At the same time, several others aimed at Vernon, who immediately shut his mouth and paled.
Sally, of course, had no idea who Sirius was. The Potters had only told her what he looked like and a bit about his past. The well-dressed man before her seemed vaguely familiar, but she didn't recognize him. Perhaps, if Sirius hadn't tried so hard to appear as someone he wasn't, she might have realized it instantly. Based on the descriptions she remembered, he didn't match. Besides, it wasn't something that particularly concerned her. Although she had helped Fleamont and Euphemia Potter during the process to free him, she had never expected to meet any of Harry's relatives—much less like this.
Before things could spiral out of control, the sharp sound of magical bursts echoed through the air, followed by a flash of light.
Someone appeared right in the middle of everyone.
It was an old man with an imposing presence, dressed in a bright purple robe, his beard so long it nearly brushed the ground. He was, quite literally, the living embodiment of the word wizard.
"I came as quickly as I could. It seems we have a slight misunderstanding here," he said calmly, surveying the area as hundreds of laser sights locked onto him the instant he appeared. Even so, his expression remained composed, almost indifferent to the danger. His gaze drifted toward Sally's house, noticing two small children peeking timidly through the window, and then to Sally herself, whose firm eyes didn't waver. For a moment, the old man's eyes glimmered faintly beneath his glasses.
"Perhaps it would be more comfortable if we all calmed down and tried to understand what's happening… and how young Harry Potter ended up in the wrong house," he suggested in a conciliatory tone. Then he looked up at the sky, as if sensing something.
Up above, Mark was floating on his broom, observing the old man with curiosity and a faintly mocking smile. In his hands, he held several vials glowing with magical light.
"Oh, so you found me. You must be quite a powerful wizard," Mark said with a hint of sarcasm, hovering near Sally without lowering his guard.
"Ah, forgive me, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Albus Dumbledore," the old man said evenly. "Though I suspect the Pendragon Knights and their affiliated magi have already heard of me, haven't they?" Then he added with a gentle smile, "I'm also the headmaster of the school of witchcraft and wizardry known as Hogwarts… and perhaps the one responsible for this little problem."
His gaze shifted toward the neighboring houses with a trace of surprise; apparently, he hadn't expected such a heavy security presence around the boy. But then he focused on Sally—and noticed how Adrien and Mark seemed to position themselves protectively beside her, more concerned for her safety than Harry's.
Sirius, frowning, finally lost his patience.
"Why do you have Harry in your home?" he asked in an aggressive tone, unable to contain his frustration.
"Harry is my son. Of course he's in my home," Sally replied firmly, her voice unwavering in the face of the stranger's anger.
Sirius looked at her in confusion, while Dumbledore slowly turned toward him and, with a small gesture, urged him to calm down.
"As I said, it would be best if we all remained calm. Surely, there are many misunderstandings to clear up," the old man said serenely.
Sally regarded him warily; she could sense that these men were trying to take her son away. And as if Dumbledore could read her thoughts, he spoke again.
"There's no need to worry. I'm sure we can find common ground. We haven't come to separate you from Harry; we simply wish to understand."
Sally was about to protest when a voice echoed in her mind.
"Don't worry, Sally. No one can take the children while I'm here."
It was the unmistakable voice of Mor—warm and calm—which was enough to ease her tension. When she looked toward one of the windows, she saw her standing there, watching peacefully, with the two little ones peeking beside her.
"Fine," Sally finally said, though she didn't move her hand away from her magical tome. Then she looked toward Adrien.
Adrien met her gaze for a moment, assessing the situation. Finally, he made a small signal with his hand, and all the laser sights vanished at once, dissolving into the air as if they had never existed.
…
The location chosen for the meeting, of course, wouldn't be the same house where the children were. Since Sally still didn't know what these wizards truly wanted, it was safer to meet on neutral ground.
And what better place than the Dursleys' house.
They, of course, tried to object—but Adrien's cold stare and an official note from the government were enough to make them shut their mouths immediately. None of them wanted to be arrested for "obstruction of an official investigation." Besides, it seemed Petunia herself was required to be present at the meeting, which left her pale with terror.
Everyone was seated in the living room, each in their own spot, staring at one another in heavy silence.
Mark sat beside Sally; Adrien was on her other side, watchful and composed. In one corner stood Dorien, who had arrived later, always prepared to drop from the Dursleys' roof if necessary. Even Mad-Eye Moody had been surprised he hadn't sensed him earlier.
On the sofa opposite, Sirius sat with a look full of frustration. In the middle, Dumbledore remained perfectly calm. Mad-Eye stood in another corner, still in a defensive stance. Mrs. Figg had taken a seat next to Dumbledore, shrinking slightly under the tense atmosphere, her face showing clear nervousness.
On another couch, Petunia's face was frozen in terror. Vernon sat beside her, clearly frightened as well, though he refused to move away from his wife for fear something might happen to her. Meanwhile, Dudley was clutched tightly in Petunia's arms; the mere thought of letting him go made her tremble.
"Ahem; then, allow me to begin," Dumbledore said, breaking the silence and trying to sound composed. "I'll go straight to the point. I was the one who left little Harry right in front of the Dursleys' house five years ago, along with a letter addressed to his aunt Petunia," he explained, glancing toward her.
"No—no letter ever arrived at our house! There was nothing!" she replied immediately.
"Of course not," added Vernon.
"Well, you were supposed to receive it. I even placed magical protections to ensure nothing would happen to the boy," Dumbledore continued. "That's why I can't understand how the Dursleys failed to find him," he added, now looking at Sally.
Sally met his gaze firmly before replying. "Harry's grandmother brought him to me. She told me to take care of him. And yes, I saw your letter—that's why I moved right next door." She said exactly what had happened; she wasn't lying, though she didn't elaborate further.
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and turned toward Sirius.
"Lies!" Sirius shouted angrily. "James's parents have been dead for years—it's impossible that Mrs. Euphemia could have brought Harry here!" he snapped quickly.
Dumbledore rested a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
"I never said it was Mrs. Euphemia—or even Mr. Fleamont," Sally replied with steady seriousness.
Sirius's expression hardened when he realized Sally seemed to know those names.
"It was his maternal grandmother," Sally added calmly.
All eyes turned back to Petunia. She swallowed hard under the weight of their stares.
"Lily and I didn't have the same mother. I never met hers. When my mother married her father, Lily had already been born. But my mother raised her as her own and loved her far more than she ever loved me," Petunia admitted, her tone bitter by the end.
"I see," said Dumbledore softly, as if beginning to piece something together.
"Even so, she had no right," muttered Sirius.
"Legally, she did," Adrien replied calmly. "If she shared the closest bloodline, she had the same legal right as this woman, according to the laws of our country," he added, nodding toward Petunia.
"Your Muggle laws don't concern us," Sirius said with a touch of disdain.
Dorien, still standing quietly in the corner, fixed a cold stare on him. "The moment you set foot on our soil, all of our laws apply to you. You're not untouchable just because you think you're special. Even your own government must request permission if it wishes to expand here. The last person who said otherwise is now sitting in a cell, chained with suppressor shackles, awaiting trial." His voice was cold and sharp.
Sirius glared back for a moment, defiant, while Dumbledore merely adjusted his glasses and let out a quiet sigh.
"To be fair," Dumbledore began, "we sent Harry to the Muggle world to keep him safe. The magical world was far too dangerous at the time. Many people would have gladly adopted him, but few could have endured what came with him. Not because of Harry himself, but because of what surrounded him. Now, although there are still dangerous people out there, they're hidden. He has more freedom to return if he wishes. So perhaps we can find a middle ground."
"There is no middle ground. Harry is my son, and he's staying with me. I've protected him for years, and I'll continue to do so. Just because you show up suddenly and think you have some claim over him doesn't mean you can do as you please. You didn't even bother to check if he was safe or healthy before trying anything," Sally said firmly, her gaze unyielding.
"I am his godfather; I was chosen by his parents to look after him," Sirius declared seriously.
"And where were you when he needed you the most? When he had to go to the hospital with a fever? When he needed his injections and squeezed my hand because he hates needles? When this man's sister's dog bit his ankle and I rushed him to the hospital to clean the wound and give him a tetanus shot? When he came home crying because he couldn't make friends and only had his brother? When he had nightmares? Or when he fell and scraped his knees?" Sally asked, rising to her feet and raising her voice. She was usually calm and reserved, but this time she let everything pour out. "If anyone dares to lay a hand on even one of my children—whether it's Harry or Percy, no matter who it is, the headmaster of that school, Merlin himself, or even King Arthur—I, as their mother, will give everything I have to protect them," she finished, her tone resolute.