My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name? All this You-Know-Who nonsense for eleven years I have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Voldemort. Professor McGonagall flinched, but Dumbledore, who was unsticking two sherbet lemons, seemed not to notice. It all gets so confusing if we keep saying You-Know-Who. I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemorts name.
I know you havent, said Professor McGonagall, sounding half-exasperated, half-admiring. But youre different. Everyone knows youre the only one You-Know oh, all right, Voldemort was frightened of.
You flatter me, said Dumbledore calmly. Voldemort had powers I will never have.
Only because youre too well noble to use them.
Its lucky its dark. I havent blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs.
Professor McGonagall shot a sharp look at Dumbledore and said, The owls are nothing to the rumours that are flying around. You know what everyones saying? About why hes 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, for neither as a cat nor as a woman had she fixed Dumbledore with such a piercing stare as she did now. 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 sherbet lemon and did not answer.
What theyre saying, she pressed on, is that last night Voldemort turned up in Godrics Hollow. He went to find the Potters. The rumour is that Lily and James Potter are are that theyre dead.
Dumbledore bowed his head. Professor McGonagall gasped.
Lily and James I cant believe it I didnt want to believe it Oh, Albus
Dumbledore reached out and patted her on the shoulder. I know I know he said heavily.
Professor McGonagalls voice trembled as she went on. Thats not all. Theyre saying he tried to kill the Potters son, Harry. But he couldnt. He couldnt kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but theyre saying that when he couldnt kill Harry Potter, Voldemorts power somehow broke and thats why hes gone.
Dumbledore nodded glumly.
Its its true? faltered Professor McGonagall. After all hes done all the people hes killed he couldnt kill a little boy? Its just astounding of all the things to stop him but how in the name of heaven did Harry survive?
We can only guess, said Dumbledore. We may never know.
Professor McGonagall pulled out a lace handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes beneath her spectacles. Dumbledore gave a great sniff as he took a golden watch from his pocket and examined it. It was a very odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead, little planets were moving around the edge. It must have made sense to Dumbledore, though, because he put it back in his pocket and said, Hagrids late. I suppose it was he who told you Id be here, by the way?
Yes, said Professor McGonagall. And I dont suppose youre going to tell me why youre here, of all places?
Ive come to bring Harry to his aunt and uncle. Theyre the only family he has left now.
You dont mean you cant mean the people who live here? cried Professor McGonagall, jumping to her feet and pointing at number four. Dumbledore you cant. Ive been watching them all day. You couldnt find two people who are less like us. And theyve got this son I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. Harry Potter come and live here!
Its the best place for him, said Dumbledore firmly. His aunt and uncle will be able to explain everything to him when hes older. Ive written them a letter.
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! Hell be famous a legend I wouldnt be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in 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. It would be enough to turn any boys head. Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he wont even remember! Cant you see how much better off hell be, growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it?
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, changed her mind, swallowed and then said, Yes yes, youre 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.
Hagrids bringing him.
You think it wise to trust Hagrid with something as important as this?
I would trust Hagrid with my life, said Dumbledore.
Im not saying his heart isnt in the right place, said Professor McGonagall grudgingly, but you cant pretend hes not careless. He does tend to what was that?
A low rumbling sound had broken the silence around them. It grew steadily louder as they looked up and down the street for some sign of a headlight; it swelled to a roar as they both looked up at the sky and a huge motorbike fell out of the air and landed on the road in front of them.