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Hidden Family	By : vinsmouse Category: Harry Potter Crossovers > General - Misc Views: 17508 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Biggles, not making any money, just cheap thrills.

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Chapter IX
10th October 1987
Arabella Figg lowered the receiver into its cradle with hands that shook. What could have happened in the weeks she’d been gone? What would Albus say? Collapsing into a chair next to the table, Arabella sat thinking of what to do. She could write a letter, but what would she say? Did he even read her missives? Arabella had her doubts on that score. If he did read them, she could only conclude that he thought her worries unfounded.
Arabella knew that Harry wasn’t treated properly at the Dursley’s and had told Albus more than once. He would only smile, when he bothered to floo her, that surely it wasn’t as bad as all that. Harry was just an active boy and sometimes, when raising boys, a firm hand was needed. Most of the time, though, he simply ignored her messages all together. It looked as though Albus was only worried about protecting the boy from Death Eaters.
Thinking it over, Arabella began to think perhaps young Harry would be better off with this grandfather. She didn’t care for the fact that they had no idea where the boy was and that was a fact. What if this man was a Death Eater in disguise? No, that couldn’t be. No Death Eater would be able to behave in such a muggle manner as the one Mrs. Dursley had described. Aside from that, hadn’t Albus said the wards would prevent any with ill intentions, and especially Death Eaters, from entering the property? So, Death Eater or an unmarked supporter was ruled out. That left the option of the man actually being Harry’s grandfather.
The question then was, would Harry be better off with this grandfather or should he be returned to the Dursley’s? The answer was clear to Arabella but would Albus agree? That brought her to the next question, should she tell Albus of what had transpired in her absence? Yes, she finally decided after a great deal of thought, she had a duty to inform Albus. Nothing said she had to inform him quickly or in a way that would bring attention to the message. Taking out parchment and quill, both spelled by Albus so that none but the two of them could read any messages, she quickly outlined what she knew. Sealing the letter, she gathered her things for a trip to London. There she would visit Diagon Alley and mail her letter, as she always did.
15th October 1987
“Miss Amelia, you said that some wizards and witches are born to muggles?” Harry asked.
“Yes Harry, that’s right, they’re called muggleborns,” Amelia confirmed.
“How can you tell if somebody is a muggleborn?”
Amelia wondered what could have brought about such a question. “The Ministry has a list of all the muggleborns in the U.K., their names appear as soon as they perform a bit of accidental magic. Is there a reason you asked?”
“I think a girl in my school is a muggleborn,” Harry said.
“I see. Why do you think that?”
Harry hesitated. He wasn’t sure how to explain it. “She feels like me,” he finally said.
Amelia could see that Harry was confused. She knew, however, that children could often sense the magic of other children. It was thought that this was due to the fact that as their magic was untrained they would be naturally drawn to those with magic, recognizing the feeling of magic even if they were unaware of it. In simple words she explained this to Harry. “Is this girl a friend?”
“Yes ma’am,” Harry replied with a grin. “Her name is Hermione Granger and she’s my best friend.”
“Have you told her that you think she’s a witch?” Amelia nervously asked. If the girl was in fact a witch it wouldn’t violate the statute of secrecy to tell her, but if she wasn’t trouble could be in the offing.
“No ma’am,” Harry shook his head. “I wasn’t sure if she was and I didn’t know if she’d like to know.” Harry paused, gathering his courage. Once he knew that it was okay to show his intelligence, he had no trouble asking questions related to learning. Other questions, particularly those that involved asking for privileges or other things, were more difficult to ask.
“Miss Amelia, do you think Hermione, if she is a witch, could attend lessons with me?” he timidly asked after some moments of silence.
“Muggleborns aren’t usually introduced to the Wizarding world until they receive their Hogwarts letter.”
“Oh,” Harry sighed, clearly disappointed.
“I’ve always thought that was short-sighted,” Amelia admitted.
“What do you mean Miss Amelia?”
“I believe, Harry, many of the problems between muggleborns and purebloods stem from a lack of understanding. Pureblood children know little or nothing of the muggle world and muggleborns enter the Wizarding world with no understanding of the culture and customs of that world. This is bound to lead to conflict as the muggleborns see things within the Wizarding world that are archaic at best and barbaric at worst. Some ignore what they see in favour of getting along while others attempt to change thousands of years of tradition in a misguided effort to bring the magical world into modern times.”
“And that’s bad?”
“Desiring change isn’t bad Harry, however, ignoring tradition without understanding the reasons behind it can be bad.”
“I don’t understand Miss Amelia.”
“Would you like it if a stranger came into your home and began criticising the way in which you live? If they insisted you change your way of life to suit them, ignoring any attempts to explain why you choose to live the way you do? If they made absolutely no effort to understand that some of your behaviours might be necessary for your health?”
Harry thought this over. “I suppose I wouldn’t like it,” he admitted.
“It would be much easier if muggleborns were taught about the world they’re going to be entering before they arrive. If that can’t be done they should be given classes on Wizarding culture, customs and laws during their first year at Hogwarts. Purebloods also need to learn about muggle culture, customs and laws so that they can better understand the mindset of their muggleborn classmates.”
“Why don’t they have classes like that?”
“Mostly it is because the Wizarding world is slow to change,” Amelia admitted. “Having explained my views I should like to meet your Miss Granger.”
“You would?”
“Yes I would and if she is a muggleborn witch I will speak with her parents, offering to teach your friend alongside you. That is, of course, if they and your grandfather agree.”
“You’re a genius!” Harry grinned. “Thank you, I’ll go ask grandfather right now.” He stood up, took a step and turned back to Amelia. “May I be excused?”
Amelia smiled. “You may, when you return with your grandfather we can discuss a time when I can meet your friend.”
Harry nodded before turning and hurrying from the room in search of his grandfather. He returned a few minutes later with not only his grandfather but the other men as well.
“What’s this Harry’s telling us about his friend?” Biggles asked as soon they entered the room.
“Harry thinks she may be a witch,” Amelia easily replied. “I should like to meet her and, if she is a witch, offer her lessons alongside Harry, minus Potter family history of course.”
“Do you think she could be a witch?” Ginger asked.
“I think it quite possible. Children often sense magic in others, despite a lack of training. Those who have studied such things believe it is simply that the raw magic they possess is calling to that possessed by others. They believe it is an instinct we’re born with that in ancient times, before the formation of schools, would have made it easier for magic users to find one another.”
“That makes sense,” Biggles admitted. “Still we’re trying to keep Harry’s whereabouts a secret, if you begin teaching others how long will it be before somebody notices?”
“A valid point, however, I don’t believe it will be an issue. I would only be teaching one muggleborn and she doesn’t know Harry is a Potter,” Amelia pointed out.
“And if he finds others?” Algy asked.
“Doubtful, wizards and witches aren’t as common as you might imagine. Therefore the chances of Harry meeting another muggleborn at his school, particularly as it is so small, are not very high.”
The men looked at each other. After so many years working and living together they could often communicate without words. This was one of those times. A consensus reached, Ginger gave his permission for Hermione to join Harry in his lessons with Amelia. Always assuming, of course, that she is a witch and her parents give permission as well.
20th October, 1987
Hogwarts castle: Headmaster’s office:
Albus Dumbledore opened a letter from Arabella Figg, the squib he had placed in a Surrey neighbourhood with orders to watch over young Harry Potter. He wasn’t worried by the letter. He knew that if there was an emergency Arabella would contact him through Libby, the Hogwarts house elf he had assigned to act as contact between them in an emergency. This letter, having come through the post wouldn’t contain anything of importance. It had in fact arrived several days earlier, but he had laid it aside, having more important things to attend to.
Albus,
I have some distressing news to share with you concerning young Harry Potter. As I have mentioned before, the Dursley’s don’t care for the boy...
At this point Dumbledore stopped reading. The letter was, as he had expected, nothing more than the usual complaints Arabella periodically made concerning the boy’s treatment. He knew, of course, had always known, that the Dursley’s weren’t going to treat the boy as well as they should. There simply was no place else for him to live and be safe from the Death Eaters. The fact that he would likely see whoever removed him from the Dursley’s as a saviour was a bonus which Albus was more than willing to take advantage of.
Tossing the letter into the fire, Dumbledore watched as it was reduced to ashes. He decided there was no need to respond to the letter. There was nothing he could say that would convince Arabella that he was right and he was too busy readying Hogwarts for the Halloween feast to waste time continuing a pointless argument with the old squib.
31st October, 1987
Arabella Figg sat on her front lawn, handing out candy to the neighbourhood children, a satisfied smile on her face. If she were ever asked she could say she had done her duty in contacting Albus. She wasn’t to blame if he assumed, from the opening of the letter, that she was once more complaining about the treatment Harry received from the Dursley’s.

TBC....
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Hidden Family