Choices Without Regrets

Chapter IV: Fragile Alliances

Albus hollowed to this now as his eyes seemed confused as to what to show, "I knew that his life wouldn't be easy there with Petunia; I honestly didn't expect it to be given what little I knew of Lily's sister, but I never believed that the actions he suffered there were that abusive. I find myself feeling regret for ever placing him there; especially since I was warned not to by Minerva."

Albus then eyed the window from where he sat, and he saw Lucius standing sideways; sunlight glinting off the platinum locks like a halo as the white suit made the man seem like he was glowing with light. Ironic; given that the man had done many things that were anything but good, light, and just.

Lucius was now eyeing him with a reserved stance; trying to appear as if he was not to judge him, but still judging all the same.

"If that were to be true..." He drawled slow while both Albus and Alastor looked to him with hesitant wariness, "Then why in Merlin's good name did you never bother to go there and to check on him?"

Alastor was suddenly very silent; these were answers he wanted too.

Albus sighed, "Originally, it was because Petunia wanted as little contact with our people as possible. This was made known to me after I had already left Harry with her and her family; but I didn't think then that it would amount to such trauma.

I soon realized that my consent to this; it was partially what had allowed the arrangement to even be made for Harry to live there. Had I not agreed; she likely would have just dumped him into another orphanage or even left him to die on the roadside.

Which was not something I wanted to risk happening at all, nor could accept. There were still too many unknowns to factor for dangers to the child. I was also concerned with too many magical people showing randomly there to draw attention to the place.

Even if warned to hide away and to be out of sight." He told him

Lucius considered that, "I can understand those reasons, however;" His hand curled the glass tightly, "Why did you not investigate the situation after Harry complained of abuse there?"

Albus swallowed, "Because I honestly didn't believe there to be such horrible abuse. I merely thought that Harry didn't like his relatives; that he wanted to be somewhere more familiar to him and more comfortable than where he was supposedly protected and safe. Familiar in that he was surrounded by magic and the magical world; despite the danger presented to him remaining in sight."

Lucius snorted to that derisively, "I don't think so, so let us not play games now. You saw first-hand how thin Harry was as he arrived at the school; you also knew how bad he was due to the medical exams he received at Poppy's hand. You saw how he reacted to others; especially to Severus because of how he was to Potter due to James's bullying. Which you also didn't stop nor curb.

So therefore, you had to know the signs of abuse for verbal abuses or the reactions in Harry showing he was afraid he was going to be hit."

Lucius's eyes were enraged as his magic crackled some with his agitation, "You knew and yet you did nothing. Nothing to help a child in need of care and sheltering; to help it grow and to flourish."

Lucius sighed as he slowly calmed some, "I can only hope that you do not ever dare to try anything of the sort ever again. Harry and Tom; they won't forgive it, and I know they will not show mercy when punishment is enacted for it."

Albus was quiet for a moment then sighed in remorse; genuine regret as his blue eyes hollowed for merely a second. But it wasn't missed by the other two men.

"I am many things to this world, Lucius." He said slowly, "I am a man who is able to accomplish what he wants when given the right things to work with or the right incentive. I am also a man capable of mistakes; some that cause me to bleed and have pain, and others that hurt me more emotionally than physically.