Occam's 24 hours

[prefectmarcus]

No: HPFGUIDX 42844

There is a very simple, logical explaination for the time lag between 
midnight 31 Oct and midnight 1 Nov.

It is known in Dumbledore's circle that Voldemort is after the 
Potters.  They arrange for the F. Charm.  All this is well and good, 
but Dumbledore is a cautious man.  He knows somebody is passing info 
back to Voldemort.  He is never one to put all his eggs in one 
basket, so he arranges for a discreet watch to be placed on the 
Potter home.  It might be magical like a crystal ball.  It might be 
living.  The F. Charm is the first line of defense.  The watch is the 
second.

Around midnight, Voldemort shows up and murders the Potters so 
quickly that the watch has no time to react, other than to notify 
Dumbledore something is happening.  By the time Dumbledore tunes in, 
either through a device or pops there through via a portkey, the deed 
is done, the Potters are dead, and a baby is crying in the middle of 
the wreckage.  

Now, at this point Dumbledore has a ton of things to do:
1) Rescue Harry
2) Arrange for Harry's living.  Even though there are many magical 
families who would be more than happy to take care of him, he decides 
on the Dursleys for the reasons outlined in HP1-1, and the "old 
magic" that Voldemort refers to in GoF.  This, of course, requires 
him to go against Sirius's claim as Godfather, but Dumbledore is 
suspecting him of being the spy.  Whatever arrangements Dumbledore 
makes can easily be unmade if Sirius proves innocent.
3) He has to arrange with the MoM for the Dursley's to become Harry's 
guardians.
4) He has to arrange with the muggles for the Dursley's to become 
Harry's guardians.  I suspect he outlines this in the letter to the 
Dursleys.  This could be the reason why the Dursleys kept Harry.  Can 
you imagine Vernon Dursley explaining to the authorities that a 
Wizard had messed with their records?  So, as Petunia says, they 
were "stuck" with him.
5) He has to invoke the "old magic" for Harry's protection.
6) He has to persuade somebody to give up 15 or more years of their 
life to be Harry's protector in the muggle world.
7) He has to arrange for that somebody to move into a house near the 
Dursleys.

So, first things first.  He has to rescue Harry.  The house is a 
total wreck.  There are some very heavy timbers that need to be moved 
delicately so the baby is not harmed.  Who better than Mister Walking 
Crane himself, Hagrid -- a man known for extreme tenderness towards 
helpless (and not so helpless) creatures.  So Dumbledore tells Hagrid 
to rescue Harry and to meet him at #4 Privet Drive, Little Whining, 
Surrey tomorrow night at midnight.  He also tells Hagrid to be as 
discreet about it as possible.  (Voldemort may or may not be 
vanquished, and even if he was, there are still the Deatheaters.)  
Dumbledore takes off to do the rest of his task-list.

Hagrid is in a bind.  He has to get to Godric Hollow as quickly as 
possible.  He also has to arrange to go to Privet Drive.  And he has 
to make it back to Hogwarts.  He is not allowed to do magic.  

These are troubled times.  Hogwarts is one of the few places safe.  A 
system to keep track of the faculty when outside Hogwarts' walls has 
to be in place.  The most likely person delegated to be in charge of 
this is the deputy Headmistress, McGonagall.  So Hagrid goes to her.

He tells her that Dumbledore has ordered him to go to Godric's Hollow 
immediately and to meet him at Privet Drive midnight the next day.  
Why he needs to do this, he doesn't say, and she doesn't ask.  Such 
are the times they are living in.  She arranges magic transport for 
Hagrid to Godric's Hollow, transport to Privet Drive, and likely 
transport back to Hogwarts, though Dumbledore might likely be able to 
provide that.  I suspect a series of Portkeys to be kept in that many-
pocketed coat of Hagrid's.

Hagrid pops to Godric Hollow and rescues Harry just as Sirius 
arrives.  They have their argument about who gets Harry, then Sirius 
offers Hagrid his bike.  He can do that much for his godson.  Now 
Hagrid was never one to turn down an opportunity to do something 
magical.  Plus he has to lay low for a while.  Plus, if McGonagall 
had given him a portkey to a safehouse, he could save for later when 
he wanted to get away.  He takes the bike and makes it as far as 
Wales or Cornwall before dawn.  

In the meantime, McGonagall has gone back to bed, or tried to.  The 
rumors start flying.  Voldemort destroyed.  He succeeded in killing 
James and Lily, but not Harry. Etc., etc., etc.  Hogwarts is a center 
of Anti-Voldemort activities.  She being the Deputy Headmistress with 
Dumbledore away, is awaken and told them all.  The rumors are very 
interesting, especially since she knows something is going on 
involving, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Godric Hollow, and #4 Privet Drive.  
She decides to see for herself.  She knows that Dumbledore will be at 
Privet Drive at midnight.  He could very well be there sooner.  So 
she pops down there herself to see what is happening.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now, can anybody find any holes?

Marcus