"Ah, Minerva, you are back early. I was still trying to make Sirius see it from my point of view," Dumbledore geeted her, only to get interrupted by a snort from Sirius.
"And you are failing miserably. I'll tell you one last time: if you insist on your hairbrained scheme to send Harry to Petunia so you could invoke the blood magic, then I'll invoke my legal rights as godfather and you'll never see him again."
"Sirius, please," Remus pleaded with his friend. "You know I'm on your side. That will never happen, regardless how much the Headmaster insists."
Sirius needed a few moments. While Remus had almost instantly forgiven him for suspecting he could be the traitor, while it was Peter, Sirius still felt guilty for doubting his friend. Having calmed down, he looked to Dumbledore. "Nonetheless, your plan is horrible. Are you so used to seeing the big picture, that you have lost sight of what others really need? What use is the big picture then, well?"
Dumbledore said nothing, these words must have hit him unprepared.
McGonagall saw her chance to finally douse the fire. "Be reassured that this won't happen. My observations make it clear that the Dursleys are no option at all. From the way they treat their own son, I can say without hesitation that they are not fit for raising a child - especially not the son of people the Dursleys obviously have a severe dislike of. Send him there, and I predict either something bad happens to him or he'll become a broken person."
Having his Deputy spell this out finally took the wind out of Dumbledore's sails. "I see... This enchantment would have been so good at shielding him from those who want him harm." The Headmaster looked pained, like he finally became aware how much of an error he almost had made. Perhaps worse was for him, that he hadn't noticed the problem until McGonagall spelled it out.
Seeing Sirius' relief, McGonagall held up her hand. "However, I discovered something interesting while being in Little Whinging."
She then went on to describe Petunia's confrontation with Thomas Evans and what she'd further learned about Thomas and Veronica Evans. All three men listened attentively to her, while the expression of the Headmaster became a bit lighter, like he saw a new chance opening up with that discovery. When she was done, she waited for reactions.
"I had no idea that man even exists. Lily always was quite silent about her family and we all assumed that with her parents' deaths, Petunia is her only remaining family," Remus finally said, looking thoughtful. "While Dumbledore's original plan is unusable for obvious reasons..."
Sirius did not look happy with that turn of events. "Moony, you can't suggest..."
Remus held up a hand to silence his friend. "Hold up, Padfoot, I did not mean that you wouldn't play a big role in Harry's life. I only meant we can make new plans - plans that do involve you."
"Good..." Sirius then looked to Dumbledore. "However, we will talk to these people first. No way I'll do it your way and just dump Harry at their doorstep with a mere letter to explain things."
McGonagall's eyes widened. "Albus! What were you thinking?!"
Dumbledore held up his hands in defense, but didn't say a word. Going by his expression however, he himself only now, that it was spelled out, realized the consequences of his original plan. Without Sirius and Remus present, he probably would have overruled Minerva's concerns, probably thinking she was making a drama out of it. The thought itself was disturbing.
The phoenix Fawkes gave his bonded human an unreadable look from his perch. The immortal bird seemed to share a kind of communication with the Headmaster no one else could understand.
"He probably had thought nothing about it, not seeing the problem," Sirius said in his place, shaking his head. "Headmaster, you're great at seeing the big picture and making long-term plans, but perhaps you've become too comfortable with that role. The way you were unable to see Harry's actual needs until it was spelled out makes me think you should spend some time to think about your priorities."
Remus was impressed that Sirius had managed to become so calm after his earlier state of mind. "Nonetheless, what should be do about this new development?"
"Well, we won't just drop the boy into their laps, that's for sure. These people deserve an explanation, especially since they have no idea of the tragedy." McGonagall then held up a hand. "That, and we should take our time to think how to tell them. They were still moving in when I left. We should give them some time."
...two hours later...
"At least we look the part... Well, most of us," Remus said, rolling his eyes at Sirius' refusal to change his outfit.
"Hey, the institutional look goes with you maybe, but I need to express my free spirit," Sirius countered. "Be glad that none of us are as ignorant as a huge part of the magical population when it comes to Muggle fashion."
It had been decided that the Evans couple would react better if not being right away confronted with people in robes, which in turn had led to some problems of its own. Remus was secure enough in his knowledge of the non-magical world to wear a suit without trouble. McGonagall, thanks due to her duties of visiting the families of muggleborn wizards and witches, also didn't wear a dress that seemed to come out of the Victorian era, though it still looked quite conservative. Even Dumbledore, normally known with wearing garish colors, agreed after some debate that discretion would the better part of virtue.