A/N: Um, so hey guys, I'm back. Honestly, I don't really have much to say for myself other than I'm sorry. I lost the login to this account a while back, and then I was really unhappy with the way my story was turning out, and I sorta just quit. Although now, I'm coming back as a more experienced writer, and with a plan for the series that'll hopefully make this definitive version something I'm proud of. So, yeah. New Chapter Coming Everyday For The Next 21 Days! And of course, be sure to Follow, Favorite, and Review!


Chapter 1: Sirius Black

Sirius Black was not the type to think of himself as a "Good Man." He'd failed his lover, his brother, and now it seemed, he'd failed the very person who'd been able to overlook his every fault. No, Sirius did not consider himself a good man, but certainly, there was a limit to how cruel the world could be. Certainly the goodness of the Potters had to count for something in this twisted world. Did it not?

His answers arrived in the form of the ruined cottage before him. It looked nothing like the way he'd remembered it, the memories of the cottage flooding his mind like a ship taking on water. It had been once beautiful. Vines gently caressed the stone walls, enchanted up from the garden of lilies that were in perpetual bloom. The taunting scent of freshly baked goods had once danced in the breeze, and the sound of laughter and slow-paced, muggle waltz music could always be heard even through the closed maroon colored door, punctuated only by the giggling and occasional grunts of a newly-born child.

There was none of that now. The garden had been crushed under the now collapsed wall. The aroma of rising sourdough was replaced with only sour air, and not a sound was heard aside from the cry of the winds and the occasional shuffle of stone. The baby's cries were nowhere to be found.

"How could this have happened?" Sirius cried. "How could I have allowed this to- Pettigrew!"

A violent fire erupted in Sirius' chest as the visage of the rat-faced man swelled in his mind like a blistered thumb. His guilt had become fuel for the furnace that was his anger. Pettigrew had never been a brave man, but Sirius had never imagined this. Sirius had willingly made himself the bait, made himself the most obvious target, and even with that, Pettigrew had folded. Even with the protection of Dumbledore, Pettigrew had turned against them.

Cold filled Sirius almost as quickly as his fury once had. It wasn't that his fury had abated him. No, it has ascended. Past the folly of burning rage and deep into the belly of malicious hatred.

"I will kill him." Sirius whispered into the air. "I will break him to the point he begs for death, and then, I will break him even further before he dies at my hand. This, I promise you, James."

The heavy thud of footstops spurned Sirius from his haze. Without thought, he gripped his wand. Please, he thought, let it be him. Let it be Peter.

But it was not Peter. From the shadows emerged a man twice as large as any other he'd ever seen. Bearded, red-faced, and coated with sweat, emerged the Half-Giant, Rubeus Hagrid.

"Sirius? That you?" Hagrid called out.

Sirius said nothing, struggling to find a voice not dripping with venom. Hagrid was a friend, a brother in arms, a member of the Order. He was undeserving of the hatred brewing in Sirius' soul.

"It is you," Hagrid said, huffing heavily. "Good. You been able to have a look around yet, clear the area?"

"No," was all Sirius could bring himself to muster.

"Ah, not that I imagine it would show us much," Hagrid sighed, his eyes now stuck to the rubble of the collapsed wall. "Dumbledore sent me after hearing the rumors. Is it true? Are Lily and James, are they really-"

"Don't," Sirius said. "Not another word, Hagrid."

"Well, maybe they're not." Hagrid said, pushing past him. "James and Lily, they were seriously tough, skilled wizards to boot. Maybe they're in there. Maybe they need our help."

"Hagrid, they're not in there." Sirius swallowed. "At least, their spirits aren't."

Hagrid took another step toward the house, then another. "We won't know until we go inside."

"No," Sirius whispered, though Hagrid had already bolted. "I can tell from here."

Unsure of what else to do, Sirius waited. His mind raced with hundreds of thoughts. Though the central focus had remained the same. Where was Pettigrew?

Moments later, Hagrid had returned with confirmation of what Sirius already knew. In the half-giant's arms, held like an infant, rested a raven-haired man, his cold brown eyes still etched in a look of pure defiance.

"I couldn't leave him in there," Hagrid sobbed, his eyes filled with rain droplet sized tears. "He didn't even have his wand on him. The swine didn't even give him a chance to defend himself."

"Where's Lily?" Sirius said. "And Harry? Did you see Harry?"

From the second story came the sound of a cry. Sirius snapped his head toward the collapsed wall, his breath hitched in his chest. He waited, the seconds passing like hours before the cry came again. "Hagrid, come with me. Boost me up to the second floor. Someone's alive up there. I think… I think Harry's still alive."

"Harry!" Hagrid gasped, following quickly after Sirius, stopping only to rest James' body against a tree stump.

"Yes!" Sirius shouted. "Yes, I heard it again. It sounded like a baby crying. It's Harry. Come on Hagrid, help me up!"

Hagrid did so. With a heave of the half-giant's arms, Sirius found himself soaring at level with the second story. He gripped the collapsed wall's ledge with a grunt and pulled himself upward. Nausea gripped him instantly at the sight before him. He could give Hagrid only a moment's warning before he vomited into the garden below.

Laying sprawled out on the floor was the pale, red-headed woman Sirius had promised James he'd protect with his life should anything happen. With a face filled with desperation, her lips still parted in a final plea, was the body of Lily Potter.

Sirius crawled to her side, pulling her close to his chest. "I'm so sorry Lily. This is all my fault. I'm so sorry."

He swallowed hard, his head turned to the heavens. "Prongs, forgive me. I failed you. I failed you both."

The cry came again, this time louder and more distressed than before. Sirius laid Lily's down gently and pulled himself to his feet, approaching the crib. Sirius blinked, once, then twice, rubbing his eyes of the tears and anguished exhaustion to ensure they weren't playing tricks on him. The child was no illusion.

Rocking himself in the center of the crib was the last of the Potters. Sirius dove into the crib, retrieving the baby and holding it close, rocking him as Lily had once shown him. Slowly, he checked the young Potter over, but to his amazement, the boy looked completely unharmed. The only exception was the one Sirius had noticed almost instantly, a scar etched in the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead.

"Sirius! What's going on up there? Did you find Harry?"

"Yes!" Sirius wept. "Yes, I found Harry! He's alive. He's alive and well."

"He's alive," Hagrid said, his smile nearly splitting his face. "Merlin's beard, he's alive. What about Lily?"

All the joy vanished instantly from Sirius. He leaned over the edge slightly and shook his head.

Hagrid's grin faded. "I see. Anything else up there?"

"Just a cloak," Sirius said, though the oddness of the artifact grew on him the moment he said it. "But not Lily's cloak. And James was found downstairs. Meaning this is, this could be, no, that's impossible. How did Lily manage to-"

"Sirius, what's going on up there?"

"Hagrid, I think, I think the rumors may be true," Sirius sighed, taking the cloak only to reveal a bone-colored wand beneath it. Sirius carried both the cloak and wand to the edge, showing them to Hagrid. "I think Voldemort is dead."

"Dead?" Hagrid repeated. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Dead! I don't believe it, then Dumbledore, Dumbledore was right."

"Dumbledore knew?" Sirius asked.

"Must've," Hagrid shrugged. "That's why he sent me here. He also said that if I were to find Harry, that I'm supposed to take him with me."

"Take him with you where?" Sirius asked, though this time, with far less amusement.

"To his aunt and uncle, he said," Hagrid said. "Said they're his only living family. Next of kin and what not."

"Well, I'm afraid Dumbledore is a little mixed up in that regard." Sirius said. "I'm the boy's godfather, Hagrid. So, he'll be coming with me."

"And where do you plan to take him?" Hagrid asked. "The boy's a baby. He needs a home. He can't live like you, always moving from place to place."

"I'll figure it out," Sirius said firmly. "But you can't have him Hagrid. You can't take him to that place. James told me about how terrible those muggles are. You're not taking him there."

"But Dumbledore said-"

"I don't care what Dumbledore said," Sirius barked. "Dumbledore said the Potters would be safe here, didn't he? Maybe Dumbledore doesn't have all the answers."

Sirius sighed heavily, pulling free his wand. "I'm taking him, Hagrid. Sorry for the inconvenience. Accio Motorbike."

Like a metal to a magnet, the bike zipped toward Sirius who climbed atop it. With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a sling across his chest and lowered Harry into it before revving the engine.

"Sirius! Wait! Dumbledore told me that I have to-"

"Alright Harry," Sirius said. "Ready to fly?"

Harry cooed like a baby bird. Sirius chuckled for the first time in what felt like centuries. "Time for take off."

With a faint creak, Sirius rolled the bike over the edge. For a second, but only a second, the two fell, before with another roar of the engine, they flew into the dark night. Sirius' eyes still trained on the ruinous remains of the Potter's cottage.

"I'll get him for this, James. I swear it."


The confidence Sirius had felt upon leaving Godric's Hollow had all but vanished the moment he'd flown above the clouds. For a time, he soared mindlessly, hovering back and forth over London, allowing himself to consider his options.

He'd only realized how desperate he'd become when the thought of returning to 12 Grimmauld Place crossed his mind. Granted, he'd dismissed it almost immediately, but it was not a good sign. His stomach was growling now, and his head pounded from the exhaustion quickly catching up with him.

What would you do in a time like this, Emmeline? Sirius though.

He'd have killed to have a family in a situation like this. Someone he could turn to. A group he could trust implicitly. But he'd never had that. The Blacks were not exactly the loving type. Exactly the opposite. Quick to cut a person off the moment they'd done something to displease the family's head. In the case of the Blacks, that was doing anything decent.

Sirius smacked himself. "Of course, why didn't I think of that sooner."

With another rev of his engine, Sirius turned and flew off in the direction of Oxfordshire. "Please," Sirius begged. "Please let this work."

It had taken only a matter of minutes before arrived at his destination, a quaint cabin nestled in the woods. Sirius killed the engine, bringing the bike in for a slow landing in a pocket amongst the trees. He'd hope it wouldn't raise much suspicion, he didn't exactly need a Ministry of Magic inquiry at the moment. Though, given the circumstances, Sirius doubted he was a top priority.

Nestingly Harry close to his chest again, he stepped out from the woods and made for the cabin door. His knuckles rapped against the cold wood. It was late, but thankfully, Sirius still heard the scurrying of footsteps.

The door cracked open just wide enough for a single eyeball to be spotted in the crease. "Sirius?" A man's voice whispered. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

Harry cooed again from within the sling. "Sorry, Ted. I know I shouldn't just drop in like this, but, well, I didn't know where else to go."

"Good heavens," Ted said, his visible eye fixated upon the baby resting in the sling. "Sirius, is that a baby?"

"Yes, and not just any baby," Sirius said, pressing his own hand against the door. "This is Harry Potter. Now, may I please come in? It's getting rather cold out here."

"Uh, yes, of course." Ted unlatched the lock, and Sirius scurried inside, grateful to get out of the cold. Ted motioned him toward the fire and Sirius quickly obliged, taking a seat in the nearest chair and warming both his hands and Harry.

"Sirius," Ted said, locking the door behind him. "Is there a reason you're here with the Potter's kid?"

"There is," Sirius nodded grimly. "I'll tell you everything. But before I do, can you go and wake Andy, it's going to take a lot out of me to explain it all, and I'd rather not have to do it twice."

It was only moments later that Andromeda Tonks descended the stairs from the couple's bedroom. Even in her disheveled state, she carried the elegance of the Black family in all her features. Her hair was a cascade of light brown ringlets and her eyes carried a warmth rarely seen amongst the Blacks.

Andromeda stepped to him, wrapping him in a warm hug and smiled. "Sirius, it's so good to see you again."

"Good to see you too," Sirius said, returning the embrace. "How's Nymphadora?"

"She's good. Excited about heading to Hogwarts soon, herself," Andromeda said with a tired sigh. "Though she has her sights set on becoming an auror as if I don't stress enough about her as is."

Sirius grinned, the thought of clumsy Nymphadora Tonks ever becoming an auror would be enough to make even his mother laugh. Andromeda rubbed her eyes, then focused her attention upon the boy at Sirius' chest. "I suppose we should probably address the elephant in the room though. I'll get some tea, and then, I want to hear all about it."

Sirius took the cup grateful, once Andromeda had returned from the kitchen, sipped it once then told the Tonks everything he knew. Ted had looked ready to faint at least six times, but to her credit, Andromeda had managed her facial expressions well.

"Sirius!" Ted hissed. "You must do as Dumbledore asked. He knows what's best in this situation, he-"

"I'm his godfather," Sirius interjected. "If I do what Dumbledore wants, if I give him up to the Dursleys, I'll have failed them both, I'll have failed both Lily and James again. I can't do that, Ted. I just can't."

"But Dumbledore said-,"

"What do you need from us?" Andromeda asked, stopping her husband with an affectionate grip of his hand.

"I need help," Sirius said, the weight on his shoulders feeling heavier by the second. "I don't know the first thing about raising a child. I don't have a place to stay, I have the inheritance from uncle Alphard, but aside from that, I have nothing. I need help, Andy."

Andromeda stood, then started to pace. "He's a target, Sirius. The child of Lily and James, the one who killed the Dark Lord, the Death Eaters, my sister for one, is not going to allow this to go unanswered."

"I know," Sirius said. "I just didn't have anyone else to turn to. I understand if you say that you can't-"

"I didn't say that, though," Andromeda said. "I believe in the importance of family. We just need to be smart about how we go about this."

"Andromeda, are you sure about this?" Ted said.

"Sirius is family, Ted," Andromeda said softly. "Remember the promise we made when we got married. We'd never turn away a family member in need the way that Blacks did to me."

"I know," Ted said, before allowing his shoulders to slack. "Well, I suppose there's nothing left to discuss then. Sirius, for now, you can use Nymphadora's room to rest. Give me Harry. He probably hasn't eaten in hours. You said he's 15 months or so, right? I think we have some boiled potato and yogurt we can give him until we can make a run to the store."

Sirius pushed Harry outward, but couldn't find it within himself to let him go into the arms of another. "Do you mind if I still hold onto him?"

"Not at all," Andromeda said warmly. "Is there anything else we can get you?"

"Yes, actually," Sirius said, his mind sparking at once. "Do you have an owl I can use? I need to send a message to an old friend."

"Of course," Andromeda said, returning to the staircase. "And Sirius, it really is good to see you again."

"Thanks, Andy, you too."


It was in the early hours of the afternoon the next day that the knock Sirius had expected since he'd sent his owl off arrived. He opened the door, allowing the man refuge from the battering November winds and guided him toward the fire just as Ted had done to him the night before.

The man looked worse than Sirius could ever recall seeing him. His eyes were restless and red, and tear stains etched themselves just beneath their bags.

Remus had always looked a little ragged, a man worn down by life's many injustices, but he'd never seemed so defeated. He wore his exhaustion like an old, tattered cloak, hanging off him as if too heavy for his frame. The curse of lycanthropy had weighed heavy on his old friend since their days at Hogwarts. But now, sitting slumped in the armchair, his hands stretched out towards the fire, Remus seemed to be running on nothing but fumes.

"You look like you've seen better days, Moony," Sirius muttered, trying to keep the concern from his voice.

Remus managed a weak smile. "And you look like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards."

Sirius let out a bark of laughter, though it sounded a little hollow even to his own ears. They sat in silence for a moment, the crackling of the fire filling the room. Remus' eyes were dull and distant, his thoughts far from where he stood.

"I got your letter," Remus said finally, his voice hoarse. "So it's true then, the rumors about Lily and James?"

Sirius nodded. "I see," Remus said solemnly, "So, you've taken him. You've taken Harry and brought him here?"

Sirius nodded again, watching as Remus' face shifted, somewhere between relief and worry. "I had to, Remus. Dumbledore, he wanted Hagrid to bring him to those muggle relatives of Lily's. Do you think that's what James and Lily would ever have wanted?"

Remus closed his eyes for a moment, as if the mention of their names was a physical blow. "I know, Sirius. I do. But... is it safe?" He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "The Ministry... they'll drag you through the mud. You know how they are when it comes to gathering information. They'll learn somehow you were supposed to be the secret keeper. I wouldn't put it past Wormtail to submit the tip anonymously even just to stir up confusion. And Harry, he-"

Sirius sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know it's risky, but I couldn't let him stay there, Remus. He's my responsibility. I promised James, and I'll keep that promise."

Remus shook his head slightly, the lines of worry deepening. "I'm not questioning you, Sirius. I just… Dumbledore had a reason for putting Harry with the muggles, even if it doesn't make sense to us."

Sirius sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know Dumbledore means well. I do. But he's not infallible. You've seen how he works—big picture, long game. Sometimes, he doesn't see what's right in front of him. Harry's better off here, even if it means tangoing with the Ministry and having to clear my name."

Remus was quiet for a long moment, staring into the fire as though the crackling flames could provide answers to the questions he didn't want to ask. His fingers tapped restlessly on the arm of the chair, and Sirius could see the war going on behind his old friend's eyes.

Sirius broke the silence. "You're not going to sit this one out, Moony."

Remus looked up sharply, his face tightening. "Sirius, I—"

"Don't give me that," Sirius interrupted. "Harry needs you too. He's going to need more than just me and Ted and Andromeda looking after him. You know what he's up against, what's coming."

Remus looked away, his jaw clenched. "I'm not exactly in the best position to help, am I?" His voice was low. "What am I supposed to offer him? A cursed man who can barely keep himself together? You think that's what James would've wanted for his son?"

Sirius scoffed. "You think James cared about that? You think Harry's going to care? Remus, you're part of this, whether you like it or not. Harry's going to need more than someone who can put food on the table and teach him a few spells. He needs people who'll stick around, who'll teach him what it means to be part of a family. And you—" Sirius leaned forward, eyes hard. "You're the closest thing he's got to a responsible uncle."

Remus shook his head, frustration etched into the lines of his face. "I can't do it, Sirius. You don't understand. I'm a danger. There are… complications. He'd be better off without me in his life."

"That's not true," Sirius shot back. "You're talking like you don't matter, like you're some kind of monster, but you're not. You never were. You're Remus bloody Lupin, and Harry's going to need someone like you if he's ever going to have a chance of making it through all this."

Remus clenched his fists, his voice rough. "And what happens when I lose control? What if I—"

"We'll deal with that if it happens," Sirius cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're not a danger to Harry. You're a danger to the people who think they can take everything from him—like Pettigrew."

At the mention of Pettigrew, Remus stilled, his face going cold. His voice dropped even lower. "Pettigrew…"

"That rat's still out there, Remus," Sirius growled, eyes dark with anger. "He's out there living his life after what he did to James and Lily. He betrayed us all, and I swore that he'd pay for what he did. If Harry wasn't there, I'd have tracked him down and blown him to bits. But there's no way he's stupid enough to stay at his hideout, he'll be in the wind by now."

"He's not the priority right now," Remus said with a heavy sigh. "I want him to pay as much as you do. I swear if I ever find him, I'll lock him away and wait until a full moon so that I can enjoy tearing him to shreds, but Harry's the priority."

"I'm not suggesting we go storming after him right now," Sirius said through gritted teeth. "But we can't just sit on our hands forever, either. When the time comes, we're going to find him, and he's going to pay for what he did. You in or not?"

Remus was silent again, his eyes fixed on the fire, the flickering flames reflecting in his weary gaze. For a long moment, Sirius thought he might refuse, thought the weight of everything might finally break him.

But then Remus sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Alright," he muttered, his voice rough. "Alright. For Harry. And for James."

Sirius nodded, the tension in his chest easing just a little. "Good. We'll be smart about it. We'll do this right. But when the time comes…"

Remus looked up, meeting his eyes with a hardened resolve. "When the time comes, Pettigrew will pay."

Sirius clapped him on the shoulder, the firelight casting long shadows across the room. "That's more like it."

For a moment, he and Remus sat, eyeing each other, the weight on Sirius' shoulder shifting ever so slightly to balance between the two of them. There were things left unsaid. The false identification of Remus as the informant, the failure of Sirius' ploy, but they didn't need to be said. It was okay. They'd come together, just as James would have liked. And for the first time in what felt like centuries, Sirius was able to breathe a little easier.

A sudden cry erupted from the room above, and Sirius jumped to his feet. "And speaking of need, it looks like Harry needs us." Sirius grinned slyly at Remus. "You uh, you don't by chance know how to change a diaper, do you?"

Remus grinned slightly, "Why am I already starting to regret this?"


A/N: Well that was the first chapter of Harry Black rewritten. Hope you liked it, and again, sorry...