The Boy

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. The words in italics belong to J.K. Rowling.

Sirius tugged as hard as he could on the boy's arm. The boy had managed to hook one leg around a root; he was holding on for dear life and he still hadn't let go of Peter.

Something had to give. If Sirius pulled on the boy's arm any harder, he'd end up tearing it off and he didn't want to do that. He couldn't taste blood, so that was a good…

There was a loud snap, followed by a scream of pain. Sirius winced as he pulled the boy down into the depths of the passage. He hadn't meant to break the boy's leg. He'd apologise later – eventually. After Peter was dead.

He hadn't even meant to grab the boy's arm. He'd been intending to go for Harry, to get him away from Peter to protect him and then explain everything. But the redhaired boy pushed Harry aside so Sirius had ended up dragging him off instead.

The boy still hadn't let go of Peter. That was good.

If Harry was anything like his father, he would come after his friend. Sirius just hoped the redhead would keep a tight hold of that rat.

The passage echoed with stifled whimpers of pain and Peter's terrified squeaks.

Eventually, they reached the trapdoor. Sirius paused. The boy couldn't walk on that leg; Sirius had to get him up the stairs himself. He transformed back into his human form.

The boy's eyes widened. He opened his mouth and Sirius immediately clapped a hand across it.

"Don't make a sound," he hissed. "Understand?"

The boy didn't move. He didn't even nod.

Sirius quickly found his wand and stuffed it into one of his own pockets. Grabbing the boy by the waist, he quickly hauled him over one shoulder and began to head up the stairs. The boy was heavier than he thought he'd be. Sirius just hoped he didn't drop the traitor. If Peter got away again, all of this would have been for nothing.

Once they were in the Shack properly, Sirius headed up the creaking stairs and into the room with the makeshift bed. After depositing the boy as gently as he could onto it, Sirius backed towards the door. Harry and the girl wouldn't be far behind them.

"Stay there," Sirius said, pointing at the boy with his own wand. If he remembered correctly, the boy's mother was Molly Prewett. Sirius wondered how Fabian and Gideon would react if they knew a murderer had been living in the same house as their sister and her children.

He could hear footsteps on the stairs. Sirius gripped the wand tighter. This was it.

Then Harry – his godson – ran into the room, with the girl close behind him, and headed straight towards his friend.

"He's the dog…he's an Animagus…"

Harry and the girl turned around and saw Sirius standing against the wall. Sirius disarmed them easily.

Then the boy got to his feet and moved to stand between Harry and Sirius. His face was white with pain, but his eyes were defiant. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too."

Sirius understood. He would have done the exact same thing for James.

Hope you enjoyed it!