Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, nor this plot (to some extent). All I own is the dialogue.


Rubeus Hagrid isn't someone who you would expect to see crying. Standing twice and tall as any normal man, and nearly three times as wide, he could be quite intimidating. But seeing Lily and James's house like that, a pile of smoldering rubble and ash, well, he couldn't take it. He heard the roar of a motor behind him and turned. Through his tears he saw the familiar motorbike.

"Where is he, Hagrid," the rider asked as he stepped off the bike.

Hagrid showed the man the bundle he was holding. "I jus' picked 'im up, out of th' ashes. 'E was jus' lying there, not cryin' or anythin'."

"Let me have him, Hagrid. I'm his godfather."

"I'm sorry, Sirius. I'm on Dumbledore's orders."

Sirius frowned at Hagrid. "James would have wanted me to take care of him."

"I jus' can'."

"Can you at least tell me where Dumbledore is going to leave him?"

"'E's goin' t' leave 'im with 'is aunt an' uncle."

"Those muggles! Harry won't survive with them!"

Hagrid's face hardened. "I'm sure Dumbledore knows wha' 'e's doin'."

Sirius slumped visibly. "Harry's kind of like a phoenix, you know?"

"Wha'?"

"He's like a phoenix, rising out of the ashes of his old life, what would have been a normal boy's life. Now he's the most famous boy in the wizarding world."

"Oh," Hagrid said, a look of comprehension dawning on his face, "Yeah, I guess you're righ'"

There was a long silence; the men stared at what had once been a loving home. "Well," Hagrid said, shifting the bundle in his arms, "I better be goin', gotta get t' Dumbledore."

"Yeah," Sirius said, still staring at the ruins, "Take my bike, I won't be needing it."

This would normally concern Hagrid, but he was too busy wiping away a fresh wave of tears to take notice. As he swung his leg over the bike he said, "You take care of yourself."

Sirius nodded and Hagrid rode off into the rising sun.