Stanch the Flow of Misery

Sirius absorbed the scene of wreckage around him with sunken, unseeing eyes. Not five hours ago, he had been standing in this same spot, observing the quaint little house that now lay in ruins at his feet. The Potters hadn't even been living in the house for a year. It had been the talk of their small circle of friends for months.

Lily had loved it. There had been "a perfect number of bedrooms", and "a perfect amount of yard space." A large willow tree had shaded the front lawn, and flower boxes had adorned the windows. It was just the type of house little girls dreamt about, and Lily had never stopped dreaming. James had appreciated the house's stability and firm structure, especially in this time of war.

Sirius had to admit, he had been slightly jealous. The interior, what with its homey furnishings and pictures dotting the walls, had made him begin to think about settling down himself.

What lay before him now was merely a gloomy shadow of the happiness that was. The house was… gone, the yard charred and black.

Sirius walked to the grey rubble and stooped to pick up a battered picture frame. He was standing in what had once been the Potter's sitting room. Now there were just bits of wood and brick, some of it was still smoking. He turned over the picture in his hand and his breath caught in his throat. It was the most recent picture of the Potters: James, Lily… and Harry. Harry!

Sirius immediately began searching the ruins for his godson. Losing Lily and James had been bad enough, but to lose Harry would be more than he could take. Harry was his last link to James. Harry was so young. He had to find-

"Oh! It's on'y you, Sirius."

Sirius looked up in surprise to find none other than Rubeus Hagrid brandishing a pink umbrella.

"I thought there fer a momen'…"Hagrid trailed off, lowering his umbrella "Yeh look terrible, Sirius."

"Harry?" was all Sirius managed to croak out

Hagrid nodded, stepping towards Sirius. "I've got 'im 'ere"

Sirius' knees almost went out with relief. He took the bundle of singed rags from the half-giant and looked into the child's face. The face that looked so like James but for Lily's eyes.

Harry began to squirm and cry faintly. Sirius held him close to his body, comforting the baby as best he knew how, and began to weep silently himself. Why couldn't life be simple, be as it had been? When he was hero-worshipped and James had a one track mind. Lily…how beautiful she'd been, full of life and optimism. And those full moons, what trouble they'd caused. What he would give to go back.

Sirius was slightly surprised when Hagrid released him from an embrace he hadn't entirely been aware of. He looked up at the meaty face in gratitude for its silence and turned to walk toward his motorbike. No use staying in this place of loss when Harry needed his sleep. A hand grabbed his shoulder.

"Sirius. Where're yeh goin'?"

"To my place."

"Give Harry here then" With that, Hagrid promptly took the now calm baby from Sirius' arms

For his part, Sirius was stunned. "Give Harry to me, Hagrid. I'm his godfather, I'll look after him."

Hagrid was silent for a while, obviously enduring an intense inner debate. Finally he replied. "No, Dumbledore said Harry was to go ter his aunt an' uncles."

Sirius was confused. "James was an only child."

"Lily wasn'. Had a sister."

Sirius was utterly bewildered. Since when had Lily had a sister? Oh, that sister…that sister?!? He began to speak slowly, as though to make sure he had his facts strait. "Dumbledore wants Harry to go and live with muggles who hate wizards?"

Hagrid nodded grimly. "Tha's my orders."

"Harry is a wizard." Sirius stated calmly, his ire beginning to stir from deep within him. He had already lost James and Lily, he would not lose Harry. "He should live with wizards, not muggles, let alone muggles who hate wizards!"

"Dumbledore says he's ter live with his closest kin. Yer not kin."

"I'm his blasted godfather." Sirius spat through gritted teeth "James and Lily both named me godfather."

"Dumbledore said"-

"TO HELL WITH DUMBLEDORE! I'M HIS BLOODY GODFATHER, DAMN YOU!!"

Quick as lightning, Harry disappeared into the confines of Hagrid's coat, and Sirius found himself dangling in the air from Hagrid's massive hand and forearm.

"DON'T EVER TALK ABOU' DUMBLEDORE LIKE THAT AGAIN!"

There was a brief pause while Hagrid panted like a winded bull elephant, and Sirius gave the most murderous expression in all of mankind. Both were seething.

Hagrid put Sirius down and a crying Harry appeared in his arms again.

"Harry is goin' ter live with his aun' and uncle, and there's nothin' you can do about it."

Sirius stared at the gamekeeper for a while, blissfully unaware of the growing crowd of muggles that had begun to filter out of their homes at the shouting. Then, sensing defeat, he looked at the ground, struggling to keep his eyes dry. When he spoke, his voice was very small.

"Well, then…take my motorbike, would you? You'll get to Dumbledore faster."

"But, Sirius, yer motorbike?

The words that came out of Sirius' mouth in reply sounded in a voice that was altogether different from the one he'd used seconds before: hard, guttural, bitter…snarling.

"I won't need it anymore."

And with that, Sirius Black turned on his heel and strode away, clutching a crumpled picture of the Potters, James, Lily, and Harry.