The room was just ahead and to the right of the door. It ran the half depth and width of the house. On top of that it was magically enlarged inside to accommodate high ceilings, a large dance floor and many comfortable seating areas. That is one room that he would probably never enter again. He turned to the right and walked down the hall between the dining rooms and the ball room. He passed the large formal dining room that could house more than eighty people at a time with many tables arranged in the room. After that was the small private party dining room that could hold about twenty. Finally there were the family dining room and the kitchens. There he found what he was looking for.

"Tarnot are you here?" Remus called.

Slowly a door opened and a head stuck out, "Whos is you being?"

"My name is Remus is Tarnot here?"

"He's being very sick. I take care of him." the elf said.

"Can I talk to him?"

"If yous not being upsetting him."

Remus followed the elf and saw his friends elf lying on a bed looking pale, "Tarnot what's wrong?"

"My master is being gone and I gots no one to care for. What's Mister Remus doing here?" he asked

"I've come to let you know we're going to move in. Sirius, Harry and I and maybe two others but I don't know yet." Remus said, "Are there any other elves left?"

"Yes Mister Remus." the first elf said, "I is being Warly and we have Selly and Flossy still here."

"Ok I need to talk with them can you get them here?" A few pops later and Remus was looking at three healthy and one sick elf, "Sirius and I will be bringing Harry here to live. James and Lily were killed by You-Know-Who and we're in charge of keeping Harry safe. Many people are saying that Sirius gave them to You Know Who but it's not true. Peter did it and framed Sirius."

"I never be liking that Mister." Tarnot said, "Bad, bad boy. I be trying to tell Master James that but he said it's him being a rat that I not be liking."

"Well you were right he was bad." Remus responded, "So we need to keep him out whether he's in his human or rat form."

The elf named Flossy waved her hand, "Mister rat boy can't come here no more."

"Good, now we'll need three rooms made ready if you have time. A nursery for Harry and bedrooms for Sirius and I, do I need to get any food?" Remus asked.

"No we's being keeping it all safe. And we's being knowing where to get more when it be needed." Selly said.

"We's being getting the rooms ready." Tarnot said.

"No you rest and get better." Remus said rubbing the elf's head, "We need you well to take care of Harry. Do you need any healing supplies?"

"We's be having the supplies fine." Warly replied, "He's being needed to actually take thems."

Tarnot waved his hand dismissively then Warly snapped his fingers and a potion showed up. Tarnot drank it and settled back in his bed, "I being better knowing Master Harry being home."

After they left the room Warly said, "No sickly any more. He's being fine in no times."

"We'll be back later today." Remus said as he left the house.

Sirius was still by the fire when Remus arrived. He collapsed on the couch and Padfoot approached and looked quizzically at him, "Tarnot has been sick and refused medicine. Now that he knows Harry's on the way he's taking it. There are three others, Selly is still in charge of the kitchens. I didn't remember Warly or Flossy from before."

Padfoot dropped back to the floor and changed back, "They were Mum and Dad's elves like Tarnot was James'. Albus should be back soon with Harry and all my things. You should pack." He then changed back to Padfoot.

Remus stood and began to pack his belongings. He managed to get everything he wanted to take into one trunk. He finished just as Albus returned, the professor looked furious.

"You were right." he said, "I can't believe it. He was only there a couple days and just look at him."

Harry was dirty and smelly. Sirius took him and went to the bathroom. Harry clung to his Godfather and started to cry. Sirius couldn't understand what he was saying as he cried but the sound of it broke his heart. He ran warm water into the tub and tried to pull Harry away so he could put him in the bath. The little arms wouldn't let go.

"Harry it's bath time. Let go and I'll let you splash as much as you want." Sirius said softly.

Reluctantly the little arms pulled back and Sirius stood him in the middle of the bathroom floor and started to undress him. He peeled away the clothes he was wearing and tossed them into the trash. How one little outfit could get so dirty in just a few days he'd never know. When he got to the nappy he stopped. It was literally oozing with stuff. Sirius carefully pulled it away and grabbed a wash cloth and lightly wiped the little boy's bottom. The crying restarted in earnest.

Looking over his shoulder at Albus he said, "We need a healer to fix his diaper rash. I can't put him into the tub until its gone it will hurt too much." He turned so that the two other men could see what he was seeing, "I don't think they ever changed him. It was oozing out the sides and the outfit… well you saw it."

"I'll be right back." Albus sighed.

Sirius sat the little boy on the toilet while they waited and after a few moments Harry started to squirm. His face scrunched up like he was in pain and then he went potty. When he finished he looked at Sirius with wide eyes.

"It doesn't hurt when you go on the potty." Sirius said, "It won't stay next to your skin. But that won't matter because we'll treat you right. You'll be changed when you need it and fed when you need it. And most of all you'll be loved again."

Sirius was sure there was no way Harry could understand what he was saying but it didn't matter. It made Sirius feel better just to say it. When Harry leaned over and hugged him again Sirius leaned into it.

Poppy arrive a few minutes later without Albus. She stepped around Sirius and had him pick the baby up so she could get a good look, "Go ahead and put him in the water. It'll burn like crazy for a few seconds and he won't want to sit. But it will draw some of the acids out so that we can heal him quicker."

"I can't." Sirius said, "I can't make him cry anymore."

"Give him to me then." Poppy said. His screams echoed through the house but it didn't last long. Within five minutes he was sniffling as he sat still in the water, "There now doesn't that feel better?" She soaped up a wash cloth and started cleaning the little boy talking softly as she went. When he was all clean she emptied the water and added more then let him play and splash in the water for a bit after she had healed him.

In the meantime Albus returned with another bag, "These are his things from Godric's Hollow. Clothes, bottles and things, I would like it if you would get me access to Potter's Pride, Poppy too in case of an emergency. Augusta is willing to hear you out and will join us at Potter's Pride. We'll be discussing the prophecy and things there."

"Can you bring Minerva too?" Remus asked.

"Yes, I'm sure she'll want to." Albus sighed, "She was livid when I left Harry with them and she'll be worse now. I'm sure I'll get an I told you so at the very least."

Poppy conjure a big fluffy towel and wrapped Harry in it tightly. She carried him out and handed him to Sirius. Grinning Sirius took him and put a nappy on him and a change of clothes from the bag Albus had.

"He wasn't fed properly while he was there." Poppy stated, "One bottle of milk, possibly two. He should have had at least six plus food."

"There now all better?" Sirius pulled him up to his chest and Harry snuggled into his Godfather and promptly fell asleep.

"Sirius you just concentrate on getting Harry there I'll bring Albus and Poppy." Remus took Poppy first and then went back for Albus.

As soon as they arrived Sirius handed Harry off to Poppy and stepped off into the woods nearby to change into Padfoot. He put his nose to the ground and started searching for other scents. He came out of the woods and started sniffing up and around the path. He found the path Remus had taken earlier but nothing else.

At the door he changed back, "Wait here." When he got through the door he stopped stunned and for a moment he was back in time.

***FLASHBACK***

"I can't believe their gone." James sobbed on the shoulder of his best friend.

"I know Prongs. I didn't think anything could ever beat your Dad." Sirius said, "But no one person can defeat fifty Death Eaters."

"We should have been here."

"We would have been killed too." Sirius stated, "That's why he didn't call us to help you know. He could have but you know he would insist on protecting us."

"What am I going to do now?" James was inconsolable.

Sirius was still fighting not to get sick after that scene in the ball room. How anyone could damage another human in that way was beyond his comprehension.

He tried to think of something else so he said, "I'll tell you what we're going to do. We're going to finish school then we're going to join the Aurors and then we're going to track down and capture Death Eaters to our hearts content. Maybe we can even join Dumbledore's Order. We'll find out who did this and we'll make them pay."

***END FLASHBACK***

When Sirius came back out of the house he said, "Ok, you can come in without being blasted to bits."

"Are you kidding?" Poppy asked.

"Only a little bit." Remus said, "It would have sent you back to the end of the drive if you had tried to enter without permission. If you intend to hurt a Potter it would blast you back and hex you painfully. James added all this after his seventeenth birthday."

"He was going to add it to Godric's Hollow but he hadn't finished yet." Sirius said, "Peter knew it would take him a week to finish it so he made sure to get there before it was done."

Once they were settled in the library with tea and biscuits Sirius asked, "Anything else we should be aware of with Harry?"

"They had locked him in the cupboard under the stairs." Albus growled, "He may be scared of small dark places for a while. And don't you plan to do anything to the Dursley's because I'm already handling it quietly. We can't let it be known that you are free and have him. Aurors are watching the neighborhood on Bagnold's orders. If you show up there it will be all over for you. Once we find and capture Peter you'll be free."

"You had better be doing something Marauder worthy." Sirius grumbled.

"I am. I've taken a page out of your pranking book." Albus smiled, "It will only last a week but they'll be thinking they've gone crazy well before then. I better go get Minerva now. Is she clear to enter? Would you mind adding Filius?"

"Yes she is and he will be added." Sirius said, "Did you tell her about me?"

"Not yet."

"Please do so before she sees me. I don't want to be on the receiving end of one of her hexes." Sirius said, "Same with Filius please."

"You wanted to see us?" Minerva asked as she entered the Headmaster's office followed by Filius.

"There has been a development." Albus said, "I was so horribly, horribly wrong to leave Harry there."

"Is he ok?" she demanded quickly.

"Yes he is now, Poppy is with him." Albus sighed.

"What happened to him?" Minerva asked.

Albus described the condition Harry was in when he visited and that he had pulled him and taken him to Remus and then fetched Poppy. He told her how she had healed the little boy and then they had moved him to Potter's Pride. He went on to tell how James had known where it was but couldn't bring himself to live in the house again. Minerva was crying as she heard the story. Finally he began the story of the secret keepers and how Sirius had been proved innocent but Bagnold would not listen.

"They want you both to be a part of all this." Albus finished up.

"Ok, what are we going to do?" Minerva said, "I know we have to keep Sirius hidden. We need to keep them safe during Remus' cycle. They need supplies, fresh air, exercise and safety."

"We need a Fidlius charm." Albus stated.

"No problem, who will be the secret keeper?" Filius asked.

"You, I've been making too many mistakes lately. I think I need to change how I've been handling things." Albus sighed full of regret, "I'm going to pull out of the International Confederation of Wizards. But I'll keep my spot on the Wizengamot. I need to reduce my load and concentrate on this war."

"Wise choice." Minerva agreed, "You'll be staying as Headmaster too I hope?"

"Yes, I won't give up that spot until I have too." Albus smiled, "I've been assured we are safe to enter the house but the floo is not connected. We'll go to Hogsmeade and then I'll apparate us from there. I'll be leaving you with them to go and get a few more people."

"Who else?" Minerva asked.

"It's a surprise." Albus laughed.

Back at Potter's Pride Albus left Minerva and Filius with Sirius, Remus and Harry. Minerva quickly scooped Harry out of Sirius' arms and motioned for him to move from the rocking chair he was sitting in. Once settled she cradled Harry in one arm as she pulled a handkerchief to wipe the tears from her face before they could land on Harry. Sirius pulled a bottle out of the bag and gave it to Minerva as Harry began to awaken.

"Sirius, Albus asked me to be your secret keeper." Filius said, "Do either of you have any objections?"

"No." Sirius and Remus answered together as they watched Minerva rock and feed Harry.

Nearly an hour later Albus arrived with Augusta Longbottom and her grandson in tow, "Minerva good to see you."

"Likewise Augusta, how is Neville?"

"He's seems to be fine. Just a little whiney now and then but altogether not a bad baby." she sighed, "Bad business all this. Thank you for bringing us here Sirius. Good to know you aren't as black as your name."

"Thank you." Sirius smiled weakly, "Are Frank and Alice any different?"

"No."

"Sorry to hear that."

"Thank you."

"Let's take a seat so we can start discussing what we need to do." Albus directed.

Several hours later Augusta sighed, "I don't want to even think about Neville fighting in a war."

"I know it's difficult but they must be prepared." Albus pointed out, "It's better for them to be prepared and nothing happens then to be helpless if it does."

"And Harry is going to need some friends just the same as Neville." Sirius pointed out, "There aren't many other children either can befriend safely."

"I agree to them being friends." Augusta said, "I'm just not sure he has any magic in him. He's not done any so far."

"You think he's a squib?" Albus asked.

"I'm afraid to say I think so." she sighed, "I just don't think it will do any good to teach him."

"That changes things." Albus sighed, "Still we'll let you two in on the secret so that Harry can have a friend. Of course its safest if no one knows they're friends."

"Are the ward stones set?" Filius asked, "We will all need to step outside the area to perform the spell."

"It's ready." Remus said, "I've buried the stones and they are set at each corner of the property."

"Well that sounds fine, shall we?" the short professor jumped out of the chair he had been setting in and was the first out the door.

Remus strode past him and was the first at the edge of the wards, "Here is where the front boundary starts."

They all stepped beyond him and then Remus backed up with the rest of the group to be well behind the small professor. Flitwick raised his arms and began to chant. The group watched for a long time until the building disappeared. They found themselves standing in the middle of the road not knowing why they were there. Flitwick tapped a piece of paper and handed it to Sirius. They passed it around the group and each became aware of the house on the other side of the wards. Sirius took the paper back and put it securely in his pocket.

"More tea?" he asked the rest.

"Definitely." Filius said as he leaned into Albus, "Something stronger might even be called for."

"I don't know if anything stronger exists in the house." Remus shrugged, "But I can get you some food."

"That would work." the group walked back up the long drive to the house.