Chapter 2

Sirius Black:

Sirius Black was a handsome young man who was also known as Padfoot to his friends and Paddy to his little boy. Sirius was very grateful to Lily and James for the little boy. When he was cursed by his cousin Bellatrix three years ago to make him sterile, James and Lily had agreed to him blood-adopting his little godson Harry, which made Harry Heir to both Potter and Black fortunes. Since then Harry was taught to call him Paddy. Harry's fourth birthday was just a month ago but it was only a small celebration with Remus, Peter, Frank, Alice and their one year old son Neville who adored Harry as a big brother. During the past three years they had lost a lot of people close to them like James' mother Dorea, the Prewitt brothers, McKinnons, Edgar Bones and his wife to the Death eater attacks.

James, Lily and Harry had gone into hiding with Sirius himself as the Secret Keeper as soon as Dumbledore had told them about a prophecy regarding Harry. Unfortunately, Sirius was captured and tortured, but he had escaped and convinced the Potters to change the Secret Keeper from himself to Peter Pettigrew who would be the least likely choice. Peter had gone into hiding after the Fidelius charm was re-cast to transfer the secret from Sirius to Peter, so Sirius was right now on his way to see if his friend needed anything. When he reached Peter's apartment, Peter was not there and there was no sign of him being forcefully removed. Sirius waited for about three hours before he got restless and decided to come back later in the week.

When Sirius arrived back at Godric's Hollow and saw the ruins of the Potter Cottage, he realized that Peter had betrayed them. He went inside the destroyed house, tears blurring his eyes as he saw the prone form of his best friend/brother in all but blood with his glasses askew. He knelt down and checked for the pulse and finding none, he started sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly he heard a distant whimper from upstairs and rushed to Harry's room hoping that Lily and Harry were able to escape or had somehow survived.

As he entered Harry's room, he found a black robe and a wand while Lily was a little away from the door. Harry was sitting up, holding his forehead whimpering. Sirius immediately rushed to Harry and checked to see what happened when he saw the bleeding cut on his forehead. He checked Lily's pulse, but knew that the worst had happened, before taking Harry down to the bathroom where Lily kept a few medical supplies in case Sirius or James had minor injuries during work, and applied the wound healing potion on the cut and bandaged it.

"Harry, Pup, Can you tell me what happened?" Sirius asked soothingly.

"Bwack man wid red eyes. Daddy told I and mummy to run. I and mummy go to my room. Then Bwack man wid red eyes come to my room, point his wand at mummy. Green light. Mummy not wake up. Bwack man point his wand at me. Green light, making my head owie, and green light back at the Bwack man and Bwack man go poof." Harry said sobbing uncontrollably.

"Oh Pup, Don't cry, Paddy is here. I love you." Sirius said rubbing soothing circles on Harry's back, while he himself had tears running down his cheek, horror at what the young boy before him had witnessed. He also did not understand how Harry had survived the Killing Curse, for it could only be that, given Harry's explanation. He also knew that the Black robes upstairs belonged to Voldemort who had lost his powers somehow and had vanished. He knew he had to get Harry out of here, in case any Death Eaters came here in search of their Master.

"Paddy, Why mummy and daddy not wakie wakie?" Harry asked as Sirius was trying to get out of the house.

"Mummy and Daddy have gone to heaven,Pup. It is only you and me now. We will meet Mummy and Daddy after sometime. Alright?" Sirius said trying to stay strong for his little son.

Sirius was raging internally at both himself for suggesting the Rat for a secret keeper, and at the Rat for betraying his best friends. When he made it out of the ruins of the house, he saw Hagrid searching a way to go in.

"Hagrid!" Sirius called, getting the half-Giant's attention.

"Sirius!" Hagrid called out relieved.

"What are you doing here,Hagrid?" Sirius asked.

"Pr'fessor Dumbledore sent me. Said James and Lily were dead. But that 'arry was alive an' he told me te bring Harry te him. What 'appened, Sirius?" Hagrid asked.

"Voldemort attacked. Jamie and Lils are dead, Hagrid. I believe so is Voldemort. Harry was crying when I came in. He had a cut on his forehead. I just put on a wound healing potion on it and bandaged it. I don't think I would be stable enough to perform a healing spell. I am taking him to St. Mungo's now." Sirius said.

"I have orders from Pr'fessor Dumbledore ter bring Harry ter him. He is going ter keep 'Arry safe." Hagrid said with a stubborn tilt to his chin and Sirius sighed as he knew when Hagrid got like this there was no arguing with him. Hagrid worshiped Dumbledore, and his words were law for him. Sirius was in no condition to fight Hagrid. He decided to catch the Rat and take him to Dumbledore before explaining anything to the old man and getting the guardianship of his pup.

"Harry, Pup, Paddy has to go catch Wormtail who showed the bad man where we lived. I will come back to you as soon as possible, Alright? Will you go with Hagrid?"Sirius asked, although it was tearing him to do so to the boy who had just lost his mother and father just an hour ago.

Harry for his part was scared to let his Paddy go as he was thinking that he would not see his Paddy also for a long time like his mummy and daddy. He wondered if he had been a bad boy and if that was why all three of his parents were going away. "Harry be good boy, Paddy. Don't go." The little boy said with his lower lip trembling slightly. Sirius let his tears flow silently as he hugged the little boy tightly.

"You have not done anything wrong, Pup, Pettigrew was the one who did wrong. I'll go catch the Rat and come back to you as soon as I can. Till then, Paddy wants you to stay safe from the bad Black Man's friends who might hurt you like they did Mummy and Daddy. Will you do that for me, and stay safe? Please?" Sirius asked.

Although Harry did not understand fully, he understood that the bad man's friends might hurt him and that he had to go with the big beardy man to stay safe and that Paddy would come as soon as he could. He nodded although he was not pleased.

"Where are you going to take him, Hagrid?" Sirius asked.

"Ter Harry's Aunt's. Dumbledore said that is the only place safe for him. He gave

me a portkey to reach there." Hagrid said.

Sirius wanted to rage and curse at that but controlled himself as Harry was still in his arms watching him.

"Hagrid, I will give you Harry, but please, try to change Dumbledore's mind. I will catch the Rat and then come. Petunia does not like anything to do with Magic which included her sister. Harry also does not like portkeys because he always gets sick. Take my bike. Harry loves coming with me on that. I always charm a side-car for him when we used to go flying. If he falls asleep on the way, there is no need for you to worry. He has lost a lot of energy, so the little guy might be pretty tired." Sirius said, to which Hagrid just nodded. Sirius hugged and kissed his pup good-bye before giving him to Hagrid.

Sirius saw them take off, before he sent a patronus to the Longbottoms as well as call Minerva McGonagall, who was James' god-mother, on the mirror they had given her in case of emergencies. He knew he had to explain to Remus face to face. He tracked the Rat down to an alleyway in Muggle London. Unfortunately for him, Peter Pettigrew had expected him and blew up the street after cutting off his finger, shouting that Sirius betrayed the Potters and then transformed into his animagus form before going into the sewers. The aurors led by Bartemius Crouch, arrested Sirius and threw him into Azkaban without a trial which suited another man very well for his own plans.

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva was woken up suddenly in the early hours by Sirius' voice. When she looked around for the source of the voice, she found the mirror which James and Sirius had given her in case they had an emergency. They only did not give one to the Longbottoms only because they had a little son too and they would not be able to come immediately. Minerva answered the mirror with dread coiling within her.

"Sirius, What is it? You look terrible." Minerva said as soon as she saw Sirius' face.

"Minerva, Peter betrayed us. Voldemort attacked the Potter Cottage. Jamie and Lily are dead, but Harry is alive. I don't know how, but by Harry's description, Voldemort shot the Killing Curse at Harry and it rebound onto him. Voldemort has vanished, although his wand and a pile of robes is here. Hagrid was here, he told he was here on Dumbledore's orders and that Dumbledore told him James and Lily were dead, but Harry was alive. How did Dumbledore know if Harry was alive or not and James and Lily were dead? I was the first one here. I had gone to check on the Rat, and waited there for hours when he was not there. Anyway, Hagrid is to take Harry to Petunia's house on Dumbledore's orders. You know how she is. Please try to change Dumbledore's mind. I am going to track down Pettigrew. Everybody thinks I am the secret keeper and I need the Rat to prove that I am innocent." Sirius rambled.

Minerva understood the gist of what he was trying to tell and nodded her head, resolving to talk some sense into the headmaster. "You be careful, Sirius. Peter has managed to fool all of us. Please be careful." Minerva said.

Sirius nodded and cut the connection. When Minerva went to find the Headmaster, she did not find him either in his office or even his quarters. It was then Minerva decided to go to Privet Drive to wait for Dumbledore to come, all the while hoping that Sirius did not become rash. Minerva watched the Dursleys the entire day in her animagus form and was disgusted with the way Petunia was raising her son. She became angry when she heard Vernon Dursley call the Witches and Wizards "her lot."

Finally, when the inhabitants of Privet Drive were asleep, an old man with long white beard and purple robes appeared making Minerva narrow her eyes and her tail twitch. When Dumbledore had made the entire street dark with his deluminator, she transformed back and tried to get Dumbledore to admit that James and Lily were dead. She got really irritated with him when he acted so callously towards the death of two people and that he had passed a lot of parties on the way. She finally got him to admit that he was there to leave Harry with the Dursleys.

"Do you really think it is wise, Dumbledore? Lily used to tell a lot of stories about Petunia and I have seen today how they are spoiling their own son. Vernon Dursley did not even call is witches and wizards. He called us "Her Lot". Are these people really the ones fit to raise Harry? I know for a fact that Harry's guardian next in line is Sirius as he has blood-adopted little Harry." Minerva ranted.

"This is the best place for him Minerva. Sirius is suspected to be the reason Lily and James are dead. Besides, do you really trust Sirius to take proper care of Harry?" Dumbledore asked trying to turn her against Sirius.

"I know for a fact that it was Pettigrew who betrayed the Potters and not Sirius. I will testify for him. Sirius has gone to capture Pettigrew right now. Even if Sirius was unable to raise Harry, and I trust Sirius just as James and Lily trusted as they had given him permission for him to blood-adopt Harry, the Longbottoms are supposed to be Harry's primary Godparents. They can take Harry in." Minerva tried again.

"Harry needs special care as he has just witnessed his parents dying, Minerva. The Longbottoms have a one year old son who will keep them busy." Dumbledore denied.

"The Dursleys have a one year old son too, Dumbledore. Can you honestly think for one second that the Dursleys are better suited to look after a four year old boy who has already shown signs of magic, and deal with the accidental magic situation than the Longbottoms? If according to your logic, Harry needs special care, then as James' Godmother, I have every right to raise little Harry as I am also one of the guardians named in the Potters' Will." Minerva said getting irritated with the old man.

"Minerva, You already have too much work, what with being the Deputy Headmistress and Head of the Gryffindor house as well as your teaching duties. You cannot dedicate the needed time to look after the young boy." Dumbledore said, wondering why Minerva was not accepting his decision as easily as before. He tried to influence her with legilimency, but unfortunately for him, her mental shields were very strong and if he tried to do even a little more forcefully, Minerva would notice it, and even more questions would arise after she had hexed him thoroughly.

"I am ready to resign my job, if that is what it takes to gain guardianship of Harry." Minerva said resolutely alarming Dumbledore.

"Minerva, I assure you that such drastic steps need not be taken. Harry would only be staying here until Sirius proves his innocence. After that Sirius will get the custody of young Harry." Dumbledore said though not meaning his words at all.

Minerva although not satisfied with that, just nodded her head. "How are you going to explain it to the Dursleys at this hour? Why did you not come earlier, before they went to bed, to explain this to them?" She asked.

"I have written a letter for them. I will put little Harry into a spell induced sleep and a letter with him, so the Dursleys know everything and Harry will only awaken when he is taken by Petunia." Dumbledore said.

"A Letter? How can you explain the events that happened last night in a letter? And what is this about spell induced sleep? Are you not going to knock and wake them?" Minerva asked scandalized.

"There is a chance that Petunia might reject taking in Harry if we awaken them now. It is better if they find him in the morning." Dumbledore said in his all-knowing voice.

Minerva's retort was cut short when they heard the roaring of Sirius' motorbike. Hagrid brought a sleepy Harry who saw Minerva and reached out to her calling out, "A'nt Minnie."

Minerva took Harry from Hagrid gently and comforted the little boy.

"Really Now, Dumbledore. Do think carefully what you are about to do. Lily and James specifically told Harry was not to go to the Dursleys. I will keep Harry with me for a few days, until Sirius can be cleared of any charges. I can take few days off." Minerva tried again.

"I am sorry Minerva, but this is for the best. Now let us get this over with. give the boy here." Dumbledore said, scowling inwardly at how the boy became even more upset at the thought of being taken away from a familiar person again.

Minerva tried to calm Harry, turning away from Dumbledore, as he asked Hagrid what had happened and how he had gotten the motorbike. After Hagrid had explained what had happened, he asked if this was the best place for Harry.

Dumbledore although irritated with both Minerva and Hagrid questioning his decisions, assured Hagrid in a grandfatherly voice that he knew what he was doing. He silently shot an obliviate at Minerva, not noticing the watchful green eyes and then a sleeping spell at the little boy, who was already tired, fell asleep making Minerva believe that Harry fell asleep due to his tiredness. Dumbledore then took Harry from Minerva and put him on the doorstep of the Dursleys and tucked the letter he had written in Harry's hand. He made a show of putting a sleeping spell on Harry for Minerva's benefit while in reality it was something else that would not be discovered until later in the young boy's life, although Dumbledore had no plans of revealing the type of spell he had cast to anyone.

Minerva, who had been intending to awaken the Dursleys and explain what had happened, after Dumbledore had left, was unable to do so due to Dumbledore obliviating her, making the next few years to come very difficult for little Harry. She fell into her bed before she let her emotions show and cried to sleep thinking over and over about her godson's death and the betrayal of Sirius Orion Black.