Chapter 7: Unexpected Visitor

Sirius had forced his way through the mauling waves, his snout was above the rolling water as his paws paddling desperately. Suddenly, huge wave came completely out of nowhere. In one second it had swept right over him… and then the next… he was gone.

He was shivering underneath the cold water. It felt as if ice was creeping up his bones and was freezing his blood. But this cold was nothing compared to the last 12 years of frozen despair from the Dementors… and he wasn't going back.

He was running low on air, he dog-paddled upwards, trying to reach the surface so he could breath. Finally, his shaggy head broke through and the harsh salt water burned his lungs. But it tasted fresh, clean… completely different to the foul air in Azkaban. He loved the pain it caused.

He was swimming, trying desperately to beat the current. How was he supposed to protect Harry if he died out here and let Wormtail get away? Tired, cold, and aching, Sirius forced himself to keep going—ignoring the ache that the air and sea was causing him.

He didn't know how he was able to do it, but before he knew it Azkaban was far behind him. After hours of non-stop swimming, he was finally able to pull himself up onto the rocks lining a far coast. Exhausted and weak, he forced his worn-out body up onto the rocks and onto solid ground. Once he found his footing, he shook his soaked fur, sending droplets of water flying in all directions. He turned back to see how far he had gone.

He certainly swam a long way… he couldn't see anything but fog and salty sprays stretching all the way to the horizon. Still in his dog form, he slowly dragged his drained body over the rocky sands and onto the wasteland area that he had turned up.

He couldn't believe it… he was free!

*Later*

Sirius had been running for the last hour or so… but he knew that his body wasn't going to keep up for much longer. All he wanted now was somewhere safe, to lie down and recover its strength—maybe some food for his shrunken stomach.

He had left the wasteland, and crossed over small farmland into crowded streets that faced the sea. Not paying even the slightest bit of attention to those around him, he walked through the crowds and into the alleyways where he could find some peace and quiet.

He found a few giant trashcans in one alley where it would be the perfect place to hide and rest for a minute. He ran to the other side and ducked down as he turned back into a human. His fur shrank back as his hair began to grow, his snout retracted back to be replaced by a face, and his hug paws turned into hands and feet once again.

Sirius was so weak that he just wanted to lie where he sat… to just lie there and rest for hours until he fell asleep and didn't have to worry anymore. His body was heavy with weariness and he was soaked to the skin as he curled up and tried to get warm. But he knew that he couldn't stay here for much longer… the Dementors would surely be on their way, and he couldn't afford to fall asleep here.

So it was with reluctance did he sit up and leaned against the wall, getting ready to transform again. His bones ached and his muscles screamed in protest, from not using them for so long and then overworking them in the sea.

He put a hand inside his drenched, tattered grey robes… yes; the newspaper clipping was still there—soggy and crumpled, but still in one piece. Sirius's eyes flew to the rat on the boy's shoulder and a new fire began to burn inside him. Sirius had been fighting so hard for his life in the sea that the thought of killing the rat had been temporarily pushed aside. But now that feeling of vengeance was back and it seemed to give him some strength.

He folded up the paper and stuck it back in his robes. He knew that his destination would be Hogwarts—which meant that he had to head up north. Wormtail would be in just a few months… to where Harry was now going.

Harry was at Hogwarts, the last time that he had seen the boy was on that nightmarish Halloween night. The bouncing baby boy that he would babysit and play hide-and-seek with would be a teenager.

He wondered what he was doing now.

A few minutes later, he turned into the bear-like dog before he left the alley and headed back into the streets, scavenging any food he could find from the bins on the way.

*A few days later*

The next couple days of travelling through towns and countryside's, sleeping under open skies, and stealing food whenever he could was like a dream come true for Sirius. He relished the open air, the taste of freedom, and he took pleasure in the feeling of strength returning to his body. He hadn't returned to his human form since the day that he hid in that alley. But he felt his body coming back to life as his the long-unused muscles got stronger and his dull, matted fur was starting to develop a slight shine.

He was nearing his destination… Remus's old house.

*Flashback*

Sirius continued to run through the warm and crowded streets. All of his memories came flooding back to him in a giant whirlwind of burring words and feelings. The Dementors had sucked his memories until there wasn't anything left that were worth living for, but now he was finally free. It was the best and saddest feeling in the world. All of his wonderful and happy memories were back, along with a deep sense of lost and grief.

Sirius tried hard not to remember any of the bad reminiscences… he concentrated only on the good ones. The ones full of laughter and happiness and held onto them like a lifeline to his sanity… the one at his foremost thought was of Harry.

Harry… He wondered who Harry looked like now… after all these years. Did he resemble Lily or James now that he was in his teens? He definitely had his father's messy black hair but his mother's eyes and smile.

He knew that he was taking a big risk, but he couldn't stop himself. He needed to see his godson at least once before he went north. But… how was he supposed to find him? After all he had no idea where Harry was now. Sirius swallowed as he sat onto his hind legs and thought.

And then it came to him.

Remus! Remus must've been the one to take him in! He adored Harry as much as Sirius did…

But as soon as he thought of his old friend, it caused a terrible hurting in his already fractured heart. He knew that seeing them both would hurt… but the idea of seeing how they're doing were sure to give him the strength for the long journey before him.

But if he was found then he would've found been chucked back into prison faster than blinking. But he suddenly realized that he didn't care. He was going to Remus's house, just to get a glimpse of the two of them.

And without another thought, he turned around and headed to the very outskirts of London.

*End of Flashback*

The last time he saw Remus was when he was living in a small house in on the border of the London streets. He knew better than to hope that he would still be there… after all it was twelve years ago. But he decided to take a risk.

He reached the dingy, little house at about midnight. It looked the same as ever: with the paint peeling, crooked chimney, the roof looking like it was starting to fall apart… the only thing different were that the curtains were open. Remus was never one to take to change very well… if he was still there.

Sirius looked up into the sky and saw that the moon was only half-full… yes, the full moon wasn't for awhile. Sirius stared hungrily at the house, waiting for someone to make an appearance. Was Harry and Remus still here? He knew that it would've been difficult for a werewolf to raise… wait a minute!

What the hell had he been thinking? He wanted to see his friend and godson so badly that he didn't think straight. Sirius realized sullenly that Remus never have been allowed to take care of a child—especially if it was the child who defeated Voldemort.

And because of Remus's 'furry little problem' Remus always considered himself a monster… he would never have taken Harry because he would feel like he would always be putting the boy in danger.

But then… where was Harry? Sirius suddenly felt his spirits break as he fell onto the pavement and tried hard not to feel disappointment. He screwed up his memory trying to remember Godric's Hollow and seeing the house. Trying hard not to remember seeing his dearest friend's bodies… he thought of what happened to Harry. He knew that Hagrid had the little baby and was taking him away.

Sirius could only remember flashes of that night. The Dementors had forced him to relive his worst memories… including Harry being taken away from him on his own motorcycle. But for some reason he was just drawing a blank to where Hagrid was taking him. He strained himself when Hagrid was holding the tiny bundle of blankets in his great arms. He remembered begging Hagrid to give him little Harry…

"Please. Give Harry to me, Hagrid. I'm his godfather. I'll look after him." He remembered those words he spoke… and he knew that Hagrid refused. Something about Dumbledore's orders…

What were Dumbledore's orders? Why couldn't he remember? He knew that Hagrid came out and told him where he was taking Harry… but where?

He knew that Remus knew where Harry was… but there was no way that he could ask him without the werewolf trying to kill him. Remus would have been told that he had betrayed the Potters and then murdered Wormtail and all those Muggles at the same time. Damn it… how could this have happened?

He banged his head against a stone wall, trying hard to remember… if worse comes to shove… he would have to go to Hogwarts—and see if he could get a glimpse of Harry there.

But he wanted a quick look at his only remaining friend. That should help give him some strength to keep going. Sirius crept in the shadow of a neighboring house, and waited. He had been expecting to have to wait until morning to get a glance.

But old Moony appeared just an hour later, in front of the curtains, about to close them. Sirius's eyes lit up and he felt his heart begin to swell. It was Remus. For the first time in twelve years he was seeing his friend.

He was sorry to see Moony looking far older than he could remember—he looked as if he had aged another twenty years. Moony even had a few streaks of grey hair, and his face was faintly lined making him look older than he was. But still… it felt so good to see him again after all this time.

He watched him for as long as he dared, drinking in everything about him, until at last Remus closed the curtains and turned out the light.

He couldn't stay here. He was pretty sure the Dementors would not be looking for him in a small London suburb, of all places, and only Remus and Wormtail knew what he looked liked in his Animagus form. But he didn't want to risk Remus leaving the house suddenly and spotting him.

And he was still no further north than he had been when he started.

So Sirius turned away with reluctant acceptance. He would have to concentrate on the reason he broke out in the first place. Find the rat, kill him… and then…

He didn't know what then but he would worry about that later.

But if only he could find out where Harry was living… just one quick look of him, was that too much to ask for? Why couldn't he remember where Hagrid was taking him? What did his old gamekeeper say?

He shut his eyes. Remembering was like an echo in the back of his mind.

"Sirius? Sirius Black? Is that you? Yeh… yeh're here. I'm so sorry."

"Oh God. Hagrid, that's Harry isn't it? He's gone, isn't he? He's dead, right? And James and Lily are dead too aren't they?"

"Sirius, listen to me…"

"WHAT?"

"I'm sorry, Sirius, but James an' Lily're gone. Died fightin', Yeh-Know-Who. Died protectin' little Harry here. But Harry isn't dead, though. Yeh-Know-Who tried to kill 'im, but… but couldn'. He's g't a scar across his forehead, but tha's all. Yeh-Know-Who's disappeared."

"Voldemort's g-gone? And Harry's still alive?"

"He's just fine, Sirius."

Hearing that Harry was still alive was the only thing that kept him from ending it all… he still had someone to protect.

"Please," Sirius croaked out. "Give Harry to me, Hagrid. I'm his godfather. I'll look after him."

"Can' do tha' Sirius, I'm sorry," said Hagrid laying a hand on the black-haired man's shoulder. "Dumbledore's orders. I'm ter take Harry ter 'is aunt an' uncle."

Aunt and uncle… Sirius's eyes snapped open.

Lily had a sister who lived at a street called Privet Drive. Yes, her older sister… Petunia, who was already married with a son of her own.

Little Whinging, Privet Drive! That had to be here he was! Filled up with newfound hope, he went running off into the night.