Chapter 10 – Fight

There would be no passion in this world if we never had to fight for what we love – Susie Switzer

"Welcome to our new house" Sirius announced, his arms spread wide. He'd brought Remus to see what Sirius hoped would soon become a home. All that remained was to fight for Harry, to fulfil the last wish of James and Lily. And Sirius had already decided that he didn't care how long it took or how hard it would be. It didn't matter to him; he'd do it anyway. For James and Lily.

He glanced over at Remus and sniggered. His mouth was hanging open and his eyes were wide as he stared up at the white and dark wood Tudor house. It had large wooden windows, a large driveway and a well-planted front garden. There was more than enough room for a four-year-old boy to run wild. Sirius had every intention of letting Harry have the best childhood that he could possibly offer. He led a bemused Remus into the fully furnished, but still plain house.

"Sirius, where – you said there were precautions…for the moon" Remus tailed off, looking slightly uncomfortable.

Sirius shifted from foot to foot awkwardly. There were precautions in place, but Sirius wasn't sure if Remus would approve. Hell, he'd set it up and he wasn't sure if he approved. Sirius led him through the house and out into the spacious garden. He turned around to face the house again, gesturing towards an underground bunker.

"I didn't…I wasn't sure…I mean I-"

"Shut up Sirius! You don't need to worry about offending me, which I'm guessing is why you sound more like an idiot than normal" Remus laughed and reached to open the doors, revealing a large, relatively empty basement.

"I was going to bring a bed and some medical stuff down. I thought a silencing charm and some reinforcing charms down here, and we'll be laughing"

Remus didn't reply, he just stared around the basement. Sirius was still worried that he'd offended Remus. He couldn't read Remus anymore. Sirius' worries however, were thrown away when Remus threw his arms around Sirius' shoulders in gratitude. Sirius smiled; no more speech was needed.

OoOoOo

"Albus, I want to talk to you about Harry" Sirius had dragged Remus along to see the headmaster after taking him to see the house. Sirius had been optimistic about Dumbledore's reaction, but his optimism was slowly fading away as he took in the grim look on the old headmaster's face.

"I know what you want from me Sirius, but I can't allow it"

"You have no right to allow or deny me access to my godson" Sirius countered, his voice shaking with barely suppressed anger.

"I have every right Sirius, after you were arrested and James and Lily were murdered, I had to step up. I had to ensure his safety" Dumbledore replied, irritation plain in his tone.

"You act like were the only one left, what about Remus?"

Remus, who had so far remained silent, now opened his mouth to speak. "Sirius you know full well that I couldn't have taken him" Remus replied bitterly.

"The fact remains that I placed Harry where he was safest, and he needs to remain there" Dumbledore replied, almost begging them to understand with his eyes.

"Where? Where is this supposed safe place?" Sirius asked sarcastically.

"Lily died to save Harry, so the protection is in his blood. So he is where that blood protection is"

He knew what that meant. That stupid old man had given him to Lily's sister. She wouldn't love him, she wouldn't even like him. How could he make Dumbledore see that? "Do you remember J-James and Lily's wedding? Petunia wasn't there! She hated Lily! She hated everything to do with magic!"

"Regardless of her views on magic, Harry is safe there. Safer than he would be anywhere else"

"What use is being safe if you're unhappy?" Sirius couldn't believe that Dumbledore was being so obtuse. Sirius knew what it was like to grow up in a house where you were disliked, and he would do everything in his power to make sure that Harry didn't have to endure that.

Dumbledore sighed, "Sirius you weren't here when Voldemort was stopped. His death eaters were still free, some of them nearly as dangerous as he was. Their leader was gone, but the war continued. Do you not think the Boy Who Lived would have been a target? Do you not think he still is? He is in the safest place that he could ever be"

How was Sirius meant to reply to that? He didn't want to put Harry in danger, but he was sure that Harry was unhappy. It was like an ache in his chest, knowing that Harry was miserable. But how could he tell Dumbledore that? Dumbledore seemed to be dead set against Sirius taking Harry and he wasn't sure how to persuade him otherwise.

"James and Lily made me his godfather Albus. They wanted me to take him if anything happened to them. I failed to protect them, do not let me fail at the one thing they've left behind"

Dumbledore leant back in his seat, and Sirius had a feeling that he'd managed to surprise the headmaster with his argument. He continued to stare imploringly at the headmaster, knowing that a fierce internal debate was raging in his mind. Sirius could only hope that it was enough.

"Can you protect him Sirius? Can an ex convict, who's been out of Azkaban for barely two days care for and protect a four-year-old boy? Can you keep him safer than the blood wards that Lily created?"

"I won't be alone headmaster. You act like the war is still being fought. Together, we can keep him safe! I know we can! And we can give him the one thing that the Dursleys won't – love"

Sirius smiled. There was no way that Dumbledore could counter that. He'd always been a supporter of love as the strongest form of magic. He knew that it was just a matter of time before Dumbledore decided to tell Sirius where Harry was. Now he just had to wait.

"Sirius, I can't just let you take Harry, even if I want to. He has a family now – you cannot just take him away from that"

"A family? If they're treating Harry like he's their family then I will eat my hat! That is, if I had a hat to eat. Dumbledore you know as well as I do that we're Harry's family now"

"I repeat my earlier question, can the two of you care for and protect him?"

"Headmaster, all I've wanted since I was free was to hold that beautiful little boy in my arms. I want to raise him right, like James and Lily would have wanted" Sirius said passionately, trying to choke back his emotions when he mentioned James and Lily.

Dumbledore didn't reply to that, he merely smiled broadly at Sirius and Remus, who had placed his hand on Sirius' shoulder in agreement. Remus' support meant a lot, because though he'd rather deny it, he was sure that he couldn't raise Harry on his own. At least not well. If he raised Harry on his own, there was a distinct possibility that he would grow up to be a hell raiser.

"We'll have to visit him first. I will not allow him to be removed from a loving and happy home" Dumbledore stated firmly. Sirius wasn't particularly happy with those conditions, but he knew that if he disagreed there was no way that he would get Harry. Rather reluctantly, Sirius nodded.

"We'll go in the morning, stop complaining Sirius. You need to get comfortable in your new house and you need to be prepared for if you do get to take him"

Sirius didn't miss the 'if' but chose not to mention Dumbledore's doubt. He had an annoying habit of trusting people far too easily, and Sirius was sure that Dumbledore still thought that Petunia would treat Harry like a son. Even though it meant that he wouldn't get Harry, Sirius couldn't help but wish that he was right. The alternative was just too horrible to even consider.

AN: My updates might be sporadic from now on, I've fallen behind on writing chapters I will try to catch up again and update as soon as possible. Please leave a review, they inspire me to write faster.