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Sirius POV

For a few moments, I stared at Mad-Eye in shock.

He couldn't have said that, could he? Why shouldn't I be allowed to go with them? At least this was about Harry and he was my godson! I felt myself getting angry and it wasn't easy to resist the urge to shout at them all right away… No, this wouldn't help me. I had to stay calm. Maybe there was a mistake… but what if there wasn't?

I took a deep breath and next to me, I saw that Hermione looked at Mad-Eye speechless as well. She was so tensed…

"What do you mean by that?" I asked after a few more moments and it surprised me that my voice sounded so calm. Maybe too calm…

"You won't come with us when we get Harry." Mad-Eye repeated and now Hermione moved. She bent forward so that she was able to get a better look at Mad-Eye.

"But why?" The disapproval in her voice was even more surprising than the fact that she didn't just accept the decision. I knew that I should say something myself, but somehow it seemed as if I was looking at this whole scene from somewhere else.

"He's a safety risk." Mad-Eye pointed out and this snapped me back to reality.

"I am what?!" Most people on the table jumped when I shouted at him, but right now I didn't care.

"It will be too dangerous if you come with us. We can't protect the boy then."

"You think that I'm not able to protect Harry?"

"No I didn't say it like that, I just said that it would be too risky!" Now Mad-Eye was shouting as well. Next to me, Hermione whispered something, but I didn't listen.

"Why on earth should it be risky? You all are also with him!"

"But when you're with one of the Harry's the Death Eaters will go after you right away! And we all know that the right Harry wouldn't go with anyone else than you!" Mad-Eye looked at me angrily and I knew that everyone else was just watching us in silence, not knowing what to say.

"And you think I'm risking his safety then?" I barked and it took me some time to realize that I was growling like a dog.

"Yes you do!"

"What if I go with someone else?" I asked and thought of Hermione.

"Than that person would be in more danger than most others!"

"But this doesn't make sense!"

"Yes it does! Why don't you just shut up and listen to me?" Mad-Eye stood up and his chair fell to the floor with a loud crash.

I had just opened my mouth again to argue, when Hermione closed her hand around my wrist slowly. I looked to her and when I saw the expression on her face, I closed my mouth again. "Then tell me why I should stay here while others risk their lives." I spat.

"I already told you everything you have to know. But if our most stubborn Mr. Black can't listen, I will repeat it again. Bust just once." Mad-Eye looked at the chair behind him, but instead of taking it and sitting down again, he remained standing, so that he could look down on us all. "Everyone knows about your close bond to Harry. You're his godfather and his last living relative. He would do anything for you and it's well known since the events at the Department of Mysteries. So wouldn't the Death Eaters think that he's with you when you go with us?" When no one said anything, Mad-Eye held up two fingers. "There are two people in this room they would expect Harry to be with. And that would be you, Sirius, or me."

"But if you are going with them-" I started, but he interrupted me again.

"I will do it, yes. But I won't take Harry with me. When they go after me first the boy has a better chance to escape. And that's what we want. However, if you'll be there as well, they'll go after you too. What would happen if you were killed? We all know that you, Hermione and Ron will go with Harry when he wants to fulfill the task Albus has given him. And they need you there, Sirius."

"Why can Hermione and Ron go?" I asked before he could interrupt me again. When I thought of Hermione going alone, I began to feel sick… Under the table, Hermione squeezed my hand. She wasn't looking as calm as she wanted, but she managed to smile a little bit. I couldn't smile back. "Isn't it too dangerous for them as well?"

"They won't kill one of the Harrys." Mad-Eye said simply and I raised my eyebrows at him.

"This is it? They won't kill them when they look like Harry? I won't let you put Hermione into danger just because-"

"It would be more dangerous if you were with her!" Mad-Eye shouted to make me shut up again. "You can argue as much as you want, Sirius. We're not taking you with us! Even if I will have to knock you out before we go and chain you up here!"

Now Hermione shot Mad-Eye an angry look. "You wouldn't do that!" She said loudly and Mad-Eye looked at her challengingly.

"Why shouldn't I do it? It's better for everyone else when he's not with us!"

"Mad-Eye," Remus cut in slowly, "do you really think that it is a good idea to let Sirius stay here? Wouldn't it be better if someone else-"

"The decision has been made, Remus. I won't change my mind on this. I have thought about it very long and it's too risky if he's with us, especially when he looks like himself. They'll be after him right away, not just for the boy but also because of who he is."

"Bellatrix." Tonks guessed and Mad-Eye nodded.

"She would give everything to kill Sirius."

"Or me." Tonks murmured and next to her, Remus stiffened.

"So why is she allowed to go and I'm not?" I asked again, but no one answered.

"I could take Hermione with me." I hadn't noticed that someone had spoken first, but when I looked up Kingsley was looking at us. "I will protect her for you."

For half a second, I looked to Hermione. There was an insecure expression on her face. I closed my eyes. They didn't want me to go with them. They said it would be too risky for Harry. The Death Eaters would expect him to be with me. Bellatrix would be there and she wanted to kill me. The person who would go with me would be in danger as well. I made the chance that someone was killed even bigger than it already was. It was too dangerous. But could I stand waiting at the Burrow while everyone else was risking their lives? Not knowing if someone was killed or not?

"It is our only chance." Hermione whispered into my ear and I looked at her wide-eyed.

"You can't say that." I murmured and couldn't hide the pain in my voice. "I can't stand the thought that you will be in danger and that I can't help you."

"It would be far more dangerous if you would be there, Sirius. It's hard to accept, but I think Mad-Eye is right…" She avoided to look me in the eyes and I swallowed. "And Kingsley won't let anything happen to me." She added slowly.

I closed my eyes again. I knew that everyone was still looking at me, but I needed a few moments for myself right now.

"Who will go with Harry?" I asked when I finally opened my eyes again. Even Mad-Eye couldn't hide his surprise at my question. Apparently, he had expected me to shout at them again.

"I'll do it, if no one's agains' it." Hagrid began slowly and when Mad-Eye just nodded, he seemed to be surprised.

"Then take care of him." I murmured and I saw many others exchanging looks. Remus seemed to be too shocked to close his mouth. "Don't stare at me like that, Moony." I shook my head. "And don't let something fly into your mouth."

At the other end of the table, Fred and George laughed softly and my lips twitched.

"What has happened to the Sirius I know?" Remus asked with a frown. "He would have never let others put themselves into danger while he couldn't go with them."

I looked at Hermione for a few seconds and sighed. "It seems as if he finally grew up…"