A/N: Hello fellow readers! I am very sorry about the hiatus. I have been having a lot of trouble in life and have put this on the backburner to simmer. However, I have finally found the time to work on this and will hopefully have more updates! I only have this ready and an outline for chapter 3 completed. Enjoy!
TDL AKA Wolfie
No. 12 Grimmauld Place
London, England
"Sirius, I can't believe you would do something this stupid. Dumbledore gave strict orders to bring the boy to his relatives." A stern masculine voice echoed through the hallway of Grimmauld Place. Sirius glanced up from his glass of firewhiskey as his old friend strolled in.
"What was I to do, Moony? Let the so called leader of the light take my godson away?"
"It's for the Greater Good!" Remus bellowed. "Are you doubting his plans now? What happened to you?"
Sirius slammed his fist on the dinner table and stood from his chair. "Damn the plan! He is MY godson, not his!" He raised his fist and pointed an accusatory finger at his friend. "I would DIE before I betray their trust! And so would you!"
"He's doing it for Harry's own good! Dumbledore has a plan! Trust him!" He sighed in frustration. "And dont you dare throw that in my face, Sirius Black! I am mourning them too!"
"Oh a fat lot of mourning you're doing, Moony!" He sneered. "Cry over them and toss their son to the metaphorical werewolves? Lily told you about her sister, didnt she?"
"Dumbledore said they can be trusted," He snarled, bearing his teeth. "And you should trust him, Padfoot!"
"Trust Dumbledore? Are you so far up his arse to still trust him and the Order? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" Sirius practically screamed with anger. "WHERE WAS HE WHEN VOLDEMORT SHOWED UP?"
Remus sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "James and Lily put their faith in the wrong person." He leaned back against the wall, his hand clasped around a wand in his left pocket.
"What are you saying, Remus? They were under the Fidelius charm?" He grasped the table as a feeling of dread started to set in.
Remus had a look of confusion on his face. "Didn't James tell you?"
"No one bloody told me anything! James and Lily were gone by the time I came back from France!" Sirius screamed in fury.
The two sat in silence, Sirius mulling things over as he leaned against the window looking out over the loch.
"Who was made the secret keeper? Who did that white bearded arsehat choose?" He whispered quietly.
"James chose you." Remus answered. "But Dumbledore... and I as well, felt that Wormtail would be the better choice. Nobody would think twice to ask the coward."
"Wormtail? Peter?" Sirius turned back to face Remus, his face contorting in hate. "You and the headmaster of a Merlin forsaken school trusted that little rat, knowing he was a coward and would say anything to save his own skin?"
"You can't possibly hate the headmaster this much, Sirius." Remus tried to reason. "James thought it would be the perfect prank. After thinking it over-"
"DAMN YOU ALL!" Sirius cut him off with a wave of his hand. "THAT RAT WILL DIE, REMUS!"
"Dumbledore told me that he would take care of him." Remus continued. "He said he will track down Wormtail himself."
"Let him chase the rat, I am taking Harry away."
"There's something you need to know, Sirius. About Harry." Remus sighed as he contemplated the next move. "The headmaster instructed me to find and bring him the boy." Remus stated defiantly. "He set up blood wards over his aunt and uncle's property."
Sirius shot daggers at the werewolf. "You know what Petunia is like, Remus. Lily told all of us what she's like."
"I know, but the headmaster has ensured me that he will be safe-"
"Did you trust him to keep James safe? To keep Lily safe?" Sirius asked incredulously.
"Yes but-" "Are they still alive, Remus?"
When Remus didn't reply, Sirius laughed. "Of course, you're his pet, aren't you?"
"He's our leader, the plan didn't go well, now we need a backup plan."
"As of this moment, I'm no longer part of the Order. I will keep Harry safe myself."
"You can't take care of him, Sirius! You can't even take care of yourself! Harry will be safe. Dumbledore ordered me to take him to his family-" "I AM HIS FAMILY! I AM HIS GODFATHER! YOU WERE THERE WHEN THEY NAMED ME HIS GODFATHER!"
"I know, Sirius! I know he trusts you but you have to trust the headmaster!"
"I won't let you take him." "He needs to go, Sirius. You can't raise him yourself." "I can and I will." "This is your last chance-"
"STUPEFY!"
In a split second, Sirius raised his wand and shot a stunner straight into the werewolf's chest. "Like hell you are taking my godson..." he whispered as Remus slumped to the floor. "Obliviate." He cast the final spell, ensuring to wipe their conversation from Remus' memories. He didn't dare let anyone know he had Harry, fearing that the headmaster would come after him.
"Kreacher!" A ragged, old elf appeared, scowling as Sirius gave him orders. "Take me to the black cottage in Kilkenny and lock down all wards on all my properties. Transfer all my funds in Gringotts to Marshall's Goblin bank. NOW, DAMN YOU!"
Two days later...
The cottage was quiet, just the way the Lord Black wanted it. He sighed as he drank his morning coffee, reading over the Daily Prophet.
"Dark Lord Vanquished!" the headline read. He sighed as he recounted the event from two days ago. The fight with his former friend, no traitorous friend, stamped out any hope for the "Greater Good" and the defeat of the dark side. If he wanted any peace and solace for him and his godson, he would need to find allies.
He mentally went through a checklist of people he could count on.
Minerva, Filius, Cyrus, Andromeda. Those four he could rely on.
"I need to reach out to them..." he muttered to himself before flicking his wand, summoning a piece of parchment and quill.
Lord Black requests an audience with you. Please meet me at the address below:
Black Ancestral Home, Kilkenny, Ireland. Floo Password Tojours Pur.
Baby Harry quietly slept in his godfather's arms as the fireplace roared to life, costing the room in a soft green hue. Sirius held his breath as a stern witch whom he consistently felt the wrath of multiple times back in his schooling days.
"I hope you have a good reason to send your grouchy elf to pester me with a letter, Sirius." She snapped as she primly sat upon a chair in front of him.
"I do, Minnie." He nodded to the baby in his arms.
The elderly professor's eyes widen as she choked back a sob. "Is- is that who I think it is, Sirius?"
Sirius nodded solemnly as a stray tear slipped down his cheek. "Little Prongslet."
Minerva nodded slowly as she sighed. "The headmaster wants him to go live with-"
"Don't, he can't." Sirius muttered gruffly.
Minerva was taken aback at his rough voice. "But Sirius, you can't take care of him yourself." She argued. "The head-"
"Minerva, you knew Petunia! She was worse than any death eater! Her hate for magic was plain as day! She HATED Lily with a passion, and she was her sister! Imagine what she would do to Harry! He would be miserable, if not die at her and her fat oaf of a husband's house!"
Minerva let out a sigh before nodding reluctantly. "You are correct, what was I thinking? I've watched over the family at the headmaster's request for the past week."
"So he knew?" Sirius asked after a long silence. "He knew they would die and he would need a place to stay?"
Minerva's eyes widened before she clutched at her heart. "He..."
"Listen to me, Minnie, Dumbledore is no leader of the light." Sirius stood, still holding the bundle in his arms. "He's darker than You-Know-Who. Playing god with everyone's lives, with no thought of the consequences of his actions! He needs to be stopped. It's up to me to raise Harry. I need your help with this."
Numbers stood and shook her head and turned away. "I..."
"Minnie, please! Do it for Lily..." Sirius begged.
The elderly transfiguration mistress clenched her hands and turned back to the Animagus. Sirius' breath hitched as he saw the determination in her eyes. "What do I need to do?"
"Let me know of Dumbledore's every moves. He trusts you, so he would not think for one second that you would betray him." Sirius replied with conviction.
Minerva nodded with determination. "The man does need to be stopped."
Sirius quietly shut the door to his room where he put Harry to bed. He let out a breath and let his shoulders relax. Harry was safe and sound here at his old summer home. The old fool would not dare to cross the waters to Ireland. The Irish minister would stop at nothing to keep the English dogs out, short of openly declaring war on the English ministry.
He strolled to the living room where a glass and bottle of Ogden's Finest sat beside his chair. Time for a night cap, he thought to himself as he poured a small measure.
For the second time in the night, the fireplace roared to life and a blonde haired, weathered faced man stepped through. "This better be good, you mangy mutt."
"Hello to you too, you blonde haired git." Sirius laughed as he embraced his long time friend.
"Now, what is it you called me here for?" Cyrus Greengrass clasped him on the shoulder.
"You've heard the news, James and Lily..." Sirius began.
"Yes, may they find rest..." Cyrus responded solemnly.
"Their son, Harry." Sirius motioned towards the bedroom down the hall. "He needs to be raised by someone who can protect him."
"You're his godfather, Sirius." Cyrus pointed out.
"Yes, but I cannot raise him. I could barely raise myself." Sirius argued. "It's only thanks to James' father and Mother that I managed by."
"Yes, wonderful Dorothea." He subconsciously rubbed his arm. "She was a riot. I will never forget the time James and I upset her."
"To be fair, it was your idea to mess with her fairy bushes." Sirius chuckled as he took a sip.
"Yes, well I still feel the pain of her stinging hexes." Cyrus chuckled. "Charlus too, fierce man."
"Merlin, Charlus was the best duelist and a nightmare on the battlefield. Did you know that the man actually fought side by side with Dumbledore against Grindelwald?" Sirius replied as he conjured a second glass and poured a measure of whiskey.
Cyrus took it gladly and took a sip. "I believe it, him and my father served together in the Auror Corps." Cyrus stared down at the glass before sighing and setting it down. "Why,, after years, did you contact me? I take it that it involves the young Potter?"
Sirius smirked and nodded. "Couldn't pull one over you ever." He sighed as well and rubbed the back of his neck. "Will you and Elaine take him?" Sirius asked before draining his glass in one gulp.
"We will, I am sure Elaine would be delighted to raise him, especially being the son of her best friend. However, Sirius, you will not abandon him. I have room in my manor for you and young Harry."
"Cyr, I will not-" "Sirius, this is not up for discussion."
Sirius sighed in frustration before nodding. "Alright, thank you."
"In exchange for raising him, he will take my place when he comes of age."
Sirius slowly lowered his glass. "Wait, what about Daphne?"
"House Greengrass is a patriarchal family. Her betrothed would become the Lord of the family. Your godson will be that man."
"Are you trying to force a betrothal contract on my godson?" Sirius asked quizzically.
"Now why would I do that?"
"You forget I grew up with Slytherins, Cyr."
Cyrus laughed and set his glass down. "If you agree to it, yes. I would like a betrothal contract between Harry and Daphne. An open ended contract that you and I can break at any time. After all, it is ultimately Daphne and Harry's choice." Cyrus poured another small measure, raising it to toast.
Sirius smiled and poured another glass, raising it and clinking his glass to his friend's glass.
"To the future." Cyrus spoke.
"To the future." Sirius agreed.
Hogwarts Castle
Headmaster's Office
The leader of the light slowly paced behind his desk. Gadgets and gizmos spun with a low hum around him on every surface lined up against the walls in his office high in the tower of Hogwarts.
He was absolutely furious. All the gadgets on his desk whirled around aimlessly. The trackers he put on Harry did not register. Where could he be?
He was pulled from his deep thoughts as a bell chimed, shortly followed by a knock.
"Severus, do come in." He spoke as he heard footsteps outside his office.
The door opened slowly and in entered the bat of the castle.
The pale faced, black cloaked, Potions Master stormed towards the headmaster. "You said you would keep her safe."
"James and Lily placed their faith in the wrong person." Dumbledore said matter-of-factly. "Rather like you." The potions master stayed silent as he gazed lifelessly at the headmaster. "Yes, Severus. You trusted the dark lord to not kill Lily. You did ask for him to spare her, did you not?" Severus paled further as he slowly nodded.
"The boy survives, Lily's son survives." The headmaster continued tiredly. "He will need protection-"
"He doesn't need protection, the dark lord is gone!" Severus cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"The dark lord will return and when he does, Harry will be in danger!" Dumbledore quit pacing and turned to the potions master.
Severus leaned against a pillar and wiped his eyes. Everytime he closed them, he pictures the sight of Lily's lifeless body in her son's bedroom.
"If you truly loved her... you would help me protect him." Dumbledore pleaded.
"No one... can know..." Severus murmured.
"That I shall never reveal the best of you, Severus? Or that you gave part of the prophecy-"
"Your Word, Headmaster!" Severus demanded.
"I'll give you my word if you help me to protect Lily's son."
A/N: And there you have it! Harry should be coming soon! A betrothal to Daphne? And not to mention, a very untraditional one... What will happen?