Chapter 1

Sirius

The dog sits at the edge of the meadow, undisturbed by the little fall of rain. This fact may well clue you in to the fact that this is no ordinary dog. Sleek, black and clearly pedigreed, he sits back on his haunches and observes the stone cottage that sits just beyond the meadow. It is, for all intents and purposes, his home. And yet, today, he wonders if he dares to go in. Crossing that threshold will mean a complete farewell to everything he thought he was supposed to be. He looked down at his front paws and noted the slight singeing of the fur on his left one. The decision had already been made. Gracefully, he crosses the meadow, and goes round to the back of the cottage. As a human he slips in to the little family kitchen.

"Gracious, Master Sirius, you is giving me a fright. And so filthy! Wipe your feet before you track anymore mud into my clean kitchen." Hepzy, the elf and de facto mistress of the house whipped him with her dish cloth and remonstrated loudly.

Sirius heard a guffaw, followed by a large tousled head of hair. "You dog, Padfoot, how dare you ruin Hepzy's kitchen? What are you here for, demanding dinner? Hepzy give him nothing but vegetable broth."

"Shut up Jimmy. Is your father here? Good, I need to speak with him." Tugging at James' hair on his way, Sirius strode through the cottage and up the stairs to Fleamont Potter's cosy study.

"Oi, what's the meaning of this Padfoot, you can't just barge in to my father's study without telling me what you're here for", complained James following close behind.

Fleamont, grey, dignified and crouching by his fireplace turned at the ruckus.

"James, my boy, I think you need to leave us alone. Don't worry we will all have to speak about this at dinner. Would you call your mother for me? Sit down Sirius."

Sirius sank down on the little sofa. "I don't have to tell you why I'm here."

Fleamont laughed. "When the heir to the house of Black rejects his family and his wealth and his title…..well the Floo Network has been busy. Not to mention that your mother immediately fire-called Euphemia to blame her for all the Muggle loving nonsense we've poured into your head. I dare say the carpet in our bedroom is about as burnt as those knuckles of yours. Come here."

Fleamont gently took Sirius's left hand and began chanting over it, moving his wand in circles. Sirius felt a cooling sensation and the skin on his hand began to look like it only had a week old burn. Looking at it, Sirius burst into tears.

"I'm sorry sir, I couldn't stay there any more. Yesterday…yesterday he came to dinner. I couldn't stay another minute, sir."

"So the Blacks have allied themselves with this New Wizarding Movement have they? Walburga was always a very stupid woman", said Euphemia Potter as she came into the room softly, closing the door behind her. Her son, stood outside, huffing at this exclusion from the excitement.

"You mustn't blame Mother entirely, Malfoy brought him. They were so unctuous, so flattering of her, and of Father too. You should have seen Bella, she was transfixed, and so was that idiot Regulus."

Fleamont scratched his chin with his wand. "Yes, Riddle is worryingly seductive, especially when he tells you what you want to hear."

Euphemia dropped a kiss on Sirius' forehead. "Welcome to the burnt side of the family, dear. Your grandmother burned me off the tapestry when I brought Fleamont home. Oh, the dreaded Potters! Marrying a Muggle lover! Not even of the Seven Holy Wizarding tribes! Monty, have you spoken to Albus?"

"Yes, he's on his way."

The fireplace swirled green and set out sparks and, within moments, Professors Dumbledore and McGonnagall were dusting off soot onto the well-worn green carpet.

Seeing his head of house, Sirius looked a little wary.

"There's nothing to be wary of, my dear.", said Euphemia fondly. "Given the gravity of the situation, the power of your family and the err.. well, frankly the fact that my beloved cousin, your mother, is more than a little unhinged, it is necessary to take some precautions."

"Now, Mr. Black, I take it you expect the Potters to care for you? Until your age of maturity? Oh what in Circe is this?", cried Professor McGonnagall as the fireplace erupted again.

A wizard in Muggle clothes, leather jacket, biker gear, stumbled out of the fire.

"Uncle Alphard!"

"Sirius you brilliant boy! I've never seen your mother so non-plussed. She almost burned down the East Wing! Come back, let's get Cygnus pissed off too. Maybe he'll end up burning that Malfoy bastard."

"Alphard Black you are drunk and disgraceful. Should a man of your age be wearing….the skin of a cow?" Professor McGonagall looked as if she'd caught Mr. Filch kissing his cat.

" Lighten up Minnie, you were more fun in school. Besides, I'm not drunk enough yet! I've been waiting 70 years for someone to tell that old crone off. Listen my boy, I just changed my will. It's all yours, all yours!"

Fleamont diplomatically summoned a house elf and had Alphard taken away to be sobered up.

"Mr. Black, returning to the main focus here. Is it your wish to be formally taken under the protection of Mr and Mrs Potter?"asked Dumbledore, speaking for the first time.

Sirius looked up hesitantly, realising he had just walked in, he had assumed….

"Of course we will take care of you my boy, you are our son in all but name!" declared Fleamont.

"But as your mother is…. A few bats short…. The Professors are here to …make this a bit more formal.", said Euphemia, placing her hand on Sirius' head.

"Mr. Black if it is your wish to make the Potters your formal guardians, I will perform the binding here and now, and Professor McGonnagall will formalise the register for Hogwarts and the Ministry. It is ,as Euphemia suggests, imperative for you to have a formal protector until you come of age."

Sirius nodded and knelt down slowly. Fleamont and Euphemia placed their hands upon his head, and, at an incantation that Sirius couldn't decipher (it was Runic), a blue glow arose over his head. It shrunk into two points and each point settled itself, like a snowflake on his new guardians.

"Sirius, dear, go talk to James. Tell him what has happened, and have Hepzy fix you both a Butterbeer. We need to discuss some details."

After Sirius has left, Dumbledore strokes his beard gravely. "Riddle grows more powerful, the Blacks are wealthy allies. It is, perhaps, time to bring forward my own plans."

"What are these plans, Albus?" asked Fleamont.

"You will know in due course. For now, Minerva and I must head to the Ministry. One thing, are you sure about the boy? He has….a reckless streak. "

"We trust him. As long as he's under our protection, nothing will go wrong for Sirius.", vowed Euphemia.

Xx

Sirius did not sleep that night. His body pinged from the adrenaline of the day, from the worry of his decision. He'd left Regulus behind, and the thought ached at him. Needing air, he swung himself out onto the roof of the cottage.

He was immediately ensconced by three black figures.

"Finally! Oh Siri, we've been waiting ages. Bella 's been doing dark magic so the Potter wards wouldn't let us in! Oh Siri!". A bundle of blonde hair hugged him and started weeping into his neck.

"Narcissa, control yourself. I only came to see what the blood traitor had to say for himself." Bellatrix Lestrange stared at her cousin, her wide eyes furious and almost mad.

"Quiet Bella, Sirius come back, so you don't agree with us, but we can be friends, can't we? I'm getting married next year, you have to be there."

"Not if you're still marrying Malfoy."

Narcissa looked away, hurt. Sirius was her favourite cousin.

"Leave him Cissy. He's as bad as a Muggle, I can smell filth on him. Let's go. But, Sirius, cousin dear, I won't forget the shame you have brought to the house of Black! My master was most disappointed in me."

"Your Master is a bastard. An evil w-"

Bellatrix whipped out her wand and left a bright red gash on his cheek. Snickering, she Disapparated.

"I'll miss you Sirius. No more Andy, no more you. "

"Console yourself with your fiancé, Narcissa. You made your choice, I made mine."

Narcissa stopped weeping and a cold mask came down over her face. She gestured at her other companion. "Then let's go Reg."

Regulus Black, his eyes heavy with emotion looked long at hard at his brother.

"Reg, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too." And with that, the two Blacks dissaparted, leaving their former heir alone in the night.