Story dedicated to: Butler, my first reviewer!!

After the Dawn

Chapter One: Running

 Sirius Black, in the form of Padfoot, sat outside the ruins of Godric's Hollow. Yesterday, his best friends had lived here, alive and happy. Today it was in ruins, like his own life.

 He had gone to check on Peter … but Peter hadn't been there. Sirius had wondered then: Was it Remus who was the traitor, or was it someone he had trusted with everything that could matter to him?

 He had leapt onto his motorbike, thinking, it wasn't far from here to Godric's Hollow, there was going to be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this, Lily, James and Peter would be laughing at him for thinking something had gone drastically wrong.

 As he had approached, however, his worst fears were confirmed. Over the house hovered the Dark Mark. Voldemort had been here before him, at Peter's instructions.

 It had been Peter who was the traitor, not Remus after all … Sirius had made himself go onwards, though he had been blinded by tears at the thought of what must have happened.

 Lily, James, and little, innocent Harry, all dead because of him … Because he'd trusted the wrong person. As he'd landed the bike, he had noted that someone was there ahead of him.

 "Hagrid!" he'd yelled out, and the figure had turned. Hagrid had been weeping, tears soaking his beard and chest, making his face shine slightly in the moonlight. Sirius had imagined that he must have looked something like that himself.

 "Sirius … Lily an' James, th-their dead!" Hagrid had sobbed.

 "But Harry?" Sirius had asked, suddenly his heart alight with some small hope once more. "Is Harry dead too?"

 "Nah," Hagrid had replied, now looking amazed. "Nah … som'how, he lived, Sirius! An' he took You-Know-Oo down! 'S amazing!"

 Sirius had suddenly felt as if part of the weight on his shoulders had lifted. His godson was still alive … and the Dark Lord was gone, forever.

 "I got 'im here," Hagrid had said then, holding out his arms. Sirius had peered forward, seeing Harry, awake, but oddly silent. There had been an oddly shaped cut on his forehead, a bolt of lightning.

 "What's that?" he'd asked Hagrid.

 "I dunno, Professor Dumbledore will though. I'm to take Harry to 'im," Hagrid had replied.

 "Hagrid, I'm his godfather. Lily and James would have wanted me to take care of him," Sirius had pointed out. "It was their will!"

 "Professor Dumbledore tol me t'bring im," Hagrid replied sternly. "I'm t'take im to Privet Drive, meeting up wit Dumbledore there."

 Sirius had hesitated a moment. He had to get Peter anyway … It would be best not to have Harry with him then. He could also go and take Harry from the Dursley's – they wouldn't care about him, Sirius knew.

 "Ok, Hagrid. Take Harry to Dumbledore. Take my bike – it'll be safer than any other way. The most important thing here is to keep Harry safe … The Death Eaters will undoubtedly be looking for him, if he got rid of Voldemort," he had hardly noticed Hagrid flinch at the name.

 "A'right. Thanks, Sirius. Where'll I bring it back ta?" Hagrid asked.

 "Take it to the Black House," Sirius had replied with a moments hesitation. "I'll pick it up from there later."

 "Righ' I'll see ya later then," Hagrid had said, smiling easily.

 "I hope so, Hagrid, really I do."

  He Aparated then, before he was tempted to grab Harry and run.

 From then, Sirius noted bitterly, everything had gone downhill even further. He'd managed to corner Peter that morning, but the little rat … Peter had shouted for a street full of Muggles to hear that Sirius had betrayed Lily and James.

 Sirius had thought that he could stun him then, but Peter had blasted the street apart behind him, killing everyone.

 Sirius had thought, for a moment, that Peter was dead too. He'd laughed, even as he saw the Ministry Wizards appearing on the scene.

 Then he'd seen a tail disappearing down into the sewer and he'd realised – Peter wasn't dead. He was faking it … He, Sirius was going to be blamed.

 Taking one look at the approaching wizards, Sirius had recognized one of them as Cornelius Fudge. Fudge wasn't going to believe that Sirius was innocent – the man never listened, once he had the idea that he was right.

 Sirius had done the only thing he could do then. He'd disaparated. He knew that this would only make things worse, that the Ministry would be convinced he'd fled to evade capture.

 Oh well, that couldn't be reversed now. He just had to make sure that Harry stayed alright. He'd go and get his bike – hopefully Hagrid would return it before word got out about his supposed 'turn to the dark side'.

 Right, Padfoot, Sirius thought to himself. You have to get up. You have to Aparate to Grimmauld Place and get your bike. Then you have to go … Where?

 A thought invaded his mind. London, stay in London.

 As good a place as any, Sirius decided. He could always leave again fairly soon. I wonder why I should stay in London, he then thought, even as he disaparated.

 When he arrived at Grimmauld Place, Sirius simply walked around the back, rather than bother with the front door. He knew that he wasn't welcome in his families home, and he thought that Hagrid would have left the motorbike there.

 He was relieved to find that the bike was indeed out the back, but not so when he saw something lurking near it.

 "Traitor!" the something squeaked at him.

 "Kreacher, get away from my bike," Sirius ordered sternly. He knew that the house elf couldn't disobey his commands, as Sirius was a member of the Black family, which Kreacher was sworn to serve.

 Muttering something under his breath, Kreacher disappeared inside, leaving Sirius and his bike alone. Taking out his wand, Sirius flicked at the bike, using a spell that would run a check and make sure everything was there and in working order.

 Satisfied that Kreacher hadn't done anything to his bike, Sirius pulled on his helmet and a black leather jacket and pants, since wizard robes would be just a tad noticeable.

 He disguised the motorbike with a few well placed charms – most people in the Ministry knew him, and therefore knew his bike.

 Swinging astride the bike with a grace born of long practice, Sirius kicked the motor into live and zoomed away from the Black House. Where will I go now? he wondered.

 South, a voice commanded him.

 Why south? He asked himself.

 Just go! The voice ordered and Sirius shrugged and obeyed, turning quickly. He'd taken advice from worse things than voices in his head before, after all.

 As he drove down the busy roads, Sirius turned this way and that, following the call of the voice, which no longer spoke in words, simply drew him forwards.

 It never once crossed his mind that this could be a trap, either by the Ministry or the Death Eaters, both of whom he was currently at odds with.

 He reached the out skirts of London, but the call drew him onwards. Suddenly, he was overtaken by the need to stop. The call was still there, but the voiced commanded him stop.

 Not really understanding what was going on, Sirius parked his bike and slipped away from it. The call was irresistible, he wanted to go forwards. But he had been told to stop …

 Change, the voice told him. Without a second thought, Sirius did so, suddenly a hulking, bear like dog was standing where he had been. In this form, he edged closer, slowly, to the place where the call was coming from.

 As he came nearer, he saw a neat looking company car drive up, and stop in front of a deserted alleyway. Sirius wondered why any respectable person – for who else would have a car like that? – would come here.

 When a fat man with a large moustache stepped out of the car, Sirius barely prevented himself from snarling aloud. He recognized this man from a few photos that Lily had of her sister Petunia's wedding.

 This was Vernon Dursley – Lily's sisters husband, Harry's uncle. Harry had been taken to this man yesterday, to be taken care of. So what was Vernon doing here?

 The man walked around to the other side of the car, and opened the door, taking out a small bundle. Sirius inhaled, and almost immediately he picked up the scent of Harry. He knew his godson's scent, had memorised it for James, in case Harry ever wandered out of the house and got lost.

 This bastard had brought Harry here. Sirius knew exactly what Vernon Dursley was about to do. He was going to leave Harry, a defenceless one year old boy, in a back alley in one of the worst parts of the town.

 Again, he barely prevented himself from growling aloud.

 Vernon Dursley looked around, checking to make sure no one was going to witness what he was doing, and walked hurriedly into the alleyway.

 A moment later, he returned and, without a backward glace, got into his company car and drove off. Sirius raced forwards immediately. The call was coming from the alleyway, the place where Harry was. Somehow, he'd been called to his godson.

 Sirius could care less how this had happened, he had his godson back, and that was all that mattered. As he raced into the alleyway, he saw the beady eyes of many rodents, heard their scuffles and squeaks. Knew that they were interested in this thing that had been left here, alone with them.

 But not alone any longer, Sirius thought, changing form back to a man, he knelt and lifted his godson, little Harry, into his arms.

 The boy was asleep, Sirius noted. He would probably wake up when the bike was started, but that couldn't be helped. He just hoped that Harry wasn't sick or something.

 With his godson cradled in his arms, Sirius Black walked from the alleyway. Even though he was a wanted man, he didn't mind, because he had his godson. They would live together, and they would be happy.

***

Finis Chapter One.

 Hey all! I got a great response for the first chapter of this, some 37 reviews! And therefore, I'm giving you this chapter a little early – I wasn't going to put it up until tomorrow morning! Let's see if we can do that again, eh? Another 37 reviews can't be that difficult, can it?