Sirius Black roared up to Godrick's Hollow, and half fell, half leapt off his flying motorbike at the sight of the remains of his best friend's house.

"Lily? James? JAMES!" Sirius roared, though he knew it would be no use. When Lord Voldemort showed up at a house, it was never for a friendly visit. Sirius kicked a roof beam, and watched it skitter across the street, ignoring the sharp pain in his foot. Voldemort shouldn't have been able to kill them! They had performed the Fidelius Charm! Dumbledore had assured them that as long as the Secret Keeper didn't tell--Sirius stopped abruptly, his foot poised to kick a section of wall that was still miraculously standing. Was it possible--could Peter have--? Sirius suddenly felt drained of all energy, and sank down on the bit of wall he had been about to destroy.

He listened dreamily to the sound of a crying baby, accepting the noise. Sirius blinked as the meaning of the sound floated through his dazed brain. He leapt up, energized once again. He noticed the large shape emerging from the rubble surrounding the main part of the house.

"Hullo, Hagrid," Sirius muttered dully.

"'Lo, Sirius."

"Is--is that Harry?"

"Yeah. Poor mite. Did yeh hear? You-Know-Who killed Lily an' James." Sirius grimaced, but didn't look surprised. "Bu' he also tried ter kill Harry. See his forehead? Tha' was all he got from You-Know-Who. An' Sirius, have yeh heard abou' You-Know-Who? He's gone! Leas', that's wha' I heard. We've bin tryin' so hard all these years, an' little Harry turns up, and he's gone, jus' like that!" Sirius glanced at Harry, bewildered.

"Are you sure, Hagrid? But--but--that's amazing! I can't quite believe it. You mean Harry survived You-Know-Who's attack? Lily and James are dead, but Harry's not? Why aren't they alive, then, if You-Know-Who's gone?" Sirius glared fiercely at Hagrid, who looked down at him sadly. Sirius looked again at the bundle in Hagrid's arms, and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he looked resigned, but also determined. "Well, you can give Harry to me, Hagrid, I'm his godfather, I'll look after him."

"Can't, Sirius. Dumbledore said tha' he's ter go ter his aunt an' uncle's. Yeh know tha' yeh can't go against Dumbledore." Sirius glared at Hagrid again, looking as if that was exactly what he was prepared to do.

"No, Hagrid. Lily's told me about her sister. Harry can't go there! Lily and James trusted me, and they wanted me to take Harry if--if-- anything happened...you know... to them. I'll take care of him better than those Muggles can."

"It's wha' Dumbledore wants."

"Please, Hagrid." Sirius, realizing that arguing wasn't going to sway Hagrid, had resorted to good, old-fashioned begging.

"I'm sorry, Sirius, really. Bu' I can't." Sirius's hand strayed to his wand, but then a funny look came over his face.

"Perhaps you're right, Hagrid. I might not be the best person to take care of Harry right now. I've got some business to take care of that really can't wait, and who knows whether or not You-Know-Who is really gone. Yeah, Harry's probably safer with Muggles. But...Hagrid? Can I hold him? Just for a second?" Sirius pleaded. Hagrid shook his head, looking immensely unhappy.

"Dumbledore wants him righ' away. 'No delays,' he said. Best do wha' Dumbledore says..."

Sirius nodded, but continued to stare at Harry until Hagrid began to shift uncomfortably.

"Erm, Sirius. We'd better get goin', yeh know. The Muggles'll be here soon, an' we don't wan' Harry to attract any attention, if yeh get my meanin'."

"Right. Oh, but Hagrid? How will you be getting Harry to his aunt's? I think it's quite far away, and well...you...." Hagrid's eyes darted to a pink umbrella stuffed inconspicuously in a large bag, and then he quickly looked away. Sirius laughed, and nodded.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Why don't you take my motorbike? It's charmed with safety spells all through it, and it's the least I can do for Harry, if you won't let me take him...." Sirius scowled again. "And," he added. "I suppose I won't need it anymore. The business I have doesn't call for something quite so large. It'll be easier if I don't have to take care of my motorbike as well." Hagrid looked at Sirius suspiciously, but nodded.

"All righ' then. See yeh, Sirius." Hagrid got on the motorbike gingerly, and with a roar, he was gone. Sirius stared at the sky, not moving. Suddenly, something seemed to galvanize him into action. He rubbed at his eyes with an air or finality, and suddenly, there was a large black dog where Sirius had once stood. The dog growled dangerously, and then it disappeared, too.