Chapter 02

• Safe •

Morning came and the day passed. Sirius Black, usually well-kept and suave, stood in front of a shorter, more portly man whose blonde hair was already starting to bald. Sirius' face was pale and drawn, as if he hadn't slept in days. His eyes were red and puffy, his robes not the usual clean, well-kept robes that he often wore, but dirty and torn.

"Peter…" he said, his voice low and deadly.

A small popping noise sounded interrupted Black's growled words. Both men turned toward it, and saw a small creature, looking like a doll with giant grey eyes, standing in the dark alleyway nearby.

"Master Sirius sir," the creature said humbly.

Sirius lowered the stick he held in his hand just slightly. Peter noticed this, but did not make any movement.

His voice ragged, Sirius spoke again. "What is it Randy?" he asked. "I'm a little busy right now."

"The young master sir, he is not having anyone and Randy is sent to find his godfather," the little doll-like man said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Peter strained to hear the words, but Sirius flicked his stick and a bubble of magic engulfed Sirius and the creature he called "Randy".

"Harry's alive?" he asked, his face almost splitting open as he smiled, delighted that at least one of the Potters had lived.

From the corner of his vision, Sirius could see Peter take a step back and his smile faded. Without even glancing at Peter, Sirius flicked his wrist again and Peter was instantly standing rigid, unable to move.

"Where is he, Randy?" Sirius asked, directing his full attention to the little man.

"He is with the other elfs, at the manor sir. They is knowing about what is happening to the Master and Mistress and they is immediately sending Randy to retrieve him. Randy is finding the young Master under all the fire and he is taking him away from it so the Master is not injured."

"He's well then?" Sirius asked, his voice sounding fuller than it had only minutes before.

The little elf bobbed his head up and down furiously. "He is injured when Randy is first finding him, and he is bleeding all over, but Randy is taking him to the other elfs and they is helping make him better. The Master is sleeping now and so Randy is going to find the Master's godfather."

Sighing Sirius glanced towards Peter. "Alright, I'll come to the manor as soon as possible, but I have to take care of some things first. As Harry's acting guardian, I want you to make certain he stays safe. Don't let anyone else know he's there until I straighten things out, alright?"

The little elf nodded and then looked as if he had a question, but didn't want to ask it.

"What is it, Randy?" Sirius asked, well aware of the nuances of this elf's behavior.

"The young Master, sir, if he is wanting us to do something… we must listen to him first…"

Sirius snorted. "Well, if he gives you a direct order, listen to him then. I wouldn't fret about that too much, though. It'll be a long time before Harry can give orders. I should be back long before that becomes an issue." he said with some sarcasm. "Just don't let anyone else know he's there. Don't let anyone take control of the Manor either. Only a few people know about it, so that really shouldn't be a problem either." Sirius warned. "I just don't want someone taking Harry away before I can straighten things out.

"Now go on, Randy. Go back to Harry and keep watch. Tell the other house-elves what I told you."

The elf nodded and, with a small popping sound, was gone.

There was a half-smile on Sirius lips as he thought about Harry and Randy. The little elf had been born in Sirius' presence, and Sirius had even been the one to name him. Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Potter hadn't been too happy about Sirius naming the creature Randy, but they hadn't made him change it either. James had thought it was hilarious.

James…

Turning, Sirius waved his stick in the air and the barrier of silence that had surrounded the two fell. "Peter, Peter, Peter…" Sirius said, an evil glint in his eyes. He easily shed all emotion from his face looking at the traitor. "You do know what's going to happen to you now that you've shown your true self? James isn't around to stick up for you this time, is he?" Sirius finished, snarling.

Peter, frozen stiff, could do nothing but blink as Sirius approached. "I'll turn you in as a Death Eater and get your soul sucked right out of you. It's the least I can do for what you've done for me, for us."

The barrier seemed to break down and Peter quivered, falling to his knees. "I'm sorry Sirius, he made me do it. I was under the Imperius, really."

"Imperius my ass," Sirius snarled. "You know we all practiced throwing that off two years ago. You could do it as well as I could."

Peter trembled at Sirius' cold, angry display. People started to gather at the end of the alley and Peter glanced toward them. Sirius looked as well, but was quick enough to stop Peter from raising his wand. Sirius took two steps forward and easily snatched the weapon right out of Peter's hand.

"I should just gut you here," Sirius growled in an undertone so that only Peter could hear him. "Let you rot in the street. It's what filth like you deserves."

"I didn't mean to, Sirius. I couldn't help it, he made me do it all. He said he'd kill me if I didn't help him," Peter said, making an obvious scene by weeping into his arms.

Sirius growled at the display. The stick rose one last time into the air, then, in an instant, the whole world exploded. Sirius was taken by surprise, and took a good deal of the explosion with his body. When the shock of the explosion had past, Sirius looked around in horror, seeing the muggles who had surrounded them dead. After the shock passed, Sirius laughed. He couldn't believe it -, Peter had escaped and killed everyone. It was so unlike Peter, he thought. But it was now painfully obvious that Sirius had never really known Peter.

Pops surrounded Sirius and he could hear voices speaking to him, but they seemed so vague. The explosion had dulled all his senses. He didn't even realize that someone had gripped him until he was forcefully dragged from his standing position.

• Updated 2004.08.17 •