~Always By Your Side~


Chapter 2: Friends and Foes

DISCLAIMER: I do not, nor ever will, own J. K. Rowling's wonderful work. *sigh*

A/N: This chapter is kind of boring, not like the last one, but it's important. Please make sure to R/R! Tell me if you like this story (I'll update sooner!), or if you think it sucks! By the way, if you're looking for your response to your review, look on my bio. Next to your name on the list of reviewers, I'll have put a response. Thanks to all those wonderful people, and the ones who will (hopefully) be put up there soon!

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Sirius tried to walk calmly to Professor Dumbledore's office, but found that he was too restless for this, so he settled for half-walking, half-running to the office. Facing the stone gargoyles that blocked the entrance, Sirius discovered something: he didn't know the password. Knowing Dumbledore, it would likely be a kind of sweet. So, furrowing his brow, Sirius tried every kind of candy he could think of.

"Cauldron Cakes! Chocolate Frogs! Ice Mice! Licorice Wands! Sherbert Lemon!" he tried.

"Drooble's Best Blowing Gum! Cockroach Cluster! Licorice Wands!" he shouted, voice becoming louder and more agitated by each name, kicking the gargoyles in frustration.

"Temper, temper, Black. I see you still have that rash, reckless personality, a quality needing much improvement," drawled a cold voice from behind Sirius. Sirius spun around, and saw that the Potions Master of Hogwarts – Severus Snape – was right behind him. Immediately his face turned dark and he gripped his wand tightly, as if preparing himself for a fight with his long-time nemesis.

"What's this? Have you given up on becoming an Auror and have instead taken on babysitting for the Potters?" Snape queried with his eyebrow arched, noticing Harry (who was now sleeping in Sirius' arms) for the first time. "How touching. I cannot believe they would trust you with their child. But then again, they always were so blind, misjudging and forgiving so easily, the fools." Snape delivered his little speech with a sneer – his eyes glittering menacingly – knowing how much each word hurt.

But Sirius was not about to let Snape have the satisfaction of knowing how much of an impact his words made. Instead he shot back smoothly with, "Yes, they must have been taught this 'misjudging' quality from Professor Dumbledore, for look who the Headmaster employs on his staff! A Death Eater, no less," a scandalized look on his face.

Sirius got his desired result: Snape's face grew hardened and blank, with only his eyes showing emotion – they were snapping furiously and his dark eyes darkened further to become obsidian in hue.

But Severus was not the only one showing fury. Sirius' electric-blue eyes were glowing furiously at the comments Snape had made about his friends– a fire burned in his eyes as he stared down his enemy. It would be difficult to judge which face showed more enmity at the moment. Simultaneously, they reached into the depths of their cloaks – Sirius with some difficulty, as he was still balancing Harry on his hip – and pulled out their wands. But before either could cast any spells…

"Severus, Sirius!" a voice came from behind the two. They both jumped, startled by the sudden noise. Severus and Sirius had been so busy glaring at each other that they had failed to notice that Albus Dumbledore – the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – had walked up behind them. They both had the grace to look ashamed under the stern gaze of Professor Dumbledore.

"We will discuss this matter further in my office," decided the Headmaster.

Silently, they all rode up on the spiraling staircase to the Headmaster's office, after Dumbledore said the password to make the stone gargoyles spring to life ("candy cane").

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He had the tips of his long fingers touched – an odd habit of his – and was looking over his half-moon spectacles with his piercing blue eyes at his former students. He looked at the two men who were looking distinctly uncomfortable, shifting in their seats. Although Professor Dumbledore's expression was mild, he had a way of making people feel as if he was staring into their very souls. After all, he was considered one of the greatest of his time, perhaps even the greatest – with the exception of the Four Founders. 

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was possibly the most powerful wizard alive. Although he had a very kind disposition – and an ability to make one feel comfortable in any situation – no one could forget that he had defeated the dark wizard Grindelwald, or that he had discovered the twelve uses of dragon blood, or any of the other great achievements of his life. However, in the eyes of Albus, the only thing that truly mattered – and was of importance to him – was that he was the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He loved every aspect of living at the school; teaching young wizards and witches, watching them learn to use their magical talents to become powerful sorcerers, and understanding more fully the minds of young people. A more fulfilling career other than instructing maturing adolescents, he could not imagine.

"Gentlemen, you must understand that you are both on the same side. It is past time to put your schoolboy grudges behind you. You are both fighting – in different ways – against Voldemort. Sirius, you need to understand the situation. Severus is indeed a Death Eater; he is spying for me, at great personal risk," said Professor Dumbledore, leaning forward onto his oak desk in his office.

"How do you know he isn't spying for Voldemort?" demanded Sirius. He usually wasn't this disrespectful to the Headmaster, but Snape – Snivellus to Sirius – seemed to bring out the worst in people, particularly Sirius.

"I trust Severus," said Dumbledore simply. Sirius shook his head in disbelief.

"And you? I seem to recall that you were the Potters' Secret-Keeper, and that now they are dead. Now how could Voldemort possibly have gotten wind of where the Potters were located?" spat Severus, putting a mock-thoughtful look on his face. Sirius' face paled considerably, at the Snape's not-so-subtle jibe. Snape smirked in satisfaction at Sirius' physical reaction.

With a warning look in Severus' direction, Dumbledore said, "Sirius, would you care to explain your position in this situation?"

Sirius explained how the Potters had switched to Peter at the last moment, and how Peter had sold them to Voldemort. He explained how he had arranged to check up on Peter, and had rushed over to Godric's Hollow at seeing his house empty – to find Lily and James dead, their house destroyed. His voice cracked with unshed tears, and broke a number of times, especially when he was describing the Potters' haunted expressions. Several times during the course of re-telling the events of the evening, Sirius found himself blinking back tears, and Dumbledore politely became interested in the ceiling, giving Sirius time to recollect his cool, calm composure, until Sirius could go on. At last the recounting was finished.

"Now all those misunderstood situations are cleared up. Sirius, Severus, you are both trusted individuals, and I would care for you to act toward one another as such. Shake hands, and make peace," the Headmaster said. He watched as the two men sat rigidly in their seats, not moving an inch.

Seeing that Sirius and Severus still had yet to come within a five yard radius of one another and were wearing expressions signaling that they had not been convinced, Dumbledore continued, "I hope that one day you will overcome your differences enough to trust each other" – here he ignored Severus' incredulous look and Sirius' derisive snort – "but I can see that day is not today. I will settle, in the present, for a mutual truce." He looked expectantly at Sirius and Severus.

Sirius stood up, and saw that Snape did the same. Then walking reluctantly toward each other – as if gearing up for a battle – they slowly approached the other, eyes betraying exactly how much repugnance and hatred they had for the other. Eyes locked in an intense staring duel, Sirius' overbright blue eyes burned into Snape's gleaming black ones. As they continued advancing upon the other's personal space, they finally reached their long-time adversary and grasped hands in a handshake. They let go extremely quickly. This seemed to satisfy Dumbledore, so they sat down in their respective chairs – as far away from the other as possible.

"Now, Severus, you notified me, saying that you had some news concerning Voldemort?" asked Dumbledore.

"Indeed, I do, Headmaster. I have received news that Voldemort has not been destroyed, as others have presumed."

The 'others' he was referring to were the people of the magical community, who were celebrating all over the country, because they assumed that Harry Potter had defeated Voldemort when the baby was not killed by the Killing Curse. The rumor had been started by a neighbor who had watched, horrified, from an upstairs window, had seen Voldemort vanish, and had spread the news in a pub. Naturally, now, the whole country knew.

"He was struck by the rebounding Avada Kedavra, and has now returned from Death's Door, a shadow of his old self. But I fear he will soon rise to power once more. He will perhaps use the fact that the magical community believes he is no longer a threat to his advantage, taking them by surprise. The state he is currently in is unable to wield a wand, or perform any wandless magic. However, even in this 'shadow and vapor' state, he is able to enter and control a body, or share it with any other individual. That is how he is currently directing his Death Eaters. He has instructed his Death Eaters to lie low for some time, allowing him to regroup and think about his next approach."

"Hmm…I will have to ponder this new development for a while. I will further discuss related matters at another appointed time, Severus, later this week," said Professor Dumbledore. Snape briskly nodded and, with his black robes billowing in a dark cloud behind him, quickly exited the room.

"Now, Sirius, I assume you have a particular reason for bringing Harry from the Godric's Hollow to Hogwarts?"

Taking a deep breath, Sirius steeled his nerve, telling himself to be prepared if Dumbledore did not grant him permission to take care of Harry. "Professor, I would like to be Harry's legal guardian," he said outright, seeing no use in beating around the bush.

"Sirius, I will have to warn you, that if you become Harry's guardian, you will be made more of a target than you are presently. You will be moved to the top of Voldemort's hit list, not only because you are a respected member of the Ministry and a figure the magical community looks up to, but also because he will want to get rid of the last Potter, particularly the one who was supposedly the downfall of his height of power," Dumbledore said as a fore-warning. Sirius' heart lightened in spite of the grave message, because Professor Dumbledore had not said no outright.

"I am prepared, if it comes down to that, Professor, as long as I can take charge of Harry. I was appointed his godfather, in case anything happened to Lily and James," said Sirius determinedly.

"On the chance on that you are not able to take Harry in, I will send Harry to live with his aunt and uncle – the only living relatives he has. Then, he will stay there, until he is old enough to go to Hogwarts," said Professor Dumbledore. Sirius shuddered at the thought of Harry living with his horrid aunt and uncle. He had met Petunia and Vernon at the Potters' wedding, and they had been absolutely horrible, trying to ruin the happy occasion.

"No, Professor. I want to take care of Harry. I need to fulfill my duty as his godfather. I owe it to Lily and James," Sirius said the last part softly.

Professor Dumbledore surveyed him closely, with a light of understanding in his eyes. "Very well, Sirius. You have persuaded me to your argument." Sirius' face became alighted with joy, radiating with happiness. "However, Sirius, I need to take a few precautions to ensure your safety, as well as Harry's. I will have you stay in the castle, with Remus. I happen to have two vacancies in the staff this year, as Professors Ridleson and Osened have resigned. Would you care to fill one of those vacancies? It would provide a good excuse as to why you are currently residing in the castle."

"What class would I be teaching?" asked Sirius.

"I thought perhaps you would enjoy teaching Care of Magical Creatures? I thought since Remus has such an aptitude for Defense Against the Dark Arts that he would perhaps want to fill that position. However, the two of you can decide, when Remus arrives. Which should be – " here Dumbledore checked his odd pocketwatch " – any minute now."

Suddenly, the office door burst open, and Remus J. Lupin stumbled through the doorway, gasping for breath. "My apologies…Headmaster…I had to…purchase something from…Diagon Alley…"

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "That's quite alright, Remus. Have a seat," he said, gesturing at a quaint table with four chairs. "We can talk over some tea."

Just then, Harry woke up from the nap he had been taking ever since he had arrived at Hogwarts. He gargled happily upon seeing Remus and Sirius. He was also accustomed to seeing Professor Dumbledore, as he had dropped by frequently to check up on the Potters, so he didn't mind seeing the white-bearded wizard. To Harry, life was uncomplicated. He didn't know that his parents were dead, or that he was famous, or that he was in danger of being killed by Lord Voldemort. And he certainly didn't know about the shadow the war had placed over the magical community, or about the second impending war of light versus dark. All he knew was that he was happy to be with three nice people, drinking apple juice from his bottle.

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A/N: How was that? Please, please, please REVIEW! I don't care if you tell me it sucks. I just wanna know that someone is reading my story! Thanks to those people who respond to my plea!