Harry Potter and the New Start: Escapee

Hello, everyone, thank you all for the amazing reviews for the last chapter. I'm glad you're all pleased with the necklaces. For reference, Sirius and Harry find them right before Remus bombarded them in that alleyway in Diagon Alley (chapter fourteen, Discovered). You find out a teensy bit of info on them later on, perhaps, but I rather like the mystery of them appearing and Sirius and Harry having a pull to them.

And also, there was a little confusion on how Peter knew of the house. I wouldn't think that Dumbledore would have become secret keeper to a house that was decrepit, run down and just plain evil unless he had a reason to, right? I don't think he did that until after Sirius offered it up as headquarters, and it's not yet. So Peter would know where it was, by virtue of his friendship with Sirius, and Dumbledore would not be the secret keeper, as he'd need Sirius's approval as the last living Black, along with a reason. Neither of which he has quite yet.

By the way, guys, guess what? We're almost done here! After this chapter is over, we have about four left.

-Outside Grimmauld Place-

Sirius knew the grounds perfectly even though it had been years since he had stepped foot on them. He had spent more times than he cared to count sneaking away from the house, usually in the dead of the night.

Although his mother was long dead, his father and brother also, the house was just as horrible as he remembered it. All of his life he had hated it, it had never truly been his home. When he left it, it was like a breath of fresh air. He'd vowed then to never return, but he would break that vow to save his godson.

Silently he weaved his way through the trees and brushes of the land, sneaking up to the house. It was dark inside, leaving Sirius to believe if he truly was crazy. But no one would leave lights on in a supposedly deserted house. Not even Peter.

He hated himself for bringing his friends to Black Manor when they were younger. It had been a short visit, for Potters were not welcomed in the house and hadn't been for centuries. They had slipped in quickly to retrieve his things to stay with the Potters for the last week of school. That was how Peter knew where it was, that was how he had found it again.

Wormtail knew well and full that Sirius hated the place, and that he would never willingly go back. But Peter underestimated how much he loved his godson.

He would live there again if it meant Harry would he happy, safe and healthy.

With a whispered "Alohamora", the door was open. Waltzing in through the front door was risky, but he also knew it would be unexpected. Sirius was almost disturbed to find that he remembered every inch of the house, without thinking it through he was hopping over floorboards that creaked.

Sirius crept silently towards the stairs, but light under the doorway to the living room stopped him. He could hear hushed voices and prayed it was only Peter talking to himself.

That wish wasn't to be though.

A man's forceful voice was apart of the conversation, and it certainly wasn't Peter's. Sirius got a bit closer to the door and strained to listen in. It would be helpful to know whom Peter had with him in kidnapping Harry.

"I have him…you can help me."

"It's your fault that Master was almost destroyed! And now you dare to contact me for help?"

The angry voice of Lucius Malfoy rang in Sirius's ears. Damn Peter! It would be so much harder to slip away with Lucius in the area. He felt himself tensing up as Peter pleaded again.

"But Master will like the boy to be killed. You can help me with that. I have him."

The word master stumbled over Peter's tongue as though he were afraid of it. Unsurprisingly, Sirius found a sense of satisfaction in hearing Lily and James' betrayer tremble when he spoke of his beloved master.

"You're a coward, too cowardly to do this yourself, and too cowardly to ask me in person. Instead you firecall, so you can scamper away in case of my anger!" Lucius raged.

So Lucius wasn't in Grimmauld Place, Sirius smiled. Silently, he walked away from the door and back towards the stairs. Peter might have been the only one in the house then, but it could change at any second. As soon as Lucius was done screaming, he might end up agreeing to help Wormtail.

Sirius skipped the last step and went straight to the landing, that particular step groaned loudly at night when stepped upon for the mere reason of catching Sirius while he escaped. His father had charmed it to react to only him, and Sirius had been caught many times before he realized what gave him away. The memories that the house was inducing were nearly choking him.

Pushing all of his emotions down, Sirius rushed quickly down the hallway to his room. Harry was the only thing that mattered, the only thing he should be focused on.

He reached his door and silently cast the charm to open it just as he had done to the front door. It swung wide open to reveal his old room, looking dustier and darker than when he had left it.

His hopeful eyes swept across the room before landing on the slight movement coming from the corner.

There, curled tightly in a little ball, was his precious little godson.

Sirius rushed across the room and dropped to his knees in front of the child. "Harry." He whispered, his voice almost breaking.

A tearstained face looked up at him and Sirius's heart nearly shattered. Harry looked so lost and upset that he could scarcely breath.

"Sirius?" Was the only reply he was given. The boy looked at him as though he were a beautiful mirage that would fade away if he were to blink.

Unaware of the fact that he was crying, Sirius smiled at the little boy and nodded. Within seconds Harry had launched himself into his godfather's arms. Sirius held the little boy to him, finally feeling the ache inside him lessening.

"Shh…baby, it's all right." Sirius whispered, rubbing his hand in a circle on Harry's back. He rocked the little boy back and forth, murmuring words of love and comfort into Harry's ear.

All too soon the reality of the situation sunk back into Sirius's mind. Without letting Harry go, he picked the child up while he stood also. They would be home soon, it would all be all right again. "Come on, Emeralds, you need to stop crying. I'm here now, and we're going home. Shh."

Harry sniffed a final time before quieting. He wrapped his arms around Sirius's neck and buried his head against his chest. Quickly and quietly, Sirius retraced his steps out of the house.

They reached the stairs and flew down them as cautiously as they could. Harry didn't make a noise as they reached the front hallway. Sirius stopped at the bottom of the stairs and strained his ears. Peter was still pleading with Malfoy.

Sirius smiled as the door came into sight, they were so close. He tightened his hold on Harry as the boy made a little sniffling noise. So long as he wasn't too loud, they were all right, Peter would have been too far away for hearing such a quiet noise.

But that quiet noise was all it took.

A scream so loud that Sirius's ears hurt and a banshee would have winced exploded in the house. Eyes widened with horror, Sirius froze and looked to the now open curtains covering the painting beside them.

Mum

They were so close! Poor Sirius and Harry, their escape might not be so simple after all. But isn't that a nice cliffhanger?

Let me know what you think of the chapter!

Stars Enchantress