Padfoot?
by
Padfootz-luvr
A/N: To those who have beared with me throughout the years, I thank you, and I apologize profusely. To those just joining us: Welcome! This story has been a big, fat, work-in-progress for almost three years now, and I almost abandoned it. ALMOST. Then I sat down, re-read what I had written, and, before I knew it, I made the conscious decision to correct all grammatical and punctuation errors, and to add to it a bit, give it more dimension and depth. So now here we are, reader and author, ready to embark on a new, perilous journey. This time, I primise to not abandon the wheel of the ship.
Disclaimer: :le sigh: I don't own Harry Potter or anythign else you recognize, blah, blah, blah, etc.
Chapter Two:
Staying
"Maybe I'm brainless,
Maybe I'm wise,
But you've got me seeing
though different eyes..."-Wicked
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchraft and Wizardry, had been talking to Minerva Mcgonagall for a while, listening to her reasons against Harry's staying with the Dursley's. Suddenly, there was a great rumbling in the sky and an enormous, black motorcycle fell out of the cloud cover. Sirius was obscured from their vision by Hagrid's bulking form, so the Hogwarts professors didn't notice him at first.
"Hagrid," Dumbledore called to him in his usual calm voice. "At last. Wherever did you acquire that motorcycle?"
"He didn't 'acquire' it," called the last voice Dumbledore expected to hear. "I let him use it."
"Sirius Black," Dumbledore said, slightly surprised. McGonagall cautiously drew out her wand, having only recently been informed of Sirius Black's supposed secret-keeperhood. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to tell you, Professor," the younger man said, stepping forward into the motorcycle's headlights so they could see him.
"I didn't betray Lily and James."
"Rubbish!" McGonagall fumed. "We are not imbeciles, Black! We know you were their secret-keeper!"
"Professors," came Hagrid's deep voice. "'E told me 'is story, an' I believe 'im. Just hear 'im out?"
McGonagall's lips formed a thin, white line but she didn't say anything. Dumbldore nodded his head, giving Sirius his consent to continue. Sirius immediately launched into his explanation. When Sirius had finally finished, they all stared at him in shocked silence.
"P-Peter Pettigrew?" McGongall whispered in disbelief.
"Yes! I would never betray Lily, or James! James was like my brother you know that! You have to believe me!" There was a pause, then: "You...do believe me, don't you?" Sirius asked, half pleading. Another pause, and then:
"Yes."
Sirius looked at Dumbledore in shock; even though it was his only hope, Sirius had known that his story sounded far-fetched and that it would be hard to believe. Dumbledore gave the tiniest hint of a smile, and the familiar twinkle appeared behind his half-moon spectacles as he repeated his answer: "Yes, I believe you." The ancient headmaster walked slowly toward Hagrid, who was holding the sleeping baby. "Now, the question is, what are we going to do about Harry? We have to-"
"Let him stay with me! I'm his godfather!" Sirius interjected, walking briskly over to Hagrid, who readily allowed Harry's godfatehr to hold him. "Lily and James wanted me to take him if anythign ever happened to them...and now..." Sirius voice trailed off as he looked down at Harry, and his present company, although he hadn't moved he hadn't made a sound, all swore that he had begun to cry. "Please..."
"But," Dumbledore reminded him. "These are his only living relatives. They offer the protection of Lily's blood that runs in Petunia Dursley's, and Harry's veins."
"But...Professor..." Sirius objected weakly. "I-I have nowhere to go...Harry's my godson, he's like a son to me...please, isn't there someway I can stay with him?"
"I'm sorry, Sirius, but I can't think of any possible option," Dumbledore said solemnly. The ancient man held out his arms for the sleeping infant, whom Sirius handed over reluctantly.
Sirius' breathing hitched as he processed this new information. He didn't think there was any way he could go on, knowing that he wouldn't be there for James' son as he was growing up. I have to find Peter...he thought, decidign that he would fidn the man who had done this, and make him pay. Then, a thought struck him.
"Wait!" he said, making Hagrid, McGonagall, and Dumbledore turn away from Harry's sleeping bundle that they had just lain on the door step. He thought quickly, choosing his words and actions carefully.
"I-I think I know a way I can stay with him!" As he finished these words, the young man promptly showed them his idea, causing the Hogwarts employees gasp. He wagged his ebony tail imploringly, making Dumbledore chuckle.
"You always were one of my most brilliant students," McGonagall sighed, the tiniest of grins tugging at the corner of her tight lips.
"Yes, well," Dumbledore said, pickign up the explanatory note he had left with Harry. "I think we need to alter that letter to include a dog named Padfoot."
A/N: Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between? Let me know! Everything from suggestions to squees to flames are welcome!