Disclaimer: J.K. owns all.

Thank you tomy beta, FireboltRider.

Chapter One

The stars were faultless tonight, lingering around the crescent moon like a million candles. They shimmered with brilliance and outshone the street lamps on the street corners. It was silent here except for the cries of an infant bundled in blankets on the cement ground floor in an abandoned building. The snow fell like a white ghost and promised cooler weather tomorrow. Each snowflake sparkled excitedly and joined another on the street and sidewalk to make small hills of snow. A great black dog cautiously trotted in through the non-existent door. A young woman bundled up with scarves a hat, mittens, and an old overcoat followed the deep snow prints. She had been walking on the street and didn't see the curb. She tripped and fell forwards on her wool-covered hands. A sad cry of a baby made her realized she was not alone. Her excessively long scarf trailed behind her aged, brown boots.

"Hello?" she echoed in the building. All her dark eyes could see was a baby and a dog. The Grim-like brute was standing over the baby protectively. She took a step back. "Don't hurt the baby!" she pleaded with the dog. Her feet guided her until she was kneeling over the child. The dog leaned close to her face. It licked her nose. "You're just a big softie, aren't you?" she whispered. Then it licked the infant's face.

The baby giggled and said something that might as well have been another language because the young woman didn't understand. But she was intrigued by a mark under his unruly hair. She brushed her hand over his forehead and gasped.

"You're little, you're Harry Potter!" she breathed in disbelief to the stale, cold air more than to the boy. "God damn it, why are you here?"

Shaking hands bundled him in her arms and she hugged him tightly. She stood and searched the floor for any sign of another human being, but the building had been deserted over five years ago and it showed it with crumbling walls and empty spaces.

"You won't find anyone," a soft, male voice clouded her mind.

The woman spun around but she was cautious with the sobbing baby in her arms. "What-what makes you say that?" she choked out. She knew fully well that he was Sirius Black, the traitor and Death Eater.

"I saw his uncle drive him here and leave him," Sirius Black alerted her sadly. "I followed his cries and you followed me."

Her heart thumped loudly. "I didn't follow you." I followed a dog, she thought. Then it clicked in her crowded mind that he was an Animagus. "An illegal one," she whispered. She could recall all of the Animagi that century and Black's name wasn't one she remembered.

"Ah, do you get it?" he asked.

She didn't reply.

His handsome face fell. "I don't want to hurt you and I don't want to hurt Harry. Believe me. I want to keep him safe—"

"And give him to your Death Eater friends!" she erupted. She looked surprised at her sudden outburst and Harry Potter began to cry again.

"Shhh, Harry," she tried.

His foggy green eyes stared at her. "Mama?"

The woman shook her head and Black strangled a sob. "Let me hold him," he pleaded. She stepped back. He looked away sadly and pulled out his wand. She was frightened he might curse her but she was surprised when he tossed it near to the doorway.

"Please?" he implored.

His eyes saddened her. They were grief-ridden and desolation appeared to have just moved in with no intention of leaving. Her heart twisted in agony. Her arms shook as she handed him the baby. Why was she handing him to one of the most dangerous men to walk the solid earth? Was she being sensible or stupid and kind-hearted? But the way Black held the baby boy against his chest made her melt in confusion.

"He's probably cold," she remarked.

"What is your name?" he asked at the same time.

"Adams, Cecily Adams," she said.

He kissed Harry Potter's forehead and Cecily Adams could see tears roll down his cheeks. They glistened until they froze.

"Paf," said Harry, reaching up and touching Black's face. Black smiled.

"I love you, Harry," he whispered.

"Love, Sirius," Harry's little voice said.

Black laughed and looked up at Cecily. "That's the first time," he explained. "The first time he used my real name and the first time I've heard him say that he loves me."

"You are his godfather," she admitted quietly.

"Yes, how did you know—?"

Cecily took a few steps forward. "I'm a secretary to Cornelius Fudge, the new Minister of Magic and I hear most everything."

"Oh," said Black. "So, are you going to turn me in?"

Cecily's teeth chattered in response. She didn't know what to do. Should she turn him in? But he looked so sincere...and Cecily was so trusting and she knew it was one of her faults. I don't want to turn him in! I know I should but I just can't! Besides, he's—or was an Auror! Do you really think I could turn him in even without a wand? By God, let this be the right decision!

"No," she whispered. She took a step towards the door. Was she going to run for it? Her heart thumped. She couldn't run from a situation like this! She'd be fired—But I'm just a secretary! She reasoned.

"Black, please don't make this harder than it already is. Tell me. Are you guilty?"

"What?"

Cecily closed her eyes. "Are—you—guilty?" When she opened them, Sirius Black's grey, powerful eyes struck her with such a force she had to step backwards.

"No."

"Are you a Death Eater?"

"No, I'm not. I'd rather die."

Cecily breathed. The cold, silent air filled her lungs. She had never realized how difficult and yet so easy it was to take a breath in weather so cold it could freeze the tears in your eyes. She liked the way she could see it and then it would disappear suddenly. Once she took off her mittens, the icy wind raced through her pale hands like wild mustangs. She reached out and wiped Black's frozen tears from his face with her thumb.

"I've never seen a man cry before," Cecily told him. "It's not a bad thing to do, you know."

Sirius Black caught Cecilia Adams' eyes one last time. Cecily's smiled faded slightly. Silence began to paint a story of understanding and peace. Fear paced in Cecily's mind but in her heart was confidence. Still was the wind, dying. The stars were applauding without a sound from their position, unseen from inside of the aging building. Not even the harsh breathing of their bodies broke the silence nor the soft sniffles of the baby in his arms. Cecily could not take her gleaming eyes from Sirius Black's shimmering orbs. She could not form a single syllable.

It was Sirius Black who broke the silence. "It's not as cold as it was before."

But he did not break the moment.