DAILY PROPHET ENTRY

Prompt: Write a short story (of between 500–600 words) focusing on the Harry Potter scene that you would change.

I chose to change the scene where Harry accidentally summons the Knight Bus after seeing Padfoot. In my story, Harry doesn't summon the bus.

A/N - If canon Harry can trust Sirius so quickly after thinking he was a murderer and betrayer, than this Harry can trust Sirius quickly too.

Sirius

Harry fell to the ground, his wand dropping next to him and his eyes fixed on the beast. He scooted back, grabbing his wand.

He froze as the dog slipped from its form into a man. "What was that?" he asked, amazed. He recalled Professor McGonagall doing it, but had never seen anyone else transform.

"Animagus," the man explained, his voice hoarse and rough. "Just like your dad."

Harry frowned slightly. "I don't… my dad?"

The man stepped forward and Harry watched him warily. He only reached out a hand to help Harry up. Harry clutched his wand just in case, his eyes moving over ragged clothes, matted hair and stained teeth.

He looked like the sort of man Aunt Petunia would cross the road to avoid. "I saw you on the muggle news!" Harry exclaimed.

The man nodded. "If I'm caught, a fate worse than death awaits me. Just know that I'm your Godfather, Harry. I grew up with your father. He was family."

"If he meant that much, why haven't I heard of you before?"

A few pops sounded nearby and Harry was almost certain the man paled, though it was hard to tell.

"If they find us, you'll be sent back to the Muggles. I've seen how they treat you. I've damn near come close to taking a chunk out of your uncle. You know, I met him once. So did your father. It didn't go well." The man smirked at the memory. "If you want answers, come with me. I'll tell you everything. I'm the only person who knows the truth. Trust me."

Harry hesitated, his gaze turning back the way he had come. He had a gut feeling that this man was telling the truth and he nodded his head, handing over his wand.

The man grabbed his arm and the trunk, and, with a crack, the pair disappeared.

...oOo…

"Where are we?"

"My old home," Sirius replied. "I'm Sirius Black, and I'll get straight to the point." He ran a hand through the ragged hair before passing the wand back to Harry. "Twelve years ago, I was supposed to be your parents' secret keeper. Only four people know that we changed the person. Your parents, me, and Peter Pettigrew. I went to Azkaban for killing him, but he's not dead." He fixed Harry with a desperate look. "He faked his death and he's going to be at Hogwarts in September."

"Peter Pettigrew betrayed my parents?" Harry asked softly, processing the information.

Sirius nodded. "Harry, how would you like to live here, with me?"

"Leave the Dursleys?" Harry's eyes widened. "Do I go and unpack now?"

"Not today," Sirius sighed. "I'm a wanted man still. When Peter is captured, I can clear my name and take on the role as your guardian as your parents always wanted."

"You said he's at Hogwarts. How do we capture him?"

Sirius grinned widely. "Peter is an animagus. He turned into a rat and is pretending to be someone's pet. A Weasley boy."

"You're talking about Scabbers," Harry realised. "Scabbers is really Peter?"

"That's the one," Sirius replied. "Now, all we need to do is trap him. Give me back your wand. I can teach you a spell that'll trap him."

Harry handed Sirius his wand once more and the man seemed to light up with it in his hands. "When I'm free, I'm going to teach you everything I know about magic. It'll be you, me and Remus."

"Who's Remus?" Harry asked.

Sirius grinned. "The spell first, then I'll tell you all about the Marauders," he promised.

599 words :)