disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
warning: minor character death, violence, small mention of blood, and sadness
Hello everyone! I'm glad everyone enjoyed the image of Harry pouting . he's so cute, right? Anyway, if you follow me on twitter, then you know this chapter is a bit of a heart clencher. But I have no doubt you will still enjoy this chapter. For those of you who don't follow me, you can find me on twitter hyde1403, where I post when I'm beginning or finishing chapters, if a new chapter has been posted for each of my stories, or I may post a question that you can tweet back. Whatever floats your boat. Now for this latest chapter of Can You Protect Me!
He couldn't believe the gall of that man. After everything he had done for Sirius and this was how he was respected? By ignoring his requests and taking Harry away from his home where the boy belonged? He knew Sirius and Harry were planning something because they were always sending letters to each other and Harry didn't put up much of a fight when he was told he was going back with the Dursleys, in which it was usually normal to have a few broken things every other year. And now he was fighting with this blasted house trying to get back in. Sirius had better have a good explanation for not only taking Harry, but also revoking his entry to Grimmauld Place. He was only thankful that the wards he had placed into headquarters had allowed the house to recognize him, if only minimally. It was just enough to get him to work on breaking through the other wards on the house.
Dumbledore needed to get into the God forsaken house, so he pushed more heavily on the trembling wards. He no longer had the patience to deal with Sirius or Remus and their antics and stupidity of protecting Harry. The boy had one simple job and had even messed that up. So his plan was to get a hold on the boy and correct the mistakes he made.
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes as he felt a fluctuation in the wards around him and couldn't tell if someone was trying to push him out or they were escaping themselves. His frustration and anger rising higher, Dumbledore put away his own wand and pulled out a wand hidden deep in his robes, made of elder wood. Pouring more magic than he thought was necessary, Dumbledore jabbed at the final ward keeping him out until it finally cracked, causing the whole street to shake. With a wicked smile on his face, Dumbledore stormed into Grimmauld and began to hunt for the occupants. After searching the first floor, and noting there were no dishes in the sink, he went to search the upper floors, but was stopped by the old house elf.
"Where is your master?" Dumbledore tried sweetly. When the elf continued to only stare at him, Dumbledore picked the creature up and snarled in its face. "Where is Black and Potter?"
"Kreatcher be protecting the House of Black," was all the house elf croaked, as his gaze lay unfocused on the headmaster.
"Protecting? Where did they go?" Dumbledore asked, shaking the elf angrily.
"Kreatcher be protecting the House of Black," he said once again.
"You'll tell me, one way or another." Dumbledore pulled out his wand once again and aimed it between Kreatcher's eyes. "Imperio! Now, take me to your master!"
"Yes, headmaster," Kreatcher said mechanically. Due to age, and state of mind of years suffering abuse in the ancient house, Kreatcher's mind was always slightly unhinged at the best of times. But after the magical backlash of the wards being broken and the imperious curse, the elf's mind was no more. He raised his fingers, ready to snap and obey the command, while the headmaster smiled gleefully. However, when Kreatcher finally did snap his fingers, nothing happened. At least that's what the headmaster thought, until a knife plunged into his shoulder. With a shout, Dumbledore dropped the elf and ripped out the knife. Vision gone red with fury, Dumbledore held up his wand, coating the wand with his blood in the process, and pointed it at Kreatcher.
"Nothing will stop me. Avada Kedavra."
Sirius watched as Severus followed behind one of the Potter elves with Remus trailing, carrying Harry. He smiled as the three left the entrance hall, knowing they were happy and content. It was all he needed in life now. Although he thought Harry was still too young to bond, he could see that it was going to happen soon. 'And no doubt Harry will come to me scared out of his mind when he thinks he's ready,' Sirius thought chuckling to himself. He looked up when Charlus cleared his throat.
"Sirius," Charlus began. If he were alive, he would imagine his throat beginning to tighten as he watched the men all interact. It was hard to think, but he needed to know. "Where are James and Lily?"
Instantly the smile left Sirius' face. How was he supposed to tell these people, who were like parents to him, that their only son and daughter-in-law were killed fifteen years ago? Even wore than that was Harry had grown up without Remus or himself. Sighing deeply, Sirius gathered what courage he could before addressing the two in the painting.
"You two passed away, just before the first war began. The four of us boys and Lily joined a group Dumbledore had created to fight against Voldemort's Death Eaters. However, a prophecy was made. It was the answer to our prayers, but a curse on the family; it stated that Harry was meant to defeat the Dark Lord. So James and Lily went into hiding under the fidelious charm, which would have worked if I hadn't insisted that I shouldn't have been the secret keeper." Sirius paused in the story as his emotions began rising, making it difficult to breath. "So with only James and Lily knowing, we had Peter become the secret keeper. But Peter betrayed us! He was working for Voldermort and gave away their location. James and Lily died protecting Harry on October 31, 1981."
"My son," Charlus whispered, falling down onto the chair that was within the painting. He wanted, needed, to grieve for his son properly, to see the grave, to hold his grandson. Charlus looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder, into the grey eyes of his wife. He reached up and grasped her hand.
"You raised Harry well, Sirius," Dorea said softly.
"That's the other thing." 'Merlin, this is difficult', Sirius thought. Just telling that much was hard and now he would need to explain him being in prison. "Since everyone thought I was still the secret keeper and Peter had staged his death, framing me, I was unable to take Harry. I was accused as a mass murderer and sent to Azkaban for twelve years. I've only just been acquitted for the crime with Voldemort's downfall and capture of Death Eaters, including Peter. So I didn't raise Harry, he was sent to Lily's muggle sister, and because Remus is a werewolf he wasn't allowed to take Harry either."
"Such hardships, all of you," Dorea whispered looking towards the way Harry had gone. They had all been a good, tight-knit family and to have all of this tragedy was unimaginable. Heaving a sigh, Dorea patted her husband's shoulder and spoke in a cheerful voice to break the melancholy that had settled. "Well, it's no use thinking of what could have been, you're here now. I'll have the elves prepare your rooms and you should go to the Hall of Paintings, there's a painting that has been waiting a long time to see you. You do remember where the Hall is, correct?"
"Yes, mum, I remember," Sirius said, a sad smile adorning his face. "I doubt they'll come away from the spring any time soon, but send them my way if you will, yeah?" After receiving two nods, Sirius went to the second floor in search of the Hall of Paintings. While most pure families had paintings of their ancestors throughout their manors and then one room designated for the family tapestry, Potter Manor was lined with decorative tapestries along the hallways, with a smaller ballroom labeled as the Hall of Paintings. Sirius himself had only been within it a few times, easily getting annoyed by the bickering of the older family members saying who was or was not good enough to be part of the family.
Before entering the room, Sirius touched the Potter crest on the door and whispered James' and Lily's names so that only their painting would become animated. He didn't think he would ever be prepared for what he was about to do. He hadn't seen anything relating to James and Lily except for a few photographs and of course Harry. But this Lily and James he was about to speak to was a painting that had been made shortly after they had been married, and before Harry had been conceived. So not only did he have to explain they had died and how, but also they had left a child behind. It was easier to tell Charlus and Dorea because they knew they were dying after the painting had been commissioned.
Upon entering the hall, he passed the oldest of paintings that were sound asleep. The only thing noticeable about the subjects in these paintings were the robes. Sure robes seemed old fashioned, but these robes were beyond what anyone would wear today. The frills, silk high collars, and stockings instead of trousers looked horribly uncomfortable, so much so that Sirius was glad for the more relaxed style of robes he could wear. It took Sirius quite the walk before he began to reach the end thanks to the extensive Potter family and wizarding space. As he drew closer, he could hear the curious whispers of the only painting he had awakened. His two friends gasped and smiled when Sirius stepped in front of their painting.
"Padfoot! About time someone comes to tell us what's going on. And why do you look so old? It looks like you aged about twenty years." Sirius just smiled at the energetic man. His heart clenched painfully at the sight and sound of James. He didn't try to answer until he could get a handle on the sudden wave of emotions.
"Sirius? What's wrong?" Lily asked and just hearing her voice, a woman he considered a sister, after fifteen years pushed him over the edge. He fell back onto a small bench as a sob was ripped from him. He didn't deserve their trust and loyalty. Because of him, they had died and thanks to his impulsivity, he had failed the duties of being a godfather they had given to him. "Sirius, everything's going to be alright. Just tell us what's wrong."
"I don't even know where to begin," Sirius said as he buried his face into his hands. "I'm sorry, I just haven't seen you two in such a long time."
"What do you mean? What's happened?" James asked. Sirius looked up into the painted, concerned eyes of Harry's parents, drew in a shaky breath before telling them what had happened.
"Well, you remember there was a war beginning…"
A/N: Good, yes? R&R
