Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and make no profit off of this story.

Apparently young Harry Potter did not approve of this arrangement, as he was busily whimpering when Augustus came through the door of Grimmauld Place.

"I'm sorry Harry. I thought you'd sleep right through the night. Guess those baby monitoring charms aren't much good if I forget to turn them on, are they? I'll make it up to you-get you a decent house elf to watch you while I'm gone. And maybe one of those miniature broomsticks like the Weasleys have. I know you'd like that." Augustus bounced the baby on his hip as he rummaged around in the kitchen for a bottle.

Curious at the commotion, Harry stopped crying and watched with bright eyes, half his fist stuck in his mouth.

Finally Augustus found the bottle he was looking for and set a saucepan on the stove to heat up some milk. "Don't look at me like that Harry. I swear I'm not going to blow us up." With a teasing grin he used his wand to create a puff of purple smoke over the milk. "Oops!"

Harry laughed. "More! More!"

An orange smoke cloud followed the first, sending Harry into a paroxysm of giggles. A whole color show progressed over the milk before it was finished heating up. Augustus handed the bottle to Harry. Harry started drinking happily, snuggling deeper into Augustus' arms as he became sleepier and sleepier.

"Momma?" he asked Augustus, eyes already half closed.

"Sorry Harry. But I'll bring you your Padfoot. Promise." He kissed the child's forehead, right over the scar.

"Pa'foot?" Harry murmured.

Augustus smiled down at the sleeping infant and went to put him back to bed.

It was bright and clear the next morning as Augustus made his way up to Hogwarts castle. Outside of Hagrid's hut something could be heard squawking cheerfully, on the quidditch pitch Madame Hooch was happily flying in death defying loops, and Professor Sprout was humming merrily as she planted something white and flowery along one path. Augustus passed by all of this with a faintly nostalgic expression on his face, clearly enjoying the pastoral scene.

"It is a fine day out, isn't it?" Albus Dumbledore interrupted him. Augustus didn't seem at all startled, although he couldn't have known the man was there. "I say we have our little discussion out here instead of cooped up inside." When Augustus nodded, Dumbledore continued. "Wonderful! Have you had-"

"Dumbledore!" A voice interrupted him and they both turned toward the doors behind them, which had been forcefully slammed open. A dark skinned man in auror robes came running out. "Just thought you should know-Black's been cleared. Fudge didn't want to but with Pettigrew right there…"

"What are they going to do with Sirius now?"

"They're supposed to take him to St. Mungo's to check him over, see if he's sane, and all that. Best guess is they'll have to lock him up in the psychiatric ward after having been there so long."

"He's still sane." Augustus commented.

The auror looked at him questioningly.

"Ah, Kingsley, this is Augustus. He's the seer that discovered Pettigrew. Augustus, this is Kingsley Shacklebolt."

"Has anyone thought to tell Remus Lupin?" Augustus asked.

Kingsley looked confused again. "Ah…no?"

"Dumbledore!" The voice was raspy and tired but still forceful. Coming toward them from the village was a pale, gaunt man. His hair was straggly and a little longer than decent. It was obviously the recently cleared Sirius Black. "Dumbledore! Where's Harry?"

Dumbledore was visibly surprised to see him. "He's with his relatives. Shouldn't you still be at St. Mungo's? You need to take it slow, Sirius."

"I don't need to take it slow. I've been taking it slow while I sat in that cell and did nothing! Now I want to see my godson and make sure he's ok. Especially since you put him with his relatives. They hate magic! Lily and James specifically asked you to put him with Remus if something went wrong!"

"Now Sirius-"

"You can explain later." Sirius took off back the way he had come.

Kingsley looked after the man curiously. "He's more likely to scare the little tyke looking like that. And how does he think he's going to take care of a baby right now?"

Dumbledore sighed. "Harry has to stay with his family. I'm sure Petunia will explain it to him."

"Don't you think it might be a problem later, Harry being raised by muggles and all?" Kingley asked.

"Nonsense. Family is always the best solution."

"I was raised by relatives after my parents…passed away." Augustus volunteered. "I don't always think it was the best choice. I think they tried to love me but…they really didn't know what to do with me or what to make of me."

"But you turned out fine, didn't you, my boy?"

Augustus said nothing. He just glanced nervously at a baby monitoring bracelet he was wearing.

Dumbledore noticed. "Are we keeping you, Augustus?"

"No, I just left my brother at home. I've got a house elf watching him but…" Augustus shrugged.

"How little?"

Augustus smiled fondly. "A lot littler than I imagined him being. I always expect to find a stubborn seventh year Gryffindor waiting for me."

"Yes, I always forget how small the children are too until I see them again at the sorting feast." Dumbledore admitted.

"And they're so much more fragile than we remember…"

Dumbledore's look turned puzzled at that strange comment.

Augustus waved that away with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Well, I'll be on my way…" He turned and started to walk away from the castle and toward the edges of the anti-apparating wards. He was trying to hurry without looking like he was hurrying. As he reached the edges of the wards, Sirius Black reappeared, already running. His face was dark as a thundercloud.

"Dumbledore!"

Augustus winced and apparated away as fast as he could.

Harry laughed and clapped his hands together when he saw Augustus appear.

"That's right Harry. Did you miss me?" Augustus asked as he scooped the kid out of the playpen and looked around the small house that he'd found when he'd had to move them out of Grimmauld Place.

Harry made a grab for Augustus' wand and the man laughed. "Not yet Harry. You'll have your own wand soon enough. Until then, I think you cause quite enough trouble without one."

Harry turned bright green eyes on his guardian and pouted. Augustus looked into those

eyes and seemed lost. "Oh, Harry." He sighed. "I just hope this is enough…It has to be enough."

"Magic?" Harry pleaded.

Augustus smiled. "You ready for some protection spells? We're going to make you the safest baby that's ever been born!"

Author's Note: So, any ideas on how to make it less obvious who Augustus really is?