Part of a series. List of stories in order in profile. Other stories not needed to understand this story, but provides background information.
"Alew"
"Chapter One: Halloween"
Life seemed simpler back when the only thing Sirius had to worry about was the next great prank. He could remember so clearly how he had bolted down corridors to get away from Filch, how he had chased a werewolf as a dog, and how he had laughed every single day with his mates. Even when those golden years were done and gone, life was still one big adventure. Fight for the Order, hang out at the pub several nights a week with his mates and most times the girls, and enjoy life free from the clutches of his deranged family. All that changed when his godson was born. A child's life overshadowed by a prophecy.
Sirius had never loved someone like he loved Harry. A primal urge to slaughter anyone who so much looked at him wrong consumed him the first time he held him at the hospital. A teeny, tiny little baby that fit perfectly in the crook of his arm. Sirius had been a goner, knowing he'd do anything for Harry. After hearing the prophecy, Sirius went absolutely feral in a mad attempt to save not only his godson, but his two best friends as well.
But attempts do not produce guarantees. Sometimes, no matter how hard someone tries, they fail. It doesn't matter how badly they want it. It doesn't matter how much effort they put into it. Sometimes, failure is inevitable. As Sirius stood outside of Godric's Hollow on the thirty-first of October, he understood failure on an entirely different level.
Sirius' soul left his body as his eyes roamed from the front door blown off its hinges to the roof caved in right where Harry's nursery was located. Fingers wrapped around his wrist. Sirius turned his head slowly, feeling as though he were stuck in some awful nightmare. Marlene stood next to him, tears pouring down her face as she stared at the house in front of them. The last thing Sirius wanted to do was enter the house, but he knew he had to. They had to see if anyone had escaped or had somehow survived the attack.
It seemed unfathomable that something so horrid could occur. Sirius had just talked to James and Harry on the mirror earlier that day. Harry had been so happy, babbling and showing off his dad's old Snitch. The Snitch flew around them and Harry bounced around on the sofa next to his dad trying to catch it. He caught it every single time. James had chuckled, ruffling Harry's hair and claiming he was a natural Seeker. Sirius only beamed at his godson, telling him how he wanted to see him fly his broom the next time he stopped over.
It would be the last time Sirius would mirror call with James. It would be the last time they talked. Sirius would have said so much more if he had known. James had been his family, his brother, his confidant. James had saved him from a life of darkness and from the clutches of his family. The Potters had opened their home to him. They treated him like he had always been there. Sirius wished he could thank them one last time, to show his gratitude.
But they were probably all dead now. Every last one of them. Sirius didn't want to live in a world where there were no Potters. Forcing himself to move, Sirius walked up the walk to the open front door.
Sirius caught sight of James' still body sprawled out on the floor with a surprised look on his face as he stepped through the threshold of the Hollow. Instantly, Sirius wanted to die and end the pain that ached over the entire surface of his body. Sirius fell to his knees next to his best mate, his finger pressing into James' neck and begging to feel even the faintest of pulses. But there was no pulse. Not even a flutter. A sob escaped Sirius' lips, all the laughter and happiness being sucked from Sirius' pores to be replaced with despair and agony.
Sirius had suggested Peter as Secret Keeper. It had been his idea. Peter who oohed and ahhed at every little thing James did. Peter who considered James his closest friend. Peter who had sobbed like a baby when James and Lily told him they were pregnant. Peter who danced with Lily at their wedding. Peter who always had a shy little smile on his face. Peter who was scared of his own fucking shadow.
How could Peter do this? Why would he do this?
Through the sorrow, the most wondrous sound filtered through Sirius' ears. The piercing cry of his godson jolted life back into him. His head snapped up, his gaze locking with Marlene's. They both bolted towards the stairs.
"Harry!" Sirius shouted, reaching the staircase first and taking the stairs two at a time.
His godson's wails grew louder, thundering in Sirius' ears. Rounding the landing, Sirius froze when he saw Hagrid exiting the nursery with a squirming Harry in his arms. The kid's right side of his face was covered in blood from a wound on his forehead. Marlene collided against his back, her fingers wrapping around his arm in a death grip.
A tear slid from Hagrid's eye. "Don't yeh go in there," he croaked. "Lily…"
Sirius took a stumbling step forward, pulling Marlene with him. Harry caught sight of them. His little arms reached out for them.
"Give him here, Hagrid," Sirius urged, his trembling arms reaching for his godson.
Marlene's fingers slipped from his arm but she lingered near him.
"I have ter get 'im ter safety," Hagrid explained.
"I'm his godfather. I'll keep him safe," Sirius promised, his hand wrapping around Harry's as his other hand waited to slid under his armpit as soon as Hagrid handed him over.
"I told Dumbledore I'd bring Harry ter 'im," Hagrid argued, a hint of regret in his voice.
Sirius could barely think straight, not when grief clawed at his skin and his godson's cries penetrated his ears. Marlene's sobs behind him didn't help matters either.
"So, you're going to Hogwarts?" Sirius asked, trying desperately to concentrate.
Harry hiccupped. "See-See," he said between his sobs.
It was what Harry called Sirius, having graduated from just hissing his name a few months ago. A lump formed in the back of Sirius' throat as he tried to keep his emotions at bay. Harry was far too little to even begin to comprehend what was happening around him. Sirius could only hold his hand, his thumb brushing along the kid's knuckles as he tried to reassure the kid that he was all right and safe.
"No, ter his aunt an' uncle's," Hagrid replied.
Sirius' heart sank to the floor, his grip loosening around Harry's hand. Why in the world would Harry go there?
"What?" Marlene gasped. "Why?"
"I don't know, but I got me orders," Hagrid explained.
Sirius could only stare as Harry's tears mixed with the blood on his face. Harry was still sobbing and reaching for him. Sirius only felt numb, his fingers attempting to brush away the mess on his godson's face but only smearing it up his cheekbone.
"I have ter take 'im. I'm sorry," Hagrid added.
Sirius' eyes slid closed. "Give me my godson, Hagrid," he said in a low voice.
"I'm sorry, Sirius. I can' do tha'," Hagrid replied. "I promised Dumbledore I'd get 'im ter Surrey safe an' sound."
Sirius opened his eyes to see Hagrid had tried to shield Harry's view of Sirius and Marlene. The kid continued to sob, his little shoulders shaking. Hagrid was loyal to Dumbledore. He'd jump off a fucking cliff if Dumbledore asked him to. The only way for Sirius to gain custody of Harry was to attack Hagrid. He didn't want to bloody well do that. But he also wanted his godson. Clearly, Harry wanted him just as much.
Maybe Dumbledore had no idea that Sirius and Marlene were listed as Harry's guardians in the Potter's will. Perhaps it was all a big misunderstanding that needed to be sorted out. Raking his hands through his hair, Sirius couldn't stop the sob that crawled up his throat. What was he supposed to do? If he couldn't have Harry, then he had to ensure that Harry was safe. To do that, Sirius needed to find Peter and kill him before he could team up with his little Death Eater friends. While he did that, Marlene could find the will that listed them as Harry's legal guardians and sort out the mess.
"Okay, okay, okay," Marlene said with a sniff. "We'll come with you to Surrey and talk to Dumbledore ourselves."
Sirius turned his head to look at Marlene.
"Well, I was goin' ter take the Knight Bus," Hagrid explained. "I suppose yeh can come with me."
"What?" Sirius snapped his attention to Hagrid. "You can't take him on the Knight Bus! That's far too dangerous!"
"No one would know who he is!" Hagrid protested, his face reddening.
"We'll Apparate," Sirius decided, his hands extending to grab Harry. "Let me take him with me."
Hagrid blinked, his gaze wandering down at Harry.
"I'll take you with me, Hagrid," Marlene said in a kind voice.
Hagrid looked at Marlene, his gaze resting on the tiny baby bump beneath her breast. Marlene was sixteen weeks pregnant. They were going to have a baby and now they had Harry as well. If someone would have told Sirius a few years ago that he'd be twenty-one with two kids, he would have laughed in their face. He hadn't been interested in getting married or having kids. Honestly, he thought he'd just travel across Europe on his motorbike and just be free. Now, he couldn't imagine his life without Marlene, Harry, and their unborn child.
"I can Apparate until I'm in my third trimester," Marlene explained. "It's fine. The baby will be fine."
Hagrid looked reluctant for a few moments before he slowly handed Harry over to Sirius. The kid clung to him, his little arms nearly choking him. Sirius didn't even care. He held the kid against his chest, his hand pressing against the back of Harry's unruly mess of hair. A tangy metallic smell filtered in his nostrils.
"Why are we going to Lily's sister's?" Sirius asked, pressing a kiss on Harry's temple.
"Dumbledore probably hasn't read their will yet to know they named us Harry's legal guardians," Marlene reasoned, her hand rubbing Harry's back. "Let's just stay calm, all right?"
Sirius didn't want to make promises he couldn't keep. If Dumbledore thought that Harry would go to his last living biological relatives, then he had another thing coming. Sirius wasn't going to just hand Harry over. Harry was his godson, his responsibility, his life. He couldn't believe he had even been contemplating leaving him a few moments before. What the fuck was wrong with him? Sirius felt like he couldn't even think properly as his entire world crashed around him.
"Dumbledore said the wards fell," Hagrid explained.
Marlene reached out a hand for him to take. "Then, we can just Apparate from here," she said, turning her attention to Sirius. "Where are you Apparating to?"
"Right out front of the house?" Sirius suggested, hiking Harry up in his arms to try to alleviate Harry's grip on his neck.
Marlene raised her eyebrows. "That's out in the open," she argued. "How about that alleyway behind the market where we bought those eggs to…" she trailed off, glancing quickly over at Hagrid. "To… yeah."
Sirius didn't need her to finish her thought. He remembered quite clearly after James and Lily's wedding when they had drunkenly Apparated to Little Whinging. They had bought several cartons of eggs and pitched them at the Dursleys house, because they had both watched Lily cry before the ceremony that no one in her family showed up to her wedding. Sirius may have used to his wand to maneuver a couple into the chimney. Marlene may have changed the yolks colors so the house was very vibrant.
"I don't really want to walk around in the open with Harry," Sirius reasoned. "I'd rather just get this sorted out as soon as possible and, and…"
Go home, Sirius wanted to say. But they couldn't go home. Surely, Death Eaters would be looking for Harry after what happened. It was logical that Harry would be in their custody and their cottage was vulnerable to an attack. While Sirius had placed some wards around his uncle's old cottage where he and Marlene lived, he didn't believe they were enough to keep Harry safe.
Harry sniffed, his snotty nose dragging across Sirius' neck. Sirius only rubbed his back as his little head lifted, his bright green eyes swimming with tears as he looked at his godfather. Offering him a tight smile, Sirius brushed his blood-drenched locks off his forehead.
"Hey, kid," Sirius greeted. "Are you all right?"
Harry played with the collar of Sirius' leather jacket. "See-See," he said in his childish little voice.
"All right, fine," Marlene breathed. "It's late anyway, so everyone in the neighborhood should be sleeping. Hopefully, no Muggles see us."
Sirius rested his forehead against Harry's, not caring if he got blood on him. "Listen, mate, everything is going to squeeze together, all right? It may hurt your tummy, but it'll be over with really quick. Just remember, I got you, okay? I'm not letting go."
There was a pop. Marlene and Hagrid were gone. Sirius closed his eyes, letting out a low breath and trying to calm his nerves. The last thing he wanted to do was Splinch his godson. He could do this, and he wasn't just talking about Apparating. Sirius knew he could take care of Harry and keep him safe. While his inner circle had shrunk, Sirius knew that he could protect the family that he had left. He'd do better, be better, act better. He sure as hell wouldn't trust anyone with Harry, Marlene, or his unborn baby except himself. That had been a hard lesson to learn.
Sirius Apparated. Harry screamed, his arms wrapping in a vice grip around Sirius' neck as they appeared in Little Whinging. Dumbledore and McGonagall stood shoulder-to-shoulder, grave looks crossing their faces. Sirius rubbed Harry's back, shushing him as he rocked him in his arms. Harry only buried his face into Sirius' neck, his shoulders shaking. While he hated Apparating with such a young child, they needed to get Harry out of that house sooner rather than later.
"Sirius," Dumbledore greeted in a low tone. "May I have Harry?"
Furrowing his eyebrows, Sirius hiked Harry up in his arms. "What are we doing here? Marlene and I are listed as Harry's guardians if…" he trailed off, licking his bottom lip. "What's going on?"
Dumbledore folded his hands in front of him. "What exactly is your plan, Sirius?"
"What are you talking about?" Sirius demanded, his patience wearing thin.
Dumbledore peered at Sirius over the tops of his glasses. "Lord Voldemort could only get past the Fidelius if the Secret Keeper willingly gave up the secret."
Sirius blinked, his lips parting.
"Sirius wasn't the Secret Keeper," Marlene interrupted.
"You think I did this?" Sirius whispered, his limbs shaking. "You think I killed James and Lily? And, and what? That I'm going to kill my godson too?"
"James told me personally that you agreed," Dumbledore replied.
Marlene shook her head, taking her spot next to Sirius. "No, no, I was there," she said in a rush. "They switched last minute to Peter. This is Peter's fault."
"Wait, is Harry here because you were going to give him to the Dursleys?" Sirius asked, his hand pressing against the back of his godson's head until their cheeks collided. "They hate magic. They never even met Harry. Lily hasn't seen her sister in years."
Dumbledore didn't answer Sirius. Instead, he turned his attention to Marlene.
"Marlene, would you kindly allow Minerva to ensure you are not under the influence of any spells?" Dumbledore asked in a soft tone.
"You think I bewitched her?" Sirius hissed, trying not to raise his voice and scare Harry any more than he already was. "You really think I did this? Why the fuck would I do this?"
Marlene pressed her hand against Sirius' back. "Hey, hey, it's okay. It's just a big misunderstanding, Sirius," she assured him before she stepped up to McGonagall.
"Right," Sirius said in a cool tone, his gaze focusing on Dumbledore. "It's because I'm a Black, isn't it?"
Dumbledore only peered at him. "It is because James told me you accepted the position of Secret Keeper."
Sirius called bullshit, but he didn't say that. He only held onto Harry tighter. To keep the kid safe or for his own comfort, Sirius wasn't quite sure. McGonagall waved her wand up and down Marlene's body. The seconds dragged into minutes. Harry's soft sleepy breaths were the only thing that Sirius could hear, feeling puffs of air against his neck. Sirius' arms began to ache from holding Harry for so long, but he didn't dare hand him off to anyone.
"I don't detect any spells, Albus," McGonagall announced, sliding her wand back into her tartan robes.
Dumbledore gestured in Sirius' direction. "I hope you can forgive me, Sirius, but I feel as though you, of all people, would appreciate the caution when dealing with Harry's safety."
Sirius swallowed. "Yeah, sure," he said, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice yet failing.
"Professor," Marlene said as she made her way back to Sirius' side. "I fear we can't take Harry back to our cottage. It isn't safe for him there, not with Death Eaters knowing where to find us. We need a safe place to stay."
"Ah, yes, I need to speak with you about that," Dumbledore started, his eyebrows tugging down. "I personally placed wards around Godric's Hollow to alert me if they fell and also to record the spells used within the house. Three Killing Curses were cast tonight. One in the downstairs entryway and two in Harry's nursery. The last Killing Curse seems to have dismantled all of the wards around the house. It is my belief, especially after seeing Harry, that Lord Voldemort attempted to kill Harry with the Killing Curse and failed. That's the scar you see on Harry's forehead, one that looks suspiciously like the wand movement of the curse. I don't think I need to tell either one of you what that potentially means."
The prophecy. The words haunted Sirius' dreams. The potential of what it all meant caused Sirius to wake up from a dead sleep breathless and scared shitless. Now the reality that the ruddy prophecy cost his best friends their lives made him want to scream.
"I believe that Lily saved Harry's life," Dumbledore explained. "With that, she shielded him from dying tonight. That act of pure love cast very powerful and ancient magic. Blood magic. In doing so, if Harry is with a blood relative of Lily's, then Lord Voldemort would be unable to harm him."
Surely, Dumbledore wasn't saying what Sirius thought he was. There was no way in fucking hell.
"No," Marlene said first, her head shaking. "No, Harry's not staying here."
Dumbledore turned his attention to Sirius. "You know how powerful blood magic is, Sirius."
Sure, he did. Arcturus and Orion had always favored blood wards on the Black family ancestorial homes, casting blood bonds, and appreciating the branch of magic that was now considered unsavory. Sirius had convinced James to use blood wards on Godric's Hollow when they had first gone into hiding. If Dumbledore was right and Lily had inadvertently cast some sacrificial blood magic, then Harry couldn't be harmed if another blood relative was tethered to him.
Except, Petunia Dursley wasn't a nice person. She had made it quite clear that she wanted nothing to do with Lily, James, or Harry. Perhaps, if Petunia was a doting aunt, Sirius could let Harry go for his own safety. But she wasn't. And Sirius couldn't. Harry belonged with him and Marlene, with his godparents who loved him more than anyone else in the entire bloody world. They could keep him safe. Sirius was sure of it.
"No," Sirius croaked. "Harry is better off with us. It's what James and Lily wanted."
"The window to bind the blood magic is very narrow," Dumbledore argued. "Perhaps, you and Marlene could live next door. You can still be in his life."
Sirius shook his head. "No," he repeated. "I won't give him up. I know Marlene won't either. He's our godson. We can keep him safe."
"I implore you to reconsider, Sirius," Dumbledore pressed. "Harry's safety is of the upmost importance."
"No," Sirius said again, his tone harsh. "You can either help us secure somewhere safe to take Harry or you can fuck off."
Dumbledore let out a defeated sigh. Sirius' chest burst with the victory. It wasn't as though Dumbledore was going to win anyway. Even if he tried to forcibly take Harry from him, Sirius would win custody through the Ministry with the Potter's will.
"Let's move this to Hogwarts," McGonagall insisted. "I fear that it is far too dangerous to stay here in such an open space."
Sirius nodded. He could agree to that. They could wash Harry up and find somewhere to lay him down to sleep. It would give them time to figure out what their next move was. Sirius assumed they'd have to acquire a new house or something. Sirius didn't honestly know. The only thing he was certain of was that he, Marlene, and Harry needed to stay together.
Fatigue had settled in hours ago. Marlene had no idea how they were going to keep Harry safe. The prophecy, the Killing Curses, the blood magic. It all swirled around in Marlene's mind as they Apparated to Hogsmeade and made the long trek to the castle.
Sirius had yet to let go of Harry, which wasn't surprising. One of Sirius' best qualities was the way he protected the people he loved. To gain that love and protection was damn near impossible. Marlene glanced up and to her left to see Harry still sleeping with his head on Sirius' shoulder, seemingly so exhausted that even Apparating didn't wake him. Blood stained both of their cheeks and necks. Blood caked Sirius' left hand that was tangled in Harry's unruly hair.
They made their way to the infirmary where Madam Pomfrey met them with anxious eyes. After several diagnostic spells, she declared that Harry was in good health. Although, she detected dark magic seeping from him. Marlene could only assume that was an after effect of the Killing Curse. Sirius frowned at that information. Marlene could see the brooms flying around his head as though he thought there was more to it. Sirius loved solving puzzles, and he clearly deemed this revelation worthy of solving.
"Thank you," Marlene whispered to Madam Pomfrey when she finished, a soft smile gracing her exhausted face.
"We'll let you three rest," Dumbledore commented, gesturing for Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall to leave the infirmary with him.
Marlene glanced down to where Sirius lounged on the hospital bed with Harry slumped against his godfather's chest. At some point, Harry's thumb had slid into his mouth. Marlene took a seat by Sirius' knees, a long sigh escaping her lips. Her arms ached to hold Harry, but she knew Sirius needed him more. Having Harry allowed Sirius to focus and not break down completely. Marlene could see it. He was so close to unraveling at the seams.
"You two should clean up," she whispered. "There's blood everywhere."
"Head wounds bleed a lot," Sirius commented, his head hitting against the headboard.
Marlene held out her arms. "I can take him if you want to clean up."
Sirius gazed lazily at her. "I'm good. I don't want to risk waking him. Besides, you look dead on your feet. You need to sleep for you and the baby."
Marlene placed her hand on the small bump. When Marlene had found out she was pregnant just a month before, Sirius had been an anxious mess. He didn't believe he'd be a good father. But Marlene knew he was worrying for nothing. She had seen the way he was with Harry, so there was zero doubt in her mind. Over the course of the past several weeks, Sirius had slowly come around to the idea of being a father. Lately, he seemed more invested and interested in her pregnancy. He often placed his hand on her bump, a soft smile crossing his features when he'd wonder out loud if it was a boy or a girl. He had even asked if they could name the baby Alphard if it was a boy and Marlene had agreed without hesitation.
Now, they would not only have one child but two. Harry was their responsibility now. He was their son. They'd have two kids under two in a few months. There was no one in the world that she wanted to take care of two kids with except for Sirius. His love was fierce and endless. He'd burn down an entire village if that meant keeping the three of them safe. That thought only made her fall deeper in love with him.
Marlene placed a hand on his knee. "I love you," she whispered.
Sirius swallowed visibly. "I love you too, Marly."
"We're going to be all right," she assured him, her voice breaking.
Sirius sniffed, tears brimming his gray eyes. "I already miss them. Harry… will he even remember them?"
"Probably not," Marlene said in a soft voice. "He's so little that he'll probably only remember us raising him."
Sirius screwed his eyes shut, a stray tear falling down his cheek. Marlene couldn't even bear to think about it herself. She would be known as Harry's mum, not Lily. That seemed wrong on so many different levels. Wiping her fingers underneath her eyes, she rose from the bed. She needed to keep busy, to do something instead of thinking about her dead best friend and her dead cousin.
Marlene started to open cupboards, looking for something to use to help clean the blood off Sirius and Harry. She looked through four different cupboards until she found a cloth and a basin. With a flick of her wand, she filled the basin with water and made her way over to the bed. She dunked the cloth into the water before wringing it out. She decided to clean Harry up first, softly brushing the cloth across his forehead, cheek, and neck. A nasty lightning bolt cut ran from Harry's hairline down through his brow.
"Do you think I can do it?" Sirius asked in a hoarse voice.
Marlene changed the bloody water for clean water. "Do what?" she asked as she did a quick cleaning charm on the cloth.
"Be a good dad," he added, his eyes shining with uncertainty.
Marlene smiled softly. "You already are, love."
"I'm not James," he argued.
Marlene wiped the cloth across Sirius' cheek to clean off a spot of Harry's blood. "No, you're not. Nor do you have to be. James is… was a wonderful father. He knew exactly what to say and do to keep Harry calm and happy. He was like a giant kid himself and always playing with Harry," she explained, moving to the small spot of blood smeared across Sirius' forehead. "You are fiercely protective and kind and understanding. While you may not always know what to say because you didn't have the best example on how a father is to treat his children growing up, I know that you will always get down to their level and listen because that's what you craved as a child. These kids will know that you won't let anything happen to them. They will always know how much you love them. You don't have to be the same type of dad as James. I'm not sure that's the type of dad Harry needs anymore. Harry needs a dad who would go to hell and back for him, because he's been marked just like the prophecy said he would be. I can't think of anyone more prepared to protect him than you."
Sirius looked down at the top of Harry's head. "I already didn't protect him. I allowed Peter to do my job and look what happened."
Marlene placed a hand on his thigh. "Sirius, no one could have predicted that this would have happened."
"I should have," Sirius insisted, a few more tears spilling down his cheeks. "I thought it was Remus. I never even thought that Pete was…" he trailed off, shaking his head.
Marlene squeezed his thigh. "I'm as much to blame then," she said in a tiny voice. "I went along with it. Maybe… maybe even selfishly. I didn't want to lose you. So, Peter being Secret Keeper made sense. I thought… well, I thought that if you were taken and they figured out you didn't know anything, then maybe they'd let you live because of who your family is. I know Walburga is entangled with Voldemort. I thought, I thought she wouldn't want you dead and would spare you."
She hadn't told anyone that before, because she knew how selfish it was on her part. Life without Sirius didn't make sense. How was she supposed to lose him? She never would have outright told him not to be Secret Keeper, but she had been so relieved when he suggested the Peter plan. Surely, someone would have figured out Sirius was the decoy fairly quickly if he had been kidnapped and tortured. Despite Walburga's prior treatment of Sirius, Marlene couldn't see her wanting the Black line to die out by allowing him to be murdered.
"Marly…" Sirius croaked.
"You wanted Peter because you were afraid of your family being able to manipulate you into telling the secret," Marlene continued, her eyes searching his face. "I wanted Peter because I thought you'd be more likely to live if you were the decoy."
Sirius cleared his throat. "You're pregnant, Marly. Your reasoning is… it makes sense."
"You being afraid of your deranged family makes sense too, Sirius," Marlene insisted, her thumb brushing against the fabric of his trousers. "All four of us were trying to outsmart a mad wizard and his followers. No one is to blame. We wanted everyone to live."
Sirius nodded, his face unreadable as it slipped into one of his stoic masks. Marlene tossed the cloth onto the bedside table before she scooted up the bed to sit next to Sirius. Their arms brushed together as Marlene rested her head against his shoulder. She felt his cheek rest against her head. Her fingers played with the hem of Harry's pajama bottoms, her heart aching in her chest.
"We'll get through this together," she whispered, smoothing out the fabric of Harry's pajamas before she wrapped her fingers around his ankle.
Marlene meant it. They had been dumb naïve kids before. Now, they both understood the severity of the prophecy and the war surrounding them. They couldn't trust anybody except for each other. That much was clear. Marlene knew that both of them would go to the edges of the earth to protect Harry and their unborn child from harm.
Sirius' heart ached as he sat on an uncomfortable bed in the infirmary at Hogwarts. Harry sat sideways on his lap, his head resting against Sirius' chest as he slept. Sirius could feel the kid's drool soaking through his shirt. Slumped against his side was Marlene, her head resting against his shoulder as she slept with her fingers curled around Harry's ankle that rested on her lap.
While Marlene and Harry had found a way to sleep, Sirius had not. He couldn't shut off his brain, thinking about the events of Halloween night. Guilt clawed at his chest, despite Marlene trying to tell him otherwise. He had suggested Peter as Secret Keeper. It was his idea. His alone. The Potters paid the ultimate price for his reckless decision. Every damn time he blinked, he saw James' lifeless body on the back of his eyelids. So, he just sat, trying not to move and disturb Marlene or Harry.
Where the fuck did they even go from here? Leave the country? Try the Fidelius Charm again with a better Secret Keeper? Dumbledore claimed Voldemort was gone, but Sirius didn't believe he was actually dead. It all seemed too easy. Harry may have been marked as an equal, but he hadn't defeated Voldemort. That much, Sirius was certain of.
His fingers carded through his godson's thick and dirty hair, pushing back the toddler's fringe to see the bright red lightning bolt wound that had bled profusely just hours ago. There was still blood caked under his nails and staining both of their skin. An awful reminder of the previous night.
Sirius didn't know much, but he knew that he and Marlene were the only people Harry had left. They'd be damned if anything happened to the little boy. He'd be damned if the kid left his custody. Hitting his head against the back of the hospital bed, he knew he'd have to go back to Godric's Hollow to grab James and Lily's will which named him and Marlene as Harry's guardians if they died. He'd shove it under Dumbledore's nose before he filed for full custody of his godson with the Ministry of Magic. Sirius couldn't understand how Dumbledore thought Lily's sister was a better option to raise Harry.
Sirius couldn't help but try to think of anything besides his dead best friends. But he couldn't. His heart physically hurt for hours as he struggled to breathe, the occasional tear sliding down his cheek. All he could do was look down at Harry's sleeping form and the air filled his lungs again. He'd do right by Harry… or he'd die trying.
Harry was now his responsibility. His son. Marlene was also pregnant. They'd be a family. The four of them. They were the only ones keeping Sirius from doing something completely stupid and reckless. Marlene with her voice of reason. Harry's weight against his chest. Their presence grounded him in a way he desperately needed.
When the sun peeked through the windows, Dumbledore arrived in the infirmary looking as exhausted as Sirius felt. He couldn't help but tighten his grip around Harry. Dumbledore would have to pry the child from his cold, dead hands. Pulling a wand from his robe pocket, Dumbledore gently tapped the top of Harry's unruly hair before turning to Sirius.
"He won't be disturbed while we talk," Dumbledore explained. "And we need to talk, Sirius."
"I'm not giving up custody of Harry," Sirius said in a flat tone. "We already told you that Marlene and I were named his guardians if…" he trailed off, his throat tightening painfully.
"I know you love him, Sirius," Dumbledore started, his hands clasping in front of him. "But he is safest under the blood protection of Lily's sister."
Marlene shifted next to him, a low groan escaping her lips.
"She won't love him like we will," Sirius argued. "She wouldn't die for him. We would. A thousand times."
Marlene sat up, rubbing her eyes as she looked between Sirius and Dumbledore.
"Sirius, blood protection cannot be replicated," Dumbledore replied, his eyebrows tugging down. "I know you know how powerful blood magic is. I can arrange for the house next door to go up for sale. That way, you and Marlene can be close to him."
"I don't need your approval," Sirius retorted, his jaw clenching. "I will find James and Lily's will and take it to the Ministry. They will grant me custody."
Dumbledore frowned, his head nodding. "Will you at least think about it?"
Sirius sneered. "I don't need to think about it. I can protect my godson."
Marlene placed a hand on Sirius' arm. "I think it would be more helpful if you gave us some guidance on how to keep Harry safe, because Sirius and I won't give him up."
"Very well," Dumbledore conceded with a deep sigh.
Sirius felt a jolt of victory pulse through him once more. Perhaps this ridiculous idea could finally die and not be discussed further.
"I think the two of you should leave our world," Dumbledore explained. "Raise Harry as a Muggle. Shield him from our kind. I know that will be an adjustment for the both of you, but I think it's vital that you hide Harry to the best of your ability."
Live like a Muggle? Without any magic? While Sirius could probably pass for a Muggle (he did obtain an Outstanding on his Muggle Studies N.E.W.T.), he didn't know how he was to give up magic completely. Live in a Muggle community? Sure. Get a Muggle job? Nah, he'd live off his inheritance still. Keep Harry away from other wizards? Easy. But to live without his wand? Sirius looked down at Harry's messy head, his heart aching.
"We won't take him into the wizarding world," Marlene confirmed. "We can live in a Muggle community and let him go to Muggle primary school. That won't be a problem. But we can't hide magic from him. He needs his preventative potions and we need to show him pictures of his family."
"You cannot take him to a Healer," Dumbledore insisted. "He must stay away from our world until he begins Hogwarts. His name is already all over the papers. People want to see the boy who defeated Lord Voldemort. Death Eaters want to murder him. He's being hailed as the Boy Who Lived."
The weight of the situation crashed into Sirius. Harry had always been in danger. Sirius knew that. But it had never truly seemed real until the previous night. He had been running on pure grief and adrenaline that he didn't even stop to think about what would be reported in the papers. The Boy Who Lived? Merlin, they're making a spectacle out of a tragedy.
Sirius shoved that to the back of his mind. He didn't care about any of that. Harry was just Harry, his godson. Sirius needed to focus on his care and not what others were saying about him.
"Ted. Ted Tonks. He's a Healer. He can make home visits to ensure Harry has his preventative potions and, and anything else we need for him," Sirius reasoned. "Otherwise, we can take him to Muggle Healers," he suggested. "I trust Ted with my life."
"Doctors," Dumbledore said. "They are called doctors in the Muggle world."
Sirius swallowed. "Right. Doctors."
They'd get the hang out it. Sirius had no doubt. For Harry, they'd do anything.
"Where can we go?" Marlene asked. "We need to try to settle Harry. Last night was horrific for him. We need to try to establish some normalcy again for him."
"I believe one of your family properties could work splendidly, Marlene," Dumbledore said, peering at her over his glasses. "I can put my protections on it, of course. Your location would remain between the three of us unless there are others you trust implicitly."
Harry stirred in Sirius' arms. He rubbed the kid's back, trying to soothe him back to sleep until they were done talking.
"There's a two-bedroom flat we own in Margate, near the water," Marlene replied, her thumb rubbing against Harry's ankle bone. "We can blend in with the Muggle population there. Luckily, Harry looks enough like Sirius that he could pass for our son easily. Death Eaters might not look for us in such a populated area."
Besides the black hair, Sirius didn't think he and Harry looked anything alike. But he supposed the hair color might be enough to make their story believable.
"Dada," Harry moaned, pressing his face into Sirius' chest. "Dada."
Ignoring the pang in his chest, Sirius slid his hands under the kid's armpits and adjusted him on his lap. He cocked his head down to catch Harry's eye and smiled tightly at him.
"Hey, kid," Sirius greeted, brushing his sticky hair back on his head. "How'd you sleep?"
Harry rubbed his eye with his fist as he looked around at his new surroundings. "Mama? Dada?"
"It's all right. You're with Marly and me," Sirius explained, rubbing his knuckles against the kid's cheek.
Tears brimmed Harry's big emerald eyes. "Mama! Mama!"
Sirius sucked in a breath, swinging his legs off the bed and then standing. He hauled Harry onto his hip, his hand pressing against the back of Harry's head to gently push it down onto his shoulder. Harry continued to cry for his parents as Sirius rocked him.
"Margate's fine," Sirius said in a brisk tone. "We need his things to try to keep it all as normal as possible. He needs his kitchen set and blocks and, and his stuffed animals. He needs his blasted Magpies blanket. He sleeps with it every night."
Dumbledore nodded. "If you want to make a list of things you would like, I can send Remus to the house to collect it all. I can stop by the flat this morning to place my enchantments on it, so the three of you can move in by the afternoon."
Harry whimpered in Sirius' ear, his tiny little voice asking for Lily once more. All Sirius could do was continue to rock him and hope it was enough.
"Thank you, professor," Marlene replied, a grateful smile crossing her face.
Dumbledore nodded before he made his way out of the infirmary. With a heavy sigh, Marlene rose from the bed and made her way over to them. She held out her hands.
"Let me take him," Marlene said, her hand pressing against Harry's back.
Harry jumped at the contact, a cry escaping his lips as he wrapped his arms around Sirius' neck in a death grip. "See-See! See-See!" he screeched in a panicked tone.
Marlene flinched away, her wide eyes staring at Harry as he tried to bury himself into Sirius' arms. The only time Sirius had seen Harry panic like this in the past had been when their friends had stopped by the Hollow that he didn't see very often.
"Hey, hey, it's all right," Sirius soothed. "It's just Marly. It's Marly. Look, it's Marly."
Harry turned his head, his cheek pressing into Sirius' as he looked at Marlene. She smiled at him, her hand reaching out to play with his socked foot. Harry smiled shyly, the tears ceasing.
"Love, it's just me," Marlene said in a kind tone.
"Mawlee," Harry said with a sniff.
Marlene held out her arms. "Want me to hold you, love?"
Harry nodded, his grip around Sirius loosening. He leaned in for Marlene to grab him and Sirius let him go with a practiced ease. He didn't know what to do with his empty arms. Harry had been in his arms for the past ten or so hours. Sirius crossed his arms over his chest, watching as Marlene smothered Harry's face with kisses as he giggled. The kid sat comfortably on Marlene's little baby bump.
Marlene brushed her nose against Harry's. "Marly loves you."
Harry pressed his hands against Marlene's cheeks, a string of little babbles escaping his lips. Marlene only laughed.
"Sirius, love, do you want to make that list?" Marlene asked, tearing her attention away from Harry. "That way we can get him to the flat and give him a bath and change him out of these dirty clothes?"
Sirius nodded, his gaze dropping down to the blood on Harry's pajamas. Taking a seat in a chair, he conjured a piece of parchment and a quill to make a bulleted list. They needed all of Harry's baby things like his cot, high chair, and changing table. They needed nappies and wipes. They definitely needed his clothes and shoes. Then he decided to make a list of Harry's favorite toys. His kitchen set and all the food, his broomstick and Snitch, his block set, and his coloring supplies. He definitely needed his blanket and stuffed animals. Sirius couldn't forget the stash of photo albums in the parlor. He tapped the quill against the parchment, trying to think of what else they needed for Harry. Sirius remembered Harry's special little cup, the only cup he would drink out of. It was green cup with a dragon on it. Sirius had no idea if Remus would even know what Sirius was talking about.
Glancing up, Sirius watched as Marlene swayed with Harry. She replied to his babbles with smiles, head nods, and words of agreement and wonder. For the first time since arriving at the devastation that awaited them at Godric's Hollow, his heart ached a little less in his chest. Harry had survived and was relatively unharmed. That had been the goal, hadn't it? The four of them vowed to keep Harry safe and give him the chance to grow up.
"If something happens to us, keep him safe, Pads," James' voice echoed in Sirius' head. "Please, just keep Harry safe."
Rubbing his fingers against his mouth, Sirius would be damned if he didn't fulfill James' last request to him. Since the kid was born, Sirius had vowed to always be there for Harry. He took his role as godfather very seriously. It had been the ultimate honor in his mind to not only be named godfather but also to be named legal guardian of Harry. Sirius was not only going to make sure the kid survived, but he vowed that Harry would have a happy childhood filled with laughter as well. Because Harry deserved the world. Sirius would be damned if he didn't provide it for him.
Here's to the newest story in the Synodic universe! I hope you enjoyed it and I am SO excited for this story. Don't forget to drop a review. They motivate me to keep chugging along with my writing.
Special thanks to prewettpotter!