Chapter Text
The last night of October was differend than all. Not because of it was much cooler or because Halloween was celebrated, which meant that children, disguised as differend kind of monsters, ghosts and wizards and witches, went from hause to hause asking for sweets or doing pranks. None of this children realized that the beings they were disguised as, are real. Especially wizards.
The special difference was that a tall man dressed in a black robe with a hood was walking along the narrow street of a town in Godric's Valley. He looked contemptuously at signs of the wizarding world that ordinary people doesn't believe exists. He was a wizard himself and came here for a specific purpouse - to kill a boy who might endanger him in the future. Child's parents wanted to protect him and hid under the Fidelius Charm, which already was broken a few weeks ago. However, that wizard - known in wizarding world as Lord Voldemort - didn't know that coming to Godric's Valley was a huge mistake.
He found home and family without problems thanks to "kindness" of Secret's Keeper. He went inside, killed child's parents but when he wanted to send one-year-old boy to them, something went wrong and killing curse bounced off the infant and struck Voldemort, depriving him of his body and power. After all boy had only a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.
Soon after, a tall, handsome man wearing a brown coat appeared. He had long, tangled, darkbrown hair and eyes of the same colour. He had short beard on his face. His name was Sirius Black and he was long-time friend of murdered family. When he saw theri bodies, he cried but stopped when he saw little Harry. Infant was crying and had scar on his forehead but was alive and healthy. Sirius took the baby from the crib, wrapped it in a blanked and carried it out of the house.
"Don't be afraid, Harry" he whispered to the infant which stopped cry. Sirius was getting on his bike when he heard someone approach. This was a man of enormous size with a very tangled black beard and hair. He was wearing a large coat and dark eyes glistened with tears. Black was very surprised to see him, he did not expect an old friend here.
"Hagrid, what are you doing here?" Sirius asked surprised.
"Dumbledore asked to check that Lily and James were okay" the giant replied. "And Harry too".
"Lily and James are dead. The Dark Lord found them" Sirius' voice cracked. "Harry survived, it's surprising".
"Poor little Harry" sobbed Hagrid. "Give him to me, Sirius."
"Why?"
"Dumbledore said Harry was to go to his aunt and uncle if his parents were hurt."
Sirius wiped the tears from his cheeks and looked defiantly at the giant. He pressed the bundle with the baby to his chest, indicating that he would not give up the godson without a fight.
"Tell the Headmaster that I will die sooner than let Harry end up with those muggles! I will take care of him! I have the right to custody of him as his godfather!"
"Sirius, I don't doubt that you would take care of Harry better than those muggles but Dumbledore..."
"...Dumbledore can claim that Harry will be safe with Dursleys but I disagree! Lily said many times that her sister hates all magic! How we can be sure that she won't treat Harry like house elf!"
"Sirius... or I know? Talk to Dumbledore about it yourself. He's waiting in Little Whinging, Surrey. We'll meet there."
"Of course. I'll talk with Headmaster about it."
Sirius got on his bike and took to the air, still holding the baby. The man made sure that the child was not cold and made sure that the motor's engine didn't work too loudly. He didn't need the attention of muggle kids who were busy celebrating.
The road went on without any problems. On the way, Harry fell asleep and Sirius had to watch out for him more. After a few hours, he landed on Privet Drive in Little Whinging, County Surrey, where an old wizard with a long white beard and a stern-looking middle-aged woman waited in the darkened street. They were both clearly taken aback by the sight of Sirius.
"Good evening, Sirius" the old wizard said, smiling benevolently at the newcomer.
"Good evenig, Dumbledore" said Sirius getting off the motorcycle. "And Mrs. McGonagall" he added at the sight of the woman.
A short time later they were joined by Hagrid, who greeted everyone politely and asked Sirius how Harry was doing.
"Good" replied Sirius. "He is sleeping now."
"Did you want to talk about something with me, Sirius?" asked Dumbledore.
"Yes. Dumbledore, I strongly object to Harry living with Lily's sister. You know she hates wizards. How can you be sure that he won't get more harm in this house than at the hands of some Death Eater?
Dumbledore patiently explained that living with relatives will strengthen the protective barrier that Lily put on Harry by giving her life for him. He also added that as pureblood wizard from an old lienage, Sirius should know the importance of the bond of common blood. Black replied that he was well aware of this, but was afraid that the boy might be harmed if he stayed at his aunt and uncle's house.
"Besides" he added in conclusion "I'm his godfather. I have the full right and duty to take care of him. Lily and James asked me to take on this responsibility, and I agreed. I may not be a close relative of Harry's, but our families are related. My great-grandmother's sister on my father's side was Harry's great-great-grandmother, so some common blood ties we have.
"Dumbledore, I..." professor McGonagall spoke up "I agree with Sirius. He will take better care of Harry and and make sure he is properly protected. Certainly better than those muggles. I've been watching them all day and I'm pretty sure they're not fit to be little Harry's keepers. And they have a son. I saw him kicking his mother in the street, screaming for her to buy him candy and... and Harry Potter would live with them? No, I disagree with you this time. It's not a good idea to put Harry with his aunt and uncle.
Dumbledore listened to the agruments of both wizards with calmness. What they said wasn't exactly meaningless. The old man thought for a moment and asked Hagrid what he thought. The giant replied that he didn't like the idea of giving Harry to muggles. According to him, it would be better if Harry was taken care of by some wizarding family, and there is certainly plenty of those willing to take care of him.
"Alright" said Albus. "I agree. Sirius, you will take care of Harry. Promise me that you will say him everything when he will by old enough."
"Of course" replied Sirius and smile appeared on his face. "I will take care of Harry well. I won't let him get hurt."
"Just, don't spoil him too much" said Professor McGonagall. " And one more thing. How did You-Know-Who manage to find the Potters? After all. . . i can't believe Sirius told him that."
"I wasn't their Secret's Keeper, Professor"
"No?" the woman was surprised. "You were the one they trusted the most."
"I thought that will be safer. I persuaded them at the last minute to make Peter their Secret's Keeper instead of me, because I thought Voldemort wouldn't even think they had chosen such a weakling as their confidant. I was wrong."
"Maybe he forced him to give that information."
Sirius shook his head.
"I was at Peter's place a few hours ago. His hideout was empty, no sign of a struggle. Something touched me. I went to Godric's Valley and... I found the wreacked house... and their bodies... and little Harry crying in his crib."
Sirius broke off and cried.
"You mean... Pettigrew betrayed them?" asked Hagrid and his voice cracked. "One of their best friends?"
"The same. Honestly I I have a terrible urge to get that coward. How he ended up in Gryffindor, I don't know. But Harry needs me, and I'll get my hands on Peter some other time."
Dumbledore praised Sirius's decision and announced that it was time for them all to get going. Hagrid asked for a chance to say goodbye to Harry, which Sirius didn't deny him. Then he said that as if Hagrid wanted to see the boy, he would find him in London at 12 Grimmauld Place. Headmaster added that he he would go with him to put the proper protective spells on the house. After the meeting was over, everyone disappeared down Privet Drive while the rest of the wizarding world toasted Harry Potter. To the Boy Who Lived.