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“Come stop your crying, it’ll be alright. Just take my hand and hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don’t you cry.” Severus gently rocket Lily’s son, singing softly to calm the boy’s tears. Only inches away, Lily’s body lay motionless on the floor of the nursery. There was nothing he could do for her now, but her son, he needed protecting. Severus realized that he didn’t have much time before others would be arriving, but he was struggling to pull himself away from Lily.
Severus heard something clatter on the first floor and knew his time was up. He would have to go now if he wanted to make sure Harry was safe with him. He had no time to gather any of Harry’s belongings. Severus could already hear footsteps on the stairs. With Harry securely clutched in his arms, Severus stood just as Sirius Black stepped into the room.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing here, Snivellus?” Sirius growled. He had been devastated to find his best friend dead downstairs, but he never thought he’d find anyone alive in the house. He never would have imagined that he’d find his longtime school enemy in the ruins of his best friend’s house, especially not in the nursery. As Sirius waited for the other man to answer, he noted the state of the room.
Lily Potter was lying dead on the floor of the nursery, her right arm stretched out toward the door. Her once-vibrant green eyes were now dull. Her fiery red locks fanned around her, an imitation of blood. The nursery window was now nothing more than a gaping hole, the glass in shards on the carpet. Severus was stood next to Lily, but facing the ruined window, his arms held in a strange position.
Severus turned slowly towards Sirius, bouncing faintly to keep Harry from falling back into tears. He knew he had to answer Sirius’ question carefully. No matter what, he had to be able to leave with Harry. He had to keep the boy safe for Lily.
“I came to make sure Lily was safe. She was supposed to be safe. I don’t know what happened here, exactly, but when I arrived, James and Lily were dead, Harry was crying, and there was no sign of the Dark Lord.”
Sirius bristled the moment Severus began speaking. He hated this man with nearly every fiber of his being. Even so, he knew that Severus loved Lily nearly as much. What he had to find out was what the man planned to do with his godson. Now that James and Lily were gone, Harry’s care fell to Sirius. He was not the most responsible man, but for Harry and the memory of James, he’d do whatever it took to keep the boy safe.
“What do you plan to do with Harry? Surely with your master gone, he no longer poses a threat. And him being Lily’s son, I can’t imagine you wanting to harm him. So, just give him to me and get lost.”
At Sirius’ words, Severus tightened his hold on Harry just slightly. This last piece of Lily was precious and he would cherish it, him. “I’m taking him home with me. I am going to protect him. I will allow no one to stand in my way.”
Sirius growled loudly, startling Harry, and causing the boy to burst into tears again. Immediately, Severus began bouncing and swaying, humming softly to Harry. After a moment, the boy’s brilliant green eyes cleared of tears and he fell silent. Sirius was dumbstruck. No one had ever gotten Harry to stop crying so quickly. Still, he couldn’t let Snivellus leave with his godson.
“You’ll have to go through me! I won’t let you leave here with Harry.”
“I don’t have time for this, Black. Get out of my way.”
“No! You can’t take him.” Sirius lunged forward and tried to snatch Harry out of Severus’ arms. The man turned quickly so that Sirius’ hands hit his back instead.
“Are you really that much of a fool, Black? You could hurt Harry, grabbing at him like that. You obviously know nothing about raising children. Get out of my way. Harry will be safer with me.”
Sirius growled again, but didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t attack Severus without potentially harming Harry. But he couldn’t just let the man leave with Harry. With anguish in his voice, Sirius said, “I can’t just let you leave with him. He’s my godson, and I don’t trust you.”
“I don’t have time to stand here arguing with you. Dumbledore and the aurors will be here any moment, I’m sure.”
“Well then, let’s argue about this someplace else. I can’t just let you go.”
Severus couldn’t believe he was going to agree with Black, but saw no other way out of the situation. “Fine, take hold of my arms and don’t let go until we get there.”
Sirius wanted to argue about Severus being the one to side-along them, but knew they didn’t have time, and there wasn’t really a point. Severus wasn’t likely to apparate them into the middle of a nest of Death Eaters. Quickly, he grabbed hold of Severus’ arm and with a twist and a crack, they were gone.