Goodbye, Prongs

Goodbye, Prongs

"Oh. My. God," Sirius muttered as he dismounted his enchanted motorcycle in front of Godric's Hollow, home of the Potters. He rushed up to the dilapidated house and violently kicked the door off its crooked hinges. He gasped and felt like he would faint at what he saw. There, right in the middle of the trashed living room, was the body of James Potter. He was laying spread eagle on the floor, his wand still clutched in his hand. He had obviously died fighting.

"Prongs," Sirius murmured. He dropped down beside the corpse of his best friend. He checked for the vital signs of life, knowing that it was all in vain. James's face was cold, clammy, and absent of color. Tears instantly began to sting the back of Sirius's eyes as ragged sobs pushed their way out of his throat. His heart felt as though it were being tied into painful knots.

"Oh, God, Prongs, I'm so sorry! I should never have made you and Lily switch over to Peter. Forgive me, my friend," Sirius croaked.

Lily! he thought, She's probably dead, too. And poor little Harry... Sirius began to cry harder until he heard his sobs echoing off of the walls. But then he heard a sharp wail that he was certain didn't belong to him. He stopped crying and listened. There was another cry that sounded like a...a baby.

"Harry!" Sirius yelled as he pulled his wand out. Voldemort's still here! he thought, and he didn't get Harry yet!

He bolted up the stairs and flung himself into the nursery. There he found Lily Potter sprawled on the floor, surrounded by her fiery-red hair, her bright green eyes still open. Sirius cringed at the sight. He heard the crying coming from the floor a few feet away from Lily. Harry was under a blanket, screaming. Sirius immediately scooped up the little toddler. Harry began to quiet down as he recognized his godfather. The baby started giggling as he played with Sirius's nose and hair.

"There, there, Harry, you're okay now," Sirius whispered, "You're going to stay with Uncle Not-So-Serious, all right, little buddy?" He pushed back Harry's tuft of black hair and noticed and angry red cut on the infant's forehead. It was a very curious shape, like a bolt of lightening.

"Harry, what in the world happened to your head? You poor little tyke! You've been through way too much tonight. How did you survive?" he wondered softly.

"Mama!" Harry cried, noticing Lily's lifeless form on the floor. Sirius felt a pang of sorrow.

"Shhh, Harry, Mummy's sleeping with the angel's now. You're going to live with me, now."

"I'm sorry, Sirius, but tha' can' happen." Sirius whirled around, one arm protectively around Harry, and the other pointing his wand in the direction of the voice. When he turned he saw a giant man with a shaggy black mane and beard wearing a moleskin overcoat.

"Oh, Hagrid, it's you," Sirius breathed a sigh of relief while lowering his wand. He adjusted Harry in his arms and gave Hagrid a puzzled look. "What do you mean, Hagrid, that he can't stay with me?"

"Just what I said," Hagrid said gruffly, "Dumbledore sent me to take Harry ter live with his aunt an' uncle." Sirius stared.

"But...but, Hagrid, he's my godson..."

"Dumbledore's orders," Hagrid said firmly, taking Harry from Sirius, but Sirius wouldn't give up that easily.

"Please, Hagrid, give Harry to me. I'm his godfather," he tried with all his might to plead with Hagrid. But Hagrid was a rock that wouldn't budge.

"I can', Sirius. Dumbledore said tha' Harry's ter go to his aunt an' uncle." Sirius sighed despairingly. He knew when he was beaten.

"Then take my bike, Hagrid, I won't be needing it. Can I at least say goodbye to him?" He stared imploringly at Hagrid.

"Well, allrigh'. Here yeh go," Hagrid said, beginning to get all choked up, "I can' imagine wha' yeh must be goin' through, Sirius. Yer best friends gone, an' yer godson off ter live with Muggles. I really am sorry, Sirius, but I can' go against Dumbledore's orders." He gazed sympathetically at Sirius.

"Quite all right, Hagrid, I understand," he whispered, not taking his eyes off of Harry.

"Goodbye, Harry," Sirius breathed into Harry's hair, "I'll see you again soon, I promise." He then kissed the top of the baby's head and reluctantly handed him over to Hagrid.

"Fly safely, Hagrid," Sirius said. Hagrid nodded and left. Sirius was alone. He looked back at Lily and knelt down beside her. He put his hand over her face and closed her eyes, never more to be opened. He felt the depression that lifted when he saw Harry settle back down on to his heart. A few tears fell onto Lily's face as he kissed her goodbye.

"Farewell, Tiger-Lily," he tried to laugh as he used his old nickname for her. He half expected her to swat his shoulder; oh, how she hated that name! What fun they all had, before Peter betrayed them all. He began to feel anger course through his veins. He gently squeezed Lily's lifeless hand and made his way downstairs. He wanted to find Peter, to kill Peter. He would make that rat pay for the suffering he had caused.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he again noticed James. He stooped over his best friend's body and pulled it into a hug.

"Goodbye, Prongs."