Snapshots

1981

"Shit," Sirius said from the window in Dumbledore's office that overlooked the school grounds. Turning to Remus, he said, "We were so stupid? How could we have let this happen ?"

Remus sighed and shifted in his chair. "I have no idea, Padfoot. Maybe because it was Peter?"

Sirius snorted. "Of all the people to turn spy...." He let the sentiment hang between them and laid his forehead on the cold glass of the windowpane. "I'm sorry I thought it was you, Remus."

Sirius heard Remus get to his feet and looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned, staring into Remus' tired amber eyes.

"D'you know what's funny?" Remus said dryly. "I thought it was you."

Sirius smiled wanly and reached up a hand to stroke Remus' cheek. "How could we have been such idiots?"

Remus took a step closer. "When you've figured out that particular piece of information , will you please tell me?"

Sirius chuckled despite himself and slowly leaned in for a kiss. He felt Remus shudder as their breath ghosted across the other's lips, mere centimetres from each other. Neither one knew who finally closed the chasm that
seemed to gape between them, but both started when someone cleared their throat.

"As much as I hate to break up this little reunion," Dumbledore said from the door, "but I think Harry's fussy."

Sirius pulled away from Remus and rushed over to their former headmaster. He gently took the grunting bundle of blankets from the man and made what he hoped were calming shushing noises. He looked up at Remus, grimfaced, when the man placed a hand on the small of his back.

"Is that--" Remus said, his voice cracking as he pointed to the angry, oddly shaped cut on the baby's forehead.

Dumbledore nodded and the customary twinkle in his eye was gone. "The Dark Lord's mark. I'm afraid he'll always have it. Though sometimes scars can come in handy--I have one on my knee that's a perfect map of the Tube."

"That's nice, Professor," Sirius dismissed and swallowed. "What's going to happen to Harry now?"

Dumbledore sighed and took a seat, motioning for them to do the same. He looked every bit the old man he was. "I'm sure you know Lily has a sister. Harry would be protected with her in the Muggle world."

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "So that fact that I'm his godfather means nothing? I made a promise to Lily and James and I'm not about to let my best mate's son live with that pathetic excuse for a sister and her good for nothing husband!"

Remus sighed. "What Sirius is trying to say, Albus, is that Mrs Dursley also has a son about Harry's age. One toddler is more than enough to handle at one time." He frowned. "And what kind of protection can a Muggle give him against Voldemort's followers that we can't?"

Dumbledore took a lemon drop from a tin on his desk. "Blood magic," he said simply. "It's old magic and the best protection we can offer at the moment. Professor McGonagall and I should be ready to take him to Surrey any time now."

"Goddamnit, Dumbledore!" Sirius said and jumped to his feet. Harry started crying at the sudden outburst and Sirius quickly passed him to Remus. "He's my godson and I am not going to sit idly by and let you give him to some relative of Lily's I've never even met. He's going home with us and that's that. Send me to Azkaban for it if you want too, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to make sure he has at least some semblance of a real family!"

Dumbledore calmly clasped his hands together and looked at Remus. "Is there anything you'd like to add?"

Remus looked between them and back down at the baby grasping his finger in its tiny grip. "I'm with Sirius one this one."

Sirius' face lit up with a grin and he looked back at Dumbledore as he sat.

The old man nodded. "Fine. I'll give you Harry on one condition."

Sirius looked sceptical. "And what exactly would that be?"

"Try to keep contact with our world to a minimum. Tell him he's a wizard if you like--I know you well enough to know you won't keep it from him, Sirius--but the less people who know where he is, the better."

Sirius saw Remus tense and asked his question for him. "What about the full moon?"

Dumbledore took off his half-moon spectacles and cleaned them on the hem of his sleeve. "I'm sure something can be arranged. As for now, I expect you'll be wanting to take Harry home as soon as possible. I'll talk it over with Professor McGonagall tonight and will personally stop by tomorrow with your instructions and the necessary requirements for the Fidelus Charm."

He paused and looked between the two men. "In the mean time, get some rest and try not to dwell on tonight's events. The Aurors are closing in on Pettigrew as we speak, but should something happen, I want both of you to be prepared for the worst."

Sirius shared a doubtful look with Remus, who nodded.

"Professor," the dark-haired man said, "there's something you should know.... Peter's an animagus."

Dumbledore deadpanned. "Well that complicates things. But how? He's not on the registry...."

With a sigh, Sirius shifted into Padfoot and stared up at Dumbledore with tired canine eyes. After a long, silent moment, he changed back.

"I think you owe me some sort of explanation for this," Dumbledore said, the twinkle back in his eye.

"To make a long story short, in fifth year, James, Peter and I finally accomplished the animagus transformation so we could be with Remus during the full moon," Sirius said without emotion. "Jim is--was--a stag and Peter's a rat, both literally and figuratively."

Dumbledore looked at Remus, who nodded, and sighed. "Thank you for that particular piece of information, Sirius. Despite the fact that you endangered not only your own lives, but those of the students and faculty of this school and the people of Hogsmeade by gallivanting across the school grounds when the moon is full--I'm assuming I'm correct on that observation, knowing your and Mr Potter certain penchant for trouble, Sirius--free to take Harry and keep your wands at the ready--just in case. I'll see you in the morning."

"Thank you, Albus," Sirius said as he and Remus stood. The brown-haired man crossed to the fireplace, gently cradling Harry in his arms.

Dumbledore furrowed his brow and looked at Remus and Harry by the hearth. To Sirius, he said, "Just keep him safe." More quietly he added, "Both of them."

Sirius nodded dutifully. "With my life, Professor." With one last smile, he walked to the fireplace, took a handful of powder from the jar on the mantle, and threw it into the dying fire.

Dumbledore also nodded and watched as Sirius, Remus, and Harry disappeared into the green flames of the Floo. He sighed and took off his glasses.

"Good luck, Harry Potter," he said to himself as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You're going to need it with those two."