Chapter Text
Godric’s Hollow, October 31st, 1981
Michael Charlus Potter had always been a very smart child. He could read all his picture books by himself, he knew how to spell very tricky words, like purple, and dove, and at the age of three he could understand what his Mommy and Daddy meant when they said they were hiding from a very bad man, who wanted his sweet baby brother.
Their family had been perfect. His mother, Lily Potter, was loving, and encouraged each and every question he had ever had, including ones about the bad man.
“Momma, why does the bad man want us?” Michael had asked a few weeks earlier, with all the innocent curiosity a toddler could have.
“Well..” Lily, while encouraging of her son and his interest, was unsure how to properly explain their situation to her young son.
“Your brother, Harry, is very special Michael…” Lily continued, making sure to choose her words carefully.
“The Bad Man thinks that Harry could make him go away, so he wants to take Harry away from us.”
“Oh...ok, Momma. Would you please help me with my blocks?”
Later that night, Lily would place her head on James’ chest, and a single tear would fall down her cheek. She couldn’t help but feel that something very horrible was going to happen, and soon.
One day, roughly two weeks later, James would pull Michael into his lap while sitting in the rocking chair in the Nursery.
“Micha, I have something very important to tell you…” James began, using his nickname for the toddler, hiding his discomfort and anxiety through his trademark cheeky grin. Michael laughed at his Dad’s antics, and playfully grabbed at the faded graphic tee his Daddy wore.
“One day, you’re going to have to take very good care of Harry. You’re both very special…” James moved a hand to cradle the toddler’s small, chubby cheek, his grin softening as he looked at one of the boys he loved.
“And you’re both very, very, smart…”
Michael laughed, and nodded his agreement.
“And you’re both very….very...STINKY!”
James began to tickle Michael at his sides, holding him carefully so he wouldn’t fall, as the toddler dissolved into a fit of giggles. That would be one of the few things Michael would be able to remember about his father when he was older.
Michael had always been a good listener, and his Momma was very proud of him whenever he listened well, so, when James Potter had told his son it was time to play hide’n’seek, the toddler had hidden very sneakily, just like his Daddy had practiced with him in the months before.
When James Potter fell, dead, at Lord Voldemort’s feet, Michael had already hidden himself in the depths of the cupboard beneath the stairs, pushing a box of Christmas lights in front of him. A terrifying explosion wracked the small home, shaking the walls, and causing dust to drift from the cupboard ceiling onto Michael’s fiery, ginger hair. A piercing wail struck the air, coming from the second floor, inside of the nursery, where Harry, Michael’s baby brother had been sleeping. Michael had waited very patiently, just like his Momma told him to do, until he was absolutely sure that the strange, other man, was gone.
When he emerged from his hiding space to find his Daddy laying on the floor, he listened to what he had been told, and stayed far away. Michael avoided the fallen rafters littering the living room floor, and was careful to not go near anything that looked like it could hurt him. When he managed to make his way to the staircase, he began to climb, having to avoid the fourth step that had caved in when the explosion occurred. As Michael climbed up onto the last step, the nursery came into view. The pale, sky blue door had been blown off its hinges, and now laid haphazardly against a large bookshelf that had been filled with various, now destroyed, knickknacks.
The hazel eyed toddler approached the nursery quietly, just in case the strange man wasn’t truly gone. As he entered the room fully he could see his mother, Lily Potter, splayed out on the floor above the rug. Seeing that she wasn’t waking up, Michael went to the crib, and attempted to squeeze his small hands between the bars.
Harry James Potter, the baby that had been crying just a minute beforehand, stopped as soon as Michael came into view. He reached out, trying to grab his brother’s hand, giggling happily. Michael grinned at the baby, and managed to pop his hand between the bars, gently grabbing Harry’s hand. A sudden, shaking roar came from outside, and as Michael looked up, he could see a large, flying, black motorbike quickly approaching the house. The bike came to a screeching halt in the front garden, running over some of the small shrubbery Lily had planted last year when the Potters had moved in.
Sirius Black hopped off the bike, throwing his helmet to the ground carelessly as he ran inside. The front door slammed open, and the sight that greeted Sirius first was James Potter, collapsed on the living room floor. He let out a choked sob, hand coming up to clutch at his chest. Sirius made to approach the body, but was able to think clearly enough to remember why he was here. Harry and Michael. Just twenty minutes prior, a letter had been delivered to him from Gringotts, in James Potters’ familiar scrawl. Sirius had rushed to take the letter, and collapsed in his favorite armchair to begin reading.
‘Sirius,’ the letter began, and deep in the back of his mind, Sirius was already sure of what the letter was about to tell him.
‘I’m writing this letter on Harry’s first birthday, you just left the house maybe a half hour ago. Thank you again for the gifts, it’s not as if the boys are spoiled enough as it is. You and Remus just encourage their absolutely atrocious behavior.’
‘I'm joking, obviously. You and Remus are good men, Sirius. I know you don’t listen to me, but you’re a good man. I trust you. You’re my brother. Which is why if something happens to me and Lily, I need you to take care of them. My boys, Bambi, and our little Doe.‘
‘Being a godfather is just a superficial title in the legal world. So, as well as being their godfather, you are our first choice of raising the boys in case something happens. Even if you corrupt my sons, I know you’ll love them with all your heart. And, if we’re being honest...we both would’ve corrupted my sons together, and any future children me and Lils have.’
‘I’m letting Lily read over my shoulder as I write, and she just sighed and cuffed my head. I don’t think I'm doing a very good job at this, haha.’
‘I’ve drafted up my will through Gringotts, and the Goblins have assured me that you will legally be their Guardian. They have also been made aware of who the secret keeper is. I don’t believe Peter would ever willingly betray us, but I've been told I need to prepare for any outcome that is possible.’
‘I want you to raise the boys with Remus if you can. He needs structure, and love. If we’re gone, who will remind him he needs to eat something other than chocolate? Ow. Lily cuffed me again. Maybe if only I drop dead, you should tell the Aurors that Lily finally killed me.’
‘I’d very much like for Remus to continue tutoring Michael, and when Harry is old enough, begin tutoring him too. I don't need my kids taking too much after me, and Remus is a good influence. Right now Michael’s got Harry sitting with him on the couch toy, and they’re playing with the plush Remus gave them last Christmas. Harry’s actually got his floating up in the air.’
‘As well as leaving my boys to you, I've left both you and Remus some of the Potter gold to raise them with. Kinda like Muggle child support, Lily says. If you end up not using it, put it back in the vault for the boys. I’ve also left you one of the Potter estates, the one up near Cannes that we went to in sixth year. Do you remember those witches we saw on the beach? French girls really are-’
‘Ok, Lily isn’t letting me continue that train of thought. Says I'm being disrespectful, and yeah, she’s right. Still leaving it in to protect my artistic integrity.’
‘To sum up what i’m trying to say, I think you would be a good surrogate dad….a ‘dadfoot’ if you will. Take care of them for me, Siri.’
Sirius continued his mad rush, climbing up the stairs two by two, before a familiar howl stopped him. Trapped under a fallen beam was Callisto, the Potters two year old ginger cat.
“Shit, hang on Callisto, I've got you little buddy..”
Sirius pried up the beam, and managed to scoop up Callisto, clutching the shaking cat to his chest. He fell into the habit of stroking the cat underneath his chin as he continued up the stairs. He hadn’t even hit the top step when he saw the damage to the nursery. A dark, heavy feeling sank to the pit of his stomach as he rushed into the room. The moonlight from the open wall framed Lily Potter’s body as if she was an angel. Her long, fiery red hair was tangled, and matted from the bits of insulation that had been sprayed at her in the explosion. Her once lively, pink flushed skin was a deathly pale, and her well known emerald eyes had dulled. Before Sirius could process that Lily was dead too, the voice of one of his godsons called him out of his reverie.
“Siri? I can’t get to Harry..”
Michael, the small ginger haired toddler, was being unusually expressionless. His hazel eyes, so much like James’, were darkened. Sirius went to the boy, dropping to the ground on his knees and pressing him against his chest.
“Michael, i’m so sorry. I'm so sorry little Bambi. I’ll get Harry out for you, okay?”
It took all the strength Sirius had left to not just clutch his godson and cry. His whole world had come apart in a matter of minutes. His brother had died in a cruel, disgusting manner, and so had Lily, who had always been so kind, even when James and him had been teen brats in school. All that was left of their lives, their legacy, stood before him, too young to truly understand what had happened.
Sirius reluctantly let go of Michael, as if subconsciously he was terrified that by letting go, the young toddler would be gone too. He rearranged Callisto so the now sleeping cat would be secured inside of his jacket, before reaching down and gently picking up Harry, cradling the baby to his chest.
“Michael I want you to listen to me carefully-” Sirius knelt so that he was almost at level with the ginger boy, maneuvering Harry so he could continue to cradle him with one hand, the other hand holding onto Michael’s small shoulder.
“We’re going to go take a ride on my bike now, okay? And we might not come back for a while. I’m going to take you to your room in a minute, and we’re going to grab some of your things, and then you’ll come stay with me and Uncle Remy. Okay, Bambi?”
“Ok, Uncle Siri”
The toddler nodded his assent, and when Sirius stood up and offered his hand, Michael took it, following Sirius to the relatively unscathed bedroom that soon would no longer be his. The nursery had been too destroyed to properly sort through Harry’s belongings, besides the small Stag plush Remus had given to Harry the previous Christmas. Gathering Michael's things was a short affair, as Sirius had no intent of staying in the home longer than necessary. Armed with a transfigured tote bag of Michael’s clothing, as well as the Stag plush and the matching Doe plush that had been gifted to Michael, Sirius and the children made their way outside to the motorbike, Sirius being careful to guide Michael around the fallen beams and debris in the living room. The dark haired man helped Michael climb into the side car, setting the tote bag between his small feet.
“Do you think you can carry your brother for me, little man?”
“Mhm!”
Michael reached out, and Sirius placed the baby in his arms, watching as Michael held Harry close to him, running his small thumb against Harry’s hand, cooing nonsense noises to soothe the baby, who had begun to grow restless. Double checking that Callisto was still safely secured within his jacket, Sirius straddled his bike, placing his hands on the bars. He gave one last long look towards the home. Where there once had been love, and warmth, there was a ruined mess, cold and devoid of the comfort and safety that had bathed the house in the weeks prior. Sirius kicked the kickstand up with the toe of his boot, and the bike came to life, carrying the family safe into the air, marking the start of something new, and scary.
For several minutes the air remained still at the house, save for the sounds of crickets chirping in the night. Only a person with an intent to find something amiss would have heard the faint crack of apparition, or have been able to see the dark, solitary figure of a young man.
Severus Snape entered the Potter home with no thought to its occupants. His Lord had informed him that tonight he would target the Potters, and it seemed that his Lord was not wrong. Cold, obsidian eyes glared disdainfully towards the lifeless body of James Potter. Severus could find no true guilt or outrage toward the man’s sacrifice, he had simply gotten in the way. Sometimes, pawns needed to die. It was the other adult occupant of the house that he was here for...Lily Evans. She could never truly be Lily Potter to him. It was beyond obvious that someone had to have confounded the girl, otherwise she would not have been so happy with the miserable, shallow, Potter git. A short investigation of the first floor of the Potter residence revealed nothing useful to the man, so he continued his search upstairs. Severus sneered at the sight of the rather tacky blue door, but stopped cold when he saw her. Lily, his one true love, was dead upon the floor, like some thief, or some vandal. Like Potter. He rushed to her, paying no mind to the crib besides her. He dropped to his knees beside her and wailed, crying out to whoever would listen. Thin, sallow hands gripped her shoulders and dragged her up against him, her head lolling back against his shoulder in some perverse scene of mourning.
His shoulder shook with the might of his sobs, as he continued to clutch at the dead girl. Why would anyone allow this fate to be handed to him. To have to see his Lily, stolen from him and married off like some common whore the minute she graduated Hogwarts, and then knocked up three months later with Potters revolting spawn. She had belonged to him in childhood, and he had structured his whole being around her. His Lord had promised him she would be spared, but it seemed that Severus’ fear of her being killed anyways had come true. He sat there for quite some time, lamenting her death, until several voices began to come from outside of the home.
“Albus we need to send for the Aurors…”
“I can’t believe my eyes, their home...it’s been destroyed!”
“I’ve sent off a Patronus...help should arrive within the minute.”
Not wishing to be caught at the scene, Severus placed his first, and last, kiss to the forehead of Lily Potter, and apparated away into the night.