DISCLAIMER: I am but a lowly sole who could never come up with something as extraordinary as Harry Potter. Be a saint and don't sue me for writing about it. JK Rowling and WB own everything. – I will introduce other characters with names or similar names from the following author(s): Orson Scott Card (another genius). Each name is owned by its respective author and I have no claim to them.

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How would it be different if Sirius had made different decisions? What would it have been like if Sirius had not accepted defeat from Hagrid and taken Harry away with him? Would Harry grow up differently? Would Sirius be free?

All these and more answered in my latest conception. An Alternative Universe where Sirius did just that. If it sounds interesting try this first chapter. Tell me if you like it.

What Could Have Been

• eQuasarus •

Chapter 01

• Prologue •

A flash of green light, that's all it took. A moment in time brought the greatest of evils to its knees.

•

Sirius was in a hurry.

He knew.

Had it happened any other night, he might have been able to protect them. However, it didn't, it hadn't and now they were no longer safe. It was planned. They had waited until he couldn't come, until there was no one available to help. If only he hadn't been in training as an Auror maybe then he might have made it.

Approaching, he slowed. The shadow of the now crumbled house made Sirius gasp. It was worse than he had thought. His caution lost, rushed into the remains having doubts if anyone lived. Room by room he e HHesdhhhhcombed through the house, trying to see if he could find anyone, if they might've lived.

Hagrid stood in the midst of what was once Harry's room, just above a woman who would no longer move. In his hands he held a tiny package, looking even smaller in his huge hands. He sensed movement and his eyes darted to the shadows before Sirius could hide. "Sirius!"

Sirius stepped out, looking utterly disheveled; his red face glistening with tears. "It happened didn't it Hagrid? He got to them," Sirius moaned, full of grief.

Deep inside he trembled to hear the words that would break him. The words that would tell him his best friend was dead.

Hagrid nodded and held out the baby for Sirius to inspect, "little 'arry lived."

Sirius's eyes lit up. There was still some reason to stay alive, his godson. He reached out to take the baby.

Hagrid shook his head sullenly, pulling Harry out of Sirius' reach. "S'rry 've got'r git him to Dumbledore."

Sirius shook his head slightly angry, but unwilling to fight the huge man. "I'm his godfather Hagrid, let me take him. I can care for him better than anyone else can."

Hagrid looked at Sirius. Then he shook his head, he had to do as Dumbledore asked, it was for the best. "No. Dumbledore trusts me. 'e's going to his aunt's. Dumbledore says' 'at's what best fer 'arry."

Dropping his head Sirius thought things through. He didn't know what to do, he couldn't let Harry live with the muggle sister of Lily's. The Dursley's were even worse then normal muggles, they were like the medieval muggles, the ones that tried to burn witches because they hated them. Sirius had been there once and in only a few minutes he was met with such hostility that he was afraid to return without a wand. Lily's own sister despised her.

However, while Sirius watched Hagrid he understood that there was no way he would be able to convince Hagrid otherwise. Hagrids single mindedness was something that Sirius had no doubt about and right now he was on a mission for Dumbledore.

Finally, having no ideas, he broke. Soon he'd be in hiding anyway, they'd all think it was him who'd betrayed James and Lily. He wasn't going to let it happen without getting revenge though, he'd find Peter and set things straight. "Alright Hagrid, take my motorcycle to get there, I won't be needing it anymore."

Hagrid looked sympathetic at Sirius and then nodded. Sirius wondered if there was any other way, cursing himself for being in too much of a hurry and forgetting his wand at the Auror checkpoint. He could have easily just immobilized Hagrid and taken Harry but the one time he forgot his wand...

Everything had gone wrong that day, one by one. It was if fate itself were leaving him no options. First he'd failed an Auror test and had to retake it, then the test was extended because the instructor had failed to show up. Something had occurred to Sirius the moment one of his tests had started, no more than an hour ago. It should have been obvious when everything was put together, Peter was going to betray them.

Tears poured from his eyes as Sirius watched Harry leaving his life again. He was going to be without him and in trouble, lots of trouble. As he looked down his eyes registered James's wand lying on the ground, he bent over and picked it up.

Did he dare?

Hagrid was swinging his legs over the motorcycle when Sirius turned back to him. It was almost comical how small the bike seemed with Hagrid sitting on it; it was completely different when he rode it.

Looking at the tiny bundle, Sirius knew what he had to do. But, could he do it? Did he even dare? He was used to breaking the rules, but this was more than just a simple prank. Pulling pranks was one thing, but this was another. Kidnapping. Something much more serious than anything he had ever done.

Everyone would be after him anyway. They would all see what they were forced to see. Everything would be wrong, and maybe it was in part his fault for being so trusting.

He debated it in his mind what would be best for Harry.

Would going and living with that horrible Muggle family be the best?

He knew they would despise him for what he was. They already hated James and Lily because they were wizards. Those foolish muggles couldn't stand anything that was different.

Hagrid started up the bike and Sirius still debated. Was this something he was willing to do?

An Owl fluttered down and caught Sirius's attention, it was James's, well had been. Sirius remembered when he had bought it, the day he found out Harry was pregnant. It was James' owl but it went everywhere with Lily so if anything happened she had a way of getting him information.

Lily... James... How could he have let this happen?

He knew all of the sudden what he had to do, the bike started rolling away and Sirius quietly called out. "Accio."

The tiny bundle, wrapped in white, lifted out of the sidecar and flew into Sirius's waiting hands. Hagrid was gone in only a second, the bike lifting into the air and heading away to the distant place where Harry was supposed to be going. Sirius watched Hagrid to make sure he didn't look back, he didn't.

Little Harry was quiet, he had been since Sirius appeared.

Across his forehead was a small bit of blood and a tiny scar as proof of the events that had transpired not long before. Sirius gently wiped away the blood and looked at Harry, tears in his eyes. He was so perfect, such an angel. Why was the Dark Lord after them, what was so special about Harry and James?

Harry had to be special, Sirius knew that. He'd always suspected it, but now he knew. With all his power Voldemort had been in such a mood to kill them, had they been mere pawns he would not have bothered. Yet still, with all his evil power, he was unable to stop him as a child. Sirius wondered how it had all taken place, how Harry, of all people, had stopped the Dark Lord.

It shouldn't have happened. Sirius vowed that someday Harry would be avenged, and until that day he would keep him safe from all that would hurt him.

Harry started to fuss a little. It wasn't loud, but it would give him away in the escape if someone were to listen for them. Sirius muttered a silencing spell that enveloped both he and Harry and looked around. He would have to get away as quickly as possible. He needed to make sure they couldn't find him. His head was thinking without thought, he reacted, knowing that what he was doing was for the best.

Sirius had been to this area many times before. He, Moony and Prongs had wandered through the nearby woods numerous times on full moons. He knew that in those dark woods would be his best chance to immediately get hidden away. His steps were quick and he held Harry gently moving through the woods towards some caves he had discovered the month before, he would figure everything out there.

• Edited 2004.09.18 •

This is just a small prologue. The other chapters are/will be longer than this.

So, if you're interested please continue on to the next chapter.