The Last Protection: Harriett Potter's Legacy

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Sirius Black stood alone in the dimly lit room, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames in the hearth. The Black family house was eerily quiet, its ancient walls holding the weight of countless secrets. He had never liked it here, the grandeur of the house contrasting sharply with the darkness of its history. But now, for all its coldness, it was the only place that could offer any semblance of safety for him and Harriett.

It had been two weeks since that night—the night that had shattered everything. Since the Potters’ deaths, the wizarding world had been in chaos. Rumors of Voldemort’s defeat filled the streets, but the truth was still a distant and painful wound for those who had known the fallen heroes. James and Lily Potter, who had fought so fiercely against the darkness, were gone. And their daughter, Harriett, was left behind.

Sirius had promised them he would protect her. He’d vowed it in the quiet moments they shared as friends. Now, he had to make good on that promise.

He crossed the room and went to the crib where Harriett slept, her tiny form wrapped in soft blankets. The weight of grief had not lifted from his heart, but she was his light in the darkness. She was the only piece of his best friends that remained, and he couldn’t help but marvel at the small, innocent child that was his responsibility now.

Her parents' features were visible even at this young age—her hair had darkened to the shade of her father's, and her eyes, though still wide and full of wonder, carried the same intensity as Lily’s. Sirius found himself lost in those eyes, knowing that he would do anything to make sure she grew up knowing what kind of people her parents had been.

He knelt beside her, his hands shaking as he reached for her. She stirred slightly, her tiny hand grabbing his finger, her little face lighting up with a smile. He smiled back, though it was laced with sorrow.

"You’re all I have left, Harriett," Sirius whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I’ll raise you with everything I have. I swear it."

He stood up with her in his arms, rocking her gently, the soft hum of his voice filling the space between them. The memories of James and Lily were still so vivid in his mind. He would tell Harriett all the stories—of how her father had been a prankster, full of life, always the first to take on a challenge. Of how Lily had been the steady, wise heart of their group, her intelligence and compassion unmatched. And of the love they had shared—a love so strong it had defied death itself.

Sirius carried Harriett to the sitting room and sat in an armchair, his gaze moving over the dark, old house, which felt more like a tomb than a home. The walls were adorned with dark tapestries of the Black family’s past—an ancient history of dark magic and bloodlines that Sirius had long rejected. But now, in the silence of the night, it was the only place he could protect her.

He stroked her hair softly as she drifted in and out of sleep, her small hand still clutching his finger. Despite everything, despite the fear and the pain that still held him in its grip, there was something deeply healing about holding her close. She had the power to heal wounds that nothing else could touch.

The fire crackled in the hearth, its warmth filling the room as the night stretched on. Time seemed to slow, and Sirius found himself thinking of the decisions that lay ahead. His mind often wandered to the Ministry’s involvement. Dumbledore had been the one to step forward and vouch for him when the accusations had been leveled, when the Aurors had questioned him in the aftermath of the Potters’ deaths.

Sirius had never doubted his innocence, but he hadn’t been sure that anyone else would. The Ministry had always been rife with corruption, and though Dumbledore had believed him, it wasn’t enough to guarantee he wouldn’t be thrown into Azkaban for a crime he hadn’t committed. But against all odds, the truth had prevailed, and he had been cleared of any wrongdoing. The public, however, still had their doubts. There were whispers in the streets, rumors of betrayal and suspicion that lingered like shadows.

Sirius couldn't rest easy until the real traitor—Peter Pettigrew—was found. The rat, who had faked his own death, had been the one to sell out James and Lily to Voldemort. Sirius was certain of it, though Dumbledore had yet to gather enough evidence to make it public. Until then, Pettigrew was still free, his name a shadow that haunted everything Sirius did.

He stood up again, pacing the room slowly, his thoughts spinning in a thousand directions. Harriett was safe for now, but he couldn’t keep her hidden forever. There would come a time when the world would find out that she had survived, and when that day came, he needed her to be ready. He wanted her to know the truth—about her parents, about the sacrifice they had made, and about the family she had left behind.

But Sirius knew that even if the truth came out, it wouldn’t make life any easier for Harriett. She would have to grow up with the weight of being the “Chosen One’s” child, carrying the legacy of two heroes who had died far too young. The world would expect so much from her, and the pressure would be immense.

Sirius had no intention of letting her carry that burden alone.

That’s when he heard it—the soft sound of Harriett’s small cry. He turned quickly, his heart leaping in his chest. He had gotten lost in his thoughts, and she had woken up, her little face scrunched with discomfort. He rushed over to her crib, his heart racing as he picked her up and held her close.

“Shh, it’s okay, I’m here,” he whispered, his voice soft but urgent. "I’ve got you."

Harriett’s cries quieted as she settled into his arms, her small hands gripping his robes as if she knew the world was a much bigger place than she could understand. Sirius rocked her gently, humming a soft lullaby, his heart aching with love for this little girl, the last piece of his best friends, who would never get to see the world through her eyes.

His thoughts turned again to the future—what would happen when the world found out Harriett was alive? What would they do with her? What kind of life could she have in a world still recovering from the scars of the last war?

But for now, in this moment, all that mattered was her.

He knew what he had to do: He would keep her safe. He would protect her from the darkness that still lurked in the shadows, from the people who might try to use her to further their own agendas. The world might be changing, but as long as he drew breath, he would be the one who shaped Harriett’s future, who gave her a chance at a normal life, away from the chaos of the wizarding world.

Sirius walked toward the window again, his eyes staring out into the night as the wind rustled the trees outside. The stars were barely visible behind the clouds, the sky heavy with the weight of unsaid words and unfinished stories.

But as long as Harriett was here, safe in his arms, there was still hope. And that hope was worth everything.

"I’ll make sure you never have to carry this alone," Sirius whispered into the quiet of the night. "I’ll protect you, no matter what comes."

And as Harriett’s breath evened out in his arms, he knew—no matter the challenges they would face, no matter the darkness that awaited them, they would face it together.