Rubeus Hagrid - It'll Be Okay
Rubeus Hagrid
Godrics Hallow
October 31, 1981
Merlin, the house had caved in.
The front door had been blown off its hinges as Hagrid walked in. James Potter's body was lying at the foot of the stairs, and Hagrid stopped for a moment to pay his respects. He had been such a good boy, so funny and lively, he always stopped to chat to Hagrid. He and his friends had often come by to see what new pet Hagrid had gotten during their time at Hogwarts.
Hagrid moved past him, being careful not to let his heavy cloak brush along the body as he began up the stairs. The stairs creaked underneath him, as though they might give way any second.
He peered through the open nursery door when he reached it and gasped. Lily - bright, cheerful Lily Potter - was sprawled on the ground, her long red hair splayed underneath her.
Sobbing pulled him away from the body. Turning, he saw Sirius Black crouched in the corner, crying as he clutched a baby to his chest.
'Ye poor fella,' Hagrid murmured as he moved towards the boy. He offered a hand out, which Sirius took after several long moments, and pulled him to his feet. Sirius swayed for a few seconds before hiccupping and burying his face into Hagrid's stomach. Hagrid patted him on the back sympathetically, mindful of the child still in Sirius' arm.
'It'll be alrigh',' Hagrid said softly.
'No!' Sirius cried as he stumbled backwards, his back slamming into a wall as a fresh round of tears poured down his face. 'It won't be alright! James - Lily and James are - they're gone! Gone! And - and -'
He was beginning to hyperventilate and Hagrid could see the bundle in his arms squirm.
'Now, now, Sirius -'
'NO! My brother is dead! My sister is dead! They're all dead! Gone! GONE!' Harry whined, causing Sirius to look down momentarily. 'They're gone, Hagrid, and - and I - I think it's my fault.'
'S'not ye fault -'
'No - it is! It's my fault! It's all my fault! Because if I had just - if I hadn't told them - I should've just said yes! I should have taken the risk! And now Peter -' Sirius stopped abruptly, his face going blank. He stood rigid, still staring down at Harry, looking as if he was hardly breathing.
'Sirius?' Hagrid asked cautiously.
'Nobody knows,' Sirius whispered quietly, as if astonished. 'No one knows... We didn't - we didn't tell anybody...'
'Tell anybody what?' Sirius' head snapped up, and suddenly his blank stare had been replaced with a wild, slightly manic expression.
'Hagrid,' He begged, latching onto the giant's arm. 'Hagrid please, you have to promise me something. Promise me you'll find Remus - and you'll tell him. Tell him I wasn't the rat! Tell him it wasn't me! I didn't - I would never - I -' Sirius faltered. 'Tell him I didn't mean for this to happen - I didn't think it would end up like this, and I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry - for everything! For not trusting him - for not believing him - for doubting him - I'm sorry for all of it! You have to promise me you'll tell him, Hagrid. Promise me!'
'Of course, of course!' Hagrid agreed shakily, 'I - of course!'
Sirius nodded his head a little crazily. 'Yes. You will.'
They both stood silently for several moments as Sirius caught his breath.
'Right,' Sirius said steadily after a few minutes. 'I have to go - Harry -'
Hagrid cut in. 'Actually -'
Sirius had bolted through the door before Hagrid could finish his sentence.
'Wait! Sirius, wait!' Hagrid called out as he hastened after him, 'I'm sorry! But I've gotta take Harry to Dumbledore -'
'He's my godson, Hagrid!' Sirius cried. They were out on the street now, children in costumes watching the exchange nervously while their parents stared at the broken house in horror. 'Mine! Lily and James left him to me if anything were to happen to them. Not Dumbledore! Me!'
'Dumbledore told me -'
'I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT DUMBLEDORE TOLD YOU!' Sirius screamed, 'HARRY IS MY GODSON AND I WILL BE TAKING HIM!'
'Dumbledore's orders, Sirius!' Hagrid argued, 'he said I'm ter take Harry ter him no matter what!'
'I don't give a fuck -' Sirius began but Hagrid had had enough.
'I know what ye want, Sirius, but I've gotta follow me orders! Give Harry ter me or I'll have to take him from ye!' Hagrid exclaimed as he thundered towards the boy. Sirius stared up at Hagrid, white-faced and scared as he pulled Harry closer. His lip wobbled, and there was pain etched into his face.
'Please,' he whispered shakily, 'he's all I have left.' His voice broke. 'He's all I have left. I need him.'
'I'm sorry, Sirius,' Hagrid murmured as he patted the broken boy on the should. 'I know, but I need ter -'
'- Take him to Dumbledore,' Sirius finished sadly. Hagrid nodded.
'I'm sure Dumbledore will give 'im back after all of this mess is down and over wit',' Hagrid offered. Sirius snorted and shook his head in dismay. He glanced at Harry once last time, seemingly debating with himself, before he held the baby out in trembling arms.
Tears slipped down Sirius' face as Hagrid took him gently. The movement seemed to have awoken Harry from his uneasy nap though, and he screamed as he realised he was no longer in Sirius' arms.
Sirius recoiled, shaking and sobbing, and covered his face with his hands. Hagrid's heart ached for the both of them, but he knew he couldn't say any longer. He turned and began walking down the still crowded street.
'Take my bike,' Sirius croaked, jutting his head towards it. Hagrid hesitated for a moment before walking over and hopping on. Sirius stood unsure for a moment, but jolted forward as the engine roared to life.
'Wait! Accio!' something flew from the rubble of the Potter's house into Sirius' hand, and he hurried to press it into Hagrid's hands. 'It's Harry's. He needs it.' Hagrid took it and tucked it in with the still wailing baby before taking off, knowing better than to wait.
He took one last look behind him before rounding a corner. Sirius was on his knees, screaming. Screaming and screaming a sound so broken, so wrenchingly hurt, that it shattered Hagrid's heart.