A/N: Hi again! It's been awhile since I've written anything new, hasn't it? Sorry 'bout that, but with school and all, it gets hard to find time for stuff like this. Anyway, this is about Sirius and what happened to him the night the Potters died, and when he subsequently went out to confront Peter. It will be told in two parts, and it's rated K+ because the word "bastard" shows up a few times. I've had this idea in my head for awhile, but I am just now getting it written down. As always, it's really encouraging to read all of your reviews, so please continue to R&R! Thanks!

Thoughts are in italics.
Emphasized words are in bold.

Part 1: The End of My World

Sirius was on his bike, enjoying the night air. It was quite late, though the exact time, he did not know. Suddenly, the sound of an explosion ripped through the quiet of the night. Angling his bike toward the source of the sound, Sirius saw something. It was a green skull, with a snake protruding from its mouth, rising into the sky. A deep feeling of dread formed in the pit of Sirius' stomach as he recognized the location of the Dark Mark.

Godric's Hollow… Oh no! Oh God, no!

Kicking his bike into its highest gear, Sirius sped toward the mark, a million thoughts flying at lightning speed through his head. Were the Potters ok? Was Voldemort still there? How had Voldemort found out? Even as he thought this, Sirius knoew the answer, though he didn't want to admit it to himself. It just couldn't be true… but it was. It was Peter… the whole time, Peter was the spy! Why didn't I see it?! I'm sorry I ever suspected you, Remus. I should have known. Then another realization hit him. That bastard! Everyone thinks I'm the Secret Keeper! I'm as good as dead! They'll put me in Azkaban — or worse! Unless the Potters are alive…but he knew that wasn't true. Voldemort was powerful and ruthless; James wouldn't have been able to fight him alone. I should have been there! Thoughts of self-blame ran through Sirius' head as he landed in front of the wreckage of the Potter's house.

There was almost nothing left: the walls lay in splinters, and parts were still burning. Sirius jumped off his bike, not caring that it landed in a heap, and ran to the house. "James! Lily! Harry! Can you hear me?!" he shouted. He began to search the smoking debris, screaming "James! Answer me! James! Ja—" Sirius choked off in mid-scream as he saw a hand sticking up between two boards. Shoving them aside, Sirius came face to face with James.

He was dead.

Sirius felt as though his heart had been ripped from his chest. Even though Sirius had been prepared for this, his eyes stung with tears that refused to fall.

Then something moved. Sirius' head snapped upward, his ears cocked toward the sound. Slowly, dream-like, he got up and walked to the area that had once been the nursery. The first thing he encountered was Lily's body, her pale face frozen in silent pleading. Again tears threatened to spill from Sirius' eyes. That something moved again. There in the far corner of the room, next to an overturned crib, was Harry.

He was alive!

Carefully stepping over Lily, Sirius picked up the baby. It shouldn't be possible, yet here he was. Harry's big green eyes looked back at his godfather's small grey ones. Sirius pushed back Harry's unruly bangs and gasped when he saw the scar. "My God," he breathed. He ran his finger along the lightning shape, and Harry gave a little cry of protest. Then Sirius' tears did come. Holding Harry close to his chest, he let himself cry, both from grief and joy. Small drops of water fell onto Harry's head.

Although it seemed like an eternity had passed since Sirius first saw the Dark Mark appear in the sky, only 30 minutes had passed in reality. Sirius heard the footsteps before he saw who they belonged to. Years of being a dog animagus had left their mark. Slowly, quietly, he switched his grip on Harry, so that his right hand was free. Then he reached into his robes for his wand. Sirius was prepared to fight to the death to defend Harry. Then a voice called, "Hello?" Sirius knew that voice."H-Hagrid?" he asked.

"Sirius Black, is tha' you?"

"Yeah." It occurred to Sirius that Hagrid might know about Sirius supposedly being the Potter's Secret Keeper. Still, he decided to act on the assumption that Hagrid didn't know, or hadn't been told yet.

"Did yeh see 'im? You-know-who?"

"No. I was on my bike when I saw the Dark Mark. I got here as fast as I could, but I… it was too late." Sirius had stopped crying when he heard Hagrid's footsteps, and he didn't even realize he had started again.

"'S a terrible thing, tha' they had to die like tha'." Then Hagrid saw Harry. "Yeh got Harry! 'S he okay?" Sirius nodded. "Dumbledor sent me to get 'im.

"No!" Sirius said, surprised at his own sudden possessiveness of the youth. "I mean, let me take him. I'm his godfather."

"Sorry, Sirius, bu' I got orders from Dumbledor. I gotta take 'im. Sorry."

Sirius nodded in understanding. There was no way Dumbledor would leave Harry in the hands of a supposed traitor. Of course, it was obvious Hagrid didn't know this. "It's alright. I understand." He stepped carefully over the wreckage. He was still crying when he handed Harry to Hagrid. Hagrid took the baby in one of his large arms, and wrapped the other around Sirius. "There now. It'll be all righ'. I think they always knew, they were always prepared fer… fer this." He sniffed. "It's not yer fault, yeh know."

Sirius pulled away from Hagrid. "Hagrid, I…" he started, then changed his mind. "Hey, um, you know what?" he said, his voice choked, "Take— take my bike. It'll be faster."

"Yer bike?" Hagrid asked, genuinely surprised. The bike was Sirius' favorite possession, given to him by James, Peter, and Remus after they graduated. "Where can I meet yeh to give it back?"

"Just take it. I won't need it anymore."

Hagrid furrowed his brow at the odd statement, but decided that Sriius was just upset. He would return the bike later. Sirius smiled sadly, and lightly kissed Harry's forehead. "Goodbye, Harry Potter," he said. Then he turned, wiped his eyes on his sleeve, and walked off, not looking back. He knew he was going to Azkaban, and there was something he needed to do before he got there.

He had to find Peter.