To Try Again

Fandom - Harry Potter

Pairings - none

Rating - PG13

Summary - Regulus Black refuses to believe that his older brother killed the Potter's. Baby Harry is missing and presumed dead. Sirius is in Azkaban and his Mother is clamoring for a fair trial. She also wants Sirius to trust and to love her again. Severus Snape comes to the rescue.

Chapter 1 - All Hallows Night

The giggling of children as they went from home to home gathering candy, a bright, full moon night. The star shone in all their glory while a long, far off howl could be heard. The Church was lit with candles, the priest and the Nuns praying in unison. The cheerfulness of the small village wasn't lost upon the man as he made his way through the throngs of people. Even though it was late, later than any child should be about at night, he was not worried.

The one home that was devoid of any light stood like that of a single lamp in a winter blizzard. It called to him. He knew, he knew who were hiding inside. He would kill them. He had tried three previous times and had failed. He was the Dark Lord Voldemort, he did not fail! Never would he fail again, this would be the last he would see, or hear of the Potters.

A simple unlocking spell got him inside. He stood there for scant moments. Then, Potter noticed him. "Lily! Get up stairs! I'll try to hold him off!" James Potter said, wand in hand. He extended his arm, but he was too slow. Voldemort chuckled darkly as the green light of the killing curse hit James Potter full on. The man was knocked backwards, and didn't move. Stone, cold, dead.

He turned to the stairway. Lily Potter had run, better that she run outside. But in a panic she hadn't thought of it. He heard a door shut, a baby cry. He walked up those stairs with a purpose, his dark robes billowed about his ankles. He shot the door open with the protego spell. Advancing on the woman, who wasn't crying, but she was begging him; "Please, don't kill Harry! Take me instead, but don't kill -" her words were cut off as the green light enveloped her like a blanket. She dropped.

The child stood in his crib, looking up at Voldemort with fear and wonder in his eyes. The child wasn't crying though. Voldemort leveled his wand at the child, and said those two, earth shaking words - "Adava Kadavra!"

* * *

The roar of the motor bike interrupted the silence of the village street. No lights in the pumpkins were lit, the church was black. No one was giggling. Sirius Black noticed this odd mood. All Hallows Night was his favorite holiday, he usually spent it with James, Lily, Peter and Remus. However, Albus had given him an important mission and he had to miss the normalcy of this night.

But, he had endeavored to make a late night visit with some treats for Harry. However, he did not imagine that he would find Hagrid on the front stoop looking horribly perplexed.

He knocked the engine of the bike off and jumped from the saddle; "Hagrid? What's brought you here?" Sirius asked.

"Professor Dumbledore sent me," Hagrid replied with a scratch of his ear.

"And?" Sirius prompted.

"Well, it's a strange thing indeed, but I canno' seem to find Baby Harry,"

That got Sirius' attention; "What do you mean?"

"He isn't here,"

"Who is?"

"James an' Lily are dead," the giant sniffed. This hit Sirius with a cold feeling in his gut. His best friends were dead, it could have been but one person who had done it as well. Sirius remembered hearing that vow, Voldemort had killed them, just as he had promised.

"Where is Harry?" Sirius prompted, he took a step forwards to go into the house, but Hagrid held him back.

"No, Sirius, you canno' go in dere," Hagrid said. Sirius tried to wiggle out of the Giants grasp. It was, of course, no use. And, Sirius didn't use violent magic against friends, unless they deserved it.

"Let me go! I have to go inside! I have to see James!" Sirius had to look up at Hagrid. The giant had tears rolling down his eyes.

"We cannot allow that," someone said. Sirius blinked. More hands and he was turned to see that Fudge and Aurors had just shown up. How had he missed the popping of them arriving?

"What do you mean?"

"Sirius Leigh Black, you are under arrest for the murders of James, Harry and Lily Potter," Kingsly Shacklebolt informed him.

* * *

Albus Dumbledore met Minerva McGonagall on the front stoop of the Malfoy Manor; "Good evening," he greeted her. She held a sleeping baby in her arms, and glared at him.

"This is wrong, Albus," she informed him, "Sirius Black has been arrested for the murders," she continued.

"I had heard," Albus replied drolly.

"You left a dead baby that looks like Harry in that crib, I know you did," she waved a finger at him.

"The child must be kept safe, Lucius and Narcissa have been wanting a child for a long time now," Albus explained.

"Oh? And how exactly are we to keep this secret? Lucius works at the Ministry of Magic and has Fudge in his purse strings," Minerva glanced at the stone mansion.

"They will keep it secret, they know what is at stake if they betray my confidence," Albus replied. The gates to the home opened wide as if on command, signaling the end of the conversation.

* * *

Regulus Black, along with his Mother Walburga following behind him. She wore bright, crisp red robes with her black hair in a bun. Wisps had escaped and framed her face. If Sirius had been born a girl, he would look like their mother. Orion met them at the entrance of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

"They have him in a holding cell, we're allowed to see him," Orion said.

"They cannot keep me away from my son," Walburga informed him, her grey eyes flashed dangerous light as she said these words. The Aurors close enough to hear them moved back. No one messed with the Black family and got away with it. They'd be lucky if the family left without blowing some thing up!

Orion led the way to a steal door set within the wall between to desks. An Auror let them inside without a word. Walburga stepped through first. Her son, Sirius, was sitting with his knees to his chest, arms encircling and his head resting upon his knees. He shook, she suspected he was crying.

Ever since his first year at Hogwarts, Sirius had done everything to defy the family - Walburga even bore the tattoo of the Death Eaters. This was the one person of their family who had gone against the norm. But, that did not mean that she didn't love him any less.

"Sirius?" she called softly.

"Mum!" his voice was shaky, but he looked up, his face was dry, "What are you lot doing here?" he asked, purely curious as to their appearance.

"We're here to make sure your all right," Regulus supplied.

"I am unhurt, if that's what you mean," Sirius replied. He gave his younger brother a small, if slightly sad, sneer.

"Of course you are," Regulus replied. Sirius sighed.

"He killed James and Lily, Hagrid said that he couldn't find Harry, but then Fudge just informed me that Harry was found dead, in the crib, quite odd, that, don't you think?"

"Quite, or the Giant is a bit dense," Regulus snorted.

"Well, Hagrid is simple, that's true, but he wouldn't miss a crying baby, now would he?" Sirius raised an eye brow.

"Where are you going with this, son?" Orion asked. Sirius bit his cheek. They had gone their separate ways after he had gotten out of Hogwarts, why they were suddenly here, supporting him, was unknown and a bit scary to think of.

"It means that something fishy is going on, that's what, Harry must be alive," Sirius looked at the far wall, his grey eyes misting over. Walburga pulled him into her arms and Sirius lent against her. Not crying, but needing the comfort all the same.

"I am sorry, Sirius," she whispered.

"It's all my fault," Sirius gasped, trying to hold back the tears.

"No it isn't," Regulus said, "You weren't even there when it happened,"

"It is, Regulus, you don't understand," Sirius shook his head, over his mothers should he gave Regulus a most perturbed look.

"I switched, I suggested it. I was afraid that Voldemort would get them through me, so I asked James if I could switch from being his secret keeper, I switched with Peter - who isn't here!" Sirius growled. His eyes grew sharp with anger.

"Neither is Lupin," Orion pointed out.

"It's full moon, it'd be dangerous for Remus to show up," Sirius sighed. He pulled away from his mother.

"Fudge isn't going to do jack shit," He muttered, "I know where I am going to end up, that's fine, but I wish I was going for an actual crime,"

"You want revenge on Pettigrew," Regulus said. Sirius nodded.

"I wish I had enough time to go after that little rat!" He turned and punched the wall. No dent was left behind as he pulled his fist away. His knuckles were red. Walburga took his hand, she pinched his wrist but Sirius didn't look at her. He hung his head and his shoulders dropped.

"They're dead, it hasn't dawned on me, but they're dead,"

"Sirius, we'll try and get this fixed," Orion promised.

"Why? I am a horrible son to you, why do you care?" Sirius asked.

"Because we love you, isn't that enough?" Walburga put a hand under Sirius' chin. She kissed the tip of his nose and gave him a motherly smile.

* * *

A/N - Okay, guess what's going to happen if you can.