Disclaimer - The world of Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and various publishers. I make no claim of ownership except for the characters that I've created.

Backstory is going to take years to write only because my perfectionist side is taking over.

Fanfiction is so confusing o.o (yes, I'm a newb)

Enjoy~

Chapter 1.

Sirius twirled his wand between his middle and index finger as he gazed into the flickering flames in an attempt to tear his mind away from the uncomfortable feeling that suggested that something bad was going to happen. It was a feeling that he had become unwillingly familiar with ever since Lord Voldemort had risen to power but more especially in the past year where the threat of attack grew too close for comfort. James and Lily were the Dark Lord's latest target. Sirius had known them since his very first day at Hogwarts – they had met on the Hogwarts Express along with that Slytherin boy, Snivellus. Sirius scrunched his nose at the thought. That little prick had become a Death Eater; one of his little minions. He couldn't understand why Lily had been friends with him for so long nor what good she saw in him, but then again, Lily had a kind and gentle soul; something you don't find often in this world, and James was extremely lucky to have her as his wife. Yes, they were perfect together, he thought. He remembered the wedding and the joy on their faces. He remembered seeing little Harry and Christine for the first time and felt extremely blessed to be their godfather. They would have lived a happy life – James, Lily, Harry, Christine, everyone for that matter! They would have all lived happy and worry-free lives if only it weren't for that blasted insane lunatic!

The flames shot up and licked the bricks at the top of the fireplace, hissing loudly as if they were in a furious rage. Sirius snapped out of his thoughts and loosened his grip on his wand that was being crushed by the palm of his hand subconsciously. As soon as the wand was free from its constraints, the flames began to die down and returned to its gentle flickering. Sirius stood up and took a few steps away from the fireplace while taking several deep breaths and pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand. He needed to work on his temper, a trait that he had inherited from his mother which he disliked but so far couldn't control. He threw his wand at a nearby couch. Control. It was something that seemed to escape him these days and he absolutely hate it. It was driving him insane! Day by day the threat was growing stronger and stronger as more and more people are slaughtered or disappeared and it appeared that this trend was not going to end anytime soon. The Order needs to fight back! They needed to act now!

He needed to act now.

But first, he needed to check up on Peter. Sirius' grey eyes flicked towards the clock ticking on the wall to the left of the fireplace. Peter would most likely be at his house eating dinner at this time of the evening. Sirius picked up his wand, grabbed his cloak from the coat hanger and headed outside where his motorcycle was waiting. Yes, he could easily just have disapparated but there was nothing more therapeutic than flying, especially on an enchanted flying motorcycle. Nothing could compare to the cool wind burning against his cheeks, the gentle purring of the engine and the wild flapping of his cloak. Nothing could compare to being on a spiced up muggle vehicle – oh the adventure! He felt instantly refreshed and exhilarated in the air above it all. He felt like he was in his own private world amongst the clouds and liquid gold and rose sky. This was how life was meant to be. Beautiful. Free.

Nearing his destination, Sirius began to descend onto the dirt road that led into the small village where Peter resided. As he rumbled towards through the village centre, he could feel that all the muggles had their eyes on him and he couldn't blame them – it wasn't often do they see a shiny modern motorbike nor a mysterious handsome dark haired man in a small quaint farming community. Sirius cut the engine when he arrived outside a small, out-of-the-way cottage at the back of the village. It looked rather ordinary with its thriving front garden, weathered stone walls and fading thatch roof, and it was a little lacking in comparison to the other nicer and newer houses in the village and a little dark…

Sirius pulled out his wand and circled the building as the uncomfortable sensation returned. The air seemed to chill as there was no sign that Peter was home. He returned to the front door and inspected the hinges with the aid of the light from his wand. Everything seemed intact. He twisted the tarnished brass handle. The door was locked. It was unusual for the timid man to leave the safety of his home at this hour. Maybe he was home. Maybe he was sleeping. Sirius knocked on the door three times and called Peter's name. There was no response. There was no flicker of a light turning on. There was no sign of life from within. There was nothing. What on earth was that man up to? Sirius firmly gripped his wand and unlocked the door which let out one long moan as it opened.

"Homenum revelio."

Still nothing. Peter had truly disappeared.

With a wave of his wand, the lights turned on and he expected to see a world of chaos before him but instead he was greeted with the sight of order – the dishes were stacked in the sink unwashed, that morning's Daily Prophet laid folded on the birch dining table and Peter's bed was unmade. Sirius crouched in front of the fireplace and dipped his fingers into the ashes. It was still warm. He was here not long ago. Wormtail! Where could that stupid rat have gone?

James.

Sirius wiped his fingers on his cloak and rushed towards his motorcycle, swinging his leg over it as he revved up the engine. Not caring about how loud he was or how many muggles saw him, he drove into the sky at full speed towards Godric's Hollow.

Sirius landed with a loud bang as he descended down the Potter's street and jumped off as soon as it halted to a stopped. No. It was all he could think of. No. He ran towards the Potter's house that had been blown apart. From the sky he had seen the gaping hole in the roof where the nursery had been. No. The roof shingles and bits of stone and wood were strewn around the garden. James. Lily. No. Sprinting down the gravel path, Sirius headed towards the front door and saw a figure moving in the living room.

"Reveal yourself!" he yelled, pointing his wand at the figure hoping that it was just James and the destruction was just a spell gone wrong.

"Calm down, Sirius, it's only me, Hagrid."

Hagrid who was hunched over, stood in front of the light emitted from Sirius' wand. Recognising the half-giant's hairy features, Sirius lowered his wand and rushed up the stairs. No. No. No. James. His knees buckled beneath him as a sharp pain sliced through him, ripping through his thumping heart and coursed through him like the seismic waves of an earthquake. NO! He reached his hands out and held his best friend's head. Dead. His best friend was dead. Deceased. Gone. Sirius clutched the wall for support, sobbing over James' body. He had sworn to protect them from the Dark Lord, to die for them and here he was collapsed on the floor beside him while his own heart kept beating and James' had stopped. He had failed. He had failed him. He had failed to protec - but it wasn't his failure. It was Peter's. Peter was the Secret-Keeper for the Potters! Peter was the one who had betrayed them, betrayed him! No wonder his house was in order; he willingly told Lord Voldemort of the Potter's whereabouts that bloody traitor! He told him! And now James and Lily were dead because they had put their faith in that weak, tactless thing who betrayed them instead of died for them!

A firm hand squeezed his shoulder.

"There, there, Sirius," Hagrid consoled as he wiped his own cheeks with his handkerchief.

All Sirius could do was wail and hold onto the giant's leg. "I failed them!" He had failed to see the traitorous side of his friend!

"Shh. Shh. You didn't fail, Sirius - young Harry and Christine are alive. J-James and Lily would be glad that their children are safe."

C-children? Harry? Christine? Alive? Sirius brushed away his tears and looked up at the giant. In his arms were two children, one was fast asleep while the other was eyeing Hagrid inquisitively. They were alive! Sirius cleared his throat and stood up.

"What happened to his head?" Sirius' voice faltering as he brushed his thumb over the sleeping child's wound.

"Dunno, I found him in his nursery with... with uhh… with L-Lily."

Another pin prodded Sirius's heart at the mention of her name. Lily. James. Gone. Sirius brushed his index finger over Christine's cheek and lifted her chin. The little girl watched him curiously, her hazel eyes never leaving her godfather's sombre gaze. Hagrid loosened his hold of her and slipped her into Sirius' arms. The child felt like an awkward melon in his arms. He was incapable of holding her properly with all these conflicting and incompatible emotions mixing inside of him like a potion in a cauldron. He was relieved yet heartbroken, furious yet in somewhat of a daze as the concept of death floated above his head like a fuzzy cloud, but he had to focus. Lily and James were dead so he was now Harry and Christine's guardian. He had to take them to a safe place before he can deal with his emotions. Deal with Pettigrew. Finally getting Christine comfortably settled in his arms, he gestured for Harry and stood up straighter. He had to stay strong for the little ones. But Hagrid shook his head.

"I'm afraid Dumbledore's asked me to take Harry to his aunt's."

"But I'm his godfather! I am the guardian of both children if Lily and James…" He couldn't say it. He couldn't.

"I can't, Sirius."

"James would've wanted me to take care of them and why would you take him to his magic-hating muggle aunt? She hated Lily and I'm pretty sure that she'll hate him!"

"Dumbledore's orders, Sirius."

"Hagrid, I'm telling yo-"

"Sirius. Listen to me. Somethin' happened last night, somethin' big that caused You-Know-Who to disappear. I know yer his godfather and I know ye love him, but I think you should trust Dumbledore's decision. Harry ain't no ordinary baby, he did somethin' that made the Dark Lord go away."

Sirius glanced at James and then to Harry and sighed. He didn't like the idea of Harry being sent off to live with a bunch of wizard haters but he knew that James and Lily would want the best for their children and that he shouldn't disobey Dumbledore's orders or doubt his decisions.

"Are you sure he has to go? Is there no other way?" he asked. Hagrid shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Sirius."

Sirius looked sadly at the sleeping boy, stroked his forehead and kissed his tiny hand good luck.

"Okay."

"We best be goin' now – we don't want them muggles finding us here," Hagrid deduced as he began to clamber down the stairs.

Sirius looked at Christine and then to James and gave a firm nod.

"Uhh Hagrid." The giant turned around. "You can take my motorbike – I won't need it anymore."

Hagrid nodded his thanks and with one last glance around the Potter's house, Sirius disapparated.

The pair appeared in front of his house with a small pop and entered the building in complete silence. Sirius transfigured one of the armchairs by the fireplace into a crib and summoned a jar from the kitchen in which he inserted a flickering blue flame and set it on the table by the crib – something Lily had mentioned Christine had an affinity for which lulled the sweet ignorant child to sleep. Sirius plopped himself onto the other armchair and turned to look at the girl whose eyelids were steadily drooping lower and lower. He had never thought that it would come to this; him being the sole guardian of James' and Lily's child. He had always thought that he would only be their godfather, or 'Uncle Sirius' as Lily liked to put it; the one who would secretly spoil them behind their parents' backs; the one whom they'd look forward to having visits from…

But due to a tragic twist of events, he was now solely responsible for the wellbeing of this child, something that seemed completely out of his league; he hadn't the slightest idea on how to raise a child.

Sirius buried his face in his hands and raked his fingers through his black locks. He knew when dawn broke the whole wizarding world would be jumping with joy with the news that Lord Voldemort was gone, but he was far from the mood of celebrating. Too many people had died these past eleven years and last night Lily and James had joined them. Sirius' jaw clenched as he remembered what he had established in the Potter's house.

Peter was a traitor.

There was no denying the rage that was simmering within him; he had placed his wand by the jar just in case he accidentally blew up the place, but along with this rage was disbelief. He could not believe that his friend would betray him and James. He could not believe that he would be so treacherous and do such a misdeed for his own interests. Sirius' stiffened in his seat. There was no way he could let his traitorous friend get away with this. Never! He will find that little rat, demand why he betrayed them and bring him to justice. It was what James would've done and what he would like him to do. Sirius sat by the fire gazing into the flames for a while as he thought.

He could not leave Christine by herself unprotected. Even though the Dark Lord was gone, his raging lunatics were still roaming about. He couldn't leave her with Remus. As much as he was his best friend, he still had his suspicions about him and Remus wouldn't want to be alone with an innocent child especially with it being so close to the next full moon. Who did he trust to leave this precious child with? Who did he deem to be capable of protecting her while he went looking for Peter? Who can take care of a child? He pondered for several moments as he mentally analysed each possible candidate and in the end there was no better choice than his favourite cousin, Andromeda.

Sirius stood up and walked over to the crib where Christine was sleeping. He would leave Christine at his cousin's tomorrow in the morning. Yes, he would leave her at Andromeda's while he searched for Peter and then he would return and raise her to be the daughter James and Lily would've wanted her to be. With this in mind, he kissed Christine on the forehead goodnight.