Chapter Two: Explanations

After the short flight and then rendezvous with Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, Sirius, James, Lily and baby Harry were all in the Headmaster's study at Hogwarts. James told them all what happened when Voldemort had come to the house before Dumbledore asked Lily for her part in the story.

'Well, James told me to take Harry and go, so I ran up to the nursery to use the emergency Portkey that should have taken me to Sirius', but it had been disabled. I realised that I had left my wand in the kitchen and that I was trapped, so all I could do was wait. I barricaded myself in the nursery but this proved to be fruitless. He – Voldemort – just forced his way in, I put Harry in his crib and stood between Voldemort and Harry,' Lily began and stopped to have a sip of pumpkin juice before continuing, 'Voldemort told me to stand aside – I refused. For some reason he seemed reluctant to kill me, I asked him to show mercy – not to kill Harry, at the time I was assuming that James was d-dead and I didn't want to lose Harry too.

'Then he flicked his wand to send me flying into the wall before he moved toward Harry. He looked at Harry, but then Harry began to cry, so Voldemort began the incantation, he got as far as Avada before I moved myself back between Harry and Voldemort, however, he changed his incantation to Crucio and I was hit with it and sent to the floor in agony before everything went dark. I can only assume he Stunned me.'

Dumbledore was thinking for a moment before he said, 'Voldemort is gone.'

'How?' asked James.

'The scar on Harry's forehead, it is no ordinary scar; it comes from being cursed and with a dark curse at that. Voldemort proceeded to kill Harry once Lily was incapacitated. However, the curse rebounded upon Voldemort instead, did you find his wand?' said Dumbledore.

'No, but how did this happen, how did Harry survive?' asked Sirius.

'Old magic,' said Dumbledore.

'Old magic?' asked James and Lily confused.

'Lily, when you cast yourself between Voldemort and Harry you were willing to die, although you did not, the intent was enough to create the ultimate protection around Harry that Voldemort could not break and nor did he foresee. Therefore, he proceeded to kill Harry only to have his curse backfire upon him,' said Dumbledore.

'So he is dead?' asked James.

'No, I think not. Stripped of his powers, weak, and still out there somewhere, but, for now, gone,' answered Dumbledore.

'I still don't understand,' said James.

'Love's Sacrifice,' said Sirius, 'Lily's love for Harry put a protection around him that hate and anger and evil couldn't penetrate, James. Voldemort does not love – he has never loved.'

'Quite right, my boy, if you were still my student I would be awarding Gryffindor fifty house points,' said Dumbledore, beaming, before saying, 'However, we must address the leak in the Order.'

'Peter Pettigrew was our Secret Keeper and only he could have told Voldemort where to find us, it has to be him,' said James.

'You changed Secret Keeper?' asked Dumbledore.

'We did, we thought using Sirius was obvious and anyone who knew us would know we would use him so he was willing to be a decoy,' said James.

'In that case we must track down Mr Pettigrew and at once,' said Dumbledore, briskly.

'It won't be easy, he's an unregistered Animagus. He can transform into a rat,' said Sirius.

'I see; it appears that we have been underestimating Mr Pettigrew for some time. You know this how?'

'Because Sirius and I are also unregistered Animagi,' said James, 'we had to help him with his transformation.'

'When did you learn this?' asked Dumbledore.

'It was my idea, we figured out why Remus disappeared every month and so we decided to help him. We knew that werewolves are only a danger to people but not animals, so we became Animagi, it took us three years to learn how to do it, but finally in our fifth year, we achieved our goal. I was the first to achieve the transformation and my form is a dog. James is a stag, and Pettigrew is a rat,' said Sirius.

'Impressive, particularly keeping it from me. However, I shall alert the Ministry to tell them that Voldemort has gone and to search for Peter Pettigrew,' said Dumbledore.

'Professor, would it be possible to contact Remus and get him here so we can tell him what happened?' asked James.

'I shall do that before I contact the Ministry, and I would like you all to stay here at Hogwarts for the time being – at least until Christmas,' said Dumbledore.

They all agreed to stay at Hogwarts and Remus arrived at the castle within half an hour. Dumbledore brought Remus up to speed and Remus was beyond relieved that his friends had survived.

'By the way, Lily,' began Sirius, 'if you ever go anywhere without your wand again, I'll put you over my knee, do you understand me?'

Before Lily could answer, James said, 'OI, that's my wife, Sirius! And anyway, how come you threatened to kill me and not Lily for forgetting our wands?'

Sirius chuckled and said, 'Oh, that's easy, Prongs, Lily has a much nicer arse than you do!'

James' mock outrage was met with laughter by the others before they were taken to some rooms within the castle.

0o0

For the next month the Potters, Sirius and Remus stayed at Hogwarts and during that time Harry had been hailed a hero by the entire wizarding world as news of Voldemort's defeat was reported far and wide by various outlets. The search for Peter Pettigrew had begun but yielded no results. There was also the sad news of the permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom. The perpetrators had been apprehended but the Potters could not leave the castle to attend the trial for fears for their safety.

Just before Christmas the Potters relocated to Potter Manor along with Remus and Sirius. They did not want to outstay their welcome and impose upon Albus Dumbledore's hospitality any more. They spent a quiet Christmas at the Manor. Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Hagrid had come for supper. Minerva simply adored little Harry as she doted on him. Even as Harry called her Minnie she still could not help adore him, though she did tell off James, Sirius and Remus for teaching Harry the nickname they had given to her during their schooldays.

After the supper, Sirius approached Dumbledore as he was leaving.

'May I speak to you in private, Headmaster?'

'Of course,' replied Dumbledore.

Sirius and Dumbledore went outside and before speaking they made sure they were alone.

'What the hell is Snivellus Snape doing teaching at Hogwarts?' asked Sirius.

Dumbledore sighed and said, 'Severus is a highly accomplished Potions Master. However, he is the reason that we knew that Voldemort was hunting down the Potters. He alerted me and I alerted you to the fact that Voldemort had interpreted the portion of Prophecy that had been relayed to him. Voldemort chose Harry. He chose a half-blood – like himself, as the boy who would be most dangerous to him. As for Severus, he has turned spy for us at great personal risk, and I trust him, completely. One day, Voldemort will return, and when he does, Severus will be our spy.'

Sirius took in what Dumbledore had told him before shocking the Headmaster with his next words.

'Voldemort made a Horcrux, didn't he?'

Dumbledore quickly composed himself before saying, 'I believe so. How do you know of them?'

Sirius snorted and said, 'Please, once more you're forgetting about my family roots and what they are or were. The Black Family Library is crammed with books on the Dark Arts and Dark Magic. My father told me never to read them – so being the rebellious sod that I was, I read them. I threw up for half an hour after reading Secrets of the Darkest Art.'

'Yes, quite understandable, as it is particularly gruesome,' said Dumbledore. 'Now, I must ask you to not repeat this conversation to anyone – not even James or Remus. I do not want this to be public knowledge. We will deal with this when the time comes, do you understand me, Sirius?'

'I do, and you have my word that our conversation will not be repeated to anyone. It would not do to let on how much we know about Voldemort's secrets. Goodnight, Albus,' said Sirius.

'Goodnight, Sirius,' said Dumbledore, before Sirius turned and went back inside the Manor to enjoy the rest of the evening with his family.