Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 2 Sirius learns of the attack

Sirius Black had just arrived back home to his apartment after a difficult mission for Dumbedore.

Dumbledore had sent Sirius and some other members of the Order of the Phoenix to protect a muggle town that several Death Eaters were going to attack. They were to track down the Death Eaters who were planning the attack and stop them before they completed their plans. It was a successful mission, what with the capture of several very dangerous Death Eaters, although it was one that took several days and didn't allow for much sleep on the Order member's part.

Sirius was quite happy for once to have the fighting over and done with and go back home to rest for a few days, maybe take his motorcycle for a ride and check out some local muggle girls. He closed the front door and put a couple of protective enchantments on it to stop intruders. He stumbled tiredly to his bedroom and was debating whether to change his fithly clothes, or just go right to bed, when a bright light shaped like a phoenix appeared in the middle of his room.

Sirius was suddenly more alert then he had been all night. What could have happened now? Was it another mission? An azkaban breakout? Or something even worse... a friend dead?

The phoenix's mouth opened and Dumbledore's voice issued from it, sounding a bit sad.

"Sirius, I'm sorry to tell you this after such a difficult and tiring mission, but Lily and James have been attacked by Lord Voldemort. They did not survive."

"No!" Sirius screamed as he fell to his knees on the floor. "NO!"

Dumbledore's message continued after a pause." Someone had informed Lord Voldemort where they were hidden; I suspect it was Mr. Pettigrew, the Secret-Keeper. I was notified by one of the Order that Mr. Pettigrew was seen attending a Death Eater meeting a few days before the attack. I believe they threatened his life in order to force him to reveal the location of Lily and James."

Sirius sat there on the floor, stunned. Damn Peter! He always was a coward, loyal only to those who could protect him. Well, Sirius thought wryly, it looked like Peter had predicted that Dumbledore and the Order would fall and had gone to Voldemort with this information about the Potters so he would be welcomed and protected. How could he do this to James? How could he betray them like this? It was all his, Sirius' fault! HE had been the Secret-Keeper, HE had persuaded Lily and James to make Peter the Secret-Keeper at the last moment. He should have known Peter was too much of a coward to die for his friends and a cause he believed in.

Sirius stood up, desperate to go to the Potter's house, to see for himself the damage. It couldn't be true, Dumbledore was wrong. Even as Sirius thought this, deep down he knew it was true; Lily and James were dead, and it was his fault. He grabbed his wand fom the dresser where he had left it and raced to the door . Just as he opened it to leave, the last part of the message was repeated. "And Sirius... Harry is still alive.