Chapter two

Aftermath

Remus instinctively knew something was wrong, so terribly wrong. He rushed to the cupboard where he kept his old school trunk, ripped it open and pulled out a mirror. He tapped it and spoke in a firm voice; "James Potter." He waited a few moments, nothing happened. Trying to remain calm, he tried again, thinking, hoping he was just spending time with Lily after putting Harry to bed. Any moment now, James was going to answer the mirror and tell him to shove off for disturbing him. Still nothing. Slowly losing his grip on his calm, he tried a further few more times, but the same happened. He drew a shaky breath and said; "Sirius Black."

Moments later the disgruntled image of his friend filled the mirror. "You disturb a man when he's entertaining a lady and eating , Moony? I'm hurt." He joked.

"You eat enough to empty Hogwarts yet you don't have anything to show for it. Give up man." Remus smiled for an all too brief moment, revelling in the sense of normalcy his friend brought. "And as for entertaining a lady, which poor unsuspecting woman have you brought back to your kennel?"

"Don't worry mum she's respectable. Anyway what do you want?" Sirius asked.

"I think something's happened with James and Lily. I just tried to call him a few times with the mirror and he didn't answer it." Remus answered.

"He's probably with Lily, leave the man alone. Merlin you're like his mother!"

"And a mother knows when something's wrong." Remus smirked as he saw Sirius roll his eyes.

"You." He jabbed a finger in Remus' direction. "Are worse than a woman. And your monthly cycles are one and the same. Minus the physical transformation."

"Shut up and check on your best friend." Remus, far too used to his jokes by now was unaffected by that. No he was irritated that Sirius had not been fully concentrating.

"Alright, alright..." Sirius sighed, he really didn't want to leave the dinner he was just finishing. Or the frankly beautiful witch that had just made herself comfortable in his bedroom.

"Let me know as soon as you know." Remus said.

"Yes mum." Sirius grumbled and deactivated the mirror. He shoved it back into the drawer and made his way to his bedroom.

The witch on his bed gave him a smile. "Coming in then?"

"I... I have something to do, can we do this another time?" Sirius spoke and hurriedly left the room without giving her a chance to answer.

Once out of the door, he turned into his dog form, and only then did he fully understand what Remus had beem saying. The feeling that something was very, very wrong. He wasted no time in taking off in the direction of the Potter's cottage. It took him all of fifteen minutes, and he jumped, swiftly changing from canine to human in seconds. He looked up at the damage at the side of the house. Where Harry's room once was, it was now blown apart. "No... No, no, no!" He pushed his way into the house. Upon entry, he saw James on the floor, his face a picture of determination and fierce protectiveness. Sirius collapsed on the floor beside him. "James! James come on!" He begged his friend, his brother, willing him to live. Furiously wiping away his tears he made his way up the stairs. "Lily! Harry!" He shouted, breathing a sigh of relief when he heard the cry of a child. He ran up into Harry's room to find Snape standing over Lily's body, while awkwardly trying to comfort the crying infant.

Sirius drew his wand and pointed it squarely at him. "What did you do?!" He snarled.

Severus rolled his eyes. The reaction was expected but how stupid was he?! "Put the wand down, Black. They're fine."

"What do you mean they're fine?! They're dead! Step away from Harry!"

Severus backed away and Sirius took his place, standing protectively in front of Harry.

"Pettigrew betrayed them. If you want to be angry at someone be angry at him. How else wpuld the Dark Lord find them? The Dark Lord thinks them dead now. I brewed Lily a potion and placed a charm on it that would protect her and her family." Severus spole calmly.

Sirius hardly listened to him. He turned to check Harry over, only noticing his forehead bleeding from a scar. He growled and held Harry close to him.

"Black for once in your insolent life listen to me! You were betrayed!" Severus snapped and Apparated away.

James woke up on the floor. He groaned in pain as he rubbed his head. "Lily?" He spoke, though his voice was quiet. He slowly pushed himself standing amd staggered up the stairs. He slowly made his way to Harry's room. "Sirius?"

Sirius whirled around. "James?! No wait! He's dead!"

"Thanks mate..." the man managed a smirk.

"Alright then. If you are my brother, on your wedding day, I told you something I hadn't told anyone else. What was it?"

"You told me a lot of stuff Sirius is this before or after the firewhiskey?"

"Before."

James knew then. "You said to me that even after the stuff that happened, you wished your mother loved you like mine did."

Sirius put Harry down and ran across the room, hugging his best friend tightly.

"Harry?"

Both men looked at the feminine voice spoke and bright green eyes searched the room for her boy.

'So the greasy git was telling the truth.' Sirius thought.

Lily staggered to her feet, fingers gripping the side of the cot to steady herself. "Harry what happened to you?" She gasped, picking up her son and held him close. Moments later another two pairs of arms wrapped around them both.

The four of them stayed there for a few more moments before Sirius stepped back. "I need to fimd a rat."

"What do you mean?" James asked.

"Pettigrew. The bastard betrayed you."

Lily gasped. No, surely not little Peter...

"James, use the mirror, call Remus tell him to stop mothering. I'll see you later."

"You're going nowhere without me, mutt you stay where you are." James said firmly, leaving the room for the mirror in his own bedroom. "Remus Lupin." He spoke, tapping it and carried it through to Sirius.

"James! Oh thank Merlin you're alright! Is Lily there? I just had word from Dumbledore saying the wards had gone and you had been attacked! He's sending someone for Harry!"

James growled. "Peter betrayed us."

"I'm here Remus!" Lily called, keeping Harry close, already packing a bag for Harry with one hand.

Remus sighed in relief at her voice and his eyes flared. "Peter?!"

"And Sirius and I are going after him."

"James you can't!" Lily gasped.

"I am not letting him get away with this." James said firmly.

"James don't go doing anything that will land you both in Azkaban. Get Pettigrew there but not yourselves." Remus told him.

"He as good as sentenced us to death! His friends! What about Harry?! No that rat needs to go." James snapped and deactivated his mirror.

Sirius looked around at Lily. "Get yourself and Harry out of here. I know it's not ideal for Harry but go to my parents' house. Remus will let you in."

James handed his wife the mirror. "Use that to communicate with him. Make sure you ask him to meet you there, just in case something happens." He spoke and kissed her, and then kissed Harry on the head.

"Dada?" Harry reached out for him.

"I'll be with you soon, Harry. You be good for mummy okay?" James looked at him, he was so relieved his family was okay. By rights they should be dead.

Lily looked up at him. "I'll explain all later." She whispered. "Just come back to us."

"I love you both. Don't forget that." James gave them one last hug and kiss before leaving with his brother, just in time to meet Hagrid on Sirius' motorcycle.

James looked at Sirius questioningly.

"He asked to borrow it. Said he might need it soon." Sirius spoke, not quite understanding what he'd just said.

"James? Sirius? Oh my god are you alrigh'?" Hagrid's voice boomed fearfully, seeing the wreck of the house.

"Yeah we're fine Hagrid, Lily and Harry are just inside..." James said. "How did you know to come here?"

"Dumbledore sen' me here didn' 'e. Said I needed ter get Harry to a safe place." Hagrid answered, not realising he'd just let slip of Dumbledore's involvement.

"A safe place? Where?!" Sirius asked. "Besides, there's no need, Lily has him now he's fine. She's getting a bag packed."

"Ter 'er muggle sister's o'course." Hagrid said as though it were obvious. "You mean yer leavin' 'er in there wi'h a young baby on her own?! What if death eaters come back!?"

"No way. Harry is not going to his aunt's. The woman hates him. He is not to set a toenail in that place Hagrid do you understand me?!" James snapped.

"James I have ter follow Dumbledore's orders."

"You tell that old fool from me. James and Lily Potter are by some miracle still alive and are taking their son away from the Wizarding world. I don't know where yet but Harry is not to return to this place until he reaches eleven years old and boarding the Hogwarts Express for the first time." James told him firmly and left with Sirius.