Chapter 36

A/: As always I am not JKR, just a fanfic writer playing in her universe.

Remus sat hands shaking as he looked around the sitting room of Number 12 Grimmuald Place. How so many things had changed in such a short time. James and Lily were dead, and he had been estranged from his only friend left. It was like he was living in a completely different world. Standing before him was Lucius Malfoy laying out plans to save notable blood traitor Sirius Black from the hands of the former leader of the light, Albus Dumbledore. He didn't no whether to laugh or cry, the situation was just so outlandish. He stole a quick glance at Narcissa who was even paler then usual balancing both Harry and her son on her lap.

Aatos and Brawin were quietly convening with Lucius about which way to attack the house. Kathleen and Andromeda were entertaining Bjorn and Aedan in the centre of the room. Calist sat in the far corner clutching Judith to her chest. Her eyes were watering and she looked as though she was going to vomit. Remus took a deep breath and crossed the room to offer some sort of comfort to the clearly distressed woman.

"Calist," he said quietly placing a hand on her shoulder.

" Remus?" It was a testament to how upset she was that the woman didn't glare at him.

"How are you doing?"

" Awful, what if he doesn't make it back? What's going to happen to Harry?"

" We will get him back, I don't care much for the man, but their are very few people who can keep a Malfoy from getting what he wants. We have both the London and Black Alliances. Every family with any power is here working on this, and if that doesn't ease your mind the fact that Kathleen, Brawin, and Aatos are ready to bring the wrath of Merlin down on Dumbledore should."

" I want to help but what good is someone who can barely make a wand spark."

" You act like wielding Natural Magic is easy magic."

" I'm no solider Remus, a one on one recreation duel is one thing. Natural Magic in battle is something else."

" Well if a battle is not your thing I am sure Narcissa could use help managing all the children. I know my opinion may not mean much to you but there are other ways to contribute to war then on a battlefild. Sirius cares far more about Harry's well-being then his own life. There is no shame in protecting the children."

"Albus we need to vacate the premises now, he can't tell you where the child is if you are both buried under fifty feet of rubble!" yelled the auror. Albus came out of his trance taking in the fact that the house was indeed coming down around them. Every time he struck, Sirius raised the flames a bit higher. He had to admit the man's resolve impressed him, it was a shame he had strayed so far. Oh the solider for the light he would have made! He was young, powerful, idealistic, and more then willing to give his life for the cause. But, he was not prepared to give the child's life. Albus understood why he wasn't completely heartless but living in a war had taught him one important lesson. Sometimes you had to sacrifice the one for the many.

The only way to truly destroy Voldemort was to use that what he couldn't understand, love. Albus took one last glance at the man who had once been his student and saw flashes of the 11 year old boy he had been. For the first time in months Albus felt sick with himself, what had he turned into. In a bid to keep himself away from power he had subconsciously sought it out, and it turned him into a monster just as it had before. Albus sunk to his knees, his face visibly paled and as the roof began to collapse around him the old man whispered as if a small child;

"My god Sirius, I am so sorry, so sorry."

He felt the uncomfortable weight of guilt form in his stomach as he was staring face to face with the man he had become. When had this happened, when had the Leader of the Light allowed himself to become so caught up in this war. When had he become such a monster.

"Quick help me get Sirius out of here!"

The two men hoisted Sirius up, the black haired wizard was clearly dazed he leaned heavily on those holding him up. The flames no longer engulfed the room but that didn't stop the house from crumbling around them. They managed to make it out on to the street just before the house collapsed and they were engulfed by a large puff of ash and dust. Albus had barely anytime to recover before Sirius' legs gave out and the wizards eyes rolled back into his head. Albus laid the young wizard on the ground softly.

" Come on Sirius, wake-up you … you need to stay awake," Albus gently shook him but to no avail. The wizard was still breathing, but Albus had visions of Frank and Alice Longbottom. Oh god what had he done. As if on cue he heard the distinct sound of apparating all around him. Here he was surrounded by those who he made his enemies. He should have been scared, he should have been terrified but all the elderly wizard could manage to do through his tears was yell.

"Somebody help him!"

A/n: I almost feel bad for what I turned Dumbledore into but then I remember my Albus isn't the one we dealt with in canon. Mine is a glimpse into the darker aspect of Dumbledore's personality only alluded to in canon. This is the Dumbledore that might have been if circumstances had been different.