The owl confirming the switch arrived a few days later. I visited Peter several times, just to make sure he was safe. I told Remus that I was going for a walk. Peter seemed shaken, but determined. I knew he wouldn't be in danger; otherwise I wouldn't have suggested it.
I closed my eyes, curling up in Remus's embrace. I sank into blackness.
A cloaked figure was walking slowly towards a house. I recognised the house immediately. It was James and Lily's house. The figure glided swiftly along the grass. It raised its wand, blasting the door off its hinges. A man with unruly black hair was yelling over his shoulder. His wife ran, clutching their baby son.
"Courageous of you, Potter." a high, cold voice smirked. "But foolish."
A flash of green light shot from his wand. James ducked, shooting his own spell back at Voldemort. Voldemort hissed, deflecting James's spell at the last minute. Voldemort sent out another jet of green light. This time, James didn't try and stop him. He stood, looking straight at Voldemort. His hazel eyes widened when the curse hit him in the chest, and he fell backwards, onto the floor. Voldemort stepped over his body, looking for Lily. He spoke to her in his cold voice, and she begged with him, not to kill her son. To kill her instead. I saw the panic in her eyes as he looked at the baby. He lifted his wand, and killed her as well. Then he turned his wand on the baby.
"Noooooooo!" I screamed, thrashing around in agony. Remus was gripping my shoulders, looking down at me with mingled concern and fright.
"What is it?" he said urgently. I jumped out of bed, pulling on the first clothes I saw.
"Where are you going?" Remus asked. His eyes were wide and fearful.
"I need to go. I'll explain when I come back."
I wrenched my arm from his grip and ran out of the house. I first went to Peter's hiding place. He wasn't there. Five minutes later, I stood in Godric's Hollow. I stared, dumbfounded, at the wreckage of my best friend's house. My whole body shook with grief and horror. I could see their bodies. I didn't want to see, but I had to. What if one of them was still alive? It was impossible, but I was desperate, clinging to the smallest glimmer of hope. I picked my way through the rubble. I saw James, sprawled over the fragments of a mirror, his eyes wide and staring. I closed them gently, feeling hot tears of remorse spill from my own. I saw a dark hulking figure, also searching through the debris. I recognised him immediately. It was Hagrid. I walked over to him, still shaking like a leaf.
"Sirius!" he said. He too, had tears running down his face.
"Hagrid!" I sobbed. The half giant pulled me into a one armed hug. In his other arm, a bundle was cradled. I stared at the sleeping baby.
"Voldemort… didn't kill Harry?" I said in wonder. Hagrid yelped when I said the name.
"No… an' You-Know-Who, he's gone."
"Gone?"
"Vanished. Withou' a trace."
I looked at my godson. He had a cut on his forehead, shaped like a bolt of lightning.
"Let me take him," I said. "He's my godson. I'll take care of him."
Hagrid looked at me, his shaggy hair tangled and matted.
"Wish I could, Sirius. Dumbledore sent me, see. Sent me to get Harry, an' take 'im back to Hogwarts."
I nodded. Then I ran to mine and Remus's house across the road. I opened the garage, and pulled out my beloved motorbike.
"Here, Hagrid," I said, wheeling the bike over to him. "Take it. I don't need it now. Take Harry back to Dumbledore. And… look after him."
Hagrid nodded wordlessly, getting on the bike. He flew off into the night, and I sank to the ground, drowning in anguish. I howled like a dog in pain, beating the hard ground with my fist. This was my fault. All my fault. I had done this, and the Potters were dead. Dead, never coming back. It was because of me. A face swam into my mind, and I punched a jagged rock. Blood ran down my knuckles, and I wish it was his. Peter Pettigrew.