Disclaimer: It all belongs to JK Rowling
Prologue:
31st of October 1981 Halloween
James Potter and his wife Lily were sat on the sofa deep in conversation "it's his second Christmas and he has to spend it here in hiding" Lily lamented "our poor Harry, our poor baby" she said sadly as she stared down at the baby she held in her arms.
The toddler, Harry, looked up his at his mother with wide eyes and big smile reaching for her finger to hold.
"Poor kid" James agreed in commiseration "still" he added "at least we're all safe, well and together love" he said as the two of them snuggled closer.
A sudden crashing noise from the trap they had set outside went off "what was that?!" Lily shouted in alarm.
"That trap was set up for Deatheaters or...Voldemort" something inside James told him that this was it. He had had a feeling that somehow, someway, the evil wizard named Lord Voldemort would find them and he would have to defend his family. He was fully prepared.
"Up the stairs...now!" James shouted as he grabbed his wand and Lily's and the two of them ran for the stairs, Harry still clutched tightly in his mother's arms.
As they pounded quickly up the stairs there came a loud crashing sound from down below. The splinters of wood that flew across the living room towards the stairs signalled that their attacker had entered the house.
As they fled along the landing to Harry's bedroom/nursery James heard the voice that confirmed his worst fears. It was a voice that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as if he'd received an electric shock "Potter's...oh Potter's" the voice was soft but full of menace and James had no doubt as to what would happen if Voldemort caught them "come out come out wherever you are" the voice continued to call and as James and Lily threw open the bedroom door there were footsteps on the stairs. Soft but steady footsteps that signalled their attacker was still pursuing them but at a leisurely pace.
"Lily put Harry down in his crib" James instructed. Lily did as bid setting their son down gently and carefully "Harry we love you" Lily comforted their scared son as Voldemort began to advance along the landing and their son began to cry "your mummy and daddy love you...we'll always love you".
She stood up as there was a sound of splintering wood and a robed and hooded figure entered the room. The figured had his wand extended as he threw back his hood to reveal the face of evil as Lord Voldemort, the most evil wizard possibly in history smirked widely "I knew I'd find you...your friends it seems are not as loyal as you thought".
"If you've hurt Wormtail" Lily heard her husband snarl in fury. To no surprise Voldemort seemed to find this very amusing but what he said next surprised them both "hurt him?...one of my most faithful followers?" Voldemort began to laugh, the sound was high and cruel to Lily's ears.
"You're lying!" James shouted "Wormtail would die rather than betray his friends!".
Again Voldemort laughed "my my Potter...so confident. But you should know that your confidence has been entirely misplaced...look down into the street below if you would".
Though James was loath to oblige the evil man curiosity got the better of him as he turned and stared through the window down into the street below. What he saw made his blood boil in fury. Peter, one of his best friends (or so he had thought the man was) was standing down in the street watching the house. He was wearing robes as black as night and looked to be...smirking!.
'The bastard traitor!' James thought in fury as he turned back to Voldemort "I suppose you promised him power and glory in order to join you...and he was weak enough to accept".
"Not weak Potter...strong...intelligent, the things you never gave him credit for. But never mind this pointless chatter...it's time for me to complete my task here. Stand aside the pair of you. You need not die this night...though it would not grieve me to kill you like the blood traitor you are Potter".
"Not a chance Moldy" James said defiantly as Lily added "we'd rather die than let you harm our son".
"Oh how sweet" Voldemort mocked "let us put that theory to the test shall we?" there followed a long and brutal duel in which much furniture was wrecked and both sets of duelists sustained cuts and bruises.
Eventually Lily tired. James watched on in horror unable to get a deflecting shield up in time before the spell hit his wife in the chest and she crumpled silently to the floor "no!" he bellowed in rage and grief.
Through his tears he saw Voldemort aiming the wand at his Harry...his boy...his flesh and blood "no you don't you bastard!" he roared as he jumped in the way of the onrushing spell. He had just enough time to murmur "Harry...dadda loves you...always" the sickly green light slammed into him and all life left him.
Voldemort now aimed his wand at Harry who was stood in his crib crying and calling out in heartrending fashion "mamma!...dadda!" unable to comprehend what had happened. Unable to understand why his parents would not heed his calls...would not wake up.
"They can't answer you...you brat" Voldemort said coldly "they can't answer anyone anymore...and soon neither will you!".
Harry began to cry again, a heartbreaking wail of terror and sadness as Voldemort called out "Avada Kedavra!". Harry watched as the sickly green light raced towards him. Having no clue as to what it was or why it was coming towards him he made no move to duck or shield himself. The light raced closer and closer until at last...nothing!.
Voldemort had just enough time to wonder what in the hell had happened with the spell before the Killing Curse rebounded on him. He fell without even a sound and what was left of him fled the house in Godric's Hollow at high speed wondering all the while how the hell a toddler of one and a half years had managed to best him.
Albus Dumbledore was taking his evening tea in his office after the end of the Halloween feast in the Great Hall and expected a very uneventful night but as fate would have it his plans were disturbed.
The alarm he had set up at the Godric's Hollow cottage in which the Potter's had been hiding out blared out.
Dumbledore dropped the cup and saucer which both shattered into a thousand pieces "not tonight" he whispered even as he stood up.
He whipped out his wand and cast a Patronus which he sent to the two people he felt he could most trust in the world, Professor Minerva McGonagall his friend and Deputy Head and Hagrid the Hogwarts Gamekeeper who was eternally loyal to him.
Within ten minutes both of these individuals were stand before him in his office looking very ashen faced as Dumbledore explained the ward alarm sounding and his deep concern "Hagrid I must ask you to go to Godric's Hollow and see what is amiss" the old wizard sighed heavily "if it is as I fear then you must take the child and meet us at the home of Jacob and Mandy Potter, they are the boys last living relatives in whom I would place trust to raise him safely and loved".
Hagrid nodded solemnly and left the office without another word "do you truly think he found them Albus?" Professor McGonagall questioned seriously and sounding very worried.
"Alas yes, that is what I fear dear Minerva".
"If it's true...god help us all" she replied sadly.
"Indeed Minerva...indeed" Dumbledore replied as he began to brood.
The moment Rubeus Hagrid reached the outside of the Potter House he could sense that something truly was not right. He knew the pride which Lily Potter had in her house and knew that it would not be this messy. As he walked up the path past the neatly tended hedgerow he saw the shattered front door.
He stepped into the cottage and looked around at the wreckage in the living room. Someone had clearly meant to do much damage here judging by the broken furniture and smashed up portraits.
Two noises from upstairs caught his attention and he gazed up at the ceiling in wonderment. The first sound was of a man howling in clear despair...a broken man. The second voice was definitely not a man but a child...a toddler...Harry!...but that meant...
Hagrid frowned as he wondered upon what it could truly mean and as he stood there in deep confusion he heard heavy, slow footsteps on the stairs.
As he looked at the stairs he saw someone descending down into the living room. He recognised the leather jacket and the blue jeans, the curly dark hair and the deep blues eyes...it was Sirius Black, James' best friend.
"Sirius" Hagrid breathed in shock at seeing the man here and...holding little Harry tightly in his arms as if he would never let go.
"They're dead" Sirius mumbled sounding broken "they're both dead...they're gone forever" despite Hagrid wanting to shout in denial that it couldn't be, that the Potter's couldn't be dead he knew that if they had been hit with the Killing Curse then nothing could have saved them 'but then how did Harry survive?' another part of him asked the question to which Hagrid had no answer.
Hagrid had a good idea. He'd take Sirius with him and little Harry to Jacob Potter's House. Jacob was a good man and would know how to comfort Sirius though this would of course devastate Jacob even more.
"Sirius, why don' ya come with me an Harry ere to Jacob's house?" Hagrid suggested tentatively.
He half expected the devastated man to refuse totally being made to leave his friends bodies upstairs but to his surprise and great relief Sirius nodded and mumbled "yes...lets go".
As Sirius was so done in Hagrid bustled round gathering up items that Harry might need and stuffed them into a travel bag he had found in the cupboard under the stairs.
Once he had everything ready that he felt a toddler could need overnight he gently guided Sirius out of the house and over to the man's gleaming black motorcycle.
He had driven it a few times when on errands for the Order and he decided he would do so again "here, sit in the sidecar" Hagrid instructed.
He guided Sirius in and got him sat down carefully with Harry still resting in the man's arms. Sirius used his wand to apply a spell to keep them both safe as Hagrid placed the travel bag down next to them and straddle the motorcycle. He switched on the ignition, revved the engine and drove forwards. After some time the gleaming motorcycle shot up into the air as Hagrid moved it forwards, ever forwards, with much purpose to their destination.
After a short time the motorcycle arrived over the village of Ottery St Catchpole and zoomed off towards he isolated wizarding houses just over the fields near the village.
"We're here!" Hagrid called to Sirius at his side as he began to lower motorcycle slowly towards the ground. The cycle soon landed on solid earth sliding to a halt at the front of Potter Cottage.
Hagrid hurried off the motorcycle and helped Sirius and Harry up and out of the sidecar as a voice called out of the darkness "Hagrid take Harry and step away from Mr Black" Hagrid turned to face Dumbledore, his face writ with confusion. He had expected Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall to be here of course but he couldn't understand why Dumbledore was being so hostile to a man who had just lost some of his best friends.
"Pr'fessor Dumbledore sir, what's goin on?" he asked in bewilderment.
As Dumbledore continued to point his wand at Sirius he said coldly "Mr Black was the Secret Keeper for James and Lily Potter and was the only one who could have betrayed their location to Voldemort".
"No" Sirius croaked out feebly in denial.
"Pr'fessor Sirius would never do such a thing" Hagrid protested unable to believe what he was hearing "the two of them are...were like brothers to each other".
"I'm afraid there is no other way that it could have happened" Dumbledore said with sadness.
"It was the rat" Sirius said "the rat did it".
"What rat? what are you talking about?" Professor McGonagall asked sharply.
"Peter" Sirius said "he was the Secret Keeper, he betrayed the location of James, Lily and Harry to Voldemort".
"What rubbish!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed in fury "we all know you were chosen Sirius Black, you were the Secret Keeper".
Sirius continued to stubbornly shake his head "no, we switched".
"Why would you switch?" Dumbledore asked sounding disbelieving "you were James' best friend and the one he trusted most".
"But don't you see!" Sirius exploded "that's the whole bloody point! I was far too obvious, I...I persuaded James to switch me with Peter" Sirius shook his head sadly "it's all my fault. I thought we could trust him but...he betrayed us all. God knows how long he's been a Death Eater".
"This is all ludicrous!" Professor McGonagall shouted "Black you hand Harry to Hagrid now and submit to us, we'll take you to the Ministry and let them sort it all out".
"You really shouldn't do that Professor" a voice called from the darkness. A man with shoulder length black hair and dark blue eyes stepped out through the front door of the house, behind him walked a woman wearing blue jeans and a red sweater.
"Jacob, Mandy, I apologise for the commotion outside your house this night but Mr Black must be taken into custody and answer for his crime in handing the Potter's location to Lord Voldemort".
Jacob shook his head "he couldn't have betrayed the Potter's location Professor". Dumbledore narrowed his eyes clearly suspecting that Jacob was being controlled somehow "and no I'm not being controlled Albus I promise you" Jacob assured the old wizard "I understand that you will not want to take my word for it so we should head to Hogwarts and get this sorted out. View our memories and I promise you will see that Sirius was not the Secret Keeper".
For a few moments Dumbledore seemed to consider the idea before he nodded shortly "very well, this is a sensible solution".
"I would suggest that Black be restrained Albus" Professor McGonagall cut in. Dumbledore seemed to immediately consider the idea sensible "yes" he agreed as he aimed his wand at Sirius "Mr Black if you are innocent, I apologise in advance but we cannot afford to take any chances with this".
Sirius nodded dully even as both Hagrid and Jacob protested loudly "no!".
"He will not be harmed" Dumbledore promised "he will only be harmed if he was responsible for the events at Godric's Hollow".
Dumbledore using his wand conjured thick rope like binds that wound round Sirius' arms and legs keeping him restrained.
"Hagrid you will take charge of him" Dumbledore declared as Harry was placed in Mandy's arms and she made several funny faces and soothing noises to cheer the little boy up. She was soon rewarded with a happy smile and some laughter which brought of big smile to her face.
The group went inside and made their way through the hallway into the living room and over to the red brick fireplace.
Given the cold night there was a fire roaring within it which Jacob quickly doused with water from his wand before the group went two at a time through the floo network with Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall going first, Hagrid going second holding Sirius tightly and Mandy coming last with Harry clutch in her arms safely.
Once all of the people within the group were assembled in Dumbledore's Office the Headmaster himself began to bustle around gathering up vials and taking the memories of both Sirius and Jacob before bringing out his stone pensieve into which he placed Jacobs memory and moved in to view it.
After some time Dumbledore came out of the memory and to Hagrid was looking very thoughtful over whatever he had seen. Rather than make a decision on Jacobs memory alone however the old wizard next placed Sirius' memory of the switch into the pensieve and stepped in to view it.
Dumbledore had already viewed James informing his brother of his intention to change his Secret Keeper to Peter and a second memory from Jacob which showed Peter, Sirius, James and Jacob all talking together as they laughed over the genius of the plan of making the change.
Neither were memories which Dumbledore could ignore due to the fact they had clearly not been tampered with but he would still not wholly believe it until he saw Sirius memory which he was now viewing.
He found himself standing in the living room of the Godric's Hollow house in which James, Lily and Harry Potter were living.
He saw James sat on the sofa bouncing Harry on his knee with Sirius and Peter sat either side of him as a smiling Lily walked into the living room balancing a large tea tray containing several cups and saucers, a teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, spoons and a number of shortbread biscuits.
The group were silent as they drank their tea and ate their biscuits before James said "I think it's time we got on with the Secret Keeper ceremony and put the fidelius charm up".
"Yes let's get it done" Lily agreed as James and Peter stood up. Sirius followed on behind them out of the front door as Lily followed on behind with Harry who James handed to her.
Dumbledore followed them through the doorway and watched in shock as the fidelius charm ceremony was performed with everyone present being given the location of the house so they could find their way in.
Dumbledore now felt fury. Not fury at Sirius but at Peter as everything had now become clear. The evidence could no longer be ignored. Peter was indeed or rather...had been the Potter's Secret Keeper and thus the only one who could have possibly betrayed them to Voldemort. The reasons for this were also clear as Secret Keepers could only betray the person or people they were protecting willingly which meant in the very least he had sold out for money or at the very worst he was a Death Eater.
As Dumbledore exited the pensieve he now had no illusions. The words from both Jacob and Sirius about the switch were not just empty denials but the truth. A man they had all trusted, considered a friend and colleague had turned traitor.
As Dumbledore stood in his office staring at the group of people standing before him he wondered briefly how long Peter had been a Death Eater for. He decided in the end to put this thought aside as it had no bearing on the events of the present.
"My apologies Sirius" Dumbledore said apologetically as he used his wand to remove the curly haired wizards binds "it is clear to me now that Peter has fooled us all and I believe we must pay him a visit".
"If you're going after Peter then I want to come too...I want to know why he did it" Sirius said savagely.
"I don't think that's a good idea Sirius" Professor McGonagall declared seriously "you and Jacob need to come to terms with the events of this night".
"No" Jacob declared hotly "no he's right. I'm James' brother and Sirius his best friend. We have the most right besides Harry to know why Peter would do this to James and Lily".
"They are right" Dumbledore decided "Sirius and Jacob should go there as it will wrong foot Peter. If we hurry we should be able to find him".
"I'd like to go too Pr'fessor" Hagrid declared only for Dumbledore to shake his head "I appreciate the offer Hagrid but I would like you to stay here and help take of Harry and Mandy".
Hagrid nodded reluctantly and said "of course Pr'fessor. Whatever you need" he said agreeably.
With that decided the three men left Mandy, Harry, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid to find and deal with the treachery of Peter Pettigrew.
Jacob, Dumbledore and Sirius arrived via apparition at the two bedroom house with which the Order had provided Peter several weeks ago to keep him safe from Death Eaters and Voldemort.
As the three of them walked up the garden path all feeling tense and their wands out Jacob couldn't help but think of how ironic it all was. They had tried to protect the very man who needed no protection from the enemy as he was now one of them.
"Everyone keep your guard up" Dumbledore instructed them seriously "we have no idea how many people may be inside".
The three men reached the front door which, Jacob noted, had been thrown wide open.
"Lumos" Dumbledore said causing a bright light to appear on the tip of his wand. Dumbledore poked the wand through the open doorway as Jacob muttered a diagnostic spell to show any life signs inside "there's no life signs within" he told the other two men "so he's either dead or...".
"Or he's scurried away like the rat he is" Sirius snarled angrily. Jacob nodded "that is more likely" he agreed as the three men stepped into the house.
"Everyone split up and search. We need to find any evidence of where he might have gone" Dumbledore said taking charge again.
The three men split up as Dumbledore explored the living room, kitchen and cupboard under the stairs while Sirius explored the garden and Jacob headed upstairs to check the two bedrooms, bathroom and airing cupboard.
Jacob found nothing in the bathroom save for some toiletries and a few wet towels while the airing cupboard contained only some clothes drying out.
Jacob moved into Pettigrew's bedroom and searched round under the bed, in the corners and in his wardrobe. He found nothing and so he moved onto the desk set next to the bed. He pulled the chair away and began looking through the drawers. In the middle drawer he thought he had found nothing again until his hand knocked against something that sounded hollow "hello...what's this?" he murmured out loud as he used a nearby screwdriver and pulled up what turned out to be a false bottom.
His heart nearly stopped as he saw what had been hidden in the compartment. There was an ornate gold and silver mask sitting next to a nondescript red covered book.
Jacob picked up the mask and the book setting them on top of the desk. He saw writing on the cover that read simply diary.
He briefly wondered if Peter would have protected it with a spell but discounted it as he flipped it open and began to read.
Some of the entries were normal but as he read further and further he saw more references to Voldemort, to the Death Eaters, the Wizarding War and to those within the Order.
The next sentences chilled his blood to the bone. It was an entry dated the 24th of October 1981 and it read "the Dark Lord was very pleased with me tonight. After I gave him the location of the Potter's he showered me with compliments and gold. I am now one of his most favoured. I get far more respect from him than I ever did from those so-called former friends of mine. I should have done it years ago. The Dark Lord has informed me he intends to strike on Halloween night. He shall eliminate Harry and deal with those fools Lily and James if they get in the way".
The way with which these words were written made his blood boil. The tone was so cold. So uncaring.
The final entry read "he's gone!. What do I do?!" the tone was absolutely hysterical. It was clear to Jacob that Pettigrew knew Voldemort was gone and was now panicking as to what to do next.
The final line of the entry read "he hasn't shown up and I can't wait!. I'm leaving! and I know just where to go. I'll go to the Weasleys and hide as a rat. They're so stupid they won't have a clue".
Jacob stood there for a few moments taking in the words of the diary and the discovery of the mask before he made his feet move and exited the room with the mask and diary clutched in his hands.
As he reached the hallway Sirius said "nothing!" in a frustrated voice and then said "what have you got there?".
"I found this mask and diary in Pettigrew's bedroom. I think this is good evidence" Jacob informed him as Dumbledore appeared and asked "did you say you had evidence?".
Jacob held up the diary "he obviously never expected anyone to discover it as he sets out his plans to hide with a wizard family".
"His animagus form" Sirius snarled.
"Pardon Sirius?" Dumbledore enquired.
"All I can say now Albus is that myself, James and...Peter...are unregistered animagi and Peter's form is a rat. If he changes into that form before we can find him..." Sirius left the rest unsaid.
"We should head to The Burrow, inform the Weasleys and wait for Pettigrew. He won't be expecting us" Dumbledore said.
The three of them left the house and apparated to the edge of The Burrow's wards. They crossed the wards onto the property and made their way down the dirt track into the yard of The Burrow.
They soon reached the front door and Dumbledore knocked with purpose on the brown painted front door.
After ten minutes or so there was the sound of movement near the door, a bolt was drawn back and a wand poked out "identify yourselves" the voice was soft but harsh.
"Albus Dumbledore leader of the Order of the Phoenix, Headmaster of Hogwarts and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Jacob Potter younger brother of James and Sirius Black heir to the most ancient and noble house of Black".
The door opened fully and they found themselves staring at a chubby man with balding red hair and wearing a set of blue pyjamas under an equally blue dressing gown.
"I will need to verify who you are" Arthur Weasley said cautiously.
"We shall submit to the revealing spell without complaint" Jacob declared as the three men readied themselves.
As the spell washed over Jacob there was a temporary feeling of coldness and then a voice spoke sounding more welcoming this time "it is you Albus. What brings yourself, Sirius and Jacob here tonight?".
"May we come inside Arthur, this is too long to explain outside on such a cold night".
"Of course, of course!" Arthur exclaimed as he bustled them inside and shut the door, locking it.
Once all four men were seated in the living room a new voice exclaimed in surprise "Albus!, Jacob!, Sirius!, what brings you here?".
"They were just about to explain Molly dear" Arthur informed his wife as she joined him on one of the sofa's.
The took a while to tell and for a short time it looked like they wouldn't be believed until Arthur declared "I never was very sure of Pettigrew if I'm being honest. Always had a touch of the secretive about him did Pettigrew".
"Why are you telling us all of this?" Molly asked shrewdly though her eyes were wet with tears about the fate of the Potter's.
"Because Molly we have discovered evidence in this diary" Jacob held up Pettigrew's diary "that shows Pettigrew's plan to hide out with a wizarding family. He mentions in the diary that your family is top of the list on account of...and I apologise but these are his words not mine "you are too stupid to know it's him".
"Bastard!" exclaimed Arthur furiously "so how can we help?".
"Simple" Dumbledore declared "he shall no doubt apparate here tonight and when he arrives he will be confronted by Sirius. This will wrong foot him giving us time to fire of spell to capture him".
The plan was set and Jacob soon found himself hiding near house with the others as they watched and waited.
In time a small creature could be seen scurrying down the dirt track into the yard. As it got closer and closer Jacob could see that the creature was a very scared looking rat and knew instantly that it must be Pettigrew.
"Now" he said quietly to Sirius who stood up and into the path of the scurrying rat "hello...Peter" Sirius said coldly just as Jacob added from behind the rat "hello indeed".
The rat squeaked in terror and tried to run away only for Arthur and Molly to step out from opposite sides of the track and aim their wands at him "animagum revelio" Jacob called out calmly.
Standing before them was a terrifying man with long, wild fair hair and small watery eyes "Sirius, Jacob, Arthur, Molly, how nice to...".
"Save us your treacherous words and tell us why!" Sirius roared causing Pettigrew to jump.
"What are you talking about? I don't know what you mean!" Pettigrew protested.
"I believe you do Mr Pettigrew" came the soft voice of Dumbledore which sounded cold now and angry before he called out "incarcerous" and thick rope like binds bound themselves around him trapping him.
"You'll go to the Ministry and receive a trial. Based on the evidence we have and your testimony under veritaserum you'll be going to Azkaban for a long time Peter" Jacob said hotly "maybe that'll give you time to think about what you did to my brother and his wife and their poor son".
Arthur left them all and took Pettigrew with him to the Ministry as the fat wizard kicked and screamed "well now that that's done I'm getting back to my nephew" Jacob declared.
When Jacob returned to Hogwarts he found a heartwarming sight as Hagrid and Mandy were doing their best to cheer up Harry.
Sirius who was just behind him smiled as they both saw another welcome face. Remus Lupin who was sat in a chair enjoying some tea.
Jacob headed over to Harry, Hagrid and Mandy and watched as Sirius and Remus both apologised profusely to one another for believing each other a spy and they renewed their friendship.
As Jacob looked down at Harry who sat on Mandy's lap he said "well Harry it looks like you won't be wanting for people that love you".
Harry smiled up at him and yawned before closing his green eyes.
A/N: The prologue is over and the story will now move on to the main section