A/N: Hey, everyone, welcome back to my page. I know it has been a lifetime since I last posted. Truthfully, I was feeling some major burnout with this story, and most of it came because I felt that overall the story had some major flaws that made continuing hard. I've spent the past few months working on creating 'definitive editions' plotlines of each book. Trying to erase some plot holes, develop some stronger characters, and overall write it in a better and more pleasing manner. Thank you so much for being patient with me. I will complete this story, and it will be for the better!

Please be sure to Follow, Favorite, and Review! That would mean a ton!

Also Looking For A Beta Reader and Editor. Looking for someone with time to really help make my story the best it can be!

Chapter One: Tragedy

I

Even for a late October night, the air was frigid. The children of Godric's Hollow had long returned to their homes, ushered by panicked parents to clear the streets and enjoy their hard-earned bounty from a night of trick or treating.

Those able shuffled their families into their firepits, vanishing with a flash of green flames. Those less fortunate hunkered down in their homes, whose insides were no doubt littered with protective markings to ward away the evil that had wandered into their town. Lord Voldemort.

Later, the Daily Prophet would report that the Dark Lord's invasion had resulted in no known property damage or loss of life registered to those living in the village. Yet, the aurors had found a ruin. A house they claimed had no record of existing, and within the house, the bodies of James and Lily Potter, with their son Harry lost to the wind.

Albus Dumbledore, the hero of the first wizarding war, released a statement. The public would cheer and celebrate. The Dark Lord was dead, and Harry Potter, though a ghost to the wizarding world, was safe. But that was only half the story. Few wizards knew the truth of what happened that night, one of whom was Sirius Black.

II

Smoke burned in Sirius' eyes. His mind pleaded for him to blink, but he couldn't. Dust from the carnage swirled in the icy chill of the October air, floating away with the breeze. Sirius prayed the wind would do him the same courtesy. He wanted so badly to be anywhere else, somewhere he could pretend the view bleeding into his eyes was some twisted nightmare. He'd have no such luck. The gale answered only by battering his chest with cold blasts.

Sirius was not a stranger to bad luck. The faces of those who'd suffered due to his close proximity melded in his mind with haunting clarity. Regulus Black, Emmeline Vance, Frank and Alice Longbottom, Remus Lupin. The war had taken much from everyone. Lovers, brothers, friends, and family. It seemed as if people spent more time at funeral services than at their jobs. Death or injury wasn't supposed to be a shock to anyone any longer. The fate of the Potters was different.

Sirius Black hugged the limp man in his arms, pressing his now cold cheek to his own. "Prongs," he whispered in the man's bloodied ear, "Wake up mate, please, wake up."

James Potter didn't wake, nor did he move or breathe, for that matter. Even with his eyes shut, Sirius could still see his old schoolmate's bloodied face in his mind. Sirius ran his fingers softly through James' ink-black hair before running the palm of his hand over the wizard's now dim hazel eyes, shutting them for good. "Prongs, I'm sorry," Sirius cried, "Fuck, it should have been me." He lowered James softly to the ground, "It should have been me!"

"They were supposed to be safe." Sirius' throat burned hot with pain. His fingers coiled around a wayward stone. "Why did this happen?"

The words had dulled over time. The burned soil long adjusted to Sirius' unmoving weight. How long had he stood there? Hours? Minutes? Seconds? Sirius had no answer. Time had stopped existing the moment he'd come to see the wreckage. "They were supposed to be safe," He repeated. "Why did this happen?"

What remained of the cottage was unsalvageable. James Potter, despite his wealth, cared little for the boasting that came with a sizable manor and acres of land. Sirius could recall the mirth in his voice when he'd first spoken with James about his purchase of the cottage. The simple two-story stone cottage only fifteen strides wide was hardly what was expected of a well-off Pureblooded wizard. "A far cry from Potter Manor, eh Prongs?" He'd taunt.

"Yeah," James would nod, "But it's home."

What remained of the home was little more than scattered stone, splintered support beams, and a handful of red roof tiles. Even the simple garden was left nothing but a pile of dry soil and soot. The Potter home now stood as little more than a tomb and a battlefield. "Prongs." Sirius' voice cracked from the effort, the word tasting like ash in his mouth. "I'm so sorry."

A distant groan sent shivers down Sirius' back, his eyes locked on the crooked support beam leaning further than before. He flinched and covered his ears, the groaning replaced with a crashing thud. "How could this have happened?" Sirius had lost count of times he'd asked the question. He asked and asked, hoping for any answer, anything except for the one he already knew. Pettigrew.

The name alone made Sirius' blood boil, burning him from his trance. They'd been friends, comrades. He'd put his life on the line for Pettigrew more time than he could count. No matter how hard he begged, no other answer came. Pettigrew had betrayed them. After everything, Pettigrew led Voldemort straight to James, Lily, and Harry.

Another sound whispered in the air. It was muffled and distant, yet unmistakable. Crying. "Harry," Sirius mouthed, his chest heaving with frantic gasps. Instantly, the invisible chains that rooted Sirius gave way, his body sprinting into the remains of the cottage before his mind could follow. On instinct, Sirius snaked through the debris, rolling from collapsing stone and tile as if he could see the future. Each gasp filled his lungs with dust but brought him closer to the tear-filled whimpers. "Harry!" he called out, "I'm almost there!"

Even in the carnage, Sirius knew the Potter cottage like the back of his hand. He closed his eyes to the kitchen and living room as he ran, the memories of their laughter haunting him like ghosts. His shoulders throbbed from the banging against collapsed walls. His feet ached with every misstep of toe stubbing, but Sirius didn't open his eyes. He couldn't, not until he reached the door. Harry's door.

Sirius cracked open his eyes, his throat drying instantly at the horror of the sight before him. Lily Potter had always been pretty. Her red hair always looked to shimmer in the sunlight, and her green eyes burned with passionate fire. Sirius never imagined seeing them so dull and extinguished. He knelt at her side, his knees trembling. The witch's pale face was severely bruised as if she'd been thrown aside and slammed into a wall repeatedly. Sirius felt the contents of his breakfast slosh in his stomach at the thought.

Multiple claw-like marks scared the floor, wood stained with narrow rivers of blood. A chill chased down Sirius' spine recognizing the wood beneath Lily's fingertips. "What happened here?" Sirius wondered aloud, pressing Lily close to his chest, the familiar heat of tears swelling in his eyes. He wiped them away furiously, leaning Lily against what remained of the bedroom wall. With quaking hands, Sirius closed the witch's green eyes with a sorrowful whisper.

The door to Harry's room was open. From the doorway, Sirius saw a familiar cloak that made the hair on the back of his neck stand. Why is that here? What is going on? Sirius' wand flew out of his pocket with a practiced flourish. There was no denying the truth any longer. Voldemort had been here, and Sirius knew all too well that wherever Voldemort went, Death Eaters would soon follow.

Sirius poked his head through the door, a spell on his lips. He glanced around the room until his eyes felt ready to pop from his skull. Sirius took a full step into the room and waited; his breath hitched in his chest. "Well, I'm not dead yet." He waved his wand in a vast circle overhead, releasing his breath with a heavy sigh. "Doesn't seem like he left any traps either." Sirius' eyes darted towards the discarded robe. Sirius had half-expected the cloak to come alive and strangle him, but it didn't move. "What exactly happened in here?"

The whimper came again. All caution melted off Sirius like ice in the hot sun. He raced towards the scattered pieces of a familiar crib. It had taken him and James hours to build the damn thing without magic, and a part of Sirius felt a carnal joy in ripping the crib apart. Resting dead-center of the crate was an infant swaddled in a blue blanket. Sirius pulled the child out, rocking him slowly in his arms. "Harry. You're alive." A teary sigh pulled itself free from Sirius' lungs. "Thank god you're alive."

Harry Potter, though little more than a year old, was the spitting image of James Potter. Sirius could almost see the soon-to-be full head of unruly black hair sprouting from the uncontrolled whisps. Harry's nose was a bit shorter, but his thin face and nimble hands were undoubtedly James'. Only the infant's eyes failed to remind him of his lost comrade. Those belonged to Harry's mother, the emerald fire within them burning with curiosity. "Harry, everything's going to be fine now. I promise."

The infant in Sirius' arms cooed. The child's gentle smile pained Sirius. Harry Potter would never know his parents. He'd never live the simple and ordinary life Sirius knew his father and mother wanted so badly for him. Harry's life had changed instantly, and Sirius was left to pick up the pieces. Sirius and the figures who'd emerged behind him with a pop.

The first was an elderly wizard. Tall and thin. His hair and beard were an ethereal silver long enough to be tucked into a belt. His robes were unique and vivid, colored pink with extravagant patterns. The wizard looked like little more trouble than a friendly grandfather. The power that flickered behind the silver-haired wizard's pale blue eyes was one of the only outliers to the harmless facade, his eyes, and his name. Albus Dumbledore.

To Albus' right stood another figure from Sirius' school days. This one was a witch, younger than Dumbledore but far from unfamiliar with the world. Her hair was dark as midnight, hidden beneath a pointed witch's hat, and she stood a tad shorter than Dumbledore. Despite this, the witch stood with posture and face so severe that Sirius believed she could tower over a giant if the need arose. It was a stare Sirius had become intimately familiar with in his younger days at Hogwarts from his Head of House, Minerva McGonagall.

The pop made Sirius jump, his wand gripped tightly in his hand. He'd expected Professor McGonagall to jump right into questions, but the witch appeared frozen in place. "Sirius," she finally croaked after a pregnant pause, "What happened here?"

Sirius turned away from his former teacher, the ground capturing his attention. "So they are dead," Albus spoke, "And the Fidelius Charm broken." There was a tone like sharpened steel in Albus' voice. "A charm I had placed and made you the secret keeper of." The Headmaster of Hogwarts stopped inches from Sirius' back. Sirius could feel the older wizard's breath on his neck. "Tell me, Sirius, what am I too make of this?"

"For Merlin's Sake, Albus!" Minerva protested. "You aren't honestly accusing Sirius? Think of who you are questioning. The two were like brothers."

"Sirius is not unfamiliar with the death of a brother," Albus said evenly, "I have seen men do worse in war." Anger pulsed in Sirius' head, a vein racing down his forehead. How dare he.

"I had nothing to do with Regulus. He chose to be a Death Eater, blood be damned. James," Sirius' mouth numbed at the name. "James was my true brother. I had nothing to do with his death. I'd have died sooner than betray him or Lily!"

"Yet they are dead all the same," Dumbledore didn't flinch or step back. Rather, he stepped closer, making the crooked lines of his twice-broken nose painful clear to Sirius. "If you claim you aren't responsible, then who is?"

"Pettigrew!" Sirius spat, his fingers curling into his palm. "When the charm was cast, James and I, we figured there was a spy in the ranks of the Order. We knew if word got out about James and Lily going into hiding, the first person they'd suspect would be me. So, we decided to pull a trick. We changed the Secret Keeper to Peter." A tear trickled from his eye, "How stupid we were."

"Peter betrayed the Potters?" Minerva whispered. The witch's lip trembled with fury, "After everything James did for him. I can't-" The witch bit down on her lip to calm her shivering. "We will find Pettigrew and bring him to justice. But you mustn't blame yourself."

"But I am to blame," Sirius countered, his chest tightening like a noose. "I was the one who decided on the gambit. I was the one who picked Pettigrew instead of Remus. I thought-" His breath tangled in his throat. "I thought he might be easier to corrupt due to," Sirius trailed off. "How stupid I was. I made the mistake. I killed James. I killed them both."

"Perhaps, then again, perhaps not," Dumbledore's said. "We will never know what happened had our choices panned out differently. In my experience, it is best not to live in the past when the future is moldable still." Dumbledore pointed towards the infant in Sirius' arm. "You say both, meaning Lily and James. Their child, however, looks to be alive and well."

The Headmaster of Hogwarts closed the distance between himself and Sirius in a way that made Sirius want to shuffle backward. Sirius couldn't help but see an odd hunger in the old man's eyes, like that of a cheetah finding wounded prey. Before Sirius could speak, the headmaster had drawn his wand and begun drawing circles around Harry, causing the boy to cry. "What are you doing," Sirius hissed, "You're scaring him."

"Hardly," Dumbledore muttered. Sirius moved to swat the headmaster's arm, his jaw clenched at the old wizard's instance to continue. He was just about to when the sudden shift on Albus Dumbledore's face froze him in place. To his credit, the old man adjusted quickly back to his bemused look. He'd almost managed to convince Sirius that he'd seen nothing change at all. Almost.

"What happened?" Sirius asked. "For a moment, you looked as if you'd seen a ghost."

"No," Dumbledore said sharply before clearing his throat. "No, nothing of the sort. But I do now have an inkling on how it is Harry yet lives." Sirius raised his brow and gestured for Dumbledore to continue. "When Lily died, she did so to protect Harry. It created old magic, one caused by a sacrifice of love. It shielded Harry from Voldemort's attack and somehow destroyed Voldemort. It is magic attached to blood."

"I've never heard of magic like that," Sirius said.

"Nor have I," Minerva added. "Even if your assessment is correct. Noble as it was, Lily Potter was far from the first mother who tried to sacrifice herself for her child's sake. None of those sacrifices resulted in any sort of protection." The witch shivered beneath her emerald robes. "I've seen enough buried children this war to know as much."

"Indeed," Dumbledore whispered. "This is certainly a curious case. Regardless, it is best to move swiftly now until more answers can be uncovered. The boy must be moved from here."

"Moved?" Sirius questioned. "Moved where?"

"The Dursleys." Sirius saw red at the Headmaster's words.

"Over my dead body," Sirius roared. "Like hell, I'm going to allow those damned muggles sink their claws into James' son! They hate magic, Professor. They hate people like us. The woman turned her back on her own sister. Called her a freak. I will not allow it."

"I will speak firmly with Lily's sister about our expectations. We have, however, minimal choice in the matter. If I'm right about the magic being bound by blood, then Petunia Dursley is the only option we have." Dumbledore traced the veins of his arm as if to emphasize his point.

"I don't give a shit if Harry does share blood with that woman, she is not going to be raising my godson!" Harry cried at Sirius' raised voice.

"Sirius, it is the only way to keep Harry safe. There are those that may wish to finish the Dark Lord's work with or without him."

"Let them come," Sirius growled, "The boy stays with me. I am his godfather, signed off on by both James and Lily. James made me give him my word that I wouldn't let Harry fall into the Dursley's hands if something happened to him. I failed to keep my promise to protect Lily. I'll be damned if I fail Harry as well." His fist clenched, "If those Death Eaters come to my door for Harry, there'll be a mountain of bodies on my doorstep."

"Sirius, be reasonable. Harry must live with his relatives. He-"

"James told me what they are, Professor. They will hurt him," Sirius trembled as he spoke. "I will watch Harry day and night if you force him there, and when I see them so much as lay a finger on Harry, I will kill them. I swear it."

"Sirius!" Minerva hissed. "You cannot mean that."

"My life is forfeit, professor," Sirius said. "I've done nothing but fail at everything I've done in this war. Emmeline is on death's door. Remus is god knows where, James and Lily are dead because of me and Pettigrew, their killer. He is my responsibility now and I'll do anything to protect Harry. That's all that matters."

"You have nowhere to go, Sirius. You must think of the boy's well-being." Dumbledore pinched his nose, "How do you plan to be capable of raising this boy? Do you plan to simply let Peter go?"

"No," Sirius growled, "That rat will die."

"And how do you plan to protect Harry from the vengeance that fuels your rage?" Albus' voice cooled, "There is no discussion to be had. The boy will go to his aunt and uncle."

"I will not have it," Sirius muttered coldly.

"Then where will you go?" Minerva said. "I don't agree much with moving him in with those muggles, but what other options do you have?"

Light illuminated in Sirius' mind, "The Tonks, They'll help, no doubt. At least until I can organize a different plan."

"Good, then that is where you should go," Minerva said. "Go and tell nobody but Andromeda and Edward of your arrival. Albus is correct; there may still be some ambitious Death Eaters, even with the fall of Voldemort. We must move cautiously. To the Tonks' house, no delays. We will meet you there shortly to rework the Fidelius Charm should they accept."

"Thank you, Professor," Sirius gasped as if breathing for the first time. "Thank you."

"Go, Sirius," Minerva said. "We must do what we can to help the boy live a life of peace. He's suffered enough for his lifetime already."

III

Sirius apparated from the scene, hearing just the start of what Sirius could only assume was a long list of the Headmaster's complaints. It wouldn't have bothered the marauder so badly if they'd all been baseless, but Sirius knew they were far from illogical.

"And how do you plan to protect Harry from the vengeance that fuels your rage?" Albus' words echoed in Sirius' mind like a church bell, "I don't know," he whispered into the dark sky, "I don't know."

The Tonks' home was a beautiful little cottage in the center of deep woods accessible by the Wolvercote Hurst trail. The rustic stonework of the building was decorated in intentional overgrowth from the forest, and vines danced across the shingled roof in a criss-cross pattern, wrapping up at the tip of the smokestack. It was a cozy home. It always had been. Sirius was grateful to remember the place still. The war had caused many families to take the Fidelius charm to their own homes; Edward and Andromeda had done the same. All the more reasonable when trying to raise a child in these crazy times.

The heels of Sirius' boots clicked along the stone driveway, causing a charmed bird to coo. A warning of an arriving wizard. The news must not yet have spread here. Sirius moved forward, knocking quickly on the door stirring a trail of heavy footsteps. "The water whispers," A voice hissed through the door.

"And the fire roars," Sirius replied evenly. He stepped back, allowing the door to swing open. The man at the door was large and balding. The wizard's wand was awkwardly gripped in his hand, and his mellow brown eyes carried a desperate plea not to have to use it behind them. "Ted, it's me. Put the wand down."

"Sirius?" Ted whispered. He released a jolly laugh gripping Sirius' free hand firmly. "Sirius, my friend, it's good to see you again! How are you?"

"Not well, Ted." Sirius had to fight his voice from cracking. "May I come in?"

Ted nodded, stepping aside to let Sirius pass. He sighed, thankful to be out of the October chill. "Dromeda!" Ted called, closing the door behind him. "Can you put on a kettle? We have some unexpected company."

A hurried trail of footsteps sprung from the kitchen, stopping as they turned the corner. The woman was painfully recognizable. She looked so much like a woman he hated with all his heart, yet her smile was warm enough to melt the coldest hearts. She looked like royalty, her face a patrician's beauty, with gentle rolls of light soft brown hair cascading down her back. Her eyes were wider and kinder than any he'd seen apart from perhaps Lily's.

"Sirius?"

"Hello Andy," Sirius nodded, "Good to see you again."

"And you," Andromeda said. "Why didn't you write? If I knew you were coming to visit, I would have planned a dinner and-," she paused, her eyes widening even more than Sirius thought possible. She lifted her hand shakily and pointed towards his coat, "Sirius, who is that?"

"My word," Ted said, "Is that a baby?"

"Yes," Sirius said, "You're looking at Harry Potter."

"Harry?" Andromeda said, "James and Lily's son? Are they coming as well? Why do you have their-," Sirius looked away, unable to face the woman. "No," She muttered, "Sirius, if this is a joke it isn't funny."

"They're dead, and they took Voldemort with them." The couple stepped back. Sirius explained the situation, trying to answer as best he could, but he didn't know much. It was a hard pill to swallow. The Dark Lord dead, and a baby orphaned. Had Sirius not been to the house himself, he doubted he'd believe it himself. But reality was a painful thing. The Potters were dead, as was Voldemort. That was reality.

The house fell silent at the end of his speech. The couple looked towards one another, a quiet conversation taking place within their minds. Sirius had seen Lily and James have one of those the day he'd been named Harry's godfather. He'd had one of them with- He stopped himself; thinking of her was the last thing he needed now. The world was filled with enough heartbreak now.

Andromeda set off towards the kitchen, wiping a tear from her eye. Ted gripped Sirius' shoulder gently, guiding him towards the sitting room. For a moment, there was nothing said. Sirius looked over the portraits nailed onto the walls of the family's moments. He smiled at the animated picture of one of his cousins, a goofy smile on her face, caught in another one of her clumsy acts, no doubt.

"Where is she now?" Sirius asked, pointing at the photo.

"Passed out upstairs," Ted forced a smile, "Ate too much then crashed like a sack of bricks. Girl does not know how to pace herself."

Sirius smiled. It felt his first genuine smile since the Potters had gone into hiding. Sirius wondered if he'd ever be able to smile as he did during his Hogwarts day again. There were only two actual marauders left now, and he had no clue where the other was. More importantly, the rat bastard had vanished into the wind. Finding Remus could wait until Pettigrew squealed. If Remus even wanted to be found.

It had started as a mission given by Dumbledore. Remus tried to convince the werewolves to join the Ministry's side. That had taken him months. He'd been hammered to hell and back when he returned. No, Remus never really returned; he'd lost a part of himself on that mission. That was what Sirius thought, at least. Since he was a kid, the three of them had to help him justify his existence. Sirius could only imagine what he'd seen out there.

Andromeda returned from the kitchen, a tray of teacups and a kettle in her hands. She poured for her husband and Sirius, then for herself, and sat. Once more, an agonizing silence took over the room. Finally, Andromeda spoke. "So Harry has become your responsibility now?"

"Looks that way. I promised James I wouldn't take him to those damned Durselys. I couldn't stomach the way they'd no doubt treat him." Sirius sipped his tea. "Problem is, I don't know the first thing about raising a child. My parents were shit, and well, old man Potter isn't exactly around to give me advice anymore."

"You need help?" Andromeda asked.

"Yes," Sirius replied. "I don't know what to do. I tried to think of all the parents I knew, and you're the best examples I have. I know you have Nymphadora already, and that she's a handful in itself, but, if I raise this kid alone, all I'm going to do is fuck it up."

"He'll be a target, no doubt," Ted whispered. Sirius nodded. "And this house is a bit too small for another kid. The cost of raising another kid is another thing that I don't think I can-"

"I'll cover it," Sirius said. "I have my vault, and I'm also James' proxy now until Harry comes of age. I don't have any skills in parenting, but if you help me, I'll make sure that everything from a new house to Tonks' tuition is covered. I'll make sure we're safe. It's the least I can do."

"You're asking a lot of us, Sirius," Andromeda said. "We'll be at risk if we take you two in." To his surprise, Andromeda smiled, "But our family has never been made of cowards. The Potters have given us a chance for our daughter to grow up in times of peace, helping you learn to raise their son is the least we can do."

"Thank you, Andy." Sirius felt a heat building in her eyes.

"One condition," Andromeda said, "I'd rather not move. We could, however, get some remodeling done. From what I recall, you have a certain knack for transfiguration, don't you, Sirius?"

A/N: First, thanks for giving this first chapter a re-read. I've been working on trying to limit P.O.V.s in the story keeping them set on 3 or 4 characters at most. Also, after taking so much time away from fanfiction, I forgot how difficult setting up an engaging first chapter can be. Props to anyone out there working on getting better at writing because it ain't easy.

ALSO: I've decided to end each section with a question about the Harry Potter franchise in one way or another. My first question is, do you think there are any Harry Potter movies that are better than their books?