Harry Potter and the Choices We make chapter 1
Summary: What if Sirius Black was indeed guilty of the crimes he was accused of, a powerful dark wizard, and Voldemort's second in command?
"So, the Potters have agreed to make you their Secret Keeper," asked the Dark Lord to his cloaked and masked visitor
"What can I say? They trust me" and with that Sirius Black sat on an emerald-colored chair in the Dark Lord's study. Behind him was a painting of Salazar Slytherin and in contrast to most people's beliefs of what the Dark Lord's study might look like which would be cold and dark with paintings of torture much like the man himself, a fire was crackling in the fireplace making it look homey, "It just goes to show how much those fools trust me including that old goat,"
"Albus' faith in others will be his undoing," Voldemort said gleefully and he took a drink of his wine before questioning his servant, "Who knows that you are going to be chosen to be the Secret Keeper for those fools?"
"Dumbledore, Peter, and Remus but so far, I haven't seen much of them," reported Sirius, "If I may make a suggestion my Master?"
"Make it my servant but it had better be worth my while," hissed Voldemort
"Why don't I suggest to Potter that he switches Secret Keepers from myself to someone else?" suggested Sirius
"I wonder if your thoughts are clear on this, Black. Perhaps your feelings for your friends and former lover have left you weakened. If your past with that mudblood cannot be overcome," threatened Voldemort in a deadly voice, dripping with malice and evil and his scarlet red eyes flashed in anger.
"Lily Evans means nothing to me," replied a cowed, pale-faced Sirius, "I serve only you my Master," but there was a part of him that hated to grovel to this evil creature being a member of the Black family. But no one, even Dumbledore could end the immortal Dark Lord's reign. If the old fool of a Headmaster could not defeat his Master, then a half-blood brat had no chance.
"Excellent!" praised Voldemort, "Is there someone in that pathetic Order who could be easily broken by my methods of persuasion?" he then asked.
"Peter," came the instant reply, "His Animagus form is a rat which says it all really," sniggered Sirius, "Also Wormtail can take the fall for betraying the Potters while I can move amongst society serving you, with any doubt about my loyalties forgotten in the wake of the rat being arrested," he then advised his Master.
"Now like your cousin Bella you are proving useful to me young Sirius," replied a pleased Voldemort, "Go! Play your role as a concerned friend and a devoted godfather to the Potter's brat to perfection until the right time comes when I will directly move against the Potters once your friend Wormtail gives me their location,"
Sirius left the study and shut the door. Voldemort chuckled to himself. Everything was in place, and he will see the pathetic Order destroyed from within. Poor Albus and Potter are to be destroyed by their faith in disgusting things like friendship and the goodness of human nature with two of their own soon to betray them. A malevolent smirk widened on his lips at the thought. He instantly floo called Lucius at his Manor house
"Inform the Lestrange's and Crouch Jr. I have a special mission for them," barked Voldemort
"Yes, my Master," replied a subservient Lucius trying to suppress his fear of his sister-in-law from their Master but Bella was known to be deranged which made speaking to her rather troublesome. During those times Lucius was glad that his parents arranged for him to marry Narcissa and not Bellatrix.
"They are to find Peter Pettigrew and bring him here to me alive and unspoiled," ordered Voldemort, "Also they are to be made aware that Pettigrew is an Animagus,"
"Certainly, my lord and I will notify them of this great errand that you have entrusted but why Pettigrew?" replied Lucius
"He can be easily broken into what I wish him to be with their help," sneered Voldemort, and Lucius chuckled at the idea.
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A month later on Halloween night.
The small square living room was dark, illuminated by nothing but moonlight casting eerie shadows along the floor. Although it was Halloween most of the townsfolk were inside where it was warm rather than outside with their children trick or treating.
"James, my love, have you heard from the Order?" asked his wife Lily, as she rocked their son, Harry, in her arms.
James folded his newspaper, The Daily Prophet, so he could see into Lily's piercing green eyes. They were both members of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society founded by the powerful wizard, Albus Dumbledore. They were working to stop Lord Voldemort and his followers known as the Death Eaters.
"Only an owl from Sirius. Moody has managed to convince Dumbledore that the rumours of there being a traitor inside of the Order are true."
James wearily glanced at the photograph of his friends from Hogwarts, taken on the school grounds. Things were so much simpler back then. He couldn't believe the rumours floating around of the traitor. He couldn't believe it was Remus of all people.
Lily sadly shook her head, knowing what James was thinking. "I can't believe that it's Remus either, James. But you know that most members of the Order – even Sirius - say he may have turned to He Who Must Not Be Named, due to the prejudice against his kind,"
Just then, Lily and James heard a loud knocking on their wooden door, which seemed to echo throughout the house. They exchanged glances. Neither was expecting company.
Lily ran upstairs with a tight hold on her beloved son, while James went to open the door. However, before he could even reach for the handle, the door flew open.
In the door frame stood a short figure cloaked in black and there was a hood pulled over his face, shadowing his features
"Wormtail, you idiot, what's the scaring us to death in aid of?" asked James Potter, annoyed at his friend. He stepped aside to allow him to enter.
James had known Peter Pettigrew since Hogwarts, and Peter usually wasn't one to scare anybody, His chubby and stout stature made that almost impossible, but this night had a certain eeriness to it already; even the tick of the clock sounded ominous.
Wormtail walked in, but James's thought that something looked different about his old friend. He didn't look nervous at all. There was a smug smile on his face, rather than his usual look of fear.
"I am sorry James, but crossing the Dark Lord has its consequences." He laughed a cruel laugh, one filled with madness and evil. James was disarmed by both the statement and the sound of Wormtail's laugh.
"Peter, what- what are you talking about?" asked James with his brow creased. His stomach clenched, and he felt the air in the room grow denser. It grew harder and harder for James to breathe.
"I have brought some people who are dying to see you. They have spent much time and effort hunting you down," said Wormtail.
Just then Bellatrix Lestrange undid the disillusionment charm hiding her from sight, and she appeared, wearing a sadistic smile on her face.
"You bloody traitor! It was you all along wasn't it, feeding Mad-eye and Dumbledore lies," James roared at Wormtail. He was about to pull a wand on the dark witch, who was smiling at him maliciously, but realized that it was out of arm's reach for the first time.
"It didn't take much for you and Padfoot to suspect Moony, did it? You didn't think that someone like me would join up with the powerful Dark Lord," snapped Wormtail.
"Oh, Jamesie you have made an unfortunate choice to stand against my Lord, and now I get to hear the delicious howls of your agony along with your mudblood wife," sneered Bellatrix. James knew that the older dark-haired witch was seriously insane and dangerous.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew open the door.
"You may ridicule your former friend later, Wormtail," said a cold high voice. "How easily the bonds of friendship can be broken, James. I see you foolishly entrusted your secrets to the wrong people. However, I did not come here to discuss the misplaced bonds of friendship and trust."
A black cloaked figure stepped around the corner. James knew this was Voldemort even before he came into sight. But looking at the twisted face of evil now in front of him, James' blood nearly froze in fear. Throughout the past year, Dumbledore had told him what Voldemort was capable of, and James had witnessed this first-hand when fighting Voldemort and his followers, while with the Order of the Phoenix. However, Voldemort was never such a direct threat to his family as he was now, standing in his living room.
"What do you want from us?" asked James boldly. He kept steady eye contact with Voldemort, inwardly cursing himself that his wand was out of arm's reach.
What do I want, James Potter?" Voldemort threw his head back and gave a maniacal high-pitched laugh that curdled James' blood. "I want your first-born son! And if you hand him to me now, I will let you live... in my service, of course. I may even spare the Mudblood."
From behind Voldemort's cloak, Wormtail called out, "It's true James, hand over Harry and My Master will let you and Lily walk out unharmed."
James let out a guttural growl, and his hazel eyes flashed with rage, "I will never hand over my son to the likes of you,"
"Very well, if that is your decision. Although, it is a shame to spill pure blood like yours," mused Voldemort.
Just then, James heard the stairs creak and a moment later a timid face peered around the corner.
"James? What's going on?" asked Lily in a frightened voice. Then, her green eyes grew wide as she took in the scene before her.
"Lily, no! Run back to Harry," James yelled hoarsely.
Lily's body was frozen, but her heart was ripping in two. She wanted to protect both her husband and her child; how could she choose?
"No! I won't leave you to die," she cried out.
"How sweet," Voldemort muttered mockingly with a sneer, "But as you are about to find out, love is a foolish emotion for the weak."
"Do it, my Lord. Make the blood traitor suffer for defying you!" screamed out Bellatrix.
"There are plenty of ways to make the blood traitor suffer Bella, maybe I will take his son and hand him to one of my followers to raise," sneered the Dark Lord
Now angered, James Potter tried to rush the Dark Lord. but the powerful wizard cast a shimmering wave at James. The younger man was thrown against the wall of the living room, knocking him out. Blood gushed from a wound on his head.
"James" whispered Lily.
"Yes, it breaks my heart to see Prongs like that," said Wormtail. "But don't feel bad for him. He has something that you are not going to have."
"What's that?" roared Lily in a barely restrained fury.
"He gets to live and drown in despair while we take the brat," replied Wormtail, smiling evilly.
"As long as there is life in my body, you and your disgusting Master won't take my child!" snarled Lily
"Aww how sweet, the little mud blood wants to save her little half-blood monster," said a laughing Bellatrix
"That's what a loving mother does for a child, you harpy!" Lily growled.
"Very well. While Severus would be disappointed by your choice Mrs. Potter, mudbloods such as yourself have only one fate, and that is death," promised the Dark Lord, and unflinchingly cast the killing curse on her. He laughed maliciously at the sight of her corpse before issuing his instructions to his henchmen, "Now that the mudblood is dead and the blood traitor is incapacitated; Wormtail, find the brat and bring him to me. Bella, you are to return to Riddle Manor and inform Lucius and my inner circle that I have Potter's brat," instructed the Dark Lord. Bellatrix quickly disapparated to carry out her Master's orders.
"What about James, My Lord?" asked Wormtail. The baby had woken up and was wailing loudly. Finally exasperated by the noise, he cast a silencing charm at the baby.
"The blood traitor is of no consequence, considering his pathetic mudblood wife is dead and his son will be believed to be missing," scoffed the Dark Lord.
"What will you do to the brat Master?" requested Wormtail and his watery blue eyes shone with curiosity.
"I have recruited an old friend of yours who will raise and teach him to have proper wizarding pride and use of the Dark Arts. You will get to see him at the next meeting," said the Dark Lord and he left the house followed by Wormtail.
"Morsmodre," said Wormtail, and a picture of a colossal skull with a serpent for a tongue rose into the sky with a blaze of greenish smoke. It was etched against the black sky as if it was a new constellation.
Then, with two pops, the wizards apparated away, leaving a scene of devastation behind them.
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Later, at the Potter's residence in Godric's Hollow, a pain-filled moan could be heard. A dark-haired man unsteadily got to his feet. He did not know much time had passed or what had happened. He remembered his former friend Wormtail arriving with Bellatrix and then Voldemort sneering at him. He had tried to tackle the arrogant, evil wizard, but had been slammed into the wall. Worry for his wife rose in his mind and he went to check on her. He let out a grief-filled howl when he saw her dead body lying on the floor outside Harry's room. This can't be real he thought. We were supposed to love each other forever.
"James, are you in there?" called out a new but familiar voice.
"Is that you Remus?" questioned James. "What is something that only you and I would know?" He already had one visit from a supposed friend turn out badly during this evening.
"When we were in school, you wrote a poem that compared trying to court Lily to catching a snitch and I told you not to send it to her," responded Remus as he stepped inside.
"Lily is dead," said a mournful James. To his old friend's shock, he looked as if he had aged a century.
"What do you mean she is dead? Dumbledore told me that the Dark Mark was seen above your house about two hours ago, and asked me to check on you," replied a confused Remus.
He gasped in shock at seeing Lily's body lying on the floor, James hugging it for dear life.
"Who did this?" growled Remus, his face red with anger.
"Wormtail is the actual Secret Keeper and he brought Bellatrix and You Know Who to our house. I was knocked out, Moony, I couldn't defend her," explained James, and tears leaked from his hazel eyes.
"I will kill Wormtail for this! But, where's Harry?" asked Remus, his dread and worry for his honorary nephew rising with every passing minute. He tried to look into the room but saw that the crib was empty, which meant one thing. That Harry was gone and more than likely dead.
"I don't know, they- they must have taken him while I was knocked out," replied James before breaking down into a fresh wave of sobs.
"We need to tell Dumbledore about this, he will know what to do," replied Remus.
"You go and tell the headmaster. I don't know how I am supposed to go on now," replied James. He looked depressed, with hollow cheekbones and a haunted expression in his hazel eyes, eyes that were normally so full of life.
"We will make Peter and You Know Who pay for what they have done," promised Remus, his eyes shining with a dangerous light.
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One week later outside a church in Godric's Hollow.
The skies opened up and poured with rain; matching the mournful mood of the people attending the funeral. Although people would have said that it was good old British weather. Some would have said that it was wrong for wizards to hold a funeral at a muggle church. However, the pastor there was a Squib who chose to help people both magical and muggle in his way.
Just before the funeral began, both Sirius and Remus saw a horse-faced blond woman take her seat, looking warily around at the witches and wizards. Both Sirius and Remus thought that they had never seen two women who acted and looked less like each other. They remembered meeting Petunia Dursley once through her sister Lily.
Dumbledore stood up in his black robes and said many kind things about the young witch he had known, all the while Professor McGonagall sobbed into her tartan handkerchief. Then Remus said many things about his dead friend and made some of the attendees laugh when he relayed the story of Lily shouting at them when Sirius and James had turned her hair pink during their fourth year at Hogwarts. But he soon became too choked up to continue. Finally, James stood up and spoke about his love for his dead wife before he too was breaking down in sobs and proved unable to continue with his eulogy.
"Come on Prongs. Hold it together for Lily's sake," said Sirius as he led James to his seat after the man had placed his gold wedding ring on the coffin to say farewell.
Remus heard Hagrid sob loudly and he had to be soothed by Dumbledore.
"The poor little tyke, to be murdered by You Know Who along with his mum," mourned Hagrid
There was suddenly a ruckus and James could see his sister-in-law marching toward him with an angry look in her eyes.
"You! This is your fault! You got my sister killed! She should have left you and this miserable world and been normal like me. What kind of husband are you to get your wife involved in a war against a madman?" shouted a grieving Petunia, before slapping James across the face.
"It was Lily's choice to join the war so she could defend you and your parents from You Know Who! I did everything that I could to protect her," roared James and his face was scarlet with anger.
"Mrs. Dursley this is hardly the time or the place for such talk," replied Remus politely but firmly.
"Yes, and now get out stupid muggle, and please leave us to mourn for your sister in peace," snapped Sirius. Normally his friends would have been aghast at Sirius Black calling Petunia a stupid muggle, but everyone was distracted by their feelings of extreme grief to pay much attention. Also, funerals were often an emotional time for everyone.
Petunia ignored him, pushing past him and placing a photograph on Lily's coffin. The photograph was of two young girls holding each other. She then stormed off.
"Lily, Dorcas, and I also said that she was adopted or left by aliens at her front doorstep," commented a blonde woman watching the sight.
"Thank you for coming Mary," said Remus warmly.
"Yes, but she was right though I got Lily killed," said James mournfully.
"Don't talk like that. Petunia Dursley is a bitter woman who lost Lily long before she died," responded Remus and he pushed a glass of fire whiskey into James's hands. The bespectacled man drank the liquid gratefully.
"It is Peter and his slimy Master who killed Lily, not you Prongs! You loved her," said Sirius comfortingly. However, while he was hugging James to offer some comfort, no one could see the malevolent grin on his face. It was time to set up the next phase of his plan to stay out of Azkaban by publicly blaming Wormtail. He would serve his Master well by staying out of Azkaban after all.
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"Lily and my godson! How could you, Wormtail? You are a treacherous bastard!" bellowed Sirius, trying to sound convincing. He was attempting to play his role of an outraged godfather and best friend to the Potters in front of the captive audience watching them. If he could pull this off, then no one would question his loyalty to the Order.
"I had no choice, Padfoot! Please believe me, You Know Who forced me to give up Prongs and Lily" whined Wormtail who was trying to make excuses for his betrayal in front of a crowd of muggles.
"Stop your snivelling! You were spying for him for months, and you were probably responsible for the murders of Edgar Bones, the Prewett brothers, and the McKinnon's," barked Sirius but a part of him was secretly laughing at how well he was playing the role of an outraged friend to Potter in front of a crowd of people.
People began pointing and mouthing at the two arguing wizards. They probably thought that they were rehearsing for a play.
"You should have known that if your Master did not kill you, then I would," snarled Sirius
"Yes, well I am going to be the hero to the wizarding world by blaming you, my old friend. This time I am going to get the better of you and Prongs! So, enjoy Azkaban Black!" growled Pettigrew and with one incantation, he used the blasting curse to blow up the street. It hit the street with a force of an exploding bomb. Muggles screamed as they were hit by flying objects like broken glass, and concrete from the pavement and there was a deep hole in the road. Wormtail then transformed into his Animagus form of a rat and sped down the sewer.
Sirius cursed in anger; it looked like Wormtail had the idea to make him the scapegoat for Evans's murder. His next thought was he had to get out of here before the Ministry turned up, so he transformed into his shaggy dog form and padded away on all fours.
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Four days after the confrontation between Wormtail and Sirius
"Sherbet lemon," said James to the gargoyle. He was wondering why Dumbledore had requested his presence. He was grateful for the older wizard's eulogy at Lily's funeral. The door swung open and he stepped inside. Dumbledore's office was the same as ever from the time in his youth when he and Sirius had been serving detention with either Remus or Peter. Although thinking about Wormtail was extremely painful for him at the moment.
"Ah, James, my boy, thank you for coming," said Dumbledore
"Why have you asked to see me, Headmaster? "James replied respectfully.
"I bring you unfortunate news; it seems that Peter and Sirius had a confrontation. I understand that young Sirius was behaving rather rashly as he tried to confront him in a muggle street. One of them is believed to have caused an explosion," Dumbledore answered gravely.
"I see. How many muggles were killed in the blast?" asked James, feeling rather faint as he heard the news. He was worried for Sirius since he had been his brother in all but blood. What had happened to the oaths of friendship that we swore when we were boys?
"From Fudge's report, about 30 died from the blast and another 100 were wounded. Minister Bagnold has spoken to the Muggle Prime Minister and has tried to reassure the public. They have agreed on a cover story. It will be covered up as a gas explosion. They will give it to all the muggle newspapers to prevent any wilder speculation." Dumbledore explained gravely.
"Ok. What is a gas explosion?" James inquired. Being a pureblood, he was unfamiliar with some aspects of muggle technology, although his beloved wife had tried to teach him about it during their short marriage. He was surprised by the number of things that muggles had invented such as airplanes, microwaves, cars, and televisions.
"Well, the cover story is that an explosive gas called methane entered a certain pipe which caused a strange reaction, although I am not familiar with the particulars of the matter," Dumbledore responded.
"I understand. What will happen to Sirius?" James asked, worried about his best friend.
"I have asked Order members to locate him. I will appeal to old Barty Crouch for his punishment to be light. My defense will be that evidence suggests he was not in his right mind when he confronted young Peter. As you very well know, he has a bad temper, especially when his loved ones are harmed." Dumbledore responded in turn.
"Yes, Sirius has always deeply loved his friends and his godson," James now agreed, feeling better, before a new concern entered his mind. "Sir, will Crouch listen to you? He is a ruthless man willing to do anything to crack down on Death Eater activity."
"I think that he will," Dumbledore nodded. "With your son's death, it now means that Neville Longbottom is the Chosen One. We must pin our hopes on him to end the reign of Lord Voldemort."
"That is if you believe in the Prophecy," James murmured. "Lily always thought that Divination was an imprecise brand of magic."
"Lily may have been right, but if I remember correctly, she walked out of Divination class which was taught by Professor Tiresias. However, we must remember that Lord Voldemort believes in the prophecy and will do anything to crush any threat to his power, as has been proven with your son's death. Frank has agreed that Neville will be trained when he gets older." Dumbledore replied gravely.
"Great. Please keep me informed of any developments regarding Peter, Sirius, or Lord Voldemort," James requested. He restrained a laugh at the memory of Lily walking out of Divination class. Where had that time gone? It had been like a dream before the nightmare of Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
"Sir?" a new, but familiar voice called out.
"What is it, Emmeline?" Dumbledore asked.
"We have found Sirius." This piece of information was announced by a tall woman with dark hair that walked into the headmaster's office.
"Is he alright? Did you speak to him?" James asked, feeling his excitement bubbling.
"He is fine, but he blames himself for the carnage caused by Pettigrew," replied Emmeline
"That wasn't his fault. It was Peter's choice to betray us all!" barked James.
"Does the Ministry know that Sirius has been located?" asked Dumbledore.
"Not yet. Frank and Alice are keeping him at their house," reported Emmeline. "They are ready for your next instructions."
"Excellent work," replied Dumbledore. "Please tell Frank and Alice to clean him up and give him something to eat and drink. I will inform the Ministry of this good news."
"They have also checked his forearm for the Dark Mark which would have proven that he supports You Know Who," Emmeline added. "However, nothing of the sort was found."
"Of course, they wouldn't! Sirius hates his family and everything they stand for." James said indignantly, now getting angry that Sirius's loyalty could be questioned like this. Surely everyone would see that it was Peter who had been the traitor, especially after he had caused the explosion.
"Forgive me, James. I asked them to check his forearms because the evils of Lord Voldemort and War can turn the best of friends against each other." Dumbledore answered solemnly.
James balled his hands into fists and restrained himself from completely losing it.
"I will see you both at the next Order meeting, and James, remind yourself that Peter will rot in hell for what he did to Lily. She was worth more than a hundred of that worthless rodent." Said Emmeline sympathetically.
"Thank you. If only I had seen what was going on with Peter." James said as he left to get some fresh air.
"Poor James, losing his wife and son like this. I know that if I had lost Dorcas, I would have gone mad," Emmeline said sadly.
"How is she?" asked Dumbledore.
"Very well. She is waiting for me at our flat in Greenwich," replied Emmeline with a smile. She then left to see her partner.
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In an Azkaban cell, a month later.
In the dreaded wizarding prison known as Azkaban, a dark-haired man paced his cell. He was thankful that he had decided to become an Animagus as he was less affected by the Dementors who hovered near his cell. He shuddered at the thought of the feared guards.
About a month ago, to prove to the wizarding world that the Ministry was cracking down on Death Eater activity, Barty Crouch ordered his immediate arrest over James and Albus's protests for the explosion in a muggle street that had killed Wormtail and many pathetic muggles.
He waited for news of his release from the prison, because Dumbledore, James Potter, and Remus, Lupin had appealed to the leading Ministry officials to have him immediately released. This proved that his Lord was correct about many things including the fact that decent people were easy to manipulate.
If someone had told him during his school days that he would be serving the Dark Lord, he would have recommended that they should be put in St Mungos for insanity. His mind flashed back to the events that made him willing to serve the Dark Lord and his cause.
Flashback to the aftermath of the werewolf prank in their fifth year
"Hey Lily, why are you avoiding me?" Sirius yelled out at his secret girlfriend.
"You have the nerve to ask me that! After what you did to Severus." Lily barked back. Her emerald eyes were filled with outrage. Sirius thought that it made her look sexy. He could see why Prongs was into her, but she had chosen him out of all the boys who eyed her appreciatively.
However, the union between a Black and a muggle-born was very nearly forbidden so they had to keep it quiet. Not to mention, he owed Prongs everything. He did not think that James would be too happy if they announced their relationship publicly.
It was frustrating that after James had saved Snivellus, and word got around about why Gryffindor had lost so many points, Lily refused to kiss him or go anywhere near him. He had fond memories of them kissing and groping in broom closets and her moans echoing in his ears.
"If you are referring to what happened to Snivellus, it was only meant to be a joke. Besides I didn't put a wand to his greasy head," Sirius replied defensively. "I didn't force him to go to the Shrieking Shack."
"A joke? Your stupid joke nearly killed two people! What would have happened if Remus had gotten loose and had killed or bitten Severus? The Ministry would have executed your best friend! Did you stop to think about that?" questioned Lily furiously.
"Remus and Snivellus are fine now, so no harm done. Moony wouldn't be executed because Prongs and I wouldn't have allowed that to happen to our friend." Sirius retorted defensively.
"That isn't the point," snapped Lily. "Besides, you must realize that breaking the law is different than breaking school rules."
"Well, listen to Miss Prefect. I guess that you have the Head Girl badge firmly in the bag by following the rules conscientiously. It's a shame that you won't tell your friends about us though, it's as if you're ashamed to be seen with me," Sirius said sarcastically. Then, Lily slapped him across the face.
"Why did you do it?" questioned Lily almost in tears. "All you have done is put our relationship at risk."
"For you! I saw the way Snivellus was looking at you and it makes me sick!" Sirius growled back.
Lily's eyes narrowed. "He and I are only friends. What about all the women who fawn over you from nearly all houses apart from Slytherin?"
"Friends? Don't make me laugh," He scoffed. "I see how his dark eyes follow you around in Potions, while you're walking and at dinner. Snivellus isn't your friend. He wants to be a Death Eater and drag my little brother Reggie into that madness!"
"Even if that is true, I won't be with a boy who uses extreme violence and risks his friend's life to get what he wants," replied Lily as she almost broke down. She did have strong feelings for the reckless, spoiled dark-haired boy, but she had to remain true to her values.
"No! I love you and I always will." Sirius choked out.
"You don't know what love is," Lily replied coldly.
"I don't know what love is!? I have loved you since the moment I saw you. Back when you refused to succumb to my charms." Sirius said angrily.
"I wish that could be true, but I see now that it isn't because when it was Potter who saved Severus that night," cried Lily. "He was able to put me first while you, who was supposed to be my boyfriend, nearly got my best friend killed or turned into a werewolf!"
Sirius wished that he could deny that, but he had nothing to say. While he was willing to play second fiddle to Prongs in all matters, to find out that his girlfriend, believed that the messy-haired boy was a hero for saving the repulsive Slytherin was too much.
Why did Potter get everything from Quidditch Captain, the respect of their House, and now Lily's goodwill? How can he ever get something for himself? He pondered over those questions which had risen in his mind.
"Is this the end then?" Sirius spitefully asked. "Are you going to jump into bed with Prongs or Snivellus?"
"Yes, this is the end, but we can be friends once things calm down. Quite frankly, how dare you? I am not going to jump into bed with either James or Severus. You boys need to grow up and see me as a person with my thoughts and feelings. I have had enough of you, Severus, and even James fighting over me like dogs over a bone," Lily snapped before leaving with her head held high.
"Black? Black!" shouted a new voice jerking him out of his memory.
"Yes, what is it?" Sirius asked the man who had entered his cell.
"You are free to go. There is no evidence to incarcerate you," said the man who was the head warden of Azkaban.
"I am innocent, Jackson. It was Peter who did those things. It was outrageous that I was arrested," Sirius barked out, trying to hide his genuine feelings of relief. "The Ministry should be out there looking for the rat who murdered my godson!"
"Yes, and while Albus believes that" Jackson snapped. "Crouch feels that you escaped justice, Black."
"Your boss, Crouch, can kiss my ass if the image wasn't so disgusting," Sirius grimaced. "How can I leave this miserable place?"
"I am to escort you out," Jackson said. "Crouch has arranged a portkey back to the Ministry."
"Do you want me, a Black, to visit the Ministry in these dirty rags?" questioned Sirius and within the next five minutes, they heard someone else approach.
"He can come with me and clean himself up there. I will vouch for him." said a familiar voice, belonging to James Potter. He embraced Sirius who hugged him back before they separated.
"Thanks, Prongs. It's damn good to see you in this hell." Sirius replied. With that, they walked through the cell block where many Death Eaters were held before they faced trial or the Kiss. They shot both Potter and Black glares and snarled at them from their cells.
"Potter! You are dead like your mudblood, once I get out." yelled out a voice that Potter recognized to be Mulciber.
"Bring it on, Mulciber you big ape!" James snapped back.
"I see that you're still as thick as ever, threatening James in front of witnesses," added Sirius. Mulciber shook the iron bars of his cell with a roar of rage.
"I am going to find and kill the Longbottoms and you, the traitor Black when the Dark Lord breaks me out of prison. Not to mention you, Potter, and how dare you marry a mudblood! It is a disgrace to the wizarding world." screamed a voice from the next cell. Sirius saw that the owner of the voice was a pale young man with straw-colored hair and freckles.
"We have a very different idea of what disgraces are, Crouch!" James growled out.
"Isn't that Crouch's son in one of the cells? " Asked Sirius with some genuine interest. He had never heard about the younger Crouch being involved with the Death Eaters before his arrest, "So why was he arrested and put in prison?"
"After his father had you locked up, he and a group of Death Eaters attacked Frank and Alice Longbottom," James explained.
"Are they alright?" asked Sirius, trying his best to sound worried.
"They are fine," James nodded. "It was fortunate that Albus heard from Severus about what was about to go down. They were warned."
"I still think that Snivellus is as guilty as Wormtail for what happened to Lily," Sirius said with a mulish look on his face.
"Do you have to call him that?" questioned an irritated James. There were times when he could have strangled one of his oldest friends.
"Sorry, old habit," Sirius said. "How are you doing?"
"It has been difficult living without Lily and Harry," James responded truthfully. "I still keep thinking that I am going to wake up from this nightmare."
"Well, Prongs," replied Sirius with a sardonic edge to his voice. "The whole magical world and not just you, are suffering from a nightmare."
"I am sure that you both have a great deal to catch up on, but can you do it once you leave the prison?" Jackson complained. "You and Potter's presence is stirring up the prisoners and the boat leaves in eight minutes with or without you."
"Alright, keep your hair on," replied Sirius with an impish look. They walked to the docks where a white boat with an elderly bearded man was waiting to take them to the mainland.
"Are you Potter and Black?" wheezed the old man.
"Yes, we are," James answered. "I need you to take us to the mainland. "
"Come aboard then, before the sea gets any rougher," The man grumbled.
"I don't like the sound of that," interjected Sirius
"Just come onboard Padfoot," James groaned. "So, we can leave this dreadful place."
"Alright, but I was planning on getting a souvenir from my time here," commented Sirius sarcastically before getting onboard.
He wanted to laugh in relief because he had done it. The pathetic Ministry would now be out looking for Wormtail and not him. It meant that his cover as a supposed friend to Dumbledore and Potter was still intact. At least his godson was not going to become Dumbledore's stooge and a blood traitor. Sirius was going to wait until the Dark Lord got in touch with him with new instructions.
Please read and review and I would like to thank my beta readers Addicted2ItAll and sithlorde1988