A/N: Isn't it funny how stories take lives of their own? You think they'll go one way, then they go the other. This was definitely NOT how I wanted this section to turn out…ah well, whatcha gonna do?
Solitary Starlight caught a lil mistake I made. Of course Lily would know Peter was the secret keeper…just a lil error on my part. Just play along, ok ;) Thanks for pointing it out though, I never would've thought of that.
Big, HUGE thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! You guys are the best *big hugs to everyone* I hope you enjoy this one…and once again, I apologize for all spelling mistakes that are bound to be in here.
Disclaimer: I don't think I'll ever fully understand why this has to be here. Of course these characters don't belong to me…only a genius like JK Rowlings could create them ;)
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Chapter 2
Sirius looked blearily at the shot glass of vodka in his hands. "Here's to Voldemort," he muttered. "May he fuckin' rot in hell." He watched the vodka for a moment more before tilting the glass up and pouring it down his throat.
He winced slightly as the fiery drink rushed down to meet the other contents of his stomach. Actually, the other contents of his stomach were mostly vodka. His goal at the moment was to get drunk. Really, really drunk. So drunk he couldn't remember the events of the last few days, so drunk the pain would be drowned out. But he did have a very high tolerance to alcohol. Always had. So he need lots of it.
The last few days had been hell for him. He shuddered at the memories that flooded his brain. Leaving the Potter's house…saying good-bye to Remus a few blocks away from his own home…turning the corner to see his house with a floating Dark Mark over it. He couldn't remember if he had screamed or not. He did remember dropping the hot chowder Lily had given him. The only reason he remembered this was because the burn was still on his arm where the scalding liquid had hit him. The chowder…the chowder for Sarah…
Sirius' grey eyes watered up at the thought of her. Well, not the thought of her, but of his last picture of her. Lying in the middle of his living room, her blue, lifeless eyes staring vacantly at the ceiling. Someone had slit her throat…not to kill her, they had used Avada Kervada for that. Just for kicks thought Sirius bitterly.
He fumbled inside his coat pocket for a moment before pulling out a small black box. He held it in his hands, staring at it, before slowly opening it. Inside was a beautiful engagement ring, white gold with a sparkling diamond in the center. It sparkles like her eyes he thought. He sighed and put the ring back in his pocket. I don't need to be thinking about this. No…what I need is more vodka. He called the bartender over. "Just keep it coming," he mumbled.
The bartended looked at him. "You've gotta pay for your other drinks first, buddy."
Sirius gave the bartender a piercing look. Bastard he thought, as he pulled the ring out from his pocket and showed it to him. "I'll give you this ring if you just keep the drinks comin'" He knew it was a slightly foolish thing to do…still, he wouldn't be needing it anymore.
The bartended looked at it for a moment, then shook his head. "What do I look like, a bank? Cash or nothin'"
If looks could kill, the bartender would've dropped down dead right then. Unfortunately, Sirius didn't possess that talent. Muttering under his breath, he pushed the stool out and walked out of the bar into the cold night.
He stood there, looking at the skies. Suddenly he started shouting.
"WHY? Why'd you have to take her? What did she ever do! She was perfect…perfect…" Sirius stopped and forced back the tears that were welling up in his eyes.
What now? he thought. She's gone. What do I do now?
Go home, a voice seemed to whisper to him. Go home now.
Sirius laughed at the little voice. That was the last place he wanted to go right now. Too many memories…too many memories of Sarah. But it was getting rather cold out. He was loosing all feeling in his toes. He sighed. He was pretty sure he had some sort of alcoholic beverage at home…maybe home wasn't such a bad idea.
He kicked the leaves up as he walked slowly back to his house. James and Lily had been sending him owls ever since they heard the news. Asking how he was doing, was he ok. What the fuck kinds of questions are those? He thought. How would THEY be if the person they loved was suddenly ripped away from them. Remus had been sending owls too, telling him he could stay at his house if he wanted. Sirius had considered it briefly. No memories of Sarah there. But he still hadn't decided to accept the offer or not.
As he walked up his front driveway, he searched in his pockets for his house key. "Shit." he said, realizing where it was. Inside, on his living room table. "Why the hell did I lock the doors" he muttered. He sighed and slid down so he was sitting against the door, closing his eyes, trying to block out memories.
Just as he was about to mercifully pass into oblivious slumber, he heard a soft hoot beside him. Startled, he jumped, turned and saw a white owl sitting next to him, holding a message. Sirius muttered something about "damn bird" and snatched the letter from the owl, who left in a huff.
Sirius looked at the letter. Very short actually, more of a note he thought. Who's handwriting was it? Remus' he decided. But it didn't quite look like his, it was too messy. Like it was written very hastily. Sirius shook his head and read the message on it.
Sirius,
Voldemort's found them.
-Remus
Sirius looked at the letter in disbelief. Them? Who was them? Recognition slowly dawned on his tired face.
The Potters.
But how? he thought desperately. No, Remus is wrong. The charm they had used, they were completely safe, what with Peter as their secret-keeper. Peter would never tell--
Peter.
Peter had told Voldemort.
Sirius leapt up with a sudden energy he had not had for days. Maybe they're still alive he thought. I've got to find them. And then…I'll find Peter.
There was a vacant look in his eyes as he got on his motorbike and started it, soaring into the skies. He remembered when he had first gotten it, how he and James had fixed it up. Lily hated the thing, always had, always would. Said it was way too dangerous. Forbid James to ride on it. Of course, he did anyway. Sirius gulped, willing the bike to go faster as he raced towards the Potter's home.
Sirius landed the bike amid a heap of smoldering ruins. What is this? he thought. Then he saw something. The old rocking chair James had always liked to sit in, lying broken near a smoking wooden beam. "No" he murmured. It can't be.
He walked around the wreckage, finding things that belonged to the Potters. Old pictures, furniture, James' broken glasses. Suddenly, a shot of red caught his eye. He looked at it more closely. Hair. Beautiful, red hair, the same color as Lily's…
"NO!" he shouted and started digging through the rumble. He had to find them. He just had to…
He was pulled back suddenly by a large hand. Turning, he saw Hagrid standing there.
"Sirius?" he said questioningly. "What are yeh doin' here boy?"
"Hagrid!" said Sirius. "Hagrid, you've got to help me. They could be all right…" he trailed off, tears beginning to fall down his cheeks. "They could be all right…"
Hagrid looked at Sirius with a sad gleam in his eyes. "Ah'm sorry Sirius…"
Sirius shook his head. "No…not James…Lily…and Harry…"
Hagrid seemed to brighten up slightly. "No, not 'Arry. See?" He showed Sirius the small bundle he was carrying. Sirius looked inside and saw his godson, a bleeding gash on his small forehead.
"Harry?" Sirius murmured. "But how…"
Hagrid shook his head "Don' rightly know. Reflected Voldemort's curse somehow…"
Sirius stared at the small child. "Hagrid," he said suddenly, "Let me keep him. Please, I'll take good care of him, I'm his godfather, James and Lily entrusted his LIFE with me…"
Hagrid shook his head sadly. "Can't. Dumbledore told me to take 'Arry to him straight away."
Sirius looked piercingly at his godson, sleeping peacefully in Hagrid's arms. A strange look passed over his face. "All right," he said softly. "Use my motorbike, will you? It'll be faster."
Hagrid looked at him in disbelief "Sirius, yeh know I couldn't do that—"
"Yes," said Sirius. "Take it. I won't be needing it." He looked once more at Harry. "So long kid," he whispered. "Take care."
And with that he turned away from the wreckage, from the memories of his friends. He only had one goal left. And he wasn't going to fail.
He had to kill Peter.
