The following events take place between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.

"Oi, you there, move along! This isn't a bedroom!" Something hard kicked Sirius in the ribs. He groggily opened his eyes.

"Tom!" he exclaimed, recognizing the proprietor of the Leaky Cauldron, standing above him, a wand in one hand and a trash bag in the other.

Tom looked at him curiously. Sirius knew he was still covered in grime and sweat. "Sirius?" he said cautiously.

"Yes. Look, Tom, I am sorry for sleeping in your alley. It's been one hell of a night. Do you have any open ro—"

"You sorry bastard." Tom said, raising his wand to Sirius' chin. "Betraying your friends like that. The Aurors were already here looking for you, Sirius. I'm going to get them now, so they can throw you in Azkaban, the only place good enough for scum like you." he said coldly.

Sirius looked wildly back and sputtered, "Tom, you don't understand. It wasn't me! I didn't betray Lily and James, well, not true, I did, but not in the way you think I did."

Tom shook his head, his face stern. "Petrificus Totalus." he said, walking back into the Leaky Cauldron to contact the Aurors.

Sirius looked frantically around. They think it was me he thought frantically. I have to find Peter to prove them wrong. Moving his eyes around he thought. Wait, of course.

Concentrating on moving only his wand hand, Sirius pulled his wand from his pocket. Concentrating very hard on that, he changed in to his animagus form. Dogs were not affected in the same way.

Moving off stiffly down the alley, it struck Sirius that everyone, including Remus probably thought he had betrayed Lily and James. He had to find Peter.

--------3:12

Minerva decided to start with the Slytherins simply because they were at the bottom of the castle. Working her way up, she would finish with the Gryffindors and be able to go directly back to bed.

She rapped once on the door and strode in. She stopped suddenly, spying Severus addressing his house. All the Slytherins were gathered in the common room around him.

He stopped his speech to look at her. "I was about to come see you, Professor McGonagall. My apologies for keeping the students awake so late, but amazing events have taken place tonight. I will be done shortly. Please wait for me in my office."

Minerva nodded and left the common room, walking down the hallway to Severus' office. She sat down and waited.

--------3:23

Remus was at the Ministry, talking to the aurors, giving them a list of Sirius' acquaintances.

"Also," Remus said, "Sirius was looking for Peter, Peter Pettigrew earlier tonight. I don't know why. He was one of our friends from Hogwarts. Sirius accused me of doing something to him and left to go find him."

The auror nodded and made a note. "I went looking for Peter as well, with no luck." Remus informed them. They made another note.

"Mr. Lupin, you're free to go. Thank you for all your help." One of the aurors said, extending a hand. "Would you like anything to drink? Coffee? Tea?"

Remus shook his head. "No, I think I'd rather just go home. Thanks." he stood to leave, when a young wizard burst through the door.

"Harry Potter defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" The wizard cried. "It's official-I just came from the Minister's office. You-Know-Who is gone!"

Remus stood, rooted to the spot. All around him, the aurors were celebrating. Remus didn't feel much like celebrating. Scanning the room, he left to leave the Ministry.

Approaching the floo hallway, Remus spied Dumbledore walking in his direction.

"Ah, Remus." said Dumbledore heavily. "You've been helping the aurors, I presume?"

Remus nodded. "No luck. I can't think of anywhere else Sirius would be hiding. He obviously knows we're looking for him. I can't believe it, sir. I can't believe Sirius would do something like that." Remus said, his voice choking. He would not cry, he told himself.

Dumbledore patted him gently on the back. "I know, my dear boy. I never would have thought it possible, either. I am as much to blame as Sirius. I should have insisted I be made their secret keeper."

"At least Harry is alive." Remus said quietly.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes."

"Headmaster?" Remus asked. Dumbledore smiled at the moniker.

"Yes, my boy?" he replied.

"What's going to happen to Harry now?" he asked, concern filling his eyes.

"I was just discussing that with Minister Bagnold. Harry is to be placed with Lily's sister, Petunia and her family. They have a son the same age as Harry, and it will keep him well out of harm's way for any Death Eaters who wish revenge on the boy." he said.

Remus nodded. "They're muggles, correct?" Dumbledore nodded. "They hate magic, Dumbledore. I know they do-Lily mentions, mentioned," he caught himself, "it a thousand times. Are sure that's a good idea?"

"The safest place for him right now is with family. Wizards or muggles, he needs to be with family now. He will be safe there. The minister and I will make certain of that. Remus, why don't you come to Hogwarts tonight for some rest?"

Remus thought about it and nodded. Hogwarts was home more than any other place, what with the Potter"s house was gone. He stepped into the grate and nodded to Dumbledore.

"See you there, Remus." Dumbledore said.

Remus threw a handful of floo powder. "Hogwarts!" he cried, disappearing in a burst of green flames.

-----3:41

Minerva was irritably tapping her foot against the stone floor, as she had been doing for the past twenty minutes.

Suddenly, Severus opened the door behind her. "My apologies, Minerva."

"What has happened, Severus? I received a note from Albus and now the entire student body is awake at three in the morning. " Minerva said, watching him closely as he locked the door and sat down behind his desk.

Severus looked at her incredulously. "You haven't heard?" he asked.

"No." she responded irritably. "Heard what?"

Severus swallowed. "The Dark Lord has been defeated."

A small eep escaped Minerva's lips. "Defeated?" she asked.

"Yes." Severus affirmed. "The attack on the Potters did happen tonight."

"Lily and James defeated You-Know-Who?" Minerva asked.

"No." Severus said.

Minerva shook her head. "I don't understand."

"I don't either. However, let me tell you what I have been told." Severus said, leaning back in his chair. Minerva sat forward, attentive.

"The Dark Lord arrived at the Potters tonight as planned. I know I was told something about it at the meeting this evening, but my memory was modified before I returned to Hogwarts." Severus began. Minerva nodded, showing she was following him thus far.

He continued. "He managed to kill James and Lily." Minerva gasped. "But, when he cast the killing curse on Harry, something happened."

Minerva leaned further forward, breathless with anticipation.

"The curse backfired. The Dark Lord disappeared; the energy exploded the house, leaving it in ruins and He disappeared." Severus said.

"And Harry?" Minerva asked quietly.

"Lived." Severus said.

Minerva simply stared open-mouthed at her colleague. "Harry is alive?"

"Yes." Severus replied.

"But how did You-Know-Who know where the Potters were? Albus sent them in to hiding a week ago." she questioned.

"Black sold them out. He must have been there at the meeting-that was why my memory was obliviated. Black was their secret keeper-he told the Dark Lord where to find them." Severus said bitterly.

Minerva sat back in her chair, stunned. "Why were you talking to your students?"

"Many of them have friends and family who are followers of the Dark Lord. Many of them had the inclination to join after leaving Hogwarts. That has now changed. There is no telling the reaction of the other students. I was telling them to celebrate, but to be on their guard." Severus explained.

"Yes, yes." Minerva said absently. "And Albus, where is he now?"

"I presume at the Ministry. There will be much to discuss. I assume, since you are awake, that at least some of the student body is aware of what has happened?" Severus asked.

"It must be." Minerva responded. "A few owls must have arrived already, from students who have family at the Ministry. We should go and inform everyone. Classes will be canceled today, of course."

Severus nodded. "I will stay here. There has already been enough whispering about me, I do not wish to have a foolhardy Gryffindor challenge me now that my 'master' has disappeared."

Minerva ignored the slight against her house, feeling him rather justified in his thinking. "I will go inform Filius and Pomona," she said. "They can tell their houses. I'll inform the Gryffindors."

She rose, and pulled open the door. "Oh, Severus, do you think he's truly gone? Defeated by a baby?" she asked hopefully.

"It certainly appears that way." Severus responded. Minerva nodded happily and left.

-----3:58

Sirius had remained in his dog form since leaving the Leaky Cauldron. He had only been a block away when Tom discovered he was missing. There had been two aurors with him. They'd searched high and low, with no trace. Sirius had made certain of that.

He slunk around in the shadows, avoiding wizards whenever possible. It seemed the news was traveling fast. But, there was something about people's reactions he didn't understand.

They seemed to be celebrating. Hearing raucous laughter from the inside of Olivander's shop, he decided to investigate.