Authors Note: Okay…I'm new to Harry Potter fanfic and because there are so many gifted writers among this community I was really hesitant on starting…I haven't stopped writing for Animorphs…but I just can't figure out what to write! I know…I'm sad! Anyway, this is a story that is around a lot…James didn't die…lol…my story about that

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and co belong to J.K Rowling…I own nothing…gah

Noises all around him, the smell of smoke reached his nose, but James Potter only had one thing on his mind. His wife and son. He slowly opened his eyes; the sight that reached him was one of horror. His house, Godric's Hollow, had been torn apart. Large pieces of wood lay around him; his possessions were torn apart and lying all around. But he didn't care. Voldemort had been here. He had tortured James, mocked him and at the last moment performed an Arvada Kedavra curse on him. James had ducked just in time, but the curse hit the wall behind him, causing it to fall on him mercilessly, knocking him unconscious. Voldemort had taken him for dead. Something James was grateful for.

His body now aching he pushed the wood off him. The noises now more distinguishable, he recognised his son wailing nearby. Harry was making such a noise, that it sent tears to James' eyes. His son was alive. As for his wife, he did not know. Slowly and painfully he stood, a small fire had started nearby and he could hear sirens close off. James spotted his glasses lying only a foot away from him. He placed them on his nose, the better to see. James stumbled further into the destroyed house, following Harry's cries. Suddenly he stopped. His watery brown eyes fell upon flaming red hair. Lily's body was sprawled among the wood, her bright green eyes open, staring with horror lifelessly at the tumbled ceiling.

"No," James whispered, limping forward. "No...Lily...no this can't be happening...no..."

He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her forward into his lap, but her head just lopped backwards.

"Lily, dearest, please wake up," James cried. "Please. I'll do anything. I'll even start changing Harry's nappies. Just please, wake up."

But Lily didn't wake up. James knew she would never wake up, but that didn't stop him from breaking down on her shoulder.

"Lily…" he sobbed heart wrenchingly. "I need you."

It was then that James was pulled out of his misery by a particularly loud screech from Harry. James stumbled to his feet, placing Lily softly back on the floor and scanned the destroyed house, trying to locate his one year old. He spotted Harry's thrashing form a couple of feet from where he stood and approached him. He picked up the struggling baby and held him in his arms, staring down with horror at his son. His forehead, once clear and smooth, now was residence to a lightening bolt shaped scar. Harry continued to shriek as James held him close trying to comfort him. James couldn't help but cry with his son. He sank to the floor, his head buried in the baby's thick black hair. Lily lay two feet away.

Sirius turned the corner, unusually fast. He had a bad feeling. A feeling he couldn't brush off. That night he felt something in the pit of his stomach. Something that he couldn't explain. All he knew was that something had happened and it had something to do with his friend. It had something to do with James Potter. He had flown his motorbike here, but had left it around the corner. His motorbike was a much more comfortable way to travel then apparating. Fear mounting, he realised with a sinking heart that his fears and worries had been right. The Dark Mark was sitting over Godric's Hollow.

"No," Sirius said, running up to the house and throwing open the doors, ignoring the flames starting to engulf the house. "No! Please god no."

The inside was a mess. What used to be the entrance hall was a bundle of wood and stone.

"James…" Sirius breathed, heart racing. "JAMES!"

But there was no reply. Sirius brushed a tear away from his face and swallowed what felt like his heart.

"JAMES!" Sirius screamed again, but to no avail. There was no answer.

Sirius stumbled through the mess into the next room, which was even worse then the last, but in this room, although the wall was ripped apart, he could see a trail of blood and, in the mix of all the sirens, he could hear a baby screeching.

"Harry…" Sirius muttered his mind racing. He staggered forwards towards the noise which led to the next room.

Sirius stood stock still at the sight that met him. Lily was lying, dead, on the floor, her red hair like flames around her. James was kneeling on the floor, Harry in his arms. Harry was screeching as James sobbed into his hair.

"Prongs?" Sirius gasped, doubting what he was seeing. How could James be alive? Nobody had survived when the Dark Lord wanted you dead. Nobody.

"James?" Sirius breathed as he drew level with James and bent down in front of him, his eyes burning as he watched his friend rock back and forth, the tiny baby in his arms. "James?"

James lifted his tear stained face, still more tears pelting down his face.

"S…Sirius?" he sobbed.

"Hey, Jamsie," Sirius sniffed as tears threatened to downpour. "We've got to get out of here."

"L…Lily…" James sobbed as Harry let out a particularly loud wail.

"I…I know Prongs," Sirius breathed. "But we have to get you and Harry out of here."

Sirius attempted to force James to stand, but James sat firmly on the ground, trying to calm Harry.

"How could Peter do this?" James sobbed, looking down at Harry tearfully.

Sirius growled. How could Peter do this? That question made Sirius' blood boil. It was Sirius' fault Peter was named Secret Keeper at the last minute. Peter had betrayed the Potters. How could someone do that to such a loving family? It just wasn't fair.

"James-" Sirius started, but was interrupted by a loud bang and thunderous footsteps.

Hagrid, the half giant, stormed in, looking flustered. When he saw the scene in front of him, he took an intake in breath.

"I need 'Arry," Hagrid said striding into the room, looking down with sorrow at the father and son.

"What?" Sirius demanded.

"Dumbledore's orders," Hagrid replied solemnly.

"You can't just walk in here and demand Harry," Sirius cried.

"I…I'm sorry for this," Hagrid muttered. "But it is Dumbledore's orders. I'm sorry."

"No!" James shouted as Hagrid bent down and attempted to take Harry away from his father.

James jumped up and stumbled to the back of the room, hugging Harry closely.

"James…" Hagrid said closing in on James. "I'm sorry for this, but I need 'Arry."

"I won't let you take him!" James shouted, tears pelting down. "He's mine! He's my son!"

"If I 'ave to tackle you, James, I will," Hagrid said.

"No you will not," Sirius growled, stepping in between James and Hagrid and taking out his wand, brotherly protection swelling inside him.

"Don't be stupid, Black," Hagrid roared. "If Dumbledore says-"

"If Dumbledore told you to jump off a bridge would you do that too?" Sirius snarled.

"With pride," Hagrid said raising his head.

Sirius just stared blankly at him, trying to digest this new piece of information.

"Now please stand aside," Hagrid growled. "I need 'Arry."

Sirius could hear the sirens getting louder in the mix of Harry's screeches and James' strangled sobs.

"I'll take James to Hogwarts," Sirius tried to reason, "with Harry. My bike is parked around the corner. Take it. Tell Dumbledore we'll meet him at Hogwarts."

Hagrid was planted to the spot, undecided.

"Dumbledore thinks James is dead," Sirius continued. "So everything must have changed now that he's alive."

Hagrid didn't say anything, just stared furiously at Sirius and then turned his gaze on James. His hazel eyes silently pleading with the half-giant. He was rubbing small circles on Harry's small back and humming soft notes in his ear, but the tears still came.

"You ruddy well better hope Dumbledore approves of this," Hagrid growled, turning around and stomping out.

Sirius turned to James solemnly. Without saying a word, he picked up a broken piece of wood and muttered a charm under his breath.

"It's a portkey," Sirius explained softly to James. "It'll take us back to Hogwarts."

"Lily…" James sobbed looking at his wife's dead form.

"It's alright James," Sirius said. "The muggles will take her body and we can bury it properly. Just take the portkey."

"W…What about y…you?" James asked.

"I'll be right behind you," Sirius promised as James took the wood.

Sirius glanced at his watch and when he glanced up James and Harry had disappeared.

James felt like a hook had attached itself to his collar and had lifted him. He swirled in midair. He closed his eyes and hugged Harry tighter. He felt his feet hit solid ground and when he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in Hogwart's Great Hall.

He stumbled to the nearest table which turned out to be the Ravenclaw's table. Harry was still crying loudly.

"Hey," he whispered to the traumatised young. "Daddy's here. It's alright. Don't cry."

Harry stared up at James with brilliant green eyes. Lily's eyes. James rocked him back and forth, not noticing his own tears.

"Shh," James said gently, looking at the scar in anger. "You're safe. Daddy's here."

This seemed to quieten Harry down considerably. Tears still welled up in his eyes, but he had stopped wailing and had snuggled deeper into his father's arms for comfort. When Sirius arrived not a second later, the only one still crying was James.

"Prongs," Sirius muttered, striding towards James so quickly, he thought he might have set fire to the wooden floor.

James' tear strained face looked up and more tears welled in his eyes. Sirius looked down at Harry, noticing the scar, and was pleased to see the baby was asleep.

"Peter…" James murmured, feeling his heart break. "I thought Remus…"

"It's alright James," Sirius said as he sat on the seat opposite James. "We'll get him."

"Why Lily?" James sobbed and Sirius put an arm around his shoulder comfortingly. "Why not me? It should have been me…"

Sirius was about to open his mouth when all of a sudden, the great hall doors opened and a tall old man entered. Albus Dumbledore strode in, taking in the two men and the baby.

"James," Dumbledore said obviously surprised to see him alive. "I am sorry for your loss, but you must excuse me for my actions next," he turned his gaze from James to Sirius. "Stand up, Sirius," he demanded.

"What?" Sirius asked, as James glanced at him nervously.

"Stand up, Sirius," Dumbledore repeated harshly.

"Why? What's going on?" Sirius demanded.

"I cannot allow you near James or Harry," Dumbledore said solemnly, but coldly.

"And why not?" Sirius demanded indignantly.

"You being their Secret Keeper-"

"I was not their Secret Keeper," Sirius said sadly. "I wish I was. I changed at the last minute."

James nodded. "Peter was our Secret Keeper," he said quietly, looking at Harry sadly.

Dumbledore, for the first time since Sirius has known the powerful wizard, looked stumped.

"My apologies, Sirius," Dumbledore said, nodding in Sirius' direction. Sirius smiled weakly.

"You're not taking Harry from me!" James said suddenly, his brown tear filled eyes burning with anger. "You're not having him! He's mine!"

Dumbledore looked down at the grieving father and now widower.

"James, now that I am seeing you here, alive, I have no intention of taking Harry from you," Dumbledore assured him. "But I would like to talk with you about-"

"Can't this wait till morning, Dumbledore?" Sirius asked, looking at James in worry.

Dumbledore looked down at Sirius and understood his concern.

"Certainly," Dumbledore said. "You may spend the night up at the Gryffindor dormitory. It is the school holidays now. I have informed the Fat Lady that you are expected."

Dumbledore turned around and walked towards the open doors, but before he left, he heard James give out one hysterical cry.

"Tell that crazy giant to keep away from my son!"

James didn't know how he got upstairs to Gryffindor Tower, but he had managed. When they had reached Gryffindor Tower, the Fat Lady had opened for them immediately. She cast a frightened and solemn look down at James, but said nothing. They walked up the boy's dormitories without a word and entered the first door they came across. It had five beds and a crib near the window. James went straight for the bed nearest the crib, but didn't put Harry down into it. He sat on the bed, tears still pouring down his face soundlessly, watching Harry.

"You really should go to sleep, James," Sirius said hollowly sitting down on the opposite bed and looking at James earnestly.

"I…I can't," James said, rubbing Harry's back softly. "I need to look after Harry."

"Harry's fine," Sirius said.

"What if he wakes up in the middle of the night?" James asked desperately.

"Go to sleep, James," Sirius said defiantly. "I'll stay up with Harry."

"But what if…"

"No, James," Sirius said stubbornly. "You need to go to sleep. I'll take care of Harry."

Sirius got up and tried to pry Harry from his father's arms, but James wouldn't let go.

"Prongs, I'm his godfather, I won't let anything happen to him," Sirius promised watching James kiss Harry on the forehead and slowly let go of the small baby.

"Go to bed James," Sirius repeated firmly and for once James obeyed his friend.

He took off his glasses, climbed into bed, pulled the curtains around the bed closed, lay down and curled up. The bed was small compared to his king sized bed back at home. Usually James would be grateful to have a bed to himself, but now he wished more than ever that Lily was lying down next to him.

Sirius placed Harry down in the crib as he was sure James couldn't see him. He sat on the bed and sighed. He didn't dare go to sleep, for he knew that if Harry were to cry, James would be out of bed and wouldn't ever be put down again. Sirius wiped a stray tear from his face and knew that James wasn't asleep and probably wouldn't get to sleep. For one, he could see James' quivering form through the curtain rubbing his face over again and for another he could hear James' strangled sobs.

Sirius knew, without knowing how, that this nightmare was far from over.