Huge thanks to Ambush99 for her continued support and amazing betaing skills!

Chapter 30

"Sirius!" James yelled, as he bounded into the house. "So, what's the note about? Sirius?" He stopped and looked around the quiet and empty room.

"Mate?" he said frowning, pulling out his wand. "Sirius, are you okay mate?" He watched Lancelot pace around him, whining. "Hey boy, where is he? Where's the boss?" As if the dog understood his question, Lancelot took his sleeve and tugged it, pulling him towards the kitchen.

"You bastard, you utter bastard," James swore, spying the note addressed to him on the table. Taking the note with shaking hands, he collapsed into the nearby armchair.

James,

I'm sorry I'm writing this in a note, but it's the only way. You know what I have to do. I cannot thank you and your family enough for what you have done for me. Words seem meaningless, they can't even begin to express my gratitude. So, to say I'm sorry like this, seems just as meaningless.

Lastly, could you look after Lancelot for me? I cannot take him where I am going and I don't want him to see me die. He's a great dog and deserves a good home. One I know you'll give him.

Thank you again,

Sirius

Once a Marauder, always a Marauder

James exhaled sharply and let his head fall into his hands, his hand lightly closed around the note. "Mate," he whispered to the empty room. "Why? I would have gone with you. I would have gone with you to the end. You've already sacrificed so much. You shouldn't be alone for the final sacrifice. But why did you have to leave us with a shitty note?! You are the brains behind our offensive! Fuck!"

He stood up quickly and started pacing, as he re-read the note in his head. He knew why his friend had done it, but he couldn't help feeling a little anger towards him. He had left them with nothing. Just a sorry, thank you, look after my dog and finally signing it off with their childhood slogan. He stopped as he re-read the note again. "You little shite," James swore, as a small smile spread across his face. Taking the note, he tapped it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

A thick, bound document began to grow from where the note lay. "Sirius," he whispered, fingering the book with shaking hands. He carefully skimmed through a few pages. He recognised his friend's neat, cursive handwriting, something that had probably been beaten into him as a child, he thought bitterly. Page after page of strategies: from diagrams of wars and battles he'd heard of, to events he never knew had taken place. He had always known his friend was smart, but until this moment he hadn't realised just how intelligent his friend was. He had left them with a doctrine for war. A battle plan. Something that would enable their fight against Voldemort.

He looked down as he felt Lancelot nudge him. "I know boy, he's gone. He didn't want you to get hurt, that's why he left you. I know I'm not him but I'll do my best," James said in a near whisper, as he scratched behind the dog's ears. "Sirius, what do I with this?" he said to the empty room. Feeling the dog nudge him again, he looked down and frowned. Bending down he picked up the thick, folded piece of parchment. With shaking hands he carefully unfolded it.

Prongs,

If you are reading this then you've cracked the code. Ha! It wasn't exactly a hard one, but I just wanted some form of protection in place, just in case it fell into the wrong hands. As you've no doubt guessed, I've gone. My prediction we were weeks away from war was a best case scenario. I feel Voldemort will challenge the Ministry in the next week or so and I had to get going before that happened. I am at the top of both Voldemort's and the Ministry's hit list. I knew if I told you, you'd come with me, and you can't. You have a family to look after. I also needed someone I trusted to deliver the doctrine to the Order. I'm sorry I'm asking this of you but I didn't feel I had any other choice. You are the best friend anyone could ever ask for. You were there for me at the lowest points of my life. Each time you took me in without question. You tried to make me understand I wasn't alone and it would be okay, even if I didn't believe it at the time. As I said before, words seem so meaningless. They can't even begin to touch the gratitude I feel towards you and your family, but thank you all the same.

I guess I should explain some of the actions I have undertaken. I have added the extra layers of security to the Ministry. It's a blood, wand signature ward. No doubt people will be angered these are in place without their consent, but they won't notice unless we have to activate the counter ward (detailed below). Basically it gives you the ability to rescind anyone's access. I did meet with Dumbledore, as well as McGonagall and Flitwick. We have increased security around Hogwarts, using a different ward than the Ministry but effective all the same. In section 5 of the doctrine you'll find details of the evacuation plan. I've found places for the Muggle-borns in the other, foreign magical schools as well as accommodation for their parents should they require it. I've also detailed the Muggle children on Hogwarts list whom may receive a letter in the coming years. Hopefully it won't come to that but, as old Moody always used to yell at us, 'be prepared or be dead'.

Then there is Remus. I don't know how you want to broach this, as it's multi layered. I've got him a job as the History of Magic teacher. Apparently Dumbledore has finally noticed old Binns is dead. Shocker right?! I truly believe Remus will be a fantastic teacher. He'll deliver interesting and engaging lessons (unlike our History of Magic lessons) yet he's kind and patient. The other reason, and you can tell him if you think it's best, is I am terrified the death eaters will kidnap him and release him on a full moon, because that would kill him, knowing he'd attacked someone. He deserves better than that. He deserves the right to be happy and free more than all of us.

Arthur is our man for Muggle guns. We've trained together and he's good. I have no idea if Voldemort will resort to them, but we have them if we need them. Ivan is the contact for anything nuclear, biological or chemical. Again I have no idea if Voldemort will resort to them but the Muggle antidotes could prove useful against death eaters' curses. Dung's great for anything dodgy, just watch your gold. Merlin, I'm writing an essay here when it's all in the doctrine. I guess I feel I owe you an explanation.

Lastly, the Horcruxes. Mainly one Horcrux in particular - me. Tell people what you feel they need to know, I trust your judgement on that. But if you can avoid telling them I'm a Horcrux, I would greatly appreciate that. I know it sounds selfish, but I don't want to be remembered as a Horcrux. I don't want Harry, Mum and Dad, Remus and Lily to know what I have to do. I don't want them to remember me as part of Voldemort's soul. If you have to, I understand, but please, as my final wish, can you avoid telling anyone at all costs.

So, I guess this is goodbye. I always knew, even before I found out I was a Horcrux, I was living on borrowed time. I am forever thankful for the extra two years I got. Two years to spend with you and Remus. The time I got to know Harry. The family Sunday lunches I got to enjoy. The chance to build what ultimately was going to be a short career. So thank you mate and see you in the afterlife. But I do not want to see you anytime soon! As much as you are a great friend, I don't want to see you in the afterlife for at least fifty years.

Thank you,

Padfoot

James let the letter fall from his hands, as tears began to streak down his face. Somehow he had always known his friend would do something like this. It made the theory of the animagus form choosing the wizard, rather than the other way around, very true. Sirius had always been a kind, protective and desperately loyal man to his friends and family. No more than right now. He knew, but had never accepted the fact, that Sirius was a Horcrux. He had known what ultimately his friend would end up doing, but he hated it. He hated the fact his friend had escaped Voldemort, only to have his life cut short by the bastard. Taking off his glasses he rubbed his tense face. What the hell was he to do? He wasn't a natural leader like his friend, he was just James. He guessed now he understood his friend's internal battle, as he struggled to find the confidence to lead. But now what did he do? How did he tell people Sirius had gone? What did he tell them? Glancing at his watch, he frowned. How the hell had an hour passed?! His parents were due at his house any minute for a Halloween celebration. Two years to the day, his friend had collapsed in his doorway half dead. Now, that same friend had left and was going to allow the person who had given him the death sentence, to carry it out.

Knowing he couldn't stay here forever, knowing he had to let people know what had happened, he slowly stood, collecting the doctrine and Lancelot's lead. He carefully tucked the letter inside his robes. He didn't want to share it with anyone. It was too personal. Too final. As if he was accepting his friend's death. "Come on, boy," he called out. Without a further word he walked out the door and made his way down the dimly lit streets towards his house.

"James, there you are," Euphemia greeted as her son walked through the door. She frowned as her eyes travelled over her son. At his downcast expression, the dog and, more importantly, who was missing. "James, where's Sirius?"

"He's," James started in a shaky voice, his fingers running across the doctrine. He looked down at Lancelot, before taking a breath. "He left this," he finally managed, as he held out the thick, bound book.

"What?"

"James, what are you talking about?" Lily said, taking a step forward.

"He's gone to take…" James paused again, running a hand through his hair. "He's gone to take down Voldemort."

"What?! Why the hell would he do that?" Fleamont exclaimed.

"Because he's Sirius," Euphemia said quietly. "James, how do you know?"

"He left this," James said in a near whisper as he held out the original, short note. He watched his mother read it, her eyes growing bright as she traced over the handwriting with her shaking fingers. "My brave boy," she whispered. "My brave, brave boy. I knew he would do something like this. I knew he would go without saying goodbye."

"Mum?"

"I wouldn't have let him go, would you?"

James slowly shook his head. "He left this," he said as he handed the doctrine to his mother.

"What is it?" Euphemia asked.

"It's our strategy to defeat Voldemort," James explained. "I haven't had a chance to probably look at it but…"

"He was young when he wrote this part," Euphemia said distantly.

"What?" James said as he walked over to the table.

"I doubt he was much more than fourteen," Euphemia replied, her hand running over the text.

"How do you know?" James replied, as he stared down at the page. It still looked like Sirius' handwriting, perhaps slightly different, but still neat and cursive.

"The way he's joined his letters. It shows me the writer had been taught cursive handwriting but was still developing their style. I also remember Sirius' handwriting, it is quite beautiful, but this is less developed and mature than the letters he used to write to us after we adopted him," Euphemia explained.

"It makes sense," James said tiredly.

"Why?" Fleamont interjected.

"A couple of weeks ago Sirius and I were talking. He mentioned he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't at war. He was basically at war with his family his whole life. Even after we adopted him, the wizarding world was at war. Then the bastard kidnapped him. After he escaped, all he's been working towards is defeating Voldemort and trying to bring peace," James said in a tight voice, looking away for a moment.

"Fudge," Fleamont growled.

"Darling," Euphemia said, laying a hand on her husband's shoulder. "You can't, he'll expect you."

"Mum…" James said trailing off. "Crouch tried to get a restraining order against you."

"And Fudge drove my boy away, leaving him with no other option than to do what he has done. Do you think I'm going to take that lightly!"

"No, but…"

"We need to be careful for Sirius' sake. I'm guessing whatever he's doing, he needs the spotlight off him," Lily cut in. She watched her husband nod.

"James what are you going to do?"

"I, I don't know," James said, shaking his head "Sirius has been working on this his whole life. It is his plan, not mine. I know and understand why he had to go, but…"

"Why did he go?" Lily asked.

James sank down onto the sofa, letting his head fall into his hands. "Voldemort is immortal," he said simply.

Whatever reply Lily had been expecting, this was not one of them. "What?" she managed.

"He has created Horcruxes."

"What is a Horcrux?"

"Some very dark magic," Fleamont said, staring down at his son. "Voldemort has split his soul and embedded it into another object."

"Six other objects," James said, avoiding eye contact, upholding his friend's wish. "Sirius knows he's top of the Ministry's and Voldemort's hit list. He knew he had to get out before the war started."

"But to take on the Horcruxes alone!" Fleamont exclaimed.

"I know dad, do you think I like it!" James growled, as he stood up and started pacing. "I should have known. A couple of days ago he started talking about…" He stopped and paused for a moment. If he mentioned everything Sirius had said then the questions would be asked, questions he could not answer. "He was just being so final, as if he knew he was going to disappear. I should have known but, ... I don't know."

"What would you have done? Kidnapped him?" Lily said with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, if that would have helped!" James retorted. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Now I have to deliver my best friend's work. Something he has been working on his whole life."

"You'll be fine," Euphemia said with a smile. "We just need to work on bringing Sirius home."