Disclaimer: Not ours, not yours and not the Weasley Twins (they come in their own category), so even if you do try and plagiarise JK Rowling's work you will be hunted down…ok maybe not like that.

Dedication: Dedicated to…hmm…paper and pens

A/N: Hey guys! Every part of this (except this Author's Note) was written by Marauder Madness. All her work here, not mine. And thanks for all your reviews! I'm trying to get MM to put this story on her page too, Hurry up Prongs!


Difference,

That was all Sirius could feel right now, a void of something that had been lost, like a deep chasm cutting through his confused mind, but he couldn't put his finger on it as he motored through the sky on his black Harley Davidson. He cranked up the speed and drove to the address of Godric's Hollow, muttering to himself if this was some sort of premonition.

James and Sirius were like brothers, sometimes they could feel what the other was experiencing and right now Sirius had a mighty big feeling of anguish and unrelenting sadness. James had lost something or someone dear to him and Sirius was going to make sure he would be with his adopted brother in his time of need.

Sirius' thoughts turned to Peter, was he all right? Because if he wasn't it would be putting a whole family at risk. Sirius new he should trust Peter but he turned up the speed gears on his bike anyway, rocketing now towards the Potters house.

As he descended through the clouds, his eyes squinting and darting around, he finally caught sight of Godric's Hollow.

What he found would be burnt into his memory forever.

Smouldering wood walls were cracking under the pressure of the roof, a door lay destroyed and forlorn, hanging off one hinge to the entry to the once beautiful house. Lily's prized flowerbeds drooped, scolded and in complete ruin while a piece of sharp glass fell out of one of the many smashed windows.

Oh god.

Sirius landed the bike and took everything in, never blinking just staring at the shambled house, and then he remembered – James – Lily – Harry!

He snapped back to reality and charged blindly into the house, ignoring the black scorch marks on the walls, torn sofa and the burning banister, those things were not important. The only thing that was is if he found the Potters alive.

Climbing the stairs seemed to take an age, his legs protested but his mind pushed through even though he was deathly afraid of what he might find at the top.

He immediately turned right, out of instinct, this was Harry's room, this was where Sirius would play with the infant day after day, annoying his father because Harry managed to say 'Paddy' before 'Prongs'.

He was afraid.

Afraid of what might be concealed behind the door. If the person who did this to the Potters could stoop so low as to try and kill an innocent child Sirius would swear he had seen everything the world had to offer.

Pushing open the door he stepped inside.

Oh god.

What he watched now would override the images of the burning house because what Sirius saw now would never ever leave him.

James clutched Harry in his arms while stooped over his wife, tear stains glazing his cheeks and his face pressed into Lily's chest, a hand gripping his wife's shoulder as unconscious shuddering sobs racked his frame.

Oh James, what has happened?

Please don't be dead, not dead, please! He thought franticly, unshed tears building up in his eyes as he walked over to the three people he loved the most.

Sirius fell to his knees beside the broken family and gently pried James away from Lily. He felt James' pulse and was relieved some what to find that it was beating slowly under his shaking fingers.

He pulled Harry away from James' weakly protesting grip and was again relieved to find him breathing; at least the monster that did this didn't hurt an innocent child.

Lastly he turned to Lily, her angelic face was paler than Sirius expected and her vivid red hair was splayed around her. Sirius reached to her throat for a pulse – and found it ice cold, with no beating heart. She was gone.

Sirius felt the tears override him now; they spilled hot and furiously down his cheeks as he clutched his best friend and his wife.

Why had this happened?

Then it came rushing back to his brain, Peter, Peter did this, he sold them to Voldemort – he killed Lily and he nearly killed James and Harry.

Rage built up, this – this rat was going to pay. He was going to pay with his life and Sirius would be the one to do the deed, he would avenge the shattered family that lay before him – his family.

But he mustn't do it now. Not when they needed his help, so he took off his shoe and drew his wand and said Portus, the Ministry of Magic be damned, he would set up an illegal Portkey if they liked it or not.

Taking one last look around the collapsing house he grabbed the family and they were whisked away to St Mungos.


James blearily opened his eyes, whiteness glared into his face and he realised in a rush of fierce pain that everything hurt, his arms, his legs and his head, oh how his head hurt.

To stiff to do anything else he moaned and a blurry figure made its way to the edge of his bead and placed his glasses on his nose.

"Don't worry Mr Potter, you are quite safe," said a female voice of a Healer, a touch of genuine anguish in her voice.

James groaned again, he was feeling immensely sad at the moment, and then he remembered – Lily.

Tears filled his eyes again and he was dimly aware of the Healer looking down sadly at him and then walking out the room and quietly closing the door behind her.

James clutched the bleached covers; he was in St Mungos, he would be fine but not Lily. Then another thought hit him like a tidal wave – Harry! What would Harry be like growing up without a mother? What would happen with the family he and Lily had worked so hard to put together?

The tears flowed like rain now.

Then the second stage set in, loneliness, as he turned on his side he saw a green vase, the exact same colour as Lily's eyes, but he would never see those eyes again, then he saw the curtains flapping in the breeze, a vivid red shade, like Lily's hair.

He would never be able to run his hands through that soft hair again, never be able to tickle her on the beaten up old couch that she insisted they kept, or see her nuzzle her face into Harry's tummy that caused him to laugh out in glee.

James shook in grief; he had never felt so helpless before in his life, he had never felt so much pain and overriding guilt all at the one time.

But he would be strong for Harry; he would protect his son like nothing he had ever protected before, because they would survive together, as a family.

James bated his tears, eyes stinging he closed them as sleep took over, along with it the horrifying nightmares of Lily, on the ground – asleep but never to awake.

But just as his mind was in the last stages of shutting down he thought to himself, if the world shatters around you, the only thing you can do is put it back together piece by piece.

And that is what he intended to do, for Harry and for Lily and for himself.


A/N: would you please be so kind as to review?