Author's Notes:
Hi everyone! I've decided to post the second chapter the same day as the first since I've already written it. I'm hoping that seeing where all of this is going will help convince you to keep reading!
If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm hoping that each chapter title indicates what different choice a character made. For example, in chapter one James kept his wand on him instead of throwing it on the couch like he did in the actual story. In this one, Sirius stays with James. I want to show how these choices affect (or don't affect!) the outcome of the story.
Thanks for making it to the second chapter and for reading Ignoring Destiny! Please like and review!
Chapter Two: Sirius Stays
Sirius and Poppy appeared in front of the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade supporting the unconscious James just as the sun was beginning to rise over the mountains in the east. Poppy used her wand to levitate James a foot or so off the ground so they could move more freely. They looked at each other before beginning the long trek up to the castle, James levitating in front of them.
They walked quickly because, even though James was no longer bleeding, they still had no idea to what extent his head was injured in the explosion. Sirius' mind was still preoccupied with finding Peter, with figuring out how the Potters' hiding place had been discovered. Only Peter could have divulged that information which means that Peter could be seriously injured or even dead.
"Poppy, is Dumbledore at the castle? I need to speak with him when we arrive."
"I'm not sure. When he sent Hagrid and I out, he left to go somewhere but said he would be back. He didn't tell us where he was going or how long he would be gone."
"I think someone else could be hurt. I'm not sure how Voldemort could have found James and Lily without harming their secret keeper." Sirius said, more so speaking his thoughts out loud than making conversation to Poppy.
"Unless the secret keeper was working with You-Know-Who." Poppy responded, glancing at Sirius. "Weren't you the Potters' secret keeper?"
Sirius shook his head and looked Poppy in the eyes, "No. They wanted me to but I convinced them to use someone else. I was worried I was too obvious of a choice. This is all my fault."
"If you weren't secret keeper, how is this your fault?"
"If I had been secret keeper, they wouldn't have been found." Sirius replied.
Poppy shook her head, "If You-Know-Who really did go after their secret keeper and tortured them, then that would have been you. He would have found them regardless."
Sirius' eyes darkened; this wasn't making any sense to him. Peter would have done exactly what he would have…right? "He wouldn't have because I would have died rather than tell him what he wanted to know."
"Then you're a stronger man than most."
A stronger man than most. Those words reverberated in Sirius' mind as he tried to piece everything together as they walked through the entrance hall of Hogwarts and headed towards the hospital wing. Everything in the castle was eerily quiet; the air was still and the sun bright in the windows of the November morning. Cold fall air billowing about, bringing fallen leaves with it.
Sirius looked over at Poppy as they entered the hospital wing and walked to a bed close to the matron's office, he wondered if she would be able to help James, to heal him, or if he was going to lose another friend. He helped Poppy lay James on the bed and then fell into a chair, putting his head in his hands.
There had been a spy in the Order. Someone no one suspected who was leaking information back to Voldemort and his supporters. Someone who knew where James and Lily were hiding. Someone that no one suspected. No one… The thought came to Sirius quickly; the revelation was both painful and clear. Peter had been the spy. Peter sold out James and Lily. Peter was in league with Voldemort. Peter is still out there, somewhere. I need to find him.
Sirius jumped up, scaring Poppy who was bent over using her wand to examine James. She looked up at him, "What are you doing? Sit down. I'm going to give you a calming drought as soon as I'm done with this examination."
"Poppy, I figured it out. I need to go find Peter. He's been the spy all along," Sirius said quickly as he began running towards the door. But before he could reach it, the door burst open and three people stepped into the room, wands pointed directly at Sirius.
"Sirius Black! You are under arrest with the charge of aiding and abetting He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in his murder of Lily J. Potter and his attempted murder of James Andrew Potter and Harry James Potter. Drop your wand and please come with us."
Sirius held his hands up and dropped his wand, "You've made a mistake. It's Peter Pettigrew you want!"
Dumbledore walked into the room and moved out of the way of the two aurors. He fixed his blue eyes on Sirius as he peered over his half-moon spectacles, "Sirius, you were their secret keeper. This was no secret amongst those of us who knew where they were hiding. You are the only person would could have told Voldemort where they were hiding with Harry. Please, don't fight the aurors an—"
Sirius cut Dumbledore off, pleading, "No, I wasn't their secret keeper. It was all a rouse so no one would really know who they had chosen to keep him safe. He's a spy, I understand that now." The aurors took Sirius' wand and bound his hands with a wave their own. "Please, Dumbledore, you need to believe me. Peter is out there and I need to find him! He did this to James, he sold them out, all of them!"
Dumbledore watched as the aurors drug Sirius out of the room, "Stop!"
The aurors looked at Dumbledore and the one who spoke before said, "I'm sorry, Dumbledore, this isn't your call. We have orders to bring him to the ministry for questioning. He's looking at several years in Azkaban, maybe even life."
Dumbledore frowned, "This is true, Kingsley, but if he is an innocent man—will he be given a trial?"
The man Dumbledore addressed as Kingsley frowned, "I'm not sure if he'll get a trial. Crouch has been expediting most of You-Know-Who's followers straight to Azkaban after questioning."
"And if we can prove that what Sirius says is true?"
"It would take a lot to prove that, Dumbledore, and you know that. Using Sirius' memories—that wouldn't prove anything. A skilled wizard can alter their memories magically, or have someone else to do it. If he was in league with You-Know-Who, well, his memories can't be trusted. We would need James Potter's memories and testimony."
"What about Veritaserum?" Sirius asked, "I'll take that! That will show I'm telling the truth, right?"
"I wish I could say yes. But, again, a skilled wizard would have taken the precaution of building an immunity to the potion or, more likely, taken the antidote ahead of time. You could have already taken it." Kingsley replied.
"Well, how long does it last?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"If it was brewed well, by a skilled potioneer and, depending on the batch made, it could be for the life of the person in question. We couldn't know until after Veritaserum was administered and someone could fake the effects of the potion." Kingsley looked at Dumbledore, "You would need someone else to testify. You, if you have knowledge, James, or even if you found Peter Pettigrew. But nothing from Sirius in his defense will work. I'm sorry. It's out of my hands."
Dumbledore nodded, "I understand, Kingsley." Dumbledore turned to Sirius, "I will do everything in my power to get to the bottom of this issue, Sirius. Where was Peter in hiding at? I will start there."
"He got a flat in muggle London. I have the address written down at my house. Or Remus would have it. He could take you there." Sirius paled, realization dawning on him, "Does Remus know? Someone needs to contact him. Please, James can't wake up by himself. Not with Lily…"
"I will contact him, Sirius. Please, cooperate with the aurors until I can get to you." Dumbledore assured Sirius.
Sirius nodded and allowed the aurors to take him away as he looked back at his friend one last time.
As Sirius was led away, Dumbledore turned his attention to Poppy who was now pouring potions down James' throat and twirling her wand in the air above him.
"What is the extent of his injuries, Poppy? Will he pull through?"
Poppy began circling her wand over James' head, muttering incantations. Once she finished, she turned to Dumbledore and replied, "He has severe injuries to his head and brain as well as a fracture in his left leg. His foot was completely crushed by the roof that fell on him. I've given him skele-gro so those should be right as rain soon. The injuries to his brain, though. I've had to put him into a coma for the time being. I won't know of the extent of the damage until he's conscious and I can do a cognitive work up. He could have some impairments; his magic might not recover. I just don't know. We may have to move him to Saint Mungos if he doesn't improve. What about the boy, Harry, where will he go until I can get James back to himself?"
"He is being taken care of. He's in the care of his mother's family," Dumbledore replied, smiling.
Poppy frowned, "Wasn't Lily a Muggleborn?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Harry is with muggles?"
"That is correct," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he looked at Poppy over his halfmoon spectacles, "Professor McGonagall also asked me this question earlier. Harry is where he needs to be, where he is safest."
"But, wouldn't he be safer with our kind? With someone who understands him? You-Know-Who is dead, he can't get to Harry now."
"Sometimes, Poppy, things aren't always as they seem." With that, Dumbledore walked out of the hospital wing leaving behind a very confused matron.
