Author's note: Please be aware that I own ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, everything, except my character(s) I place in here, belongs to the wonderful Lady J.K. Rowling. This is a Sirius Black/OC Fanfiction, or at least it will get to that point. I do have terrible spelling sometimes, but I do my best. However, if I misspell something that I have not caught I do appreciate having a correction mentioned. But I love reading Fanfiction's from here, and I hope I can bring others the same joys they have brought me, I figured it was time I give it a shot.

This WAS, my FIRST Fanfiction that I had the courage enough to put up for all to read. I started small and did my best to update as soon, and as much, as I could. I know tend to forget things so try to have some patience, even though I sometimes fail at having some myself. *cough, cough*Please Enjoy the story, for the pages have yet to turn for new, or returning, readers of journeys untold. Also, please be aware that this story is 100% mine. This is a work of mine that I did under a different account of fanfiction under the username Nattie8516 and now shares the same username under this Fanfiction site as well. So rest assured, I am the same person and same owner of this work and other's I shall be posting on this new site as well.

Chapter 24

June 1981

It was growing darker, people were going missing by the numbers each day, creatures were acting strange and unusual, everyone was beginning to choose sides, even against family and friends.

Mellena and Emma were getting more worried by the days that passed, something wasn't right. Even though their Graduation was coming up they knew something wasn't right. Something dangerous was heading their way. Dumbledore had explained to the girls that with all of their extra credits and excelling grades along with advanced classes given to them, a show of a challenge the teachers were curious to see from them, that they were given the option to take their N. 's and O.W.L's early an graduate a year before schedule.

August 1981

Severus had been hired as the new Potions Master to replace Slughorn. As he began his preparations for his classes for Potions Master starting in September, he'd heard rumors of a 'Lost Prophecy' given to Dumbledore by a woman named Sybill Trelawney, who had been hired as the Deviations Professor the year prior. Rumors had said Dumbledore had left the Interview a bit put out and concerned but had hired the woman on the spot after she had given Dumbledore a Prophecy, one that shook him to the bones.

Severus had later spoken to Mellena and was glad when she had given him the information freely, not realizing he was about to betray her deep-seated trust, she had told Severus all that Dumbledore had told her and sadly, her trust had been misplaced with Snape that very moment, he'd taken that information back to the Dark Lord.

"YOU LIED TO ME!" Voldemort screamed, "Crusio!"

Screams flooded through the Lestrange Manor as he tortured his Spy.

Peter Pettigrew had lied to the Dark Lord and for that he would be punished, "I'm sorry! I'll do anything, pl-please don't kill me!" Peter begged for his life. This was his breaking point. He wanted to live, he didn't want to die and at this moment Peter would do anything to keep himself alive, even betray his family.

And he had done just that.

Peter had fest up everyone's location he'd known of up until a few months prior, even going as far as saying he could do the work faster himself if he was released and given the chance to find all of their true locations, "You can send someone with me if you wish, j-just p-p-pl-please don't kill me! I'll do anything! ANYTHING!"

"I want that Prophecy! I want their locations, ALL OF THEM! Every Order member you know of!" Voldemort turned on his heels swiftly, leaving Peter lying on the floor a drooling mess from the painful torture. Voldemort's eyes glowed red with pure rage at being misled and lied too by Pettigrew.

Severus shivered as he listened to the torture from upstairs, he didn't know who the rat of the Order was, but he sure didn't envy them, not ever. All he knew was that this spy had lied directly to the Dark Lord, fear swelled up inside him, 'Gabrielle… If he finds us, we're all dead.'

"Severus, get me that Prophecy!" Voldemort shouted, vanishing at the command to gather more about the Prophecy.

Fear struck Severus harder a few weeks later when he'd finally gotten word on what the Prophecy was, fearful of what would happen to himself and Gabrielle if found, he'd given the information gathered back to Voldemort.

"So, it is a child, born at the end of July will be my downfall, when was this Prophecy made, Severus?"

"Last year in 1980, Sybill had been hired after giving the Prophecy. My Lord, what do you intend to do? To the child?" Severus asked, he had a general idea whose children were born at the end of July and he was fearful for the Potters, for the child. For Lily.

"Why, kill him of course... Yaxley, have you found anything on the infants born in July?"

"There were two, my lord. A Potter boy and one to the Longbottom's." Avery said, informing the Dark Lord with a wicked grin towards the blond man who glared at him with deadly intentions. Everyone knew that at some point Avery's big mouth was going to get him killed, whether by the Order, Auror, or a Death Eater. Or Voldemort himself.

Voldemort thought long and hard about the choices, the only thing he knew about these babies were the days of their birth and their blood statues, "The Potter boy,"

"But my Lord, he's a half-blood. Wouldn't it make more sense to choose Longbottom?" Severus asked quickly. He felt like the worst type of scum for even suggesting a different child, an infant nonetheless, but he had to try something then and there, but it had all been in vein as Voldemort turned on him swiftly, "You dare question me, Severus!"

Severus quickly covered his mistake and steeled himself, "No, my Lord... Simple curiosity is all." Why had he decided to take that information to him? Why had he betrayed Gabby's trust? In doing so he had betrayed Lily and condemned a child to death and the parents. He knew Lily's son could have been an option, so why had he taken the information to the Dark Lord? He felt like such a fool.

"I chose the Potter boy for my own reasons, Severus. You may go, we have pests to hunt down and kill." And go, Severus indeed went. Straight to Dumbledore in panic and fear.

Lily was in danger and he'd be damned if he let her suffer for his stupidity. Though, in fear of being taken by the Order, arrested, interrogated and then tossed into Azkaban for being a Death Eater, he jotted down the horrifying information and slipped into Dumbledore's office, placing the letter of information on his desk while Dumbledore was away at a late dinner with his granddaughter. A painful thought struck him deep and wounded his heart greatly as he realized he'd not only condemned Lily and James, but an innocent child. But he'd also betrayed Gabrielle. In Severus's betrayal, he'd done the very thing he knew he'd sworn he'd never allow to happen to her. He'd hurt her, by betraying her best friend and his own. Severus rushed back to his office for some peace, but he'd never be graced with peace again in his miserable life, because the person he found standing in his empty classroom was none other than a smiling James Potter. "Potter? What do you want?"

James nodded, knowing very well Snape had a right to be suspicious and cold towards him, so he allowed his attitude, "I actually came on Lily's behalf, Severus. Uh... Well, you know we had a son last year in July," he began.

Severus sighed with annoyance, he'd rolled his eyes and moved to his desk to begin looking over the list of students that would be attending in September.

Taking a breath in, James Potter sucked up his pride at what he was about to do, something that was truly long over do. "Lily misses you Severus, she wants her best friend back. However, we both know that as long as you and I have our issues it'll never truly be alright. So, I am sorry I was such a terrible person to you. I shouldn't have been as cruel as I was, even as a child and growing up I should still have known better, I did know better, and I shouldn't have been the way I was towards you... I don't care if you don't take the apology, because I know it'll never change that I, and the rest of us, were absolutely cruel to you. We bullied you and humiliated you, I don't honestly expect to ever be forgiven and I will never blame. I just ask that we both try to look past our terrible past for Lily. I'm doing this because you not only deserve an apology but because Lily has just found out that she is pregnant again... And she would like you to be the Godfather, and I for one agree. You deserve some happiness in your life, and I know Lily has always been a part of your life that made your days happier. After losing Gabby I couldn't imagine how lost you must have felt with not having Lily around like you two had always been. And that is my fault." James said, standing before the new potions master giving a heart fill apology, fully embarrassed that he'd ever been as cruel as he'd been towards the man that stood staring at him in shock.

Severus was dumbstruck, shocked at what he was experiencing, James Potter was apologizing, whole heartedly, and asking on both his and Lily's behalf to be the Godfather of the second child. Something in him broke, he stood from his chair and walked around in front of his desk, eyes level with James, the poor man probably thought Severus was going to slug him a good one, but that was far from Severus's mind. "James you need to hide. Hide yourself, Lily, Harry and Emma. Hide all of you. Don't argue just do it. When you get home, pack a few things. Find a home that no one would think to look for you and hide, somewhere in the countryside, anywhere. Don't even tell me where you are. Trust only Dumbledore." He wasn't meaning to frighten James, but he had either way.

"What's going on? why would you tell us to hide?"

"Just trust me, you asked me for your forgiveness but your right, I don't know if I could ever forgive any of you. However, you've asked me to be the next child's' Godfather, now my first act as the Godfather, I am begging you to take your family, and hide them... James, I must ask one thing of you before you leave." Severus was panicking, he was scared and trembling. He was once again betraying a powerful Wizard, a dark wizard that had found beauty in torture. He knew if he was caught, and he probably would be, he'd be tortured then slaughtered by either side. Severus Snape had no Haven now. No sanctuary for his soul.

James saw the panic and fear in him, and it had finally clicked that he was not only warning him to save his family.

By doing this one act for the Potters, Severus Snape had just betrayed the Dark Lord.

Realizing the danger that Severus could be trying to save them from, James nodded knowing he'd try to do what he was going to ask of him.

"Please, when you run, take Gabrielle with you."

James was shocked back to reality, "Severus, Gabrielle is dead, we all buried her-" He'd stopped mid-sentence as Severus shook his head, "Gabrielle's identity was changed and concealed by myself, and a few willing friends to save her life at the last second... Gabrielle Marlene McKinnon, is Mellena Dumbledore." James stood wide eyed, his mouth opened in utter shock, "Why-why didn't she or Dumbledore tell us? Surely he knew!"

Scuffing at James now, Severus sighed out his frustration. "Of course, he knew it was her James! He saw through our ruse the second I escorted her here under the name I constructed for her! Then, he adopted her, got her actual documents to fool the Ministries system. Don't blame them, if anyone is to be blamed, it's me... I-I love her, James. I am begging you, please, take her with you..."

James couldn't believe it, Gabrielle was alive, and Severus was confiding in him when he could simply play him off and abandon the girl, abandon them both.

Both James and Severus knew he could never do that, he could never bring himself to abandon Gabby. James wouldn't have cared if Mellena was truly Gabby in disguise, because he'd still had taken the girl with them, simply because he and Lily would know that Severus Snape did in fact deserve a happiness in his life, and if 'Mellena' gave him that happiness they'd happily take her with them. "Of course, Mellena or Gabby, it doesn't matter who she is, Severus. We'll take her with us, make sure she's packed by tonight. Take her to 12 Grimmduald Place. Lily, Emma and I will pick her up there. My grandparents left my parents a place in the countryside, we should be safe there for a while." He watched Severus release a breath he'd been holding.

"I'll have her there tonight. Eight sharp."

With that confirmed James rushed out, heading right for Dumbledore's office, "Albus, we have a problem."

"I know, I just finished reading the letter left here, Mellena go pack I'm taking you somewhere safe."

"I've already told Severus I would take her with Lily and Emma. I have a place out in the countryside." Mellena and Dumbledore looked between one another in worry then back to James, "You've spoken to Severus?"

James nodded to the two, there was no point in lying, simply because he was too frightened to try to for anyone at that moment, otherwise, he may have just left her identity to herself, "Yes, I know Gabby, Severus explained. It's alright, we can move you, Lily, Emma and Harry between the country home and wherever Albus has the other safe houses."

Albus nodded, knowing that would be the safer way about hiding them all, "We'll move you all around. We'll use the Fidelus Charm to hide you all at each safe house. Now go pack, child."

With that, Gabby flooed herself home and began packing in a panic as Albus turned his attention back to James with a heavy sigh, "James, Severus told you this? He told you to hide yourselves?"

At this James nodded, curious as to what was going on, that was all Albus Dumbledore needed and nodded to the new father, "Go, pack your family." Albus said, waiting until James left; the informative letter nearly crushing in his hand and began his search for Severus Snape. He'd caught him on his way out of Hogwarts, body binding his new Potions Master and sent him crashing on a rock side outside of the school grounds for Dumbledore to witness Severus's panic, fearful for his life and others.

"No! Please, don't kill me!" He cried, staring at Dumbledore's drawn wand pointed at him, a hard face set in stone cold as the Headmaster glared at him.

"That Prophecy spoke of a boy born at the end of July, what have you done, Severus! By turning over that information to the Dark Lord, you have betrayed Gabrielle, the girl you've continued to say you've loved! And the very woman you've loved since you were a child, your best friend, her child and little sister! You've just condemned them all! An entire family, Severus!"

His panicky purely visible, Severus wanted to make as many things right before he was killed, or worse, turned over to Azkaban. "And I'm trying to make it right! Save them! Please, hide them... Hide them all!" Severus begged. Unmoved from his kneeling position. He was at the mercy at one of the most powerful Wizards in the Wizarding world that wasn't Voldemort. "I intend to Severus, but what can you offer me in exchange for sparing not only your life? But saving them as well."

"Anything. Anything you ask of me... Just please, d-don't let him kill them. He may only just kill the boy, the others as well, I know James and Lily will die for their son, like any parent would, Emma would die before those three are harmed, but he'll do worse to her! To Gabrielle! Please, don't let them suffer for my fear and betrayal. Especially Lily and Gabrielle."

"Your allegiance and a spy in the midst of Voldemort. I want to know everything."

At Severus's nod and agreement, Snape had just sold his soul from one Devil to another. He'd agreed only to save the lives of Lily and her son and Gabrielle. Though Lily and Harry were in more danger than the rest, they were priority for now, but once they found out about Gabrielle being alive Severus was dead anyways, because he had claimed to be the one that had killed the last survivor of the McKinnon line.

September 26th, 1981

James hadn't given up Gabrielle to anyone, he'd kept it between him and the only others that knew; the Dumbledore's, Severus and himself and they had survived for a month in hiding and it had so far worked. But Sirius was beginning to suspect someone was catching on to their movements and to him being the Secret Keeper to the Potters and Mellena, who had gone to Aberfourth's for a while, deciding it would be safer if Sirius didn't have so many bodies to watch. Emma had gone with Mellena, telling her sister and Fiancé that she would meet them at the next safe house in a month.

"I think we need to switch keepers." Sirius finally said at the dinner table, everyone had frozen mid-meal and gave him a worried look, "I think someone is catching on to us, to me. We need a new Keeper for you, and I vote Peter."

"Why not Remus?" James asked, confused as to why Sirius would recommend Peter. James adored Peter, but he was never one to fight, not like Sirius or Remus.

Sirius sighed, he couldn't tell them that he still suspected Remus of being the traitor, he'd be shot down again and very much scolded by his bride to be when they'd inform her of the change in Keepers. No doubt she'd be a little upset that he'd be the decoy, not to mention that it was his own idea, "Because, I'm becoming too conspicuous, Remus even more so. Peter may not look like much, but he's the last person they'd suspect to be the Keeper, unlike myself or Remus. They won't think twice and with his Animagus being a rat and mine being a dog he'll be better concealed. That and I can play the Decoy. Like you said James, Peter is unlikely to be involved in something like this, therefore he's the most logical choice now that the Death Eaters are upping the steaks with finding you all. " At this reasoning they all agreed, they'd always trusted Peter and the boys, always. So why should they change their trust now?

They never knew that this was bound to be their last mistake, "We'll do the change at the next safe house transfer when we get to Godric's Hollow."

October 26th, 1981

Sirius walked around the home, checking the house and the grounds as they waited for Peter to show up, "Is everyone settled in? Where's Emma?" He'd been stunned a bit when a body collided with his back, arms around his neck and legs wrapped around his waist as a soft voice whispered into his ear, "Right here, Husband to be."

James and Lily smiled at the interaction, they couldn't wait to see their wedding, in almost a month they'd be married, in a month Lily would be saying goodbye to her baby sister and seeing a grown woman, but she knew that even as Emma would walk down that aisle, she'd always see the bouncy haired deep green eyed three-year-old that would beg her to pick her up and kiss her all over her face.

Unfortunately, Fate was not to be so kind this time around to the family. In fact, Fate was about to deal out a cruel stack of cards for the family to see far too late to save themselves.

The Traitor and Death.

"Sirius! Sorry I'm late, got held up late at a job." Peter rushed up, out of breath, "You asked me to come here, why, what's wrong?"

"You're the new Secret Keeper, do you, Peter Pettigrew, accept this station of the Potter's Secret Keeper?"

Peter was shocked, this was the last thing he'd expected to be happening tonight. His gut began turning at the treachery he was about to unleash upon his friends, his family. Peter took a deep breath, "I, Peter Pettigrew, accept the station as Secret Keeper to the Potters. With my life I will defend and safe keep them." With every word his heart broke. Because in the end, he was the only one who knew what he truly was. A rat, a traitor, and a murderer.

Everyone smiled weakly to him, giving his life for theirs was the last thing they'd want, but they were grateful nonetheless.

Sirius let out a breath of relief, he'd hoped it wouldn't come to his life lost, "Someone's been catching on and I wasn't risking them. You're least to be suspected as the Keeper than myself or Remus. I'll be the Decoy though, so either way you should all still be safe. All you have to do is watch the house, make sure nothing and no one gets in through the charm and that nothing strange goes on. If you are attacked, send out your Patronus or use the coin to alert everyone and the Order will be here as fast as we can. No one, but us here know of this switch, so let's try to keep it that way. Be safe, my friend." Sirius hugged Peter tight, hoping it wouldn't be the last they see one another alive, then moved to the rest. Kissing Harry's brow, hugging James, kissed Lily's cheek and finally Emma. He didn't want to let go of her, resting his forehead to hers with a deep wishful sigh, "Stay alive, Love. No matter what."

Had Sirius known that would have been the last time he would hold them all together, he'd have stayed and turned Pettigrew over on the spot.

October 31st, 1981

Sirius had been gone for five days with no word coming from him, and probably wouldn't have any word from him until they transferred to the next safe house. Though Emma couldn't help but take notice of how strange Peter had been acting since he'd taken up as the Keeper, he may have been jumpy by nature but that was just him. But she knew something was different and she couldn't quit figure out as to what was strange about him. Almost like he wasn't himself, even more so of the morning of October 31.

"You alright there, Wormtail? Would you like some Coffee?" Emma asked him that morning.

Peter was sitting in an armchair, his eyes wandering everywhere, like he'd see a ghost pop out from around the corner, or worse the Boogie-Man, "Uh-uh, y-yeah, yes please. Thank you." He accepted the warm cup of morning caffeine as Lily and James walked down still in their Pajamas yawning.

Lily carried a still sleepy Harry, who seemed to be fussy upon waking up and not wanting to eat his breakfast for Lily. Lily sighed but held all the more patience for her son, "James, care to give it a try?" She asked her husband with a bit of a tired laugh after fifteen more minutes of Harry's fussing.

James had smiled, set his coffee and Daily Prophet down and moved to sit next to Harry, took the spoon and did the cute and funny, "Here's the airplane, Zoom," Harry had laughed, smiled and clapped his hands and ate his breakfast just like that, finishing in a little over five minutes later.

Emma smiled and giggled to herself as she leaned against the counters, warm mug in hand and dressed in her casual black leggings, Gabby's favorite oversized red knitted sweater and a gold, red and orange scarf Molly had made for her last Christmas and her boot socks fit for October weather. She'd let her long, dark red, hair wave down her back. Through her eyes continued to travel over to Peter who still looked as though he was panicking on the inside as he watched the family cooing over their one-year old son.

'I wish I knew what was wrong. Something is definitely going on.' Emma smiled, nodded her head a bit at Peter when his eyes moved over to her, her smile hadn't reached her eyes and that was when Emma saw it. Fear, jealousy, and a look of pure evil and delight of deviousness.

Peter knew then that Emma had figured him out, a wicked grin spread across his face as Emma's heart stopped. He's hand had slowly pulled his wand from its place and 'playfully' flicked it towards the family. His wand directed straight at Harry, freezing her instantly in her stop, a look of utter horror on her face and the couple was too distracted by their adorable son to notice anything was amiss.

***Thank you for the Reviews! You are all so wonderful and unimaginably encouraging! I do plan on having more for you all to read! Thank you all for keeping me going, I know if I can finish this, then I can finish just about anything, on here and in life! THANK YOU!***

"The story now comes to a close, a prophecy that started it all. Yet, there's always more to one's life than an ending, is that of a beginning to a new story to come to a final point."-quote by Nattie8516 :)