Disclaimer: This world and all its characters belong to JK Rowling. I wrote this purely for entertainment purposes, and have no wish to sell, copyright or otherwise claim any of this content.

A/N: Some people may feel that this story ought to be rated M: however, I have read the guidelines surrounding these ratings and have decided that T is the rating best suited to this story. If you are sensitive to language, death, grief and fighting, consider the rating M. As with all my stories, I will leave notes on each chapter on my profile page rather than at the bottom of each chapter, and will update them regularly. Please read them if you are interested in my thought process. Enjoy.

James paced in the sitting room, trying simultaneously to get Harry to sleep and to call Sirius through his mirror. Lily was upstairs getting ready for bed, and it was James' turn to put Harry down for the night: they switched every night so that someone always did the dishes and someone always had Harry. Tonight, however, Harry had decided to be difficult, and James had been trying to get him to settle down for the past half hour with limited success – and then Mercury had arrived at the window with a special addition of the Daily Prophet. The article on the front page was the reason James was trying to call Sirius, but it was proving more difficult than he'd anticipated to call Sirius and calm Harry at the same time. As if to prove this, Harry chose that exact moment to squirm violently, making James drop the mirror. As he bent to pick it up, he accidentally flipped Harry upside down in his arms. Harry shrieked, and started laughing hysterically.

"Come on," James groaned. "You were almost asleep, Harry." Giving up on the walking, he flopped on the couch and held Harry firmly between his legs so that he could focus on calling Sirius. Harry, hiccuping, tried to grab the mirror, so James held it up out of his reach. "Come on, Padfoot. Why aren't you answering? Padfoot? Sirius Black!"

"James?" Lily appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a pair of loose silk pants and an old T-shirt James was pretty sure he'd seen on Mr. Evans three years ago. "What's going on? Why isn't Harry in bed yet?"

James grimaced, annoyed that he'd failed to get Harry asleep before Lily came to investigate. "Little bludger doesn't want to sleep." Harry giggled, and James rolled his eyes. Setting the mirror aside, he pulled Harry into his arms and gestured at the paper which lay on the coffee table. "Then that came. It says there was a raid in a muggle village by the werewolf pack Dumbledore has Remus stationed in. I was trying to contact Sirius, see if he'd heard, but he's not answering his mirror."

Lily frowned and descended the stairs, picking up the paper and settling in the chair that sat opposite the couch. James bounced Harry, watching Lily as she read. As her eyes moved down the paper, her mouth turned downwards and James experienced a sinking feeling in his chest. When he'd known her in school, she'd never frowned like that. It was the war, he knew, but he still felt like he should be able to provide a life that was better. Lily's eyes reached the bottom of the page and she stood, setting it down on the table and coming to sit beside James. "Sirius isn't answering his mirror?" she asked, taking Harry and leaning against James' shoulder. They both knew that, unless he was in mortal peril, Sirius would always answer his mirror. James shook his head and tried again, more firmly this time.

"Sirius Black!"

"Prongs?" James let out a frustrated sigh and beside him Lily breathed a little sigh of relief. Sirius yawned, and for a moment all they could see was his mouth. "It's the middle of the bloody night."

Lily frowned again, but this time it was in confusion. James grinned, shaking his head. "It's only seven, Padfoot."

Sirius' head disappeared, and then there was a startled yelp. "Shit, Prongs, you're right! I was supposed to watch Nymphadora this evening before checking in on Wormtail." Sirius' face reappeared, looking frantic. "Andy's going to kill me, she was going to take tonight off with Ted!"

James snorted. "Well, I can't say I envy you." His eyes drifted down to the Prophet sitting innocently on the table and he grew serious again. "Did you hear about Greyback?"

Sirius shook his head, looking concerned. "No, what happened?"

"There was an evening addition of the Prophet, you probably got it. Apparently there was a raid in a village near where Moony's staying. Have you heard from him?"

"No. I don't suppose you have?"

James shook his head. For a moment there was silence, and then James said, "I'm going to check on him, Padfoot. I need to know that he's okay."

Lily glanced at him sharply, and in the mirror Sirius was shaking his head. "No, James, what if Voldemort –"

"He won't. He's probably busy with some other raid, or congratulating Greyback for a well planned attack." Beside him, Harry started whimpering and Lily immediately started shushing him, rubbing his back. "James –" she hissed, but Sirius' voice interrupted her.

"No, Prongs. I'll go. You need to stay there with Harry and Lily. I'll go check on Remus."

"You're supposed to be visiting Peter tonight, and you're already late," James pointed out. "Look, Lily and I have already talked about this." Lily shot him a look, which he ignored. "I'll go check on Moony, just to make sure he's alright, then I'll come straight back. I won't be gone more than an hour, and I'll have my mirror in my pocket the entire time."

For a moment, Sirius looked like he might argue, but then he shook his head. "Let's compromise. I'll go check on Peter, then I'll come by for you and we can both go see Moony. Say yes." James hesitated. "James! Say yes."

"Whatever," James muttered. Sirius grinned, even though it was rather strained. "Great, I'll see you in half an hour at the most." The mirror went blank.

"We've already discussed this, have we?" Lily asked, her green eyes narrowed slightly.

"Sorry," James said, wincing. "I had to tell him something, or he would have refused point blank." Lily bit her lip, and James sighed, putting his arm around her and pulling her into a hug. "I really am sorry, love. You know I wouldn't go if there were any other way to be sure, right? I'm just worried about him, that's all."

Lily sighed, leaning into him. "I know, I'm worried too." She was silent for moment, then pulled away, looking him determinedly in the face. "Go. Obviously you'll be of no help to me or Harry while you're worried about Remus, and it's not like we're in any real danger with the Fidelius Charm. I'll put Harry to sleep, then wait up and tell Sirius when he arrives." She smiled suddenly. "Maybe he can stay for tea."

James grinned and, despite what he'd just said to Lily and the gravity of the situation, he couldn't help but think, Finally, I'm going out! It would have been lying to say he didn't want desperately to get out of this house, but he also knew that he would stay here the rest of his life if it would keep Lily and Harry safe.

James walked to the entrance hall to grab his cloak, and Lily followed behind him, bouncing Harry gently. "You have your wand, right? And your mirror – what about an emergency portkey, do you need one of those?"

James stepped towards her and hugged her gently, careful not to crush Harry between them. "I am fully armed with my wand, my mirror, and my handsome good looks." Lily laughed quietly, and he felt the little thrill he always got when he made her laugh. He kissed her gently on the lips, then bent to kiss Harry's head. "Be good for your mum, little man," he said. He kissed Lily again. "I'll be back before you know it. Tell Padfoot where I am, and stay safe."

"You be safe. I want you back in one piece." Lily smiled nervously, tucking her hair behind her ear.

James gave her his best grin. "You know I'll do my best." Then he walked out the door, past the gate, and Disapparated with a crack.

Lily watched James disappear, then turned back inside, closing the door and locking it. "All right, it's time for you to go to bed," she told Harry. Harry gurgled happily. "Dada!"

"He'll be right back, honey, he just needs to make sure Uncle Moony's okay."

Lily started upstairs to put Harry to bed, but something made her hesitate and she turned back to the door, frowning. The gate had just creaked, she was sure of it, but neither James nor Sirius should be home yet. Shifting so that she could see through the small window next to the door, she peered through uncertainly, then stiffened. In the garden, walking purposefully towards the front door was a tall man in black robes, with a pale face –

"No, oh no, no, no, no." Lily whispered. Her hand shot to her side, before she remembered that she was dressed for bed, and had left her wand on the bedside table. The door knob jangled and she turned, almost tripping in her haste to get upstairs. She couldn't remember ever feeling this afraid, even when fighting with the Order or sitting in the hospital while her mother died. Every time before she'd had James, but now it just her and Harry. She reached the door to the room she shared with James and darted inside, slamming the door behind her and feeling sick as she heard an echoing crash from downstairs.

Lily snatched her wand off the bedside table, her mind working furiously. No one survived when Voldemort paid a house call, she knew that, but she also couldn't give up hope – she couldn't let him hurt her child. Turning to the door, she cast the strongest protection charms she could think of, then ran to the closet and placed Harry inside. Harry was whimpering now, obviously aware that something was wrong, and as she reached to pull back the hair that had fallen in front of her face she realized that she was crying. Pull yourself together, Lily, she thought furiously. You can do this.

"Silencio," she said shakily, tapping Harry gently with her wand. "It's just like hide-and-seek, Harry, you have be still for Mummy, okay?" She raised her wand to cast a disillusionment charm, but started at the sound of the door splintering behind her. "No." She didn't have time, she needed help – "Expecto Patronum!" Three silver does burst from her wand. "Help," she whispered, "Please, please help us." With a flick of her wand, she sent them to find James, Sirius and Dumbledore. Casting another fearful glance over her shoulder at the door, she grabbed whatever she could find to pile around Harry, hoping she could hide him that way. "Now be still, please, I love you, be still."

The door burst open and Lily sprang to her feet, turning and casting a shield charm as Voldemort strode calmly into the room, his wand held almost casually between his fingers. Immediately, Lily started throwing curses at him. She knew that she could never defeat him, but she hoped she could keep him occupied until Dumbledore, James or Sirius came to help. Then she might actually stand a chance.

And then, out of nowhere, her wand was yanked from her hand and sent flying across the room. Lily stared at it in shock and growing despair; if she'd been alone, or had someone fighting with her, she might have gone after it, but not when she was the only thing between Voldemort and Harry. She'd never been good at non-verbal spells, casting or blocking, and when they'd been friends Severus – who'd had a knack for them – had always told her they'd be the death of her. Now it seemed he would be right.

"Step aside."

What? Lily's head snapped up to meet Voldemort's red gaze as she stood defensively before the closet. The closet where, heaped in the spare blankets, she imagined she could hear Harry's heart beating. Why would he even ask … not that it mattered. Lily wasn't moving an inch for this monster. "No. Please, you can't hurt him," she said shakily. She knew that he was here for Harry, for the prophecy. I hate prophecies.

"I am here for the boy. Now, step aside." In the back of her mind, Lily wondered at the absurdity of this conversation. Voldemort never left survivors, and was most certainly not known for his mercy. What could have happened to prompt him the offer her this chance?

"No. No, I won't – please, just please don't hurt him, I'll do anything – " It never hurt to try, as her father had told her. She didn't even really have to think about it – she'd do anything, even make a terrible Unbreakable Vow to this monster if only he would spare Harry's life.

"My patience wears thin, girl. Step aside!"

"Not Harry, please not Harry!" Yet even as she pleaded, Lily knew it was useless. She'd known since she heard the gate creak in the garden, long before anyone was supposed to be home. And when had pleading ever, ever worked with Lord Voldemort? So it was without surprise as she watched the green light blossom out of the end of his wand, and as she registered his next words as the last she'd ever hear.

"Avada Kedavra."

James arrived at the edge of the woods which he knew Remus to be staying in. Although Remus was technically undercover at Greyback's werewolf camp and trying to get information for the Order, James had managed to cajole his whereabouts out of Dumbledore two weeks ago so that they could tell him of the their decision to make Peter Secret-Keeper. Now James was doubly glad he'd done it, if only to make sure his friend was all right (even if that had been exactly the reason Dumbledore had been so reluctant to divulge the information in the first place). The raid last night had been on a nearby muggle village, and according to the Prophet had left quite a scene. James was worried that if Remus had participated, he would be tearing himself up about it, and that if he had refused then perhaps it was the other members of Greyback's pack who were tearing him up.

Transforming into his animagus form, Prongs trotted through the semi-dark woods, ears pricked and alert. It was some time before he could pick up the sound of human activity and when he did he slowed and headed cautiously in that direction.

" – don't know why, but he was happy enough to allow us full access to any prisoners in need of persuasion next full moon."

"Did he have any in particular?"

Prongs snorted in relief. That was Moony, he was sure of it.

"Why is it important, Lupin? We all know you won't be taking part."

"Sorry, I was just wondering." Moony sounded miserable.

There were a few more words, exchanged too quietly for even Prongs to hear, and then there were footsteps coming in his direction. Quickly, Prongs stepped back under a low hanging tree, trying to act like a normal, non-suspicious stag.

"Prongs!?"

Prongs let out a relieved sigh. It was Moony. Beckoning with his head, he trotted further into the woods until they were out of sight and well out of earshot of the camp. Then he transformed again and stepped forward, wrapping Remus in a tight hug. Remus returned it for a moment, but then pulled back and frowned. "James, happy as I am to see you – what are you doing here?"

James looked Remus up and down, ascertaining that he was indeed okay. Finally nodding to himself, he said "I just read about the raid yesterday. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Remus' face spasmed for an instant, but then he just smiled tiredly. "I'm fine, James. But you shouldn't be out here. Surely Wormtail or Padfoot could have come if you were that worried?"

James shrugged. "Well, yeah, that's what Padfoot said too."

Silence.

"James –"

"Moony. Padfoot is checking on Wormtail, I'm checking on you, Lily's with Harry. We've got our bases covered."

Remus looked exasperated. "Does Padfoot at least know where you are? And what do mean he was checking on Wormtail? Did something happen?"

"No, everything's fine, there was just a change in plans – I'll tell you later. And Lily will tell Sirius where I am when he shows up; we were supposed to come together, but I couldn't wait." When Remus still looked skeptical, James sighed and rolled his eyes. "Look, Moony, I'll give him a call now if it'll make you feel better." James pulled his mirror out of his pocket and turned so that Remus could see too. "Sirius Black. "

They stood for a moment, waiting patiently. Then James said, a little louder, "Sirius Black." Another moment passed, and James frowned at the mirror. "He should pick up. He was asleep last time, but he's just checking on Wormtail now. Maybe he's flying, and can't pick up…." Shrugging, James tucked the mirror back in his pocket. "We can try again in a minute or so. But honestly, Remus, how are you?" James stared hard at Remus, searching for signs that he was hiding something. "I haven't seen you in ages, and after last night –"

Suddenly, both men were interrupted by a large silver shape streaking towards them. Remus looked up, startled, and James' eyes widened as he recognized Lily's patronus. It stopped in front of him and opened its mouth – and then burst apart, disappearing with an alarming swiftness. Remus and James exchanged looks, and James felt a panicky feeling rising in his chest. Patronus' never usually brought good news, and he'd never seen one burst like that.

Remus looked pale as he drew his wand, having evidently reached a similar conclusion. "Come on, let's go." Then he stiffened, and dove onto James, shoving him down just in time to avoid a red spell flying through the space where his head had been mere moments before. James twisted around and shouted "Protego!" in time to block two more stunners which exploded harmlessly on the shield.

"Impedimenta! Incarcerous!"

"James, go!" Remus shouted, scrambling behind a tree and firing a curse at the werewolves who had found them. "I'll hold them off!"

James jumped to his feet and stumbled behind a tree a few feet away, casting another shield charm to protect his back. "I can't leave you!" he gasped, his mind racing. Stay with Moony, or go find Lily –

"Lily needs you more. Go!"

James hesitated. Under normal circumstances he would never leave one of his friends in the middle of a duel – but Lily had sent a patronus, and it had just vanished – so he focused on the woods behind their house in Godric's Hollow and turned on the spot. Just as he was turning, however, he became aware of a red spell coming straight at him, and hitting him square in the chest as he was squeezed into nothing.

Sirius slid his mirror into his pocket and pushed himself to his feet, rubbing the last traces of sleep from his eyes. Grumbling, he glared at his new muggle clock that was set upside down on his desk. It was the clock's fault, he decided, and he would tell Andy that when he saw her next. Now, though, he needed to check on Peter. Stumbling to the door and shrugging into his jacket, he grabbed his bike helmet, walked out into the darkening twilight and climbed onto his motorbike.

At first, he had bought the bike to annoy his parents. Then, he realized that he actually preferred it to apparition – it wasn't quicker or easier or anything like that, it was more that it was just fun. And anything that didn't require a wand was a bonus in Sirius' opinion.

Kicking off into the sky, Sirius rode up over the lights of Surrey, then turned north to the small village where Peter was in hiding. Flying, his thoughts turned to Remus. They were supposed to meet tomorrow to tell him of the switch, but they might as well do it tonight, once he and James found him. Sirius sighed to himself. It was so complicated, and he wished desperately that trusting everyone were as simple as the way he and James trusted each other. He almost wished that Peter were the untrustworthy one: Remus was much more capable of taking care of himself.

Flying low, he spotted the roof of Peter's apartment and flew down, dismounting swiftly and striding up to the door where he knocked twice. "Wormtail?" he called.

No answer.

Frowning, Sirius knocked again and called louder. "Peter? It's me, Padfoot. Let me in."

When there was still no answer, Sirius began to worry. Trying the door, he found that it was unlocked and pushed it in, drawing his wand as he did so. There's no Dark Mark, he thought, paranoia tickling the pit of his stomach. He's probably just asleep…. "Wormtail?"

Sirius stepped into the front room, glancing around warily. It didn't look like anyone but Peter had been there recently. Now Sirius didn't feel paranoid – he felt scared. He strode quickly through the remaining rooms until he finally came to Peter's bedroom, which was empty. There was no note on the table, no sign that he had left in a hurry, no sign of struggle. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Sirius turned and sprinted out of the house, pulling his bike roughly from the fence where it had been leaning. About to kick off, he noticed a silver shape streaking towards him. When it stopped in front of him, Sirius forced himself to swallow the panic that was building in his chest. The patronus opened its mouth, and just before it burst apart Sirius caught one terrified, whispered word: "Help."

"Fuck," Sirius whispered, staring at where the doe had been moments before. Then he turned abruptly and pushed off into the sky, urging his bike faster, faster towards Godric's Hollow.

He knew before he landed that he was too late. Throwing the bike on the ground, Sirius sprinted through the gate to the ruined house, through the door that was just barely hanging onto its hinges. "James! Lily!" Sirius called, his heart pounding in his chest. Please, Prongs. There was white dust everywhere, where the plaster had rained down from the ceiling. Forcing his legs to work, Sirius ran through the ground floor, pausing just long enough in each room to make sure it was empty. Then he moved to the upstairs. "James!" he called again. "Lily!" When there was still no answer, Sirius took a shaky breath and looked around him. Most of the doors were open, but the only one that appeared to be completely destroyed was the one that led to Lily and James' room. Hastening through the debris that covered the floor, Sirius reached the splintered doorway and stopped, his blood running cold.

"No. Oh sweet Merlin, no, Lily!"

The room was buried in rubble from the collapsed ceiling, and a cold wind drifted in from where the southern wall had crumbled. Sirius wasn't paying attention to that, though. He fell to his knees, crawling across the unstable floor to where Lily lay, his fingers gropng for a pulse at her throat. Still and cold. "R-renervate," he said gasped, for all the good that would do. Still nothing. She's dead. "No!" For a moment he felt like he couldn't breath. Then he jerked backwards, up onto his feet. "James!" he shouted. "Harry!" No no no no – Scanning the room, a movement caught his eye and he rushed into the closet that Lily was lying before. Inside, his face covered in blood, Harry was screaming. Silently.

Sirius raised his wand again. "Finite," he said shakily, and Harry's screams now filled the room. "Harry, come here, I'm so sorry." Sirius scooped Harry into his arms, carefully shielding him from the sight of Lily lifeless on the floor. Carefully now, he wove his way through the debris scattered in the hall, down the stairs, and out into the fresh night air. Once outside, he laid his jacket on the ground and, placing Harry on top of it, started casting to see if he had any serious injuries. The only one Sirius could find was a jagged cut on Harry's forehead. Quickly cleaning it, Sirius gathered Harry up in his jacket, wrapping it around him to keep him warm in the quickly cooling October air.

On the surface, Sirius felt empty. Lily was dead, and he knew that would never happen while James was alive. So even though he had not seen a body, Sirius had no doubt that James was now dead. Gone. Down deeper, underneath the emptiness, something else was stirring, something that Sirius was afraid to feel because he was afraid it would overtake him, and he couldn't let that happen, not yet. Harry needed him.

Reaching his bike, Sirius was about to climb on when a loud voice called him.

"Sirius Black!"

Sirius whirled around, but lowered his wand when he saw that it was Hagrid. The big man was already crying, a river of tears running down his ruddy cheeks and disappearing into his beard. "Hagrid," he said, struggling to keep his voice steady. "They're dead."

The giant's face was pale in the scarce night. "Is 'arry all right?"

Deep inside, Sirius felt the darkness stirring. "Yes," he said. But Prongs is dead.

"Dumbledore told me t-ter take 'im to his aunt," Hagrid sobbed, then blew his nose. "She's the only family he's got left now, poor tyke."

The darkness pushed, trying to fill the emptiness on the surface. "No," Sirius heard himself say firmly as he clasped Harry closer to his chest. In the distance, he could hear sirens. Harry whimpered. "N-no, I'll look after him, I'm his godfather."

"I'm sorry, Sirius, but it's Dumbledore's orders tha' he go to his aunt's." Hagrid peered into Sirius' face, looking genuinely worried that he might disagree. I promised Lily and James –

A tendril broke loose, whispering through the emptiness. Slowly the darkness leaked through, and there was nothing Sirius could do besides stand still and wait to hear what it had to say. Vaguely, he was aware that Hagrid had stepped closer and was patting him consolingly on the arm while he talked.

"Dumbledore knows what's best, Harry'll be safe with his aunt an' uncle."

Peter.

"Here," Sirius carefully placed Harry in Hagrid's enormous arms. "Privet Drive, right? That's a ways from here – take my bike. I won't be needing it."

"Are yeh sure, Sirius?" Hagrid sounded stunned. "Yeh love that bike."

"Take it."

"All righ'. An' don't worry, I'll take th' best care of him, I won't let anythin' hurt 'im. It'll all work itself out, you remember that."

"Right," Sirius said quietly. "I'll remember that, Hagrid. Just make sure he's safe." Peter, the darkness whispered. This is Wormtail's fault.

He watched with dark eyes as Hagrid rode his bike into the dark sky, then gripped his wand tight and turned on the spot. Whatever happened next, only one thing was certain – Sirius would make Pettigrew pay, or he would die trying.