Disclaimer: Me no own

Chapter Eleven: The End As We Know It

Halloween was Sirius' favorite holiday and it always had been. He loved dressing up and scaring people. He was infamous for his Halloween antics at Hogwarts. It was known as the day he broke the record for most detentions in one day, (Five, if you wanted to know).

In first year he had donned a Zorro mask.

Second year he had dressed up as Snivelly.

Third year he was a werewolf, much to Remus' displeasure.

Fourth year he'd dressed up as his mother and screeched at anybody who came close to him. Bella, Cissy, and Regulus had not been pleased.

Fifth year he'd gone as a big black dog, everyone thought his costume was very realistic.

Sixth year was the year he broke the record by dressing up as a ghoul and scaring the living daylights out of several first years, three house heads, and Filch who had used Mrs. Norris as a shield.

Seventh year was Sirius' personal favorite. He and the rest of the marauders had dressed up as Robin and his merry men, Sirius had been the dashing Will Scarlet, James had been Robin, Remus was Little John, and Peter was Friar Wormy. Everyone in the school got a kick out of that one.

Sirius was reliving these memories while enthusiastically chasing his tail. Round and round he went but he never could catch his tail.

Sirius sat down and reached up with his paw to vigorously scratch his ear. He let his tongue loll out of his mouth and bounded into a pile of freshly fallen leaves. The man who trying to place the leaves in a neat pile waved his rake at Sirius, who decided to move onto the playground to watch the costumed kids, for his own well being.

Remus was supposed to bring Harry to the park soon and for an hour the three could play while James and Lily decorated the house.

Sirius watched as a pumpkin chased a screaming milk carton through the monkey bars. Sirius rolled his eyes. these kids knew nothing about creativity. A Halloween costume had to be inspiring.

A dark haired boy came barreling through the playground at a break neck speed. Sirius barked his encouragement. This kid had style, his face was painted gold and wings were strapped to his back. If Sirius didn't know better he would swear that kid looked like a snitch.

Then the boy looked up and Sirius got a glimpse of green.

It was Harry! And behind him came Remus Lupin, smiling faintly at Harry's antics. Sirius wheezed in what could only be a laugh.

Harry caught sight of Sirius and came running over, latching himself onto Sirius' neck and squealing "Paddy!" Remus smiled at Sirius. "'Lo Pads, having fun?" Remus reached over to Sirius and brushed the dead leaves out of his friend's fur. The lopsided gin on the dog's face seemed to indicate that he was indeed enjoying himself.

"To another successful Halloween Moony." Sirius clinked his bottle to Remus'.

"Yes, I imagine Harry will be tired after all that exercise today. Plus it gave James and Lils some 'alone time'."

Sirius pretended to vomit and drained the last of his firewhiskey. "Well, I best be off mate. See you at work?"

"Sure, see you Pads." Moony closed the door after his friend and stumbled to his bedroom yawning.

Sirius was walking down the sidewalk when he heard a faint buzzing noise. He looked around surprised. With a start he realized it was coming from his person.

Sirius looked down at his wrist and flipped open his watch top.

Sirius was only vaguely aware of his insides completing freezing. His breath came shorter and he realized he was gasping. James', Lily's, and Harry's hands all pointed to 'mortal danger'.

Sirius was running for his motorbike before his brain could process what was happening.

"Lily! Lily run! Take Harry and go! He's coming!" All around James glass was breaking. The windows shattered, spraying James with scratchs.

Lily ran upstairs clinging Harry to her and covering his head.

James heard horribly chilling laughter. He didn't understand it. Where were the wards? What had happened to Peter? The door blasted off its hinges, narrowly missing James but demolishing the kitchen wall.

"James Potter."

James made a grab for his wand but the other figure was quicker, much quicker.

"Crucio!"

James fell over backwards resisting the urge to scream out loud. His wand fell from his hand.

"Avada Ked…"

James' hand curled around Harry's quaffle. The ball connected with Voldemort's head and the curse crashed into the couch, incinerating it.

James scrambled for his wand but Voldemort recovered quicker than James had hoped.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

James felt his limbs go numb and he crashed helplessly to the floor.

Voldemort stepped into James' line of view. "Goodbye James Potter. Avada Kedavra!"

James saw a flash of green and then all turned black.

Lily was trying to open the window in Harry's bedroom. It was shut tight from the outside. Nothing she could do, no charm she could cast, would make the window budge.

She heard footsteps on the stairs and the door bent over backwards to allow the person into the room. "No." Lily gasped and pulled Harry to her. Her green eyes were staring at the man before them.

"James." Lily felt tears sting her eyes. James was dead. He had to be if he had gotten this far. Lily lifted her wand at Voldemort. "Leave my home!"

He laughed. Lily shivered and her hand shook. She would not let this…thing… hurt Harry.

"Step aside girl." Voldemort raised his wand.

"No, no you can't have Harry. Please no." Lily pleaded. Her hand was shaking but she refused to surrender her son.

"Avada Kedavara!"

Lily hit the floor and Harry rolled away from her. "MAMA!" He shrieked, tears streamed down his cheeks.

Voldemort turned to Harry. "So ends the prophecy. I live forever; no mere boy will end my reign. To a new era, Harry Potter."

Then Voldemort raised his wand and uttered the two most fatal words known to the wizarding world.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The curse collided with Harry's forehead, sending the boy flying backwards. Voldemort laughed, sensing triumph but the murderous being tensed again. In the next second there was a terrific shock wave from Harry's still body that was sent right back at Voldemort.

"NO!" The Dark Lord bellowed as he threw his arms up in front of his face.

The house collapsed, completely flattened.

A dark silhouette shrank into the night, nothing more than a shadow.

A motorbike roared through the night sky at a reckless speed.

Sirius saw the house before he landed. The wards were gone, there was nothing but broken wood. He landed and leapt off the bike, letting it crash to the ground.

"No. Please no!" Sirius was frantic. He flipped his watch open, Deceased.

"No." Sirius ran through the bent gates.

"James! Lily!" Sirius tripped over a piece of wood and fell to his knees. "Please don't let it be true!" Sirius cried, tears poured off his face, soaking his shirtfront. He gave a cry of anguish and buried his head in hands.

A large hand landed on Sirius' shoulder and he jumped to his feet giving a shout of surprise. It was Hagrid and he was staring at Sirius through tear-brimmed eyes. Sirius imagined he didn't' look much better, his face was red and dirty and tears continued to carve a path down his face.

"Sirius I…" Hagrid stopped there. What could he say? There was nothing that would ever make Sirius feel better. He was hollow, numb.

Suddenly an ear-splitting cry cut through the air. "Harry?" Sirius was running before Hagrid could stop him.

"Harry!" Sirius cradled the boy to his chest. There was blood on Harry's forehead but otherwise he seemed okay.

"Unbelievable." Sirius marveled at the little boy. They weren't all gone; Harry hadn't left him. But his brother had, his brother, James.

"Sirius, Dumbledore's asked me to bring Harry to 'im. Please Sirius." It was beginning to rain. Sirius gazed at Harry through blurry eyes, not seeming to hear Hagrid.

"No."

Hagrid looked taken back. "What do ya mean no? Dumbeldeore's said…"

"I don't care what Dumbeldore said! You're not taking Harry from me! I'm his godfather. I'm responsible for him."

Sirius got up from his knees, his eyes never once leaving Harry's face.

"Sirius be reasonable. Whatever Dumbledore's planning is sure to…" "I won't let him take Harry!" Sirius' cried out, Hargid jumped at the outburst.

Suddenly, Sirius let out a heart-wrenching sob, his cry cut through the still night. Sirius buried his face into Harry's hair and his back shook with his sobs. Hagrid put a large hand awkwardly onto Sirius' shoulder and tried to offer some comfort.

"Here. T-Tell Dumbledore to look after him. Please." Sirius shoved Harry at Hagrid, his eyes burning.

"What are you going ter do?" Hagrid asked with a concern in his voice. "I'm not sure." Sirius answered honestly and walked away.

Hagrid looked after him with concerned eyes. Harry squirmed and cried out after Sirius, wanting him to come back.

Sirius walked until Hagrid was a blur in the distance. He swiped his sleeve across his face angrily. He wasn't looking where he was going and his foot caught something and he stumbled to the ground. Sirius turned around and looked into James' dead face.

Sirius choked and crawled backwards. "I didn't know!" Sirius cried getting to his feet and he ran away from the corpse. "Forgive me James." He couldn't bear to see his lively friend look so pale and stiff, James' hazel eyes were deadened and not dancing with mirth like Sirius had so often seen them.

Sirius got onto his bike and flew away, leaving the devastation behind him. When he found Peter, he was going to make sure he regretted what he had done. He had not just killed a friend, he had killed a brother.

Author's Note:

I'm sorry. I had to do it. I know, sad right?

Next Chapter: This is it folks. The ending, the final chapter. The fate of poor Sirius as we all know it to be and a betrayal by a friend.

PLEASE REVIEW BECAUSE THIS WAS AN EMOTIONAL CHAPTER AND EVERYONE WHO READS THIS STORY WANTS TO TELL ME HOW MUCH THEY LIKED IT AND HOW MANY TEARS WERE SHED WHILE READING IT. I KNOW YOU DO, YOU CAN'T HIDE THE TRUTH!