Lily sat nervously in the Gryffindor common room holding Harry. It had been over an hour since the announcement. Where was James? She tried to be calm and brave for Harry's sake, but it was getting difficult. Kim sat next to her and put a calming hand on her shoulder.

"Hey. It's gonna be okay." She said. "I'm sure it'll be over quickly."

Lily exhaled sharply. "I hope so." She knew James was powerful, and he'll have help. But what would happen if neither of them made it? She swallowed and turned to Kim. "Kim, listen...there's a chance that neither James or I will make it. Sirius might already be dead...and I doubt Wizarding Social Services will let Remus anywhere near children. If neither James or I make it out alive...will you please take care of Harry?"

Kim was surprised and touched. Her younger brother died the previous year. It hit her and her parents hard. Kim's parents were divorced for ten years before that. She didn't know how hard it would be to take care of Harry if worse comes to worse, but she couldn't find it in her heart to say no. "Of course."

"Thanks." Lily hugged Kim. "You've been a good friend these past few months."

XXX

James trudged slowly to Dumbledore's office. He ran into Kingsley. "James! Why the long face?"

James just sighed. "Listen...I know Sirius' family doesn't care about him, so there's no one to claim his body. So...I'd like to claim it."

Kingsley stared at James confused. "Body? Sirius isn't dead."

"What?" James' face shot up.

"He's sitting in Dumbledore's office right now. What made you think he was dead?"

'Oh. My. God!' James thought furiously. "We need to arrest Peter."

Kingsley chuckled apprehensively. "What?"

"He lied to me about Sirius. He told me he was dead." James kicked the wall in anger.

"Maybe he was mistaken."

"About Sirius being dead?" James argued. "No, Kingsley, he lied."

"Well, that's hardly proof." Kingsley shrugged. "All we have is your word."

"I'll get your proof. Just find him!" James ran off. He ran through five hallways before running into someone. "Hey! Have you seen Peter Pettigrew?"

"Uh...yeah, I saw him running from that hallway." He pointed behind him.

James sprinted in that direction. As he turned the corner, he saw Larry laying on the ground panting slowly. James ran over and knelt next to him. "Larry. Hey, Larry! What happened?"

Larry gasped weakly. "Pe...Peter..."

"When?" James asked.

"Uh...twenty...minutes ago..."

James pulled out a small vial and tapped his wand on Larry's forehead. "I'm collecting your last memory."

Larry breathed laborly. "Just make sure...he goes down." He gave his last breath and passed away.

James sighed sadly. "I promise: you didn't die in vain."

XX

"I'm telling you, it's outrageous!"

Fudge was not believing Sirius' story about Peter being the spy. "How can a talentless little thing, a Gryffindor be working for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"He was forced." Sirius argued. "Apparantly the Sorting Hat put him in the wrong House!"

"Sirius, be calm." Dumbledore urged calmly.

The door slammed open. Everyone jumped and turned to see James standing there panting heavily. He held up the vial with Larry's memory in it.

"James!" Sirius exclaimed.

"I have your proof." James walked over to Dumbledore. "Peter killed Larry Mossman."

Dumbledore wordlessly grabbed his pensieve from the cupboard and set it on his desk. James handed the vial to him. Dumbledore poured it in and tapped his wand to form the mist into the scene of the attack.

"Time is short. We need to keep the Ministry at bay while the Dark Lord searches for the boy."

"I am working on it! I just told James that Sirius is dead." Wormtail was arguing. "I-I-I bought the Dark Lord some time."

"You better not be playing us, Wormtail." The death eater snarled. "Or you know what will happen."

Wormtail gulped. "I understand."

"Good." The death eater walked away. Wormtail walked around the corner and saw Larry looking shocked.

"Oh my God...you...?" Larry gasped.

"Larry, I'm sorry." Wormtail shot a spell at Larry causing the boy to fly backwards and land on his back. Blood oozed from his mouth and he breathed heavily.

McGonagal gasped in horror. "Oh my God."

"Oh my God." Remus repeated in shock.

"He's probably made a run for it." James sprinted out of the office.

"James...James!" Dumbledore called after him.

James sprinted towards the entrance hall. Sure enough, Peter was trying to make a break for it. He heard an explosion from above and people screaming, but chose to ignore it. James glared at Peter with loathing. Peter gasped in horror and ran to the door. James caught up to him, turned him around, pinned him to the door, and aimed his wand at him.

"I trusted you." James breathed heavily.

"I'm s-s-sorry."

James scoffed. "You're sorry?"

"I-I was just doing my job."

"Doing your job? My wife and son almost died today! How many others died in the past few months because you were doing your job?" James demanded. "Sam? Ellis? Larry? Give me one good reason why I should forgive you for this!"

Dumbledore, Remus, Sirius, Fudge, Kingsley, and Crouch came up behind James. "James, let him go."

James didn't listen. Instead, he aimed the wand at Peter's head struggling not to kill him. Sirius walked up to him. "James, come on. Lily and Harry are waiting for you in the Gryffindor common room. Go be with your family."

James sighed, let Peter go and pushed him against the door. He walked away and rubbed his forehead.

"Okay, you're coming with me." Kingsley produced a pair of handcuffs and handcuffed Peter. "Crouch, you wanna help me escort him to Azkaban?"

Crouch nodded firmly. Without saying good-bye, they left. James walked up the marble staircase towards the Gryffindor common room. When he got to the hallway, the Pained Lady portrait was laying on the ground. James' heart pounded as he ran into the common room. It was a mess in there. Students were crying or helping their injured friends. James looked around for Lily and Harry, but they were nowhere to be seen. He ran up the staircase to the Boys' Dormitories. Two students were trying to revive their friend.

"Have you searched the floor yet?" James asked. "Have you searched the floor?"

"No, not yet, James." Replied one.

"Lily? Lily?" James called as he headed to the Head Boy's dorm. The door had been blasted off. Wind was blowing through the large hole in the wall. The sky was still darkened. Lily lay sprawled on the ground, lifeless. James' stomach dropped and his knees buckled. "Lily! Lily!" James ran to her and held her close. His eyes stung with tears. "No...oh, no. Please, Baby, no." He hugged her lifeless body. How could he be so careless? If he hadn't gone after Peter, he could've saved her! "I'm sorry. So sorry." He head a cry and looked up. Harry was on the bed laying down. James put Lily down and ran over to his son. Harry had a thin scar across his forehead. James traced it gently as the sun slowly rose. "Harry..." James hugged him close.

'At least Harry is alive.'

All right, guys! One more chapter, and this story is over! I might write a sequel to this, so let me know if you're interested!