Author's Note - Little to say this time. I consciously neglected studying to get this out. Shame on me. Enjoy!

Chapter 5 - Nightmares (Part 2)

Sirius sighed as he put down the thick book he'd been attempting to read, not bothering to mark his place. James owed him big time for this. He was bored out of his skull. No one had checked in on him in days, not since Frank and Alice had brought him a supply of food to last him for a week. He'd already gone through most of it, mostly because there was nothing else to do. He frowned at the cover of the thick book again, remembering how Moony would spend hours with his nose stuck between pages. The thought of his former friend merely turned his mood fouler, however. After all they had done for him, he'd turned traitor. Growling, Sirius kicked the book off the side of the bed and jumped up, pacing the small room. Everyone thought he was the secret keeper, so to keep up pretenses, he'd been sequestered away and he was about to go crazy. Sirius had always been a man of action and he wanted to be in the thick of it, not sitting here watching the hands of the clock on the wall tick slowly by. He glanced at the offender in question and frowned when he realized that the hands had not moved before he remembered that he'd frozen the clock because the ticking had been driving him mad. Sirius growled. EVERYTHING was driving him mad. He wanted out of this house!

And now he didn't know what time it was, but it was as good an excuse to check in with James as any. Reaching into a bureau drawer, Sirius pulled out a small pocket mirror and spoke into it, "James," he said softly.

He waited a moment, stretching on his stomach on the bed, knowing it sometimes took a moment for James to answer, but he waited and waited.

"James," He repeated, "Prongs mate, it's me. Pick up, I'm bored and it's your fault. You need to pick up and entertain me."

But James didn't pick up. Anxious now, Sirius began pacing the room again, stopping intermittently to call into the mirror. Sometimes it took James a minute to answer, but never more than that. Never more than a minute. "James."

But James didn't answer. Something was wrong. Hide out be damned, if Voldemort was somehow interfering with their connection to lure him out of hiding, then so be it. After all, he wasn't the secret keeper. James, Lily, and Harry would still be safe. Peter would keep them safe. He tore his black biker jacket off the hook by the door, grabbed his motorcycle keys from the side table, and stepped out into the night.

He could see the smoke from far above. Even worse, he could see the wreckage of the house. He barely managed to land, not even bothering to toe the kick stand as his insides screamed at the rubble in front of him.

A large shadow stood in front of the house and in its arms was Harry.

"Hagrid," he choked, pale and shaking, and he stumbled forward.

"Now, now," Hagrid said soothingly. "There were no pain. They died quick protecting their son. It's how they'd have wanted."

Sirius's eyes fell on the baby, seeing an angry red lightning cut on his forehead, "But how…"

"I dunno," Hagrid said, sniffing, "Dumbledore just told me that James and Lily had been killed and Voldemort was gone and to come get Harry."

"Give Harry to me, Hagrid. I'm his godfather. I'll look after him." Sirius held out his arms, ready to take the boy.

"'Fraid I can't do that," Hagrid said, soft but firm, "Dumbledore says I'm to bring him to him at his aunt and uncle's house."

"But I'm his godfather," Sirius argued, "James wanted me to raise him. Everyone knows that."

"I know, lad, but you'll have to take it up with Dumbledore," he said.

"Can I…can I see him then?" Sirius took the boy into his arms as Hagrid handed him down. Brilliant green peered out from beneath baby lashes as the child studied his face.

"Pad," he gurgled, reaching up to grab Sirius's nose.

Sirius's arms began to shake as he choked back a sob.

"I should get him to Dumbledore," Hagrid said apologetically as he took Harry back into his massive arms.

"Here, then." He offered his keys, "Take the motorcycle. I won't need it any more. Get Harry to Dumbledore."

"Yer a good man, Sirius Black," Hagrid sniffled, "Wouldn't have wanted to risk trying to apparate with him. Barely manage myself half the time."

Sirius watched as Hagrid kick started the bike and slowly rose into the air, taking Harry away. His eyes then came down to the wreckage of the house.

"No," he whispered, tears running down his cheeks. He stumbled through the broken gate, wading through debris. His hands tore through wood and nails. Using Peter was his idea. Everyone knew that James was his best friend, that James trusted no one like he trusted Sirius. Voldemort would be after him. How could Voldemort know it was Peter? Little Peter who'd probably only manage minutes under torture and then died with the breath that followed revealing "Godric's Hollow." With each thought, he threw more litter away, not even noticing the rips and gashes in his hands from twisted nails and broken glass. His breath, formerly coming in gasps stopped when his eyes fell upon a hand. His fingers stretched tentatively to the hand he knew well…the hand that had always helped him up, reached out to him, pat him on the shoulder, and smacked the back of his head. It was cold.

"No, James," he choked, slowly pulling debris away until he could see his friend's face. His glasses were broken, hazel eyes staring blankly up at the stars, seeing nothing, "No…no," Sirius put his own hand to his friend's cheek. There didn't seem to be a mark on him. He looked one last time upon his brother's face, leaning forward, "I promise to take care of Harry, Marauder's honor," his voice trembled and he placed a kiss on James's forehead. He'd have stayed there forever, by his friend's side, but for one thing.

"I…I had to do it," a quivering voice said from the street. Sirius's head whipped around to see Peter, hunched and trembling.

Scenes began to rush through his head. Peter always missing after meetings, but who ever missed Peter? Peter asking fearfully if he really thought they could ever win and his look of terror when he'd said that it was enough to die fighting for what was right. Peter whispering to him that Remus was scaring him.

Sirius closed his eyes painfully, more tears spilling down his face. Remus. Loyal, kind, brave Remus who they'd driven away…who they'd betrayed just as surely as Peter had betrayed them. The more he thought about it, the more it became certain. No one would ever suspect Peter was secret keeper because he was a follower, not a leader. He was a follower who'd followed the strongest leader in sight…Voldemort.

"Peter," he snarled, drawing his wand.

"N.n.n.no!" Peter sniveled, "You don't understand. Y.y.y.you guys never understood!" He sobbed as he backed away. Slowly, doors began to open and sleepy faces looked curiously into the streets. Peter backed slowly to the alley by the next house.

Sirius didn't say a word as his tear streaked grey eyes gleamed fiercely over his wand tip. Peter turned to run, but stopped short seeing he was cornered in the alley. In the opening behind Sirius, curious faces peered around the corner.

A light entered Peter's eyes, "Lily and James, Sirius! How could you!" He cried, his voice anguished.

It was the moment of confusion that cost Sirius Black twelve years of his life as Peter severed a finger and cast a Combustion charm. The last Sirius Black saw of Peter Pettigrew was a tail disappearing down a drain pipe…a wormtail.

Sirius dropped to his knees in the carnage of brick and body. Pops of apparating wizards sounded all around him, and all Sirius Black could do was laugh.

Remus wiped the tears from his face with a sleeve as the two sat in silence.

"I wish I could have been there," he finally said, "Maybe if I had, we could have proved it together."

"Maybe," Sirius said flatly, "but James and I betrayed you as surely as Peter betrayed us all."

"We've already covered that," Remus rebuked, "I made you distrust me."

"We should have known better," Sirius persisted. "We should have known there was something behind it."

"Those were different times," Remus said.

"And now they're happening again," Sirius sighed.

"We've time to prepare this time," Remus argued, "thanks to Harry, we know what's happening."

"I suppose," Sirius said. Remus settled beside him, both leaning back against the massive oak headboard, "but this time, we stick together," he said, holding a hand out, "Marauders."

Remus took his hand, "Marauders."