Tragedies Of War - Marauders Era

Sirius Black

Godrics Hallow

October 31, 1981

Something was wrong.

Something was terribly wrong and Sirius had a horrible feeling that it was his fault.

Because as Sirius stood in Peter's empty flat, he couldn't help but notice that there were no signs of struggle. It was completely normal. There was still a chess board on the coffee table, still dirty dishes sitting by the sink, still a lone pair of jeans on the arm of the couch. Everything was as it should be.

Except Peter wasn't there. 

And he should be there. He should. Sirius had arranged to meet him here, to check up on him. Peter wouldn't miss that. He wouldn't want to worry Sirius like that. Peter knew how dangerous this war was getting, Sirius couldn't fathom why he would leave his flat by himself. 

Maybe he was with Moony. It was a full moon tonight, maybe he just wanted things to feel like old times again. But no - they all thought Remus was the traitor. Peter wouldn't risk it. Remus was too unreliable. Hell, Sirius didn't even know how much time had passed since he last saw him. 

But Peter.

Peter was not here.

So where was he?

A small voice in his head answered that. The small voice in his head voiced his fears, his doubts. It was the small voice in his head that asked, 'What if Remus wasn't the traitor?' and it was the small voice in his head that sent him running out the front door. 

He slammed into his motorbike but barely registered the pain as he swung a leg over. The motorbike had already started to rise before he had even gotten himself on the bike properly. 

His knuckles were white as he urged the bike to go faster. The wind whipped at his hair and any other time he would've found the adrenaline exciting. Any other time he would've enjoyed the fresh air on his face. Any other time he wouldn't be racing against the clock, every part of him begging he was just being paranoid. And deep down he knew, he could feel it. He didn't know what, but he knew it was tonight that changed everything. Tonight was the night. Tonight was the end of something big.

And as he flew over Godrics Hollow, he knew it wouldn't be in their favour.

His heart sank as a high scream filled the Potter's residence as he neared it. Lily's scream.

'Lily! James! Lily!' Sirius cried as he tumbled off the bike and ran towards the house. His skin erupted in goosebumps and a vivid green light filled the building.

Sirius bolted through the already open door and came to a screeching stop as he saw a body lying spreadeagled on the floor.

James' body. James' dead body. 

All air left his body in a short, strangled gasp. Tears blinded his vision and his knees felt like jelly beneath him. Because James - James - His brother, his whole entire world, was dead. The sun had just died, and Sirius knew that tomorrow there would be no light. Tomorrow it was going to be dark.

The sound of shouting - begging - from upstairs, brought him out of his shock. It was like someone had turned the volume up. Sirius became aware of his own screaming as he jolted towards the stairs. He couldn't see as the tears still fell from his eyes, but he knew he had to get to Lily before it was too late. He had already lost two brothers, he didn't want to lose another sister.

'Avada Kedavra!' 

Sirius couldn't help the hopeless sob that left his mouth as he ran towards Harry's nursery door. He pushed it open just in time to see Lily fall and Voldemort raise his wand once more. Sirius screamed and jerked forward just as a green light left Voldemort's wand.

And then the house exploded.

He was engulfed in a world of green and he was being propelled backwards, slamming into a wall. Blinking the bright lights out of his vision, he had to cover his ears as an inhumane shriek echoed through the house. A black shadow flittered over him as he shoved the door to Harry's nursery open again.

Stepping into the room, his eyes fell on Harry. Harry who was miraculously still alive, and crying loudly at the sight of his dead mother.

'Harry...' He murmured as he fell to his knees beside his cot - beside Lily. A slash like a bolt of lightning was on Harry's forehead, but other than that he seemed relatively okay. The scar would be the only sign of the curse that killed his parents, the curse that almost killed him.

'Unca Pa'foo,' Harry's chubby little fingers reached for his desperately through the bars of the cot, 'Why mummy... daddy? Is daddy okay?' Sirius just shook his head as he picked Harry up, pressing a kiss to his red forehead as he tried to suppress tears. 

'No, Haz. They're not.'

Harry began to cry, burying his head into Sirius' shoulder. Sirius leant over the cot to grab Harry's blanket, but paused as something caught his eye underneath Harry's pillow. Cautiously, he picked the pillow up, and almost burst into tears again.

A stuffed fawn lay there, Sirius recognised it as the gift he had sent Harry for Halloween. 

'Oh, Peter, what have you done?' Sirius whispered softly as he cradled his godson, 'Why?'