The Alternate | A Harry Potter Original Fanfiction by Ameliapondicus

Chapter 15

James appeared with a sharp crack in the night and looked about his former town. There was a crisp nip in the fall air, and the leaves floated lazily in the wind.

"C'mon, mate," Sirius tugged James' sleeve. "We'll probably be meeting at your old house."

They trudged along the leave-covered cobble stone road. The church cemetery was a stone's throw away, and James remembered walking through and looking at the gravestones. The Peverell name always intrigued him.

"I see Dumbledore," Sirius pointed at James' old home and waved. A tall figure in silvery robes lifted a hand back to them.

"Where do you think Peter is?" James asked. "Will you be able to do this?"

Sirius hesitated. "I have to," he finally said. "Will you?"

James nodded, not letting his doubt show. "Harry needs to be protected."

"Thank you for coming so quickly," Dumbledore said, drawing them into the house. The roof had caved in, and James could see Harry's old nursery at the top of the stairs. "Peter Pettigrew has been spotted nearby."

"So he's in Godric's Hollow?" James clarified, his heart racing. "Why is he back here?"

"He was in Godric's Hollow," Dumbledore answered. "He has since moved to London. I thought it better to meet here."

"Let's go!" Sirius set his jaw. "We cannot let him get away."

"Patience, Mr Black." Dumbledore said calmly. "I have instructions for you." He looked both of the young men in the eye. "You are not to kill him. Use stunning spells instead. Try to keep damage to a minimum. We don't want the muggles getting worried."

He placed his hands gently on the shoulders of the two friends. "Please be careful, James, Sirius." His hands tightened their grip slightly. "Make the smart choice."

With that he spun into nothingness, dragging James and Sirius along.

*********

James stumbled along the pavement, feeling Sirius hand grab his shoulder. "Where's Dumbledore?" He asked before looking around. They were in London; that much was obvious. It was along an unfamiliar street with large brick buildings beside them. James assumed they were factories.

"Seriously, Dumbledore?" Sirius grumbled angrily. "Just drop us off in the middle of bloody London, no biggy."

"Come on," James dragged Sirius out into an alley beside a brick building. "Let's figure out where we are."

"We're in London."

"Shut up." James pulled out his wand, but stopped short. A rat had scurried into the alley across the street and dived behind a garbage can. The can moved; it was being pushed around. The movement stopped for a moment before a small man with thinning hair scurried out.

James felt the air leave his lungs. "Sirius-"

But Sirius had seen Peter, and bolted out across the street. "SIRIUS!" He ran out after him, narrowly avoiding the traffic. "SIRIUS!"

A loud crash knocked James off his feet; the building had exploded. He thought he heard a scream of anger before his head hit the pavement and his world went black.

*******

"He was sent there this morning."

The words cut into James' brain and he forced himself to wake up. He saw a curtain of red hair and a flash of silvery beard. "Lily," was all he said.

"James." She swept his ever-messy hair out of his eyes. "Hi."

"What happened?" He groaned, trying to sit up. Hot pain shot through his ribs, and he gasped.

"Easy," Dumbledore put his hand out gently. "You've broken many ribs. Madame Pomfrey nearly had a conniption when she saw the state of you."

James suddenly realized why the room looked familiar. He had spend many nights in this bed after Quidditch matches. Bludger's catching his arm as he was just about to throw the Quaffle through the goal posts... he was in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. "Where's Sirius?"

Dumbledore and Lily exchanged a look. "James," Lily bit her lip. "He's been arrested."

"Arrested?" James cried. "How?"

"The ministry found him amongst the rubble of the building that had been destroyed. He had been laughing quite maniacally."

"Why was he arrested?" James protested. "Peter destroyed it!"

"They have no proof that Peter was even there. The Order is operating outside of the law. If the Ministry knew that we have been keeping tabs on some of Voldemort's Death Eaters without letting them know, we would all get arrested."

"But Sirius will be sent to Azkaban!" James struggled to get out of bed. His wife was strong, as she pushed him back down against his struggles. "When's his trial?"

"James," Lily said quietly. "He's already there."

James stilled. "He's already there?"

Lily nodded, tears slipping down her face. "He was sent this morning. There's nothing we can do."

James lay back against his pillows, his face emotionless. "Does Remus know?"

"I've sent Remus undercover to a werewolf pack." Dumbledore went and looked out the window.

"Why?"

"To recruit. To show that being a werewolf is not a curse."

James barked out a sarcastic laugh. "Says the man who's not a werewolf. You don't know what Remus goes through every month. You will never know." He looked Dumbledore up and down. "You will never understand."

"James," Lily pleaded. "Stop." Dumbledore held up a hand. "No, Mrs. Potter, he's quite right." He looked James in the eye. "I had no right to say that." He bowed to them gently and glided out of the room.

"James!" Lily glared at him. He felt his stomach clench with guilt. "How could you?"

"He didn't even try to save Sirius from Azkaban. And he's sent Remus to a place where he could be killed."

"He did what he could, James!" She cried. "He's done so much for us! Hidden us, protected us! Harry wouldn't be here..." she sobbed.

More guilt roiled in his stomach. He reached out, but Lily batted his hand away. "Give me time." She walked hurriedly out of the room.