Changing Destiny

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. However, since Rowling discarded my favourite characters I picked them up and took them into my care to give them the love and attention they deserve...and occasionally give them reason to need that love and attention no matter how much they deserve it without needing a reason.

Summary: One different move in life can change the future completely; what if Sirius had made it to Godric's Hollow in time?

Warnings: Strong bromance, can't stomach boys being extremely close without it being sexual, then this is not the story for you and you should hit the return button.

Contains some character bashing; mainly Dumbledore and Fudge. Some light Hagrid bashing.

Special thanks to Kitty for beta-ing this story for me and giving me endless support and inspiration. Thank you for your endless patience with my grammar and for all the lessons you've taught me and are still trying to stamp into my brain.

Not a part of the A Bond of Family series!

Happy Halloween everyone!

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"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!"

James knew he'd not be fast enough to dive for the wand he had left on the table as Voldemort entered their house, nor would Lily be able to run far due to the anti-apparition wards around the house and he realised this was it.

There was no way they would make it out of there alive, not when Voldemort himself had shown up to kill them and a flash of fear rushed through him as he wondered what this meant for Sirius and Peter, had they been captured? Tortured or even killed already?

Resigned, he closed his eyes, regretting that he would not be able to see his son grow up or know what had become of his brother.

His last plea was for the safety of his son and that the magical protection that had been both his and his brother's birthright, indeed pulsed through his child's veins to keep him safe somehow.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A flash of green almost blinded him despite his closed eyes, but instead of being cruel and cold the voice had been panicked and oh so familiar to James.

He snapped his eyes open to see Sirius stand in the door opening, paler than a sheet and with his wand drawn.

"Siri..." his breathing stocked as his eyes fell on the body laying on the ground between them, a cloud of black smoke rising up from it and James dove for his wand even as a very familiar bluish white barrier appeared around him and Sirius shot off several spells.

He rolled out of his dive with his wand raised, but froze at the sight before him.

The black smoke was captured in the gas lantern James kept at the side table out of distrust for the Muggle electricity their house ran on and although the smoke banged viciously against the glass, it was unable to escape.

"James..." Sirius stepped around the fallen lamp as James rose to his feet and they met each other in a bone crushing embrace, relief surging through him to see for himself that his brother was alive and unharmed. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah..."

"Harry and Lily?"

"They're all right, too. How did you know?" He asked, allowing his brother to pat him down so he could assure himself he was truly all right, clearly feeling the same relief he did.

"Peter. I couldn't shake the urge to check up on him before I'd go into hiding myself, but the safe house was abandoned. James, there was no sign of a struggle or any scents aside of our own. He left of his own free will."

James swallowed thickly as he pulled Sirius back into a hug, a wave of betrayal washing over him as he realised what it meant. "I thought Riddle had somehow found him and tortured the secret out of him."

"I don't think that's the case," Sirius' voice was soft as if he, too, couldn't believe it. "When I realised you guys were in danger I immediately Apparated here."

"You hate Apparition," James choked out as it finally crashed down that if Sirius hadn't followed his gut feeling, he, his wife and their son would all have been killed and suddenly he was sobbing.

Sirius tightened his hold on him and James bent his head so he could bury his nose into his brother's shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent to help compose himself.

"Sirius!"

James felt Sirius shift him to his right so he could catch Lily as she crashed against him and threw her arms around him.

"Are you and Harry all right?" James asked as he unlocked one arm from around Sirius' waist to wrap it around his wife as well.

"Yes, I left Harry behind a protective ward. How..."

"Peter betrayed us," James informed her as he rubbed a hand over his face to remove any tear stains.

"Peter?...no..." Lily's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the body on the ground, but Sirius turned to him.

"Can you warn Remus?"

"Before he walks into a trap," James agreed, sending off a Patronus. "What is that thing?"

"His soul. James, I think he made a Horcrux."

"That is really vile and dark magic, Siri," James swallowed as Lily looked confused between them.

"A Horcrux is an object in which a dark wizard hides a fragment of his own soul. It basically means the creator's soul is anchored to earth if his body is destroyed," Sirius explained. "I think he might have made more than one, now that I think about it."

"More than one? Why do you think that?"

"Because he became so disfigured over the years," James realised. "Is there a way to be sure?"

"I think so, but I'd have to go see Arcturus Black to be sure."

"Can we trust him?" Lily asked.

"I don't think we have much of a choice, we could break in but I don't think we'd be unnoticed for long," James sighed.

"I don't think we'll have to think up a lie or break in," they both turned to Sirius. "He might be a bigot, but he's always been vocal in how he felt about Riddle's actions and he's against murder. If we tell him we need his library to research ways to remove Horcruxes, he might even be able to point us in the right direction."

"Let's first get Lily and Harry to safety and leave for Black Manor."

"We should take your invisibility cloak."

"I don't have it, Dumbledore borrowed it."

"Why?" Sirius asked surprised.

"He wanted to investigate something about it and asked me for it shortly before we went into hiding and I stupidly gave it to him."

"He should never have asked for it. He knew you were a target and that cloak is the best defence you could have," Sirius frowned. "So we bring Lily and Harry to safety, retrieve the cloak and then go to Black Manor."

"Let me retrieve Harry and pack a few essentials," Lily nodded.

"You pack clothes for the three of you, we'll take care of the rest," Sirius said as he turned and a sweep of his wand made everything begin to shrink and pack themselves in a bag he pulled out of the closet.

James watched Lily run upstairs before he followed Sirius' example, as he was aware it was unlikely they'd ever return to this safe house.

The familiar sound of someone Apparating made them both swirl around with their wands still drawn, but Sirius almost immediately relaxed. "It's Remus and he's alone."

"James! Lily!" It was indeed Remus whose voice rang through the broken door and James swiftly moved forward as Sirius lowered his wand and rolled his eyes but didn't stop him.

Stepping out of the house, he crossed the front lane and out of the Fidelius Charm, making Remus swirl around to him immediately.

"Swear on your magic that you've never betrayed us."

"What? I...I solemnly swear that I never have nor ever will betray either of you. So mote it be," Remus shot of a shower of sparks to prove he still had his magic and James lowered his wand.

"Sorry, I had to be sure," James swallowed, hating the distrust that had settled inside of him at even his closest friends.

"What happened? Your Patronus only said to come here as soon as possible; I was on a mission...Sirius..." Remus looked down as Sirius held something up, having come out of the Fidelius as well.

"Not here, read this and then follow us," Sirius ordered and James knew the moment Remus had read the slip of paper Peter had prepared the day they went into hiding as his eyes found the house.

"Why..." Remus shook his head as he followed them inside, eyes widening as he seemed to automatically sense the darkness of Voldemort's soul in the gas lantern and noticed the body. "What...what's that?"

"Riddle's soul. Peter betrayed us and it appears he's sold us out to him. If Sirius hadn't felt the need to check up on him ahead of schedule, we'd be dead now," James informed Remus shortly as Sirius finished packing, all the furniture disappearing into the bag until only the gas lantern and the dead body were left.

"Peter's the traitor?" Remus' voice was just as full of disbelief as Lily's had been and James nodded solemnly.

"We'll hunt him down to get answers later, first we need to make sure we get confirmation and rid ourselves of his Horcruxes," Sirius decided.

"Hor...what?"

James quickly explained what they were suspecting to Remus, who paled and glanced around worriedly.

"Lily is upstairs to retrieve Harry. Sirius arrived in the nick of time and saved our lives," James turned to Sirius. "Where do you want to take them?"

"A small cottage in South Yorkshire. I own the land the cottage it is build upon and I kind of bought the house in the hopes I could talk Remus into living there together as the apartment is rather claustrophobic," Sirius explained as he shrank the bags. "It's in the middle of nowhere and if we cast a new Fidelius Charm, it'll keep them safe while we look into this."

"You bought a house that you want to share with me? You do realise I have no money, right?" Remus raised an eyebrow.

"This is really not the time to get into money issues, Rem."

"Right, sorry..." a delighted squeal had them turn to see Lily carry Harry into the room, reaching out as he caught sight of his godfather and James breathed out relieved at seeing first-hand his son was all right.

"Hey pup," Sirius quickly covered the dead body before he pulled Harry into his arms, dropping a kiss into the soft dark hair as he turned so James could touch his son and hug him close as well.

"Daddy, Remy!" Harry cheered as he caught sight of them and happily waved; unaware of the danger they'd just been in.

"Hey buddy," Remus smiled as he came forward to accept a hug from the toddler, too, before the tiny hands reached out for Sirius again and James smiled as his brother cradled his godson close.

"Let's get going, we don't know who might be luring out there," Lily dropped the bags she had packed on the ground, clearly also aware they'd not be returning as she'd also caught the cat and had locked it in a cat carrier.

"I cast a ward several yards around the house to alert us if someone approached, only those keyed in will be able to enter as I've extended your anti-apparition wards to go beyond the Fidelius border."

"Of course, I should have known you'd never have let me retrieve Harry or let down your guard if you hadn't known we were safe right now," Lily apologised. "How are we getting to the new location?

"Portkey," James pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket as he had no dragon-hide gloves at hand and used it to pick up the gas lantern while Sirius turned a pillow into a Portkey.

"What about your bike?" Lily turned to Sirius as he drew a protective rune on the child's wrist.

"It's in my pocket; I shrank it when I arrived at the safe house so it wouldn't attract attention. I Apparated here."

"You hate Apparating," Lily raised an eyebrow and James bit his lip to keep from smiling at the repeated comment.

"Yeah well, I wasn't going to waste time getting here on my bike," Sirius tensed. "Someone just entered the outer wards."

"Can you tell who it is?" James shrank all the bags so he and Remus could pocket them all.

"It's Hagrid," Sirius said after a moment.

"How did he know to come here, the place is under the Fidelius," Lily gripped her wand more tightly and the rest of them followed her example as Sirius handed Harry over to Remus, the child falling silent as he noticed the adults were tense.

"And what is he doing here in the first place?" Remus asked as he cradled Harry close, shifting so he was standing behind James and Sirius as he knew they were the better duellists.

"Let's find out," Sirius allowed Hagrid to pass through the inner layer of wards as they all braced themselves.

The half-giant barged through the broken door, stopping in shock as he came face to face with four raised wands.

"Lily...James...yeh're alive!" he exclaimed in disbelief.

"Were you expecting us to be dead, Hagrid?" Lily asked coldly as she stepped forward.

"Dumbledore said You-Know-Who showed up and yeh're all killed," he stuttered out.

"Who told you the Secret?" Sirius moved to stand directly before Remus and Harry in a clearly protective manner.

"Dumbledore gave me a piece of parchment with the Secret on it, yeh should know as yeh were the one who gave it to him," Hagrid directed at Sirius. "An' the Headmaster knows everythin'."

"He seems to know a little too much," Sirius raised an eyebrow. "I didn't give him anything as I'm not the Secret Keeper."

"What? But Dumbledore said Sirius had given him the slip."

"We lied to protect the real Secret Keeper," Lily admitted as Remus glanced at Sirius confused. "It was a diversion to lead the traitor away from Peter."

"Peter...Pettigrew?" Hagrid blinked as he noticed the wands still aimed at him. "Why are yeh wands still drawn at me?"

"Because we don't trust you," Sirius told him bluntly and Hagrid looked at him shocked.

"I'm loyal to Dumbledore, yeh know that."

"More than anything and you don't ask questions when he tells you to do something, which is exactly why I don't trust you. Tell me Hagrid, what did you come here for tonight?" Sirius' voice was hard as he stared at the half-giant.

"Ter pick up Harry on Dumbledore's orders. He said the boy was still alive."

"And how did he know that?" Lily asked. "How did Dumbledore know Riddle showed up here in the first place?"

"I dunno..." Hagrid admitted as he looked at them all in turn. "But I'm so happy yeh're all fine."

"Only thanks to Sirius," James spat out. "I think it is high time we confronted Dumbledore about his lies and manipulations."

"In due time, brother," Sirius shook his head. "We have something else I'd like to take care of before we confront him, lest he tried to stop us."

"You think he would?" Remus asked and Sirius turned to him with a sigh.

"I don't trust him, not any more. Hagrid said Dumbledore told him I'd given him the slip; it tells me he knew Peter was the real Secret Keeper as I never gave him anything. What are the odds that he also knew all along that Peter was the traitor?"

"Yeh can't..."

"Sirius is right. Dumbledore clearly expected us to be dead when he sent you here, who knows what else he's known all along without telling any of us," James cut Hagrid off.

"Where were you supposed to take Harry? Hogwarts?" Sirius asked before Hagrid could speak up in Dumbledore's defence.

"Little Whinging, to yeh sister," Hagrid revealed.

"My...you were planning to bring my son to that woman?" Lily choked out. "Petunia hates magic; she and her oaf of a husband would make his life hell if they'd not just abandon him! You know how much she hates me!"

"Dumbledore said..."

"I don't care what that old fool said," Sirius bit out. "Harry's not going anywhere and even if we had been killed tonight, he would have gone to Remus and Minerva."

"He what?" Remus blinked surprised.

"It's in my will. If anything happens to me, the care of Harry would fall in your and Minerva's hands," Sirius revealed. "I assumed the Ministry would balk at you taking custody alone so I arranged shared custody, the laws say they have to agree to that."

"You...but you thought I was the traitor," Remus exclaimed.

"Not a chance in hell. I know you, you would never betray us," Sirius snorted.

"You couldn't know that! We never thought Peter would betray us either," James frowned confused as Remus seemed upset at Sirius' words.

"Unfortunately it's not the first time and a whole lot more likely than the idea of you betraying us ever would be," Sirius muttered.

"What do you mean, not the first time?" Remus' eyes narrowed.

"Not the time."

"Dumbledore said ter bring the boy to Little Whinging," Hagrid protested as Sirius picked up the Portkey.

"Dumbledore has absolutely no say in that as all three of us made Wills," James said.

"But Dumbledore is the head..."

"Of a school," Lily interrupted. "Not even as the Chief Warlock would he be allowed to interfere with a Will. He has absolutely no right to have sent you to retrieve Harry. Even if we'd have died, it is Sirius who is our son's godfather and would become his legal guardian."

"Not to mention, why didn't he send a capable wizard? No offence, but you are the last person I'd send to the scene of a Death Eater attack. And why isn't there a Healer to check Harry, cause Dumbledore couldn't have known what shape he'd be in," Sirius spat out.

"But he gave me orders," Hagrid spluttered. "He said ter bring the child to 'im, no matter what."

"Are you planning to take our son from us, Hagrid?" the anger in James' voice made Hagrid stumble back, aware more than one wand was still raised at him by four highly capable duellists who'd taken on giants before and won. "Are you so much Dumbledore's man that you would kidnap a child from his parents?"

"N-no...I don'...I..Dumbledore said..."

"I'm sorry Hagrid, but if you are loyal enough to that man to even think about taking a child from his parents like this, I cannot trust you to keep your mouth shut," Hagrid's eyes closed on their own as Sirius' wand washed a breeze over him.

"Grab onto the Portkey, we need to be out of here before he comes to again," Sirius ordered as he took Harry from Remus while James grabbed the gas lantern and Lily the cat carrier as they all held onto the Portkey.

The tug behind his navel wasn't entirely unfamiliar, but it didn't make it any more pleasant, James decided as he began to walk before they'd land, the others having done the same to prevent falling over.

"What did you do to him?" Lily asked once they had landed and Sirius bounced Harry lightly on his hip as the toddler began to cry.

"I modified his memory so that he thinks he found an empty house and can report that back to Dumbledore without meddling with our plans. I'm sorry, but I don't trust Dumbledore."

"I know, there are many things that don't make sense when it comes to Dumbledore and I think you might be right in that he's been manipulating us all," James sighed as he looked around, holding the gas lantern away from his son and Sirius as much as he could.

"All right, lets cast the Fidelius Charm so we can ensure it is safe before we discuss things properly," Sirius suggested.

"Right, who will..."

"I will," Sirius cut James off. "I should never have suggested that plan in the first place so I need to make it right."

"Don't blame yourself, it was a good plan even if I loathed the idea of you endangering yourself like that," James squeezed his biceps.

"Why didn't you guys tell me the truth that you'd switched?" Remus' voice held a hurtful note. "If you don't believe I would ever betray you, then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because we were trying to protect you. If you'd be captured on one of your missions, you could just let them shift through your memories and be killed. It would keep them from torturing you for the information if you did not know and try to hide it," Sirius admitted softly.

"You..." Remus' choked, tears appearing in his eyes as he stared at Sirius.

"Later, we need to make sure we get to safety first," James waved him off as he raised his wand and began the complex and difficult spell, the house disappearing before their eyes.

"Our hidden base is located at Marauder Cottage in South Yorkshire," Sirius told them quietly as James completed the spell, carefully cradling the drowsy toddler in his arms to carry him inside so he'd be automatically informed of the secret without having to be fully woken. "Let's get inside and put Harry to bed before we discuss everything."

"Sounds like a plan," Lily nodded and they quickly made their way inside.

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A/N: Since first reading the books, I've always been left wondering why on earth Sirius wouldn't Apparate to Godric's Hollow the moment he suspected something was wrong.

What would possess him to take his motorbike and travel that way instead of Apparating as we know Hagrid took Sirius' bike to deliver Harry?

I've always written it off as one of Rowling's not so well thought out mistakes, but for a while now I've been wondering what might have happened if Sirius had Apparated...and this is the result.