Hey Guys! So this is my first hp fanfic. I am a huge Harry Potter fan but never considered writing a Harry Potter fanfic until recently. Comments and feedback are appreciated and I hope that you'll like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series

And now, without further delay, I present:

One Thread Pulled

Chapter 1

The Plans of Albus Dumbledore

30thOctober, 1981

Sirius Black was not having a good day. The day had started off as all bad days often do – innocuously enough. He had woken up nursing a slight hangover – undoubtedly due to having a glass too many of Firewhisky at the Leaky Cauldron. Not that he really had a choice in the matter. Witnessing the state of the Longbottoms after Bellatrix's attack was enough to drive anyone to drink. Frank and Alice lay unresponsive, their expression vacant, convulsing occasionally. It had been too horrific for words. The entire sitting room in which the attack had occurred had been charred black. Their son, Neville had thankfully been unharmed. The Longbottoms had had the foresight to ward the nursery with family magic as a result of which Neville had been transported directly to Longbottom Hall the moment the wards had collapsed. He was now in the care of his grandmother Augusta Longbottom. A formidable lady, she had been stoic in her grief of losing her only son and daughter-in-law only a month after her husband's death.

The attack on the Longbottoms had really shaken up Sirius. It had hit him far too close to home for his liking. It had made him even more worried about the Potters. James, Lily and little Harry were also in hiding and seeing the way things were going, it was becoming increasingly likely that Voldemort would attack the Potters soon. His little godson, barely fifteen months old was in danger from the most dangerous lunatic of the wizarding world (though his cousin Bellatrix was a close second).

Just thinking about yesterday's events was enough to send a shiver down Sirius's spine. He had just gulped down a pretty large dose of the hangover potion (the headache was only worsening and the early morning sunlight did not make things much better) when Fawkes entered his London flat and perched himself on Sirius's dining table.

''Fawkes? What on earth is the matter? Did Dumbledore send you?'' asked Sirius worriedly. Had there been another attack? Maybe the Potters this time?

Fawkes just trilled and pulled at Sirius's collar impatiently, disappearing in flames. He reappeared in Dumbledore's office in a ball of flames with a very disgruntled young wizard with him.

Sirius glared balefully at the phoenix. ''You could have warned me, you know.''

Fawkes just trilled in reply and settled in his cage.

''Sirius my boy, how nice of you to come!'' exclaimed Dumbledore. He was wearing lurid pink robes which made Sirius want to wear sunglasses.

''It's not as though I really had a choice in the matter, Headmaster. Though I must admit I am curious as to why you called me so very urgently. Has there been another attack by any chance? Like the Longbottoms? Has any thing happened to James? Remus? Peter? Is anyone injured or has – ''

''Nothing like that my boy,'' said Dumbledore appearing surprising relaxed for someone who had sent a phoenix to kidnap somebody. ''As far as I know your friends are perfectly safe. There have been no attacks and to be honest I don't think that there will be any for some time now. Voldemort will be too busy gloating over the victory over the Longbottoms.''

'' With the help of my cousin no doubt! Bellatrix has tortured them to insanity!'' snarled Sirius. ''Speaking of which, how did the death eaters manage to bypass the wards? Hadn't you yourself set them up? Not that I am blaming you Professor, but how did Voldemort's cronies manage to bypass them?''

Dumbledore raised a placating hand to stop Sirius's tirade. ''It seems that Voldemort had dismantled the wards himself at first and was content to sit back and let his followers wreak havoc. But my dear boy I fear we are getting sidetracked. The attack on Frank and Alice was indeed a terrible tragedy but that it not the reason I called you here. I feel that there are some matters that must be brought to your attention before it is too late.''

''What matters?''

Dumbledore looked terribly grave. ''There is no easy way to say this Sirius but I have reason to believe that Remus has switched sides. It seems that Voldemort has convinced him to join him. Due to Remus' knowledge as both a werewolf and a wizard, he will undoubtedly be a valuable addition.''

''That's preposterous! Remus would never do that! He would rather die first!'' yelled Sirius incensed.

Dumbledore shook his head sadly. ''I understand your denial regarding this, Sirius, but I have got reports from my sources that Remus was seen in deep discussion with Fredrick Greengrass in Knockturn Alley who is a well know death eater. In addition I have evidence in terms of written correspondence between Remus and Avery. I am terribly sorry Sirius, but it seems as though Remus had switched sides.''

Sirius shook his head stubbornly. ''Have you told James or Peter about this Headmaster? What do they have to say about this?''

Dumbledore sighed. ''Alas! I have not got around to informing James about this. I will be telling him about this soon though, probably next week. As for Peter, he is on a mission at the moment and will be back in a couple of days. It seemed more prudent to tell him about this later rather than distracting him from his task at the moment.''

Sirius stood up. ''I think it is best that I take your leave now Headmaster. You have indeed given me a lot to think about.''

''Of course my dear boy, take all the time you need. I understand that it has been a big shock. You will be coming for the order meeting next week, I hope?''

''Yes, I will.'' Said Sirius distractedly and walked out of the office. His mind was spinning. It could not be! Remus could not have switched sides. No, Dumbledore was wrong about Remus and Sirius was going to find out what exactly was going on. He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not see the triumphant glint in the old man's eye as he left.

Dumbledore smiled as the door closed. The plan had gone absolutely flawlessly. Sirius would undoubtedly be shaken up by Remus' betrayal and with James in hiding would come to him for guidance. It would prove to be immensely useful once Orion Black was dead. He would not live long, that was for sure. Not if Dumbledore had anything to do with it. It had been too easy. All it had taken was to substitute Orion's Firewhisky with an undetectable poison by his house elf that had been placed under the Imperius Curse. The poison had been Dumbledore's own creation in his youth with the help of his lover Grindelwald.

If everything went according to plan, the present Lord Black should be dead by Christmas. With Regulus dead, the title would undoubtedly go to Sirius as there was no other male member of the Black family left. The Blacks were a politically well-connected family and it would be of immense help to Dumbledore if he had complete control over the Lord-in-waiting.

Sirius would prove to be malleable once James was out of the picture. Voldemort would undoubtedly kill the Potters tomorrow since Peter had given him the Potters hideout. If everything went according to plan, James and Lily would be dead by tomorrow and if Harry Potter was the child of the prophecy (as Dumbledore was sure he was) he too would be perfectly moldable and become the weapon that Dumbledore intended him to be.

It had been a stroke of genius on his part to insist that Peter Pettigrew become the Potters' secret keeper. Dumbledore had always been aware of the fact that Peter had taken the dark mark in his seventh year. In the beginning, Dumbledore had considered revealing Peter's true colours to everyone. However, he had ultimately decided against it. It might be useful to have a death eater within his ranks. How true it was! It was only due to Peter that Voldemort had got the location of the Potters and would set the prophecy into motion. It could have been Neville Longbottom who was the prophecy child but Frank had been too clever. Why on earth did he have to ward his son's crib? Dumbledore's plan had been so perfect too! The Longbottoms had not used the Fidelus charm. Dumbledore himself had dismantled the wards of the Longbottom property about a week ago and was impatiently waiting as to when the death eaters would act on the 'anonymous tip' given to them.

Anyway, there was no point crying over spilt milk. It was anyway much more likely that Harry was the prophecy child as he had been born after Neville. The prophecy would obviously end with Harry's death (whether that would be tomorrow or not was anyone's guess). He just hoped that James had not warded Harry's crib like Frank had. It would make the entire plan most inconvenient. If by some miracle Harry survived tomorrow, then Dumbledore would make sure that he had the same kind of childhood as Tom Marvolo Riddle did. That was the only way to make him the perfect weapon. And Dumbledore would be the one to finally defeat Voldemort and be hailed as the greatest wizard who lived once again. Which he obviously would as he was the master of the elder wand and the leader of the light.

Now the only thing left would be to convince Remus that it had been Sirius who had betrayed the Potters. Yes, thought Dumbledore. Everything was moving smoothly.

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