DISCLAIMER: I own no part of the Harry Potter books, films, etc. Everything belongs to JKR/Warner Bros.

Yeah, the title is kinda rubbish – I couldn't think of a better one…

So, this is my first (possible) slash – it's probably going to be terrible. Please forgive me for that and I'll try to improve. So, tell me what you think and I will hopefully improve upon my writing :)

All bits from the book(s) are in bold.

The Meaning Of Family

Chapter One

'…Me too.'

'Where'd you get that?'

'Nicked it,' said James casually. He started playing with the Snitch, allowing it to fly as much as a foot away before seizing it again; his reflexes were excellent. Wormtail watched him in awe.

Lupin had pulled out a book and was reading. Sirius stared around at the students milling over the grass, looking rather haughty and bored, but very handsomely so. His dark hair fell into his eyes with a sort of casual elegance James's could never have achieved, Remus noted. He smiled to himself, feeling almost inappropriately over-interested for noticing such a small detail.

'Put that away, will you,' Sirius said, as James made a fine catch and Wormtail let out a cheer, 'before Wormtail wets himself with excitement.'

Wormtail turned slightly pink, but James grinned.

'I'm bored,' said Sirius. 'Wish it was full moon.'

'You might,' said Remus darkly. 'We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me. Here…'

'Alright,' Sirius sighed. 'Give it here.' He reached out for Remus's book, rolling his eyes, but was unable to conceal a grin. It was a strange sort of smile, almost… private. As if it wasn't for James or Wormtail to see. Remus could still picture it, that easy yet half-shy smile…

And he smiled back.

And suddenly it was just the two of them, James and Peter had somehow melted away into the bright, sunny June background. It was only the two of them, alone together. Sirius dropped Remus's book on the grass and leaned forward, uttering the other's name through soft, half-closed lips.

'Remus…'

'Remus!'

'REMUS!'

He woke up and sat bolt upright.

'What's wrong? Is it Peter? Not Lily and James? What's happened?'

'I – I don't know. Something feels wrong. We need to go.'

'What's happened? We came as fast as we could!'

The two of them had hurtled to Godric's Hollow as fast as humanly possible, Remus pulling on his shoes and running out of the door without stopping to get dressed or even throw on a coat. There hadn't been time – the wild urgency in Sirius's eyes had told him that they must go, they must leave right away, lest the worst had happened and they were needed immediately. Remus didn't even notice the goosebumps on his arms as he and Sirius skidded around the corner and rushed towards a small wooden gate just as a silver-bright bird faded into the dark night. Suddenly Sirius fell back, almost collapsing into the other's arms.

'Oh no, oh no, no, NO!'

Sirius's desperate cry frightened Remus. It expressed a kind of terror and agony that physical pain could not cause, and he knew, without having to look, that the worst had happened… But it wasn't true, surely… It couldn't be true…

The house was devastated. The roof was missing and half of the second floor had been blown apart. Bricks that had once been part of the wall of the smallest bedroom had fallen twenty feet onto the ground below, toppled in heaps like fallen soldiers. The door had been blasted apart; clearly he had not stopped in his march to murder. How could this happen? How? Why them? Was it because they had been in the Order of the Phoenix? They had known they were in danger… And yet they all knew that they were all in danger, that opposing Voldemort meant a high risk of fatality… And yet he had chosen to visit the Potters personally… He had not gone to any of the houses belonging to any other Order members… he had gone straight to theirs… WHY? Why Lily and James?

He could do no more than hold Sirius and stare up at the ruined building in front of the two of them – the ruins of a house… a home… a life…

…And yet, where was the Dark Mark? What was going on?

This wasn't a normal attack…

Suddenly a monumental figure turned and walked towards them – at first Remus stumbled back, wild thoughts of Dark wizards and Death Eaters, giants and Inferi, but as moonlight hit the figure he realised it was Hagrid, and breathed a sigh of relief.

But wait – what was Hagrid doing here?

No… It couldn't be…

'Hagrid?'

'Remus? Remus! Oh thank Merlin someone actually got Professor Dumbledore's Patronus! Yeh get here alrigh'? God, it's awful… Jus' awful…'

It was definitely Hagrid – he recognised the dustbin lid hands and the strong accent; Hagrid couldn't be a Death Eater in disguise because the only way he could do that was Polyjuice Potion, and of course that was designed specifically for human use – Hagrid, being half-giant, could not be impersonated.

'What happened?' Remus said weakly; it wasn't so much that he wanted to know – he really didn't – but that he felt an obligation to ask. Besides, somebody had to say something, and all Sirius seemed to be capable of was gaping in horror and leaning heavily on his friend. Hagrid didn't seem to want to reply, but there was a mutual understanding between the three – they had to find out why Lily and James had been targeted.

'He… he came here an' – an'...' Hagrid broke off, loud, heavy sobs breaking through the tense night air. After a few silent seconds, Sirius spoke, the first time he had done so in several minutes.

'Harry too?' His voice was hoarse, tense and desperate. Remus knew how he must feel. Not only was his best friend dead, but his godson as well. It was surreal, Lily and James couldn't be dead, they just couldn't. And Harry, Harry who was only just one year old –

Crack.

The sound penetrated the night air like a gunshot, and the three men turned immediately towards the sound, Sirius and Remus drawing their wands so fast their hands were blurs too quick to follow.

A tall man dressed in sweeping purple robes and high-heeled, buckled boots swept across the deserted street with a sort of refined purposefulness. His bright blue eyes were flashes of fire, and his silver hair and beard streamed out from behind him. He too had his wand drawn and pointed at the group in front of the house.

'Who goes there?'

It was not so much an inquiry as a demand. Sirius and Remus took a couple of reflex steps back – the man did not look like one to cross. Sirius opened his mouth, but it was Hagrid who spoke first; he sounded relieved and yet also a little nervous.

'Professor Dumbledore, sir, it's me, Rubeus – an' Remus an' young Sirius Black. These two came as soon as they got yer Patronus message –'

'Ah yes, I sent one to all the Order. Where are they?' Dumbledore was at once alert and suspicious. Without waiting for an answer from any of the party he strode up to Sirius, his wand inches away from the young man's face.

Sirius backed further away, but Dumbledore grabbed him by the collar and pointed his wand in Sirius's face.

'What –?' Remus began, but he was cut off by Dumbledore.

'What were the last words I said to Sirius Black?'

'"I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to protect Lily and James",' Sirius responded quickly. 'But you didn't, did you?' he added bitterly.

'I did everything in my power, as I swore to you I would,' Dumbledore replied. He looked Sirius in the eye and asked quietly, 'Was it you?'

Sirius met Dumbledore's gaze with his own angered glare. 'As if I would ever betray James and Lily,' he said, his voice soft and dangerous, venom lacing his tone.

'But that doesn't answer my question.'

Remus looked from Dumbledore to Sirius in disbelief. What on earth was going on? Why would Sirius betray their two best friends – how could Dumbledore even consider the possibility of that crossing his mind?

'I would rather die than betray my friends, and I did not betray Lily and James to Voldemort,' Sirius hissed. 'How could you even think that I would?' His voice was suddenly disbelieving, and Remus was inclined to ask the same question; but he was unable to as, a second later, Dumbledore's wand was suddenly turned on him.

'What feature was put in the grounds of Hogwarts the year that Remus Lupin came to Hogwarts and what was the reason for it?'

'The Whomping Willow was planted in the grounds of Hogwarts in 1971, the year that I, Remus John Lupin, came to Hogwarts. A passage from the Willow leads to the Shrieking Shack, where I was led once at month, at the full moon, to transform because I am a werewolf,' Remus answered, rather calmly, but almost as rapidly as Sirius.

'And did you betray the Potters?'

'I did not betray Lily and James – I gave you, Albus Dumbledore, my word that I would give my life to protect them and fully intended to keep my promise.' He gave Dumbledore a desperate look, a plea to tell them that it was not true. The older man understood, and nodded. It was slow and reluctant, but a clear, unmistakable nod.

'No,' Sirius whispered, and his voice broke. 'No!'

Remus couldn't bear to look at him. He closed his eyes and whispered, 'Harry too?' He wasn't sure why he was asking – if Voldemort had killed Lily and James, the chances that their baby boy had survived were pretty much nil, but Remus couldn't bear the thought that there was nothing left of the Potter family at all. He held his breath, waiting for the inevitable answer.

'Not Harry.'

Remus opened his eyes; he heard Sirius's sharp intake of breath, so he couldn't be hearing things, but how in the world could Harry have survived?

'W-what?'

'Harry survives.'

Remus and Sirius exchanged bewildered glances.

'But – it can't be,' Sirius breathed hoarsely. 'He – he's just a baby, for God's sake!'

'He survives,' said Dumbledore again, simply. 'I do not know how,' he added, as Remus opened his mouth to ask the obvious question, 'but I know that he survives.'

'But,' Sirius muttered, breathing softly, 'does that – does that mean –'

'I am afraid not,' said Dumbledore gently, cutting Sirius off. 'Lily and James are…'

'But then…' Remus frowned. 'Where is Harry?'

A sudden scraping noise, like loosened gravel, caused both Sirius and Remus to turn around sharply, wands drawn and ready to attack or defend, whichever was called for. Dumbledore, on the other hand, shook his head and walked calmly towards Hagrid, the existence of whom had been forgotten by the other two in the events of the past ten minutes. He was holding something in his gigantic arms, cradling it, tenderly, softly, like one would hold a baby. Dumbledore took the object (although Hagrid seemed reluctant to let it go) and turned back towards Remus and Sirius, who looked down to see a pile of blankets nestled in their former headmaster's arms.

'Is that –?'

'It is. Now I have a question to ask you, Sirius,' Dumbledore said. He too had been looking down at the pile of blankets he was cradling, but now looked Sirius full in the face. Sirius looked back from under his lashes, guessing Dumbledore's question, but unsure of whether to voice his answer yet. The latter took advantage of the momentary silence to speak.

'Sirius,' he began, looking into the young dark eyes, shining with something that could have been fear or excitement or both, 'before you rush into this, I must warn you – I am not forcing you into anything, nor do I intend to make you feel obliged to do anything.' He paused. 'Understood?'

Sirius nodded.

'Lily had a sister, as you may or may not know, a sister who has a son of her own and who therefore has no qualms about parenting, I am positive. If you feel you would not be able cope then I assure you that Harry will be in safe hands with his aunt and uncle. However, Lily and James requested that, were anything to happen to them, you, as Harry's godfather, would be his guardian. I am sorry to put you on the spot like this Sirius, but we need to get Harry to safety as soon as possible, and so I request that you make a choice. Will you be Harry's guardian, and bring him up as your own under – I guarantee – the very best protection I can give you both; or would you rather he is take to his aunt and uncle, and brought up under their care and protection?'

There was a silence. Remus held his breath.

'I can't, I can't do it,' Sirius said finally. 'Take him to his aunt and uncle. They'll bring him up well, I hope.'

'You're sure?' Dumbledore asked.

Sirius nodded. 'I'm sure,' he said. 'I'd be a terrible parent, and anyway,' he added, with a sudden rush of anger, 'I've got something I need to deal with.'

This sounded ominous to Remus, and he grabbed Sirius's arm, but the latter shook him off.

'You can take Harry to his aunt's house on my bike, Professor. We came here on it, we didn't want to apparate, I wasn't sure if we were being watched,' he said to Dumbledore.

'Hagrid is taking him.'

Remus bit his lip. He didn't want to express his doubt of Hagrid right in front of the man, but everybody knew that Hagrid wasn't the most… careful person in the world. This, however, didn't seem to have crossed Sirius's mind.

'Hagrid, then,' he mumbled distractedly. 'Take him on my motorbike, it'll get you there fast. I'll get it, it's just around the corner. I won't need it anymore.'

He turned and walked briskly towards the corner, his face set as he tried not to think about James or Lily. Everything was happening so fast he didn't even notice that he was being followed until a hand was placed on his shoulder. He spun around, drawing his wand.

'Sirius!'

'Oh. Sorry. I didn't notice it was you,' he muttered, trying to turn away. Remus grabbed his arm again, holding on tightly this time so that Sirius couldn't shake him off again.

'What the hell are you doing?' he hissed, his tone as outraged as it could be through gritted teeth.

'I'm getting my bike for Hagrid,' Sirius replied, looking at Remus as though he half expected him to suddenly attack. Remus sighed in exasperation, and closed his eyes.

'Yes, I know, but why? You can't!'

'Remus, I can't cope!'

'And what is it you need to do?'

'Eh?'

'What's the something you've got to deal with?'

Sirius's mouth tightened, and his lips thinned momentarily. 'You want to know?' he asked; his breathing quickened.

Remus was aware that his friend's tone was dangerous. He proceeded with caution, but proceeded all the same. 'Yes.'

'Peter.' The one word was spat out with more poison than to kill ten thousand men. Remus couldn't understand.

'Peter? What's Peter got to do with this?'

'Everything! Peter CAUSED this!' Sirius yelled, anguish and heartbreak mingling with the rage in his voice.

Remus frowned. 'What do you mean, he caused it? I don't understand.'

'I was their Secret-Keeper! When Dumbledore performed the Fidelius Charm James and Lily made me Secret-Keeper, they knew I'd rather die than betray them. But then…' His face crumpled for a moment but he remained composed. 'No, I was wrong to say Peter caused it. I caused it… I persuaded them to change Secret Keeper, don't you see?I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me… I'm to blame, I know it.'

'But… But why?' Remus said hoarsely.

'Don't you see? It was the perfect bluff! The Death Eaters were sure to come after me, I knew they would! But they could torture me and use Legilimency or Veritaserum – they could even kill me – and I wouldn't know. But… I went to Peter's hiding place, remember – I told you just before we got here.'

Remus nodded slowly. 'He was gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle.'

Sirius nodded. 'It didn't feel right. And when we saw the house, destroyed – I realised what Peter's done. What I've done.'

All he wanted to do was collapse into Remus's welcoming, tender arms, but he took a deep breath and grabbed hold of the motorbike's heavy handlebars, wheeling it back towards the ruined house.

Remus tried to comprehend all this. It was a while before he could move. Finally, he turned his head towards the sound of an engine roaring to life.

'Sirius – Sirius wait!' Remus called, but to no avail. He sprinted after Sirius and arrived outside the house just as Hagrid was slipping on a pair of giant flying goggles. Hagrid had Harry strapped to his chest in a baby carrier.

'Alrigh'? Let's go then!' Hagrid called over the engine's loud rumble.

He revved the engine and prepared to fly away.

So that's my first chapter. I'm aware it's a little action-packed and there isn't much of the characters' thoughts and feelings but that's going to come soon – I've already started writing chapter 2 (which is either good or bad – tell me what you think.) Please R/R :)