Summary: When Sirius finds out that Peter betrayed the Potter's, he rushes over to their hiding spot, getting there right before Voldermort does. With little time to get them to run and hide, Sirius does the only thing he can do, despite what James and Lily beg him not to. He takes on Voldermort by himself.

Angst Warning: Very angsty

Mature Warning: Some gore, a few curse words

Ships: Jily, Starbucks (Bromance)

Sirius Black knew something was up the moment he got to his friend's hiding spot. It just seemed... dead. And not a good kind, a bad kind. What if something happened?!

Sirius pushed open the front door, shocked to find it unlocked. The house was dark and eerie and Sirius pulled out his wand to give off some light. He slipped in, scared of what he was going to find. But, after wandering for a few minutes with no signs of Peter and no signs of a struggle, Sirius began to worry. Where was Peter? The hiding spot was safe and secure. Peter wouldn't just up and leave unless he had to. But if he had to, then the house would be a mess. Papers would be scattered around. Glass would be shattered. Desks and drawers and other furniture would be pulled out and flipped. Yet, the house seemed to be in mint condition.

Sirius couldn't help but shake the feeling that something was wrong. But instead of jumping to conclusions like he normally would, Sirius walked around the dead, still house one more time, looking in every possible spot for Peter. He walked around upstairs, searching. Nothing. It wasn't bonding well with Sirius. It shouldn't be like this. There should be a struggle. Peter should be here. Unless... no, he didn't, he couldn't... right?

Sirius was barely even aware of what he was doing as he got onto his flying motorbike and booked it as fast as he could to Godric's Hollow, begging, praying, hoping to be wrong. Maybe there was something he wasn't thinking of, something that made sense. Something that would mean that Peter didn't betray them.

Sirius almost fainted in happiness when he saw that Godric's Hallow looked fine. He flew his bike down to the house he was begging to be safe and it was. It looked perfect, just sitting there against the black, millions-of-stars sky. Sirius grinned, making sure his bike was safe and sound, leaning against the fence. Maybe he was overreacting. But where was Peter and why was there no sign of a struggle? Sirius knew there was no other answer. Peter had betrayed them.

Sirius ran up the walkway, smiling as he looked in the front window that looked into the living room. He saw his friends, James and Lily, both sitting on the floor, playing with their fifteen-month-year-old son, Sirius' godson, Harry. Sirius grinned. This was exactly the image that he wanted for the Potters. They deserved it all. But he didn't have time to smile and look at the picture in the window. He ran up to the door and began pounding on it.

From the small part of the window that he could look in, Sirius saw James stand up and slip to the window, ever so slightly, looking confused as he peered out. When he saw Sirius, instead of smiling, like he normally would, he looked confused. And panicked. And scared. Sirius waited by the front door. It opened and James stared out at his friend, confused, scared, and shocked.

"Hey, Prongs..." Sirius greeted his friend.

"What are you doing here, Pads?!" James hissed to his friend. "You aren't supposed to be here!" Sirius could see, over James' shoulder, Lily holding Harry, both watching the two of them.

"I know... but I just want to say that I just went to check on Pete and he wasn't there but there's no sign of a struggle and I'm worried... I'm worried that he-" Sirius trailed off, seeing something out of the corner of his eye. He snapped his head to it, begging himself to be wrong. He wasn't. "Peter betrayed you two. He told Voldermort where you guys are. And he's coming right now."

James also noticed the shadowy figure. He turned his head to Lily, barking orders, "Lily, take Harry and run! I'll try to hold him off!"

"No."

James spun around to look at his friend in shock. Did Sirius just say no?

Sirius noticed the look of shock and fear on his friend's face. Sirius hated seeing his friend like this. He couldn't lose James. And which was why Sirius knew what he had to do, even if he didn't like it, even if he was terrified, even if he knew that he would never see the light of day again... it's for James and Lily and Harry a voice nagged. And that was enough.

"Go, James. I'll hold him off as long as I can."

"Sirius, are you crazy?! I'm not leaving you behind to fight him! He'll kill you!" James had tears streaming down his face. James Potter was not a crier. But when your best friend and brother was ready to face death to save you and your wife and kid, it was hard to not cry. "I'll stay.."

"No. Fucking. Way." Sirius growled at his friend. Voldermort was getting closer. "I can't lose you. You have to go. Get Harry and Lily and get to safety. I'll hold him off. It won't be for long, but it would give you enough time to hide, okay?"

"Padfoot..."

"No, Prongs. Listen to me, if you stay and fight with me, we'll both die and Lily and Harry will be in danger. Even if they somehow survive... they need you, okay? It's going to be okay, James... go. It's fine... I... You and Lily and your parents...? You all took me in when no one else would. You gave me a real family, love I couldn't imagine, a life that was filled with love and happiness and wonder... you saved me. It only seems fitting I do the same thing for you. Let me make it up to you, James. Go."

James opened and closed his mouth. Voldermort was almost by the gate, shocked at the motorbike that was leaning against the fence. He stared at it, giving Sirius and James a few more moments. "Padfoot...?"

"I love you, James, like a brother. You're the best friend I could ask for." Sirius flung his arms around his friend, never wanting to let go but knowing he had to. "Whatever happens... well, we'll see each other sooner or later..."

"I love you too, Sirius... You were the best friend I could ever ask for too... I..."

" I hope that whatever happens tonight, however, the outcome is, you and Lily and Harry will survive. Goodbye, James," Sirius gave his friend one more, sad smile and turned, ready to face Voldermort. And, shockingly enough, he felt ready.

He heard the door shut behind him, but not before he heard a whispered goodbye from James, one that brought tears to his own eyes. Sirius could only hope that James and Lily and Harry would find a spot to hide, or, even better, get out, surviving this even though he wouldn't.

Voldermort walked up the walkway to him, blasting off the gate and looking shocked when his eyes landed on Sirius. He stared at Sirius for a second. He lifted his wand, ready to kill, but pausing for a moment. "You are a fool," Voldermort explained. "You can't defeat me with or without a wand."

"I know that," Sirius growled. "But that's not why I'm standing here. I'm giving them time to run."

Sirius let out a laugh as Voldermort pointed his wand at him.

"Avada Kendra."

***

James stared at his friend for a moment or two, tears springing to his eyes as he closed his door, whispering a final farewell to his best friend before turning around to where Lily and Harry were. "Closet," he whispered, chocking on emotions and words. "Now."

"James..." Lily began.

"Both of you, come on..." James slipped over to wife and son, pulling both into the kitchen and into the closet/pantry area. Just as he pushed them in, he heard the awful sound of a gate opening. Without even knowing what he was doing, James closed his wife and son in the pantry. Lily looked just as shocked as he felt.

"James! What are you...?" The rest of it was cut off as James pulled a chair to block the door. Knowing that there was no way he could survive fighting Voldermort, James grabbed his wand, anyway, ready to fight. That's when he heard the dreaded words and a body hitting solid cement. James shut his eyes. Sirius was gone. Furry built inside of him. His mind was on autopilot as he gripped his wand.

He wasn't sure what he was doing at first, but after a few moments, the familiar sensation of turning from human to animal overtook him. There, standing where James had been, was a beautiful stag. And that stag was angry.

You don't kill my best friend and get away with it.

***

Voldermort finally lost interest in the bike and walked up to the gate. He blasted it off, having too much fun, Sirius thought, and slowly made his way up the walkway, staring at the ground. Feet away from where Sirius stod, Voldermort finally looked up and almost took a double-take when he saw Sirius Black standing there.

Voldermort knew of Sirius Black. After all, it was his family that produced some of his most loyal followers. Sirius Black was the odd one out, the one that didn't like Voldermort, that liked Mudbloods and half-bloods. Voldermort knew that Sirius Black was on the other side of the war, but he was still shocked to find Sirius Black standing in front of the Potter's front door, wand in hand, glaring at him. Funny boy, thinking he could defeat me all on his own.

Voldermort didn't hesitate anymore. He pointed his wand at Sirius Black, muttering the cursed words. Sirius Black dropped dead, eyes wide and open, unseeing, but a smile on his face. Voldermort found that annoying. No one should die smiling. The should die in pain and fear. He killed Sirius Black and somehow, Sirius Black still got the better of him. Voldermort's mouth drew up into a snarl as he blasted off the front door, stepping over Sirius' immobile body and walking into the house.

He was ready for everything. The normal, someone thinking that they could fight him, alone or with help, to crazy, like getting attacked with glitter. What he wasn't excepting was to find a stag standing in the doorway down the hall, looking angry and ready to fight. Voldermort just stared at the deer in shock, having no idea what to do. He felt his wand fall to the floor, dropping it in shock, and bend down to pick it up. The stag took that as an opportunity to charge. Voldermort didn't have time to scream.

All the suffering and pain he had inflicted on others all came to a halt as that stag, that crazy, wild, beautiful, angry stag came running at him a hundred miles per hour. Voldermort opened his mouth to scream but the stag was on top of him. And just like that, the darkest dark lord the world had ever know, was crushed, by a crazy, angry stag.

***

The moment the door blasted off and Voldermort carelessly walked over the body of someone James loved with all his heart, James knew exactly what he was doing. Voldermort was grinning until he saw the stag. He looked shocked and confused, dropping his wand. As he bent down to pick it, James broke off into a ran, running as fast as his legs could carry him. Voldermort opened his mouth the scream but nothing came out as James trampled over him.

James stood on him for a minute or two, making sure the job was done. He tried hard to not look at his dead friend's body, but it was hard. Sirius's eyes were wide and opened, still the same stormy grey that James had watched over the years, staring at nothing, never to see again. James turned his head away, unable to look at the picture any longer.

James turned, walking off Voldermort's broken body, turning back into a human, feeling the entire world about to crash on him. He heard a scream of triumph and a sound in the kitchen. He didn't go and investigate, through. He shut his eyes, taking a deep breath before opening the again. He was shocked to find Lily there, holding Harry, who was sound asleep in her arms, standing in the doorway where he had just stood moments ago. Lily had a look on her face. James turned from her, stepping over Voldermort's body as carelessly as Voldermort had stepped over Sirius' body and slipped out of the house, staring down at Sirius' broken, immobile body.

James felt his entire world shatter into a million pieces, pieces he knew were too small to put back together. James had known that with the war going on, it was going to be hard for the five of them to all survive until the end, but he had hope. Hope that no one would die that he cared about. And least of all, Sirius. Sirius didn't deserve that. After all the hell he faced with his family, James had always wanted to give Sirius the family and friends he deserved. And James knew that Sirius deserved a longer life.

James wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come. He didn't feel as sad as he thought he would, he felt numb. A cold, hard numbing feeling.

James sank to the ground next to his friend, knowing that it was no using but shaking his friend nonetheless, slow, at first, then fast. Nothing. Sirius barely even moved, only moving because James was shaking him like crazy. James let out a pained whimper, finally feeling sadness and pain creep in, and gently placed Sirius in his lap, brushing the hair out of his best friend's face. Sirius's stormy gray eyes were wide and staring, looking at nothing. James tried to ignore that, noting the smile his friend wore and despite himself, found himself giving a weak smile. Only Sirius would have to courage to laugh in Voldermort's face as he killed him.

James ran a hand through his friend's hair, wanting to talk to him but the words getting stuck in his throat. Why? Why did Pete have to do that to us? Why did Sirius have to be so loyal, such a good friend, that he was so willing to give his life for his friends? James had always loved Halloween. But now, Halloween lost its meaning of happiness and fun. Now, it would only be a painful reminder.

James kept running his hand through Sirius' hair, knowing that Halloween used to be Sirius' favorite holiday too. Candy and dressing up and being as dramatic as he wanted to, they always seemed to celebrate Sirius' birthday, which was only three days after, on Halloween too. His birthday...

Even though they were in hiding, James and Lily still wanted to make sure their brother still had the birthday he deserved. But now, that was never going to happen. Three days shy of a birthday... and now Sirius was gone. The curse finally broke and James started to sob. Ugly, messy, loud sobbing. He sobbed, messily, over his dead friend, the one that meant so much to him. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned, seeing Lily and Harry, and sobbed even harder.

Lily sat down next to James, still holding Harry. James buried his face into Lily, sobbing. Lily wrapped one arm around James, rubbing his back, and held Harry in the other. Harry finally woke up, yawning. He looked around, looking like he was about to cry but then saw Sirius's body. Harry, being only fifteen-months, didn't know that Sirius was dead or even what that meant. All he knew was that he was seeing his godfather, the one he loved and missed so much since they went into hiding. Harry's face broke into a wide grin, "Pa-foo!" Before Lily could even react, Harry crawled out of her arms and onto Sirius, still grinning wildly.

Lily felt what was left of her heart shatter and break as her son stared at his godfather's lifeless body, confused. Harry sat on Sirius's chest, still grinning. "Pa-foo! Pa-foo! Pa-foo!" Lily went to grab Harry, but he crawled away, closer to Sirius's head. "Pa-foo?" Harry playfully hit his godfather's face. "Pa-foo!" Sirius didn't stir. "Pa-foo? Pla? Pla?"

Lily reached and grabbed her son, putting him on her lap. He looked confused, trying to look over his shoulder at Sirius. "Pa-foo no pla? Pa-foo pla!"

"No, Harry... Padfoot can't play right now." Or ever again Lily added silently. Harry looked confused, before scrunching face and bursting into tears. Lily tried to comfort her son, but Harry just kept bawling. Lily blinked back her own tears. Both of her boys were crying and Lily had to stay strong for them. Harry may have no idea what was happening, but James did and that just made it so much worse. Even being together for years, Lily still was shocked when James cried. He never cried. Ever. And when he did, Lily knew it was bad. Which was why she was going to let him have a few final moments with his best friend.

"Hey... James?"

"Mm?"

"I'm going to take Harry in, okay? Send a letter to Remus about... what happened. And Dumbledore. It's going to be... it's going to be big news. I'll... I'll let you say your final goodbyes, okay?"

James didn't answer her. Lily sighed, understanding, and went back inside with Harry, making sure Harry didn't see Voldermort's trampled body.

James stared down at his best friend's unmoving body, the tears finally stopping. James moved towards Sirius, whispering to his friend for one more time, "It's all over, Sirius, the war... Voldermort... everything... and you helped..."

James' voice broke and he tried again, "Thank you, Sirius... thank you for saving our lives... Even without you around or even alive... You're still my best friend. Friends til the end, always and forever. Until we met again... stay safe."

Then, brushing a strand of hair out of his best friend's face, James gently placed his friend back on the ground and stood up, shaking. For a moment, James closed his eyes, taking a shaky deep breath, trying to calm his racing mind, heart, and thoughts. He knew that things would soon change. The house would be filled with Auors. Remus would be in tears and trapped in his own guilt. Peter would probably be found and given a trial, probably being sent to Azkaban with the other death-eaters. And he, James, Lily, and Harry would all move on with their lives. But James didn't know if he could. Not with Sirius gone, for good. Could he have saved his best friend from death? But, for now, everything was quiet and still and still fresh in his mind.

Tilting his head up to the sky, James looked around until he found the star he was looking for. His favorite. The dog star. The brightest star in the sky. The one that he knew and love. The one that meant one thing before this night but now, from this night on, would mean something different. It was bright, twinkling, seeming to be smiling down at him if stars could smile. Sirius.