This is a story featuring Lily Potter who protects her son...

Part of the 'Are you crazy enough to do it?' Challenge

42. (Book title) No Greater Love

Chapter 1: Protection

Dumbledore's face was serious. 'According to the prophecy, a boy, born at the end of July, will have powers to vanquish the Dark Lord. Lord Voldemort is aware of this prophecy. He was told about at least parts of it, and plans to go after your family, and to kill Harry – and perhaps you two, too. We have to take immediate action.'

She nodded. Her face was pale, and she grabbed James hand more tightly.

'I suggest the Fidelius charm', Dumbledore went on. 'I assume you have heard of it?'

Lily nodded.

'Good. You should be moving house, and we will be securing this house with protective charms. However, true protection will only be provided with the Fidelius Charm. You only need a trustworthy secret-keeper…'

He looked from one to another.

'Sirius', James said immediatley. 'There is no better person for the job.'

Dumbledore looked from one to the other. Lily didn't look too convinced.

'What is it? Do you think Sirius can't be trusted?'

'I never said that!', she said emphatically. 'I merely thought… Don't you think Remus would be more suitable? I just have the feeling he's…' She searched for the right words.

James seemed to struggle with himself.

'You don't trust him completely, do you, James?', she asked quietly.

'How can you know whom to trust these days?', he said darkly.

'We do know for certain there is a betrayal, Lily', Dumbledore considered, 'information has been passed to the Dark Lord he couldn't possibly have been aware of…'

She stared at both of them. 'But Remus? It just seems so unlikely…'

She looked at James. 'It could be anyone else as well, James. Even Sirius-'

'Sirius? No way', James protested immediatley. 'Lily, sorry, how can you suggest he's-'

'how can you suggest it is Remus, James, one of your best friends? Mind you, speaking of friends, it could be Peter as well, or me! That way you can't trust anyone anymore!'

'What am I supposed to do about it, Lily? There is a traitor, undenyingly, and we can't throw around ourselves with information!'

She shrugged. 'Maybe not, but accusing one's friends? We can't fight this on our own, James.'

'I wasn't going to say that', he said, 'you know I don't think we… Anyway, I think it should be Sirius. He has proven he can be trusted…'

'May I point out that Voldemort might be expecting you to secure yourselves by the Fidelius charm, and that he is very well aware of your close relationship with Sirius, James?', Dumbledore said gently. 'Maybe it would be better if-'

'That's right', James interrupted. 'I haven't thought about that.'

There was a moment of silence, everyone making up his own mind.

'May I suggest myself as secret-keeper?', Dumbledore said, 'if you are agreeing that I am, at least, not the traiter?'

James smiled slightly. 'Thanks for the offer, but… I want to talk about this with Sirius.'

Lily looked at him, doubting.

'I trust him!', James empathised.

'Yes, yes, me, too… But James, we're loosing time here… Maybe we should make Albus secret-keeper, they would never get him.'

'No!', James said strongly. 'Not that we doubt you, you know that… But it would be the most obvious thing to do, wouldn't it?'

He looked at Lily. 'We'll talk to Sirius first.'

VVVV

'No, I don't think you should make me secret-keeper', Sirius said. 'Too many old schoolmates are Death Eaters now, they'll shoot directly on me. Not like I would ever give in, you know that, but if someone else kept the secret, it would give you even more time and safety.'

James nodded.

'How's this', he said slowly, 'we make Peter secret-keeper, -no, Lily, please hear me out-, and make it look like, even to Remus, that it's me, really. We'll tell noone but Peter. Believe me, Lily, it would be the perfect plan… A false trail. Noone could guess we'd make Peter secret-keeper, they'd think he hasn't got the brains… They wouldn't care for him.'

Lily stared at him. 'I don't know, Sirius… They'd have a point, wouldn't they? I mean', she said hastily, 'I like Peter and everything, but would he be able to-'

'I think', James said, 'Wormtail is capable of more than we might think. I think you're right, Sirius. It would be perfect.'

Lily hesitated. 'Okay', she said quietly. 'But let's tell noone but him. Not even Remus. Not even Dumbledore.'

James nodded. 'The less people know, the better. We'll tell some people from the order it's you, Padfoot, and that's that.'

Lily nodded, still looking worried. She was afraid of this plan, afraid that it might fail… But then again, should it fail, she knew what she'd have to do. She knew how to keep Harry safe. She took a breath. It was time to leave.

TBC...