The day had finally come. James, Lily and Harry were going into hiding. They were awaiting the arrival of Sirius at their house in Godric's Hollow. They had already said their goodbyes to all their friends, just in case anything happened. The hardest goodbye was with Remus, because the day they were going into hiding was the same night as a full moon. He had been incredibly weak when they went to see him and the goodbye and had been heartbreaking. None of them had wanted to say goodbye, of course, but because of the full moon it was all made just that little bit worse. Remus had promised that he would keep in contact by sending letters to them through Sirius and they had, in turn, promised to reply to all of them. Now they waited to give in to the fear that Voldemort created…

Lily came downstairs from putting Harry to bed and found James standing at one of the windows, wand in hand. James was incredibly tense and looked ready to spring if anything should happen. Lily wondered how long he had been standing there for.

'James?' Lily spoke softly but James still jumped at the sound of her voice.

'Bloody hell, Lils. Don't sneak up on me like that.'

'Sorry,' Lily was trying very hard not to laugh at the look on James' face but it wasn't easy. 'How long have you been standing here?'

'A while. I'm waiting for Sirius.' James turned back to the window.

'Oh, well that explains the wand and the jumpiness.'

'Sorry,' James muttered and turned back to her. 'I just can't believe that we're actually going into hiding. After all our talk about not wanting to give in to that fear, here we are.' James gestured widely around at the house.

'I know, but we have to. For Harry's sake.' Lily smiled sadly at her husband. 'Now, relax or I'll get nervous.'

'Yeah right,' James opened his mouth to add something else when they heard a knock on their door. At first they both tensed up but then they recognised Sirius' distinctive knock. James and Lily went to greet their friend and were mildly surprised, but happy, to see that Peter was there as well. Once they were all inside James asked 'Pete, what are you doing here? Not that I mind or anything.'

'Well, ah…' Peter glanced at Sirius.

'I can explain,' Sirius jumped in. 'I don't think you should have me as Secret Keeper,' here Sirius raised a hand to silence James. 'Hear me out, okay? I don't think you should have me as Secret Keeper because it's too obvious. Everyone knows that I would be your first choice for the job and they'd come after me. Now, I would rather die than betray you which is why I don't want to run the risk of them coming after me and trying to force your location out of me. That's why I reckon you should use Pete. They'd never suspect that you'd make him your Secret Keeper so they'd never go after him. It's more logical to use him.'

Silence followed Sirius' little speech, and even Peter was looking surprised. Sirius had told him all of this already but he still found it hard to believe that Sirius hadn't suggested Remus instead. It's what he would have done. Peter could tell that James and Lily were thinking the same thing.

'Okay, I'll admit that it makes sense. But, and no offence Pete, why not Remus? Why Pete?' James said. Peter pretended not to take offence. Sirius suddenly looked very uncomfortable.

'You don't trust him,' Lily said finally. 'You don't trust Remus, do you, Siri?'

'What? Of course he trusts Remus. Right, Padfoot?' James stared at Sirius who was looking at the floor. 'Sirius?'

'I do trust him,' Sirius looked up at them. 'I do, honestly, but it's just that Remus is a werewolf and…'

'That's never mattered to you before.' James said angrily.

'It doesn't matter to me. But Voldemort is trying to recruit werewolves, you know that, James.'

'Yeah, but this is Remus we're talking about. He'd never join Voldemort.'

'I know that,' Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair. 'But they are recruiting and they'll try to get him on side and if he's your Secret Keeper than they'll know.'

'Sirius, you sound utterly ridiculous.' Lily said. She was about to say more when Harry started crying. 'I'll get him.' Lily said to James before he had a chance to say anything. Lily climbed the stairs quickly not wanting to hear the rest of the boy's conversation. Lily picked Harry up out of his cot and sat down in the rocking chair in the corner of the room and began singing to him:

'Hush, little baby, don't say a word
Mama's gonna buy you a mockin'bird

If that mockin'bird don't sing
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring

If that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass

If that looking glass gets broke,
Mama's gonna buy you a billy goat

If that billy goat don't pull,
Mama's gonna buy you a cart and mule

If that cart and mule turn over,
Mama's gonna buy you a dog named Rover

If that dog named Rover won't bark,
Mama's gonna buy you a horse and cart

If that horse and cart fall down,
Then you'll still be the sweetest little baby in town'

Lily gently kissed Harry's forward and ignored the tears on her cheeks. Lily sat there quietly for a few minutes, staring down at her beautiful little boy. Lily didn't think she had ever known such happiness and such sorrow at the same time. The birth of Harry had brought her so much joy and now she felt as though she was beginning to lose him all because some woman she had never met had spoken some silly words. Lily wasn't ready to say goodbye to her boy or her life just yet. And yet, somehow, she knew that she was. Lily very carefully lay Harry back down in his cot.

'You are the most beautiful little boy I have ever met and one day you're going to do something so good that our entire world will know your name. I just wish that I will still be alive to see it.' Lily kissed Harry's forehead again and went back downstairs. The three men were sitting at the kitchen table, clearly waiting for her to get back. It was also clear that James still wasn't sure about all this. Lily sat down and waited.

'I know that you aren't sure about this, James.' Sirius broke the silence. 'But you know I'm right. They'll guess that you used me as your Keeper and they'll try to force it out of me. Remus would never willingly betray you either, but he is a werewolf and Voldemort would use Greyback to get to Remus. No one will suspect that you used Pete and so they won't go after him. It makes sense to use him as Secret Keeper.' Sirius spoke slowly to make sure that James was listening.

'James, I agree with Sirius,' Lily said ignoring the glare James shot at her. 'I trust Remus with my life but if Voldemort guesses that we used Remus as our Secret Keeper then he'll send Greyback after him and you know what will happen then. Peter won't arouse any suspicion and so he'll be safe. Plus, he wouldn't willingly tell Voldemort our location.' Lily glanced at Peter to make sure that he had heard her. Lily still wasn't entirely sure about Peter but she believed that if he knew she trusted him so much then he wouldn't do anything to betray them.

'Lily's right, Prongs. I would never betray you or Lily.' Peter spoke with such force and conviction that everyone believed him.

'I know, Wormy,' James took a deep breath and hoped that Remus would understand. 'Okay, then, Pete. You're Secret Keeper. Now, let's hurry up and do this thing before anything happens.'

Sirius stood back and watched as Peter was charged with the secret of James and Lily's whereabouts. He sincerely hoped that he hadn't made a mistake. With the spell complete all that was left was to say goodbye. Sirius and Peter both said goodbye to Harry first and then joined James and Lily in the hallway. The two of them would leave by Apparating.

'This isn't goodbye,' Lily spoke first. 'We'll still write to each other. And then when this is all over we'll see each other and have a big party to celebrate.' Lily smiled warmly and hugged Peter then Sirius. 'Take care of yourselves, okay? And make sure you tell Remus about this change. He said that he'd send us letters through you, Sirius.'

'Yeah, we'll tell him,' Sirius said. 'Well, I'll see you later, Prongs.' The two men embraced.

'Yeah, you too, Padfoot. Don't do anything stupid, yeah?' James' voice was thick with emotion.

'I'll do my best.'

James nodded and turned to Peter. 'Look out for them both for me, Wormtail. And make sure you come to see us at least. I'll go mad if I've only got a baby and a woman to talk too.' James laughed.

'I'll come by as often as I can.' The two embraced. 'See you later, Prongs.'

'Yeah,' James drew a shuddering breath. 'Well, have fun tonight.'

'Won't be the same without the stupid stag there,' Sirius laughed. 'Look after him, Lil.' Sirius hugged Lily again. 'I'll come by when I can to check on James for you.' He added in a whisper.

'Thank you.' Lily said.

With all of the goodbyes said, Sirius and Peter smiled at their two friends and Aparated. The house suddenly seemed to quiet and James and Lily wondered how on earth they would get through this.

…

Sirius and Peter arrived at The Three Broomsticks a few minutes before Remus. They ordered three Butterbeers and sat in their usual booth. There was silence between the two of them until Sirius said something unexpected.

'Wormtail, do me a favour. Don't tell Remus we switched.'

'What? But we told Lily we would.'

'I know but just don't.'

'What about the letters?'

'I'll give them to you so that you can pass them on.' Sirius glanced at the door and saw Remus come in. 'Don't tell him, Wormy,' Sirius glanced at Peter and saw him nod. 'Good. Oi! Remus!' Sirius yelled out, causing several other patrons to look at him. Remus saw them and made his way over.

'Hello. How'd things go, Sirius?'

'Fine. They went just fine. Here, drink up.'

Peter smiled throughout this exchange. He felt bad for not telling Remus but then he realised that maybe it was a good thing. He looked at Sirius and wondered what Sirius would do when James and Lily were killed by Voldemort. Peter decided to come up with a plan for his own survival before telling his master this wonderful news.