"Good morning," Alastor Moody said with a grin. He looked at Rose expectantly while Sirius stared at them dumbly.

"Do I have to say it?" she asked with a slight wince.

Moody laughed good-naturedly. "It's just a security precaution."

"Well, what if someone else had killed us both and received that letter? What's the point of the password?" Rose asked.

Moody looked at her as if she had just turned into a ghost. Then he burst out laughing again, his dark hair dancing around his face. "I guess none of us ever thought of that…"

"So, can we start the charm?" Sirius asked eagerly.

"Password?" Moody asked, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh, fine… but who came up with it anyways?" she asked.

"Not me," he replied instantly, smiling.

"'What's in a name?'" Rose said monotonously.

"'That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet,'" Moody replied dramatically. He chuckled. "Shakespeare… he was quite amusing."

"That play kind of sucked… Hamlet was way better," Rose replied.

"Are you talking about Romeo and Juliet?" Sirius asked.

"I've never heard a girl condemn it with such apathy," Moody said with a grin.

"It was sappy… and Shakespeare stole it from other writers, who in turn stole it from someone whose idea is now ruined," Rose replied.

Her statement was met with silence. Sirius raised a brow. "You read too much into things…. Now can we get on with the charm?" he pleaded.

"Right… the charm!" Moody took out his wand. "Who will be your Secret Keeper?"

"Him, of course," Rose said. Moody turned to Sirius, who could only gape.

"Me?" he asked.

"No, the tree," Rose replied. Moody laughed. "Of course I mean you! Unless of course you don't want to do it…"

"But I think the tree is much better suited for the job," Sirius replied, his eyes full of excitement. Moody laughed. "But if I must," Sirius said like a martyr.

"Good, now… just move a little… there, perfect!" Moody said. Sirius raised his eyebrows at Rose. She smothered her laugh at the wizard's apparent delight in Sirius's ability to move a centimeter to the left. "Now, raise your wand hand and repeat after me. 'I, state your name, claim fully the responsibility of providing shelter to and harboring secret the location of the house of, state owner's name, in this sacred charm.'"

Sirius repeated every word solemnly. A golden sheen surrounded the house, growing brighter with each word. When Sirius finished reciting, Moody muttered something under his breath and flicked his wand. The golden light suddenly shot forward, aiming for Sirius. It entered through his back, at his heart and for a moment, a gentle wind encased him, lifting him two inches off the ground. With a blinding flash, it deposited him slowly to the ground.

"Wow!" Sirius breathed.

Moody grinned. "Amazing, isn't it?" he said. "Anyways… if you want to give anyone the address, you will have to write it down or tell it to them personally. And since this charm is supposed to be protection, if you do write it to someone, make sure you destroy it so that it won't fall into the wrong hands."

Sirius nodded.

"Well, good day to you both," Moody said with a small nod and a smile. With a loud pop, he Disapparted.

Sirius looked at Rose. They both burst out laughing. "That was pretty amazing…" Rose smiled. "Thank you."

Rose frowned in confusion. "For what? I think I should be the one to thank you."

"For trusting me."

Rose stared at him. I don't just trust you, Sirius… "Just don't hand my address out to strange looking people," Rose said. Sirius grinned.

"It's like you read my mind or something!" Sirius said, feigning astonishment. "But, okay… I'll try my best to resist temptation."

Rose rolled her eyes.

"What are we going to do for the rest of break?" Sirius asked.

Rose looked at him. What are we going to do after break, Sirius? Are we going back to being the way we were? Are you going to go back to her? "We could take a small trip."

Sirius grinned. A lock of dark hair fell rakishly over his eye. Rose reached up and brushed it back. What will I do… without you?