DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER.

Sometime after the massacres of the Bones and the McKinnons, Dorcas Meadowes and Emmeline Vance were wiped out along with their families. Remus took Dorcas' death hard, as he and Dorcas had been quite close to each other. It was hard for the family to have lost two of their close friends, and Lily cried for quite a long time one day until Harry started crying too. Lily stopped and went over to Harry, realizing that as much as she missed her friends, she needed to be strong for her baby.

After the massacres, the families affiliated with the Order had decided not to have any more play dates for some time until things got a little safer or they managed to find a safe way to handle play dates. Dumbledore had told everyone, especially the families with children to be more careful than ever and to hide.

Amelia and Susan had stayed in hiding in their apartment in Broadway, and Marlene had moved into an apartment in London where Severus had been living since the destruction of Potter Manor.

Currently, it was the 30th of October, and Sirius, Severus and Peter had decided to visit the Potters after an Order meeting that night. This time, Dumbledore had announced some grave news.

Sirius was pacing up and down in the living room. Severus was sitting in the couch opposite to the one on which James and Lily were sitting, with Harry in his lap, and Peter was sitting in an armchair adjacent and perpendicular to the couch.

Sirius had a grave expression as he spoke, "Dumbledore said tonight that there's a spy in the Order. I just can't believe it!"

Severus said, "Don't forget that Dumbledore's not the only one. He said that our agent has developed suspicions about the same. In fact, she's going to try to come to an Order meeting tomorrow night. Hopefully, she'll be able to find out just who the spy could be."

Sirius' expression remained grave. He stood still for a moment before turning to James and Lily and saying, "Dumbledore believes that the spy is someone close to us, close to you."

James was shocked upon hearing that and he said, raising his voice slightly, "That can't be! Who on earth could it possibly be?"

Sirius remained silent for a few moments and said slowly, "I know you're not going to like this, but you need to listen. I think Remus is a Death Eater now."

"What?" Severus nearly shouted, "That's impossible! Have you gone insane?!"

Lily cried out, "Why on earth would it be him? He loves Harry so much!"

Sirius explained, "Just think, he's not been regular with attending meetings, he often doesn't show up for quite long periods of time, recently he's been acting weirdly, and he's a werewolf. With Voldemort offering werewolves a better future, it's not impossible to suspect Remus."

Severus stood up and retorted, "Oh, so that's your explanation, is it? When you've known for years that he's a werewolf and have helped him every full moon night, when you know that Dumbledore helped him so much?! So now because he hasn't attended many meetings and doesn't show up for periods of time, you accuse him of being a Death Eater?! In that case, why can't we suspect Peter? He was gone last year for a pretty long time in October; he also doesn't attend many meetings, and he's also been acting weirdly at times! If you can suspect Remus on those grounds, why shouldn't we suspect Peter?"

Peter suddenly stood up and shouted, "HAVE YOU NO HEART AT ALL?! MY MOTHER IS ILL, MY FATHER IS DEAD, AND I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER! EVEN DUMBLEDORE KNOWS THAT, AND YET YOU DARE TO SUSPECT ME!"

Lily held Peter by the arms and spoke, "Peter, calm down, Severus didn't mean it like that. All he's saying is that just as we wouldn't suspect you, we shouldn't suspect Remus just like that."

Just then, Harry started to cry, disturbed by all the shouting. Severus took Harry out of the living room and into the nursery and tried to calm him down by rocking him. However, Harry would not stop crying until Lily finally came over and took Harry from Severus. As soon as she held Harry in her arms, he stopped crying and held his arms out to her. Lily kissed him and rocked him for a minute before letting him rest his head on her shoulder. She then carried him down and back to the living room, followed by Severus.

By then, Peter had calmed down, but as soon as Severus entered, for some reason, he tensed for a moment, which did not go unnoticed by the latter. Although Severus noticed it, he shrugged it off, thinking it was just the effects of the war getting to Peter.

A few minutes later, Sirius spoke, "Lily, James, I think I'm an obvious choice for a secret keeper. I think we should switch secret keepers."

Severus angrily spoke, "Oh, so now you just want to run away from this, is it? Have you no sense of…"

"Severus, listen to me," Sirius pleaded, a little bit louder, "It's not that I want to run away. It's just that I feel that I'm an obvious choice."

Severus' expression softened as Sirius explained, "It's no big secret that James and I are brothers in all but blood. I'm sure by now that Voldemort knows about James and Lily hiding under the Fidelius charm, with the spy being close to us. Since I'm the secret keeper and I'm James' brother, it's highly likely that Voldemort will come after me. I'm not afraid to die, but if he kills me, then everyone who knows where to find us can reveal the secret to anyone, which means that the spy will surely be able to tell Voldemort, and he'll be able to enter this house."

Severus' expression became pale as he realized what Sirius was trying to say. He slowly responded, "I understand what you're saying. Who do you have in mind for a substitute secret keeper?"

Sirius replied, "Peter Pettigrew. No one will ever suspect him. Voldemort will surely come after me, and yet he won't be able to get to Lily and James, even if he kills me."

James stood up and exclaimed, "Sirius, absolutely not! I can't lose my best friend and brother like that!"

Sirius responded sadly, "James, it's the only way. We have to keep this secret. We have to switch. Peter's not strong, and Voldemort will never suspect someone like him to be the secret keeper, but I'll be suspected. I'm an obvious choice, and I can't let that cause any harm to you, Lily and Harry."

Severus suddenly stood up and said, "No Sirius, this is not a good plan! What if the Dark Lord does suspect Peter? As you said, he's not strong. Sirius, James, Lily, let me be the secret keeper. I'm good at occlumency. Voldemort will never break me!"

Sirius turned to him and replied, "No Severus. You're also an obvious choice. It's no secret that you're Lily's brother in all but blood. Even Voldemort knows that. After me, he'll probably come after you. And if you die, then the spy will be able to lead Voldemort here."

Severus sat back down on the couch, his face having a pained expression as he realized the possibility that Voldemort would suspect him.

Finally, James said, "Alright. I see what you're saying Sirius."

Lily said, "Sirius, please take care of yourself."

Everyone now turned to Peter and James asked, "Peter, will you be our secret keeper?" Peter responded, "I'll do it. I can keep a secret. I understand why this needs to be done."

Severus said, "Peter, the lives of my sister, my brother in law, and my godson lie in your hands. Guard them to the death if you have to. I strongly suggest that you go into hiding as well, under the Fidelius charm. I know you may not like it, but we can't ignore the possibility that Voldemort will suspect you."

Sirius nodded and said, "I agree with you on that Sev. But we should tell no one about Peter's location, except for you guys of course and Dumbledore as well. We must keep the switch secret."

Severus frowned slightly and said, "We need to tell Dumbledore about the switch at the very least." Sirius shook his head and replied, "We can't tell anyone about this. For all we know, the spy may overhear us."

Lily said, "Severus, Sirius, Peter, whatever you do, please stay safe."

Harry who was still in his mother's arms, turned around and looked at Severus saying "Ev," before burying his face in Lily's shoulder.

And so it was that there was James and Lily made the switch in secret keeper from Sirius to Peter. Lily recast the Fidelius charm, and Peter Pettigrew became the secret keeper. Sirius, Severus and Peter then went to an apartment in London where Peter was staying (not the same building as Severus). Sirius decided to be the secret keeper for Peter and once the Fidelius charm was performed and the protections were complete, Sirius told Severus Peter's apartment location.

However, something was nagging Severus. For some reason, he had a feeling that making Peter the secret keeper wasn't a good idea. Somehow, he just couldn't help having a bad feeling about it. He thought, "What if Voldemort still finds out somehow?"

As soon as he had bade Sirius goodnight just outside Sirius' own apartment which was right next to his own, he made straight for the Potters' cottage.

He began to set up wards everywhere, around the house, across the street, and across two neighboring streets as well. He knew that if he was found out, everyone would say that he was paranoid, but he had to make sure that his family was safe. Once he finished setting up the wards, he went back to his own apartment feeling sure that if it happened that Voldemort knew the Potters' location and entered Godric's Hollow, he would at least sense it through the wards and hopefully be on time to warn James and Lily.