Chapter 23: The Secret-Keeper

Sirius rolled over trying to get comfortable in his bed. Half asleep his brain replayed his conversation with his reliable source. In his mind's eye he could see them tucked away in the corner table of the muggle restaurant, the shadow of the Eiffel Tower exaggerated in his memory. They exchanged pleasantries, wine and snacks, before digging into the purpose of his visit.

"I've heard there are Order targets. He suspects the Prewetts, but hasn't named them yet, being such an old family," said Sirius' source. In his dream the usual friendly face looked stern and oddly like a male Professor McGonagall.

"How much does he suspect?"

"Enough to be concerned."

The fourth glass of wine was poured. The second bottle opened.

"And it's confirmed- about the Bones family?"

"It's confirmed. Amelia Bones and her family were killed by You Know Who himself."

"Any other names in the rumor mill?"

"The Potters and Longbottoms have been mentioned. Of course that's no rumor. He's seen them himself, hasn't he."

"They've been named?"

Sirius drained his glass in a single sip. His source smirked- the way he always had even when Sirius had visited him over Black Family holidays in his younger years. Those years seemed a life time away from this moment.

"No, not named for death, but he's faced them twice now."

"Three times."

"Miraculous."

"No miracle needed," Sirius grinned. "They're that good."

"I can confirm the Prewetts have been mentioned, the Bones confirmed, and Caradoc Dearborn named. But for others I will need a week."

"A whole week?"

He missed Calamity and his own bed. His source raised an eyebrow.

"Five days is the best I can do. And another bottle of wine."

"Fine. But the last bottle is on you."

"Of course."

Sirius could hear a tapping somewhere outside his dream. It pulled him away from his memory as it's volume grew into a pounding in his ears. He rolled over and cussed under his breath, running his hands across his eyes. He looked around and spotted the owl berating the glass determinedly. He groaned and scanned the room for his bag. It was on the other side of the room. Blimey it was far away. The banging owl continued.

"Alright," Sirius barked. He opened the window and the owl dropped the letter, pecked him on the head (which did not help his headache) and flew out indignantly.

"Grimy bird," he snapped. He found his wand and accioed the bag over, digging in it until he found the vial of hangover cure Calamity had forced him to take with him. Thank Merlin she had, he thought with a smirk. He took the first sip and felt his head begin to clear. Still sipping he opened the letter and read.

Dear Padfoot,

Thank you, thank you, for Harry's birthday present! It was his favourite by far. One year old and already zooming along on a toy broomstick, he looked so pleased with himself, I'm enclosing a picture so you can see. You know it only rises about two feet off the ground, but he nearly killed the cat and he smashed a horrible vase Petunia sent me for Christmas (no complaints there). Of course, James thought it was funny, says he's going to be a great Quidditch player, but we've had to pack away all the ornaments and make sure we don't take our eyes off him when he gets had a very quiet birthday tea, just us and old Bathilda, who has always been sweet to us, and who dotes on Harry. We were so sorry you couldn't come, but the Order's got to come first, and Harry's not old enough to know it's his birthday anyway! James is getting a bit frustrated shut up here, he tries not to show it but I can tell - also, Dumbledore's still got his Invisibility Cloak, so no chance of little excursions. If you could visit, it would cheer him up so much. Wormy was here last weekend, I thought he seemed down, but that was probably the news about the McKinnons; I cried all evening when I heard. Bathilda drops in most days, she's a fascinating old thing with the most amazing stories about Dumbledore, I'm not sure he'd be pleased if he knew! I don't know how much to believe, actually, because it seems incredible that Dumbledore -

Sirius turned to the next page.

-could ever have been friends with Gellert Grindelwald. I think her mind's going, personally!

Lots of love,

Lily

Sirius looked at the picture of his small Godson, the spitting image of James, zipping in and out of the frame. Sirius smiled, then reread the letter. What about the McKinnons?

Sirius had to wait until he returned to find out the details. He arrived home late at night and walked into the flat to find Calamity still up, warming up dinner. Blimey, she was looking lovely.

Her face lit up as he closed the door behind himself.

"It's late," he said sternly. "past your bedtime."

"I'm a rebel," she said kissing him. "You look awful," she added cheerfully.

"Love you too," he smirked.

"Did you run into our friend?"

"I did. He is good. Told me to send you his love and his wine, and his apologies at making me extend my visit. The Bones are confirmed and the Prewetts have been mentioned. Dearborn and Fenwick are named."

Calamity sighed.

"That's half the Order either named, mentioned, or in hiding."

"Have you talked to Lily?"

Calamity seemed hesitant to discuss it.

"I just..." he paused. "Did someone die?"

"The prophet reported it officially today: Marlene Mckinnon and her family. They say it's" she paused and looked at him significantly "unclear what the cause was."

Sirius made a frustrated sound. "It's worse than its ever been before. It's like your dad was warning you about, something has changed."

"But what?"

"A traitor."

Calamity moved away from Sirius as if the very suggestion was lunacy and contagious.

"Who? Who could possibly do it without Dumbledore knowing?"

"He's an old man, Calamity," Sirius said. He sat down and took a bite of the leftover food. "Could be anyone."

"You still think it's the same person," Calamity observed.

"And you don't."

"I don't think Remus would do it."

"You haven't seen him," Sirius said.

"I saw him just yesterday."

"What?" Sirius slammed his form down with more force than he intended.

"I was helping him with his recovery from the full moon," Calamity said calmly. She had the determined look she often got when faced with his fast temper. Stone cold eyes as if challenging him to continue his tantrum. Sirius took a deep breath and calmed himself.

"I don't trust him," Sirius said slowly. "Some thing has changed."

"Maybe he senses you've changed," Calamity suggested.

"I just want you to be careful. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. I'd go mental. You, the Order, and Harry are all I have."

"I know," she said kissing his forehead. "and I appreciate I come before Harry, though I'm sure it's actually a tie."

"Jealous," Sirius said with a smirk.

"Never. We're going to Godric Hollow tomorrow. Harry's been missing you and I simply can't compete with Uncle Pafoo."

The next day, however, they couldn't go to Godric Hollow. They got word that Caradoc Dearborn's house had been found empty with a clear sign of a struggle. The Order was on alert for a month and Calamity & Sirius could not go to Godric Hollow safely until the end of September. Caradoc's body still hadn't been found when Lily opened the door, but she she let out a sigh of relief at the sight of them anyway.

"Thank Merlin," she said pulling them into the house. "James, Bring Harry! Padfoot and Calamity are here!"

"PAFOO!"

Harry came zipping around the corner on the toy broom, nearly knocking into Sirius' knees. Sirius scooped up the tiny boy and whirled him around, nuzzling their noses together.

"Good to see some kids our own age," James said hugging Calamity. "Bathilda's great, but I need to hear about the world of the youths for a change."

"We still play our music too loudly," said Sirius giving James a half hug with his free arm.

"If you can call what we listen to music," James chided.

"Come, come," Lily said eagerly.

Sirius let Calamity and Lily move into the kitchen giggling and chatting. They watched the ladies leave, Harry still squirming in Sirius' arm.

"Lily is probably so relieved to have Calamity here. It's been tough after Marlene and then we couldn't have visitors for a bit. I'm a bit annoying," James conceded. He turned to Sirius.

"Padfoot! What's new? How was Paris? Did you become a regular Hemmingway? All fighting and drinking?"

"I'm an adult," Sirius reminded him with a wink. "Besides, you can't say that around Harry. He'll think his Godfather is a scalawag."

Sirius tossed harry intot he air and caught him again as the one year old squealed in delight.

"His Godfather IS a scalawag."

"Shhhhhh! We'll wait until he's eighteen to tell him the truth."

"Are you saying my son is slow?"

"Well, he is your son..."

"He's got Lily's brains, I can tell already." James ruffled Harry's already windswept hair.

"Too bad about his looks though," Sirius joked and James shoved his shoulder half-heartedly.

They joined the ladies in the kitchen and talk turned to quidditch and gossip, reminiscing of old times, and catching up on where Susan and Morgan were about and what was new. They did their best to avoid discussing the Order and the war and were successful for most of the afternoon and night, until James pulled out the firewhiskey after dinner. Harry was sitting on Sirius' lap, head bumping into his chest every so often as he tried to stay awake.

"I'll let you all get started while I put our Quidditch star to bed," Lily said kindly. She pulled Harry away from Sirius gently. "Say good night, Harry."

"Night Pafoo," Harry said groggily. "Night Cally. Night Dada."

James gave Harry a kiss on the forehead and ruffled his hair again. They watched Lily leave.

"I never thought I'd love something equal to Lily," James said pushing up his glasses. "But this little beast has done it."

James opened the bottle and poured the glasses.

"None for me," said Calamity standing. "I think I'll look into those dishes. Let you boys catch up."

She left the room as Sirius held up the cup for a cheers."To old friends in this crazy world."

They made their cups clink, drank, and refilled.

"Dumbledore thinks we've been named," James said.

Sirius nearly spilled his drink, but kept his expression neutral.

"Can't believe it didn't happen already," Sirius said. "But you're already in hiding, so you're better off than Dearborn was."

James shivered at the name. "Poor Caradoc."

"He might be fine," Sirius reminded James. "Might just be trying to throw everyone off his trail. That's how I'd do it."

"I hope so," James agreed. "Dumbledore's looking into some stricter security. He wants me to find a Secret-Keeper."

"He thinks it's that serious?"

"He knows something he's not telling us," James said. He glanced at the stairs and kitchen, leaning closer for only Sirius to hear. "I saw Snivellus the other day."

Sirius pulled back at the name, making a face. "Where'd you see that slimy deatheater?"

James nodded to the window.

"Outside? Here?"

James nodded. "He just stood there. Took two steps towards the house, turned around, then moved towards the house again. Then he just stood there for ten minutes. It took all my will power not to go out and hex him into next week."

"You think Snivellus has something to do with Dumbledore's Secret-Keeper idea?"

"I don't know," James said. He ran his hand through his hair and Sirius noticed for the first time just how tired his best friend looked. James continued, "Dumbledore volunteered to be our Secret-Keeper, of course."

"Seems wise."

"I told him I wanted you to do it."

Sirius almost choked on his swig and coughed. James waited patiently for him to gather himself.

"What did he say?"

"He wasn't sure. He thinks there is a leak in the Order and he wanted to keep our going into hiding from as many Order members as possible. I told him you were going into hiding soon too and that you'd die before revealing where we were."

"I would," Sirius said determinedly.

"So you'll do it? You'll be our Secret-Keeper?"

"Of course, Prongs. You can count on me."

A smile broke across James' face and it erased all of the uncertainty of the world as it lit the room.

"I knew I could, Padfoot. I always can. Dumbledore will contact you later this week to arrange it all."

That night Sirius found himself back in dream Paris, in the corner table of the muggle restaurant. But sitting at the table with him was not his source. Instead it was Prongs, Moony, and Wormtail. Calamity and Lily waved from the table next to them and Sirius saw Prongs lean in close as if to plot as they always had. Sirius felt the familiar thrill- so common in his younger years at Hogwarts. Wormtail & Moony mimiced Prongs and leaned in.

"He's coming for us," Prongs said.

Wormtail and Moony laughed as if this were some great joke, but Sirius felt his smile falter.

"Who," he demanded. James nodded to the window behind Sirius.

Sirius spun around. Snivellus was standing just outside watching them. He was always watching them, trying to get them into trouble- trying to get Moony into trouble. Sirius turned back to the table. Moony, Prongs, & Wormtail were gone. The restaurant seemed darker and colder.

Sirius stood. he had a gnawing sense that something was terribly wrong. The scene changed suddenly. He could hear calls from outside and when he looked out the window again he saw that Paris was burning. Snivellus was gone.

Laying across the floor was Calamity, her eyes slightly opened in a death stare, a slight look of surprise on her face. Sirius felt his heart beating in his chest as he rushed towards her, but his foot caught and he fell forward. From his angle on the floor he could see he had tripped over a body- it was Prongs. His fingers were intertwined with Lily's, his glasses knocked across the floor, his eyes in the same death stare. Lily's flaming hair was fanned out, but her face was turned away. They're fingers were intertwined in a final embrace.

Sirius felt a sound escape his throat- though it was a sound he had never created before. Pain exploded in his chest and he looked again at Calamity's slumped form on the table.

"He came. He knew. He knew. They told him."

Wortmtail was in the far corner, rocking back and forth making his blonde hair swing menacingly.

"Who did this," Sirius demanded. His legs felt too weak to work. He crawled towards the rocking figure. "What happened?"

"He knew- You Know Who- someone told him. They couldn't do the charm- we didn't know what to do!"

"Who, Wormtail? WHO TOLD?"

Wormtail looked at Sirius will blank eyes. Slowly he raised his hand and pointed to the window. Sirius whipped around. Paris was still burning, but now he could see. Snivellus and Moony were standing together watching them.

"I'LL KILL THEM!"

Sirius tried to stand but fell. He was thrashing the air desperately trying to stand and rush towards the two men. He let out a howl of anger.

"Sirius, WAKE UP!"

Sirius sat up. He was drenched in sweat and Calamity was peering at him, wand out and pointed towards him cautiously. He looked around. He was in his flat with his girlfriend who was still alive.

"James and Lily... Harry... Wormtail..." Sirius was trying to form words but his heart was beating too quickly.

"They're all fine. We're fine, Sirius," She said gently. She put her wand down on the counter and smoothed his hair affectionately. "It was just a nightmare."

"Right," Sirius said. He lay back down. "Right. Sorry."

"It's fine," Calamity said. She looked for a moment as if she were about to say more, but thought better and kissed his cheek. "Night."

"Night."

Sirius stared into the darkness even as he felt his heart slow and heard Calamity's breathing deepen as she fell away from him into sleep. He stared at the ceiling as the dream stared to slip away leaving only the faces of Calamity, James, and Lily. He stayed awake until all he could remember was Wormtail pointing to the window with blank eyes and the image of Moony and Snivellus standing there- comrades in arms.

James would never believe him. He would say that it was just a dream and Moony would never betray them, just as Sirius himself would never betray them. But if anyone could guess who the Secret-Keeper was it would be Moony. He'd know James had chosen Sirius as soon as the charm was set, however it was set.

Sirius stared into the darkness searching his brain for a solution- how to make the guessing game even more difficult. Who could they trust to keep such a secret, but also be safe from suspicion for as long as possible? Who?

Sirius felt his eyes widen in the darkness. He knew who: Peter Pettigrew.

We're reaching the end, I'm afraid. Don't forget to REVIEW!