The two men arrived some time later, hurrying in. Dumbledore went straight to Lily, checking to make sure she was all right. Fudge was told, in detail, what had happened. He sent out Aurors to guard the Potters' home, and set in motion a plan to find safe place for them to live.

Over the next few weeks, everyone, from the Minister For Magic to the Potters' old classmates, visited. The entire magical world knew who Voldemort's next victims would be, and they were bent on protecting them.

During that difficult time, Lily gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, who they named Harry, after both their fathers. While everyone exclaimed over the baby, Lily and James knew that their time was running out. The babe had been born now, so only months remained. Knowing this made them stronger. Lily began to put together a collection of photographs of their little family, so that Harry would have something to remember them by. James put his Invisibility Cloak into safe hands, until the day came when Harry might need it. Their friends didn't like this preparation for their death, but knew that arguing wouldn't work. Even Dumbledore couldn't dissuade them.

Then they came up with a brilliant plan. The Ministry For Magic would hide the Potters in plain sight, using the Fidelius Charm.

'Where would we go?' Lily asked, shifting Harry from one hip to the other as she cooked the evening meal.

James looked up, grinned at her awkward movement and took the little boy from her arms. Harry made a grab for his glasses, making Sirius laugh. The men had a map spread out on the table in front of them. Sirius had kept them with him until they found somewhere safe because he was an Auror, and could protect them if need be.

'Anywhere, Lil,' James told her. 'We could move down the road, and He wouldn't be able to find us. Or to America. Or Scotland. You name it.'

She smiled at the excitement in his voice. They'd taken to enjoying the time they had left, partly to set their friends at ease, but mainly because they didn't want Harry to have any bad memories of them.

'That's what I mean,' Lily said, serving up. 'How would we choose where to go?'

Sirius laughed.

'Close your eyes and point to the map. That's how.'

Lily laughed, too, taking Harry from his father, and laying him in his Moses basket while they ate.

'I've had a thought, though,' Sirius said, chewing reflectively.

'Careful, you never know what might happen.'

Lily smacked James' hand with her spoon, as Sirius looked indignant.

'You're so funny I forgot to laugh, Prongs. Seriously, though, I'm flattered you want me to be your Secret Keeper, but everyone knows that I'm your best friend. It would be common knowledge who to go for. And I wouldn't be able to keep the secret under the Imperius.'

Lily and James exchanged a look, as Sirius went on.

'I don't want to be responsible for your deaths.'

Lily reached over and squeezed his hand.

'You're right. We should find someone who isn't as well known to be connected with us.'

'I was thinking Remus, or Peter,' Sirius told them.

James looked thoughtful.

'Not Mooney. It's not that I hold it against him, but all they'd have to do is wait until the full moon and capture him. When he's weak, he gets delirious.'

'Peter, then,' Lily said, wanting to get off the subject. 'Beans?'



*



Peter Pettigrew was ushered into the flat, where Lily embraced him warmly.

'Peter, it's so good to see you!' she exclaimed, pulling back to look into his face. 'You've changed.'

'I've seen a lot since we last met, Lil,' he said nervously. 'What's going on, Prongs?'

James gestured him into the lounge where Sirius was waiting.

'I'm sure you've heard that You-Know-Who is trying to kill us,' he said, sitting opposite the nervous little man. 'We're going to use the Fidelius Charm to try to hide.'

Peter nodded, looking from James to Lily, who held a sleepy Harry.

'What does this have to do with me?' he asked.

Lily sat beside James.

'We'd like you to be our Secret Keeper, Peter.'

He jumped to his feet.

'Me? Why? What about Padfoot? Or Mooney?'

James rose, concerned about his friend's reaction.

'Padfoot's known to be our friend, and Mooney just isn't a viable option. It's you, or no-one, Wormtail.'

Peter backed up, until he was against the wall.

'No, Prongs, trust me. You really don't want me to know where you're going.'

'Why?'

Peter cast about for excuses.

'He'll think the way you have and come straight for me,' he said, glancing at the three figures before him.

'We're pretty certain he won't,' Lily told him, aware that her old friend was rubbing his left forearm as if it stung. 'We need you to do this, Peter. Please.'

James had also seen the nervous movement, and exchanged a glance with his wife. She nodded. They may as well get this over with, now they knew who would betray them.

'I'm a very weak person,' he whimpered, desperate to get out of this.

Sirius spoke up.

'That doesn't matter, Peter. The Charm will give you strength to keep the Secret.'

Peter stopped suddenly.

'It will?'

Sirius nodded.

'Yes. Unless you choose to give their location away, no-one will know where James and Lily are.'

Peter appeared to consider this.

'You're sure you want me to do this?' he asked, uneasy at the thought of this responsibility.

Lily nodded, adjusting Harry in her arms.

'We're sure.'

Peter found his gaze drawn to that of the baby. He was gazing up at him with clear green eyes. It would be nice to say that Peter felt some kind of foreboding from this brief contact, but he didn't. He just thought what a tragedy it would be. He looked at his old friends.

'Alright,' he said, 'where are you going?'

James pulled out a map.

'Here,' he said, pointing, 'Godric's Hollow.'