A long, slow howl filled the still night air.
The dog's ears prickled and its pace quickened. Deep beneath the Shrieking Shack the werewolf moaned again.
"At last."
The dog changed back into a man and glared back up into James Potter's worried face. "I was a little busy. Next time I'll be the one the Dark Lord's after and you can run as fast as you can away from his Death Eaters."
"You said two hours. It's been three and a half."
"I didn't anticipate… look it doesn't matter. I'm here now."
Lupin bayed again.
"Why are we here Padfoot?"
Sirius looked faintly surprised, "to exchange secret keepers of course." He had obviously realised he was sitting on the floor and pushed himself to his feet so he was eye level with Prongs. "It can't be me any more," he stated. "I'm sorry. I ruined it."
"Padfoot…"
"No! Listen to me. For once I'm serious."
"You're always Si-" James began cheerfully but the other cut him off. "The Death Eaters are after me, they must have suspected you'd choose me even over Dumbledore and then the mirrors…" he broke off, apparently disgusted with himself. "It's too late for me just to lie low any more."
"So you mean Remus…" The werewolf's lonely call echoed into the clearing.
"I don't. Moony's been going off on his own a lot… well more than usual."
"Sirius." James' tone was half reprimanding, half amused. "You think Remus is the spy?"
"It doesn't matter…"
"Then who…"
"It's the perfect plan. Think like Voldemort. Who's James Potter most likely to choose as his secret keeper?"
"…His best friend."
"Precisely and that's who you did choose but it was the wrong choice, the obvious choice."
James opened his mouth to speak but the other shook his head. "Carrying on with this logic if you didn't choose Sirius Black, the most irresponsible human being alive, you'd be sure to choose Remus Lupin or Albus Dumbledore. Voldemort would never dream you'd choose the fourth Marauder."
"Sirius…"
"It makes sense James," Padfoot replied. "Wormtail keeps your secret and I'll lead them as far away from you, Lily and Harry as I can."
James smiled but his eyes did not. "So we both get what we want, eh?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well you made it no secret you hated hiding from Voldemort," he replied coldly.
"I'm not sure I understand," Padfoot lied.
"The Great Sirius Black hide? Of course not. No, he'd rather be out there winning glory and fighting battles that are not his own."
"I can't believe you think that."
"Then you think I'm too stupid to work it out, is that it?"
"Stop being a git Prongs, I'm trying to help you," he snarled.
"But only as long as it doesn't put you out in any way. Well thanks a lot but I don't need that kind of help!"
"I'm doing this for you!" Sirius yelled angrily "Perhaps if you weren't so bloody arrogant you'd accept that. I'll just wait around till the next century for that shall I?"
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Just forget it!" James screamed over the howl. "I should have remembered the only person Sirius Black cares about is Sirius Black!"
"Well now that's settled why don't we just do this and I'll be on my way."
James' eyes shone his face furious and scared. "Because I don't want you to die!"
"Hello?" a tentative voice interupted.
Both of them whirled. Peter Pettigrew cowered under the ferocity of their gazes, "you said you wanted to see me Sirius."
"Yes. We're swapping places."
"What?"
"Padfoot no…"
"It's too late James; I've made my choice." He opened his mouth again as if in speech but no audible words penetrated the silence of the clearing; instead a faint golden glow surrounded him eventually forming into a ball the size of a snitch in the palm of his hand. Gently Sirius released it and it floated towards James, who held out his to receive it, though unwillingly. The same glow enveloped him for a moment and then died once more.
"Alright Peter, hold out your hand… no the other way up." Sirius' voice was hoarse in the darkness, the tear trails down his face hidden. The moon had disappeared behind the clouds [thus their code for the Shrieking Shack] and the werewolf had finally grown quiet.
"Sirius, I'm not sure I can do this…"
"It's not difficult," the other snapped. "All you need to do is speak the secret out loud, the rest of the charm has already been set up."
James remained quiet, concentrating on keeping the secret within his body.
"So all I need to do is…"
"…Speak the secret Wormtail."
"And to end it, I just speak it again?"
"Why… would you… want to… end it?" James asked, flashing faintly as with each word the secret escaped him for a moment.
"Sirius did."
"Yes. That's how you end it," Sirius growled.
"So what's the secret?"
"I solemnly swear…" the gold mist around James became more apparent and seemed ready to leap back into Sirius. "Write it… down… moron," Prongs hissed desperately.
"Brought paper have you?" Sirius retorted. Wormtail cowered.
"…Wizard…" James croaked.
Sirius muttered something and then "lumos. Here." He thrust the small slip of paper into Pettigrew's trembling fist.
Visible by the light of his wand the wet ink shone: I solemnly swear I am doing what's right.
