This chapter is short….but out of all the chapters I've written, it's one of my favorites because of the pivotal moment it encompasses. Thanks to all my readers and reviewers….It warms my heart when I see how much you guys enjoy my writing….

Anyways…….Here it is…..a chapter closer to the end.

Nothing is my Own.

Read and Review.

**********************************************************

Chapter Seventeen: Changing

Lily tried to calm Harry as he cried angrily in her arms, she didn't know what was wrong with him.

"Lily, is everything okay," asked James as he poked his head into Harry's bedroom.

Lily rocked the youngster up and down in a mother frustration, "he's as impossible as you."

James tried not to laugh as he saw Lily slowly losing that famous red headed temper of hers.

"Here give him to me. You need to get some rest," James urged as he held out his arms.

Lily sighed and passed Harry on to his father. James tried to sweet talk Harry, "what's wrong little guy."

Harry kept screaming at the top his lungs, flaring his arms wildly into the air.
Lily bit her bottom lip as she watched James hopeless attempts.

"Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew request admittance," said the deep voice.

"Peter?" Lily said puzzled.

"Admitted."

James quickly passed his crying son back into his mother's protesting arms.

"James, I thought…." but it was to late, he had already made his getaway.

Sirius and Peter had already made their home in the living area when James appeared from the top of the stairs.

"What's up with all the crying?" Sirius tried to converse.


James chose to ignore his question, "Sirius, why is Peter here?"

Sirius swallowed hard as the sun inched closer to the horizon. Peter's watery eyes dashed quickly from James and Sirius.

"I think you've made the wrong choice," Sirius confessed.

James didn't say anything, he just studied Sirius's face, trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about.

"What do you mean the wrong choice," chimed Lily as she made her appearance with a disgruntle Harry.

Sirius gave her a friendly smile, "baby problems?"

"Nothing you can help with," she joked.

Sirius gave one of his famous bark like laughs, "give him to old Padfoot."

Lily rolled her eyes, but at this point she was willing to try anything.

Like on command, Harry immediately stopped crying and examined his Godfather's face.

"Thank-God," Lily muttered.

James's expression hadn't changed, he was breathing very heavily, trying to figure out what was going through his oldest friends mind.

"How are you doing Lily," Peter asked quickly, causing James to break his gaze.

"I'm fine Peter," Lily responded eyeing James as she answered.

"What is this all about?" James suddenly demanded.

"Like I said, I think you've made the wrong choice," Sirius repeated, bouncing Harry into the air.

"We don't understand," Lily said suddenly.

"I can't be your secret keeper," Sirius said unconfidently, "I'll put you guys in too much danger."

"Sirius," Lily started.

"No, Lils, let me finish," Sirius stopped her, "it was Snape that made me think of it, half of those slimy Slytherins we went to school with would bet anything James would make me his secret keeper, if the need arises. I would never tell, not even if I had to die keeping the secret, but what if I don't have a choice, they could use one of the unforgivable curses on me, and force me against my will. I've heard the Order say that the Dark Lord can read minds."

Sirius was now staring into space as he talked. The room was silent, and even young Harry seemed to be listening to Sirius talk.

"I think you should make Peter your secret keeper."


"That is insane," James spat before he realized how offensive his words could be taken.

"No, it isn't," Peter interjected.

He looked nervously at Sirius, "they'd never suspect me, I was the weak one remember. Sirius could be the decoy, we could even leave clues that would lead the Death Eaters to thinking he was your secret keeper."

Sirius nodded in agreement, "it's the safest course of action."

Lily continued to bit her lip as her mind slowly became convinced.

"I don't like it, I don't want you to be a decoy," James directed towards Sirius.

"I'm going to be in no more danger than if I was your secret keeper," Sirius argued.

"Peter, it isn't that I don't trust you," James tried to explain.

"No, I know you had your mind set on Sirius being your choice, I can't blame you.

But you've been like a second family to me, both of you, and I swear that I won't let you down."

James nodded in a thankful notion toward Peter.

"It's your choice Prongs, but I think you know we're right about this," Sirius continued.

"What about Remus?" Lily said suddenly.

Sirius eyes went scarlet with anger, "Remus?"

Lily didn't let her eyes waver, "I think if we change like this than Remus should have a say in this too, he is a Marauder isn't he?"

"We don't even know where Remus is?" James interjected.

"Than find him," Lily spat.

"We don't know if we can even trust Remus," Peter said softly.

Lily lowered her head, she knew she was outnumbered on this one.

"I can't believe you guys, I thought I could trust all of you," Lily said under her breath.

"Lily love," James begged.

"Fine, whatever you think," she warned.

James sat motionless for a moment then finally shook his head in agreement.

Lily let out a nervous sigh, "December should be her any second, she's going to watch Harry while we do the spell."

Sirius grabbed Lily's arm as she attempted to stand up, "you can't tell her you've changed your mind, nobody can know."

"It's December," Lily argued.

"Nobody," Sirius warned again.

Lily nodded in agreement, although she didn't like the idea.

"December O'Riley request admittance," said the deep voice.

"Wait," Peter said suddenly.

"I need to hid, she can't know I'm here."
James escorted Peter into the kitchen quickly realizing he was right.

"Admitted," Lily said loudly as they disappeared.

"What took so long?" December asked as she apparated into the Potter's living area.

"Sorry," Lily said without offering an explanation.

"Hello December," Sirius said, it was the first time he had spoken to her since the incident at the Order.

"How are you doing?" she asked in return.

"Good," he lied.

"Well, you can have the upstairs while be conduct the spell," Lily said quickly, realizing how ugly this situation could become. She stole Harry from Sirius's arms and handed him over to December.

"Let me know when you guys are finished," December said quickly before disappearing upstairs.

As soon as she was out of sight, Lily went to the kitchen and motioned it was safe to come out again.

Sirius smiled, the expression on his face told he was battling with himself that he was doing the right thing. James handed the potion, that had been given to him when Dumbledore had told him and Lily about Voldemort knowing about the prophecy, to Peter.

"We trust you with our lives, with our son's life," James said sadly, "I know we haven't always treated you like an equal, but I've always thought of you as a brother."

"I won't betray you," Peter swore.

James pulled Peter into a brotherly hug, "I know."

Peter gripped the bottle in his shaking hands, "I'd rather die than every put you guys in danger."

"We know," Lily smiled.

Peter turned the bottle up and downed the thick liquid.

Sirius made a jerky movement towards Peter, he had changed his mind too late, he started to say something but he didn't have time. Something in the pit of his stomach told him something wasn't right. He might have been imagining things, but Peter almost seemed to be glowing when he turned that bottle up.

"Thank-you," Lily cried as she pulled Peter into a hug.

Peter's watery eyes seemed cloudier now, and he seemed anxious and tense.

As Lily pulled away, Sirius pulled Peter close and whispered something in his ear.

"If you betray them I'll kill you, I promise you that."

Peter's happiness seemed to fade as he pulled away from Sirius.

The threat ringing in his ears. He knew he'd have to tell his master, this was the plan and if he didn't he'd be dead anyways. Something in Sirius's tone told Peter he wasn't playing, and he knew Sirius Black was more than capable of murder.

Peter knew that he couldn't lie to his dark master, he could read his mind like an open book. He felt his heart beating faster and faster as the thought of being trapped in a corner filtered though his mind.

"So this is my choice," he thought himself, "death by the Death Eaters or death by Sirius Black."

The word death and Sirius in the same thought brought a grin back to his disturbed face.

Maybe he wouldn't have to lie, he just had to stale, for awhile.

December suddenly appeared at the top of the staircase with Harry screaming in her arms.

"Are you finished?" she asked quickly, hoping that someone could offer her some relief from Harry's fury.

"Yes, Sirius was just telling Peter out secret, so he can find us," Lily lied.

Sirius let his eyes wander over December, as he quickly removed Harry from her arms.

"There, there…Sirius is here now," he quieted.

Harry immediately stopped crying once again.

"If only I had this kind of calming affect on women," Sirius joked, but nobody laughed.

Peter nudged the secret letter into Sirius hand who immediately placed it into Decembers.

"Do I really need to memorize this?" she joked.

Sirius tried not to let his eyes linger, but her warm smile kept him from turning away too quickly. "Why is she so beautiful?" he asked himself.

Harry smiled playfully, and when Sirius looked into his young green eyes he got the distinct feeling the young boy understood exactly what he was thinking.