A/N: Thanks so much, everyone, for the reviews! (Virginia, we talked about your review. . . ) Also, thank you for all of the ideas! As for Dumbledore performing the spell, that's a very good point and thank you for pointing it out, but I have an idea - I just hope it fits in with everything and is accepted by everyone! Then again, if no one likes it, I can always change it. Sorry it took so long to update. I'm really pleased that people are reading and reviewing my story, so thank you so much again for your support and constructive criticism! I never thought that anyone would read my story, and I love hearing everyone's comments on it. Well, this is an awful long author's note, so here goes!

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Chapter 3: The Betrayal

Peter was beside himself with pleasure. He fought to maintain composure as Lord Voldemort came and stood before him.

"So, Wormtail, you have information for me?" Voldemort asked calmly. Knowing Wormtail, it was bound to be useless, but he may as well listen.

"Oh, yes, my lord! I have information you will find very useful!" Peter said hurriedly, afraid of being punished.

"Then what is it?" Voldemort asked, becoming slightly irritated. As if Peter ever had useful information.

"My lord, I know where the Potters are hiding! They made me their Secret- Keeper, and I can tell you where they are!" Peter babbled.

Voldemort's surprise only showed briefly on his face before he disguised it with his trademark calm and control. "So, the Potters have used the Fidelius charm and made you their Secret-Keeper? How very foolish." Voldemort smiled maliciously as he leaned into Wormtail's face. "Then where are they?"

Wormtail began shaking with excitement, his watery blue eyes wide. "The Potters are at their own house in Godric's Hollow! They think they're safe! They do not suspect anything!"

The Dark Lord stepped back and laughed with sadistic pleasure. "I must admit, Wormtail, that I never thought you could be this useful! I will kill the baby myself," Voldemort added, seeing Peter's hopeful face. "You'd probably screw everything up. Besides, I want the satisfaction of killing him. I believe that Halloween will be the perfect night." He turned, then glanced back at Wormtail. "The Potters had better not suspect a thing. I want to see the shock on their faces." Voldemort walked out of the room.

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Sirius was lying on his bed, staring moodily at the ceiling. He was torn. Remus Lupin was one of his best friends, one of the Marauders, but no one knew who could be a spy for Voldemort anymore. Even a great friend and man like Lupin could have been sucked in by Voldemort. Sirius couldn't risk telling Lupin about switching Secret-Keepers. Lupin believed that Sirius was the Secret-Keeper. Sirius did nothing to convince Lupin otherwise.

Sirius badly wanted to trust Lupin, however. They had been friends ever since they'd met at Hogwarts, and never before had they kept secrets from one another. But in the real world, things were vastly different than they had been at Hogwarts. These times called for secrets and conspiracies. Even keeping secrets from your best friends.

'Hopefully,' Sirius thought wistfully, 'soon all of this will be over and I can trust Lupin - and everyone else - again.' Unfortunately for him, Sirius had no idea just how soon all of this would be over.

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Soon it was Halloween, and the Potters had been living with the Fidelius Charm for about a week. Lily and James had been happy and had felt freer than they had in a long while.

Halloween night found them cuddled on the couch. Harry was sleeping upstairs in his crib, and the Potters were relaxing in their living room.

Lily leaned against James. "D'you know, I almost feel guilty feeling this safe," she contemplated seriously. "The McKinnons were attacked just a few days ago. They were such great wizards..." Lily's voice broke and a tear trickled silently from one of her bright green eyes.

James gently wiped the tear off her cheek with his thumb. "I know, I know. But we have to think about Harry. What's most important right now is keeping him safe." He absent-mindedly stroked Lily's dark red hair. "Don't worry, everything will be fine," James said, without really believing it.

Lily looked up into James's face. Behind his glasses, hazel eyes looked tired and worried, even though James tried to hide it. He wanted to be strong for his family, no matter what.

"I love you, James," Lily said softly in James's ear. She played with a tendril of black hair at the nape of James's neck.

"I love you, too," James whispered back, pulling her closer to him. They sat like that for a few minutes. Lily's breathing became slow and steady as she almost fell asleep. Suddenly, there was a snap like a whip crack. James stood up and peered out of the window. Lily sat up and grabbed his wrist.

"What was that?" Lily asked in a strangled whisper. It had sounded like someone Apparating or Disapparating, but who would be visiting them this late at night?

James released himself from Lily's grasp and stepped over to the picture window to look out. His expression of slight curiosity suddenly changed to one of pure terror. Lily stared at him. James spun around. "Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!"

Lily uttered a gasp and tears sprang to her eyes. "James! No! I'm not leaving you alone!"

James covered the space between them in a few strides and gripped Lily's arms. "I love you, Lily," he said hoarsely. He pressed his lips to hers in a hurried kiss. Lily clutched his hands. "Now run! Get Harry! GO!"

Lily turned and frantically stumbled from the room. What had gone wrong? Why was Voldemort here? As she sprinted up the stairs to her bedroom, where Harry was sleeping peacefully, Lily heard the front door burst open. A cackle of high-pitched laughter met her ears. Next was a shout of "AVADA KEDAVRA!" and the sound of someone collapsing onto the floor. Lily gasped and sobbed openly through the stitch in her chest as she ran down the hallway. Not James...He couldn't be...

Lily burst into her bedroom and rushed to Harry's crib. Her little angel was curled next to a teddy bear, fast asleep. Lily was so terrified that her hands were shaking too much to do anything, but she tried to stay in control. She leaned down and kissed his forehead, and was just about to pick Harry up - though she had no idea what she could do or where she could go - when the Dark Lord strode into her bedroom.

Lily screamed and spun around, trying futilely to block Harry from Voldemort's sight. Voldemort just smiled cruelly. Lily began sobbing again.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" she gasped through her tears.

Voldemort's eyebrows met and he frowned. He only wanted to kill Harry, but if she didn't move, what choice would he have? "Stand aside, you silly girl," he growled. Lily stood her ground. "Stand aside, now."

"Not Harry! Not Harry! Please - I'll do anything!" Lily repeated, sobbing out of control. Her heart was racing wildly in her chest.

Voldemort was losing patience, fooling with this stupid girl. "Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!"

Lily had never been this frightened in all her life, but the only thought she had was to protect her baby. He was all she had left. "Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead-" Lily broke off as Voldemort slowly pulled a wand from behind him, smiling sadistically again. "Not Harry!" she screamed. "Please...have mercy...have mercy..." Lily fell to her knees as her legs gave out. He couldn't take Harry! He couldn't! This was all wrong! The life she had planned...with James...and Harry...

Voldemort laughed and pointed his wand at her. Lily saw and screamed. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort cried. There was a flash of brilliant green light, and Lily fell on the floor.

Voldemort kicked her body to the side and stepped to Harry's crib. He looked down at the tiny baby. "As if you could ever defeat me!" Voldemort muttered scornfully. He held up his wand, relishing the moment. "I will never be defeated, least of all by you."

Laughing, the Dark Lord raised his wand. "AVADA KEDAVRA!" he shouted. Immediately he realized that something was wrong. Green light filled his vision, and then Voldemort knew no more.

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A/N: Sorry, I know, another author's note. I hope you liked this chapter, I tried to do it justice. Once again, sorry for the slow update. I didn't want to kill Lily and James! Well, chapter 4 is coming asap, I promise.