Note from Nikki

Well, I finished writing this story a few days ago and I can tell you that there are a total of 32 chapters! Whoo! Thanks for the reviews guys, love ya! hugz

To the Reviewers

HiddenFlame42: Yes, it sucks that we already know what's going to happen. It's so frustrating! Argh! Thanks hun for your review. When are you going to re-post your HP story? I really miss it. . .

cry missing: Love the name hunni! Thanks so much for reviewing. I really feel like you shouldn't even look at this story because everything you write is a thousand times better! But thank you so much for sticking with this! hugz love ya!!

Witchheart: Wow, did I ever tell you how much I love your reviews? They are so insightful, helpful, and encouraging. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and to analyze it clearly. You're wonderful! I love you so much!

--

"We're doing it tomorrow," Sirius said to Dorcas. "Lily and James are ready and I've learned the Charm."

"That's a relief," Dorcas replied, sighing. She noticed that Sirius looked far from relieved however and said, "What's wrong?"

Sirius didn't reply, only stared numbly at the floor in Dorcas' living room. Finally, after a moment of silence, he said, "Dorcas, I don't think this is right. I would die for them, you know this. But Voldemort knows it too. When he realizes that the Fidelius Charm has been performed he will seek me out."

"But you'd never tell," Dorcas replied, frowning.

"Not willingly. Voldemort knows ways of divulging secrets that you and I can't even begin to imagine. With effort, he could get it out of me, no matter how hard I tried to fight him."

Dorcas paled, seeing that Sirius was right. "He always gets what he wants," she whispered.

"Exactly," Sirius said wearily. "So, yes, I am ready to die for them. But no, I am not ready to betray them. I don't like this at all Dorcas."

"Change!" Dorcas said quickly. "Let Dumbledore do it. Let him keep the secret. Master is too frightened to even go near Dumbledore, he'll never get it out of him."

Sirius shook his head. "No, not Dumbledore. They need someone that Voldemort would never expect. . ." Sirius suddenly looked out the window and he didn't even blink his eyes or move a muscle.

"What?" Dorcas asked, trying to follow his gaze.

"Of course," Sirius whispered. "Of course."

"What?" Dorcas asked again, impatiently.

"I've just got an idea. I'll see you tomorrow," Sirius absently gave Dorcas a small kiss on the cheek before dashing out her front door.

"Sirius!" Dorcas called irritably. "Where are you going?"

But he didn't hear her as he hastily made his way next door to Lily and James' house.

"This had better be a good idea Sirius," Dorcas muttered to herself. She stood up and blew out her candles and stumbled absently into her dark room. There she toppled onto her bed and stared at the ceiling.

"I miss you Gideon," she whispered. "And I fear that I will never get the revenge that I long for."

With a sad sigh she drifted off into an uncomfortable sleep.

--

Sirius pounded on the front door to Lily and James' house, calling out to them loudly in the night.

After a few moments he heard the pounding of their steps as they dashed down the stairs. James threw open the door, his wand at the ready. He visibly relaxed when he saw who it was.

"Sirius, what are doing here?"

"We need to talk," he said quickly, pushing his way into their living room.

Lily went to retrieve her candles and she lit them with a quick flicker of her wand. "What is this all about Sirius?" she asked as she and James took a seat opposite Sirius.

"I can't be your Secret-Keeper," Sirius said urgently.

"What do you mean you can't?" James asked angrily. "I thought you'd die for us!"

"I would," Sirius answered. "You know I would. Just as I know you'd do the same for me. But we are not the only ones who know this. Voldemort knows about our friendship James, he knows we are closer than brothers. He will find me if he can't find you and he can get information out of anyone."

Lily watched her husband closely. His look of anger slowly subsided and was replaced by a look of fear. "I don't trust anyone else to do it."

"I don't either," Sirius agreed. "but I thought of the perfect person."

"Who?" Lily asked.

"Peter," Sirius replied simply.

"Peter?" James asked, astounded. "Sirius, have you gone mad? Peter can't fight off anyone, much less Voldemort. He wouldn't last a day!"

"But think about it," Sirius pressed. "Voldemort will never suspect Peter. Voldemort probably doesn't even know who Peter is! And even if he did, would he expect you to trust something so important to a weak and talentless friend?"

James and Lily were slowly starting to see what Sirius was meaning. "I guess that does make sense. . ."

"It's perfect," Sirius said cheerfully. "It's the perfect bluff. It's a foolproof plan!"

James nodded his head slowly. "I like it, what about you Lily?"

Lily nodded as well. "It's perfect," she agreed. "He'll never expect Peter in a million years. I really don't see how this can go wrong, assuming that Peter will be able to perform the Charm."

"He'll be able to," James said to his wife. "Sirius will teach him, won't you?"

"Yes, I'll do it tonight," Sirius agreed. "We won't tell anyone about this switch, not Dorcas, or Remus or even Dumbledore. No one will know. Tomorrow I will leave on my motorbike, just like I had always intended to do. Voldemort will be sure to come after me. I can draw him off and Peter shouldn't have any trouble."

"Draw him off?" James said quickly. "I don't like that."

Sirius frowned. "Why not? It's perfect! He's going to come after me anyway!"

"But you're putting your life in danger," James said uncomfortably.

Sirius shook his head. "Come on James, you know me. Do you actually think that I will let myself get caught?"

James grinned. "I don't know why I mentioned it."

"So," Sirius said, standing up. "Is it a plan?"

"It's a perfect plan," Lily and James said together.

Sirius looked very proud of himself. "I'll go teach Peter the Charm and I will drop him off tomorrow. Sleep well."

With a final wave Sirius exited their house, ran passed Dorcas' dark one, and entered the one that he shared with Remus and Peter. With a quick glance, Sirius saw that the moon was full. Perfect, he thought to himself, Remus won't be here to overhear.

"Peter!" Sirius called.

A loud thump and a few curses followed. Sirius rolled his eyes but went to find Peter. He found the short man untangling himself from his robes.

"You are an idiot," Sirius said matter-of-factly.

"S-sorry," Peter mumbled, finally freeing himself and managing to climb to his feet.

Sirius noticed that his boots were on and his traveling cloak was slightly muddy. He frowned. "Going somewhere?"

"Uh. . ." Peter said, he glanced furtively around the room, almost as if searching for an answer. "Just got back from a little. . .walk in the forest."

"Did you meet Remus?"

"Wh-oh. Full moon. Right. Uh. . .yeah. I thought he might have needed some company, you know."

Sirius scowled but didn't say anything. "Peter, Lily and James have made you their Secret-Keeper."

Peter was so shocked that he slipped again and crashed to the floor. "WHAT?"

"We felt it was the perfect plan," Sirius said, heaving Peter up by his underarms. "Wormtail, my friend, are you willing to do it?"

Peter was suddenly overcome with such a joy of emotion that he hugged Sirius happily. His eyes were alight and glowing and he looked positively thrilled. "Will I? You shouldn't even have to ask. It is the greatest honor and. . .reward. . .I could ever receive!"

"I must teach you the spell then," Sirius replied, smiling. "It's a bit complex."

Peter's enormous grin faltered. "How complex?"

"It isn't easy," Sirius began, "Because it requires performing magic on many things all at the same time. You must first say the proper spell to make the house impossible to find, even by those who know where it is, next you must perform another spell on Lily, James, and Harry to ensure that they cannot be found either, finally you must say a spell that will lock all of this information in the soul of yourself and to seal it there tightly."

Peter looked a bit pale after all of this. "Seal it there?"

Sirius nodded. "You must put the secret into your soul and lock it away with a spell. The spell must be strong and perfectly hidden so that not even the smallest remain can be found of it."

"Oh," Peter said faintly.

"You'll be able to do it," Sirius said confidently. "All I have to do is teach you."

Peter nodded absently and took his seat. "This is the moment I have been waiting for," he said quietly.

"The moment you have been waiting for?" Sirius laughed. "I doubt you ever saw this coming."

"W-what I meant was," Peter began hastily, "this is the moment I can show how truly strong I can be. I won't fail! I'll never fail."

"And if you do fail, Peter," Sirius said seriously, "I will hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands if I have to."

Peter twitched but nodded. "I won't fail."