Hey, sorry it's taken me so long to update... but I've been busy wooing ... this guy. Ahem, anyway! This chapter isn't one of my favs in particular, but it's pulling the story back on track, and showing it the way of the climax.

Replies to the reviews are at the bottom, and if you'd like one, ... REVIEW!!!!! Anyway, hope you like this chapter.

Review. Ahem

When Sirius told Dumbledore and Flitwick that he wanted to change James and Lily's secret keeper to Peter Pettigrew, he could see that something was nagging at Dumbledore that it was a bad idea. Flitwick, on the other hand, clapped his hands together and said, "That's very well. He's supposed to be joining us from London in a couple of hours. It's the 20th, is it not, Professor?"

Dumbledore nodded, forcing a smile. "Sirius, if you really think it is the best thing to do, the Fidelius Charm will be performed by Peter, instead."

Sirius nodded, dead serious. "Thank you, Professor."

Dumbledore's smile vanished and he put his hands on Sirius's shoulders. "Mr Black, you must understand the importance of this situation." His voice was getting urgent. "The Potter boy is the world's only hope. We cannot let Voldemort find him."

The name hit Sirius like ice, as if all evil and hatred in the world had been summed up into one word, one name, one curse.

"Sirius, you must assure me that you are certain … that this is the right thing to do."

"Professor, were I their secret keeper, they would know. The Death Eaters. They would know. I'm too obvious. They wouldn't suspect Peter."

Dumbledore nodded glumly. "Very well. We'll do it tonight." He turned to Flitwick. "Professor Flitwick, you must teach Peter how to do it. He cannot have any assistance. He must be the only one who knows how to get to them, or the charm will fail, do you understand?"

Flitwick consented.

"How much time do you think it will take for Peter to accomplish it?"

"Four or five days, a week at most," he squeaked. "Of course, he will be having to work on it most of the daylight."

Dumbledore smiled sadly with a twinkle in his blue eyes. "I'm sure he'll accept with barely a hesitation."

Peter surprised everyone by accomplishing the Fidelius Charm in only four days, the minimum time Flitwick said it would take, and James and Lily were safely hidden in Godric's Hollow, the only savants of their whereabouts being Peter and themselves. Sirius couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in leaving two of his better friends in someone else's trust.

All the mistakes of putting Peter in such a stressful and important position seemed to be rushing into his brain, like water in a sponge.

Peter was never the strong one, Sirius, he said to himself. You and James. It was always you and James Even Remus would have been better..

But they would have suspected me or Remus, he thought back defiantly. They would capture us and torture us.

What if they do anyway? And you still have no idea?

They- they won't!

They'll turn to Peter, continued the voice, arrogance growing. They'll turn to Peter and there will be no way for you or Remus or James to stop him from saying anything.

Sirius's nights were spent laying awake in bed, going through this argument to himself repeatedly, trying to find a flaw in the little voice, but each night came and went with no sleep, and he couldn't find one. It was already the 30th of October, and Peter didn't seem to have slipped, though he looked ready to give in to pressure with the slightest flick of a wand, or whisper of an incantation.

Freya came up to Sirius one day, late and put her hands delicately on his shoulders.

He jumped and, seeing it was only Freya, relaxed a little.

She laughed, and already he could feel the muscles in his body loosen.

"You don't trust him, do you?"

He didn't ask how she knew what he had been thinking about the past three days. "I just don't think he can handle the pressure."

She then asked the question he had been trying to convince the voice the answer he had already convinced himself of. "Then why did you switch to him?"

He looked into her green eyes. She had gotten her glasses back, and they were resting on top of her head, pulling her bangs back, and allowing her full face to shine into Sirius's warm gray eyes.

"They won't suspect him."

"They stop worrying." She touched his cheek lightly and brushed his nose lovingly with her own. He closed his eyes and let his mouth fall into hers.

Realizing quickly what he was doing, he pulled back, trying to shake his mind from that.

Quick, he thought. Divide 61465 by 33.

It didn't work. She grabbed his face and pulled herself to him, kissing him, embracing him in her warmth, enveloping him in the feelings she had felt since Paris.

Silently thanking the world that it was so late that all the members of the Order had gone to bed, he closed his eyes and thought, James has Lily, why can't I fall in love?

alecatq: Sorry it took so long. I love the "dum dum dum"s .... they make me feel ... special.

Mistyrious: Hey, to my fav author! I already sent you an e mail wishing you happy birthday, cuz that was ages ago, but anyway! I'm glad I can make you feel a bit better about Sirius. Probably won't last too much longer though, hun, sorry. That's life... almost makes me want to cry, but I just watched Titanic, so I'm all out of tears. Anyway, hope you liked this chappie.

REVIEW! C'mon, it'll take you five seconds, and it boosts my self esteem like you cannot imagine.