Here we are. I shall disclaim this story with a flick of my magic wand, and we'll be on our (not-so) merry way.

Flick!

Remus sat next to Sirius at the Order meeting, as usual, and Sirius was unusually quiet. He was spending his time carefully scrutinizing the way Remus was acting. To anyone else, he would have seemed completely normal. He was friendly and pleasant, fading into the background unless he had something important to say. It was only around Sirius, usually, when Remus ever showed signs of bitterness or pain. Remus's philosophy was, it seemed, to give nobody any extra reason to hate him. Being a gay werewolf was enough on its own.

To Sirius, though, Remus was acting rather strangely. When he thought no one was looking, he let his calm expression slip to reveal conflict glowing in his eyes. He pushed back his hair with a preoccupied air and bit his lip occasionally. It was infuriating for Sirius to watch. What's wrong with him? What is it that's tearing at him like that? Why isn't he telling me anything? Questions ran through his mind until he couldn't take it anymore. He jumped up in the middle of a report from Mad-Eye Moody and slammed his chair back under the table, storming out before anyone could say anything. He felt Remus burning with guilt behind him and found that he didn't care.

"Sirius!" Hagrid had followed him out and was calling at him. "Wha's wrong, Sirius?"

He turned around apprehensively, not sure how to explain himself. "N-Nothing, Hagrid… just having a little trouble with Remus."

Hagrid frowned, looking almost shaken. Everyone knew they were the perfect couple – a quiet, peaceful, almost brotherly sense of affection went with them everywhere. Utter devotion played across their eyes, and they often held hands under the table. In the Order, people took strength in seeing good couples together. It was always James and Lily Potter, Frank and Alice Longbottom, and Sirius and Remus who seemed to get the kindest glances. Even Dumbledore saved a twinkle in his eye for them, as thought it stood testament to love triumphing over greed and evil. Seeing them fight, Sirius realized, would dry up their oasis.

"I'm sure it's nothing, really," he added gruffly. "We'll be fine; I just need to be out in the open air for a few minutes." Hagrid continued frowning for a moment, but then broke into a wide smile.

"I s'pose a little bit 'o trouble in paradise never hurt anyone." He clapped Sirius on the shoulder, causing him to cringe slightly, and walked away. Sirius sat down and then stretched out on the grass, puzzling over Remus's strange behavior. Why didn't he want Sirius taking care of him? He'd never taken more than a few days to get back on his feet again after a full moon, and they were predicting overcast skies for the next four days. If it was being hurt enough to take longer, he needed Sirius even more. It was true that Sirius was busy with the Order a lot more now, but Remus should have known better than to think that he'd be a burden. Maybe Remus was doing something else during his "recovery" time. Like what? His family was less than affectionate to him, and all of his friends were in the Order. Besides, why would he lie to Sirius about something like that? What would he be doing that would make Remus lie to the man he loved?

Then it hit him like a rogue bludger. Remus was a spy for Voldemort. Would there be any other reason to be so secretive? It was so perfect. Who would suspect Remus? He was kind to everyone, and he gave off an air of comfort and warmth. But why would he side with Voldemort? For werewolf rights? Was he under the imperious curse? Was he being threatened against his life? Was he being threatened against Sirius's life? Sirius's head ached. Remus would only do that to protect those he loved, or against his will, right? Right? He pulled a handful of grass out of the ground viciously. Why, damn it!

More importantly, did Remus really love him? Did Sirius still love him in spite of all this? He knew he did. Remus could end the world and Sirius would still want nothing more than to keep him safe and sound. Sirius stood up and looked around him, not bothering to brush the grass clippings off of the back of his pants. He knew what he had to do.

"James? Lily? Could I talk to you for a second?" The meeting was over and Remus had already left for his work with Voldemort without daring to look Sirius in the eye.

"Sure, Padfoot... what's wrong?"

"It's… it's about me being secret keeper."

Lily's green eyes looked puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Sirius sighed heavily. "You'd better sit down." They sat, perplexed as ever, and looked at him expectantly. "I think… I think Remus is a spy."

"What? Don't be stupid, Padfoot. What would put a thought like that in your head?"

Something like anger crept into Sirius's voice. "D'you honestly think I'd go and say something like that on a whim? I'm dead certain, Prongs." He paused uncertainly, finding it hard to voice all the reasons he believed his lover was betraying them. "He's been leaving for long stretches of time around the full moon. He says it's because he doesn't want to be a burden, but I'm not sure I believe him. There's just something in his voice. And you might not notice anything funny about him, but he's acting strangely."

James looked thunderstruck. "Are… are you going to turn him in or something?"

"I can't."

"Why not?" It was Lily's voice that said this, sounding frightened.

Sirius flushed and whispered to his shoes, "I love him."

James seemed to immediately understand. "I'm sure we can figure out a way to keep everyone from being harmed by this."

"Make Wormtail your secret-keeper."

"What? How would that help anything? We wouldn't trust anyone else, Sirius," Lily said quietly. She understood quite well the bond between Sirius and James.

"I've already told Moony I'm to be the secret-keeper. If he tells Voldemort, they'll go after me and make me tell them where you are. If he tells Voldemort and he turns out to be wrong…" A shudder went down Sirius's spine. "I haven't thought of how to protect him from that yet. But at least you three will be safe."

James was grave. Either way it seemed to mean Sirius's sacrifice. "Of… of course, Padfoot. That's what we'll have to do."

"We're forever in your debt, Sirius. Keeping Harry safe… It's all we ever think of anymore." Lily was trembling oddly, as though fear had seeped into her skin and chilled her blood. "Thank you so much for your kindness."

Sirius sighed. He only hoped he was doing the right thing.

This whole fic is really a killjoy. I'm terribly sorry if I've left anyone depressed.