A/N Thanks for the reviews so far, more would be appreciated as the story goes on. Here's another chapter.

CHAPTER TWO: FIDELIUS

Albus Dumbledore made his way to visit James and Lily Potter. He knew what they wanted to do. They wanted to ask him if he knew of any way they could possibly go home, and it was this that filled the wise old wizard's heart with dread.

Dumbledore trembled at the memory of the message he had received from James Potter, asking if he could call on him and Lily urgently. The Hogwarts Headmaster was one of just a handful of people who knew where the Potter's were. He was the one who alerted them to the danger they were in before their son was born, and he was the one who advised them to go on the run, when the child was just a few months old. Thinking now, Dumbledore thought it a miracle that they hadn't decided to go home earlier. In their first few months on the run, the old man almost expected two of his brightest former students to come up with some sort of scheme to enable them to go home, either that, or one of their friends would come up with some plan, but they hadn't. They kept running. They ran even in the face of their enemy chasing them, trying desperately to keep their child alive and holding on to each other as if their very lives depended on it. Now, even without being told, Albus Dumbledore knew the Potter's wanted to go home. He wasn't looking forward to this meeting.

James answered the door to his former Headmaster. 'Sir, it's good to see you, you look well' he said brightly, reaching out and shaking Dumbledore's hand firmly. The older wizard smiled. 'I am well James, and I've told you, it's Albus, not Sir, it hasn't been 'Sir' to you for a long time', then his face broke out into a wide grin, 'I seem to remember at school you calling me 'the old git' on more than one occasion, so I'm sure you could drop the 'Sir' by now'. James flushed as Dumbledore's bright blue eyes twinkled with amusement. 'Sorry Sir – er, I mean, Albus' James replied quickly. Dumbledore smiled kindly. 'That's all right, now, where's Lily?' he asked, just as Lily came into the room, Harry in her arms. 'Professor Dumbledore, it's so good to see you'. Lily smiled happily, greeting Dumbledore with a kiss on the cheek. Dumbledore and James exchanged an ironic glance, but neither drew any attention to Lily calling her former Headmaster by his formal title.

The old man looked down his half-moon spectacles at the baby in Lily's arms. 'My my, he has grown hasn't he? How old is he now Lily?' he asked, smiling warmly at the child who was squirming in his mother's arms. 'He'll be 15 months old in a couple of weeks, the time seems to have flown by' Lily said, looking lovingly at her son and stroking his hair. Dumbledore nodded, 'Yes indeed, 15 months on Halloween, that's right, isn't it?' Lily and James both nodded. 'Yes Sir' James said, easily slipping into the old habit of speaking formally to his former Headmaster. Try as he might, he just couldn't use Dumbledore's first name. It just didn't feel right. 'In a way, that's why we wanted to see you'. Dumbledore nodded, 'Yes James, I know what you want to talk to me about'.

James Potter looked at Dumbledore in astonishment. 'You….you already know what we want to ask you?' he asked, unable to restrain his amazement. Even at 21, James Potter remained convinced that Dumbledore knew everything, and it was as if he had just confirmed it. James looked at the older wizard like a child seeing Santa for the first time. Dumbledore smiled benevolently. 'Yes of course, now, shall we sit down and discuss how we might go about getting you home?' The three adults sat down in the living room of the flat, Harry cooing happily in Lily's arms.

James cleared his throat. 'Sir, we've decided we want to go home. We know that under normal circumstances it just wouldn't be possible', he exchanged a glance with Lily as he said this, 'but is there anything we can do? We're prepared to do whatever it takes, as long as Harry is safe' James looked at Dumbledore who looked thoughtful, before glancing at Harry, who chuckled at his father's serious expression.

Dumbledore watched the couple sitting with him and felt terribly old. He knew the terrible dangers they had faced, he knew how close they had come to death. He remembered how they reacted when he told them about the prophecy and how Voldemort believed it referred to Harry. The memory of Lily's tears and James's anger burst into his mind. He remembered how Lily practically begged him to tell her it wasn't true, that the prophecy didn't have anything to do with Harry while James paced up and down, becoming angrier by the second, glowering, looking fit to explode with rage and indignation.

Albus Dumbledore remembered the terrible day he told the Potters they should go on the run, only to help them settle somewhere before telling them they needed to move again, disrupting their young lives even more.

Dumbledore thought carefully before he replied. 'Yes, I see. Well, there is one way, but I….' he was interrupted as James grinned at Lily, 'See, I knew he'd know!' he cried, looking so much like the young schoolboy Dumbledore remembered, the old man wanted to cry. 'James, please, just listen; it isn't as simple as that' Dumbledore said softly. James immediately became solemn again, waiting for Dumbledore to explain.

'There is one way you could go home, but I warn you, it could be dangerous. You would need to involve someone you know you trust implicitly, or at least, someone you know who has your best interests at heart'. Lily's eyes shone in recognition. She knew what the old man was saying. She looked at Dumbledore expectantly. 'You mean the Fidelius Charm, don't you Professor?' she said, her eyes wide. James Potter's eyes switched between Dumbledore and Lily. 'What's the Fidelius Charm?' he asked uncertainly.

Lily turned her attention to James. 'We learned about it at school James, surely you remember?' she questioned. James shook his head. 'Sorry love, you were better at the book stuff than me, I could do the magic, but you always remembered the names and details far better than me, so tell me, what's this Fidelius Charm about?' James was inquisitive. Lily exchanged a look with Dumbledore, who nodded, allowing her to go on. 'The Fidelius Charm effectively binds people who have a secret. It enables a person, or a group of people, to conceal a secret inside a person, their Secret Keeper, by bonding the Secret Keeper to the people it is meant to protect. Under the Fidelius Charm, only the Secret Keeper can reveal the secret. If anyone else reveals it, it's as if whoever they've told can't hear what has been said, or can't understand it'.

James stared at Lily in admiration. It was at times like this that he realised how much he loved her. 'I married a genius, a bloody genius' he thought, amazed. He shifted in his seat to distract himself from staring. 'You mean that if we told a Secret Keeper we were going back to Godric's Hollow, we would be safe, providing the Secret Keeper didn't tell Voldemort where we were?' James's heart started to thump wildly at the thought that he might actually be able to take Lily and Harry home. Lily nodded, smiling at James. 'Yes, and we could see other people at home too. It wouldn't matter who we saw, because as long as the Secret Keeper doesn't tell Voldemort where we are, we'll be fine. Even if someone else told him, he would never know. James, once the charm was performed, Voldemort could look directly into our windows and he wouldn't even realise we were there, as long as our Secret Keeper doesn't tell him'. Lily was starting to tremble to think that she might be able to go home.

Dumbledore suddenly cleared his throat. James and Lily's attention was drawn from each other and back to him. They could see he looked grave. 'The problem with the Fidelius Charm is that you should only use it when you know someone you can be sure you trust totally, someone you know wouldn't give away your secret. As you both know, I feel sure someone close to you is feeding Voldemort information about you, so you should consider very carefully who you use as your Secret Keeper. If you really do wish to use the charm, I would gladly be your Secret Keeper. I feel any other course of action would be most un….'

Dumbledore was interrupted by James rising to his feet abruptly. 'No Sir, with respect, I know someone who we can ask' his eyes met Lily's, who nodded. 'Sirius?' James asked. Lily nodded again, 'Yes James, Sirius' she said simply. Dumbledore sighed deeply. 'I felt certain you would decline my offer, but may I ask you to reconsider? I know you trust Mr. Black completely, but I am convinced that someone is helping Voldemort find out where you are. I feel sure that if I…' Dumbledore was interrupted by James again. 'Sir, we are grateful for everything you've done for us, but I do trust Sirius, I trust him completely. I know he would die before he would betray us, so I know it would be right to ask him to be our Secret Keeper. He can go into hiding or something. It'll be fine, I'm sure of it'.

Dumbledore sighed resignedly. 'Very well, I knew you would reach that conclusion. If for any reason Sirius can not be your Secret Keeper, please contact me and my offer will still be open'. James nodded and Dumbledore spent the rest of his visit explaining to James and Lily exactly what they had to do for the Fidelius Charm. It was a complicated spell.

After a considerable time Dumbledore rose to leave. Lily left the room to put Harry down for a nap. As she did, James went to a cupboard and pulled out a piece of cloth that looked almost like liquid. He held it in his hands, touching it almost reverently. He stepped towards Dumbledore who eyed the material as if he knew what it was. 'Sir, my Dad gave me this when I was in the fifth year at school' James voice was more serious than Dumbledore had ever heard it. 'Would you take it from me and keep it? Would you give it to Harry for me one day?' James swallowed a lump in his throat. 'If Lily and I…' James found himself having to rephrase what he was trying to say, the thought of Lily not making it almost too much for him. 'If I don't make it Sir, will you give this to Harry for me, when he goes to Hogwarts, or when you think the time is right?' Dumbledore looked down to see James holding the material in slightly shaking hands. 'Of course I will, but I would have thought that as his father, you might like to keep it yourself and give it to him'. The old man was struggling to control his own emotions. James swallowed hard, 'Yes Sir, but please, just in case, take it from me and promise me you'll….' His voice broke. Dumbledore nodded and took the material.

James collected himself, regaining some control. 'Sir, would you promise me something else?' Dumbledore nodded, 'If I can, I will, you know that'. James looked towards the door Lily had gone out of. 'Sir, if anything happens, if I…' he swallowed again. 'If I don't make it, will you….will you look after Lily and keep an eye on Harry for me? I…I'd rest easier if I knew they were being looked after properly'. He blinked several times, hard. 'If anything was to happen to…..both me and Lily, we've appointed Sirius as Harry's guardian, but I'd like to think Harry could turn to you too, and you'd look out for him, I'd feel easier if you would'.

Dumbledore's eyes clouded. He sighed and looked at James steadily. 'James you have to believe you will get through, but of course I would do as you ask, I would give Lily any help she would let me offer'. The two men exchanged wry smiles. They both knew how independent Lily could be. Then Dumbledore went on. 'As for Harry, do you trust me to watch out for him in any way I see fit?' James met the Headmaster's steady gaze. 'Yes Sir, I do, and I know Lily would say the same'. 'Then yes James, I will keep an eye on Harry for you, it would be my great privilege'. The old and young man shook hands and then Dumbledore left, feeling older than ever.

Once Dumbledore had gone, James went and found Lily. She was tucking Harry into his cot for a nap. The baby was sleeping soundly, without a worry in the world. James slipped an arm around Lily and looked down on his sleeping son. 'It'll all be all right Lily. I'll do everything I can to make damned sure it's all right. Sirius will watch out for us, I know he will. We'll be fine'. His voice sounded calm and confident, as he wanted, but something inside warned him that he could so easily be wrong.

James turned his attention away from the sleeping child and stroked Lily's cheek. 'OK, the next thing we have to do is speak to Sirius. I'd better get the mirror out eh?' Lily slipped her arms around his neck, 'Yes, the sooner we do that the better, but just one thing before you do.' James looked at Lily quizzically, 'What love?' he asked softly. Lily edged closer to him, 'Nothing really, except that I love you, very much'. James leaned down and placed a tender kiss on Lily's lips. 'I love you too sweetheart, I'll always love you'. Then he quietly slipped away to speak to his best friend.

Later the same day Sirius Black arrived at James and Lily's flat. It had been a while since the couple had seen their closest friend. Lily greeted him with a hug. 'Sirius, it's great to see you' she inspected him closely. 'Are you taking proper care of yourself? You look as if you've lost weight….or is it just too many late nights with your latest fling?' she grinned as she spoke. Sirius Black shook his head. 'Nah, I've given up the women love, too much like hard work, I can't be bothered any more'. Lily narrowed her eyes suspiciously. 'OK, who is this impostor and what have you done with the real Sirius Black?' Sirius just smiled softly and shook his head again. 'No, I mean it Lils, I'm giving it up. No more flings for me. I can't be bothered any more'.

Lily watched Sirius's face and could see he meant every word. She felt concerned. 'Look, Sirius, you are OK aren't you?' She raised her brows as she spoke. Sirius grinned, but Lily was still unconvinced. 'I'm fine, I'm just…well, you know' he replied. Lily moved and hugged him again. 'Yes, I know….but we'll be fine'. Lily knew exactly why Sirius seemed so low. He was worried. Then she beamed at him. 'Actually, that's why James got in touch with you….but I'll let him tell you' she added, as James came into the room with Harry.

James came into the room with his son in his arms and greeted his best friend like they hadn't seen each other for years, instead of a few weeks. 'You look knackered mate, been messing about too much with one of your floozies have you?' he grinned. Sirius laughed, 'Well, you know me mate, 'make hay while the sun shines', and all that'. James laughed, 'It's what you're making while the moon shines that worries me more than the sun pal, I can tell you!' Lily and Sirius exchanged a meaningful look, but Lily said nothing. She knew Sirius was keeping up this jovial exterior for James's benefit.

Sirius stood and took Harry from James, pulling faces at the baby and making him laugh. 'Speaking of the moon, have you seen Moony lately, he looks a lot better' he said casually. James and Lily glanced at one another nervously as if Sirius had said something rude. James found his voice first. 'Er…no, it's been a while since we've seen him, hasn't it Lily?' he said. Lily rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth slightly. 'Um…yes, yes it has been a while….I'm glad he's looking well Sirius' she added, casting James another slightly uncertain look. Sirius went on, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere in the room. 'Yeah, he's fine Lils. He's just so chuffed you found that bloke who did the potion for him, he's really grateful'. 'I bet he is' James muttered under his breath, making Lily frown at him. She saw her husband's whole body tense up. She decided a change of subject was called for.

'James I told Sirius you would explain to him what we asked him to see us for'. Lily smiled sweetly at James, who exhaled deeply. The tension disappeared from his face and body as quickly as it had arrived. 'Right…yeah…Padfoot….Sirius….' Sirius stopped pulling faces at Harry who was chuckling gleefully on his Godfather's knee. Sirius knew James hardly ever called him by his first name, so it must be something important. 'What's up? What's the matter?' he asked anxiously.

James told Sirius about the meeting with Dumbledore and the Fidelius Charm. He explained how the charm worked, and about the need for a Secret Keeper. When he finished speaking Sirius nodded deeply. 'Right, so that's what you want to do is it? You want to go back to Godric's Hollow?' Lily nodded, 'Yes, but it's more than that'. Sirius looked at James who was watching his friend intently. 'Mate, we want you to be our Secret Keeper' James said. Sirius Black blinked. 'You want me to do it?' he asked, as if he hadn't heard correctly. James didn't reply; he went on watching his friend's face. Then Sirius broke into a wide smile. 'Well why the bloody hell didn't you say so, of course I'll do it!' he cried excitedly. James and Lily couldn't help themselves. They both rushed at Sirius and hugged him, only releasing him when they realised they were all squashing Harry. 'Best not flatten the kid, he's going to be a Marauder one day, aren't you Harry?' Sirius laughed. Harry squealed in response, which, naturally, Sirius took as an affirmative.