When Sirius came to he was lying on a couch in the great room, back at the headquarters. From what he could see of the windows, it was night outside. He could hear quiet voices in the kitchen and a creaking of floorboards above him. He was relieved. As he'd drifted in and out of consciousness for the few seconds before he'd finally come around, a foreboding worry that casualties might have been so high there'd be no one left but him had haunted his vague nightmares.

"Last time I checked he was still asleep…" People were coming into the great room now. Sirius tried to call out, but his mouth wouldn't work.

"You're awake!" Stell exclaimed, as she came into focus over Sirius's head. "Oh, thank Merlin! I was worried… But Edgar Bones said you'd be alright. I should've known he was right." Stell bent down to kiss him, concernedly touching his face and taking his hand.

"How do you feel?" Remus asked, moving Sirius's feet so he could sit on the couch.

"Like crap…" Sirius managed to say at last. He slowly reached up, running his hand over his face to assess the damage. As far as he could tell, there were no wounds that might affect his stunningly gorgeous features, but his head ached excruciatingly. "What time is it?"

"Ten to five in the morning. We got back around two," Remus answered. Sirius's head was still throbbing as though someone had hit it with a sledge hammer.

"How is everyone else?" Sirius asked tiredly. He was too exhausted to feel really worried.

"No deaths," sighed Stell, "Actually it went well for our side. Moody caught one of the death eaters, Evan Rosier. Heard of him?"

Sirius started to shake his head but hurriedly stopped as his headache increased. "Well, Moody got him, but not before he took a big chunk of his nose… It looked bad, but Moody said he was fine. Don't suppose it'll make much of a difference really. Moody's so scarred as it is…" Stell mused.

Suddenly there was a hammering at the door. Shooting Stell and Sirius a perplexed look, Remus stood and made his way hesitantly to the door.

"Who could be calling at this time?" Sirius wondered allowed.

Remus unlocked the door, his wand drawn. Dumbledore staggered into the headquarters.

"Dumbledore!" Stell exclaimed, standing.

"What is it? What's-" Remus began, but Dumbledore interrupted him.

"Where are Lily and James? It is absolutely imperative that I speak with them immediately," Dumbledore said. His voice was calm, but it was almost more frightening than if he'd burst in shouting. From his tone, it was obvious something terrible had happened.

Everyone was frozen, almost panicked. Finally, with unfathomable courage, Stell spoke, "They're… they're upstairs, sleeping."

"Get them, please," Dumbledore said.

She went quickly to the staircase, glancing back worriedly only once. Dumbledore sank into an armchair.

"What's wrong?" Sirius asked.

"Something of terrible importance has come to my attention regarding Lily and James's son, Harry. I will say no more until I have spoken with the Potters, so please do not ask me."

The room remained silent. Sirius glanced at Remus and Remus glanced at Sirius but neither dared say anything. Sirius somehow heaved himself into a sitting position, his skull pounding with every movement. At last the Potters staggered down the stairs. James had a slight limp that Sirius had not noticed before. Lily had dark circles under her eyes and a glazed look on her face.

Dumbledore stood, "I would apologize profusely for keeping you from your right to sleep at this ridiculous hour and after your most recent escapade, which I'm sure was terribly exhausting, but I haven't the time."

Lily and James glanced at each other dazedly. "Please, sit down. I would prefer to stand as I am in a hurry, but don't feel obligated to stand because I am doing so. In fact, I would suggest you take this news sitting."

The Potters lurched to the sofa and sat down on either side of Sirius. "Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin, if you wouldn't mind…" Remus nodded and was halfway to the stairs when he realized Sirius was having difficulty even standing on his own feet. Quickly, he returned and lifted one of Sirius's arms over his shoulder, pulling him violently upright. James, who had impulsively grabbed Sirius's arm, reluctantly let go as Stell appeared at the foot of the stairs and took Sirius's other arm. With incomprehensible and uncharacteristic strength, the two somehow lifted Sirius and bodily carried him up the staircase.

Before the trio had even made it to the landing, Dumbledore had begun to speak agitatedly. However, for some reason they could not hear a word he was saying; it seemed he had somehow cast powerful protective spells in a matter of moments. Sirius found this latest accomplishment of Dumbledore's surprisingly comforting.

Stell and Remus deposited Sirius on an overstuffed futon and then sat on either side of him. They were quiet for a while. Sirius stared into the flames, wondering what it was that was so urgent it brought Dumbledore to the headquarters in the middle of the night.

Before he knew it, a half an hour had past. Remus was gone and Stell was asleep beside him. There was movement in the shadows behind them and Sirius drew his wand, slowly turning to face the attacker. But it was only Peter.

Catching sight of Sirius, he wandered miserably over to the couch and plopped down beside him. He carried a mug of warm milk which he downed hastily. His right hand was clenched inside his pocket, presumably around his wand. Beads of sweat glimmered in the flickering light of the fire on his forehead. He nervously licked his lips.

"That… that Dumbledore?" he muttered. Resentful at being interrupted from his reverie by pitiful Peter, Sirius only nodded and looked away.

"D-do you know what h-he's sa-saying?" Peter asked.

Sirius shrugged. Peter started to stand, "No, don't bother going to eavesdrop. Dumbledore doesn't want whatever it is he's got to say to be heard. He's cast powerful silencing spells around the whole place."

Forlornly, Peter again collapsed on to the sofa. Sirius glanced at him. His hair was thinner than it had been and he'd grown skinnier. Far from looking healthier, the weight loss gave him the look of a forgotten prisoner. His skin hung about him loosely, and his face looked hollow and ill. Their eyes met and Sirius was shocked to see a strange hunger in them. For a moment, when the firelight illuminated his hollow cheeks and deep-set beady eyes, Peter looked almost deranged.

A guilty pity engulfed him. The war had not been treating Peter well at all. Always jumpy, being on guard at all times seemed to have done nothing for his nerves and driven Peter over the edge. He now looked decidedly paranoid.

"He came to speak with James and Lily," Sirius offered by means of consolation. Peter nodded slightly. "Something about Harry."

Peter said nothing. His features looked eerily rat-like and as he nervously nibbled at the edge of a thumb nail, Sirius wondered why he had persistently stuck with the marauders for so long. He was fascinated with their popularity and power, Sirius supposed. The promise of protection… The weak were always attracted to those in power.

Peter let out a long quavering sigh. "You all right, Pete?" Sirius asked. He realized that this was the first time he had actually taken a good look at Peter since… Well, to tell the truth, since they'd joined the order.

Peter seemed just a permanent fixture. Just something that was there. He wasn't and never had been equal to the others. He was only there because he insisted upon being there.

Again Peter took a deep breath, but this time he spoke, "I… Sirius, I… I'm worried," he whimpered.

Sirius was silent. Peter studied him for some reaction, but plowed on when he provided none. "I… he'll… Oh, I don't know what to do!"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm… Sirius, I…" Peter took another rattling breath, "I…" He covered his face with his hands, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles. "I'm sorry… so sorry…" he squeaked at last.

"What are you talking about?" Sirius asked.

Peter bit his lip and seemed to regret trying to say whatever it was that he couldn't quite manage to articulate. "You… You're all off doing brave things… and being… being useful, and- and brave!" Peter closed his eyes again.

"W-what can I do, Sirius? How can I c-compare? I c-ca-can't! I can't help!"

It was only too true. There was nothing Peter could ever do that would measure up to them. There were people who were born to do great things. To be leaders and thinkers and doers. Peter was not one of them.

He had always been and always would be weak; a follower. He was the worst kind, too. Gullible, hungry for authority and security, willing to do anything to please a powerful master if he had hope of reward. Peter had never had the kind of resolve the rest of them had had. He could be easily lead astray by the temptation of power, even if it came at a cost the rest of them would rather die than pay.

Sirius was astonishingly shocked to realize that he did not like the person Peter had become. Peter was not a friend. Sirius did not even enjoy his company as perhaps he once had. Peter was pathetic. Peter was a rat. Perhaps he had always been one. Still, Sirius could not help but feel pity. His repulsion at the man sitting beside him made him determined to keep Peter from betraying them, the Order and himself. If he could, Sirius would find a use for Peter. Something to keep him on the right path. It would not take much. Just a prod in the right direction and an assurance of compensation was all Peter needed.

He stirred beside Sirius. "I…" he gulped, "Sirius… Please, I…"

"What is it, Peter?"

"I'm… I beg you… F-forgive me, please… Oh, Merlin, forgive me!"

Surprised by the note of desperation in his voice Sirius turned to face him full on. Peter was crying, whimpering, sobbing. His pointed nose grew red and his hollow cheeks and drooping skin grew wet with tears.

"S-so, so… sorry!" Peter choked. "I… I never…"

His pointed buck teeth nibbled at his lower lip until it bled, "I'll be… k-killed!"

His tiny, blood shot, eyes searched Sirius's face. "Don't… d-don't! Oh, please, I don't know what to do! Help me, oh, help me! Sirius… S-s-sirius! You were always, always, such a good, good friend to me! P-poor, poor me!"

"Peter!" Sirus exclaimed, alarmed, "Peter, what is it?"

He just shook his head. At last he lifted his face, "I… I'm-"

At that moment James appeared on the landing. "Sirius, come down stairs. Dumbledore needs to speak with you. Hurry."

James was remarkably pale. He appeared to be shocked and trembling. Sirius looked from Peter to James. Both seemed desperate for his company and for a moment he was torn. But, James was his best friend. It was true, Wormtail was about to tell Sirius something very important, but surely it could wait.

"Sirius," James rasped, "I need you."

If Sirius had had any remaining doubt as to who he should be with at present, it was gone now. James needed him.

Before leaving, he turned once more to Peter. "Watch Stell for me, will you?" Hopefully that would keep him occupied until Sirius could find out and investigate what it was that Peter had been about to say.

As Sirius turned and began to descend the stairs, he heard a low anguished moan come from Peter's direction. He paused for a moment, but James kept walking, so Sirius followed.

When they reached the foot of the steps, James pushed Sirius on to the couch beside Lily. Dumbledore was staring distractedly off into space. James sat on Lily's other side. He took her hand, squeezing it so tightly Sirius wouldn't have been surprised if he'd heard her bones break. Lily didn't even seem to notice, she was shaking from head to toe, her eyes fixed on Dumbledore. There was a pleading look on her face, as though she was silently begging Dumbledore to tell them that all he had said was only a joke.

At last Dumbledore turned, facing the three of them. He looked directly at Sirius, saying nothing, searching his face. Sirius felt oddly as though Dumbledore was looking into his mind. He shifted uncomfortably and at last Dumbledore began to speak.

"I have advised Lily and James to go into hiding," he stated. James stood and began to pace, he moved haltingly from one side of the room to the other, as though it pained him to sit still.

"It appears that Lord Voldemort is, to put it frankly, attempting to murder them, and more specifically, their son, Harry. They are in very grave danger, very grave indeed."

The color left Sirius's face. He felt his jaw drop; his brain seemed to have stopped functioning. James turned and for a second their eyes met and Sirius knew what it was James needed.

Dumbledore continued to speak, though his words were all but meaningless to Sirius now. "I believe that their best chance is to use the Fidelius Charm. Perhaps you have heard of it?"

James had stopped pacing. He stood beside Dumbledore, gazing at Sirius and the floor in turn. He began to open his mouth, but stopped. He seemed no more capable of speaking than Sirius was.

Finally, tapping into the incomprehensible and unfathomable strength that everyone seemed to be using tonight, Sirius found his voice. "I'll do it, mate," he said, "Whatever it is, I'll do it."

James sank back on to the sofa, slowly he nodded. "I knew you would," he said, his voice shaking with relief.

"Very well," Dumbledore said, a distant note of... something in his voice that didn't quite belong. Was it anxiety? Or was it the admittance of defeat?

"If, in fact, you do intend to become the Potters' Secret Keeper, it would be advisable that you also go into hiding. You would be Voldemort's key to the Potters. You would be the most obvious one to protect the Potters' safety, so it is likely the Dark Lord would suspect you." At this point Dumbledore turned to James, "James? Are you absolutely certain that this is what you want?"

Sirius was confused at Dumbledore's earnest, insistent, almost desperate tone. Even more puzzling was James's reaction. He arranged his face into the stubborn, mulish, look that Sirius knew only too well. "Yes, I'm certain. I believe we've already discussed this issue."

"James, this is a matter of life and death. I'm not saying…" Dumbledore paused and glanced at Sirius, "I hope you realize what the consequences could be. I, myself, am entirely willing to be your Secret Keeper. Please consider my offer."

"Dumbledore?" Lily spoke, "Thank you, but we're both certain. I trust him." In a silent gesture of faith that somewhere, underneath the numb shock, touched Sirius's soul, Lily placed a trembling hand on Sirius's arm.

With a sigh, Dumbledore nodded, "I thought as much." He paused, studying each of the three in turn. "It is imperative that we complete the charm as soon as possible. I assume you would prefer to stay in Godric's Hollow?"

James and Lily both nodded and Dumbledore continued, "Then we will begin tomorrow. In the mean time I would recommend as much sleep as possible. Forgive me, but I am in a hurry, I must bid you goodnight now." Without another word, he dissaparated.

Slowly, Lily and James got to their feet and dragged themselves up the stairs. As James passed Sirius, he paused and tried to speak. All that came out was an odd sort of squeak, but the tears welling in James's eyes were enough to tell Sirius all he needed to know.

As Sirius sat on the couch alone in the dark room, he thought about what it was that he was to do. With a jolt, he realized that it was almost certain that Voldemort would know he was the Potters' Secret Keeper. Who else would James trust his life too? Voldemort would come after him. And sooner or later, Voldemort would inevitably find him. And those who Voldemort found didn't tend to live very long.

If Sirius died as the Potters' secret keeper, it wouldn't be long before James died. And Lily. Even Harry, Sirius's own Godson, would die.

Shaking, Sirius got to his feet and ascended the stairs. It was hopeless, utterly hopeless. It was like a chain. As soon as Voldemort got a hold of Sirius, all the rest were doomed. There was nothing any of them could do to prevent it. Unless they could find someone else Voldemort would never suspect to be the Potters' Secret Keeper. That way Voldemort would go after Sirius, but when… no, if, Sirius corrected himself, if Voldemort captured Sirius, the Potters would still be safe.

Sirius almost laughed. Who would agree to that? No one except Sirius was crazy enough to risk their life to protect James.

Suddenly Sirius reached the top of the staircase and an idea burst into his mind. Peter, of course! Voldemort would never dream that the Potters would use a weak, talentless, little rat like Peter. It was the perfect plan. Sirius would go into hiding, pretending to be the Secret Keeper. Voldemort would come after him and the real Secret Keeper, and the secret he kept, would be completely safe.

And it was perfect for Peter as well, just the thing he needed, a prod in the right direction. Satisfied, Sirius wandered over to the futon and sat down.

With a terrible shock, Sirius realized that he'd told Peter to watch Stell. Now both were gone. He hadn't been serious! Watching a sleeping, perfectly safe, Stell wasn't a real task!

Peter couldn't possibly… His head was spinning and his heart hammering, but Sirius forced himself to be calm, to think. This was Peter. Peter would never have the strength to actually kill, or even harm anything. Especially not a talented witch like Stella. Even if she had been asleep…

Sirius vaulted over the couch and dashed to the door across the hall. For a moment he fumbled with the doorknob. He didn't have time for this! He rifled through his pockets, searching for his wand. At last he found it and wrenched it out of his pocket, pointing it viciously at the door.

"Alohamora!" he spat. The door swung open with such force that it slammed into the wall. In seconds, Stell leaped out of nowhere and before he even had a chance to speak, Sirius found himself flying backward through the air. He hit the opposite wall rather forcefully, and slid down it on to the floor, the wind knocked out of him. The pain that had, for a while, vanished, now flooded back into his skull. For a moment he thought he might pass out, but he somehow struggled into a sitting position, leaning against the wall. Suddenly Stell appeared in the doorway, wand in hand.

"No!" Sirius managed to say, "It's me!"

"Sirius?" she gasped, and dashed across the room to him. Suddenly she paused, unsure.

"Stell?"

"What were you doing?" she asked suspiciously.

"I was trying to see if you were all right! When I left you were on the couch and when I came back you were gone!"

"The door wasn't locked," she said pointedly.

"Oh, sorry…" Sirius muttered, feeling a little idiotic; the door to their room didn't even have a lock. "I was so worried, I didn't even think…"

Stell relaxed and came over to him. "I thought you might be a death eater, that's why I, er... sent you flying across the room. Sorry," she said apologetically, "And then when I saw it was you, I thought you might be a death eater in disguise. It was a little suspicious, the breaking the door down… Er, how's your head?"

"Not so good," Sirius laughed. How could he think Peter could ever harm a witch like Stella?

"Sorry! You save my life today and then I almost end yours…"

That reminded him of what he had just promised James he would do. "Stell," he said, suddenly solemn, "I'm going into hiding."

"What?" she asked, caught off guard, a smile still playing about her lips as if she thought he might be joking.

"I've got to. Voldemort is after the Lily and James and I've promised to be their Secret Keeper." He decided not to mention his idea about Peter. He hadn't even mentioned it to James yet and the fewer people who knew about it, the better.

Stell sat back, surveying him in a stunned manner, her mouth slightly open as though she wasn't sure who he was. "Lily and James? Voldemort? You… You're… But you can't! He'll know! You'll be killed!"

"That's why I've got to go into hiding! Don't you see? These are… dangerous times and I've got to… I have to help James."

"He'll kill you…" Stell murmured, "He's sure to."

"I've got to go into hiding."

"I'm going with you."

"No you're not. You can't. It's dangerous enough for you, just knowing me. If Voldemort were to find me, and you were with me…"

"I don't care. I'm not letting you go by yourself."

"You've got to! If you were to be harmed because of me…"

"Sirius! I can't… How can I let you go into hiding and know I might never see you again?"

"You'll see me again. I'll be fine."

"Don't say that!" she cried suddenly, "Stop pretending everything is going to be all right! People die every day! He won't hesitate to kill you just because you're you, Sirius! You're kidding yourself with your optimism! There's no way you'll come out of this alive! It's never going to end. And I'd rather be with you, and die when you die, than live every day wondering if you're still alive out there somewhere!"

"I'll always be with you," Sirius said, taking her hands and drawing her closer. "I won't be able to stand being away from you every day, but it would be even harder if you were with me and I knew that every second could be our last. And if you died, it would be because of me."

Stell still said nothing. "Stell, I'll come back for you, I promise. You have to keep hoping. If you don't, it will never end. But as long as there's a chance, and you have the courage to believe in it, there's a reason to hope. Even if it is only blind optimism, if it saves me, what's there to criticize?" Sirius smiled feebly.

Stell looked into his stormy grey eyes for a moment longer. Abruptly she wrenched her hands from his and, tears streaming silently down her cheeks, she turned from him and tore across the room, shutting the door behind her.

A/N: This is probably my favorite chapter. I think (I hope) you finally find out why Sirius is so in love with this annoyingly characterless oc and you learn a lot more about his relationship with James and Peter and even Lily. It's kind of funny because so much happens in this chapter, so much action takes place and so many events are revealed, but at the same time you find more to the characters. Ok, I know I'm kind of praising myself here, but I was actually surprised when I reread it how well I thought it came out. lol I shouldn't be complimenting myself before I find out what you think! Who knows whether you'll agree! Well, anyway, I hope you do! Review and tell me what you think!