Disclaimer: I own nothing, JK Rowling owns all canon characters, events and universe.

A/N: This is a repost from about a month or so ago. I thought things were getting a little confused and it needed a prologue amongst other things. The rest of the chapters will be longer, and post-Halloween I just wanted to set the scene a little here. Please follow/review etc, it helps to know that people are interested.

-o0o-

Prologue

Remus tore through the house in panic. "Wait, where are you off to?"

"There's something that I need to sort out. Don't worry about it."

"Sirius, please. You know I like to know where you're going, especially at this time of night." He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "It's not safe."

Sirius turned around to face Remus sharply, his face unreadable. "I don't have to explain myself to you all the time, y'know. There's just stuff that needs doing... Order stuff."

Tension crackled in the air between the two men, and the house was silent, except for the out of place sound of music playing several rooms away. The dark haired man seemed eager to get away, whilst the other was having to hold himself back from reaching out to him, but something was preventing him from doing so.

"We don't seem to talk any more. I don't like it, this war is tearing us apart. You've barely said a word to me since I've been back." There was a begging tone in his voice, and he could feel emotion pooling inside of him.

Anger flashed in Sirius' eyes for a moment. "Stop bloody checking up on me for once and I might be able to relax around you! It's like living with a spy."

With the last word the atmosphere changed rapidly, and the fair haired man's jaw physically dropped as he stared at Sirius, horrified. It opened and closed several times before he managed to get any words out, and when they did they were low, pained and disbelieving. "Is that what you think I am?"

-o0o-

"So you think Peter should be the secret-keeper?" Lily asked, bouncing a young toddler on her knee too sooth him as she spoke to both her husband and Sirius.

Both men nodded, but it was James who spoke. "There's no one more that I trust in the world, but Padfoot's just too obvious."

Lily frowned, clearly not sold on the idea. Out of the three men her preference had always been for Remus, he was the one with the level-head, the one who was always grateful to his friends, and was the least likely to do something daft and get them in trouble. Plus, he knew what it meant to keep something a secret, he'd been doing it his whole life. "If it can't be Sirius then what about Remus? I'd feel much safer with him instead of Peter."

"Think about it Lily, we know that one of us is spying for Voldemort. Wormtail doesn't have the brains, let alone the gumption, and even I have no idea where Remus keeps vanishing off to when he says he's on Order business." Sirius spoke in a remarkably mellow manner compared to usual, and it was just possible to detect an undercurrent of hurt in his voice. "And now he knows that I think he's the spy."

James' head snapped around to look at him. "Dumbledore told us to keep it quiet that we know there's a spy!"

"Prongs mate, I can't keep living with him. He's always checking up on me, pretending that he cares about me. I just can't do it any more."

"I still don't think Remus could do it. He's just not that sort of person."

Sirius crouched before Lily, and tickled Harry on the cheek, causing him to wrinkle his nose and reach out for Sirius' finger with a chubby hand. "Lily, sweet, I would never do anything to hurt Harry, or you, or James. He's my godson. Trust me on this, it's safest for all of you if you make Peter the secret-keeper, not me. I'm too much of a target."

-o0o-

"Why is it that you have summoned me, Pettigrew?"

Peter bowed low on his knees, his neck bared, and face almost touching the floor. "I have good news for you, My Lord."

"Tell it to me. It is about time you did something useful for me."

Upon hearing the harsh tone and disappointment of his master, he let out a small whimper that was quickly stifled, but did not raise his head. "My Lord, I am to become the Potter's Secret-Keeper."

A twisted grimace of a smile showed on Voldemort's face. "Very good Pettigrew, it is possible you will be of some use after all. When will the ceremony take place?"

"October 23rd, at the Potter's place itself."

"You are to report to me immediately. Perhaps then I will consider rewarding you for your loyalty. Now, be gone."

"Y-yes Master." Peter stuttered, bowing low again, before scuttling away, tremors shuddering through his body.