But first, an essay:

Why I think this is how the timeline went, bc the author has contradicted herself so many times:

After hearing Snape's version of the prophecy, it would have taken Voldemort a while to both decipher it and figure out who fit the bill, when babies were born, genders, etc. There may also have been a time he was focusing his efforts on trying to track down Trelawney.

Sources vary on whether Snape defected to Dumbledore and became a double-agent in the fall of 1980 or 1981 after realizing that Lily had a baby boy and was in danger. Personally, I feel like it might have been 1981, maybe August. I don't think many people outside the Order would have figured out that Harry even existed by the fall of 1980. Additionally, as brilliant as Snape is, a year seems like a very long time to double cross Voldemort and not be killed, and/or have found out more information on how to stop him. ALSO, I think that timeline would have prompted Dumbledore to suggest the Fidelius charm a lot sooner. However, I still find it super weird that Snape started teaching at Hogwarts in September 1981, and Voldemort was like "yeah cool good idea." Anyone who says it was mid-October 1981 just before the Fidelius charm was performed forgets that he began teaching at Hogwarts in September, meaning he definitely would have defected earlier than that. There were likely at least two major moments between Snape and Dumbledore during this time - the first when he initially defected, thinking Lily might be in danger due to the fact that she fit the criteria of the prophecy, and second, when Voldemort revealed to him when he was definitely 100% going after Harry.

Voldemort would not have disclosed a lot of information about the prophecy to his followers since it could be seen as a weakness, and even Snape, who had told him about the prophecy in the first place, may not have been getting a play by play on Voldemort's decisions regarding his next steps between hearing the prophecy and deciding to execute the Potters.

Regardless of his timeline, we know Voldemort had not officially set his sights on Harry over Neville, or at least had not chosen to tell Snape about it, until a few days before the Potters went into hiding using the Fidelius charm, because:

a) Dumbledore wouldn't have delayed once Snape came to him with that information. He would have acted right away, and:

b) Something had to have changed for them to resort to the use of the Fidelius charm, as opposed to whatever level of protections the Potters were using before for their previous, more low-key level of "hiding."

Flitwick says in PoA that they were only under the protection of the charm for a week before Voldemort found them.

We know from Lily's letter to Sirius (Deathly Hallows) that Peter knew where the Potters lived and could've given Voldemort their whereabouts at any point BEFORE the charm was cast, leading me to believe Voldemort hadn't decided to target Harry until that point.

This seems rather late, but like I said, it would have taken Voldemort a while to figure out what children born the previous July fit the criteria of the prophecy, on top of all his normally scheduled evil overlord mayhem, and once he did, he would have wanted to act quickly after he'd made the decision.

The author is also not super reliable with math so this may just be me trying to justify that.

Canon nerds: feel free to argue any of these points in the comments, I want to hear your thoughts.

***Don't worry - we got a little ways to go before Halloween...but only a little.

From the playlist:

One Eye Open - Tommee Profitt

scared - Jeremy Zucker

Brother - Stripped Back - Kodaline

He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother - The Hollies

Ch 50 - Semper Fidelius

October 24th - 8:47pm

"I don't quite know how long this could go on for," Albus explained as he sat across from the Potters in their living room. An un-sipped cup of tea rested in his hands while he spoke. "What I do know is that the protections we've put in place thus far will no longer suffice. He will stop at nothing until he's found the boy."

The homey cottage with its yellow backsplash and floral wallpaper starkly contrasted Dumbledore's grave tone and the topic of conversation. The room seemed to grow dimmer and drop a few degrees in temperature; at least, that's how it felt for the young parents.

Lily's eyes darted to her infant son - playing with a set of miniature Quidditch balls at her feet - and was bewildered that the fate of their world rested on his small shoulders. For the last year, they'd been paralyzed with fear that he might set his sights on Harry. She would never be able to understand what might drive someone to wish harm upon an eighteen month old; to wish harm upon her son, let alone anyone else's.

"Nothing's going to touch him," she declared, her voice nearly coming out as a growl.

James reached for her hand, though his own was trembling. "We'll stay hidden for as long as it takes, so long as Harry's safe."

"The charm," Lily began, her eyes still on Harry. "It will hide us in plain sight?"

"Precisely."

"Do you not think it more prudent to go to one of the safe houses?"

"Leaving will do nothing to deter Voldemort. I believe that this is the best chance we can give Harry," said Dumbledore, his eyes also on the infant.

Lily nodded distractedly. "I trust you, Albus." She looked to her husband. "We both do."

"What do we have to do to prepare?" James asked, picking Harry up and sitting him in his lap. Even a few feet away, he was too far; not close enough to keep safe.

"Before you cast the charm, you must select your Secret-Keeper," Albus informed them, setting his cup of tea on the end table. "If this person were to reveal the secret of your location, whomever they shared it with would be able to find you, so it is imperative that this be someone you can trust with your very lives. I would be more than happy to offer myself; or Alastor, perhaps?"

"No," James disagreed. In his mind, there was only one clear choice for who should bear this responsibility. "I hope you won't take offense Professor, but I think it should be Sirius. He's Harry's godfather. It's only right that we make him our Secret-Keeper."

"You're positive you can trust him with this? Positive that Sirius Black could look Voldemort in the eye, face his own death, and not reveal your whereabouts?"

This was a scenario James sincerely did not want to think about, but in the event that it did happen: "Sirius would die before he let anything happen to us or our son. I'm willing to bet my life on that." He looked to his wife.

"As am I. It should be Sirius," Lily agreed, reaching up to caress the freshwater pearl that now hung around her neck.

"Very well then, it's settled. You should inform him straightaway, so as not to delay casting the charm." Albus produced his wand, ready to give them a lesson on the difficult spell; but he stopped just before, and looked right at James. "You've always had a talent for mischief, James. After tonight, no more excursions out of the house for you, I think."

James cracked a guilty smile, unsurprised that Dumbledore guessed he'd left the cottage once or twice.

"Perhaps it's a good thing you so kindly loaned me your cloak," Albus continued. "That way, you can't be tempted."

James nodded, taking a toy snitch from Harry's mouth.

After tonight.

…

October 25th - 2:32am

As he had most nights for the last few months, Remus left the realm of slumber at about half past two in the morning. Unlike most nights for the last few months, Emmeline was sound asleep next to him, looking incredibly serene and drooling onto the pillow. Remus was reluctant to wake her, especially since she was beginning to get in the habit of sleeping through the night again. He crept slowly out of the bed and tip-toed into the kitchen where he guzzled down a glass of water.

He hadn't the heart to tell Emmeline just how depressed he was becoming. After all, she was still navigating her own sadness, and he would never want to add the burden of his own on top of that. The grief of Marlene's death had finally caught up to him, and that compounded with the splintering of his friend group sent him into an emotional nosedive unlike any he had ever experienced before. He'd even been looking forward to his next excursion tomorrow, as Dumbledore hadn't sent him to any of the packs since July. He supposed Albus had taken pity on him after Marlene and given him a break, but the break was over now, and Remus welcomed the distraction. He was not looking forward to going without his Wolfsbane again, but at this point, he'd trade his body falling apart for his mind to have something else to focus on; if only in the waxing and waning of the moon.

It was beginning to get cold during the night, and he only had on a pair of drawers. Careful not to prompt any creaks from the floorboards, he inched towards the front room where he retrieved the throw quilt from the couch and wrapped it around himself. But as he turned to exit the room, the walls around him illuminated with an icy silver light. He spun around and found himself face to face with James's stag.

James's voice began to flow through the Patronus: "Meet me at St. Jerome's. It's urgent. Come alone."

As the stag dissipated, Remus took a moment to consider the request. Mad-Eye and Dumbledore definitely would not approve of this. Then again, James Potter had never been one for following the rules, and Remus knew from experience that he certainly did not expect those around him to either.

Remus snuck back into the bedroom, dressed hurriedly, then strode out to the front room again where the sound of his disapparition would be less likely to wake Emmeline.

...

Remus landed in the narthex of the church, but it appeared that James hadn't arrived yet. The sanctuary was dimly illuminated by two stations of votive candles which had been lit to honor the departed. Aware of his wand and his surroundings, Remus cautiously entered the sanctuary, but was drawn towards the light of the candle displays. On a small stand next to the memorial was a jar full of long matches, as well as a sign inviting congregants and visitors alike to light their own candle for their own loved one.

Remus wasn't a church goer. Given historical tensions between the wizarding community and the church, most wizarding folk weren't. Emmeline had always been somewhat saddened by this, as she'd grown up attending services with her father and found it to be a source of comfort. Remus had gone with his own mother once or twice on Christmas eve when he'd been home from school, and he might've attended more if he'd been permitted to leave the house in his youth. When he was a child, Hope used to bring him leaflets from Sunday worship with prayers or bits of scripture on them, and she'd even read the bible with him before bed. Remus was not much of a church goer, but the jury was still out on whether or not he believed there was a God. Sometimes he and Emmeline had thought-provoking conversations on the subject. But it seemed to him that, if there was a God, he did not much care for Remus, despite what Emmeline, his Welsh mother, and the Church of England had to say.

Nevertheless, Remus felt compelled to select a candle, and thought of the McKinnons as he lit it. "May they rest in peace, and may they not die in vain," he whispered, as Albus' words were the closest thing he had to liturgical prayer.

"Moony," came a voice from behind. Remus turned just as James was striding towards him through the sanctuary. "Sorry to keep you waiting, I had to be sure you weren't followed."

"Prongs!" Remus dashed forward and embraced him with zeal, having missed him for so many months.

James returned his vigorous embrace and could not help but smile. "Godric, I've missed you."

"Lily and Harry alright?"

"We're all okay," James lied, releasing him from the hug.

"That's a relief, because the rendezvous in the middle of the night suggested otherwise."

"I know, I'm sorry. I would've arranged this at a more reasonable hour if time allowed."

Perhaps Remus shouldn't have counted this against him since it was nearly three in the morning, but James looked worn out; like, really worn out. More worn out than he'd looked when Harry was still a newborn.

"Prongs, what's going on?"

"Listen, I have loads to tell you, but I haven't got a lot of time. I'm not going to be...available...for a while, so I just had to see you and give you this." James sat Remus down in a nearby pew and thrust a small leather coin pouch into his grasp.

Puzzled by the necessity of a meeting at this hour to deliver such a trinket, Remus drew the string to peer into the pouch. A magical extension charm had allowed James to fit an inordinate amount of gold inside. Remus's jaw hung slack.

"I don't know what you're dealing with as far as rent goes now, but if it's anything like the old house, this should cover everything for the next six months."

"...What on earth-"

"-I couldn't make it to Gringotts to transfer it to your vault, so I apologize for the dodgy handoff."

It is important to note that James Potter was a vital person in Remus's life for many, many reasons. One of those reasons being that, when Remus came to terms with the fact that he'd never have much career success due to his condition, James vowed to financially support him indefinitely. Since the time they finished at Hogwarts, there was a vault at Gringotts for him which James filled every month with gold enough for all of Remus's expenses, plus a little extra spending money. Without James, Remus would have no chance of a life above the poverty line. The excessive sum in the pouch only heightened Remus's concern.

"If this lasts longer than that, I'll find a way to get you more somehow."

"James, you're really starting to scare me. First the no-contact, now this? Please, tell me what's going on."

The light from the candles cast ominous shadows on James's weary face.

"…He's after my son..."

"Who's aft-..." Remus's eyes widened. "You don't mean…"

"…Voldemort's trying to get to Harry."

Remus felt a chill run down his spine.

A prospect as horrifying as this raised so many questions, and yet Remus found himself at a loss for words. He stared at James, terror-struck. Now all of the secrecy and caution was starting to make sense - this was why they'd locked themselves up in the house.

"Prongs, that's…" Remus braced his elbows on his knees, steepling his hands in front of his mouth in thought. "…My God, that's…I don't even know what to say." There weren't any words. The very idea of it made his skin crawl; no, deeper than that: it made his bones crawl.

James always worried about his ability to protect Lily and Harry. This had to have been just about his worst nightmare.

"Dumbledore advised us to perform the Fidelius Charm," James continued. "That way, he won't be able to find us. But it means I won't see you for a while."

Remus dug through his memory, all the way back to seventh year Charms class when they'd been assigned some reading on the Fidelius Charm. "And you've got someone to keep your secret for you?" The words came out strangely. His mouth had suddenly gone very dry.

"Yes, we've got a Secret-Keeper."

Remus was still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Voldemort had set his sights on an infant; his best friend's infant, no less. It seemed not only sadistic, but strange. Didn't he have more worthy adversaries to focus his attention on? "But why? Why Harry?"

James let out an exasperated sigh. "It's a lot to explain. Point is, we've got to disappear for a bit, so I wanted to make sure you were all set."

When Remus realized the meaning of his words, then their magnitude, he nearly burst into tears. The fact that James was considering Remus's finances at a time like this was a testament to his unfathomable devotion as a friend.

It was a kind of devotion which Remus was positive he didn't deserve somehow.

"James, you'll never know how much-..." His voice began to crack, and he had to clear his throat. "I'm very grateful for everything…"

"It's nothing, Moony."

"It's not nothing. It's never been nothing, and I don't tell you enough-"

"You'd do the same for me."

Remus felt so guilty. "…I'd never have to."

"But if the tables were turned, you would. I know you, Remus. I know you would." James said it as if he was trying to administer an antidote for the poisonous things Sirius had insinuated.

Remus swallowed a few more times to return more moisture to his mouth and to get the lump in his throat to go away. "I'm going to ask Dumbledore to postpone my trip. Tell me how I can help you. I'll do anything." There was nothing Remus wouldn't do for James.

"No, don't postpone. We're going to be fine. We'll perform the charm soon, then nothing will be able to touch us. Not even that creepy-eyed cunt."

…This was not, in any way, shape or form, a laughing matter; and yet, as per usual, The James Potter had figured out a way to make it funny. Remus had to swallow a smile. "…That's a good one."

James managed to dredge up a small chuckle. "You think so? Came up with it a few weeks back and I was gutted that I couldn't share it with you."

"I'll be stealing that when the opportunity arises. He is a creepy-eyed cunt." Remembering that they were in a church, Remus silently asked forgiveness for the unsanctimonious word, just in case someone was up there listening.

James's smile faded when he recalled what Dumbledore said earlier that evening: "Positive that Sirius Black could look Voldemort in the eye, face his own death, and not reveal your secret?" It was not outside the realm of possibility that he'd go after Remus as well as Sirius - they'd targeted him before. "Actually, you should go on your trip. Might be best if you skip town for a bit. You won't have to worry about us."

"After what you've just told me, that's going to be easier said than done, I'm afraid."

James smiled his handsome lopsided smile and placed his hands reassuringly on Remus's slouched shoulders. "Here's what you can do: You can go home to Emmie and kiss her for Lil. Tell her she misses her terribly."

Realizing that their discussion was coming to an end, Remus scrambled for things he felt he should say before what might've been a very long hiatus until they saw each other again. "Prongs, I-..." He placed one of his hands on James's. "You all mean so much to me. Please be safe."

James stood and pulled Remus into one last hug, with even more intensity in his embrace than before. "I love you, mate. See you soon."

"I love you, too. All three of you. And tell Lily I said so."

"I will." Still smiling, James stepped back. "Stay out of trouble. We'll be back before you know it."

"I'll be waiting for that day."

The candles flickered as James disapparated. There was something about the gravity in his voice…

Remus was left standing alone in the pew with a knot writhing in his gut, and had never felt such a divine sense of dread in his life.

…

7:08am

"Is it going to hurt?"

"No Pete, it's not going to hurt, you ninny."

"How do you know?"

"Well, I don't; but I've got to get you to the door, haven't I?"

After receiving James's Patronus the evening before, Sirius had apparated to the Potters' house immediately. He was more than willing to take on this task for them - he'd been sleeping outside their house, for Merlin's sake. They agreed to cast the charm the the following day, as James mentioned he needed to get some affairs settled beforehand.

But early that morning, after some careful consideration on their doorstep, Sirius came back inside with the offer of a different plan; a better plan; a more fool-proof plan, and just the fool to proof it. Now that he'd managed to convince Peter, the only thing left to do was get to Godric's Hollow and cast the charm.

"Right then, best to get it over with, I think." said Peter, talking himself into it. Anxious to get it done as well, Sirius reached for Peter's arm, but Peter spun around to scan his room for possibly-necessary supplies. "Do I need to, er, bring anything?"

Vexedly, Sirius rolled his eyes, and took this opportunity to torture him a bit. "I trust you've got your Fidelius-proof pants on."

"Actually, I d-...my what?"

"You do own a pair of Fidelius-proof pants, don't you? You'd better get them on; otherwise when you cast the charm, your tallywacker will disintegrate."

Before Peter could yowl that he had not thought to purchase a pair before today, Sirius grabbed him by the elbow and disapparated.

The Potters were waiting for them in the front room when they arrived.

"You're a sight for sore eyes." James leapt forward to embrace Peter tightly, pulling Sirius in as well.

"JAMES!" Peter exclaimed, panicking. "Have you got a spare pair of-"

"Pipe down Wormtail, Merlin's beard - I was only having a laugh," said Sirius.

"You mean-...oh."

Lily watched them fondly, but the infant in her arms kept her from the group-hug. Harry gurgled some noises reminiscent of "Padfoot" and reached toward Sirius, who stepped forward to take him from Lily's arms onto his hip.

"And you lot said I wouldn't be good with children. Now he's asking for me." He blew a raspberry into Harry's palm, which triggered an eruption of giggles.

"You ready, Wormtail?" James asked.

"Yeah, yes. I can do it." He nodded vigorously, his hands twitching ever so slightly at his sides.

James beamed and clapped him on the shoulder, causing him to wince. "You're a lifesaver, Peter."

"Peter, we'll never be able to thank you enough," Lily gushed.

Nobody caught on to the fact that Peter would look neither her, nor Harry in the eye.

"Love, take the baby, will you?" Lily instructed James. He untangled Harry's fist from Sirius's locks before transferring him to his own hip.

Sirius pointed at Harry. "Beater, I'm telling you."

"We'll see about that," James chuckled, lifting Harry high into the air and making a silly face at him. It elicited another fit of chortles.

Lily turned to Sirius, her smile slowly fading.

"You be safe, you hear?" she bade him, poking him playfully in the chest. "Don't you dare go and try to be a hero."

"Anything you say, Lily-flower."

"I'm serious," she murmured, her voice crackling from the tears rising to the surface.

Sirius smirked, then bent down and whispered in her ear: "I'm Sirius."

This earned him a swift punch in the shoulder, followed by a very tight hug and an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "Gonna miss you."

"Gonna miss you more."

Lily released him, took Harry from James, and went to stand by Peter.

James and Sirius stood still for a moment, regarding each other as brothers. James was grimacing apprehensively, knowing that Sirius was not above getting himself killed to maintain a clever diversion for them.

"Don't do anything stupid," he patronized him earnestly.

Sirius smiled a little. "Me? Do something stupid? Poppycock."

As if they'd communicated it telepathically, each of them stepped forward at the same time and embraced the other so hard that the hug made an audible thud. They gripped one another so tightly that it seemed they were responsible for maintaining the earth's center of gravity.

"Love you, mate," Sirius mumbled into James's shoulder.

"Love you."

"We're gonna get that pasty nonce, then you won't have to worry. That's a promise."

"Wish I could be there when you do. Creepy-eyed cunt."

Sirius stepped back enough to face him, completely amused. "Nice one, James."

"Right?"

Lily was covering the baby's ears. "Boys…"

"Right…" Sirius pulled James into one final hug. "I'll see you soon."

"Be good."

"Yeah."

When they let go of each other, James quickly wiped a tear into the crook of his arm. "Alright Wormtail, you're up."

Sirius kissed the top of Harry's head, nodded at James and Lily, then stalked outside to do any necessary muggle control. Luckily nobody was out this morning, so they wouldn't have to worry about witnesses. He gave an "all's clear" signal to the front room window, then waited.

Keeping his eyes on James, Lily, and Harry, Sirius made a concerted effort to focus on memorizing the scene in his head. He watched as Lily, wand in hand, began reciting the charm's lengthy incantation - the full spell would take several minutes. While his eyes crafted a mental image, he could not stop his mind from detouring to thoughts of his potential demise. It had a habit of doing that.

He was prepared to die; he had been for many years. James would give a smashing eulogy at the funeral. Lily would make sure there were nice floral arrangements. Hell, maybe they could convince Mary to come back and sing. They'd be sad, but they'd be fine without him, and Harry would grow up knowing that he once had a godfather who loved him very much.

And he could see Marlene again. If he could get his shit together in his afterlife, he could tell her how much he loved her.

Yes - If it came down to it, he was ready to die for them.

After nearly ten minutes of the incantation, a small, golden ball of light emerged gracefully from the tip of Lily's wand. It caught Sirius's eye as it drifted right into the center of Peter's torso. Peter flinched, but James kept a sturdy hand on him to let him know that everything was okay.

Then Sirius blinked, and the house was gone. It had vanished.

Peter seemed to emerge from nothing as he walked back towards Sirius.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Did it hurt?"

"No," said Peter, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking at the ground. "It was fine. Just made me feel kind of warm. Can you see the house?"

"No. Just looks like an empty patch between the neighbors. Can you?"

"Yeah. Looks the same to me."

It worked.

"We'll arrange to meet every so often, just so I can check on you."

"You don't- er...I don't think that will be necessary."

Sirius understood that Peter probably wouldn't want anything to do with him now that he had an even bigger target on his back than before; but though he was not the Secret-Keeper, Sirius thought it best that he remain in control of the situation.

"I'll swing by on Hallow's Eve, let's say 10:30," Sirius insisted.

"...Sure. Halloween. Okay."

"You don't have to be nervous about them going after you, you know," he tried to reassure him. "It's me they're going to want."

"Right, yeah."

"You're going to be fine. That's the whole idea. They won't suspect a thing."

Peter looked up from the ground and eyed Sirius quite intently.

"Yes, I think you're right. They won't suspect a thing."

It really was the perfect plan.