Up To No Good

Chapter Thirty-Three

When James first entered the room, he had to do a double take. A shaggy black dog was sitting in front of little Harry, who was laughing with utter delight as his godfather transformed back and forth from man to animal. For a moment he said nothing, only watching the child giggle so hard it looked as if he was about to fall over from his already unsteady sitting position on the wooden floor.

Once Sirius took notice of James' entrance, he transformed back into a human with a sort of solemn smile on his face. "Prongs," he greeted him. "Can I talk to you?"

"Of course."

Sirius scooped up Harry, who instantly began reaching for a dark curl of the man's hair. But he ignored him.

"I know this isn't what you were expecting..."

"Is something wrong?"

"No! Well, okay. I've gotten worried," he admitted, handing the squealing child to James. His voice dropped under his breath, a sudden graveness in his tone that James wasn't sure he'd ever get used to. He'd heard this kind of tone before, when Regulus had died. And he knew that this was serious.

"About what?"

"The Longbottoms," Sirius said. "I've been debating it for awhile, and I wanted to ask you. I don't think I can continue to be your Secret Keeper."

James's heart sank. It hadn't been what he was expecting, even though he understood completely. It was a burden, one that Sirius had taken on willingly, despite all its implications.

"Why's that?" he asked. "I understand, I mean. I guess... I'm just surprised."

James pulled off his glasses so they were out of Harry's reach, who was already putting fingerprints over the lenses.

"It's not safe anymore, and the attack on the Longbottoms is what's confirmed it for me. Bellatrix will know that I am close to you. I'm the obvious choice." His eyes drifted, so he wasn't looking directly at him this time. "But there's more than that. You know I'd rather die than betray you, without a question--but I'm afraid one of us is leaking information to the Death Eaters. Moony... he's gotten more distant. I don't know what it is about him."

"No." James's response was firm. "Moony would never betray us. He wouldn't even dream of it."

"Whoever it is, I want you to be safe," Sirius insisted, changing the subject. "No one will think to go after Wormtail. He will keep you safe here."

James replaced his glasses, placing Harry on the floor so he could look Sirius in the eyes. They were soft, emotional; another thing he rarely saw in his friend.

"I'd never hold this against you," James told him at last. "If you don't want this to be a burden on you, then I will take it off your shoulders."

"It's no burden for me," Sirius replied fervently. "Not at all. But I can't protect you if they know who I am. They'd kill me."

"I understand."

Peter had heard them talking. He peered hesitantly around the corner.

"I brought the idea up to him earlier," Sirius admitted. "He said that he would, for you and your family."

Now aware what the conversation was about, he stepped across the room to meet them. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he apologized quickly. "I only wondered if it was about what Padfoot said..."

"Wormtail, if you don't want to--"

"I will." It seemed to James that he'd already put a lot of thought into it. "I know what I'm taking on. This is what's best." He swallowed. "Forgive me if I'm a bit nervous. It's a lot to think about..."

James placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Only if you're certain. I couldn't ask you to do this."

"I'll do whatever it takes." Peter was never one for bravery. But now as he spoke, it was unmistakable, unwavering. "I just can't help but wonder. What if I fail?"

"You won't," James assured him, eyes looking into Wormtail's. "You're one of the Marauders. But more than that, you're a Gryffindor. Where dwell the brave at heart." There was no trace of doubt in James's voice, only complete faith. Only trust. "There are few people that I would trust with this role. But if Sirius chose you, then I know you are the best for this position."

Peter was crying.

At first, he tried to hide his tears. He covered the upper half of his face with his sleeve, until he began sniffling; then the tears began to fall freely.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "That's just... No one's told me that before."

"Don't worry about it." James put his arms around him. "When Lily gets here, we'll perform the charm, only if that's okay with you."

Sirius looked on, arms crossed. There was a slight bit of awkwardness in his stance, as if he wasn't quite sure what to do, but he looked calm and sure of himself.

Peter nodded slowly.

"You don't really think it's Moony, do you?" Peter asked. "The one who's been conspiring with Death Eaters?"

Sirius looked uncomfortable. "I don't know," he shrugged. "I don't want to believe it. After all... he's one of my best friends. But I don't know if it's that, or because his lycanthropy's gotten the best of him. Or maybe it's just because things haven't been great for the Order lately."

"Dumbledore said he heard the prophecy in Hogsmeade," James replied firmly. "It's possible that it wasn't one of us after all, but some eavesdropper somewhere."

When Lily returned, Peter turned to James.

"Prongs."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for trusting me."