16Chapter 11: The Beginning of the End
(This refers to the beginning of Voldemort's end)
"I changed my mind," Sirius stated.
"What?!" James asked amazed.
"Look, the first person Voldemort will come after is me because he knows how close we are. If you make Peter your Secret-Keeper, though, Voldemort will search for me and leave Peter alone."
"Yes, but that still puts you in danger," James responded.
"Voldemort doesn't know about my Animagus form so I'll hide out as a dog for awhile. Peter can also go into hiding and stay protected."
"Sirius, is that what you really want?" Lily asked as James fed Harry.
"Yes! It's the perfect bluff. Do it for me." Sirius used his puppy dog eyes.
"All right," James conceded sighing. "We need to ask Peter, though. Oh and Sirius, while you're lying low as a dog feel free to make the change permanent," he said half-heartedly.
"Hey, the day you become a stag permanently is the day I do the same as a dog," Sirius retorted.
"I'd take you up on that but I don't think Lily would appreciate a stag as a husband. Would you, sweetheart?"
"I don't know, honey. Stags don't talk as much as you do so don't throw that idea out for good." Sirius started laughing and was soon followed by all the Potters. It felt weird to be able to joke in a time of despair.
Peter instantly agreed to be the Potters' Secret-Keeper when they asked him. He could finally hand the Potters over to his master, who would be most pleased. Then he, Peter, would be Lord Voldemort's right-hand man. He laughed to himself. They would regret the way they had always treated Peter Pettigrew.
"Peter? Did you hear me?" Lily asked.
"I'm sorry. What were you saying?" he asked politely.
"I was saying that we'll perform the charm on Wednesday if that's all right with you. It's James' day off, and we want to do this as soon as possible," she said again patiently putting up with her husband's friend.
"That's fine. I'll see you on Wednesday."
"Yeah if he doesn't forget," Lily muttered after he had left. For some reason she did not trust him very much, but James and Sirius did and that was all that mattered.
On Wednesday, October 22, Lily and James performed the Fidelius Charm on their home. Sirius transformed and pretended to be a stray dog and Peter went into hiding or so they thought.
After the charm was finished Peter went straight to his master. "It is done, my Lord. The Potters have made me their Secret-Keeper," he whispered nervously.
"Very good," a cold-voice answered him. "I knew you would be useful someday."
"Thank you, my Lord," Peter finally managed to squeak.
"Tell me, when it the right time to attack Potter and his mudblood wife?" Lord Voldemort wanted to know.
"You could do it—it on Halloween." Peter gulped knowing he was betraying his friend. Stop is, Peter, he thought. He would surely be dead by no if he had not joined Lord Voldemort.
"Let it be done." He summoned the Death Eaters. "My faithful followers! Be the end of the month, the Potters will be dead!" The he laughed a terrible laugh. It sent shivers down the spine of every one of his followers. It was shrill and loud, but most of all it was cold.
On Friday, October 31, Sirius decided to check on Peter and make sure he was safe. When he arrived at his hiding spot, Peter was not there nor was there any sign of a struggle. It did not feel right. Then it hit him. Peter was the spy. Not Remus whom he had originally suspected. What had he done. "Damn you, Peter!" he said as he got on his flying motorcycle to go to the Potters.
At that exact moment that Sirius approached Peter's house, someone else was arriving at the Potters' house. A guest who was not very welcome.