i.

It's just … at the last few attacks, the Death Eaters seemed like they knew a little too much. Dumbledore thinks someone in the Order's passing information.

“Dumbledore's got to be wrong, Padfoot. Maybe Caradoc let something slip to one of his girlfriends. Just because some information's got out doesn't mean that there's a, you know, a spy!”

I don't want to think it either, but he's right. They knew exactly where we were Apparating to, and how many of us there'd be. I can't think of who it'd be, though – nobody exactly seems like they're spying, right?

“Well, if they were spying … they wouldn't act like it, would they? At least we can mostly tell who it isn't, right?”

I guess. But James reckons it'd be someone who's got something to gain from Voldemort.

“That makes sense. Listen, Moony has seemed a little distant lately, hasn’t he? D'you know if he's all right?”

He hasn't said anything, but then he never does, really.

“Remember how he used to pretend his mother was sick? At least he's not even trying that now.”

Yeah.

“He always used to hang back, didn’t he? I'm not saying anything, but he's never really been … one of us. Tried to talk us out of some of our best pranks, even pulled prefect once or twice. Sometimes I think he'd rather have been alone than with us.”

Wait, what are you –

“I just wonder if Moony ever really appreciated you and Prongs. But of course he wouldn't betray us.”

*

i.v

Peter, have you talked to Sirius lately?

“Yeah, Padfoot came around the other day. Why, haven't you seen him lately?”

He's been sort of … odd. Giving me weird looks. I'm sure it's nothing.

“Well, the two of you've never really been close, have you? Not that I've ever been that close to him, either. You can take the Black out of Grimmauld Place, but you can't take the Grimmauld Place out of the Black, right?”

I just … I thought he got over my, you know, problem ages ago. This is like second year all over again, when he thought I'd burst out of my skin in the middle of the dorm.

“Who can ever tell with him? But he's been kind of distant to me, too, really, and Lily's seemed worried about him. The whole thing with his brother, you know.”

Have you heard about what Dumbledore thinks? About someone passing information?

“Yeah, I heard. I've been thinking about it for days – I didn't want to think it was someone we're close to, but it has to be, doesn't it? Someone in the inner circle. Someone beyond suspicion.”

Wait, what are you –

“I just wonder if Sirius really trusts any of us these days. But I'm sure he wouldn't betray us.”

*
ii.

We have to move again.

“What, again? You mean You-Know-Who almost found you? We've got to do something.”

Dumbledore's got this idea – there's a charm that'd hide us forever, if it had to – it's called the Fidelius Charm.

“I don't think I've ever heard of that – how does it work?”

It's complicated - I don't think you'd get it. But someone keeps the secret, and we'll be safe for as long as the Secret Keeper doesn't tell.

“I – that's amazing. And you'd be completely hidden?”

Lily could be playing with Harry in the garden and he'd never see them. Dumbledore wants to be the Secret Keeper.

“I suppose using Dumbledore makes sense. But – you and Pads and me, we fooled Dumbledore for three years at Hogwarts. He still hasn’t caught on that we’re Animagi, has he? I'm not suggesting anything, but maybe he's not the best choice?”

*
iii.

What do you mean?

“Well, it’s really about outsmarting everyone, isn't it, Padfoot? Dumbledore's the most obvious choice. Not that the Death Eaters could ever get to him, but wouldn't it be even better if we … misdirected them?”

You know, I was saying the same thing to Prongs the other day. I think I ought to be the Secret Keeper – it's kind of obvious, but so's Dumbledore, and he knows I'd never tell.

“You're right. It's a perfect plan! Unless you think we should put another kink in it …”

You mean a different Secret Keeper? Yeah, I'd be a pretty good decoy.

“That might make it too complicated, though. You know.”