Beyond the Lake

Chapter Fourteen

***

James was happy to see Remus, whom he hadn't seen since Harry's first birthday. Unfortunately, his arrival did put off the conversation they were having, but he continued it with Lily the next day...

"Have you thought about what Sirius said?" he asked at dinner, dreading the blow-up that he knew was to come.

"A little," she said, looking more than reluctant to talk about it.

"Well? What do you say?"

"Oh, I don't know James! Do you really think Voldemort would fall for something as simple as that? And what if he did find out it was Peter? He would have the information instantly! I wasn't even sure about Sirius, and I still think Dumbledore should've been our Secret-Keeper."

"Do you really doubt them both that much? Peter isn't bad. He may be small, but he's our friend. He's been that since Hogwarts. Besides, he's not as weak as we make him out to be. And Sirius would never betray us. Never."

"I don't know James, I just don't know. These are our lives we're playing with, Harry' life."

"And this would throw him off. It would give us more time."

"Time for what James? Time for what?" she yelled.

"Time to live."

Lily paused and inhaled as Harry began to cry in response to the outburst. James stood up and picked up his son, calming him down, and wondering if he knew, more or lees, what they were arguing about. Lily looked at Harry, then to himself. "Fine," she said. "We'll switch."

***

Much to her disapproval, they performed the switch secretly, telling no one else, including Remus and Dumbledore. Peter, once they got a hold of him, was happy to take the task, completely blind that he was being used for a bluff. Sirius went out of hiding as soon as Peter went in it, although the others knew the location for safety's purpose.

Lily settled into the sofa, leaning on James after performing the Charm. She was exhausted, and she couldn't believe that even her extraordinary ability in Charms could execute magic that advanced. "Well, it's been done," she said to James, sick of the quiet.

"Yup."

"This brilliant plan better work, otherwise I won't even have a chance to kill you. It'll have been done already."

"It's not really a plan as much as an idea," James answered calmly, pointedly ignoring her comment.

"Then your idea better work."

"It's actually Sirius'."

"I don't really care whose idea it was!"

"Alright, let's just calm down. It's been done; there's nothing we can do, so there's no point in arguing. "

"You're right," and they both fell silent until Lily broke it in an attempt to make up for her ranting. "Tomorrow's Halloween."

"It is, isn't it?"

"Shame we can't take Harry trick-or-treating this year."

"You still wanted to do that ridiculous Muggle custom?"

"I always had fun. I mean, there were costumes and there was free candy, and what kid, Wizard or Muggle, wouldn't love that?"

He just laughed at her.

***