All of Life Changes
By: TidalDragon
Summary: A/U. Sirius stays as James and Lily’s Secret Keeper. How will this single change affect the world? Rated M for later content.

Chapter 1 – Change One Thing

“James, just think about it! Who would ever suspect Wormtail as being keeper of anything? Honestly mate bloody hell! It’s Wormtail!” Sirius Black yelled at his best friend James Potter and his wife Lily. He had been trying unsuccessfully for the last three and half hours to persuade the Potters to change their choice of Secret Keeper to someone more unassuming. James ran his hand through his hair in exasperation. Lily looked between her husband and Sirius. The tension in the conversation had escalated with the rise in frequency and lethality of the attacks by the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort and his loyal soldiers, the Death Eaters. With the rise in danger, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as leader of the underground resistance, the Order of the Phoenix, had suggested that James and Lily take their infant son Harry and go into hiding under the Fidelius Charm. Though the choice to do so had not been an easy one, it was a cakewalk compared to trying to decide who their Secret Keeper should be.

As an awkward silence permeated the room, Lily was the first to speak. Looking once more towards James, who now pacing about the room, she rose and addressed Sirius. “Sirius, I know you mean well. But this is something James and I need to discuss for a moment in private.” James nodded.

“Just give us a few minutes in the kitchen Padfoot. After that we’ll give you an answer,” he finished, glancing back at his longtime friend and fellow Marauder before following his wife through the pocket door that led into their kitchen. As Sirius plopped down in one of the chairs in the Potters’ living room, he saw the door slip shut and heard the click of the lock.

“Alright Lils, you’ve practically just sat there and let me and Sirius argue about it all for the past three hours,” James began, pacing the kitchen and grabbing a flask of Firewhiskey from the cabinet to drink. After taking a deep drink of the burning liquid, he approached his wife, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. “I…Lily…I don’t know what to do,” he started again, kissing her softly on the mouth and stroking her face. “Tell me what you think, Lils. For Merlin’s sake, tell me what to do.”

Lily eased back from James’ embrace, looking into her husband’s eyes. Where she usually saw determination and solidarity in those hazel orbs, she saw them clouded with fear and doubt. James needed her. After six years of fighting and their amazing romance that began in seventh year as Head students, Lily never doubted that she needed James, no matter how strong she wanted the world outside their home to believe she was. James had also been so brash and independent though, and even though she knew he loved her dearly, despite their wedding, despite everything, she caught herself wondering whether he needed her as badly as she needed him. The look she saw reflected in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. James needed her. He had to decide between two of his closest friends. He had to decide who he trusted more. Personally, she didn’t agree with James and Sirius that another of their fellow Marauders, Remus Lupin, was the spy that Dumbledore had warned them about. Had the unfortunate shadow of his being a werewolf, not been cast on the situation, she felt that Remus would make the best Secret Keeper. She knew however, that James would hear none of that. James’ stare broke Lily from her inner thoughts. She knew it was time to speak. “James, love…I…” Lily faltered over the words she was about to say. Was it possible that she thought Peter Pettigrew would make a better Secret Keeper than Sirius? Before the name escaped her mouth however, something inside her, a nagging feeling in the back of her mind stopped her. No. Pettigrew wouldn’t be. Whatever his family’s background, Sirius had been loyal to James for as long as she could remember. And from what she knew, he had been through far too much with his family’s ostracism to be the spy himself. Sirius, serve Voldemort? It was impossible.

“What is it Lils?” James coaxed, his hazel eyes trained on Lily’s brilliant green ones. Finally, Lily spoke again. “I…Sirius, James. You’re right. It has to be Sirius.”