the_debt_of_time

sight or sound of Dearborn since. The Order had given up hope he would ever be
recovered, considering that people, both magical and Muggle, were disappearing left and
right all over Britain.
"The world isn't separated into good people and Death Eaters," Sirius muttered
under his breath. "Marked or not, I still think he's one of them."
Kingsley bobbed his head in understanding. "Well, if he is, that's why we're all here,
isn't it? And he only thinks that he's being monitored by Pettigrew and Macdonald."
Which was exactly what Wilkes had been told.
Peter and Mary were the least intimidating pair in the entire Order. Even the older
witches and wizards like Dumbledore, Dorcas, and Aberforth looked like a force to be
reckoned with. Most days Peter barely looked like he was able to tie his own laces, and
Mary—despite her temper—had perfected the act of looking non-threatening.
Wilkes had been informed that, since this was supposed to be a meeting with
himself and a few underlings, Peter and Mary would tag along and watch from nearby.
Sirius suggested that a pair of Aurors be on the inside with Wilkes, but he had been
overruled by the group. Peter and Mary, while capable on their own, came off as the most
non-threatening pair, putting Wilkes at ease—and, therefore, more likely to slip up should
he decide to play both sides. Moody wanted the team of Aurors outside to spot anyone
arriving. If a trap was going to be sprung, Death Eaters were more than likely to ward from
outside of the building. To Sirius's relief, Wilkes had not been told that James and Lily were
trailing him, hidden beneath an Invisibility Cloak to the south of Peter and Mary; nor was
he aware that Alice and Frank were camped outside the back entrance of the building, while
Sirius and Kingsley took to monitoring the front.
Kingsley patted Sirius on the shoulder. "You need to relax, mate."
Sirius growled in response. "Two of my best friends and the girl I consider my sister
are in there."
A part of him had been wondering lately if he still considered Peter one of his
closest friends. Since graduating, Wormtail had slowly separated himself from the group,
and it certainly did not help their friendship that Sirius attacked him when Remus almost
died. James had forced them to make up and shake hands, and despite pretending like
things were back to normal, Sirius just was not as close to Peter as they had been when
they were children. In all honesty, these days he felt closer to Frank than Wormtail. Hearing