Hello, here is another chapter. I hope you enjoy it, it's winding down. I hope you all understand my reason for having Peter say he found the mask in Remus' room. I reread Azkaban, and I just didn't see how they could have thought Remus to be the traitor without evidence like this. Something must have happened. So I hope you like this chapter, please R/R, I don't own Harry Potter.

**

James stormed from the room; he couldn't believe all of this. It wasn't right, it wasn't true. He didn't know why the mask was in Remus' room, but he couldn't be the traitor. This was Remus, he despised Death Eaters, he swore never to go to Voldemort, and he wouldn't betray the only friends he had.

He got ready for bed, he knew it would be awhile before he was able to sleep, but he needed to be doing something. As he got into bed, Lily came in and without a word to him she also got ready.

As always, Lily read for awhile before sleeping. James was on his back, looking up at the ceiling thinking. How did things come to this? Why was all of this happening to him?

"I've got it." Lily put down her book.

"What?" James asked distracted.

"The Fidelius Charm, a spell that with a Secret Keeper, someone can hide. The location is hidden in that Secret Keeper and even if Voldemort knew where we lived, he wouldn't be able to find us, but if the Secret Keeper revealed the location, only then could we be found."

"Sounds fine to me," James said sighing.

"Who would our Secret Keeper be? I'm sure Dumbledore would do it," Lily said.

"Sirius will."

"What if Remus isn't the traitor and it's really Sirius?" Lily asked.

James turned and glared at her.

"It's just a thought," Lily shrugged. "We have to consider all possibilities."

"None of my friends would betray me," James said forcedly.

"You are the only one who thinks that," Lily sighed, rolled over and went to sleep.

**

"Sir, I think the Fidelius Charm would work well," Lily told Dumbledore. A week had gone by, Lily had spent most of that time researching the Fidelius Charm, she found out exactly how to do it, and now she had dragged him to Dumbledore's office to discuss the charm with him. James of course was still in a bad mood; he didn't want to believe all of this was happening.

"Ah, the Fidelius Charm, and you have researched it well?" Dumbledore smiled at his former student.

"I know it is a complex spell," Lily nodded. "But I believe we can do it."

"Yes I believe you can," Dumbledore agreed with her. "Have you decided on a Secret Keeper?"

"Well."

"Sirius will." James spoke for the first time.

"What if Sirius is the traitor?" Dumbledore asked.

James was starting to wonder if Lily and Dumbledore were talking behind his back, they thought of the same things. Though the mask was found in Remus' room, both were still convinced that it could be any of them.

"He's not, I know my brother. I asked him this morning," James said sternly.

"I would be your Secret Keeper, it would be the safest," said Dumbledore.

"Sirius would never betray me, he is my brother and friend. I trust him with my life and the life of my family," James said again.

"If you both agree with that, then it is fine," Dumbledore nodded. "The spell will be done soon?"

"Yes we will," Lily assured him.

"Good day sir," James got up and left.

Lily and Dumbledore watched him go. When he slammed the door, Dumbledore turned to Lily; "This is tearing him apart."

"He believes in his friends so much. I know how close they are, and he just accept this," Lily sighed. She argued with him over this issue so much, she knew it was painful to him, and she felt sorry for him. She had her own friends of course, but Sirius, Remus, Peter and James weren't friends, they shared a bond, a brotherly bond, one that was made not to be broken. It was painful to see it breaking slowly.

"Their friendship is so rare, especially James and Sirius, they are two in a million," Dumbledore sighed. He was silent for a minute and then looked at Lily, "I think it would be best if you, James and Harry leave the Mansion. Though the Fidelius Charm will make your location secret, the traitor lives in that house. The Potter family owns other houses, you can go there if you wish."

Lily nodded, "I'll talk to James."

"Good luck with him Lily," Dumbledore sighed again. He seemed to be doing that a lot in the case of the Marauders.

It was a few days later, and dinner was a quiet affair. James felt horrible, his body felt tired and worn. He didn't want to go tomorrow, he didn't want to leave his friends. While everyone in the house was sure of Remus' betrayal, he still held on to his beliefs. He would not believe it, not until he saw Remus with the mask on, killing at one of the attacks. It just wasn't like him. He looked around the table, first at Sirius, and then Remus, who had been quiet for the past few weeks, then at Peter and Lily. He cleared his throat, "Er, Lily, Harry and I are going on vacation tomorrow morning, for a few weeks."

"How long will you be gone?" Remus asked looking up. It was the first time he had spoken in weeks. Remus wasn't dumb, he knew something was going on.

"Two weeks or so," James said.

"Going to come back with another Potter in tow?" Sirius joked. James looked at him; he was playing the part of fool well. "Well that's interesting, I was going to say goodbye for the week. I'm going to Katie's house, she invited me to meet her parents at their place in France."

James nodded, "Did you talk to Dumbledore about this?"

"He said enjoy yourself," Sirius replied.

"Peter are you going to be around?" asked Remus.

"I'm going to visit my mother for a few days," Peter stammered.

"Will you be fine here Remus?" James asked.

"Of course," Remus nodded.

Everyone started to eat again. James felt sick to his stomach; he hated lying to his friends. Why was all this happening? He asked himself for the hundred time, why was their friendship being tested?

After dinner James sat in his office thinking. He couldn't stand this mistrust. This wasn't how it was suppose to be. There was a knock on the door. Sirius looked in.

"Hey," Sirius came in and shut the door.

"Hello," James answered.

"Tomorrow is it." Sirius stated.

"It is."

"Maybe we are wrong," said Sirius.

"I pray every second we are," James told him. He leaned back in his chair.

Sirius looked at James, he looked older than 21. Sirius knew all of this was bothering him, he hated all of this. He like James didn't want to believe that they had been betrayed he didn't want to think that one of his friends had gone down the same path as his parents.

"I just wanted to say um," Sirius hesitated. "Look, I can't do it James. I can't be the Secret Keeper."

James stood up in alarm, what was Sirius saying? He looked at his friend, with concern.

"Look if Voldemort finds out about the Secret Keeper, he's going to know its me. Everyone knows we are friends, everyone knows we would die for each other. I would die for you in a second, without thinking, I would do anything for you, Harry and Lily and me being Secret Keeper isn't helping."

James sat back down. He thought about what Sirius had just said. It made sense. "Who would you suggest?"

"Well if Remus is… well…" Sirius hesitated. "What about Peter?"

"Peter?" asked James.

"Come on James, you know Peter, he would forget, its so safe."

James nodded, Sirius was right again. Peter had stayed out of the war it would be safe. He wasn't even sure if Voldemort knew about Peter. It would be ideal.

"I'll ask him, is he still here?"

"He's playing with Harry," Sirius reports.

"Can you ask him to come in here?" James asked.

"Of course," Sirius walked out.

James stayed sitting. They would change to Peter and everything would be safer. He would be putting both of his friends at a great risk, but Sirius had already accepted that. He hoped Peter would as well.

**

"Its done," James and Peter put away their wands. They had just performed the highly complex Fidelius Charm. Lily had researched it to the littlest detail and now a week before Halloween, their Secret Keeper was set.

They stood in the front yard of Godric's Hollow, a summerhouse of the Potter family. It had not been used in years; James had brought two house elves with them to clean the house. It was in a Muggle neighborhood, by a lake. James was sure they were the only wizards around, so they waited until the early hours of the morning to perform the charm.

James shook Peter's hand, "Thank you Peter."

"Any time James," Peter muttered. "I'd better go."

"Good bye then Peter, keep yourself safe," James reached out and hugged him. "I thank you for protecting my family."

He left after that.


Sirius came up to James. He put a hand on his shoulder, "You're safe now."

"Yes, I just wish it didn't have to come to this," James sighed.

"Well you and I both know this wouldn't be happening expect you have Harry to protect," Sirius shrugged.

James nodded, "Its all for Harry."

Sirius looked around, the sun was rising, "I'd better go." He was reluctant to leave though. He had no idea when he would see James next. "Tell Lily good bye for me."

"Of course, I think she went to bed hours ago," James told him. "Are you fine at your flat?"

"Yes, I'm still trying to figure out the Muggle things, but I'm fine," Sirius smiled. "My parents are rolling over in their graves."

"How did Katie take all this?" James asked.


"As well as can be expected. I told her I'd visit her when I can," said Sirius.

"Tell her hello for me," James asked him.

"I will," Sirius promised. "Well goodbye."


"Good bye Sirius, I'll see you soon!"

Sirius walked to his motorcycle. He got on and looked back. James stood in place looking at him. Sirius closed his eyes, how could he live without his brother? When would he see him again? Sirius mounted the bike, as James ran over to him.

"Look, if something happens, if something goes wrong, I just want you to know how much you have meant to me. You have been my true brother, and I love you as my brother," James said with a tear in his eye.

Sirius got off the bike and hugged James. They held on to each other tightly, not wanting to let go.

"I love you too James! Thank you for everything," Sirius told him still wrapped in the hug. "Nothing is going to happen James, it can't happen. I couldn't live in a world without you, it would be unbearable."


They still held on to each other. James wanted this moment to go on forever, he didn't want to let go of his brother. They had been together for years, what if this was the last moment?

"This isn't the end, we will be causing chaos for years to come James. We will triumph over this." Sirius felt a tear coming down his eye.

They let go at last. "Good bye my brother, I'll see you soon."

"Watch yourself," James nodded. "Brothers always."

Sirius mounted again and kicked his bike to life. He left without another word.