Hy again! I finished another chapter! And on my birthday! That's…so sad. This chapter is much darker then the rest but I had to do it that way because it starts a chain for the other chapters. You'll see! Anyway review please. Make my birthday special:D Oh and if you're wondering, Lily is strange because she's based on a real person I know. The girls I know are that way so for the girl readers: please don't be offended by the female characters!

Chapter seven: A betrayal

"So when are you coming back?" James asked Remus one day of November during Potions. He had just found out from Remus that his mother had a severe cancer attack and that she needs him urgently.

"In a week or so, won't be long!"

"But Remus…this is the third time you'll be gone! It's like…you stay three weeks in school and one week out of school. This isn't right!"

Remus studied James for a moment "Jealous?" he asked.

James thought for a moment "Well…yes and no! I can't stand another week with Black and Evans!"

"I thought you and Evans were best friends!" Remus said sarcastically.

"Oh the hell with her! My patience is running low. Yeah…she has been supportive of me and helped me a lot but if I even suggest something that connects with something she doesn't like her face turns red and starts to scream at me!" James said exasperated.

Someone gasped behind them and James turned around to see Lily looking at him. With tears coming down her eyes she turned around and left the classroom.

"Everyone please focus on the potion please!" Slughorn said from the front of the class trying to interrupt the whispering and speculation of Lily's newest displeasure.

"Boy I'll sure have a heavy week!" James said while wondering whether he should bang his head against his desk or not.

"She'll get over it! You and she have been friends for over two months now!"

James glared at Remus "Don't remind me!" he said finally deciding and smacking his head on the desk.

Remus sniggered "Well, if Evans will ignore you and Black gives you a hard time, you know what to do!"

James quickly looked up to Remus "You don't mean…"

Remus nodded grinning "That's right!"

James turned pale and in a matter of seconds turned bright red "But I can't!" he whined.

"Come on James! You have to try! You can't avoid her forever!"

James shrugged "You just watch me!"

"It's been a month! You can do it!" Remus encouraged.

James thought for a moment "Ok!"

Remus looked surprised "Really?"

"NO!"

"Think of the Halloween party! Maybe she saw you and decided that you're not such a bad guy!"

"Yeah Remus! I'm sure watching Snape dancing around the great hall with his pants burning got her attention!"

They had to stop talking because Slughorn decided that there was too much noise and started going to random students to see their potions.

"Sirius m'boy! A perfect potion! A perfect dark purple shade! I'm not surprised! Guess who wins twenty points for their house!"

The Hufflepuffs, who the Gryffindor's shared potion class with, shot dirty looks at Sirius hopefully to intimidate him.

Meanwhile Slughorn continued to look at potions. When he got to James's white potion he looked at him with pity.

"James, I'm sorry to say you do not posses the gift. So far all your potions have turned out to be complete disasters! I fear you won't get to be my successor after all."

James raised an eyebrow as if trying to say "are you kidding me?" but decided to say something else "I'm sorry too professor but it's been hard for me!" James said in an innocent tone.

Slughorn's expression saddened "I know it's rough on you! So little and yet such a burden hangs on you… ok I'm going to let it go once more!"

Then he turned to Remus and saw his potion a light purple color. Still being upset he didn't gather the words to reprimand him and just nodded before going back to his desk.

"You have to tell me how you do it!" Remus said talking to James.

James looked at the sky and sighed "It's a gift!" he said in a suffering voice.

Remus laughed at turned to his potion. There was a long pause before Remus tried again "So when are you going to talk to her?"

That sentence made James jump in surprise from the sudden change of subject. That caused his freshly cut bubotuber roots to fall in the potion. The conclusion was a brand of red fireworks coming out of the cauldron and flying everywhere in sight.

"Duck!" Slughorn yelled and all students hid under their desks.

"Are you trying to kill me?" James whispered to Remus from under his desk.

"No I'm trying to knock some sense into you! You making the entire classroom blow up WASN'T PART OF MY PLAN!" clearly Remus's patience was running low and James saw this.

"If it's that important to you I'll go talk to her later. I guess it couldn't hurt!"

"You see what's above? I'm sure it will hurt! But you have to try anyway!"

"Thanks for the support!" James mumbled trying to look up and see what was going on but he was greeted by a fast coming firework. Succeeding to duck, the firework flew past him and hit a stack of books from Evans's desk.

"This so isn't Evans's perfect day!" he said to no one in particular.

After three hours of hard work fixing what was left after the potions incident, James looked up and smiled at the sky, or rather what he saw through the window.

"James, I see you finished rearranging the ingredients. I'm sorry to do this to you in your condition." Slughorn said sympathetically.

"It's not your fault professor!" James said.

"If there was any way I could help you. I shouldn't have put this on you. It wasn't even your fault!"

"It's alright sir! I managed to skip defense against the dark arts without getting detention."

Slughorn laughed "Ah James, I know what you mean! When I was your age…"

"Professor, I would like to get back to my classes now!" James quickly interrupted.

"Sure, sure, knowledge gives the life a meaning you know?" Slughorn said proudly then he reached in his pocket and subtracted a parchment that he gave to James "Here, this is an invitation to my party I'm giving in my office. Your friend Black is also coming. See you tonight?"

"I hope so sir!" James said putting the parchment in the pocket of his robes. He liked the idea of seeing it burn in the Gryffindor common room.

"…AND YOUR FATHER AND I ARE VERY DISSAPOINTED IN YOU!" the voice said before the letter erupted into flames.

The Gryffindors, as well as the other houses, were having lunch after three classes. All of them were tired and didn't have any energy to listen again to Mrs. Black's yelling. After two months they became used to her swears and screams, hence, almost everybody scowled when the now famous black owl came in to deliver a red letter.

"Can't Dumbledore put a silencing charm on it? He could, couldn't he? I can hardly hear what I'm saying now." Remus said annoyed.

"I think he could but he likes it to much. Besides I saw he got a new pair of earmuffs. What more can somebody ask for?" James replied sorrow as well.

Both of them had their reasons, James for having to clean AND put up with Slughorn and Remus for another round of arguing with Dolohov, the defense professor. Dolohov wanted to tell the class about the way to hunt down dangerous creatures and picked for no reason at all to mention werewolves and chose Remus to answer a few questions.

While James pitied himself he saw something interesting at the Ravenclaw table. Lily and Corinne were having a very close discussion at the end of which hugged and Lily departed to the exit. Not waiting any longer, James shoved Remus as hard as he could, scaring him out of his misery.

"Remus please I beg you go talk to Evans!" James pleaded.

"No James that's your job. Stop using me as a tool!" Remus said resentful causing James to look strangely at him.

"Sorry…dear…but I got to know what they were talking about. Maybe it's a way to get them to talk to me again."

"James you know you can always talk to them anytime you want to!" but after thinking about it added "You're right! I'll get moving!" he said getting up the chair and going after Lily.

Sirius saw that Remus had gone and thought it was his time to get to talk to James. Approaching him quietly from behind, he sat down in the empty seat.

"Potter we have to talk!" he said.

"Hello to you too!" James commented.

"It's getting too strange and I want to find out what's happening." Sirius said ignoring James. "Will you help me or not?"

"Well, I'm glad you decided not be unclear about it."

"It's about Lupin!" Sirius said running out of patience.

"What about him?" James asked.

"This is crazy! He leaves school about once a month to be with his family and I talked to Dorcas Meadows, you know that really hot roommate of Evans's, and her grandfather died a week ago and the school council only gave her a weekend so she could be at his funeral. So weather Lupin's mom has cancer or not, he's still hiding something from us!" Sirius said triumphantly.

Though Sirius's speech convinced James that Remus was hiding something from him it didn't convince him to go spying with Black of all people. He solemnly shook his head "Sorry Black but I'm not a back-stabber!"

"That's not a problem, I'm one!" he said calmly taking a sip from a cup of pumpkin juice "I just need you to help me once or twice in my research." Then when he saw James still wouldn't cooperate with him added "Or I could still keep searching for dirty stuff about you!"

This had an immediate reaction on James who turned from annoyed to frightened. "What about me?" he asked.

Sirius was still behaving casually like this was the simplest conversation he had ever had "My parents work in the ministry. They asked around trying to find out your parents job. Though everybody knows them, nobody knew what they did. An Auror thought they worked as Obliviators and an Obliviator thought they worked as Aurors. I think you understand what I'm saying!" Sirius deduced from James's pale face.

"You're mad! How could they not know? They're so stupid they don't know how to search. They're in the archives. Did they look there?" James asked.

Sirius looked smugly at James "Yeah they did. Know what they found? In the right part of your parents' names a fire incident occurred and nobody could read about what their job was."

Seeing that James wouldn't give in that easily, Sirius continued "So what I'm guessing now is that they had a super secret job that apparently the Hogwarts staff knows about, probably something that helped Dumbledore's little army in the Grindelwald war. So in respect to your parents they are giving you special treatment. Well, that's what I thought 'till today in potions when the Slug showed sympathy for your condition, so whatever it is you're hiding still has an effect on people!"

James looked at Sirius for a moment "You finished?" he asked

Sirius nodded.

"Good 'cause I'm finished eating and I want to get to my dorm and finish my Charms homework. Though I don't know what more I can say about swishing and flicking. Anyway, thanks for the story, I enjoyed it! Same time tomorrow huh? Sirius…" James said addressing him by his first name "don't get yourself in things you'll regret later, 'cause trust me, you will!"

Then James got up and walked past Sirius without saying goodbye and left the room. All the way to the common room he thought about that discussion. How Sirius got so far in two months. If he didn't do something his secret would be discovered and he would have to leave Hogwarts for safety measures. But he couldn't betray Remus like that so easily. If it was the other way around James wouldn't have liked it if Remus betrayed his trust. But was Remus worth it? Maybe it was a silly thing and everyone was over appreciating it. Maybe Remus wouldn't mind!

No! He couldn't ask Remus that. Firstly because it was clear that it was huge since all staff was in on it and protecting him. Secondly, if he told Remus that, all his chances to get Black off his back would be nullified, or even in the negative since Remus would be more cautious. But did he want to think about ratting him out?

He finally got to the Fat Lady's portrait. After saying the password ("Newt Scamander") he went in and saw Remus having a conversation with Lily by the fireplace. Seeing James walk in, Lily said something to Remus and went upstairs to her dorm. James went to Remus to see what that was about.

"I talked to her and asked her how she's best buddies with Corinne like you asked me to!" Remus said "They arranged to go to this club Slughorn made in his office. Only VIP's can enter and exceptionally good potion makers. There are going to be a lot of other girls there too."

"Yeah, Black is also going to be there, no wonder he's going!" James said still partially thinking about the earlier conversation "If Corinne and Lily are going to be there I should be too. I think. Then they'll know I'm a sophisticated boy and start to forgive me."

"That or you failed to finish Slughorn's paper and you need to woo him to not give you a bad mark." Remus retorted.

James sighed "Well, I DO have a late assignment I need to give him. S'pose I'll do both!" he said taking a seat on the couch.

Remus stared at James torn between asking "what the hell are you going to do?" and "how can I help you?"

James got up and went to the stairs

"Where are you going?" Remus asked

"To the dorm. I have to get dressed if I'm going." James replied. In truth, he needed time to think.

At nine o clock, James was standing in front of Slughorn's office. He loosened his shirt a little, knowing what would come. After staring at the ceiling for an hour, James decided that everybody would know sooner or later and that Remus's trust was more important. Nodding to himself, he knocked on the door. It opened automatically (James had a feeling Slughorn charmed it to open only to the guests with invitations) and James went in and looked around.

The room was probably enlarged because it was the same size of the Great Hall. Four large tables were put near the walls filled with food of every kind. There was even a plate with chocolate frogs. James heard about them from an uncle that worked at a candy store in Diagon Alley. They were chocolate in the shape of frogs charmed to hop around. You had to eat them before they got away. On the side of the Frog was usually a collectable card.

"Hello James! Glad you could make it!" Slughorn said cheery coming towards James. Following his gaze he saw the batch of chocolate frogs "Ah, I see your eyes have taste. These are still rare. I had to pull a few strings to get them here. The ministry is still working on the cards but they let me take the chocolate. Have a go!" Slughorn pushed James to the table and took himself one making a delighted sound when he ate it "Mmmm! I tell you James, these are the future. James take a bite!"

James looked again the brown frogs. Normally he wouldn't eat them but he had to get away from Slughorn. He grabbed one and took a bite of it. The sensation was definitely good. Nothing James tasted had been this good. After he finished it, James took another and another. Slughorn laughed and patted James on the shoulder "Not to much! You don't want to see Madame Pomfrey tonight, especially with the surprises I have prepared for." He said taking a crystal pineapple then going to the door where another guest had arrived.

It was James's queue to look for the girls. He spotted them talking with a second year girl from Gryffindor Marlene McKinnon. Her entire family worked as Aurors. He met her two years ago at a New Year's Eve party before she went to Hogwarts. Taking another bite from a chocolate frog, he strolled casually to them though he didn't look down and he tripped. Corinne and Marlene laughed while Lily seemed annoyed with the new company.

"Potter I didn't know you were invited! I guess your family is too famous so you had to come!" she said icily suggesting to James's potion making skills (or lack of).

James got up from the floor and made a bow to the girls ignoring Lily. "Girls, I'm honored to see you here!" he said

Lily looked more peeved than ever. "Well Potter, some of us got here for our potion skills." She said.

Corinne and Marlene looked at each other and understood that both of them got here because of their family, though they didn't say that to Lily.

Lily was fuming "Potter, I prefer if you go to your boys and play and leave us alone!" she said.

Corinne interrupted in time to stop James's incoming comment "Actually Lily," she said "I'd like to talk to James for a while. I haven't spoken to him for a long time" she went past a shocked Lily and took James's shaking hand. Then she led him to a corner where she looked at him for a while.

James's heart rate tripled and he felt heat in the room he never knew existed "Looking good!" he managed to muttered.

Corinne giggled at the weird comment "Thank you!" she said smiling, James felt his feet melt and Corinne was still holding his hand "I haven't talked to you in a long time. I hope you're not scared of me because I cried at the lake!"

James furiously shook his head "No! No, no, no!" he kept on saying "No! No! I just thought you hated me for saying that stupid thing and I kept your wish not to see me."

Corinne laughed and leaned towards James "You're my friend and I know you can be an idiot sometimes but that's ok!" she said hugging James tightly for the first time. The sick part of James's mind acknowledged that parts of her body began to grow and touching that part made James wish more than ever to be with her. However she finished the hug smiling at him not knowing what was going on in his head.

James had to retain himself from drooling and swallowing his spit, grinned at her. "That was disgusting!" James thought.

Noticing the silence that was between them and also realizing (with horror) that they were still holding hands, he rudely almost shoved her to the chocolate frogs and took one with his free hand inviting her also to take one. Sighing, Corinne broke the hand-holding and nibbled from one.

They stayed there for half an hour eating but not talking and then Slughorn came announcing that he wanted to talk.

"Everyone, attention please! Some of you complained that my parties are boring and that we need music. Well, everyone, with the acceptance of Dumbledore I managed to get WWN!" he cheered and music filled the room.

James watched dismayed as couples began forming and stepping in the middle of the room to dance. James looked at Corinne to see her outstretched arm.

"Shall we?" she invited.

He looked at her in confusion as to why she was doing this. He was a horrible dancer "I…I…" he began.

"I'll dance with you!" a voice said behind him. James turned to see Sirius smirking at them and giving his arm to Corinne. "What a nice smell you have!" he complemented her then turned to James "I'll see you around! Don't exaggerate with the frogs mate" he pointed to the chocolate frogs then took Corinne to the very middle and danced very closely to her, too closely for James's liking.

James sat down, being probably the only one who wasn't dancing. Or so he thought until he saw Evans coming to him.

"Potter stop drooling over her. If you can't be a man deal with it!" Lily said icily.

James sighed "Alright Evans you win! I'm sorry for insulting you!" he apologized "I really am! I shouldn't have said anything about you. You trusted me enough to be your friend and I betrayed that. Please forgive me!"

Lily shook her head "No Potter this isn't about you anymore. I really mean it! Stop going after her if you're not sure you want to go all the way through. She's a good friend but she's vulnerable so if you don't give her what she wants then stay away. As for your pathetic apology I won't accept it. Not now anyway. You don't know how much it hurt to hear you say that. Everybody is criticizing me and I trusted you enough to believe you wouldn't do the same. But I was wrong! So Potter, don't expect me to be friends with you for a while! Right now I want to punch your face so bad it hurts me to not." She said going to a blonde guy whispering something into his ear to which he nodded and then they started dancing.

"Bloody hell!" James muttered sitting there in his chair watching the other ones dancing and having a good time. Worst thing was that he had to refuse several invitations to dance, even one from a seventh year Ravenclaw who seemed angry that a first year refused her.

James stood for a full hour and a half before the music started to stop. The couples were splitting and going to their common rooms greeted by Slughorn at the exit. James rose from his chair thanking every star he knew for making it through the night alive. Corinne also split with Sirius ("how long have they been dancing?" James thought) and went to say good bye to James.

James looked pale from watching her getting so close to Sirius. He felt that if he got a moment alone with him, he wouldn't take it and kill him. Corinne looked concerned at him.

"James are you ok? You look pale!" she said.

James's expressionless face turned to her "I'm alright! Are…are you?" he asked

She nodded "Yeah! I really wished you were there! To bad you didn't want to dance!"

James felt his inside explode. He wanted to tell her how much he wanted to be there, to be the one who held her in his arms, to dance with her all night long "Yeah!" he finally said.

She looked at him concerned "Well, I have to go before curfew comes and a prefect catches me. Oh and say hello to your parents. Sirius said they were sick or something. Get well!" she greeted and left the room.

So that was it! Sirius did all that so he would convince James to spy on Remus. He hold her, he danced with her, only to spite him! How dare he?

James was seeing red in his eyes by the time he got in the Common Room. He ran up the stairs and saw Remus with his bags looking at something black. What it was he didn't see because Remus quickly hid it when he came.

"You had fun?" Remus asked.

"A blast!" James replied.

Remus took it as a sign that James didn't want to talk about it. He shrugged and left the room "See you in a week!" he said leaving James alone.

Five minutes later Sirius came in dancing with an imaginary girl. James became more furious and jumped at Sirius pinning him to the floor and started punching him in the stomach.

"You" he said punching him "bastard!" another punch "How… dare… you… do… this… for… your… stupid… ego!"

Peter came running in and took James off Sirius who was bleeding already. He had to not let him go which was hard for Peter's body.

Sirius got off the floor wiping some blood off his lip. He looked furiously at James who was red in the face "What's wrong with you Potter?" he spat punching James in the stomach.

"You! You know I like her. You did all that just to get me to betray Remus. You're a bastard!" James screamed.

"Likewise Potter! It's so simple. You get me what I want and I help you get what you want! Otherwise when I finally figure out your secret, your blonde chick and everyone else in the school will find out. And from your face I understand expelling is also an issue."

Remus was sitting in his tiny room Dumbledore managed to make for him. He had a window from where he saw the full moon. It had an unusual red color that night. Remus wasn't an expert in divination but he knew something had to be wrong. He didn't have time to think about it however, because the moon already started to have an effect on Remus.

"It's starting!" he said.

James looked ready to kill Sirius. He never hated anyone so much in his life, except for one person who he will never forgive for ruining his life. He stared at Sirius with anger and hate. He finally managed to mumble something.

"What was that?" Sirius asked.

"Alright! I'll do it!" James yelled.

Sirius smirked at the person held captive in Peter's hands "You and I will make a great team Potter!"

AN: I hope you liked it. Please leave your thoughts and review for me please:)