Chapter 14 More Betrayal (The numbers got a little jumbled up...sorry)

"I know."

"CAROLINE! DON'T HURT LILY." He screamed. "DON'T HURT THEM….Take me.."

McGonagall sat on the chair and took his hand in hers.

"James, it's me, Professor McGonagall." She whispered. "Listen to me, James. No harm will come to Lily. No harm will come to Sirius."

"Don't hurt my family." He murmured. "Don't hurt them."

"It's okay, James." She said, "Everything will be okay. Your family will be okay. Adriana will be okay."

"She will be okay." James held the blanket in his hands. "She will be okay."

He talked in his sleep. She took out her wand and waved it. The wounds on his body healed. She waved it a second time and the troubled look on his face relaxed. Mrs. Evans looked at the magic fascinately. James's mind eased. He fell into a deep slumber.

"When he wakes up." She told Mrs. Evans, "Tell him, I came by…..and give him this."

She put a tonic on the table.

"Tell him….Tell him." She said, quietly. "Padfoot is safe and he will come soon."

"Ok….Kay." She didn't understand a lot of it.

She closed the door after McGonagall left. He looked so peaceful in his sleep that she didn't want to disturb him. She left him sleeping throughout the day and the night.

When she woke up, he was in her kitchen.

"Good Morning, Mr. Evans." He smiled, "Mrs. Evans."

"What are you doing, James?" She asked.

"Well, you took care of me all those days, I thought I'd cook you breakfast." He smiled widely. "How do you like your eggs, Mr. Evans? Fried with bacon?"

Mr. Evans nodded.

"You didn't have to do this." Mrs. Evans said, fondly.

"I know." He said, "But, I wanted to."

He put down a plate of crepes at the breakfast table.

"Crepes? Those are my favorite." Mrs. Evans said, sitting down.

"I know." He said, "Lily mentioned."

After a few minutes, James joined them at the table.

"Where did you learn to cook?" Mr. Evans asked, "This is amazing, James."

"Yes. This is very good." Mrs. Evans nodded.

"My mom used to cook…." He trailed off. "But, when she died. I ate out a lot."

Mr. Evans wished he hadn't said anything. Lily had said how upset James became when something or someone reminded him of the painful way of his parents death.

"But, after that summer." James's tone remained cheerful. "Rainie came to my house for the first summer."

Mrs. Evans smiled,

"And, Sirius permanently moved in and Remus too." He continued. "It was like we were a little family. And, we sat down to dinner together every night."

Mrs. Evans felt really bad about James. How Lily misunderstood him before. This boy was like the son she would have wanted. Kind, passionate, loving and caring.

"We cooked together." James shrugged, "And, ate together. It was great. That's why I want to get back home. I want my sister."

She wanted to ask him why he was screaming in his sleep. She wanted to comfort him.

"Thank you, Mrs. Evans." James stood up, "For letting me stay here."

He got up.

"I would stay but I have work." He said.

"You should stay a while, James." She said, "You are not well yet."

"I am okay." He smiled, "I have to go back home. But, now you have to come to my house for dinner next week."

"I will." She said, nodding.

"Promise?" He asked.

"Promise!" Mr. Evans said.

James Potter packed up all his things and hugged Mrs. Evans goodbye, assuring her that he will come again and disapparated from her house. He came into the Potter Manor,

"Lily!" He shouted. "Are you here?"

Rainie came running out, followed by Sirius.

"James!" Rainie squealed, running towards him."Oh My God!"

"You weren't so happy to see me." Sirius grumbled.

"Jealous?" James laughed, hugging her.

"From you?" Sirius smiled fondly.

How could he ever be jealous of the brother he wished he had. He loved him more than anyone he had ever loved.

"Nah….brother." He hugged him. "I would never."

"I missed you, James." He whispered.

"I missed you too, Sirius."

"If this bromance is over….I think James owes me a trip to Diagon Alley." Rainie laughed.

"Jealous?" Sirius snickered and James was the one who laughed. He had missed this.

"I remember." He said, "But, today….I have something important to do."

"More important than Rainie?" Sirius raised his eyebrows. Trying to tease her.

"You are going to do it." Rainie said, quietly. She ignored Sirius. She just understood what James meant. "That's why you called out for her….."

"Do what?" Sirius asked.

"I am going to propose to Lily." He said.

Rainie clapped her hands, "That's amazing, James!"

"I have to go find her!" James said. "Do you know where she is?"

"I am not sure….." Sirius said, "But, Peter said he was going with……."

"No!" James shouted.

"James?"

"Peter went with her?" James asked.

"Yes," Rainie shrugged. "I thought you said no one should go alone."

"I did." He said in deep thought.

He cast a patronus charm. The stag danced around the room and disappeared. If Lily got his message, she would come soon.

"What happened, James?" Sirius started getting worried. "Prongsie….what's wrong?"

"It's Peter." He said. "He is….he is….he…"

James couldn't get the words out. How could he? First, his girlfriend…..the one he was going to propose. His first love. And, now……his friend. The one who knew all of his secrets. James's mind went to the fact that Peter knew everything about him, Sirius, Remus and Lily. He knew everything about Rainie.

"He is a….."

"Hey, Rainie!" Lily shouted, coming inside. "I am back! We are back."

Peter Pettigrew had been away. Lily didn't tell him much because James asked her not to. He had been sure that James would die. But, then…..he wouldn't know it was him, would he? He had taken all precautions. He had been wearing a mask and James was hurt. He could always say James was hurt.

"Hello, James." His voice squeaked louder than usual.

"Hello, James?" Lily was surprised and happy to see him. But, he didn't look too happy to see her.

"Hi, Peter." He said.

His voice was cold.

"Hi, James." He whispered. "How are you?"

"Better." James advanced.

He came towards Peter, who took a step back.

"Why don't you join us for lunch?" He asked, dangerously. "We'll order from the Chinese place you like. Near that abandoned house."

Peter took another step back as his face turned white.

"I think I should go!" He squeaked.

"You are not going anywhere!" James roared.