Bonus Chapter- James' POV

"You've got to be kidding me." He shook his head, staring at the opened letter in the post office. "I- I don't understand."

"What's going on?" Caroline asked, leaning over the counter.

"Ryan think I wrote to Dumbledore to revoke her Hogsmeade permission form because of Sirius."

"Maybe you should let her think that." Caroline moved back, brushing a lock of blonde hair back behind her ear. "I mean, who knows what he'd do."

"Yeah, but...Maybe we should have this conversation elsewhere."

"I'm off in ten. Your place?"

James nodded, still staring at his goddaughter's unusually messy handwriting. Fifteen minutes later, Caroline was making tea for the both of them in James' flat. "Look, I know Sirius. He was one of my best friends." James started, forgetting for a moment that she only knew him as James Evans. "There's something odd about this whole business with him being my Secret-Keeper. I mean, on the surface, it makes sense. But why would he betray Lily and me?"

"Look, Potter-" Caroline passed him a mug, "-everyone thinks that he was working for You-Know-Who."

James nearly dropped his tea. "Potter?"

"I'm not stupid, Jamie." She took a sip of her tea, her eyes watching him. "We're both not being entirely truthful with each other."

"I was led to believe that it would be easier if a lot of people still assumed I was dead." He said finally. "Hence, the red hair and the last name."

"If you think that's going to fool anyone who actually knew you, you're thicker than I thought." She smirked. "I knew who you were the moment I saw you in Diagon Alley."

"But- I don't remember you." He said slowly. "And the only issues with my memory are still of that Halloween night."

Caroline said nothing as she dug a small vial out of her pocket. She slid it across the dining room table to James, who watched as the silvery liquid swirled around. "Here. I finished brewing this last night. I told you I'd help you as much as I could. If this doesn't do anything, I don't know what to do."

"Right." He stared at the vial, not moving.

She sighed and got to her feet. "Trust me or not, you should take it. I'm not going to kill you."

"You said you were hiding something too." He finally moved, spinning around to face her. "What is it?"

"I'll only give you a hint. My disguise is a hell of a lot better than yours. Drink it."

"You're not Pettigrew, are you?"

Caroline's lip curled. "Merlin, no. I'd drown myself if I was that rat."

James tilted his head. "I know you're not Sirius or Remus. Or Lily." He added, thinking out loud. "Or Elora. She couldn't stand me."

"Probably still can't, to be honest." Caroline joked. "You're a better mother to her daughter than she could ever hope to be. Maybe my mother should've dropped me off at the orphanage." Her voice quieted at the last sentence.

James uncorked the vial, keeping eye contact with Caroline, her light blue eyes unblinking as he swallowed the liquid in one swig. It had no taste and was slightly thicker than water, but it went down smoothly. Right as he felt it hit his stomach, his eyes grew heavy. "Come on, up you go, you big lug." Caroline said softly, helping him to his feet. "You're going to sleep for a bit."

He nodded, barely able to keep his head up, watching her through half closed eyes as she tucked him into his bed and kissed his forehead. Those eyes- he knew those eyes. But before he could open his mouth, darkness overcame him and his eyes snapped shut.