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.
He came in front of the door, stopping his way.
"James!" All of them shouted.
"What are you doing, Prongs?"
"Show it." He shouted, pinning Peter to the wall.
Last time he had found out someone was a death eater, he was calm. Because, he didn't know the risks then. But, now he did. He knew what these people could do. He hadn't lost anyone then. But, now he knew what it meant. He had too much to lose. And, he didn't want to lose anymore family members.
"Tell them." He shouted. "Tell them how you betrayed them! How you betrayed me! And, LEFT ME TO DIE THERE!"
"James, what are you talking about?" Sirius asked, bewildered.
"This rat knows exactly what I am talking about." He snatched Peter Pettigrew's arm and ripped his sleeve off.
Lily gasped. So did Rainie. But, Sirius…..he was in a state of shock. That dark mark....Sirius had heard so much about but never seen. It was the ugliest thing he had ever seen.
"Sirius…." Peter squeaked.
Sirius recoiled away in disgust.
"Lily…." He turned towards the women who might save him from James's wrath. "Rainie."
"Not her." James snarled, pulling him away from Lily and Rainie. "Not her either."
"Forgive me, James." He squeaked.
"Get out!" James grabbed him by the collar and pushed him into the wall. "Out!"
"Give me your wand, Lil." He said, suddenly. Remembering something.
"James….."
"YOUR WAND, LILY." He shouted.
Lily gave him her wand quietly. He pointed to the Dark Mark. A green light scanned the mark and he threw Pettigrew out of his house.
James tapped the wall softly and a small panel came out. Lily and Rainie watched in amazement. It was a security system James had installed a few months ago. There were a few names on a screen.
"James Potter
Sirius Black
Adriana Black
Remus Lupin
Peter Pettigrew."
He erased Pettigrew's name from the screen and entered 'Lily Evans' on it. She smiled a little proudly. He entered the moving picture of the Dark Mark on the small blank screen. It was a new invention James had found and modified. Anyone with a dark mark wouldn't be able to enter this house. He had been meaning to get an imprint of the dark mark for ages now. Ever since he had Rainie in this house, he worried about her. He worried like a father worried about his daughter.
"I have to go tell Dumbledore about this." He said, shaking his head. "Coming, Padfoot?"
"Yes." Sirius said, still a little shaken. "I am…. "
"Don't open the door for anyone." He turned towards Rainie. "Don't let anyone in…."
James left the same detailed instructions as he always did. And, this time she didn't say 'I know, James'. She was too shaken up by the Pettigrew incident.
"Lock the door, the muggle way and our way." He ended the sentence the same way.
They both disapparated.
"Let's make some dinner." Lily said, putting her arms around Rainie. "We can have dinner together and invite Remus too."
She nodded,"
"I have to go home then," She explained. "My mom was…It's not like I live here or anything."
"I wouldn't believe that if I were you." Rainie grinned.
"What?"
"Nothing." She shrugged.