Not So Little Secrets.

James was taking Caroline to meet his parents during the Christmas holidays. It was something Lily had heard through the gossip vines in the Gryffindor common room. She hoped it wouldn't be true. Because, meeting parents was a big step. And, what she had heard was that James Potter honored all his commitment, no matter how tough times were. If he and Caroline stayed so blissfully in love like this. She would never get a chance to tell him how she felt…..Not when she promised herself that she wouldn't be selfish and let him be happy.

James did take Caroline back to the Potter Manor to meet his parents. He was thinking of proposing to Caroline after his NEWTS ended. But, things didn't go exactly as planned. After dinner that night, James and Caroline sat down with Mr. and Mrs. Potter, drinking coffee.

"I hear, there are a lot of people leaving Godric's Hollow." James said to his dad. "Why would they? Isn't this place one of the safest in the city, right?"

"There is no place safe in the city, son!" Mr. Potter told him. "People are offered to join his side and those who don't…..flee or die."

"I can't believe how many people fall for it." James shook his head, "To save their skin, they put millions others at risk."

"What's wrong with saving your own skin?" Caroline asked. "I would save myself and leave everything to burn down behind me."

"Excuse me?" Mr. Potter asked, shocked.

"What?" James asked.

"What?" Caroline shrugged. "I don't see any problem.."

"Caroline, how can you say that?" He asked, touching her arm.

It burned. He moved his hand away as if lightning had struck him.

"All I am saying is that…" She continued, not noticing the horrified faces of her boyfriend and his parents. "There is nothing wrong with…."

James stood up and headed towards the door.

"James…honey." Mrs. Potter asked. "What happened?"

"Nothing…" James shook his head. "I think….I am going to get some air."

He stepped outside and didn't go back inside for half an hour. And, when he did, his parents had gone to bed and Caroline into the guest bedroom, which was right down the hall from him.

He went into his room and opened the doors that directly led into the garden. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it by simply thinking about it. His non-verbal spells had improved drastically. He took a deep breath in and exhaled.

"What happened?" Caroline joined in, "Why did you leave?"

"I have to ask you one thing." He puffed the cigarette out, "And, please...Do me the simple courtesy of not lying to me."

"What?"

"Are you a Death Eater?" He asked.

His voice was calm and clear. He wasn't afraid of the answer. He almost knew what she was going to say.

"How can you say that!" She shouted. "How can you even think that, James?"

"How can I think that?" His voice remained calm. "I can….And, if it is so wrong for me to think that, then..."

"Then, what?" She demanded.

"Then, roll that sleeve up." He said, "And, show me that I am wrong."

"James…" She took a step back.

"What, Caroline?" He said, dangerously. "What?"

"Listen to me, James."

"Show me." He said, "Show me, Care and If I am wrong I will spend my entire life making it up to you."

He took out the ring-box from his pocket.

"This." He opened it, "It was my grandmother's. I was going to ask you to marry me."

"What?" She was shocked.

"And, I will ask you again. I will ask you to forgive me. I will spend my entire life begging for your forgiveness." He said, quietly. "But, prove yourself."

"James…"

She hit the wall. But, there was no way out. He was standing in front of her. His hand on the wall. He took her arm softly and pushed the sleeve up. And, there it was. The ugliest mark he had ever seen, the thing he was dreading all along.

"How long?" He asked. Calm. Steady. Quiet. Too quiet.

"Two months."

He nodded. He should have known. He had the season's first game in October. She had worn a sleeveless t-shirt then. He had left for a few weeks and hadn't seen her till he came back to school a few days ago.

ago.

"Anyone else from school?" He asked.

"James…?" She didn't want to answer him, but she had no choice. It was his property she was standing on. He was dangerously close to her. She knew he wouldn't hurt her….never. He wouldn't touch her, not even when he knew that she was a Death Eater.

"Who is it?" He repeated.

His voice was low. Steady. Firm.

"Snape."

"Snivellious?" James snorted. 'It wasn't a shock. "Good to know."

"James…" She touched his arm softly. "Listen to me! We can still work this out!"

"Oh, no…." He shook his head, "I didn't care about the wolf thing when everyone would have walked away. I wouldn't care if you were poor or rich. I wouldn't care about any of that…."

He took a step away from her.

"But, what the hell, CAROLINE?" He banged his fist on the red-bricked wall. Blood trickled down his knuckles but he didn't care.

"This….?" The expression on his face wasn't anger. It would have helped if he was angry. But, he was disappointed.

"God, Caroline." He whispered. "How could you do this?"

"James, just listen to me…."

"No, no, no!" He said, "Out! I want you to get out! Out of my room! Out of my house!"

"You are asking me to leave?"

"Had it been any other reason…" He said, "I would have asked to stay the night and leave in the morning. But, you….have to leave. I can't sleep knowing a Death Eater is sleeping across the hall."

"Jam…"

"OUT! GET OUT!!! OUT!" He shouted.