A Trail Of Broken Hearts

Caroline was pushed gently out of the room and James shut the door behind himself. He sat down on the floor. He closed his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"What did you do, Care?" He whispered, looking at the ring in his hand, "What did you do to me? To us…?"

He closed the box and collapsed on his bed.

James woke up late in the morning. For the first time in four years, James let go of his daily routine of waking up at six am and working out. He went downstairs to make himself a cup of coffee, his eyes a little swollen. He avoided his mother's eyes because he knew if she looked at him she would know that something was wrong. She would know. She always knew.

"Good morning." He took a cup from the cupboard and poured himself a coffee from the already brewed pot.

"Morning." Mr. Potter said, stiffly.

He headed towards the door.

"James?"

"Yes?" He turned.

"I know you like the girl." He told his son. "But, that is not a girl for you to marry. You will not marry her. You will not give her the Potter name to exploit. And, in no circumstances you will give her my great-grandmother's ring."

"Yes, sir." Had it been any other time James would have argued.

"Fleamont.." Mrs. Potter tried to stop him, "He can't choose who to love who….."

"No, it's okay." James came towards the kitchen table. "It's fine, Mom."

"Where is she anyway?" Mr. Potter asked.

"Gone." James replied, placing the ring box on the breakfast table.

"What happened, James?" Mrs. Potter asked him.

"I broke up with her." He said, closing the door behind him. "She's gone."

Mr. Potter smiled grimly. He didn't want his son hurt. It was reassuring to know that his son knew better.

Mrs. Potter looked a little shocked.

James Potter left Hogwarts with a girlfriend of his dreams. And, came back a single man.

"Hey, James!" Peter squeaked as he saw James standing in front of the Fat Lady, waiting for some with the password. "Oh, the password, Jekklecreme."

"That's right." The Fat Lady said in a singsong voice.

"Where is Caroline?" He asked James.

"I don't know." He shook his head, "We broke up."

"Broke up?" Peter asked, "I thought you were going to propose."

"Long story, Wormtail." James sighed, "Where's Padfoot and Moony?"

"Sirius is upstairs, waiting for you." Peter said, "And, Moony, he is with Madam Pomfrey looking for some herbs."

"Is he alright?" He asked.

"Yeah….Just prepping." Peter said, vaguely.

Neither of them wanted to share Remus's secrets with other people. He had been given separate lodgings since he was the Captain of the Quidditch team but he preferred to stay with his friends

"Hey, James!" Sirius smiled, "Ready for the Quidditch trophy?"

"Sure am!"

Under the supervision of James, the Gryffindor team had won every match they had played. Professor McGonagall had been so proud that she made an appearance at the last party in Gryffindor Common room. Not to shut it down, but to congratulate the Captain on an excellent job.

"James!" Caroline was sitting on the couch.

Their eyes met. James looked away immediately.

"Listen to me…." She sprung out of her chair and came towards him.

"No, Care." He took her hand off his arm. "I told you, I am done."

"James…Listen to me."

He pushed her hand away and went into his room. Followed by Peter and Sirius.

"I know you two broke up." Sirius said, sitting down on his bed, "But, why?"

"I'll tell you later." James said, quietly, "I think I am going to see Evans. I need to talk to her."

"Lily?" Peter asked, "Again? You broke up with Caroline for Lily?"

"Can you just shut up for a second?" James turned angrily. "And, stop assuming things! Get ready for tomorrow night! Don't think me and Padfoot don't see you slacking or disappearing God knows where!"

"Jeez! Prongs." Sirius looked a little worried. "Peter, go find Remus."

Peter shrank away.

"What happened, James?" He asked when he was sure Peter had gone. "Why are you so angry?"

It wasn't like him.

"She is one of them." He whispered. "She is a Death Eater…I saw her."

"What?" He almost shouted.

"I saw it." James said. "I saw the Dark Mark. The day I was going to propose."

"I can't believe this!"

"I couldn't either. It took the whole summer to think about it." James admitted. "I still couldn't wrap my head around! Padfoot, I thought I knew her."

"You did…"

"I didn't."

"Why did you want to talk to Lily?" He asked, remembering James mentioning Lily.

"So, I can warn her." James replied.

"Warn her?"

"About Snape." James said, quietly. There was no one else in the room. "She told me Snape also recruited himself."

"Snivellious is a Death Eater too?" Sirius stood up, "Shit!"

"Yeah, shit."

James Potter laid down in his bed and he fell asleep. He was sleep deprived. He slept for several hours till he was awakened by Remus.

"Hey, James." He shook him, "Wake up. Come on, Dinner in twenty minutes."

"Hmmm…."

"James, come on!" Remus shook him again. "You have practice in the morning before breakfast!"

"I'm up, I'm up." James murmured.

Standing up, grudgingly.

"I am up." He smiled at Lupin who looked drained of energy already.

"Hey, James!" Peter squeaked.

"Oh, hey..Peter." He replied. "I am sorry about earlier, Man! I was…"

"It's fine." He replied.

All of them headed to the Great Hall, James came out of his dormitory when he saw Caroline Trent sitting between Alice and Mary and in front of Lily, by the fireplace.

"Hey, James. Sirius." Alice waved at him, "I heard you guys played a great game two weeks ago."

"Yeah. Thanks." James said, distractedly.