The Beginning of the End.
James was ecstatic.
Despite the fact that Voldemort had forced them into hiding, that so many of his friends and family were dead, James was happy.
Dancing around the kitchen, singing Queen at the top of his lungs, as the love of his life and their son sat watching him while their brownies baked in the oven, he was happy.
James and Lily were happy.
They had finally persuaded Dumbledore to let them have a small Halloween celebration in Godric's Hollow, just them, Sirius, and Peter.
His friends.
Their family.
It was a small ray of hope in the choking darkness of the War, a reminder that it wouldn't last forever, that they could live together, happy and safe.
Lily's laughter cut off as the white sheet over her husband's head caught on the kitchen door knob as he twirled around dramatically. He stumbled, falling towards the counter, arms outstretched to catch himself.
Lily had reached for her wand to catch him, before cursing as she realised that they had both been left upstairs. She'd have to grab them when she went upstairs to put on her costume before their family arrived.
The word family warmed her chest. They would finally get to spend time with one another again. Despite the fear and suspicion, the death and loss, they had each other. They could count on each other, love each other, and live for each other for the rest of their lives. They had a bond that reached past outwards appearances, wrapping its golden threads around their hearts, never to let go.
'Till death do us part'
It had been an important addition to their wedding vows, both fiances knowing that if one died, the other would be soon to follow. It flowed past them to embrace all of their family. Sirius, Peter, Remus. A reminder that they had each other, that they would be together till the end of their days.
Lily's heart ached for Remus, alone amongst his kin. As the War progressed, Dumbledore had begun to ask too much of him, of all of them. Remus was barely an adult, yet had been sent away on increasingly longer trips to ensure neutrality from the werewolf packs. Every time he returned, he was more haggard, more haunted. Exhaustion coated his bones at the Order meetings, pain stabbing each joint and muscle as he leaned heavily on his cane. Her heart broke whenever she saw him weakly refuse the food Molly pressed on him, when suspicious glances were cast between him and Sirius. One suspicious of the life the other led, the other suspicious of the life the other had left behind. He had said that he might be back in time for the tail end of their celebration, but to not to hold their breaths. She knew he would be dead on his feet, but the contentment settling on his face as he saw the Potter household once again, at the sight of baby Harry and all of his family, would be the most joyous thing there. She also knew that it was unlikely. The War, the suspicion placed on him, all of it weighed on him and she knew that he spent much of his time at home drowning in drunk depression.
Still, they had wheedled this small mercy: unbridled joy, with pleading, desperate words to the one who controlled them all.
****
The beeping of the timer broke her out of her thoughts, signalling that their brownies were done. James cast off the sheet from his head and launched himself away from the counter and towards the oven, hands grasping desperately at the handle, an excited grin painting his face. Lily smiled, love blooming in her heart. Every single bit of suffering they had endured was worth it for this. The pure joy on her husband's face was worth a thousand lives of solitude. If it was the last thing she saw, she could die happy.
"James." She called warningly when he reached for the brownies with bare hands.
"Sorry my love, I got excited." He responded, slightly abashed.
"I'm sure Prongslet is super duper excited for his brownies though, isn't he!"
He cooed at the child cradled in his wife's arms. Content at the light gurgle Harry gave back, he reached out to grab a pair of oven gloves and turn off the oven before grabbing the tray from inside it. They were perfect, cracked slightly on top and clearly gooey in the centre.
The atmosphere shifted as James placed it down on the countertop and turned to face his wife. The music had changed, 'I'll Never Love This Way Again' came on, and as the first few notes drifted from the record player, they stepped closer to one another. James’ arms wound around Lily, bringing her closer as they cradled Harry between themselves in the warm cavern between their chests. He leant his forehead against hers and they began to sway.
Surrounded by the music, they gazed into each other's eyes, their love grasped between them within the life they had built.
'I won't turn my head in sorrow if you should go away'
They savoured the warmth they shared and gently pressed their lips together in a soft kiss.
‘I'll stand here and remember just how good it's been’
Shuffling round their kitchen, each step engraving their love onto the floor they tiled together, they sang along, voices low. Each word lulled their son to sleep
'And I know I'll never love this way again'
Eyes sliding shut, the couple danced, enjoying the comfort their embrace brought.
Ten minutes later when the music switched to something less happy - they broke away.
As Lily turned to leave to put Harry to bed before their family arrived, James kissed her gently and whispered,
"I love you."
She returned his smile and said lowly "I love you more."
Grin practically splitting his face, James chuckled.
"Debatable."
Lily glanced at him fondly as she shifted Harry to a more comfortable position.
A knock sounded at the door, sharp and hard. Lily frowned.
"It must be Pete. He's pretty early though, I wonder why?"
"Padfoot probably forced him to come early, you know how excited he was for this."
Lily's laughter echoed down the corridor towards him as James opened the door, mouth open to greet his family.
Cruel cackles joined in a dangerous harmony to his wife's joy.
The blood drained from his face as he took in the scene in front of him. Took in the extent of Pete- Merlin his Pete's betrayal. His best friend's pale, shaking countenance, one shoulder clutched by a bony white hand. As its pair raised to pull a black hood away from an inhuman face, James yelled.
"Lily! Lily it's him! TAKE HARRY AND RUN, I'LL HOLD HIM OFF!"
There was a crash as Lily's foot slipped on the stairs at the horror in James' voice.
"No." She whispered hoarsely, still cradling her son protectively to her chest. Adrenaline took over as she pushed to her feet, stifling sobs at the muffled scream of the killing curse below her.
The last thing James saw was the tight-lipped, morose face of the man who he had trusted with his family's lives, the one who betrayed them all for the sake of a little fear, a little power.
Lily scrambled to grab their wands from Harry's room, placing him in his cot and standing defiantly between him and the door. The cold chill that had overtaken the hallway got closer and closer, and fear shook her legs as she felt the terrifying aura of death stalk nearer.
"Harry, Mumma loves you. Dada loves you." Her voice cracked, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Be safe. Be strong." She willed him, knowing that all her sacrifices were for nothing. Voldemort would win. Better to die an untamed wolf than a beaten dog she thought grimly, tightening her grip on their wands.
The face that greeted her first was not one of visceral hatred, but rather one she associated with familiarity and home.
"Pete." Lily's resolve shattered as she cried brokenly. "How could you?"
A shadow shrouded figure appeared behind him, making her flinch. A single pallid hand pushed her old friend out of the way. Wandless magic brushed childish toys away from the path his bare feet took as he approached slowly.
"Step aside and you shall live." His voice was dry and hissing, like a snake's scales brushing through autumn leaves.
"Never!" Lily half shouted, in a desperate attempt to gain control, both wands pointed at the monstrous, dead face staring at her with glittering ruby eyes.
A curious half smile curled his lips as he muttered
"So be it."
A flash of bright green light lit the room. The limp thud of Lily's body hitting the ground woke the young boy in the cot, who began to cry. His stuttered, trembling voice cut off as a shadow fell over his face.
"Hello Harry Potter." The dull voice hissed.
A muffled sob left the whimpering man behind him, interrupting him.
"Pull yourself together Wormtail." He sneered. And god how the name burnt in his heart, a branded reminder of all that he'd betrayed, all that he'd lost. Because Voldemort had won.
He apparated away then , uncaring of the consequences and destruction his cowardice had caused, but unable to get rid of the sight of his best friends' glazed eyes staring back at him, dead.
James and Lily were dead.