James had been in the kitchen, finishing filling up their fake pumpkin with sweets for the children around who celebrated Halloween. No one could see their house but he had wanted to celebrate like that they had the years before because Lils had missed her muggle traditions from her childhood.
So they had decided to hang it up out by the street so anyone could take some. It wasn’t the same as the year before when their closest friends had come around and they had all dressed up but it was something.
He really hoped that they could stop being in hiding by Christmas, that was a time for family and he wanted to spend it with the rest of the marauders, that was hoping that they were all still able to. Were alive, that was.
James didn’t like thinking about those sorts of things but Marls had passed away a few weeks prior to now and she was one of his closest friends as well as one of the strongest witches he knew. Not to mention that Dorcas had been the most talented in DADA back in school and had also passed a couple weeks after Marls.
Now wasn’t the time to think about such depressing matters, not when Lils was dressing up Harry upstairs so they could have their own Halloween celebration at home. Today was a happy day, not one to grieve nor worry about how Moony was alone this full moon.
Well, he’s not doing the best job at this whole ‘not thinking about sad shit’, now is he? He had been doing so well when he had been sorting out sweets the muggle way, purposefully leaving his wand upstairs so he wasn’t tempted to speed up the process.
He heard the door open and smiled. Pete had probably come to visit for Halloween. He had mentioned something about a visit but hadn’t been up for saying much more, James had thought that he had looked rather sick that day and told him to go get some rest and hadn’t seen him since.
James had been expecting Peter.
James had not been expecting for Peter to betray them.
Because the man in front of them was not his childhood friend. No, it was the face of everything dark in the magical world. You Know Who was staring at him with a wand pointed at his chest and the first thing the brunette thought to do was warn Lily.
If she could get out with Harry, they won. Not the Death Eaters. At least for a short moment in time. Until they were found again because you apparently couldn’t trust anyone.
You could think that you knew them. Know every miniscule detail of their mannerisms and interests but find that you truly knew nothing at all. Because the Pete he knew would never have done something like this.
The Pete he knew was a sore loser at wizarding chess and was always adamant that James had cheated.
The Pete he knew cried with him, Marls and Sirius when his parents had died.
The Pete he knew would never do something like this.
And yet, here James was. Arms up in defence as a killing curse was shot at him.
It wouldn’t have done much except to give Lils enough time to get out with Harry. He knew that they could do it. After all, Lily Evans wasn’t top in Charms for nothing.
He only hoped that she and their son could live a happier life after this. One full of the best birthdays and celebrations. Where Harry could grow up loved, despite only having one of his parents around.
Perhaps Lils could reconcile with her family and Harry could grow up with their son who, if James remembered correctly, was the same age as him. Petunia had married someone Durklee, and maybe the war would end and everything could be good again.
Maybe this was far-fetched but as the world flashed green, optimism was a good thing, wasn’t it?
He wanted to wish only the best for his family.
James was certain that Lily Potter and Harry Potter would live a happy life.
Certain.
A scream of ‘Avada Kedavra’ was heard from up the stairs by Lily and Harry. The commotion had woken her son up and she could tell he was scared so she picked him up and cradled him.
The redhead knew she didn’t plan to leave. She couldn’t imagine a world in which she would run away from James. Merlin, pre-fifth year her would be horrified to learn that fact.
But as she heard footsteps looming closer, she only pulled Harry close and whispered as many comforting words to him.
She wasn’t sure whether they were supposed to comfort herself too.
Or were they apologies?
After all, this wasn’t just her life she was throwing away, was it? By staying, she risked having all three of them killed.
But a world without James was a world she did not want to live in. A world with a reminder of the man she lost growing up in front of her seemed so hard to live in.
It was selfish, Lily knew that.
But, surely, that was allowed in a moment like this. One that, despite their (what was now fruitless) planning, they had never expected. She knew both of their wands were down the hallway.
But as she placed Harry back down her crib, she still stood in front of it, warily looking towards the door.
“Harry, Mama loves you. Dada loves you.” she whispered. She couldn’t panic. Harry would be able to tell and he would panic too.
There was a theory Lily had started back in her sixth year that there was a way to counter a killing curse. Of course, there was no way to confirm her ideas as no one in their right mind would use an unforgivable curse (even if it was for the sake of learning).
She had theorised that a charm or act so pure could neutralise something so dark.
Death.
Well, really it was the sacrifice part she was thinking. Plus a charm that she could hopefully cast without her wand.
She didn’t know. And Lily hated not knowing something. It wasn’t something that books or people could answer. All she could do was hope.
Lily could save her son but not herself. And that was okay. Other people could care for him. Perhaps Mary would come back to look after him. Or Remus would raise him. She knew someone she loved would.
As the world flashed green for a second Potter, she wasn’t scared.
Harry would grow up knowing his parents loved him and with people who loved him just as equally.
That was if her theory worked at all. And all she could do was hope it would.
James died to save the people he loved.
Lily died because she couldn’t live without the person she loved.
Harry survived because of their love.
But that didn’t mean that Harry Potter thrived afterwards. No.
Perhaps some higher being had decided that the love he received on that day was way too great to continue receiving such great and kind emotion. That maybe the next ten years of his life were to be miserable despite all of that.
Or maybe, no Potter was ever supposed to find happiness.