A Marauder To The Last

Part Four

James

"Finally, he's asleep."

Lily appeared in the doorway, smiling, and James patted the seat next to him. She flopped down on the couch, resting her head on his chest, and he draped his arm around her slender shoulders. "I've eaten so much candy tonight, I think I'm going to puke," he groaned, patting his distended stomach.

"Me too," she said with a laugh. "Although I don't think either of us can rival Peter. I'm surprised he was able to get home at all- he must have gained ten extra pounds!"

"And Sirius- he's thin as a rail; how does he keep all the cake in there? The laws of physics really shouldn't allow that. Do you think he accidentally ate a Vanishing Cupboard once?"

She chuckled, and then grew solemn. "I'm worried about Remus, James. If at all possible, he seems to be getting skinnier. Do you think he's all right, what with, you know, his- condition? And he's living all by himself in that little house..." Their fingers entwined, and James found himself suddenly glad for his own little house, safe with his little family in it. Leaning down, he planted a light kiss on the side of Lily's neck, his cheek brushing against her silk-soft red hair.

"I'll go check on him tomorrow," he promised. "Sirius was looking out for him, I think, but recently they've been acting very odd around each other. Tonight was fun, though. The Marauders, together once again-"

"-and as always, up to no good. I don't think the neighborhood children will ever be the same again." With a sigh, Lily pushed herself off the couch and shuffled towards the kitchen. "Would you like some tea?"

"Sure," said James, letting his eyes roam down her backside. Having Harry hadn't seemed to have affected her figure negatively; if anything, she was more beautiful than ever. He smiled appreciatively. It would be November in an hour or so, and the nights were getting cold. Tonight, though, he had his own personal fire-haired, emerald-eyed heater.

She returned a minute later with two steaming mugs, and he quickly leaned forward and arranged two coasters on the coffee table, before she could yell at him to do it. He received a kiss for his troubles.

Picking up the mug with the little cartoon stag on it, James sipped his tea and nearly dropped it. "Ow!" he exclaimed, setting the mug down. More scalding liquid splashed over his hands, and he jumped up, scorched tongue lolling like Padfoot's, shaking his hand in an attempt to relieve the burn. Lily looked at him reprovingly and tossed her crimson hair.

"It's tea," she told him. "It's supposed to be hot. It's always hot, you great bloody dolt." He looked at her sadly, and she relented. "Come; let's run it under some cold water." Taking his good hand in hers, she led him into the kitchen and turned on the faucet, letting the cold water soothe his burnt skin. She handed him a glass to drink from, and when he was finished, he stooped down to kiss her.

"What would I do without you?" he murmured, and she cocked one elegant eyebrow and murmured something very rude in his ear. He jerked back in surprise, and then smirked. "You've been spending too much time with Sirius, Lilypad," he said, flicking her nose, and scooped her up in his arms. She yelped and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Now, I estimate we have about two hours before Harry wakes up again," decided James with a smile. "Let's make the best use of our time, shall we?" He laid her down gently on the sofa and brushed a stray strand of hair from her freckled face. Suddenly shy, she lowered her eyelashes demurely.

"I need to lose a few pounds," she protested, crossing her arms over her chest. He uncrossed them. She pulled her shirt self-consciously over her stomach, and he lifted it up again, and kissed her navel. He loved it when she was like this, because it meant that he could watch her freckled cheeks grow warm with pleasure and embarrassment as he listed everything he loved about her.

"You and Harry are the best things that ever happened to me, and I don't want to lose a single bit of you- not even this," he added, pinching her love handles. She giggled and swatted his hand away, pushing herself into a sitting position..

"You win," she sighed, giving up the fight. "Let's-"

The door burst open, and framed by Halloween night was the face they had all come to fear: pale, proud, with bloodstone eyes and a cruel smile. James' stomach dropped, and both were on their feet in a second. Despite all of their precautions, he had come for them, for Harry- omniscient, omnipotent; everything they had worked for was moot.

"Lily, take Harry! It's him! Go! Run!" His own frantic voice sounded faraway, and the feeling was draining from his limbs, replaced with lead. He shoved his wife in the direction of stairs, and behind him, he could hear her breath heavy with fear as she stumbled up the steps towards their son, sleeping innocently in his crib. "I'll hold him off-" he faced Voldemort, thoughts kicking up to exam speed and past. He let them run on without bothering to check if they were right or not; they always were.

Peter had betrayed them to the Dark Lord, and now James was about to die. It seemed Sirius was wrong, after all: somehow, Voldemort had known that Peter was Secret-Keeper. Into his mind darted an image of the small man being tortured for information, blurting out his greatest secret, and then his back arching, mouth opening in a soundless scream as he was killed.

Poor Wormy. He always was weak, and the rest of them would pay for it. But Lily and Harry would be safe; he was sure of it. His family would live to vanquish Voldemort.

All these thoughts had passed in less than a second. James didn't even have time to speak a curse before a jet of green light tore him away and he collapsed limp, lifeless, to his living room carpet.