hero

[And as she fell to the ground, the last workings of her magic complete, she wondered if this was what it was like to be a hero. If it was, it was a horrible feeling. She didn't think anyone should be a hero ever again.

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!"

As she ran up the stairs, her baby boy wailing in her arms, her heart was pounding as loudly as her feet against the hard wood. As she reached the second story landing, even as she dashed into Harry's little room, she heard the sound of Death itself; he stood in her living room and he laughed, high and cold, and then -

"Avada Kedavra!"

She squeezed her eyes shut, clasping the tiny body in her arms closer and closer to her chest, trying to take that tiny little baby back into herself, to keep him safe, to keep him whole and warm, to make sure that that tiny heart would go on beating - and she screamed, because maybe if she screamed loud enough, James would come back from death itself to save her...to save their little boy...

Still desperately clutching the baby, she pushed anything she could before the door. Size and weight were no obstacles; she must live, and if she had to die then her child would not suffer the same weight...if she could just put the dresser - the boxes - the endtable - the rocking chair, all of it in front of the door, then everything would be alright...

There was a flash of light and a barrage of noises as her poorly made barricade came tumbling down, and then there Death stood in her doorway.

At the sight of him, she dropped Harry into his crib, pushing his small blue blanket into his tiny fat fists, and then she turned. He still stood there, watching her, and she threw her arms wide in some kind of desperate attempt to shield her son, her baby boy...let him take her, as long as he would leave her son...

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"

"Stand aside, you silly girl...stand aside, now."

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead - "

"This is my last warning - "

"Not Harry! Please...have mercy...have mercy...Not Harry! Not Harry! Please - I'll do anything - "

"Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!"

And as she watched, his face twisted and his wand was raised high.

She saw his mouth form the curse, but the sound never reached her ears. All she was aware of was her baby in the crib behind her, and the knowledge that she had done enough. She felt the last strands of the spell slip from her lips, knew her Harry, her child, was safe for now, safe at last...

And as she fell to the ground, the last workings of her magic complete, she wondered if this was what it was like to be a hero. If it was, it was a horrible feeling. She didn't think anyone should be a hero ever again.