Well, this is my first attempt at a story.

This has been posted for a while, but I'm editing it further and considering making it into a full length story. Obviously, this is the end, but there's a whole lot of living that these guys did that wasn't told. If anybody reads this, I'd like some feedback on the structure. I have a ton of scenes planned out, but they don't read like a story, exactly. Heck, if I were to try to make a story connecting all of the scenes, I'd need seven books to do it too! It'd be more like a one-shot train.

I had originally written this before Pottermore came about, and from the information I had, I thought it was canon. I've changed it so it is again, and the rest of the story would be equally so.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is likely coincidental.


The small Muggle street is quiet. The only sounds are the scuff of their feet against the pavement and the soft brush of their coats against one another as they walk, shoulder to shoulder, down to the last house. When they reach the gate in front of the quaint structure, the smallest figure lets out a harsh breath—the sound is broken and jarring in the stillness. Hands clutch hers from both sides, and she gives them both a grateful squeeze.

"So this is it." Her voice is low, tearful.

The men turn to each other. At his brother's raised eyebrow, dark waves are thrown back with studied nonchalance. "Two bed, two bath, two floors. Haven't we been over this already, Flower?"

She manages to crack a watery smile. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?"

"At least once more, darling." His voice is mocking, and his blue eyes glint with mirth at this old game.

The mood sobers quickly as they all realize that chance may never come. James clears his throat suddenly. "Come on then, it's getting late. Let's check it."

Sirius bounds past, the dimple reappearing in his cheek, eager to go inside. James follows, eyes sparkling behind his glasses. Halfway to the door, he turns automatically to carry Lily over yet another threshold, as is their tradition, only to find she hasn't moved a muscle.

"Lils?" he asks, confused, "You coming?"

She shakes her head no, knuckles white on the fencepost. She begins to speak, but stops, seemingly unable to find the words.

"Yea," James says, voice hoarse with emotion, "I know."

He ducks out of sight, joining Sirius in ensuring the house is as expected. He finds Sirius lighting the hall lamps.

"For some reason, the idea of going into hiding frightens Lily more than anything else." James's voice is quiet, defeated.

"It makes it real." And for once, Sirius's voice matches his name. "He," it comes out a hiss, "really is coming for Harry, and Merlin knows Lily is nothing if not over-protective. She's coming to grips with the idea of not fighting, of hiding, mate-"

"We both are!" His voice drips with frustration, despite its hushed tone, "but I've never seen her like this. I—Merlin, I can't lose her, Sirius. Not now…"

"If there is one thing I've learned about Lily Evans over the years, mate, it's that she hates change. You remember she threw a fit third year when they changed dormitories?"

James is unable to hold back a chuckle at the mental picture of his wife in a teenage rage.

"Exactly! She'll pull through. This little place might even do her some good. Out of the fighting." Sirius lets out a barking laugh. "Hell, both of you, even! You'll even have a separate room for the baby when he comes…" he trails off suggestively. James punches his arm, but can't stop the grin on his face. Indeed, Headquarters is crowded, and the few other Order members with young children share a room with them. The old friends lean against the wall in companionable silence for a moment.

"It'll be strange without you, Padfoot." It becomes clear from James's earnest tone that they are prepared for a long separation. "You'll have to have Pete bring you round once everything settles."

Sirius steps forward, pulling James into a fierce hug. "A Hungarian Horntail couldn't keep me away."

"We may have to invest in a guard-dragon so you can prove that, Sirius." Lily stands in the doorway, hand on her bulging stomach. The men release each other, clearing their throats and shuffling their feet, embarrassed at the display of affection. James steps forward, wand out, muttering about checking the nursery, tactfully giving Lily time to say goodbye to their fondest friend. Lily watches the center of her little family go with an irrepressible half-smile on her face, as the tears finally spill over to track down her face.

Sirius has her in his brotherly embrace in an instant, holding her from the side so as to avoid her stomach, never quite comfortable around pregnant women. "Lils, come on," his voice is pleading, "you'll be safe here. All of you." His words don't have the desired effect, and she lets out a sob.

"We will. But what about you? And Remus?" She pulls back, face pinched with worry, "And Alice and Frank, little Neville. And Mary and Peter and Benjy and Emmeli-"

"Lily!" Sirius cuts her off sharply. "You can't worry about everyone."

She stares up at him stubbornly, chin jutting out in a way that hasn't changed since they met at eleven. Sighing, he tries a different tactic. He gestures rather awkwardly to her stomach, "You have a little boy in there that needs you. You, more than anyone. Everyone else can take care of themselves. Your family should be your only concern right now."

The baby gives a sudden kick as she finishes speaking, and she can't help but laugh a little. She grasps Sirius' hand, laying it on the side of her stomach, and this time she can feel a little hand pressing on her side. His eyes go wide with wonder at the movement.

"He agrees." Sirius' voice is quiet, not quite achieving its usual levity, stilled by the tactile knowledge of the little life before him. Lily's face had twisted oddly at Sirius looking so raw, so young, the sight pulling at her maternal heartstrings. Nodding, she lets out a long breath, tilting her head up to face Sirius, a more usual expression on her face. Before she could speak, James reappears on the stairs. He holds up his wand, and without a word they troop out to the gate.

"You'll send Pete back?" James queries.

"Of course." The accompanying eye roll belies his choked voice.

Out of the blue, Lily launches herself at Sirius. Arms around his neck, twisted awkwardly to the side to accommodate her stomach, she whispers a thank you, for everything he's done for them. Kissing his cheek she pulls back, wiping at her own. "You're always welcome here. Always," she adds. Still swiping at traitorous tears, she steps back to allow James access to his brother in all but blood.

No words necessary, the men clasp arms over their infamous Marauder tattoos, embracing briefly with their free hands.

No one says anything as Sirius steps back, out of the white picket fence, preparing to Disapparate. As he turns, he speaks suddenly, with a cheeky wink. "G'bye Prongs. Lilyflower." And then he's gone, before she can protest.

James reaches for her hand and holds it to his lips as they laugh. Moments later, Peter appears outside the gate, nervous as ever. He babbles momentarily about the Order and the difficulty of the spell they are about to perform, slowly realizing that the couple is not in the mood to talk.

When he finally falls silent, Lily takes out her wand. "On the count of three?" Both men nod, and they all pointed their wands towards the heavens.

"One, two, three-"

"Fidelius!"

They speak in unison, and a ghostly wash of white momentarily lights the yard. They hear the door creak open next door, and Peter Disapparates with a pop. The neighbor shuts the door to the October chill, muttering about "damn kids"- clearly unable to see them.

Lily blinks at the other house for a moment, shocked that the spell had worked so well. Turning to James, she slips her arms around his neck as he hoists her pregnant frame into his arms, heading for that last threshold. Once inside the door, Harry kicks again, right into his father's palm, seeming to know that they are finally, apparently, safe.

Less than two years later, they are both dead, and their son bears a scar.

Lily never did get to reprimand Sirius for calling her by that nickname again.


Hope that wasn't too depressing for anyone. I altered it to keep up with new information I found about the Potters and going into hiding, which actually fits with my original concept. Technically, Lily could have reprimanded Sirius for calling her that, as they see him at least once after going into hiding and she sends him letters, but to keep my dramatic last line, she didn't.

If you've read this, I would love it if you'd drop me a line, even if it's "You suck." Like I said, I'm considering writing a full story, and I'll probably do it whether anyone responds or not, but if you were to give my some feedback… well, that'd be pretty thrilling.