A/N:
Written as an assignment for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
Task: Write about afterlife. Alternatively, write about rising from death.
Gringotts: British/Irish Trees: Silver Birch, Jupiter, Hornbeam; Flowers – Edelweiss. Forget Me Not, Lily; Noun – Garden, Monkey Bars, Swing, Slide, Flower, Tree; Adjectives – Blinding, Beautiful, Blooming, Bright, Happy, Young, Sweet, Talented, Quiet, Huge, Multicoloured; Homophones – Family
In The Garden
The blinding white light welcomed an unwilling James warmly to the beautiful and blooming garden.
It had ended in a flash of green, and now the young father had arrived in this new environment, to a place that he had never in a million years expected to be until well past his twilight years.
James turned around on the spot and soaked in his new surroundings. The garden was a bright and happy place, full of leafy green trees including but not limited to Silver Birch, Jupiter, and Hornbeam.
There were boxes lining one length of the garden. They were full of flowers from all seasons including Edelweiss, Forget Me Not, and his personal favourite Lilies.
At one end of the garden, there was an ever expanding play area, complete with multicoloured slides, swings and monkey bars, for the children who had been taken from their parents too soon.
James continued to observe his surroundings as he struggled to come to terms with the fact that he was dead; no longer with this sweet Lily, and son Harry. If he still possessed a physical body James was certain that he would have tears in his eyes.
He would never see his only son grow up into a talented wizard, never be able to teach him how to play Quidditch and develop into a Chaser almost as good as he was. He would never be able to impart advice to his son on girls, advice that he was sure Lily would have disapproved of.
On the thought of Lily, the Marauder muttered a quiet prayer, expressing his hope that Lily and Harry had managed to reach safety.
He felt such shame over not being able to defend himself, and protect his family against the dark wizard. Why had he thought it sensible to face up to Voldemort without his wand? Why had he even put his wand down in the first place?
The answer to his second question was clear; he had thought that they were safe. He had thought that he could trust Peter and that he was on their side.
Why had he listened to Sirius and allowed him to change his mind about making him the Secret Keeper? And more to the point, when did Wormtail fall in with the Death Eaters? It was the most incomprehensible scenario.
If I wasn't dead right now I would hunt the bastard down and kill him with my bare hands; I guess I will just have to leave that honour to Sirius, James thought to himself, as a familiar redhead appeared by his side.
"Lily," he gasped. "Is Harry okay? Is he safe? Did Voldemort get to our son?"
When his wife shook her head, James felt as though as huge weight had been lifted off his chest.
"He's safe my darling," Lily whispered, touching his translucent hand with hers. "I gave him the best protection I could – love."
James didn't need Lily to elaborate; the look in her eyes as she spoke to him told her everything he needed to know. She had done exactly the as he had; she had sacrificed herself for the sake of their son.
A/N:
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