It was Hallows Eve when James Potter solidified the end of his existence and the beginning of a self-fulfilling prophecy. He was sure it was worth it in the end, regardless of how long he had left. Although he was assured he had years with his newborn son. He had begged and pleaded anyone to help him, reckless in his endeavors, he even went into the deepest pits of Knockturn Alley. Ultimately it was Sirius Black who had the answers he had so desperately sought after. Hesitant to give it, Sirius refused to give it up.
"Padfoot, please!" Begged James the air chilly and the wind unforgiving. He was exhausted and it showed in the depths of his eyes and the slump in his usual straight posture. "Lily and I tried everywhere, we even went to Snape for help. We've exhausted our resources. You promised that if I didn't find an alternative way, you'd help me." Sirius felt his best friends pain. Truly, he did. But what James wanted wasn't exactly easy to get, nor was it safe. James saw Sirius' hesitation and the pureblood heir almost gave way, unopposed to falling to his knees and begging for what he so desired. "Siri, please… We need this." He needed it. James had promised Lily Evans the world, and yet he could not even give her something so easily given and so thoroughly desired. A child. A son and heir of their own. Sirius ultimately relinquished his secret and although James was horrified to know the truth, that did not deter him from perusing his and Lily's greatest desire.
Rosedale, Mississippi. America. That is where James needed to go. At the intersection of Highways one and eight with four ritualistic items. A photograph of himself, graveyard dirt, the bone of a black cat, and Yarrow. All which needed to be buried at the center of the crossroads. Lily had pleaded to come and James had almost caved, if it were not for Sirius and Remus, he might have. And Sirius, being the man ever capable and most knowledgeable in Dark Arts, explained that if Lily went, it would be a sure cause for manipulation. After all, demons didn't care for human procreation, so why would they care if they manipulated an emotionally distressed woman to get what they want, or more so? They would surely try to bargain for their child's soul, after all.
Horrified at the prospect, Lily agreed to stay and gave her loving husband a heartfelt goodbye. She would see him in a matter of hours, she knew. But they were risking it all. They weren't just going to make a deal with a demon, they were ultimately selling their souls for it too. They were giving their life over to a tainted heart for the exchange of a pure one that would grow inside of Lily day by day for nine months and Lily did not second guess this deal. If it gave her a baby, she would happily exchange her life for his and James knew it. Because he would too.
The man he met was one of British descent, he was sure. Dark in color scheme but looked ultimately human nonetheless. "James Potter," uttered the Demon, breaking the tense silence that appeared between two strangers. "Crowley, King of the Crossroads… At your service. Would you like to make a deal?" Speechless, James remembered Sirius' warnings. Demons were sweet talkers, wendigo's in human skin. "Don't trust them, don't friend them. They'll sick a hound on you before your back is even turned, Prongs," Said Sirius, grey eyes weary with concern. "There's not one Devil, there's thousands, millions." "Yes, right, uh… My wife, Lily and I, we've been trying to conceive but… we can't. We've tried everything, from potions to… this. We're – both of us – prepared to deal away our souls for this. We just want a baby, a son." It was an easy deal, more or less. A get in and get out type. And even Crowley knew a good, easy deal when he heard one. "Fifteen years, Mister Potter. Fifteen years. That is how much time I will allow you. You will see your son's first steps, his first words, his first everything, relatively. However, you will not be there for his first love, his first marriage, his first child, his first home… Loss and gain, Mister Potter, which is more important to you?"
"You did it?" Lily replied, breathless with green eyes alight with excitement. "And it said yes? James, please! Please, don't be joking." "I'm not Lily-flower," Replied James, smile soft and eyes as loving as the gods could see. "He agreed. We… He gave us more time with him, our boy. He gave us fifteen years Lils! Fifteen years." Lily needed this, she wanted this and he could not betray her happiness. "Alas, I cannot fix your…equipment. However, I can give you an alternative. The child will be a mix of parental descent. He will be of yours and your wife, of course. But he will be of… Supernatural descent as well. He will Cambion. A half-human and half-demon creation. Of course, he will come off as human, while dealing with your sort they always do. It just appears as a sort of magical prodigy if you will." He had been originally hesitant to agree. If his son was part demon, did that mean he had half the soul? Was he impure? Would he be aggressive? Evil? Crowley reassured him that his son would be his son, regardless of lineage. It only mattered how he was raised, like any other human born, and James had no worries. He had planned on raising his son to the best of his ability, and then afterward, Sirius and Remus. His son would never be alone, he would never be ignored, neglected, abused… He would know love, he would feel love, and he would give love. He held his wife close, the gentle smell of apples filling his senses and reminding him of who his body was held against. "We did it, Lily… We have a son."