I did not create Harry, James or Lilly Potter or Godric's Hollow. It is all thanks to Rowling that I can write this story.
Growing up in Godric's Hollow
-XLightfoot-
"James, James... Come read this quick! Oh, I can't believe it... James!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Harry's going crazy over his new broom."
"James, look at this." Lilly pressed the newspaper into James' hand and he immediately felt his blood go cold as his eyes flitted across the front page. He read it again just to make sure that he read correctly.
"The Longbottoms are dead?" He asked aghast, Lilly nodded and a tear escaped her eye. James didn't need Lilly's answer, on the front page a large photo of the Longbottom's house already did. The whole house had been blown apart and people scrambled about the picture as green flames ate at the rest of the house, in front of the house stood Professor Dumbledore holding a small bundle in his arms, a small tiny arm reached out from the bundle to play with Dumbledore's snowy beard.
James quickly read the first few lines. "Neville survived."
"What?" Lilly exclaimed grabbing the newspaper, her eyes darted this way and that as she read. When she finished she let out a relieved sigh.
"Oh, James, poor Neville," Lilly cried and James pulled her in close so that she could bury her head in his chest. "First his parents and now his grandmother! What on earth will happen to the boy next?"
James soothed his crying wife patting her head softly. Suddenly James felt something tug at his pants and he glanced over Lilly's head. A three year old Harry stared up at them with wide eyes.
"Why is mommy crying?" Harry asked rubbing his eyes, quickly thickening with tears. Harry always cried when Lilly did.
"Oh no honey, don't cry mommy is happy not sad," James lied. Lilly sat upright, immediately a feigned smile appearing on her face. James swept Harry into his arms and the toddler began to laugh heartily. The laughter seemed to be too much for Lilly who's smile wavered. James ruffled her hair.
"Harry, how about we go make some breakfast?"
"Yessss! Daddy, I want choc-eggs and... and... honey... and bacon," Harry laughed as James sped towards the kitchen. James could hear Lilly start to cry again and he quickly boomed, smothering the sound.
"Whoa now! You can't have everything... how about some choc-eggs, choc-frogs and a glass of milk?"
It worked Harry didn't seem to have heard. Instead Harry's face crumpled up in disgust.
"I don't want fwogs!" Harry yelled and James laughed boomingly.
"How about scrambled eggs and a piece of bacon, then?" James said still laughing. Harry looked thoughtful for a moment his brows disappearing underneath his black mass of unruly hair. Suddenly Harry nodded vigorously.
"Yes?" James asked and Harry nodded again. "Okay, breakfast is coming, sir."
James placed Harry on the kitchen counter before he grabbed a bowl and broke in a few eggs.
"Want to mix this for daddy?" James asked and Harry beamed grabbing the mixer excitedly. Harry immediately started to whisk the eggs a bit too exuberantly and James and Harry both were left covered in egg yolk. James laughed and Harry joined in.
"Thank you Harry, let me finish that up quickly," James said taking the eggs from harry and throwing them into the frying pan before flicking his wand and the yolk disappeared. Harry looked at James' wand in wonder.
"When do I get one?" Harry asked kicking his feet as he leaned in for a closer look. James ruffled his hair.
"Do you want one?"
Harry nodded excitedly, eyes growing large.
"We can go get you one later today," James promised and Harry glowed brightly as he jumped from the counter and ran back into the living room before James could stop him.
Mommy, mommy, guess what I'm getting!" Harry shouted as he ran.
James laughed heartily until Harry was out of the room then turned back to the stove his smile replaced with a frown.
– What could He have gained through killing the Longbottoms? – James wondered pointing his wand at the stove and the eggs began to scramble themselves. – What purpose could there be in killing an old witch? And why then leave the child alive? – No answers came to James and he made a mental note to head to the Order to get some answers... after he buys Harry a wand of course. A smile spread across James' face just as Lilly walked into the kitchen, an excited Harry sitting on her shoulders.
"Harry, here tells me we're going to buy him his first wand?" Lilly said raising an eyebrow and giving him the what-are-you-up-to-but-don't-answer-because-of-Harry look. James smiled broadly as he flicked his wand. Three plates emerged from the cupboard and placed themselves lightly onto the kitchen counter where the pan of scrambled eggs waited impatiently.
"Harry wants a wand and how am I to deny Harry the Mighty Wizard?" Harry beamed at James then leaned over his mother's head to peer at her face.
"You can be my howsy, if you like mommy? Daddy is my house elf," Harry said matter of factly and James swept into a low bow.
"Can Plopity, fetch master anything?"
Harry laughed as Lilly began to gallop around the kitchen like a horse. Harry used his finger as a pretend wand, he flicked his finger and James made the chair lift into the air. Harry yelped with pleasure.
"Okay, let's get some food into Harry the Mighty Wizard's empty stomach," Lilly said as she placed Harry into his chair and tickled his tummy. Harry's laughter filled the kitchen but it wasn't enough to hide the bang that erupted just outside the house. James and Lilly exchanged worried glanced. Hundreds of words passed between them, everyone to do with Voldemort and the Death Eaters. There was another bang as another person apparated next to the house.
"Take Harry to the safe room," James ordered and Lilly nodded. Harry was staring from James to his mother before Lilly picked him up and hurried upstairs. Harry's eyes bulged with fear as he took in the vibe suddenly enveloping the house.
James gripped his wand tighter and walked towards the front door as Lilly and Harry disappeared beyond the second floor landing. A door slammed and James took a deep breath. Flicking his wand James readied himself as the door flung open trying not to listen to Harry distraught shouting for his father.
"James, you wouldn't guess what I just heard."
"Actually, it was me who heard it but yeah, you wouldn't guess."
James stood frozen in place as two wizards stepped into his house. One had long black curly hair whilst the other had short cut blond hair and looked a bit haggard, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.
Lupin regarded James questioningly as both of them realised his defensive stance and pale face. James was still frozen in place, relief slowly drowning his body.
"James, you look like you've seen You Know Who himself," Sirius said.
Lupin laughed heartily. "If that was possible."
James at last gaining control of his body glanced at Lupin. "Why do you say that?"
Both wizards looked on the verge of exploding with excitement. "He's dead... You Know- Voldemort is dead!" Both of them said in unison as if they've practiced for hours. James stared at them uncomprehendingly.
"Come again?" James blurted.
Lupin laughed again. "James, Voldemort is dead. I can't believe it..."
"Yeah, who'd have thought the most powerful dark wizard of all time could be destroyed by a baby boy," Sirius piped in.
James was still trying to understand exactly what happened. "Can you both just tell me what's going on! How is Voldemort dead and what baby are you talking about?"
Lupin and Sirius exchanged glanced and as if wordlessly deciding who was going to tell the story Lupin opened his mouth to speak.
"Last night Voldemort attacked the Longbottom's house, he destroyed most of the house before coming upon Augusta and her grandchild, Neville. Augusta tried to protect Neville but Voldemort killed her with the Avada Kedavra Curse. He tried to do the same with the little boy but it backfired..."
"Backfired?" James asked aghast and totally lost.
Sirius beamed. "Somehow the killing curse rebounded, killing Voldemort instead."
James glanced at both of his friends' faces in turn trying to discern if they are making the sickest joke ever.
"Are you telling me Neville killed Voldemort?"
They both nodded smiling broadly. "Somehow. Can you believe it?" Lupin asked starting to laugh again.
Suddenly James leapt forward and hugged the two wizards then dashed up the stairs shouting all the way. Lilly who must have heard laughing and excited shouting instead of fighting was emerging from the safe room when James enveloped her and swung her and Harry in the air. Harry's eyes were read and puffy but now he laughed, seeing the joy on his father's face. Lilly on the other hand was staring at James questioningly. Sirius and Remus walked into the room and they joined the fray, jumping up and down, Sirius took Harry into his arms and ran around the room. Remus hugged Lilly tightly before grabbing James around the neck as if wrestling.
"What's going on?" Lilly suddenly yelled bringing everything to a stop, only Harry continued to laugh, Sirius' fingers working as they tickled Harry's ribs.
James grabbed Lilly into a tight hug and vigorous kiss before saying. "Voldemort is dead; he died whilst attacking Augusta's house."
For a moment Lilly stared in disbelief then, as she took in the wizards' faces, a wide smiled appeared onto her face and she too leapt, danced and laughed. James didn't know how long they celebrated in that room but it must have been more than an hour because it was twelve o'clock when they emerged from the house in Godric's Hollow and disapparated to Diagon Alley.
The whole alley was alive with celebrations. Wizards, witches and even house elves and goblins all laughed, and danced within the knobbly street. For years everybody had been living in fear and now that fear was gone, in one night.
Fireworks exploded in the air above the alley making Harry laugh as James, Lilly, Sirius and Remus joined the joyous fray. Even children who were too young to have known about Voldemort enjoyed their parents' sudden celebratory mood, running around the crowd laughing and yelling.
Countless wizards and witches came up to James and Lilly shaking their hands with exclamations of Voldemort is dead or You Know Who is gone! Other than that Neville's name had become well renowned over night. Everybody was talking about 'the boy who lived'.
"Are we going to buy my wand?" Harry asked whilst sitting on James shoulders hours after arriving in Diagon alley. James and Lilly exchanged hearty glances before trudging through the crowd towards Olivanders.
Olivander was standing in front of his shop talking happily to a group of wizards when James and Lilly arrived. Harry, who had insisted that he ride his howsy to Olivanders, was sitting now on Lilly's shoulders.
"James! Lilly! Wondrous day isn't it?" The old wizard shouted as they approached. James shook the man's hand vigorously and Lilly kissed his cheeks.
"It's sad about Augusta," Lilly said but Olivander waved it off.
"No time for sadness, dear, Augusta herself would have been the crown of the party if she were alive!"
James, Lilly and Olivander all broke out into laughter and Harry joined in, although he didn't know why they were laughing at all.
"So what brought you here?" Olivander asked leading them into his shop. James let out a self-conscious laugh.
"I promised Harry the Mighty Wizard, here, that I'll buy him a wand."
Harry beamed at the old man, who had glanced at him a little amused.
"Well I guess I can sort it out," Olivander said wincing at James and Lilly, "come along then Harry the Mighty Wizard."
Harry almost jumped from his mother's shoulders in excitement if James had not intervened in time. Olivander took Harry's hand and James pulled Lilly close as they watched him lead Harry down the rows of wands. Harry was talking animatedly, gesturing with his hands the length of the wand he wants and the strength – strong enough to lift a chair – he wanted it to be. Olivander listened with interest hmm and aha-ing as they walked.
James turned towards his wife and kissed her.
"What was that for?' Lilly laughed pushing James away reluctantly.
James beamed at her. "We're finally safe."
Lilly smiled warmly before leaning in for another kiss.