Authors Note: This story has many things that don't go along with the canon, as you shall see once you start reading, but I promise everything will be explained further along. Hope you enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of J.K Rowlings original characters that I use in this story.
James Potter sat on his red couch with his 4 year old son sitting on the floor in front of him. He was drawing in one of the muggle colouring books Lily's parents had gotten him. His father smiled, looking at the boys crayons that were sprawled out all over the black coffee table.
James watched his adorable child bite his bottom lip as he eyed his work, much like Lily would when working on a new potion or charm. He would then stick his tongue out in concentration and begin coloring, a clear imitation of his father.
Kaydon Potter had an equal amount of both his parents traits. In his looks, it was as if someone had mixed their faces together perfectly. From James hazel eyes and Lilys petite nose, he was the perfect combination of both. Although as he grew older his attitude and thinking process was becoming much more like his fathers.
A flash of blue light in the corner of his eye made James turn his gaze away from his oldest son. He looked up to find the familiar doe patronus looking at him with wide eyes. She cocked her head to the stairs and vanished a moment after.
Strange, James thought as he stood.
He ruffled kaydons hair as he stood and told him he'd be right back, making his way up the stairs of Godrics Hollow.
"Lily?" James called as he reached the top.
He didn't receive a reply and acting on pure auror instinct, he pulled his wand into his hand, trying not to panic. Knowing she had come up with their youngest son Harry, he rounded the corner that led straight to the nursery.
Though he found himself smiling as he reached the room, catching sight of his wife cuddled with a sleeping Harry on the rocking chair next to his crib. He strapped his wand back into his arm band with a happy sigh. James looked at the his baby sleeping peacefully and quickly realized the reason behind Lilys silence.
Lily looked up at hearing the fast footsteps and grinned at how handsome her husband was when he smiled. It was a rare sight these days. Voldemort was at large and the war against the light and dark was raging on. And as an auror James was right in the middle of it. He had been on more missions in the last 4 months then he had the whole of last year and the raids were happening every night it seemed.
James stepped closer to his wife and child, his hand falling naturally to Harry's head as he leaned over to kiss his little nose. He pulled back to look into his wife's green eyes while his hand still caressed his sons raven locks.
"What is it my dear?" He whispered.
"I know it's late, but would you mind going to get a few things from the apocrathy for me? I'm feeling a bit under the weather, plus I just got him down and I'm out of a lot of potions that I need before monday." She sighed and looked at her husband with her eyes wide and pleading.
James just laughed and kissed her on the nose as well.
"No need for the puppy eyes darling, your wish is my command." He playfully bowed chuckling at himself.
Lily giggled as loud as she could without waking Harry, her grin never seemed to falter when James was around.
Her laugh had always been something James absolutely loved. As soon as the sweet sound reached his ears he was filled with so much happiness he thought he'd burst.
James leaned over his son and kissed her gently on the lips.
"You're too kind my love." She whispered against his lips.
"Only for you." He whispered back and pressed their lips together again.
"Take Kaydon with you? He's been cooped up all day." His wife asked when their kiss had ended.
Pulling back with a smile James kissed his sons head and looked into his beautiful wifes eyes.
"Oh alright, only because I love him." He winked.
Lily laughed and swiped at his arm, causing James to grin on victory yet said I love you to both of them and put Kaydons holloween mask on.
Once outside the fence which marked the ending of his wards, James pulled up his hood to hide his face and aparated to diagon alley with his son in his arms.
Almost an hour later of trying to find the five potions Lily needed, Kaydon asked if they could look around the quiditch shop. James grinned and more than happily agreed. After ten minutes of looking around and buying a pack of quiditch cards, they were finally on their way home.
James jumped and almost lost the potion viles he was holding when a loud siren rang through the air. The sound was shrill and wavy, like a muggle fire truck but with more screeching. James knew the sound to be the alarms that every auror had on their broom, to alert everyone of possible life threatening danger.
Looking up he watched as at least twenty aurors flew above him. He quickly looked down, feeling his pant leg being pulled. Kaydon was shaking, looking up at him with a terrified expression.
James maneuverd the bag to his left hand, picking up his son with his right and securing him with that same arm. He looked towards the sky again and watched with dread as the aurors flew closer to the street his house was on.
When they made the left turn towards Godrics Hollow, something snapped in James as he dropped the apocrathy bag to wrap both his arms around Kaydon and ran as fast as he could.
James heart was beating erratically, wildly fighting to break out of his chest. Following the aurors around the corner, he felt his heart stop altogether.
"No..." James let the word out in a whisper, shaking his head with wide eyes as he looked ahead.
Just a few houses away was their home, burning fiercely to the ground, with aurors all over the lawn and street. He faintly heard his sons whimpers and tried to soften his hold on the boy, having gripped him for dear life at the sight that greeted them.
James entire body began to shake as he willed his legs to move. His slow unsteady steps soon turning into a full out sprint towards their burning home.
Not bothering to be polite about it, James pushed his way through the onslaught of aurors, sheilding his sons head as he got closer to the flames. He couldnt breathe, and his vision was blurring.
He stopped and looked around at all the people standing on his lawn, some putting out the fire, others barking out orders.
Familiar red hair caught his eye and his heart skipped a beat as he walked closer towards it. Forr that tiny momment, James thought everything was going to be okay. As the redhead came into full view, he could make out the womens slightly plump body, covered in an odd flower dress and his heart plummeted.
Mrs. Evans was standing on the sidewalk a couple feet away from the fence, in the comforting embrace of a very distraught looking Dumbledore.
"James!" The old man gasped upon seeing him.
Mrs. Evans turned around and let out a tortured sob as she took the now crying Kaydon from his father's grasp.
James could see it then.
The look of complete and utter despair that was so evident on her face. The despair and heartbreak only losing someone could provoke.
He slowly backed away from the grieving group, not even noticing his two best friends and father standing among them. Before he knew it, James was running straight towards his front door, determined on saving his wife and child.
He was just a few feet away when strong arms encircled his body, holding him in place.
"What hell are you doing!?" James shouted histarically. "Let me go! My family is in there!" He thrashed against the tight grip.
"James! You can't go in there! Calm down! You need to get away from the flames!"
James noticed the voice as his best mate, Sirius. Not that it mattered though, all James was focused on was getting to his wife and son. With a howl and strength only adrenaline can give you, he ripped out of Sirius fierce grip. He turned around to face his oldest friend, grabbing his collar with both hands.
"Where are Lily and Harry!?" He screamed over the roaring fire.
Sirius face showed only heart break as he tearfully yelled back, "Their gone James! The Dark Lord was here, he killed them both!"
James swore he could hear it.
The crunching, the splitting, the shattering of his own heart. He couldn't breathe as he clutched at his aching, burning chest. He began to shake his head as he sunk down onto his now charred lawn.
Gasping for air he put both hands on the floor. He closed his eyes and shook his head so feircly he could feel his brain rattle.
He couldn't believe it.
He wouldn't believe it.
Lily was fine. His red headed beauty was just fine and their beautiful baby boy was alive. They were alive, they had to be alive, his family was fine.
He could faintly hear his name being called from behind, but he didn't care. James slowly stood and walked purposely towards his destroyed home. His hand was just about to touch the doorknob when his body went stiff with the tingling sensation of a spell hitting his back.
Tears streamed down his face as he began to fall backwards. The image of his last moments with his family just an hour ago replaying in his head, as his vision went black.