Part One

Diagon Alley flowed with a small but steady stream of witches and wizards, dressed warmly to ward off an unusually cold December day. Though the sky was clear and the sun was shining, they walked quickly, avoiding one another's eyes and going about their business with curt, clipped greetings. An atmosphere of apprehension seemed to have settled over the entire street, a cloud of fear that manifested itself in worried faces that were punctuated with frowns and anxious glances. Christmas cheer seemed absent; it could have been any time of year but for the decorations that graced the storefronts.

A young couple made their way down the street, watching warily for signs of danger. A man with round glasses and messy black hair scanned the buildings around them, while a woman with brilliant green eyes and red hair pulled back with a clip watched the crowds, searching for threats.

"This is ridiculous," muttered James Potter, shaking his head as he glanced up at a second story window, certain he had seen a pair of ominous eyes watching them. A calico cat poked its head through the curtains, and he sighed in frustration. "It's become a chore to simply walk down the street!"

"These are dangerous times," replied his wife, Lily, with an understanding look. "We have to be ready for anything. It's part of our job as Order members, after all."

James kicked at an offensive stone on the sidewalk and sighed. "I miss the way it used to be when I was a kid—friendly, open, and safe."

Lily nodded and slipped her arm through James's elbow. She could feel the tension in his muscles, from both irritation and vigilance. She smiled slightly to herself as she idly rubbed her stomach, certain James would soon forget about the troubled state of the wizarding world, if only for one night.

Still linked together, they made their way toward the end of Diagon Alley, remaining alert as they had been trained by the Order. They were heading for Muggle London, to one of Lily's favorite restaurants. Lily knew James would have preferred to remain in Diagon Alley; though it was hardly safer than the rest of the city, at least he could use magic openly should anything happen. With a sly smile and a subtle lie, Lily had convinced him to step out for one night, one Christmas date. It wasfor a special occasion, just not the one he was expecting.

As they left one world and stepped into the next, Lily felt James tense once more. Her own heart sped up in response, though she could not pinpoint the exact reason. James seemed to have a sixth sense about danger, and she had quickly learned to trust it.

Her anxiety increased as they turned the corner onto a narrow, cobblestone street. The sky seemed darker; glancing up, Lily saw heavy grey clouds through the close-knit rooftops of London. A brisk wind began to blow, bringing with it an icy chill and an evil stench.

"James, maybe we should go back. We can go out another time." Lily glanced around, her hand once more moving to her stomach, this time protectively.

"Too late," James grimly replied, stopping abruptly. He pointed toward the end of the shadowy road, where five hunched figures stood menacingly on the cobblestone pavement and began to advance toward them. As they drew closer, Lily saw that they were Inferi, grotesque bodies reanimated by Dark Magic to do Voldemort's bidding.

Lily grabbed her wand from the pocket of her robes and cried, "Expecto Patronum!" A sleek silver doe shot forth and floated nearby. She murmured quick instructions and sent it find help from the Order. James nodded approvingly as he took out his own wand.

"Quick thinking, since someone must be controlling them," he approved, and cast a Patronus as well. A large stag burst from the end of his mahogany wand, its head lowered as it readied to charge. Instead of sending it away, James directed it toward the Inferi, forcing the ghastly creatures away from them with its bright, shining light. "Let's go," he said, slowly backing toward the other end of the narrow street.

Lily turned and gasped. A large cloaked specter had silently appeared behind them, hovering in the air. The street seemed to grow darker and colder, and Lily felt her breath choking in her throat. She could hear the faint echoes of distant screaming and crying and knew the creature in front of her was a Dementor, forcing her to relive the painful memories of her parents' death. She fell to her knees, clutching at her stomach as she closed her eyes against the dreadful fear threatening to send her spiraling into panic. It vaguely occurred to Lily that she had not heard of any Dementors leaving Azkaban; either it was a rogue or Voldemort now had Ministry sources able to control the Dark creatures and send them to battle.

Through a dim haze of pain, Lily heard James shout for his Patronus. Then a pair of warm arms encircled her and turned her face up to his. She opened her eyes to see the silver stag facing down the Dementor now stalking them. James conjured fire and sent it toward the Inferi, then knelt next to her, looking concerned yet determined and strong. She suddenly felt ashamed to have succumbed so quickly to the Dementor's effects. As her breathing slowed down, she gave him a reassuring nod. He took her hand and helped her stand.

"This way," he said as he led her slowly toward a short sidestreet, concentrating on restraining the black phantom as well as the Inferi now following them. Lily knew it must be taking a tremendous effort for him to be holding back so many of the evil creatures, but before she could conjure a second Patronus, there was a sound from behind them.

"I don't think so, Potter," sneered a cold voice from the sidestreet. Lily whirled around and found herself face to face with a tall, hooded man in a Death Eater's mask. Though she could not see his face, she recognized the voice: Lucius Malfoy. She shivered as the Dementor moved closer, the silver stag struggling to keep it at bay as James's concentration was momentarily broken. He nodded to her as he turned back to the Dementor and dreadful Inferi, and she nodded in understanding: they would work as a team. She prepared to face Malfoy.

Lily fired a quick Stinging Hex at the Death Eater, which he easily repelled. Stepping forward onto the cobblestones, he fired a Body Bind Curse at her, which she blocked with a Shield Charm. More spells were cast, lighting the dark street with bolts of red, blue, and purple as James continued to guide his Patronus against the Dementor. He conjured more fire to push back the Inferi.

"Incarcerous!" hissed Malfoy, sending white ropes to bind her. She jumped aside, slicing at the ropes with a Severing Charm. Before she could regain her balance and retaliate, he sent a second jet of red light toward an unsuspecting James.

"James!" she shouted, and sent a spell racing toward her husband. It knocked him to the ground just as the red beam flew through the space where he had been standing. It struck a nearby stonewall and sent bits of rock flying into the alley.

Malfoy turned furiously on Lily and began to move closer, his hand pointed menacingly at her chest. Behind her Lily felt the cold breath of the Dementor again, until James jumped up and forced it backwards once more. Her heart racing, Lily edged away until she was back to back with her husband again, wand raised against the Death Eater pursuing her.

"I don't think you'll be able to muddle your way out of this one," taunted Malfoy, and Lily could imagine the malicious grin behind his dark mask.

"We've faced worse," James threw over his shoulder, struggling with the effort of maintaining his Patronus against the Dementor while still holding back the Inferi. Malfoy laughed, hollow and cold.

"I don't think you have, Potter." He raised his other hand to touch the Dark Mark on his forearm, and Lily felt her heart drop. "Not this time."

At one end of the street appeared three more Death Eaters, black cloaks closing off all hope of escape. Behind them stood a tall, dark shape, red eyes glowing beneath the hood of his robes. He pushed back the hood and stared at them, thin lips twisting into a cruel grin.

"Going somewhere, Mrs. Potter?"

At that moment, Lily knew they were dead. They had escaped Voldemort twice before, but the look in his red eyes told her that he was not going to make the same mistakes again. He was not there to turn them, gather their power to his growing ranks; he was there to kill them, and she saw her death in his eyes.

Lily felt James glance over his shoulder at the new threat, before he looked directly at her. His face was still defiant, though she could see his exhaustion. He gave her a small smile and a nod to continue fighting; yet before she could, she had to tell him her secret.

"James," she whispered, trying to keep her eyes on the advancing Death Eaters even as he continued to concentrate on the Dementor. "I have to tell you something."

"Now?" he breathed back, edging closer.

"If we don't make it—" she began.

"We'll make it," James interrupted fiercely. "Help is on the way."

Lily could feel his stubborn hope, and tried to share it, but they were surrounded by a Dementor, several Inferi, four Death Eaters, and the Dark Lord himself, and she knew the odds were difficult at best, deadly at worst. Whatever happened, she wanted him to know, so that she wouldn't regret not telling him in time. She hadn't anticipated telling him as they fought for their lives, however, and the words were difficult to find.

"James," she finally blurted, "I'm expecting."

"Expecting what?" he whispered back, completely misunderstanding her. In spite of the danger that surrounded them, she couldn't help but shake her head and laugh.

"A baby," she managed to gasp out between nervous giggles. "I'm pregnant."

James's wand arm fell, and the silver stag faltered. Lily shouted a warning as the Dementor moved closer; she could hear more cruel laughter from the Death Eaters as they spread out to surround them.

"What?" he asked in a stunned voice, and a sudden burst of power restored the silver stag, which shook its antlers and began to force the Dementor away with renewed vigor. "You're having a baby?"

"We're having a baby, yes," she whispered back and threw him a small smile. The Death Eaters moved closer even as the Dementor was forced back. The Inferi shrank from the light of James's glowing Patronus. "This summer." Although it was not how she had planned to share the happy news, she still felt the giddiness of it fill her, and tears sprung to her eyes as James grinned. He leaned back and kissed her soundly, and she laughed again, momentarily forgetting the dire situation they were facing.

Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and fell to the ground, landing hard on the cobblestones. Warm blood began to seep through her robes, and she rolled awkwardly to her uninjured side, biting her lip in pain.

"No!" James cried, and released his Patronus to fight on its own as best as it could. He spun fiercely toward the Death Eaters and took down two with one spell as he stood in front of Lily, protecting her from further harm. Lucius Malfoy moved away for cover, firing spells in return, which James repelled with his Shield Charm.

Two more Death Eaters Apparated into the street behind them. "You will not escape this time!" snarled Voldemort, advancing on James while firing a vicious Reductor Curse. James barely parried it aside, his exhaustion beginning to show. Lily tried to stand and join the fight.

"Stay down!" James shouted, but she shook her head, determined to do her part in protecting their unborn child.

"You should really listen to him more, you know," said a familiar voice behind her. "Most proper wives do." With a gasp she turned and saw Sirius Black drawing his wand, while Remus Lupin chased away the grim Dementor with a shining silver Patronus. Marlene McKinnon appeared and threw more fire at the Inferi. Down the street, Gideon Prewett Apparated in with Alastor Moody and immediately began firing on the four remaining Death Eaters.

"Nice of you to join us," snapped James. "Going to help or are you just here to watch?"

Sirius winked and threw himself into the fray, immediately knocking one Death Eater unconscious before turning on Lucius Malfoy. Gideon dueled with the other two Death Eaters while Moody took on Voldemort. James nodded, then took off his scarf, muttered, "Portus," and thrust his makeshift Portkey into her hands.

"What are you doing?" she asked in bewilderment, her shoulder throbbing. Her free hand, however, cradled her belly as it had so many times that evening.

"Sending you to St. Mungo's," he replied tensely, ducking as a stray bolt of blue light raced over his head.

"Sorry about that!" cried Sirius, a bit too whimsically. "I'll get him this time!" He cast a powerful jet of purple light at Lucius Malfoy, and the Death Eater went down clutching his leg.

"James, it's almost over, and I'm fine," Lily protested. "We'll go together as soon as—"

James silenced her with a passionate kiss, a favorite tactic of his when she argued with him. His hands came to her face, and he gazed seriously into her eyes. "Please," he said softly, and Lily's eyes widened in surprise, for he didn't often use the word. "I want you to be safe—I want our baby to be safe."

She could only nod, her throat too tight to argue with the look of concern on his face. His hand moved down to her stomach as he kissed her forehead. "I'll follow as soon as we're done here."

Lily nodded again as she felt the unmistakable pull of the Portkey begin to tug her toward her destination. "Be careful," she called as the battle began to disappear. "I love you."

"I love you, too," James replied, sounding distant. "Both of you."

With one last smile, Lily felt herself whisked off to St. Mungo's.

Author's Note:

This story does not follow any sort of continuity with my other James and Lily stories. In fact, I'm working on one set in the same time period that is quite, quite different. I just love playing in the Marauder Era sandbox.

This story was actually written in 2007 while I was pregnant with my daughter. It was called 'Expectations' back then and I had hoped to write all nine months of Lily's pregnancy. Owing to the demands of a newborn, I never finished it and finally abandoned it. However, I really liked the first two chapters and felt like they would make a nice pairing at the holidays, so I reworked them as a two-shot to fit canon a bit better. I'll post part two tomorrow.

Many thanks to my original beta, Snape's Secret/Snape's Talon, for not only the initial poke to write this story back but her beta work as well! Any mistakes in this revised edition are my own.

Happy Christmas in July!