A/N: This was written as part of the "I'm about to die!" Challenge by A Sirius crush on Moony. I got the characters James Potter and professor Binns. Hope you like it, and as always, reviews are kindly wanted :)


Of Fallen Heroes

Prof. Binns

I have always grown up hearing fantastic legends about epic wizards, sublime battles that shook the entire world down to its core. Some of them are just myths, fairytales told to impress people foolish enough to believe in them. Or at least that's what I told my students.

Here at Hogwarts, I always pass my fingers on the walls in an attempt to caress the millions of stories they hold, but the air around them, the way they feel upon my touch… As old as they may be, even older than most of the facts I keep in my prodigious memory, they seem fresh, new. Alas, I'm thinking nonsense now. But the truth is, I envy them. The walls, the students, so full of energy, voracity and will to pursue whichever fate was placed upon them. I used to be like that, I used to believe in those myths, those lies…

But not anymore. I'm old. So old and scattered that any recklessness and fire that could have existed within me disappeared long ago. History and books caught me and even now tempt me, but what kind of marvelous adventure could I possibly live? My fate was to be an observer, learning everything about terrible yet impressive lives, but never to act. Every day, routine shapes my day, I don't dare giving myself a change, and every night I end up here, in the staff room, next to an almost extinguished fire like me, dwelling upon my thwarted dreams. How I wish for another chance! But life is not to be played twice, and it was too late when I realized I had never got out of my script.

The fire is dying, its ashes beckoning me to sleep. I'm bounded to this routine, to be a communicator. I'm tired now. How I wish for just one day into a hero's life, not this senseless play that has become mine! What wouldn't I give for just one moment out of this astonishment, this normal, boring life!

But it is too late now.

James Potter

He's come, Harry. He's here at our door and there's no coming back. Lily, take Harry, don't let him touch my only son. I'm sorry. Now Lily's gone upstairs, with Harry, and I'm left to face you. Why is everything so screwed up? Harry's just a baby and now you're taking everything away from him. You're taking my everything away. I'm not a coward, I've never been one. Me and Sirius, Lupin and Peter, we would have stood up against anything or anyone, and I'm a Gryffindor, I'll fight you!

But now I'm afraid, I've got something to lose. Sure, I've been a bit of reckless all my life, full of myself for all my little adventures, thirsty for more, but this is different. I would've never wanted to live this kind of adventure.

Darn. Why us? Lily's been a good girl all of her life, and Harry's just started, I was the reckless one, why are they dragged into this mess? I don't want to be a warrior anymore, I don't want this life full of risks anymore if that means putting them into risk, if that means losing them, but is there another option for me now? No, you've destroyed any slightest chance of an option I ever had.

I will face you, but I'm afraid. I know I will die as a hero, but I guess I never really wanted to be one. Why us? You raise your wand and a smirk creeps upon your face as you say the words. I don't want to be a bloody hero; I would give anything in the world for just one normal day as a father, a lover, a friend. I don't want this.

But it is too late now.