"Three Wishes"
James darted up as the door was blasted from its hinges. He yelled for Lily to take Harry and go, quickly, he would hold off the Dark Lord as long as he could. For a moment, his young wife remained rooted to where she stood, their son clutched tightly in her arms as she stared at him. Her green eyes blazed, but he could detect no fear. There was only great love, for himself and the child who smiled still, unaware that death stood on his parents' doorstep. James smiled at Lily, trying and failing to say a million things with one glance, not the least of which was goodbye.
"James…" Lily whispered, tears choking her voice.
"Go!" he shouted again.
She whirled and fled from the room. James could just hear the stairs creaking as she ran up them and into Harry's nursery. It was amazing that the sound should catch his attention at such a time. But then, it seemed that since the Fidelius Charm descended over the little house, time had stopped. Or rather, it was that his family had stepped outside the rush of minutes and hours and were obliged to patiently watch them pass.
As James entered the chilly hallway and turned to face his enemy, he thought of Sirius and Remus and wished silently for their forgiveness for ever thinking that either of them would betray him. In the months leading up to the Fidelius, he had found himself growing wary of even his best friends. Someone had been passing information to Lord Voldemort - information that only the Potters' closest companions could know. James could remember well the bitter taste that had risen in his throat when Dumbledore broke the news. Anger had come next, followed by heartache and a brief sense of defeat. They could not give up. Harry had to be protected.
It was at his first glimpse of Voldemort that James remembered his wand, lying where he'd dropped it upon hearing the disturbance at the door. Cold red eyes glittered with malice, a macabre picture completed by the terrifying smile below.
How vain they had all been, to think the Dark Lord would not find them!
A lifetime passed in the seconds before Voldemort raised his wand. From upstairs, James could hear Lily screaming. He prayed for a miracle.
Please, let her escape. Let her get our son away from this place. Let my death bring about some good.
Outside, the wind was blowing. The laughter of children from the neighborhood echoed along the street as they made their way from house to house gathering candy. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked.
Take care of my family, Padfoot. They'll need you and Moony. Don't forget me.
As Voldemort uttered his death sentence, James remembered Peter. Their hastily chosen Secret Keeper, the one the Death Eaters would never suspect. The meek boy who basked in the popularity of his friends. In the end, it came as no real surprise that he was the traitor. Peter had always needed protection.
Poor, poor Peter. If only you had come to us. We would have looked out for you still.