Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or "Moments" by Emerson Drive.
A/N this is just a short songfic about what might've happened if James wasn't there that fateful night and Harry hadn't survived. Please read and review
I walked along the road to a bridge. I knew what I had to do. Everything was gone. Everyone was gone. Everyone but the one who caused it all. Everyone but me. I had done everything in my power to stop it, but it hadn't worked. And now, I don't know what to do, and I don't really care.
A man crawled out of a cardboard box and followed me. I thought he wanted money. Well, I had a few muggle pounds on me. I wouldn't need them anymore. I handed him the money and he took it. But he followed me still. I finally looked at him with a question in my eyes, and he explained.
"You know, I haven't always been this way. I haven't always lived in a box. I used to have it real good. I was on top of the world. I had my moments. Yeah, I've had my moments, days in the sun. Everything was right; I had a loving wife, a nice house, a great job. I was second to none. I had moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do. Like that plane ride coming home from the war. The war that tore apart all my friends. I'm the only one left out of the group of 20 or so that enlisted. They're all gone, and I'm still here. But I came back, I came back because I had to. My wife was pregnant, she couldn't do it alone. That summer my son was born. That was the most amazing day of my life. And memories like a coat so warm, a cold wind can't get through. Lookin' at me now you might not know it, but I've had my moments."
I stared at the man. I was still bent on jumping, still wondering who would even care if I was gone, but the old man kept hanging around. Looking at me, looking down. I know he recognized the look in my eyes. Suddenly I felt ashamed. I knew I had to explain to this old man what had happened to me. As I talked the tears started to come, and for the first time, I let them.
"You know, I haven't always felt this way. I've had my moments, days in the sun. I was carefree and in love. Naïve and ignorant about the evils around me. First in my class too, second to none. All those times I did what I thought I couldn't do. I was an alcoholic you know? But one day she told me she said, "James I will not marry you until you control your drinking!" And you know what? I walked away from the wine for her, and we were married for 2 amazing years. She was perfect for me. I had a son too, Harry. He was a year old. But he took them from me, because I trusted the wrong person. Lookin' at me now you might not know it, but I've had my moments."
The old man surprised me then. "Voldemort," he whispered, "Yes, son, I understand this must be hard for you. But you've got to keep trying okay? You've got to try and stop him, do whatever you must, but you have to stop him. For your own sake."
I looked at him for the millionth time that night, but he just smiled and walked away. I know somewhere 'round a trashcan fire tonight, that old man tells his story one more time. He says,
"I've had my moments, days in the sun. Moments I was second to none. Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do. Like that cool night on the E. Street Bridge when a young man almost ended it. I was right there, wasn't scared a bit and I helped to pull him through. Lookin' at me now you might not know it. Oh, lookin' at me now you might not know it, but I've had my moments."