This is for the 2017 House Competition held by MoonlightForgotten.

Round 9

House: Gryffindor

Category: Drabble

Prompts:James and Lily's final night

Word count: 538

I do NOT own Harry Potter. This is merely a fanfiction.

James was flipping through the Daily Prophet for umpteenth time. Lily was sitting beside him and Harry was in front of them, playing with his toys.

"People are getting killed everywhere and I feel so useless being …" he caught himself before those words slipped out.

He feared that Lily would misunderstand what he meant. He wasn't frustrated about being with Lily and Harry. He loved them more than life itself. It was being cooped up in a place for more than year that frustrated him as it was against his adventurous and outgoing nature. Reading about the ongoing war and people dying only made him feel useless. He would have preferred to be out there fighting for the light side to make the place a safer place, not only for his family, but for society in general. He often felt guilty about these feelings, as he was after all cooped up for Harry's safety and Harry meant the world to him.

"I know it's been increasingly frustrating for you to be cooped up," said Lily.

"Was it that obvious?" James asked guiltily. He usually tried his best not to show it, but Lily was good at reading him.

"No, but I happen to know you like a book and I understand. But you're not alone in this," said Lily.

"I'm sorry Lily. I'm being selfish aren't I? You're cooped up here too," said James, clasping her palm. "It's not just being cooped up, but I …"

"Feel useless not being able to do anything while there's a war going on," Lily finished for him.

James smiled appreciatively Lily. He counted his lucky stars for having a wife who understood him that well.

"It's not just that, but I'm worried about Harry's future too. What kind of a future would our son have if he has to live in hiding for years? I'm even worried that he won't be able to attend Hogwarts," said James with a hint of distress in his voice.

"James …" Lily got up and put her arms around him. "Everything's going to be alright," she said as she laid her chin on his head.

"Unfortunately, nothing would be alright until Voldemort is vanquished," James pointed out.

"The Order is doing all they can to make sure he's gone. We'll get through this," she said.

"You really think so?" he asked hopefully.

"Absolutely," Lily said assuringly.

"Lily, what would I do without you?" James said, wrapping his arms around her arms that were around him.

"Crash and burn," she teased.

"You're probably right about that one," he grinned, giving her arms a gentle squeeze.

"I'll be right back," said Lily, giving him a peck on his lips before walking towards the kitchen.

"Dada," said Harry, standing in front of him and holding out his arms.

James fondly took Harry in his arms and sat him on his lap.

"Harry, daddy won't let anyone hurt you," he said determinedly.

James began conjuring colorful puffed smokes from his wand that Harry loved. It gave him great joy to watch Harry giggle and delightfully try to catch the puffed smoke. Little did he know of the doom that was about to befall his family just minutes later.

I apologize that it's a just a drabble again this round. I didn't have much time. I'll try my best to submit 2 entries next round.