The Perfect Day
by EMPG22HoPe
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day with you today
James rarely had perfect days since his parents' passing. But that was until Harry was born. And every day seemed perfect in any other day for most of his years living on earth, aside from having Lily around him, of course. Harry was three years old now, and the happiest bundle of joy he's ever laid eyes on.
Today's task had been to feed Harry vegetables. Lily was out for work, doing what most Curse-Breakers do. And with James on a day off, he had the misfortunate task of feeding their son his greens. A task, he feared, was one more difficult than turning himself into an Animagus.
It was a very cold winter afternoon at Godric's Hollow that day. He had let little Harry play in the snow all morning with the neighbors' children, though not without a few heating charms on his son's clothes to keep him cozy. James could almost catch the little drift of Harry's avoidance in eating his greens. He had pampered his son not to have vegetables for breakfast, but it was lunch time now, and he didn't know Lily's struggles back then in feeding Harry his greens until now.
"Harry, please," James begged as he lay on the sofa, being trampled by his son sitting atop his chest. "Mummy won't be happy when she gets home and you don't eat your veggies."
"No!" Harry shook his head determinedly before he wriggled his little body to lay on top of his father's chest. "Harry don't want the icky green!"
"But your eyes are green." James insisted tiredly, a slight yawn escaping his lips between words. "Just like your mummy's. And they're a very nice green, yes?"
"Yes!" Harry perked up before pouting at him. "But veggie green is yucky!"
James sighed in defeat. He's been at it for two hours now, and nothing seems to work. Even if he disillusioned the vegetable, Harry knew better than that. He was a particularly smart boy, the little one.
Eventually, he had given up. Or rather, his tired and beaten up body from chasing Harry around the house in order for him to be nourished with his vegetables had given up as he slipped into slumber.
The moment he woke up, Harry was no longer on his chest. The sun had gone down outside, dusk upon them, as he caught the flecks of snow fall onto their windows' pane. James sat up groggily before he noticed a large pillow just where he had slept on. He didn't remember that being there, but he can guess how it got there at all.
A scrumptious smell wafted from the kitchen, and he couldn't help but smile.
Lily was home.
As James entered the kitchen, he saw Harry sitting on one of the chairs stacked with a few big books, looking very busy coloring something on a piece of paper. Harry always hated the high chair he and Lily bought for him, and always seemed to enjoy his meals more if he had a place on the table.
At the stove stood Lily, her flaming red hair moving about as she hummed and moved across counters preparing dinner.
"You overslept, and didn't feed Harry, did you?" Lily asked without turning to look at him.
James scratched the back of his head shamefully as he approached her. When he stood beside her, he smiled bashfully. "I tried, Lily. But he didn't let me go, and I couldn't yell at him. You know how I hate yelling at him."
"You're lucky Harry's smart," Lily insisted as she added a few cut up pieces of potatoes into the stew she was making. The pot before them bubbled and emanated a rich and deep smell that made James's stomach growl. Harry wasn't the only one that missed lunch. "He opened the fridge on his own and levitated the little mango pieces I cut up for him for dessert. But I don't approve of it any more than I don't approve of you falling asleep on the sofa."
Lily didn't sound angry. But she was certainly giving him the idea that she was.
He had promised himself that he would be a good father just like his father was. But it seemed to be proving less and less as Lily's work with her being newly promoted as Head Curse-Breaker becomes more demanding than his work as a Hit Wizard. Not that he loathed Harry's company or anything. He loves being around their son. He just doesn't think he's doing a good enough job despite how hard he tries.
"I'm sorry, Lily," was all James could said in a weak voice, not quite sure how else to place it. He couldn't even make a joke out of it, as he would usually do, because he knew the severity of what would have happened if Harry had not been careful all afternoon. The ordeal was irresponsible on its own, and he deserved her ire for it. He turned to go set up the table, but was stopped when Lily held onto his arm.
Lily dropped all the utensils she's been holding for most of that time before she made him look at her. A fond smile was prominent on her thin lips as she raised her hands to cup them on James's face.
"You're a right mess, James Potter." Lily shook her head in amusement before she leaned in to kiss his nose. His heart fluttered at the notion. "But I love you nonetheless. I love you for all that you are, all that you have been, and all you have yet to be."
James couldn't help but smirk, his usual mirth back on. "You don't have to get cheeky with me, love."
Lily playfully smacked one side of his cheek before emitting a bright laugh. "Honestly, James. How will you survive the days without me?"
"I don't think I ever will." James whispered fondly before capturing Lily's lips in his. A sigh seemed to escape them both as their limbs relaxed and melted onto each other. Their kiss didn't last long because of the way Harry started gagging at them.
James pulled away only to find Harry making a face at them.
"Mummy and daddy are squishing their faces together!" Harry shook his head and let his tongue out. "Ack!"
"Ack, you say, huh?" James asked playfully before he scooped Harry into his arms. His son released a shriek of laughter as he spun the three year-old around in his arms. "You say that when you've left me to sleep and starve, little one."
Harry had stopped laughing by the time James sat him back on his height of stacked books. "You were tired, Daddy. I didn't want to woke you."
"It's wake you, Harry. But it's close enough, and you're doing so well." Lily corrected him, but not without praise, as she approached the table with the pot of stew she was making earlier. As she placed the pot on the table, James waved his wand to place the bowls, cutlery and glasses.
Lily frowned at James playfully. "You keep doing that and you'll spoil Harry into thinking magic is the solution to everything."
"Is it not?" James snickered, only to stop shortly at Lily's glare. "Alright, then. But Harry enjoys it, doesn't he?"
"I love magic!" Harry piped up happily as James and Lily sat on either side of the child on the table. "I did some when I was hungry earlier, mummy!"
"So you've told plenty of times," Lily cooed at him as she placed a ladle full of the beef stew on Harry's bowl, though not without potatoes and carrots. "But now, you must have a real meal, Harry. It's time to eat your veggies."
Harry looked down at his bowl and screwed his face up. "It's not green, but I know veggies are yuck! Neville told me so earlier, but he always eats them because his mummy and daddy said so."
"With good reason, then, Harry," Lily stated as she scooped up a small piece of potato with Harry's spoon. "Vegetables are healthy for you, you know? It's what gives wizards their magic!"
Lily gave James a knowing look.
Harry's green eyes widened in awe. "Does it really?"
"Your mummy's right!" James piped in, catching Lily's drift before spooned a glob of potato and carrot onto his spoon. "You watch daddy, alright?"
Harry nodded excitedly as James consumed the tender vegetables. He chewed heartily, and didn't need to fake his enjoyment. Lily truly had a gift for cooking the finest food. Once he swallowed, he raised his wand, watching Harry wriggle in anticipation.
James thought of the happiest memory he could dig up. And he found it to be a memory of him and Lily teaching Harry how to say his first word. When that memory finally showed their bouncing boy uttering the word "dogga"—a long story of which Sirius had something to do with him transforming into his animagus form for the most part of his visits to Harry—he released it through the spell.
"Expecto Patronum!" He exclaimed before a silvery light escaped his wand. That silvery light then turned into the shape and form of his patronus, a proud stag.
Harry giggled and reached his arms out to his patronus, which approached Harry and bopped its snout against his son's nose. The three year old squealed in delight as his hands passed through the air of his patronus. The stag danced about before it disappeared into a ball of silver light, and then to nothing.
"Do it again! Do it again!" Harry pronounced happily as he clapped his hands. "Daddy, can I do that magic if I eat veggies?"
"Sure you can! But that magic is for older wizards," James bopped Harry's nose with his finger. "You have to eat even more vegetables to make that kind of strong magic!"
Harry nodded determinedly. "Okay! I will eat my veggies and make strong magic one day!"
As Harry gobbled up his meal with Lily's help, he couldn't help but look at his small family. He may have lost his parents, but willing enough, life has provided him with a new one of his own. A sense of happiness filled him as he watched Lily talk to him and Harry about her day. He could never ask for a better day than the one he has one now.
Fanfiction Writing Month - July: 1,760 words
Eastern Hogwarts FunFair: Ferris Wheel #11 - (au) voldemort didn't exist
Southern Hogwarts FunFair: Hedge Maze - Southern Corner: (item) pot
Northern Hogwarts FunFair: Sophie's Ice Cream Stall: Praline and Watermelon (James Potter and Lily Evans Potter)
Fortnightly Challenge: Canadian Craze - 18. (stereotype) Snow - write a story set in winter
Fanfiction Resolutions Challenge
Write about someone who died during the first war (write about the character, not the death)
Insane House Challenge
919. Quote - "I love you for all that you are, all that you have been, and all you have yet to be."
365 Prompts
4. Action - Falling asleep on the sofa
Writing Club - July
Character Appreciation - 30. (Spell) Patronus
Showtime: Hamilton -17. That Would Be Enough - (pairing) James/Lily
Count Your Buttons: Words - 3. Hungry
Emy's Emporium: Greece - 2. The sky - Write about a perfect day (doesn't have to be the weather)
Hamilton Mania - July
Act Two - 20. Making the most of your life - (emotion) Happiness
Optional Prompt - (object) pillow
[Summer] Seasonal Challenge
Days of the Year - Eat Your Vegetables Day:Write about trying to convince a child to eat vegetables.
Elemental - Fire Element - 2. Leo - (pairing) James/Lily
Gryffindor Challenge - Gryffindor Themed Prompts - Characters: Easy - James Potter
Gryffindor Challenge - Gryffindor Themed Prompts - Other Prompts - (location) Godric's Hollow
