Author's note: Hopefully you're enjoying the story! Let me know what you think - feedback good or bad is welcome (:
The following day dawned bright and clear, the sun heralded by a chorus of birds. It was a glorious late summer's day in Godric's Hollow and it was Harry Potter's first birthday.
Harry, of course, was unaware of this, but was more than happy to be the sole focus of his parents' affection. They showered him with kisses and presented him with a toy owl, which he instantly fell in love with. Lily had also made a cake, upon which 'happy birthday' was written in flowing golden script.
"What, no owl cake to match his present?" asked James when he first saw it. Lily whacked him on the arm.
"Decoration spells are not my forte. It tastes amazing, so that's all I care about." She then reached into the bowl of unused icing, and wiped some of it onto the tip of James' nose. However, when he grabbed the bowl himself to retaliate, she stopped him. "Don't give Harry any bad ideas." James looked proud, but quickly agreed with his wife. There was plenty of time to help him get into mischief later.
"Who's supposed to be coming?" asked Lily nervously, clutching handfuls of cutlery to set the table with. James thought for a moment, before counting on his fingers, "There's Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail… I didn't ask Dumbledore, he was too busy, told us last month he wouldn't see us until almost Christmas. Bathilda's sick, she still's recovering from Kneazle Cough, and doesn't want to give it to the baby." His voice trailed off, leaving his list uncompleted.
"And the rest of the Order don't know where we are. So a grand total of three." Lily finished for him.
"All the more cake for us, aye Harry!" said James, picking him up and spinning him around. Lily smiled at the two people she cared most about. How typical of James, trying to make the most of an awful situation. She knew that he missed being outside and fighting more than her, but still he focused on lighting up the mood. Harry's joyful shrieks were proof enough of James' success on that front.
And so, the table was set, the cake prepared and James and Lily who were dressed in their best cloaks, waited for their friends to arrive. Initially, Lily read, to give the impression of nonchalance whilst James entertained Harry. However, as the hours passed, both became increasingly restless, along with Harry who perhaps noticed his parents' discomfort.
The pages of Lily's book were now only infrequently turned, as she spent minutes staring out the window or at the un-opening door. When the clock chimed five, she jumped with surprise. It was now four hours after their friends were supposed to arrive and all hope of their coming was lost.
Lily was the first to voice it. " They'll just have forgotten the day" she said, desperately trying to convince herself of the fact. "They'll turn up next Saturday trying to figure out where the cake is."
James chose a different line to explain away his worries. "It'll be Order stuff, Lily. They were too busy. But they'll be fine."
"They'll be fine." She echoed, unable to face the probable truth, that their friends had indeed been working for the Order of the Phoenix, but were now injured or dead. The pair didn't need to say it, the thought had been running through both their minds for hours like a broken record. Neither could have said it, even if they'd tried. It was due to be a long evening, desperately waiting for, yet dreading a message from someone who had news.
Wandering over to the kitchen, Lily tidied away the cutlery on the table, and cut two large slices of cake.
"C'mon James, we can't let it go to waste. Cake fixes everything." She took a large bite as if to prove her point, then slid the second piece over to her husband. Harry started waving his arms around, wanting a piece of his own. Feigning amusement, Lily cut a third, smaller slice and passed it to her son who immediately made a mess of it.
"Happy Birthday Harry," she whispered, "Make a wish."
