Autumn had come early and it had come fully. The gentle breeze played with the changing leaves. The birds were still chirping happily, and she could almost hear them over her cassette recorder. September had arrived in all its glory. Her auburn hair and red dress matched well with nature, though less with her mood. It was a good day and Lily's life had become what she had never expected it to be. And for some reason, she just couldn't take it today. Harry had been fussy and grumpy, and so damn stubborn he was clearly a Potter. He was little over a year old, how could he even be this stubborn?
His dad.
Lily couldn't help but smirk by the thought of James that morning. She'd been on the verge of tears when Harry kept refusing his bottle again when James looked at them and had simply taken their son into his arms.
"Go for a walk. We'll be fine," he'd said and had planted a kiss on her cheek. And so she had taken his denim coat (cause her cassette recorder actually fit into his pockets) and had walked straight out of Godric's Hollow.
Now, nearly fifteen minutes later, she inhaled deeply and turned around to look at the place which had become her home. There were so many questions swirling in her head. And not just about the ridiculousness of her current life – with a war raging on, Dumbledore ushering the three of them to safety, rumours of horrendous acts of which murder was the least. In the middle of all this, whatever this truly was, Harry had entered their lives. Twenty-one, married, and a mother. If they hadn't been fearing for their lives, this would've been the best days of her life. James, bless his cocky and adorable heart, still acted like it was. And Merlin knows he was a bad actor, but at least he tried and it helped the both of them.
If only if would help the smallest Potter as well, Lily thought and kicked a small stone. The little boy had been a lovely baby yet suddenly, this week she'd barely had a moment's rest without Harry screaming. If only she could ask her mother what to do, Mrs Evans what a champion with children. Of course Lily didn't ring her mum, she couldn't. As much as she wanted to, longed for it even, Mrs Evans had to remain just that – muggle Mrs Evans, safely unaware of her with daughter's trouble.

By the time Lily returned and opened the front door, she was soaking wet because of the sudden rain. Her auburn hair clung to her face and she feared it would be several days before James' coat would be dry.
As she hung his coat over a chair, she heard the radio singing deceivingly happy tunes yet no James or Harry. But there was someone else. She could feel there was someone in their house, in their home. From the pocket of James' coat, she lifted her wand and raised it. The old house entered into a small hallway which would bring her to either the living room or the kitchen, depending on which door she chose.
Inhaling deeply to calm herself, she gently nudged the living room door open. Immediately, a hand swung it open and there was no time to raise her wand.
"Lily, dear!"
Remus smiled back at her as he hugged her tightly. Smiling widely now, Lily kissed his cheek and dropped her wand. "Hello, love. When did you arrive?"
"A few minutes ago. How was your walk?"
"Good. Yeah, it was lovely. Bit wet in the end, but, ah well." Lily followed Remus into the cosy and warm living room. "Where's James?"
Remus nudged his head to the upper floor. "Putting the little man to bed."
"Oh my God, finally," she sighed and wondered if this meant she was a bad mother. Throwing herself into the big brown chair and leaning her hand against her head, she was too tired to care. Remus sat down next to her and gently touched her arm.
"Are you alright?"
Shielding her eyes with her hand, Lily avoided Remus' eyes. Those endless green eyes of compassion Lily had so come to love. "I'm just…tired."
"Yeah…" he mumbled, knowing there was nothing he could do now for her.
"Alright!" a bright cheery voice chanted into the living room as Sirius darted out of the kitchen. Swinging his black hair out of his face with an elegant swish of his head, he painted a suave smile on his face which had stolen many a heart at Hogwarts. "Anyone ready for tea?"
"Oh, yes, please!" Remus smiled.
"Sirius," Lily sighed fondly as she prayed the cookies he carried were bought and not made. As he put down the tray proudly, she rose from the chair. "I'll quickly pop into something dry, then I'm happy to have some tea."
Sirius lifted the steaming pot one of James' great-aunts had given them for their wedding and looked as well as any great-aunt's teapot can. "Want me to pour you one yet, or wait?"
"Yes, please, and just –"
"Just a drop of milk, I know," he smiled and Lily couldn't help but smile as well. "Want a cookie as well?"
Behind him, Remus raised his thumbs and mouthed, "I bought them."
"I'd love to," nodded Lily. "Hey, is Petey coming, too?"
Remus looked at Sirius, who shrugged, and looked back at Lily. "I don't know, really."

Darting up the stairs, the soft muttering of a song came from Harry's bedroom. Still in her wet clothes, Lily couldn't help but peek in. Still making up most of the words, James leaned over the crib where his small son was sleeping. When he noticed someone was watching him, he turned around.
"How'd you get him to sleep?" Lily asked softly.
James raised his wand with a smirk. "Magic is really handy."
Lily gasped and a fire lit in her eyes worthy of any dragon protecting her eggs. "James Potter, if you –"
"Just kidding! Can't believe I can still get you," he chuckled quickly and shook his head as his eyes shone behind his glasses.
"Yeah, well, guess you're only 'getting' me in that way cause you're not getting any tonight, Potter," Lily clapped back with a wink and turned on her heels.
"Wait, what?" James quickly darted behind her. "Lily, no, wait, I –"
Closing the door, she sang, "Sorry, really have to change now."
James gently knocked on the door. "Lily. Liles. Baby. My dear. Beautiful wife. Flower. Honey. Most courageous Gryffindor in the history of –"
With a yank, Lily opened the door again. Her hair was still dripping while her underwear was dry. "Tell you what," she said and gave James a second to register what she was wearing. "If you cook dinner, we'll see about tonight."
"Deal," he smirked that cocky smile of him that still made her heart skip a beat. As he leaned forward, Lily moved her head to the side and made him kiss her cheek.
"See you in a sec," she purred and closed the door again.

Half an hour before dinner, which James had made as he'd promised, Harry woke up. Sirius and Remus played with the little man who already had a thick bush of black hair on his head. As much as his eyes looked like hers, Lily loved how much his hair was like James.
Dinner was cosy, almost like an actual family dinner. If a normal family also discussed war, how few people they'd seen these past weeks, and commemorate all those who had died. Lily's muggle life seemed like a fairy tale compared to this. Remus, solemn and serious, proposed a heartfelt toast which reminded Lily of hopeful days to come.
It was then, that a loud BANG shook their windows. Without hesitation, Remus and Sirius grabbed their wands and went to have a look. Remus at the front, Sirius to the back. James, already holding Harry, quickly wrapped a hand around Lily while they both firmly grabbed their wands. Lily kept her back to the front of their home and her eyes on the back through which Sirius had left. Breathing deeply and slowly through her nose, she felt little Harry against her chest where James kept him safe. The child was blowing raspberries and Lily prayed he'd always remain this unfazed in the face of danger. Within second, which felt like hours, Remus returned with a nervous smile on his face.
"Children," he explained but kept his wand close. "Just silly children playing."
"Thank Heavens," James sighed and kissed Harry and then Lily. Remus went to fetch Sirius while James took a ragged breath. Gently touching his jawline, Lily looked him straight in the eyes and tried to find the words to tell him how much she loved him. Within a split second, the worry and pain which had strained his face, began to wash away as he winked at her and the shadow of a smile danced on his lips.
When they all sat down for a glass of wine and dessert, it came to no-one's surprise that Sirius told a tall tale of all the places he'd go to and listed all the things he'd buy for little Harry as soon as things settled down. Naturally, James ran a hand through his hair and dreamed aloud of Quidditch games and defeating all of them easily in a broom race. This almost caused Lily to choke on her wine before she laughed loudly and looked at her husband with raised eyebrows.
Between the old walls of the home and the dancing lights of the candles, Lily found that she could breathe easily. Here, with her friends who had become her family, she was happy. And she for a second, she even carefully believed she was safe.

It was long after midnight when Remus and Sirius took their leave. Harry was already fast asleep when Lily pulled her jumper over her head and stepped out of her jeans. James turned the lights of the bathroom off, his jet-black hair sprung around his handsome face like waves of the deepest ocean. Wriggling his nose to get his glasses right, the left side of his mouth curled up in a smile when he looked at his wife.
Standing behind her, he kissed her neck. "You are, by far, the best," he spoke slowly, planting a kiss between each word, "most amazing wife any man – wizard, muggle, or other – has even had."
"And you, are still that same bratty flirt." Turning around, Lily felt the rush of blood to her cheeks even though she tried to give him a stern look.
James lifted his chin a little as he frowned at her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, the tip of his tongue quickly passed his lips. Without thinking, Lily laid her arms in his neck and played with his hair. "Is that supposed to be an insult, Potter?"
"Well," she began but as her mouth was open, her lips began to tremble and her eyes filled with tears. The smug look melted from James' face like snow in the summer sun.
"Hey, hey, come here," his voice was gentle and soft as he pulled her to the bed and onto his lap. Trying to stop her falling tears and sobbing, Lily let him hold her as he rocked her. "It's ok. I've got you."
Lily took a deep breath and laid her hand against his heart. "James, how..."
"We'll we fine," James said and leaned back so he could look at her, flashing that cocky smile of his. And by Merlin's beard, was he a bad liar. Nevertheless, Lily smiled as she nodded. "As long as we've got each other, we'll be just fine."