Okay, here goes for the second time! Thanks Google for not saving my first version of this story! Anyway, here's my round 5 drabble. Slytherin, HoH, yadda yadda. You all know the drill by now, right?
This round had a poison prompt, where if you used the prompt that was secretly poison, you get punished. I went safe and picked the prompt (action) going on a hayride. Let's hope you all enjoy this!!
Betas: Aya, Dhrish, Tea
Word Count: 813
The sound of fall leaves crunching under her combat boots was comforting to Lily. As she pushed Harry's stroller along the leaf-strewn sidewalks, the crunching of the leaves created an improvised soundtrack to their stroll. Beside her, James had his arm around her waist, which made it difficult to actually walk.
"James!" she finally said, pulling away from him with a laugh as he nearly made her fall for the tenth time. "I can't move like that, love!"
James pouted as they stopped on the path. Dozens of other people heading for the same place moved around them, muttering their frustration as James and Lily remained in the way.
"Come on, Lils!" James complained, pouting in such a childish manner that Lily couldn't help nearly laugh. "You brought us to this… hayride, you said? So let me enjoy being with you!"
Lily rolled her eyes. "You can nearly pull me to the ground once we're sitting on the wagon," she responded. "If my dad can manage the ride, so can you."
They both grew quiet for a minute. Lily thought of her father, who had died shortly before Lily had become pregnant with Harry, along with her mother. They had been attacked by Death Eaters, because Lily was Muggleborn. She and Petunia had only just managed to escape the spells sent by Bellatrix Lestrange, but their parents had not been as lucky.
James put a comforting hand on her wrist. "It's all right, Lily. I know you loved them. It's always going to be a raw thing to think of."
Lily looked around at the small playpark they were at, remembering all the memories she had here. "Mum and Dad brought Petunia and me here every year since she was born because Petunia's birthday is just a couple days before Halloween, you know. It was special. I wanted to do the same thing for Harry."
James nodded understandingly, glancing from his wife to their infant son in his stroller. For his part, Harry seemed pleased as punch to be out in the fall air. Lily had been overly cautious and wrapped many blankets around him. Harry stared at the colorful trees, batting at the falling leaves as they neared him.
"We'll might not get to come next year, right?" Lily said, seeming to almost hope it wasn't true. "Since we're going into hiding next week, who knows what might happen to us in that time?"
And now James fully embraced Lily, wrapping her between his strong Chaser's arms the way she loved. "Lily, nothing will happen, I promise. We're doing this to keep him and ourselves safe, okay?"
He forced her to look him in the eye now. "You're right," Lily responded, regret in her tone. She then sighed. "I'm sorry for bringing the mood down, love."
James shook his head. "Don't worry, Lils. I know Harry will have many hayrides in his future."
And at the time, they both believed those words.
They got in line to get on the wagon, and Harry, spotting one of the decorative spiders in the trees, began to cry and fuss. Lily bent down into the stroller to pick him up. Unasked, James continued to roll the stroller along as Lily bounced Harry in her arms.
"You've got that down to a science," remarked a kindly older woman behind them.
"Thank you," Lily grinned, turning to face her. "It hasn't been easy, believe- Mrs. Powell!"
Lily recognized the woman upon turning. Mrs. Powell had been the Evans' neighbor when Lily had been little, and had occasionally joined them on these hayrides.
Mrs. Powell's eyes widened in recognition. "Lily Evans, is that you? You're so grown up!"
"It's Potter, now," Lily explained, pulling James around to face them. "This is my husband, James."
"Pleasure to meet you," James nodded.
Mrs. Powell shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe it! It seems only yesterday we took you on your first hayride, and you're continuing the tradition!"
As they continued to wait in line, Lily and Mrs. Powell caught up. Harry finally settled down again as they reached the ticket booth.
"Two tickets, please," she told the ticketed, and when prompted, paid the fare and continued over to where they would load the wagon. One of them had just returned, and as the previous riders got off, new ones boarded and found seats.
"Here we go!" James said, having folded up the stroller and lifting it up onto the wagon. One of the workers helped James place it in one of the corners.
Lily found them seats, and after a moment, James joined her, just as the final passenger got on, and the hatch was lifted. "Are you ready?" She asked him, eyebrows wiggling mischievously.
As the wagon slowly started moving along the well-worn dirt path, James gave Lily a quick kiss and said, "Ready for anything, love."