Disclaimer: I own none of the concepts or characters from the Harry Potter Universe by J. and am not using this to gain monetary funds

Note: This is my first attempt at writing! please let me know how I did structurally and how I can improve :)

It was a Halloween night, one that James Potter thought he'd never forget. After all it was his first Halloween spent with his wife Lily as parents of their beautiful child Harry who just turned one year old this year. James was sitting at home reading Harry's new book for children called "Harry's First Halloween" while Lily prepared some treats she bought from her favorite sweet shop on Diagon Alley.

"Hey Lils! You almost done?" He asked when his wife entered carrying an arm full of candy. The two hadn't planned anything fancy like going out but seeing how everyone else went trick or treating earlier that day they decided to get themselves some sweets of their own.

"I am now." She said dropping the bags of sweets down onto the couch before taking her place next to him, hugging her husband tightly. For once there wasn't any tension between them which made James glad since it felt sickening seeing his wife look so tired lately and being unable to do anything about it. Since coming back from the battle at Hogwarts over summer the woman looked pale as snow and didn't have much energy left after seeing the horrors of the war brought so close to what felt like home.

Thinking of an idea to bring some life back to his wife's spirit he asked, "What are you wearing tonight? I'm thinking of that dress you wore when I managed to convince you to go on a fourth date with me…." His eyes traveled up towards the scarlet gown that clung lovingly around his beloved's slender body before trailing slowly downwards to end in a gentle gaze at the golden necklace nestled between her breasts.

"Or you can just keep wearing that and we'll recreate that date right here" waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Not gonna happen love," Lily snickered pulling away from James' embrace only for her head to be wrapped in a loving kiss followed by another, then another one until finally-

*Crash!* A loud bang rung out the small cottage as little Harry's toy broom smashed into the coffee table in a beeline for Harry's rocker where he'd been playing.

"Harry!" Both parents rushed over grabbing their son to make sure he was fine.

"Merlins beard! That's the 5th time he's done accidental magic today." James laughed shaking his head. As usual it was hard not to smile seeing his baby boy doing everything possible to do fly in the air.

"We're going to have to start locking his toys up when it's not playtime or he's gonna hurt himself trying to cast spells again. If this keeps up I'm afraid that there won't be anything left of your rocking chair by Christmas" Lily warned as she pulled the child from his seat and onto her hip before looking back at her husband who merely smiled and shrugged as if nothing could eve go wrong

"You know Padfoot would love the chance to spoil his Godson, Merlin I wouldn't be shocked if he's already bought Prongslet an even better one for Christmas."

"James you're terrible." Lily scolded before giving a playful shove against her husbands chest and standing "You're coming with me mister! it's time for a butt changing" Grabbing Harry from her husband and heading to go change his diaper. James watched them go with a satisfied grin on his face; now wasn't that what being a parent was all about?

"Now that's more like it!" The man declared as he thought of ways he might try and make up for the last couple months where he hadn't been able to spend enough time with the love of his life. Not that he minded spending most days in the company of his son but...well his son was only a year old and as such not much of a conversationalist.

Distantly hearing his wife fussing around the changing station in the other room, he picked up the slight creak of the gate out front and reflexively felt around for his wand. Idly looking around for his wand

"Looking for something" said Lily Smiling from the changing room doorway.

"I seem to have misplaced my wand somehow"

"You must've tossed it somewhere when you were busy thinking with your other wand"

"I can't be blamed for-

Just than a tremendous blast echoes out as the front door blasts inwards.

Gathering his wits James shouts to Lily as he rushes to the doorway

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! I'll hold him off!" Thinking of what he can do to buy his wife time, he can barely think of how they're going to-

James' drops to the floor as a green hue fills the room.