James looked up from his work, frowning as he thought hard. His gaze softened as it fell on Lily, playing about on the carpet with Harry. She was lying flat on her back, holding him up and tickling him. Her red hair was fanned about her head on the carpet, and she was giggling with Harry. It was the perfect, normal domestic scene. Yet how very far from being normal it was.
"Lily," said James softly.
Lily came and sat by him, cradling Harry in her arms. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, saying, "Yes dear?"
James looked into her green eyes, gently running the back of his hand down her cheek. Something inside him told him to hold on to that moment, life wouldn't be the same ever again.
James' attitude caught Lily's attention, and she slowly lifted her hand to push his hair away from his face, letting her fingers linger on his skin. This was James, her precious husband with whom she'd fought, laughed and cried.
And how your feel lingers even when it's not there
He brought his face forward till his forehead was leaning against hers and their noses were touching. They clasped hands and sat for a long while in the silence with Harry between them.
"It's not going to last forever, Lily. He'll get us someday or the other."
"Our secret's safe with Peter."
"Is it?" said James slowly. "Voldemort has ways of forcing people."
Lily winced. "No matter is this is the last day of our lives, James, let's live it like there's no Voldemort."
She stood up and pulled him to the centre of the living room, sending the furniture to the corner with a quick word. With another well-aimed spell she turned the radio up and waltzed James all around the room.
"Lily, this is ridiculous!" he grinned.
"Certainly not! I think we need to send you back to Hogwarts to retrieve some of the ridiculousness that you left there," she laughed.
"Welcome to a thing called The Cares of The Real World," he said gaily, putting an arm around her and twirling all over the room. Harry gaped at them, his bright green eyes wide open.
With everyone watching like we were insane
He whooped and lifted Lily up in the air, spinning round and round as the waves of music washed over them. So what if Voldemort was out to get them? They were still alive after all. Life was not yet over. He put her down and she impulsively flung her arms around him and kissed him. In a burst of sparks he transformed into a stag and then back again into a human.
"Whoa! Sorry, lost control there for a moment," he grinned.
Lily giggled and kissed him again. This time he galloped around the room twice before retransforming.
They began dancing again, this time to a slower tune, locked in a tight embrace. James sang along to the music, rocking Lily gently in his arms.
You roll your eyes when I'm slightly off-key
"I love you, and I'm sorry for bringing this on you," he whispered in a broken voice, trying to hold on to that moment. But it was like sand held tightly in a closed fist, seeping out even as you struggle to contain it.
Lily made a choked sound and buried her head in the nape of his neck.
Oh baby, strong and wild, slow and easy,
Heart and soul, so completely.
"Promise me you'll be brave and take care of Harry, whatever happens," he said urgently.
"Voldemort's not going to get you without taking me too," she whispered through her tears.
"Lily, promise!
"All right, I'll be brave."
I love to like about you
But they all come down to one reason....
Suddenly Lily's body tensed in his arms, and he felt it too: a cold fear, an aura of evil like a cold fist about the heart...
"Lily! Take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!" he shouted, pushing her away. He grabbed his wand from the table. "Go!"
Dread and terrifying fear filling her, Lily picked Harry up from the sofa and stumbled from the room, casting a long, despairing look at James, standing with his legs planted firmly wide apart, holding his wand before him defensively.
"I love you James," she whispered, before sprinting into the back yard.
The front door was kicked open with frightening force. A tall, hooded figure stood in the doorway, laughing in a cruel, high-pitched tone.
"James Potter, we meet again, but in so tragic a fashion. AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The whoosh of green light enveloped him, even as he tried to dodge.
James Potter lay dead on the floor.
DISCLAIMER: Everything is JKR's, the song belongs to Boyzone.
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