Lily woke with a start. Something was moving about in their house. She shook James awake, laying a finger on his lips when he groaned. James blinked himself fully awake, rolling out of bed, and retrieving his wand in one movement. Lily did the same.

'Stay here,' he told her.

'I'm going, James. You can't stop me.'

James rolled his eyes.

'Think of the baby,' he said, placing a hand on her swollen belly. Lily sighed ruefully, and climbed back into bed, kissing him gently.

'Be careful,' she cautioned.

James stole through the house, his bare feet making no noise. A dark shape moved through the lounge, searching for something. As the figure reached for Lily's box, it's sleeve fell back, revealing the skull tattoo. A Death- Eater. James didn't stop to think. He threw a binding charm at the dark figure, flicking the light switch at the same time. The intruder blinked in the sudden glare, straining against his invisible bonds. James stared at him.

'Now, why doesn't this situation surprise me?'

Severus Snape glowered at him. The potions expert was clutching Lily's bracelet. James relieved him of it, tightening the charm.

'Anything else concealed on your slimy person, Snape?' he asked acidly.

Snape looked away, his face turning a dark shade of red as James tightened the charm further. He gasped for breath.

'Right . . . pocket,' he rasped, his face purple. James fumbled in the pocket and found his own razor. Confused, he loosened the invisible bonds holding his captive. Snape's skin returned to its original pasty white.

The door creaked open, and Lily slipped past Snape to stand beside James. Her husband looked down at her.

'I told you to stay upstairs,' he snapped.

She gave him a look.

'I got bored.'

James blinked, trying to work that one out. Snape was staring at Lily's swollen belly.

'Oh, god!' he exclaimed. 'Lily, you have to get out of here!'

'Why?' she asked.

'The Master -'

Lily gasped, shrinking back from him.

'You're a Death-Eater?'

James wrapped an arm about her shoulders.

'What's going on, Snape?' he asked, his face stern.

Snape sighed in frustration.

'The Master sent me to obtain a personal item from both of you. He wants to curse you. If I don't return, he'll send others to destroy the house and you in it.'

He looked at Lily.

'I didn't realise about the baby. Please, Lily, you have to go!'

The Potters looked at him in horror, each remembering a night not so long ago, and a dream, not quite faded from the mind.

'What will you do if I let you go?' James wanted to know.

'I'll buy a couple of things and take them to Him,' Snape said. 'Just please, both of you, get out!'

James nodded, releasing the Death-Eater. He watched as Snape Apparated away with a 'pop'.

Lily was already moving. She rushed upstairs and dressed, throwing a few things into a bag. James followed, copying her.

'Where are we going, Lily?'

She looked at him in the mirror.

'Sirius' house,' she said, rising and going over to him. They embraced, both very aware of time, and gathered together their things. Together they left the little house, and began walking along the darkened streets. James stuck his wand out into the street. The Bus skidded to a halt beside them, and they clambered on.



*



James gazed down at his sleeping wife. Part of him knew that this wouldn't last much longer, and they would be free of this life and it's terrors. He worried for the unborn child. Sirius squeezed his shoulder.

'I've contacted Dumbledore and Fudge. They'll be here in a couple of hours.'

He drew his friend off to one side, handing him a mug of Butterbeer. James sipped it, still lost in his own thoughts. Sirius gazed at him, wishing he knew why James was so gloomy.

'It's started, Si,' James said, suddenly.

'What has?'

'The dream.'

Sirius frowned.

'What dream?'

James looked up, his blue eyes distant, as if he was seeing through his old friend.

'Two Christmas's ago, Lily and I shared a dream. We were murdered by You-Know-Who, and our baby was left defenceless. We're going to die soon, Si.'

'Don't talk like that, Prongs. It was just a dream.'

'Listen. I want to make sure the baby is protected.'

'James -'

'I want you to be the godfather,' James went on, ignoring Sirius' interruption. 'Please, Padfoot. For me.'

Sirius was shocked by his friend's acceptance of his own death. And the death of his wife! Lily could look after herself, so could James. Voldemort could never actually kill them. Could he? He realised that James was waiting for an answer.

'Of course, I'll be godfather,' he agreed, 'and I'll look after the kid, if anything happens.'

James smiled sadly, knowing his friend didn't understand.

'Thank you.'

He gazed back at Lily's sleeping form, wondering if he could stand knowing that soon she would no longer grace this world.