Here we go. Chapter 31, another short chapter, I'm going to post Chapter 32 right now cause this chapter is short but I thought it needed to be alone. I hope you enjoy it. Please R/R. I don't own Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling does!
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"Da..dd" Harry made a wild grab for James' hair. Harry sat on his father's lap and tried to get his attention. James though was distracted, and lost in his thoughts about the welfare of his friends. How were they? Were they safe? How was hiding fitting them?
He got up with Harry still in his arms. He cradled him in his strong arms and smiled down at the falling asleep Harry. Here was his pride and joy, his son. He was the reason he did everything, he was the reason he was hiding. He was a Potter, he didn't hide. What would his father or any relative say if they knew he was hiding? Would they still consider him a Potter? He wouldn't be hiding, but he needed to protect Harry. If he was still a bachelor, he would have welcomed the danger, but he also had a job to protect Harry. There was something special about his son, he knew it, and Dumbledore knew it. He had seen Dumbledore look at him, his eyes would sparkle but they would also be a little sad. His eyes would stare at Harry for awhile, even if he were having a conversation with someone else.
He looked down at his son, he looked just like him, like all Potter males. He wondered about him, would he be a Quidditch player, and if so what position? Would he be a Gryffindor? A Mischief Maker? A Perfect? James shuddered at that thought. Of course he had been Head Boy, but in his time the position demanded someone that could lead through the troubled time, and in the time of war to make sure the Gryffindors and Slytherins didn't kill each other. He hadn't been a Perfect, but he was Head Boy. He knew it was rare, the decision that Dumbledore had made, but then if he hadn't, would he be married to Lily?
Lily… he had been so cruel to her recently. He snapped at her, and she at him, it reminded him of when they at had been at school. He made his way to the kitchen still holding onto Harry.
"Lily?" James said as he walked into the kitchen.
She turned, she was doing the dishes the Muggle way. They had eaten about a half an hour ago.
"I just wanted to say I was sorry for the way I've treated you over the last few months," James walked up beside her and kissed her cheek. "I just didn't want to believe it had come to this."
She put down the towel and wrapped an arm around his waist. She looked in at her son, now sleeping. "I forgive you James, I know how close you are with Sirius, Remus and Peter. I can't imagine what you must be going through, I mean to find out one of them as betrayed you."
"I shouldn't have said some of the things I said to you," James shook his head, "I know you mean well, and you are looking out in the best interest of Harry."
She silenced him, "I know what a sacrifice it is for you and your friends to go into hiding. You love action so much. We will make it through this, I'm sure of it. Maybe we are wrong, but it's better to be safe than sorry."
James nodded, "He's so precious isn't he?"
"Just like his father," she kissed him.
He took a deep sigh. Lily read his thoughts, "They are fine."
"It's the full moon tonight," he said sadly.
"Remus is fine," she assured him.
"I want to be out with him, running around, playing, exploring," he smiled at the thought.
"Next full moon you will be," she nodded. "Don't worry."
"Here, why don't I put him to bed," Lily took Harry from him.
"I guess I'll go read the paper for the hundredth time," James looked out into the living room.
"If you are bored, you could do the dishes," Lily suggested.
James made a face and went into the living room. He went down and sat in the chair. He could hear Lily talking to Harry as she brought him upstairs. The house they were in, Godric's Hollow, it was a decent sized house, with two floors, but no where near the size of the Mansion. It was a comfortable home, once of course they got all the dust out of the house.
He opened the paper, he heard noises outside. Ah, the neighbor's kids are outside playing again. He heard more noises, he stood up. He wasn't so sure what the noises were. He looked out the window, he saw a person coming up the driveway. Was it Sirius? No… it couldn't be, he didn't hear the motorcycle.
But then the door flew open. In the doorway stood a tall man, his hood was up and a wand was in his hand. NO! It couldn't be! James stared for a second or two before regaining his senses.
"Lily! Take Harry and GO! It's HIM! RUN! GO! I'll hold him off!" He ran to the stairs and called up to her.
He stood by the stairs, between Voldemort and his son. Voldemort would have to kill him to get to Harry. He stared at Voldemort, he had seen him at the attack at the Ministry, but now he looked taller, more fierce.
It was Peter, it had been Peter all along. Poor, poor, little Peter. Why, why had he betrayed them? Did Voldemort capture him and force it out of him? Something told him no… Peter had done this on his own. Why would Peter betray him? Weren't they brothers? He had trusted Peter with his life… how, why didn't they see? Oh Merlin, Remus, they thought it him, and no, he had been true the whole time. Oh Merlin. He tried to forget about Peter, he had bigger things to deal with. He had faced Voldemort twice before, he could do it again, but he looked back, at the stairs. There was no escape this time, no where to hide. If he hid, if he left, then Voldemort would get Harry, and he would forgive himself for that. No, he would see this duel through, or until his death.
He walked forward to meet Voldemort. His back was straight, his head was up. How had his father put it? When facing your death walk straight back and proud, that was the way Potter's died. Until their death, proud and fierce. That was how he would die. He would die like his father and Uncle Billy, straight back and proud.
Good bye Sirius I love my brother, I'm sorry Remus, Peter why? These thoughts ran through his head. Please Lily, get yourself and Harry out. Make it to safety, please. This is for you Harry.
And he walked straight back and proud, the way his father died.
