Lily stood beside the large grave. It needed to be large- it contained three people. Three people who didn't belong there.
She felt James place an arm on her shoulder, the other arm stroking her hair like he always did when she was upset. The familiar tenderness of the movements brought tears to her eyes as she recalled how it could have been.
"James, I feel so guilty." She managed at last "The prophecy Dumbledore showed us- it could have been us!"
"But it's not" his gentle baritone soothed her aching heart "We are alive- Harry has his parents. Voldemort chose the Longbottoms instead of us."
"But Neville- James, he was meant to live! He was meant to defeat Voldemort!"
Her husband sighed. "Lil, I don't know what went wrong. No-one does- not even Dumbledore. But what I do know is this" he moved to stand in front of her. "We have to keep fighting. We have to keep fighting this evil for the sake of the Longbottoms. For their memory. For their son who died. For our son- who is alive." Their eyes strayed to the sleeping boy in Lily's arms before looking back into each other's.
"Yes, I know. But…"
"No buts Lils. Now come on. We need to get over to London." They had been moved to Grimmauld Place, with it's special charms, for their safety. Lily nodded. James took Harry gently, so as not to wake him, and carried him over to Dumbledore.
Before she turned to go, Lily stepped up to the freshly filled grave. She ran her fingers gently over the epitaph 'Here lie the Longbottoms. Together in life and death.'
"I will not forget you" she whispered "I will keep fighting." She stood up and with a last glance back at the grave, turned and walked toward Dumbledore, Harry and James, who smiled as she approached.
"I am ready" she said. Holding hands with her husband and Albus, she prepared to apparate to London. The familiar squashed feeling came to her as always, they landed in London. Walking to Grimmauld Place, she felt determination come over her, stronger than she'd ever felt before. "I will not forget you. I will keep fighting"