AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've wanted to write a fic based on the traditional fancast for quite some time now. I couldn't come up with much for a Hogwarts setting, but their time as veterans with the Order of the Phoenix caught my attention. So this fic is a very long time coming.
My cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson as James, Sophie Skelton as Lily, other traditional fancasts, etc. The only difference is Louis Garrel is my young Severus, Jonah Hill is my young Peter, and Laura Carmichael is my young Petunia.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…
born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…"
Lily and James run together through an alley after Bellatrix.
It's their first mission after graduating from Hogwarts in 1978. Being initiated into the secret Order of the Phoenix had been daunting and exhilarating. It had been expected James would join the battle. In school, he'd picked fistfights and dueled with minor spells, and the true danger of combat invigorates him now. Lily, on the other hand, has always been more practical. This isn't something to casually enter into, but she can't stand by while the Death Eaters destroy everything in their path. They could die fighting in the war with Voldemort, but they will create a better world at the same time.
The outspoken redhead and the cocky raven-haired Gryffindors are only barely eighteen. Though fresh from Hogwarts, they sprint headlong after their opponent. There's blood on James' forehead, and dirt streaks Lily's face. Bellatrix cackles as she throws a red spell over her shoulder. "Crucio!"
Lily blocks it with a Shield Charm by the skin of her teeth. "Progeto!"
Bellatrix keeps running, and James grins. "Thanks, Lils!"
"No problem!" Defensive charms are Lily's specialty, while direct spells are his field. She has had to work on her offensive hexes with the Order, a necessity in her new combat duties. "We need to keep moving! Bellatrix is getting away!"
"See how you handle this!" Bellatrix calls, and Disapparates. Then there's another crack as a man suddenly Apparates in the alley. Lily and James brace and grip their wands, and she squints. The man is too thin to be Fenrir Greyback, too tall to be Mulciber Jr. either. Then their opponent steps out of the shadows.
She's never seen Voldemort in the flesh before. There's always photos in The Daily Prophet these days, but the reality makes her freeze. It's not only his serpentine appearance, but knowing he's killed hundreds and told his Death Eaters to murder thousands more. Evil incarnate stands before her for the first time, and his name is Tom Riddle.
Voldemort raises his wand. "Avada-"
"Petrificus Totalus!" Lily screams.
He goes rigid, mouth frozen in forming the Killing Curse, and collapses to the cobblestones. James breathes hard beside her, and Lily's heart pounds so wildly she thinks it will fly from her chest. She's terrified because the Dark Lord almost killed them, he almost murdered James. But now they have Voldemort at their mercy.
James raises his mahogany wand. "Confringo!"
But somehow without moving a muscle, Voldemort Disapparates. James' Blasting Curse hits the ground where the Dark Lord had been half a second earlier.
"Merlin's beard," James breathes. "Smashing idea for a spell."
"I don't know how he got out of a Full Body Bind. Voldemort's a psychopath, but he's a talented wizard, even I'll give him that." Stretching a kink in her neck, she pockets her willow wand. "We should get back to tell the Order." But when she turns, James is down on one knee and holding out a ring.
"Lily Evans, I've loved you since we were eleven. But I don't want to face the war without knowing we belong to each other. So will you marry me?
She gasps, "Of course, what kind of question is that?"
He laughs, standing to pick her up and spin them. Their mouths crash together, and even though they are both bruised and battered, he's never been more handsome.
"I love you more than life itself, James," she says between kisses.
"And I love you more than life itself, Lily."
Then he puts the ring on her finger, and she cries so hard she can't see.
They briefly return to make reports about the Dark Lord and their engagement. Then after being mobbed with the Orders' well wishes, the pair finally go to James' expensive flat in London. He and Lily barely make to the parlor before falling onto the sofa, all tangled limbs and bruising kisses and pumping blood. She even forgets to cast a birth control charm, as they fuse together like white-hot steel in a forge.
She's never felt more alive.
They get married quickly at the Ministry. Both the Potter and Evans families want an ostentatious wedding, but there's a war on after all.
The next time Lily sees Voldemort, she's alone.
The Order is stretched again; there's more Death Eaters than wizards willing to resist them. James hates sending his bride out on a solo mission, but he has a command from Dumbledore to join Peter. One minute she's on patrol in Diagon Alley, the next she's being trailed by the Dark Lord's followers outnumbered six to one.
Rodolphus Lestrange whistles from the shadows. "Hello there, sweetie. The Dark Lord's been looking for you, ginger mutt. And we're gonna bring you to him!"
"Not bloody likely, Lestrange!"
He narrowly dodges her hex. "Now, now, is that any way for a lady to behave?" he says snidely.
"That's exactly how a lady should respond!" she shoots back.
And then Rodolphus harshly grabs her arms. "Then we should put you in your place!"
"Get off me!" she declares, but the other five Death Eaters are moving in. Lily rips away from Rodolphus and runs, but the rest of the men chase her. She's about to Disapparate when Rodolphus tackles her to the pavement. She resists fiercely, but then he vanishes them to Grimmauld Place.
Rodolphus leers as the other men restrain her. "Put her on the table, boys!"
She fights back like a wildcat, terrified they might do more than hex her as the Death Eaters haul her onto the table. She's stunned to see Severus on the other side of the room, and he is equally as shocked. It's the first time they've seen each other since Hogwarts, and he became a spy for the Order to infiltrate the Death Eaters.
"We got Lily Evans!" Rodolphus declares. "One of those bloody Order rebels who dared to challenge the Dark Lord! And let me tell you, girl, he ain't happy about it!"
"Severus!" she cries, but he doesn't move. His eyes betray his fear, but her former friend makes no move to help her.
"Incarcerous!" Rodolphus says, and ropes bind her. She twists, trying to break free as he takes her wand. "Don't think you'll be needing this anymore! And while we wait for the boss, let's have some fun, shall we?"
"Don't touch me!" she snarls as his hand rests on his belt.
He smiles wolfishly. "I'll do whatever I want with you."
"Rodolphus," Severus says weakly.
But the other Death Eater grasps her knee, and she kicks him in the groin. As he howls in pain, she sees Voldemort for the second time when he walks into the room.
"You have Lily Evans at last," the Dark Lord says.
Though doubled over, Rodolphus grins. "We were just getting her ready for you. You know redheads, she's a firecracker!"
Finally, Severus goes forward. "No, that's not Lily! I knew her, it's not Lily! She's not important, sir! She has no information, she's not with the Order!"
"She is one of Dumbledore's followers, I've seen it myself! Enough!" Voldemort replies sharply, and Severus wilts. Lily would be disgusted at his groveling if Voldemort wasn't approaching her, snake-like eyes scanning her body. "No one lives to defy me! You might be a filthy Mudblood, but you're a pretty little thing, aren't you?"
All of the other Death Eaters laugh except Severus, who turns away. With one hand, the Dark Lord plunges his fingers into her hair to feel her long, thick red locks. With the other, he grabs her jaw, and runs his thumb over her full lower lip to open her mouth. She bites him until she tastes crimson copper.
"Agh!" Voldemort backhands her, and blood runs from her nose. "Why, you little bitch! Crucio!"
Pain like she's never known before engulfs her. She writhes on the table in the ropes, and a scream is torn from her throat. Voldemort waves his hand, and the curse ends. She drags air into her lungs like she's drowning. Lily gathers all her strength, remembering back to when she was a child with untrained power. She tries to recall the feeling of wandless magic, how to use it without a traditional channel. "Expulso!" Lily screams.
Voldemort is knocked off his feet by the force of her curse. With the Death Eaters distracted, she gasps, "Accio wand!" It flies back into her hand as Rodolphus and Severus help up the Dark Lord.
"You'll pay for that, Muggleborn!" Voldemort declares, and raises his yew wand again.
Then she hears a crack as loud as thunder in the next room, and James' voice. "Where is she?!"
Her husband and the Order of the Phoenix burst through the door. "Get away from my wife! Avada Kedavra!" James bellows, and fires the Killing Curse at Voldemort.
Once again, the Dark Lord vanishes just in time. Out of the corner of her eye, Lily sees Severus disappear too. As Kingsley, Alastor, Frank, Marlene, and Dorcas each take on the other Death Eaters, Rodolphus arrogantly turns to James. "You married that disgusting Mudblood scum?"
James and Rodolphus begin duelling. Her husband's wand is knocked from his hand, and James simply tackles his opponent. The rest of the Order subdue their rivals, and then only James is left fighting. He punches Rodolphus over and over until the Death Eater's face is covered in blood.
"That's enough, mate," Kingsley says.
James keeps beating the Death Eater to a pulp. "He tortured my wife!"
"You've trounced him well and good," Alastor adds.
"Moody's right," Marlene agrees. "Rodolphus' face looks like meat."
"You can stop now." Frank tries to reach for James' shoulder, but the latter shoves him away.
The sound of Rodolphus' nose fracturing under James' fist makes everyone wince.
"James," Lily breathes, and finally her husband stops.
He stands, leaving the battered Rodolphus on the floor, and James goes to her. "Lily!" He cradles her face in his hands. "What did they do to you?"
"Cruciatus," she rasps. "And they wanted to… You know, gang up on me."
"Merlin, Lils!" He raises his wand over the ropes. "Oh, what is it- I don't remember the counter spell, shite!"
"It's alright," she says weakly.
Dorcas steps forward. "Let me…"
But James gets out a knife and simply cuts the ropes by hand from his bride. She manages to sit upright with a groan, and he pulls Lily to his chest. She trembles in his arms as he strokes her tangled hair with a gentle hand. "I'm here, I'm here," he says in a low, quiet tone. "And I'm not going to let anyone hurt you ever again."
Lily goes on another mission a month later, even though she feels like she might puke her guts out.
"Are you sure you want to come?" James asks once again, dark eyes searching her green gaze. "You know, 'cause you can stay."
"I'm fine, for the billionth time," she tells her new husband. "I'm grateful for the concern, really. But we don't have any other options. Sirius is hurt, Alice has dragon pox-"
"I know, I know," he sighs. "But Disapparate home if you need to."
Apparating is the last thing she wants, with her stomach churning like a ship at sea. Lily honestly would rather stay home, but the fight won't end just because the Order is short staffed.
She is a bit off when they catch up with Lucius. James takes the lead this time, and her timing is hazy. She provides support more than actively engaging in the duel, and her head spins with dizziness. And then Lucius sends a Fiendfyre dragon straight at Lily. She tries to dive out of the way, but it hits her hair, and she screams.
"Aguamenti!" James cries, and water pours from his wand to soak her. After her hair is put out, he kneels over her. "Lily!"
She coughs from the smoke. "Where's Lucius?"
"Escaped, are you okay?"
"I'm okay," she lies, and then rolls over to vomit.
"Sweet Merlin!" He picks her up, and if she wasn't so ill, she would find it romantic. "Don't worry, I'll take care of you."
After they return home from St. Mungo's, Marlene comes by Godric's Hollow. James has to go file the report to Dumbledore, but Lily is still throwing up non-stop. Marlene holds her best friend's singed red hair back, and a bandage is around Lily's temple.
"How long have you been like this?"
Lily tries not to gag as more bile rises in her throat. "I've been hurling for a week straight."
Marlene smiles. "When was your last period?"
The baby shower starts as one of the happiest moments of Lily's life.
She has a small but noticeable bump now, and of course she can't go on missions in this state. But even Petunia comes, sitting awkwardly alone as her sister's wizarding friends fawn over Lily. Peter is restless as well by the window. But as Sirius gives the Potters a soft toy Snitch, Lily sees Dumbledore in the corner. The aging wizard isn't joyful like the rest of the gathering. He doesn't smile, and watches Lily and James so closely it's unnerving.
"It was brilliant to see you, Tuny!" Lily says as she hugs her sister by the door. "It means the world that you stopped by. I'm so glad you came."
"So am I," Petunia admits. "I know we haven't always gotten along. But I've missed you."
"I've missed you too," the younger redhead says honestly. "Once the baby's born, you should bring Dudley over. I want to meet my nephew."
"Maybe," the elder brunette says, fiddling with her wedding ring. "But Vernon isn't wild about... well, magic."
"We'll figure something out," James offers.
The sisters hug again. "See you soon," Lily says, holding her sibling tight.
"See you," Petunia repeats, and heads out the door.
Once it closes, Lily sees that Dumbledore is the last guest. "We need to talk about a very important, very dangerous matter," he says.
"Sure, let's sit down," James says, his trademark grin fading.
They wait together at the kitchen table before the headmaster finally begins. "Sybil Trelawney had a vision at Hog's Head Pub."
James laughs. "You know she's not actually a Seer, right?"
"James," his wife says.
"What? I'm sorry, but everyone knows Trelawney's a hack."
"I believe her," Dumbledore adds. "Please let me finish, it concerns your son."
Now Lily stiffens. "Our son?"
Dumbledore nods wearily. "Sybil told me, 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.'" The grey-bearded wizard gives them a grave look. "Severus reported Voldemort plans to kill both the Longbottoms' child, and your son."
Horror turns Lily's blood to ice. Her hands instantly go to the small swell of her curved stomach. "No!"
James suddenly gets up and slams his chair, throwing it against the wall. "For Merlin's sake!" he bellows. He sighs, running a hand through his black hair. "Sorry, it's just…"
"I understand," Dumbledore says. "I know how difficult this is."
"Difficult is an understatement of the century!" Lily raises her chin. "For the love of Morgan Le Fey, Voldemort wants to murder our child!"
She strides out, going into the hall. Saying the truth out loud makes it real, and she can't stop herself from sobbing. Through her flood of tears, she sees James, and he pulls into his arms. She feels his own tears dampen her hair as she presses her face into his cotton shirt. They cling to each other, and when she feels him palm her bump, her hand covers his. But the tidal wave of grief makes her legs weak, and she sinks to her knees. He joins her on the floor, and she weeps harder than she ever has in her entire life.
Dumbledore brings Peter and Sirius to Godric's Hollow the very next day. As they sit around the parlor, Sirius leans forward, passionate as always. But Lily notices Peter fidgeting with his long sleeved shirt, even more than at the baby shower. He huddles in the armchair as if to disappear into it, unlike Sirius' lanky confidence sprawled on the sofa.
"I got your owl about the Fidelius Charm," Sirius begins, "and I burned the letter. But I'm too obvious to Voldemort-"
"Just say He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Peter interjects.
"-as your best friend, Prongs."
"Then Sirius came to me," Dumbledore explains, "and offered an alternative. Peter could be the Secret-Keeper."
"Old Voldy would never expect it," Sirius adds.
"No offense to Wormtail," James says, "but Lily and I chose Sirius for a reason. Padfoot's basically my brother, and he's going to be our kid's godfather. I trust him with my life and my family's lives."
Peter looks away, hurt flickering in his eyes. He tugs at the wrinkled, stretched hems of his sleeves. Lily is about to extend an olive branch to James' other friend when her husband interrupts. "Lils, what about your sister? A Muggle would be less noticeable."
Lily shakes her head. "No, Petunia and I aren't on the best of terms. And my brother-in-law hates magic. Vernon might make her talk if the Dark Lord tortured them."
Dumbledore adjusts his glasses. "So are we in agreement that Peter will be the Secret-Keeper of the Fidelius Charm?"
"Yes," Lily agrees.
James nods. "Fine."
Peter again pulls down the sleeve over his right arm. "Uh, yeah, sure thing."
"Out of concern," Lily says, "Peter, are you okay? Did you hurt your arm?"
"What? Oh, no!" Peter laughs nervously. "I just have a rash!"
Lily reaches out to him. "I have a book on healing potions. I can look at it for you-"
He flinches like she is about to cast an Unforgivable Curse. "No! I already went to St. Mungo's, I'm fine, really!" He gets up so fast that he almost knocks a lamp over. "I actually have an appointment I'm late for! But yeah, of course I'll be your Secret-Keeper!"
"Wormtail," James calls. But his friend hurries out the front door. "Peter!"
The others look at each other. "Well, that was bloody weird," James comments.
"He's probably just nervous about taking the oath," Lily says. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."
Lily wants to enjoy having a child. But the prophecy has stolen her happiness.
The Potters immediately go into hiding after Dumbledore and Peter cast the Fidelius Charm. James still goes out with the Order occasionally, but Lily naturally stays home. She tries to stay calm, given stress isn't good for the baby. They've decided on the name Harry, as the prophecy stated it would be a boy as clearly as a Muggle ultrasound. Dumbledore arranges for Brigid – a mediwitch with high security clearance – to stop by the Tudor cottage for checkups. But now every milestone is terrifying. Feeling Harry kick for the first time makes Lily wonder just how long he'll be alive. Making a home birth plan requires secrecy, instead of a natural part of life to look forward to at St. Mungo's. As she comes to term, she even asks James to stop going on missions. He agrees, no matter how much he paces from being cooped up inside.
Then she wakes to a contraction and a low pressure on her pelvis. The mediwitch Brigid arrives quickly. Lily is in a sea of agony, and the only thing comparable is when Voldemort cast the Cruciatus Curse on her. Leaning with her back against James' chest, she clutches his hand so hard he winces, but he never says a word about it. He smooths her sweat-soaked hair as Brigid gives her potions, and Lily shakes so hard she nearly vibrates. She hooks up her legs, bears down, and screams until she nearly loses her voice-
And oh, Harry is perfect.
He's covered in blood and fluids and is so impossibly small, but he's perfect. Lily has never felt this much intense love or desire to protect another, not even her husband. She loves James, but Harry? She would die for Harry.
A week after the birth, Remus stays with Lily and Harry while James goes on a mission.
Part of her does want to fight alongside her husband. But magic or not, bearing a child is excruciating, not to mention being exhausted looking after a newborn. Lily simply can't go, but it's clear James is thrilled. His eyes have the old sparkle again, and he looks just as he did before a Quidditch game. He kisses their infant's head, and then his wife on the lips. "Bye."
She clasps her husband's hand. "I need to know that you're coming back."
"Nothing's gonna stop me." He winks. "See you soon."
James leaves through the Floo Network in the parlor fireplace. Lily stiffly carries her son to Remus. "Could you hold Harry?"
He pales. "Uh, now?"
She nods. "I'm going to shower."
"I don't know if this a good idea."
"I really need to shower. I'm tired and I have baby puke in my hair." She puts Harry in Remus' arms as her friend protests and sputters.
"Uh, well, I-" He looks down in terror. "Wait, Lily, I don't… What if I-"
She tilts her head. "What?"
Remus can't meet her gaze. "What if I hurt him?"
After a pause, she replies, "You won't."
"When I was four, I almost bit my mum once. Right after Fenrir-" Still unable to look at her, his brown eyes glitter with tears. "I could've infected my own mother to be a monster like me. It was during a full moon, and-"
She bends down by the sofa. "Exactly, it was during a full moon. You were turned as a werewolf, you weren't in control of your actions. That wasn't you. The Remus Lupin I know, in human form, has the tenderest heart of anyone I've ever met. No one is kinder than you. That's why I trust you to watch Harry while I'm upstairs."
Remus finally looks at her, and wipes at his tear with the back of his hand. "Okay."
"I'll be back," Lily says with a smile.
When she returns drying her hair with a towel, Harry is gurgling happily as Remus plays peekaboo. It's fitting for a man who has two sides of himself, hiding half of his nature. But the one he shows tonight is sweet and gentle.
On her first post maternity leave mission, Lily is torn. Part of her wants to go back to the two-month-old Harry and never leave him again. But she has to fight and end the war so Harry has a safe world to grow up in. Things won't fix themselves if she does nothing.
And then, when Lily is out on patrol with James, they see Voldemort for the third time.
Memories of the prophecy come flooding back, and fury like she's never known rises within her. This is the only time Lily has ever wanted to use an Unforgivable Curse. She wants to torture Voldemort with Crucio, or slaughter him with Avada Kedavra. He intends to murder her son, and so she will do what it takes to defend her child. Even if it means using the Dark Arts for the first time in her life.
Alongside James, Lily chases down Voldemort like fire is at her heels. But then the Dark Lord sends a hex at James, and he falls with a hoarse scream. Her husband's broken leg is twisted at an unnatural angle that shouldn't be physically possible. Lily thinks she might be sick.
"Go after him!" James shouts. "Kill him, Lily! You can do it, kill him now!" But Voldemort is gone, and she can't leave her husband. Not even take down the Dark Lord.
When they get to St. Mungo's, James is still upright but ashen. So Lily invents an explanation for the receptionist as he leans, shaking, against his wife. The Order isn't official to the Ministry, after all. "My husband was in a broom accident!" the redhead lies brightly. "Flew straight into a tree, might've broken his leg, how crazy is that?"
When Alice helps the sore Lily home three weeks later, a solemn James is drinking firewhisky in the kitchen. He picks at the full length cast on his leg. St. Mungo's gave him Skele-Gro, but not even magic can heal fractured bones overnight.
"Hey, Alice," he says in a flat tone. "I heard Lily almost died." There's none of his cocky suaveness, no usual shine in his eyes, no smirk on his lips. He scratches under the plaster.
"Uh, yeah," Alice says softly.
"Frank sent me a Patronus about it."
Lily sits down with her friend's assistance. "I feel like I got run over by the Knight Bus."
Alice goes on. "We couldn't Apparate, given Lily got beat up pretty bad. So it took us longer than normal to get here."
James tilts the bottle on the table, balancing the Firewhisky on its edge. "Who gave you all those bruises?"
"Mulciber and MacNair," Lily explains. "I gave them scars in return they won't forget."
"I should check on Neville. Night." Alice Disapparates, leaving Lily and James in the heavy silence.
"Harry's asleep," he says.
"Butterbeer is more your style," she begins carefully.
He takes another swallow, and grimaces at the burn. "I needed something stronger."
She always seen James drink casually, never like this. "What's wrong?"
"I wasn't…" He sighs.
"What?"
His jaw clenches. "I wasn't there to protect you tonight."
"You're injured," she points out.
He explodes. "Exactly! I'm stuck here with this stupid cast like a wimp! You're fighting Death Eaters, almost get murdered, and I can't protect my own spouse! I hate feeling so… so bloody useless!"
She reaches for his hand across the table. "I know you have a restless, wanderer's soul. You hate feeling inactive." She keeps her tone even, yet resolute. "But I can look after myself, and hold my own in a fight."
"Yes, but-"
"I even gave Voldemort a few knocks with wandless magic, when the Death Eaters got me. I'm not some helpless damsel in distress."
"Lils…"
"Look at me. We both help each other, and there's nothing wrong with that. I love you, James, but I don't need saving."
"I know," he admits. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been such a pigheaded idiot. Being stuck here is getting to me. You don't need me to save you, Lily, you never did."
She kisses him, even though leaning forward makes her ribs ache. She presses her face into his neck, and he holds her tight as they sit together in the quiet kitchen.
James' cast finally comes off. But no instructions come from the Order, and it's clear the Potters are out of active service.
Lily starts feeling stir crazy too, but at least she gets to spend more time with Harry. She chases him around the cottage as he starts to run. Then he flies unsteadily on a toy broom from Sirius, a gift that only goes two feet off the ground. Still, even with Cushioning Charms, the one-year-old gets knocks, but Lily and James are always there to pick him up and tend to scrapes. James lets their son play with the old Snitch from Hogwarts, entertaining him with the Invisibility Cloak, and Lily reads to Harry every night.
Naturally they can't go out on Halloween. Every sound from outside puts them on edge, joyful shrieks from a child or laughter from a neighboring parent. "I hope Harry can be that carefree one day," Lily says softly, looking down at their son in her lap.
"So do I." James gets up from the sofa to stretch. "I'll put him to bed."
After a minute, she follows them upstairs. When she comes to the nursery door, James is holding the fussing Harry at the crib. "You've got nothing to worry about," he says quietly to the one-year-old. "We'll always be right here. I'll take care of you and your mum."
She puts a hand on James' back to let him know she's there. Then she kisses his shoulder blade. "Hey."
"Hey," James repeats as she presses her cheek against his spine.
"You do a wonderful job taking care of us," she assures him, going to face him. She knows men have a deep primal need to protect and defend, and James is no exception. Though she's not weak, Lily doesn't want to deny James entirely. Then she kisses Harry's dark hair. "And I will always be right here too, Harry."
Their son yawns, and James lays him down carefully. "There you go." The young, frightened parents watch the one-year-old fall asleep, but Lily tries to savor the peace. There's not enough of it during the war.
When the pair goes to their room, they kiss wordlessly and fall into bed. Afterwards as they lay side by side in the moonlight, tears prick at Lily's eyes.
"Lils?" James asks, worried.
"I'm just grateful to have you and Harry," she explains. "The war rages on, but at least we've got each other. I love you more than life itself, James."
"And I love you more than life itself, Lily." He gently wipes away one of her tears with his thumb. "Nothing will bring us apart."
"I know."
She curls into his side, and he puts an arm over her waist. "That's a promise," he whispers as she falls asleep.
