TW for implied death
The grief was the worst part.
Sure, James had saved them from Voldemort, selflessly sacrificing his life to protect his wife and son, but it didn't make the pain any easier to bear. If anything, Lily blamed herself — for not keeping her wand on her person, for dying in James's stead.
But she couldn't afford to think like that. Not with the one-year-old in her arms, crying softly.
Harry had nightmares too. Lily suspected they were like hers, except he was too young to understand what he had witnessed that night. But he understood that it was not something good, and James's absence had had a profound effect on him. He woke up screaming nightly, tear tracks on his chubby cheeks. And Lily would wake up from her own nightmares and tend to Harry, trying to focus on soothing him rather than mulling over those awful dreams.
"Oh, Harry," she murmured, cradling him against her shoulder. "I would do anything to make them stop. I miss him too."
She felt a flash of anger at Peter. Peter was the sole cause behind all of this — he had betrayed James and Lily's location to his true leader, and as a result, he'd gotten one of his best friends murdered. As soon as she could leave Harry in good care, maybe with one of the Order, she would go after the bastard and kill him herself. For all that he'd taken from her and her son. He would pay.
But for now, Lily swore she would protect her son, no matter what it took. She would even give her own life if it meant Harry could be safe.
It took her a few moments to realize that Harry was sound asleep against her shoulder. Quietly Lily put him back in his crib, trying not to look at the large gap between two of the bars, and snuck out of the room.
Before she did, however, she stole one last look at her sleeping son and her heart warmed.
Peace.
339 words
Capture the Flag - Single Parent!AU
