James and Lily stepped through the hedge-lined iron gate onto the front lawn of the cottage in which they were now meant to live, peering up at it and squinting into the sun. Lily held Harry in her arms, and James held her in his.
"It looks nice," Lily said. "Picturesque." The cottage was two stories tall, made of dark wood and small windows and a steeply-slanted roof. It was a bit smaller than the home they'd bought in Pixie Grove, but James supposed he and Harry and Lily wouldn't need too much space for themselves anyway.
"I'm going to miss the others," James murmured. "It's going to be so different without them." All of them were splitting up—Sirius had found himself a cabin off in the woods nearby, which he and Remus and Peter were currently inundating with defensive wards. Remus and Peter would be the only ones left in their original home once all was said and done.
"I'm going to miss them, too," Lily admitted. "Even Sirius, possibly. I just hope that Remus is okay without the rest of us."
"Peter will take care of him," James told her; "he promised me he would." Peter had always been good with that sort of thing. Better than James, at least.
Lily nodded. She glanced around at the cottages that surrounded theirs. "I heard Bathilda Bagshot lives around here, you know."
James blinked at her. "Who?"
"The author of A History of Magic?" Lily sighed at the look on her husband's face. "Oh, honestly, James, she's only one of the most famous magical historians to ever live. Didn't you read anything while we were in school?"
James shrugged. "Not if I could help it."
"There you are!" The door to the cottage flew open, and out stepped Emmeline Vance with her arms spread wide open. "We're almost done with the furnishings—it looks great in there, you're going to love it!"
"Oh, thank you, Emmeline," Lily said, shifting Harry in her arms so she could give her a hug. "You all are lifesavers, really."
"It's the least we could do," Emmeline told her. She glanced down at baby Harry. "I cannot imagine what this has been like for a brand-new mother," she murmured. "You must have nerves of steel, Lily."
"I don't know about that." Lily kissed Harry's forehead. "We're just…doing what we have to do, I suppose. For Harry."
Harry let out a sudden wail; Lily rocked him back and forth to calm him, but he wouldn't quiet. "He's tired," she explained; "it's been a long day."
Emmeline nodded understandingly. "Well, he's going to love his new nursery," she promised. "Come inside and check it out!" She headed back towards the door, beckoning the Potters after her.
James and Lily exchanged a somewhat trepidatious glance. "I suppose this is it," Lily said. "This is where we're living now, at least until…I don't even know what would have to happen for Harry to be safe."
"Guess we just have to wait and find out what Dumbledore's got planned." James squeezed Lily's arm, urging her forward. "Come on. Let's go see our new home."
