This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Word Count: 1578

Title: Lighting Strikes Twice

Note: Muggle AU, Soldier AU, stand alone chapter to mc Army Collection, set as prequel to last chapters.

Warnings: Angst, Death

Beta:

Golden Snitch

[Name] Crissie

[School] Uagadou

[House] Ogyinae

Quidditch League:

[Team]:

[Position]

[Theme]: Quidditch Supplies

[Prompts]:

[Theme]: Book Club

[Prompts]:

[Theme]: Pokemon

[Prompts]:

International Wizarding School Competition:

[School]: Durmstrang

[Prompts]:

[Theme]:

[Position] Exchange

Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

[House]:

[Assignment]:

[Task]:

The House Cup:

[House]:

[Class]

[Prompts]:

[Category]: Drabble/Standard

Hogwarts

Assignment 6: Hagiology: Task #1: Prompt: Write a soldier!AU.

Yearly:

Seasonally:

Quarterly:

Writing Club:

Oracle Challenge:

Fortnightly:

1:

2:

James Potter and Sirius Black fight in the war, when James loses Sirius during a bombing, all he has left is Lily, and their baby, until tragedy strikes again.

Flashback

XX James XX

James sat staring at the parchment as if it contained the secrets of the universe, and as far he was concerned, if could have. He left his wife Lily a couple of months ago, and now this letter from his beloved flower contained the most exciting news he had ever seen.

"James?" Sirius said, walking into the mess hall of the campsite and seeing his friend distracted. "Is something wrong?"

James beamed at his best friend. "Nah, I wouldn't say anything is wrong."

"Come on, spill it then," Sirius said, taking a seat across from him.

"Lily is pregnant," James exclaimed. "We are having a baby, Padfoot."

"That's, that's wonderful news mate!" Sirius said, clapping him on the shoulder. James could see the earnest happiness on Sirius' face despite their uncertain futures.

"But, what if…" James started out, and he knew Sirius read his face when Sirius held up a hand and stopped him.

"We knew what we signed up for, Lily knows the risks we face just as much," Sirius insisted.

It occured to James to point out this wasn't part of the plan, James wasn't ready to be a parent. Even if they came out of this mission alive. The Russians were on a "bomb first, ask questions later," policy, and him having a wife would not matter to the enemy forces. People become a faceless mass when they were the colours of the military, they both knew that much.

"Prongs, I am sure we will all be just fine," Sirius grinned. "It's better than hiding at home and letting others fight this fight for us. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah, you're right," James said with a slight sigh. "We chose to do this freely. We wanted to help our country be a safer place for the future generations…"

"Hey, I hope this isn't too forward of me, but who is going to be the godparent?" Sirius asked, smiling.

"You are, of course," James insisted without hesitation.

"Really?"

"I spoke to Lily, and she agreed with me."

It seemed like a regular cold night, their shoes and socks wet from digging trenches in the treacherous downpour of rain and the dark skies chilled James to his bones. Their squadron leader had suggested this was a good spot to wait out the Russian forces they were expecting to attack at a moment's notice.

"Everyone! Take cover!" Lieutenant Lupin shouted as the sound of open fire descended on the men and they rushed to kneel down behind the trench. The sound of the bullets flying mixing with the water clattering against their boots and soaking their skin. A couple of their men were lost, but James counted his lucky stars that he and Sirius made it out alive. The Russian men were forced to retreat, without the bodies of their men.

This feeling of luck didn't last very long, however.

"Sirius, come with me, we will retrieve our men," Lupin's voice called out, what felt like hours later. The rain had stopped, and the full moon felt like an eerie night light for a child that's just awoken from a nightmare, but James' nightmare was only beginning.

Nobody could have predicted that one of the fallen enemy soldiers had managed to place a few landmines in no-man's land between their trench and the Russian outposts. Sirius went ahead, eager to help, and the sound of the explosion left James' ears ringing, and he felt himself shouting, but he heard no sound. It was like being in a silent movie. He saw the sparks, and heard a noise, then nothing. His best friend's body couldn't be seen through the rubble, but he knew what happened. Sirius was gone, if they were lucky. His survival would have been worse than death. He saw Remus's lips moving, and then felt an arm on his own- Peter Pettigrew. James thought the rain had started up again, but then he realised it was his own tears running down his dirt-stricken face. He was in shock, once his cries died out, he went quiet, and let his friend Peter help him back to their base.

A couple of weeks later, James managed to snap out of it when a letter from Lily arrived. It spoke to him with fondness and love, and he realises he still had someone to live for- Lily counted on him to shake it off, it was a war, and people died. At least Lily was safe at home. He recognized her penmanship, and the personalised paper she used with flower borders, he remembered buying it for her before he left.

Dear James,

I heard about Sirius, I would understand if you choose to come home earlier. We would never blame you, my darling. You know I worry about you being so far from home. It's not like my sister has been any help. She blames you for leaving, and I know this isn't something you would like to hear, and therefore I apologize. Petunia and her husband are expecting as well, she is only a couple of months ahead of me, but I haven't spoken to her at all lately.

I believe that the only way I would have found out is the way that I did- we went to the same doctors office, and I spotted her and the baby bump easily. So, to be polite, we made conversation. I feel so alone here, but soon our child will be here. I haven't found out the gender, I thought it would be a nice surprise. I painted our spare room yellow, I think you would like it, I added a picture for you to see what it looks like.

Yours forever

Lily xx

It wasn't a quick fix, James was still skittish, and every time he heard an unexpected noise, his senses were heightened. It made him a better soldier, despite the hardened heart, he still held hope now- he would make the country safe for his unborn child. As the weeks passed, he held onto the picture of the nursery, the ultrasound, and one of Lily, wherever he went. He got home from patrol, and saw the sad eyes of Peter.

"Peter?" James asked, "What's going on?"

"You might want to sit down," Remus said, taking a telegram from the pocket of his coat.

James felt cold as ice. Telegrams are bad news, always, even in this direction.

James could only nod, gesturing for the men to continue. They were both his friends as well, despite the relationship of Sirius having been more like a brother.

"Here," Remus said, handing over the piece of offending parchment as if it would make it go away. James read in silence.

Lieutenant Potter,

The former Mrs Lily Potter has unexpectedly died during the birth of your son, we have him in social services until you return from deployment.

Mrs Pomfrey

Head of Social Services.

Neither of his friends questioned him leaving for his room- they both probably believed he would be leaving, and would stay at home after. James' mind was spinning. He wouldn't be a father. He couldn't look at the child that killed his beloved Lily without holding it against her forever. He knew it wasn't fair, but this was the last straw. The second strike had taken him down, he was suffering from PTSD and now his heart was closed.

He would return, but only to find another home for the boy. The boy he decided to call Harry, it had always been one of Lily's favourite names. He wondered how much it would cost for the Dursley's to take the boy in. He was sure ready to make it worth their while.

He held the boy, wrapped in a blanket, looking into the emerald eyes of his wife, and he rang the doorbell.

"I could never forgive you," he whispered to the tiny child, looking up at him curiously, not understanding what his father was about to do.

"Potter," the voice of Vernon spoke, hollow but with disdain. "You know you are not welcome here."

"This isn't social," James said in a hollow voice.

Vernon seemed to notice the lack of Lily, and slowly opened the door.

"Vernon, dear, who is at the door?" Petunia said, arriving to see James walk in with the bundle of blankets.

"You," she said simply.

"Me," James confirmed.

"And Lily?" Petunia asked, peering around him as if Lily would be hiding behind his frame.

"Lily," James choked. "She didn't make it."

"Oh," Petunia said, falling into a nearby chair. Despite their differences, he was sure his sister-in-law had loved Lily, in her own way.

"I can't take care of this," he said, gesturing to the baby in his arms. "I need to go back, I will pay you both handsomely to take him in as well."

He watched looks flicker across the Dursley's faces, and he wondered how much begging it would take.

"Why should we?" Vernon asked.

"Surely some extra money would go far, I heard about your own baby," James reasoned.

"Dear, that is true," Petunia said softly.

"I suppose," Vernon agreed. James heard a baby cry.

Once Petunia returned with the chubby boy, he managed to ask.

"What's his name?"

"Dudley," Petunia said lovingly, "and him?" she nodded in the direction of Harry.

"Harry."

"Lily always did love that name," she said, and James knew he had won her over.

Vernon sighed.

"Okay then, we will do it."