Fatal Fifth
1983 was the year of Lily and James' fifth wedding anniversary. They had also been in hiding for three years.
James, despite everyone's warnings, decided to take Lily out for the special date. After all, they were only going to Hogsmeade, and there would be plenty of witches and wizards around. What could possibly go wrong?
Anything that can, will.
James and Lily went to the Three Broomsticks, leaving Harry with me and Remus. Rhialle and Harry were growing up almost as siblings, rather than cousins. Lily and I were always visiting each other, as James and Remus were the only people we could really trust. Life under the Fidelius charm was very isolated.
So Lily and James were at the Three Broomsticks when Lord Voldemort attacked. Obviously, Lily and James were some of the first to react, Lily sending a Patronus to contact Albus, while James actually stood up and duelled with Lord Voldemort!
But then the Death Eaters arrived, and they overpowered James. He died that night, as did Lily and three others, before Albus arrived.
I only knew something was wrong when the Fidelius charm failed. Remus tried to talk to Albus by Floo, but he couldn't get hold of him. And then, when Albus appeared five minutes later, we knew something was wrong.
Oddly enough, Sirius was quite comforting. He knew what it was like to lose a sibling – Regulus and Sirius might not have been close, but they were brothers – and was very sympathetic. Remus was good, too, and Peter helped look after Harry. I suppose my friends must have been upset too – Lily and James were both really nice people – but Lily was– had been – my sister.
I clung to my friends during the first dark days, and gradually came out of my tunnel of grief.
And there were Harry and Rhialle, looking at me with Lily's eyes.