Chapter 3


"Reckon I should go and ask him to come down?" Sirius asked Remus.

Currently they were in the living room, all dressed up in black robes. They were to go to Godric's Hollow to attend Lily's funeral. They were waiting for James to come down.

Another five minutes passed and James was still nowhere to be seen.

"We are running late," Remus said, getting up, "I will go call him."

There was no need as he found James standing near the staircase in green robes. Colour as that of Lily's eyes. Remus and Sirius turned away to hide their tears. Green was Lily's favourite colour. James came forward holding Hermione.

"I will hold her for you," Remus said moving forward.

James didn't oppose this time. Together they walked out of the house and apparated to Godric Hollow.

They had directly apparated to the graveyard, to avoid looking at the house. None had the strength to do so.

There was a small gathering and James was grateful to Dumbledore for that. Almost everyone present there was Order member. James also noticed Severus Snape there, but didn't say anything as he passed by.

If Remus and Sirius noticed him they didn't show it. They took their seats in the front row. Dumbledore was standing by the casket, which was decorated with tulips and saying something, but James wasn't listening. His mind was reeling with the memories of the past few blissful years he had spent with Lily.

He proposed her in Hogwarts … Astronomy Tower. He planned a dinner and decided to take her for a broom ride and propose her mid-air. However, when the time to propose came, he couldn't find the right words. Remus had written such a beautiful poem for him, but it seemed that his mind had gone blank. He then decided to just give her the ring Sirius had selected. Surely, she will understand the meaning. But he had forgotten to put it in the robes when he decided to change them. Damn! So, finally he just blurted the words, in the most un-romantic way, with no ring to offer.

"Will y-you m-marry me?"

They were mid-air and Lily had frozen. "Y-you--" she had managed to stammer.

James rolled his eyes. "No. I am asking for Sirius. Of course me." Tears started leaking from those beautiful emerald eyes.

"I-I am sorry, Lily," James started, "I didn't mean to hurt--"

Lily stopped him right there by kissing him on the lips.

James smiled as he remembered how happy he was when she had tearfully accepted. It was the best day of his life. Well ... not better than wedding day though.

"Are you sure she wont run away?" James asked Sirius for the hundredth time.

"No mate, she won't," Sirius assured him.

"How do you know?" James demanded.

"I just know," Sirius said lamely looking at Remus for help. Sirius was the best man. He was already nervous and James wasn't doing anything to help him.

"I just met her," Remus said, "She was looking beautiful and more than ever in love with you."

That calmed James' nervous. Sirius mouthed 'thank you' to Remus, who winked.

Remus had been right. Lily was looking stunning. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Like an angel.

It looked like a dream when they got married. James just couldn't take his eyes off of her.

When all the guests had gone and he was lonely with her, he pulled her close for a kiss.

"You are finally mine," he whispered.

"Yes, Mr. Potter," Lily teased before leaning in for another kiss.

James' smile broadened at this memory. And then she had gifted him with the most precious gift – Harry.

"He is so beautiful," James whispered as he sat alone with Lily in the room. Remus had taken all the guests outside to give them some private moments. Bless him.

"Our baby," Lily leaned against James.

"Our baby," James agreed, kissing Harry's forehead. "I love you my baby."

"We both will be there for you, little one. Promise," Lily said. "We love you Harry."

This memory wiped off the smile of James' face. She had promised that she will be there for Harry. But they both had left him alone. It wasn't supposed to be this way. They were to live for long like a happy family, see Harry grow up, go to Hogwarts, play Quidditch, bring home a girl, marry and have children. Lily and he were supposed to see all this and age together and retire and be grandparents.

But Lily had broken her promise. Tears started falling down James cheeks. She won't be there for him to wipe his tears, to make her feel happy. Harry wasn't around there to say 'Daddy'. They both had left him behind. Alone.

James didn't know what all everyone said. He didn't know what he was supposed to say when he saw Lily lying in the casket. She looked so peaceful. Because she had done her duty. She died saving Harry. Whereas James had failed in his. He had failed them both.

Sirius was looking at James with concern. He had been crying throughout the ceremony and even after it got over.

"Let him," Remus whispered, trying to quiet the crying baby in his arms. "He needs it. You look after him while I got out and try to quiet Hermione."

However, it didn't help. Hermione didn't stop crying. She also had been crying through out the ceremony as if she also knew of the sad occasion.

Remus went inside the graveyard. "I am going home, Padfoot. Maybe she needs milk."

Sirius nodded and Remus was about to turn when James got up and approached them. He wiped his ears and extended his arms for Hermione. Hermione immediately responded and James hugged her. Both were crying for their loss. Remus and Sirius could no longer control their tears and hugged the two of them.

They cried in the group hug. Each one of them had lost in that single night. And all of them were grieving together. Whether they knew it or not, whether they accepted it or not, but they bonded in that special way. They were a family. A family bonded with loss and grief.

"I wont fail us this time," James whispered determinedly.


A/N: It is supposed to be a sad chapter. I hope i succeeded in making it one. This is going to be last one though. By the way, let's just assume Hermione was same age as Harry. So, she is also an year old right now. Help me guys. How does one year old behave? Tell me.

Review Please.

Ciao