Remus came out of the kitchen with an iced glass of water in his hand. He set it down on the table and helped her sit up.
"Thanks," she said sweetly to him.
"Sure thing. How are you holding up?"
"I'm ok. I'm tired though. And I haven't been allowed outside for weeks."
"You know James is only trying to do what's best."
"I know that's his only saving grace at the moment." Remus laughed at that and she smiled. There was a small crack and James appeared holding a bag.
"James, you're the best," she said as he handed her the bag. She pulled out a cheeseburger and fries.
"I try," he replied, grinning at her. There was another small crack and they all looked up to see Sirius standing there.
"Wow, Lily, you look ready to pop," he said. Lily glared at him.
"Thank you Sirius, I'm glad I can always count on you for a compliment," she said dryly. James laughed.
"You know I'm good for it," he replied. "Actually I need to talk to you guys. Albus says Voldemort's planning something. His death eaters have been far too quiet lately and it's making him nervous."
"What does he want us to do?" Lily said. James stood up quickly and glared at Sirius.
"I'm not leaving now, absolutely out of the question," he growled. Lily placed her hand on his arm.
"James, let him finish." He turned to look at her with fierce eyes. Finally he nodded and sat down.
"James, you idiot," Sirius said, "he doesn't want you to leave, nor would he ever ask. He wants me to go stay at Grimwald place for a while. He thinks that thing that calls itself a house elf, Kreacher, knows what's going on."
"How would he?"
"How the hell should I know? It's not like that thing ever listened to me nor did anything I said before." Sirius turned to Lily. "James will get word to me about the kid. I'll be at St. Mungo's soon as you are, I promise." Lily smiled at him and nodded.
"I wouldn't expect anything less from his Godfather." Sirius grinned broadly.
"Sure it's not father?" he asked slyly. James punched him in the arm.
"Yes Sirius. It's definitely not father," Lily responded.
"Alright alright, I get it. I'm going now, before I lose my arm." He shot James a look and grinned before disapperating.
Two nights later James came in and found Remus sleeping on the couch. When the door shut Remus woke up.
"You're finally home," he said, surprised. "What happened?"
James, looking tired and pissed said, "That ridiculous lead Kreacher gave us was such a waste of time I don't even know. It's now passed 1:30 in the morning and I haven't seen my pregnant wife in over 10 hours."
"Damn, that house elf needs to die. Listen, go spend the rest of the night with her, though I think she's asleep, I'm going home." James nodded and Remus disappeared. James walked into the room her and Lily shared and sank down into the bed next to her. He looked at her beautiful face in the light coming through the window and placed his hand on her stomach. She turned to face him.
"I'm not asleep," she whispered.
"You should be. You need to rest."
"How am I suppose to do that when you're out chasing Vodemort's spies?" she asked. He sighed and brushed a piece of her red hair out of her face.
"I don't know. I'm home now though. Sleep." She closed her eyes and he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. Twenty minutes later, she felt her first contraction.
"James," she called out anxiously in the darkness. The lights went on and James was standing next to her in under two seconds.
"Is it time?" he asked excitedly. She nodded, breathing hard. He pulled out a small mirror from the bedside table and called out to it. "Sirius, it's time, meet us at the hospital.
"At this time of night? Can't we plan that out better next time?" a tired sounding Sirius asked.
"Shut up and go!" James called back. He set the mirror down and gently pulled Lily up from the bed. Carrying her, he apparated to the hospital. The attendant on duty looked up and instantly recognized James and Lily. She grabbed a wheel chair and pushed it towards them. He set Lily down and she grabbed his hand. Sirius was standing there too suddenly. The nurse pushed Lily down the hallway to a vacant room the hospital had been keeping ready for her. Sirius stopped by the door as a doctor and another nurse ran in. He sat in a chair across the way and waited. Remus showed up about twenty minutes after and joined him.
"Dumbledore's coming too," he said. Sirius nodded sleepily. "Are you seriously going to sleep while she has this baby?"
"Yup," he replied. He put his hands behind his head and leaned back, closing his eyes. Remus shook his head. Dumbledore walked down the hall soon after that, his eyes twinkling at the sight of a sleeping Sirius and a worried Remus.
"Have no fears my friend," he said to Remus. "James isn't about to let anything happen to her or that baby." Remus laughed.
"That's true," he agreed. Dumbledore conjured up a third chair and joined them. They waited a while more before James finally appeared again looking excited.
"I'm a father!" he said happily. Remus punched Sirius, who woke up and fell off his chair.
"Whassamatter?" he asked.
"You idiot! James is a dad!" Remus quickly filled him in. Sirius jumped up, all thoughts of sleep gone and pulled James into a bear hug. When he let go it was Remus' turn. They were all laughing when they entered the room again. The doctor tried to push them back out but had no luck.
"She shouldn't have this many visitors! She needs to rest!" he exclaimed.
"Oh nonsense," Sirius said. "She wants us here, she knows it."
"It's alright doctor," a tired sounding Lily said. "They don't listen to anyone but themselves, just let them stay." Dumbledore was standing by Lily holding the baby in his arms. Sirius, Remus, and James crowded around him. He looked up at them and handed the child carefully to Sirius.
"Ok, come on, tell us his name now!" Sirius said as he looked down at the kid.
"Harry. Harry James Potter."
"I like it!" Sirius said. He handed Harry to Remus.
"Sweet Merlin," Remus muttered. "Look at those eyes."
"I know," James said. "They're his mother's."
"Yeah but the rest of him is definitely you," Sirius added. "Betcha he even has that hair too."
"Oh no," Lily moaned. "Isn't James' hair bad enough for any household? Do I really have to have to of them with uncontrollable hair?"
"I thought you liked my hair!" James said. He sat down on the bed beside her and slipped his hand into hers.
"No James. It dives me crazy." Everyone laughed at that. Remus handed Harry back to James and he and Lily looked down at their child. Dumbledore gently but firmly pushed Remus and Sirius out of the room, the doctor followed and the door shut behind them.
"James, isn't he beautiful?" she asked quietly.
"No where near as beautiful as you are my love," he replied. She rolled her eyes.
"Oh please."
"Ah, I never lie!"
"You're a marauder. Who is ever going to believe that?" He grinned at her and leaned over to kiss her. Harry yawned and stretched his little arms and James and Lily looked down at him and smiled.
July 31st rolled around again a year later and James threw a large party for his son dispite Lily's protests that he would have no memory of it. Frank and Alice brought their child, Neville to the party, Sirius and Remus decorated the whole house and the three of them, along with Peter, all wore matching shirts saying 'we love Harry'. Lily knew the idea was ridiculous but she couldn't help but have a good time. Harry was saying a few nonsense words by then, but Lily's favorite was 'Tankoo' which was the best his could do for 'thank you' and all night everyone laughed and had a good time. James didn't bring alcohol in because it was a party for an underaged wizard he said. It was a good time and good times were about to get scarce.
At the end of August, just before Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts, he came to the Potter's.
"James, Lily," he began in a grave tone. "We have received some unfortunate news. Voldemort is looking for Harry. He wants to destroy him." Lily tightened her grip on James' hand as she heard this and he put his other arm around her, holding her close. "I think you're best option is to go into hiding. I offer myself as your secret keeper." James shook his head.
"Sirius will do it. Albus, thank you for offering but Sirius is closer then blood to me. I wouldn't feel right giving the job to anyone else." Dumbledore nodded his head once.
"I thought you would feel that way. We will do our best to protect you three." A week later Lily, James and Harry had successfully vanished from sight. September came slowly, days going by at a slow rate. James and Lily, though they found it most difficult to be so cut off from everyone, found ways to get by.
The middle of October arrived and with it came Sirius.
"James, I think you should change secret keepers," he said one night.
"What are you talking about? Why would I do that?"
"It's to obvious that it's me. I'll be the first person Voldemort comes to look for. It should be someone he wouldn't expect."
"Sirius, I couldn't ask anyone else."
"I think you should give the job to Peter."
"Absolutely not! Sirius we don't even know him anymore. He turns up every now again completely confused and desperate. How would he ever make a good secret keeper?"
"Because no one would suspect him of it."
"Sirius, just go back into hiding and keep us safe."
"James, I can't I'm thinking of Lily and Harry here, the best way to keep them safe is to switch to someone no one will guess. Peter is the perfect choice. We know he's still trustworthy, even if he is a bit strange. Look, Remus is gone half the time and we still know he's trustworthy. Peter is a Marauder. He'd make a good choice."
"Sirius, Albus thinks someone close to us is slipping Voldemort information and the only person I know that isn't is you."
"Yeah, James I know. But when I'm dead, what are you going to do?"
"Don't talk that way Sirius."
"I'm thinking about the possibilities James. Talk to Lily about it. I think she'll agree."
"I do agree," Lily said from the doorway. "With James."
"Sirius, we asked you to be secret keeper, we told Albus we wanted you even though he offered."
"He offered because he doesn't trust anyone! For all we know he already thinks it's me."
"Sirius!" Lily exclaimed. "Albus would never think that."
"And he would never let Peter fight for us if he didn't know the man was trustable."
"Sirius," James started.
"No, James, it makes sense. You want to keep Harry safe and the best way to do that is not through me." Lily sighed softly.
"He might be right James."
"He's not! Don't agree with him Lily! This is stupid. We're letting this man take away our lives!" James stood up in anger.
"No James, we're doing what we have to do to keep Harry alive," Sirius said. He sank back down next to Lily with his head in his hands. Lily wrapped her arm around him.
"I don't know, I just don't know anymore. I feel like I should be out there doing something instead of hiding away like a coward."
"James," Lily said softly, "you are not a coward. You've done incredible things. The best of which was coming into hiding, throwing your pride out the window and realizing that disappearing was the best option. Trust Sirius, he makes a good point. No one is going to think of Peter. He's always been there for you. Let him do this. He won't let us down." Finally, James nodded.
"Ok. We'll make the switch. But Sirius, you do realize this puts you in more danger. Once Voldemort realizes you're not our secret keeper, he has no need to keep you alive."
"James, I'll be alright." Harry started crying in the next room. Lily got up to check on him but James stopped her.
"I'll get him." He left the room.
"Will he be ok with this?" Sirius asked
"Yes, he'll be ok. He just doesn't want to put you in danger. Voldemort will find you soon, we all know this. And if you have nothing valuable, Sirus he just doesn't want to lose his best friend. I don't want to lose you either."
"I'll be ok Lily. Even if it means dying, I'll be ok. My heart died with someone else a long time ago." This brought tears to Lily's eyes and she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
"Sirius, be careful. Please, please, please be careful," she whispered through her tears. He kissed her gently on the top of her head and nodded.
"I will. I promise."
Two days later the switch was made. Quietly, only Sirius, Peter, James and Lily knew.
On Halloween Lily came down the stairs in much higher spirits then either of them had been in for a while.
"What's got you so happy?" James asked as he set down the paper he was reading. She sat down on the couch, draping her legs over his and laid back against the edge. Harry was sitting in the small crib next to them.
"James, it's Halloween!" she said excitedly. He leaned slightly towards her.
"So it is."
"Well, I just decided that tonight is not a night to be down." James laughed at this and pulled her up, dancing her around the living room. Harry started laughing at the sight of his parents. They both looked down at him.
"You are a fairly playful child," James told him. He smiled playfully at his kid and laughed at the same time Lily's hand tightened considerably around his. He looked up at her, feeling the fear racing through her. She was staring out the window to the path leading to the front door. There was a cloaked figure out there. James followed her line of sight and saw him.
"Oh my God James," Lily whispered, "It's him."
"No, no no no! It's not possible," James growled. He watched the figure coming closer to the front door and pulled Lily close to him. She was crying, tears sliding down her face uncontrollably. She was having a hard time understanding what James was saying to her. He pulled back and shook her shoulders gently. She looked up at him and saw the same defeat she felt in his eyes. They had been betrayed. Peter had betrayed them.
"Lily, love of my life, there is no other I can imagine standing here with," he said to her, his voice cracking. "I wish I could get you out safely. I swore to protect you and now I have nothing left but myself." She shook her head violently.
"No James. Come on, we have to go." He looked down at her.
"You have to take Harry, you have to go. Run, hide some where. Get away. I'll give you as much time as I can." Tears were falling from his eyes now. He pulled her towards him and kissed her passionately, one last time. His and her tears mixed together, falling onto each others faces.
The door of their house was blown to pieces. A high, piercing laugh, unlike anything, Lily had ever heard filled the room.
"LILY, TAKE HARRY AND RUN!" James yelled. He pushed her behind him and drew his wand. She saw Harry lying, helpless in his crib and her mothering instincts took over. She grabbed him and ran, up the stairs to the landing. She stopped for a moment, hoping against all hope that James would be right behind her.
"Going to stand and fight, are you?" a chilling voice spoke from down stairs. "Noble, but it won't do you any good."
"You stay the hell away from my family," James growled. He raised his wand and opened his mouth to speak but Voldemort was faster.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he roared. There was a violent flash of green light, it filled the house and for a second the landing on the second floor was lit up revealing a red haired woman sinking down to the floor with a small child in her arms.
The curse hit James square in the chest. His wand fell from his hands and the life left his body, as he collapsed to the floor a single word fell from his lips. A word only Voldemort heard. The softest whisper, "Lily," and then he was gone.
Lily was sobbing so hard she didn't hear James' body hit the floor. She couldn't stand. She was lying on the floor in the hall crying. Harry was screaming and crying as well. Then she heard someone at the bottom of the stairs.
"I can hear you," the voice whispered. Her will returned and she pulled herself up. She ran to Harry's bedroom and set him in his crib. She turned to the door to swing it shut but Voldemort was already there. She was the only thing that stood between him and her son.
"Come now woman, you needed die here tonight. Stand aside, let me have the boy."
"Never," she whispered, to softly to hear.
"Sorry, didn't catch that," he said. His voice was laced with evil. His eyes, his arms, his wand, his cloak, they all screamed danger. And Lily Potter stood her ground.
"Never," she said more loudly. "You can't have my son."
"Stupid woman. Stand aside!"
"No! I won't let you have him! Please! Have mercy, do not take my son from me!" she cried.
"Fine, then you shall die first!" he screamed in a high pitched voice.
"No! Please don't kill Harry! He's just a baby!" Voldemort was through listening. He raised his wand again and aimed it at her.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he screamed. Another brilliant flash of light filled the house. This one hit Lily.
Her breath left her in a single gasp and she fell, hitting the floor silently, breathing the name of the man who meant more to her then anyone ever had. "James." Then she too, was gone.
(A/N: The story doesn't end here but I'll leave the rest of the tale to the expert who created this world. Hope you all enjoyed my rendition of the life of Lily and James.)