Author's Note:

QLFC Season 11 Semi-Finals

Team: Wigtown Wanderers

Position: Chaser 2

Word Count: 1005, excluding the A/N

Prompt: Only Power Remains

Optional Prompts: Broomstick, color amber, book

WARNING: Mentions of death and murder

I used some lyrics from the song 'Only Power Remains' by the Ministry of Magic for this story.

Elementary charms have gotten you this far,

It's only a matter of time.

Escaped him once but you will not again,

Even in dreams he haunts you.

Love, your so-called savior,

Your iron shield

You're playing a dangerous game

I also used:

He will survive,

Some rules even you can't bend.

You play a dangerous game,

Strength sublime

Alive in his very skin,

Love alone remains.

James helped their one year old son onto a broomstick made for children, which would lift the flier a few feet in the air. Harry immediately began flying around joyfully on his toy broomstick as James cheered him on loudly, a small smile on his face. 1005

It was the beginning of September—they had survived slightly more than a year in hiding, which surprised her. You-Know-Who hadn't found them, nor had he found Alice and Frank based on the news their neighbor, Bathilda Bagshot, brought them. Bathilda was their only constant company and one of the only sources of news and information about the war and any attacks happening since Harry's birth.

Without her presence, James would've most likely gone mad, as he had no one else but Lily and Harry. They no longer had contact with the Longbottoms, the Prewetts, Emmeline, Dorcas, Marlene, Remus, Peter, or Sirius, except for a few brief letters that couldn't be returned. Very rarely, Albus would come and visit them, but he never stayed long, as he had matters at Hogwarts to attend to, so they were often left alone.

James was constantly bored because of being trapped in loneliness. He wasn't very helpful when it came to household chores either; she was obligated to do the cleaning, cooking, babysitting, organizing, and tending to Harry's needs regularly by herself, which irritated her. His lack of productivity often led to quarreling, but Lily understood why James had become the way he was.

It was difficult for James to sacrifice his freedom, fun, and adventurous spirit all for Harry's safety, considering he was the active, outgoing type. He lost the amber, vigorous glow to his eyes and the cheerful liveliness to his smile, all so Harry could live.

Lily couldn't blame her young, innocent son for being a burden full of stones and destiny they had to carry, a permanent obstacle blocking their path to live their life to the fullest, or a small, imprisoning black hole that engulfed their positivity and joy and forced them to live in a lonely, maddening cell.

It was yet another issue You-Know-Who and his lapdog followers created and ought to be blamed for. He constantly did terrible, dark acts without regretting them simply for his insane, twisted pleasure, or to increase others' fear in him.

Instead of using the talents, capacities, and abilities the Death Eaters had to guide, direct, or influence others in a virtuous, right way, it was wasted on murdering innocents, destroying and demolishing buildings, ruining families and shattering lives forever, simply to be feared by everyone—to be 'powerful'.

No one was safe anymore; not for long, anyway. The war was a dangerous game…everyone had to be prepared at all times, but Lily was getting more doubtful…more fearful, as You-Know-Who gained more followers, fear, and power.

Would her constant planning and regular dueling practice help her as she once thought it would? She had defied him thrice and escaped him once, but could she do it again? He haunted her during her time awake and asleep—sometimes, even a Sleeping Potion could not keep him from plaguing her dreams, so what would she do if she was ever to cross him again?

Two sudden taps awoke her from her doubtful and dubious thoughts. "Mum," Harry said, looking at her with his large, emerald-colored eyes. He sat down next to her before pointing at the charms book she held in her hands, "Story time!"

Lily smiled and put her charms book on one of the shelves, replacing it with a small, muggle children's book called Jack and The Beanstalk. She began narrating it and showing him the images and pictures inside the book, but Harry fell asleep before she finished. Riding his broomstick must've tired him out.

He lay on her lap, sleeping peacefully, so she left him where he was, not wanting to arouse him. Lily couldn't imagine losing her son. She hoped her only child wouldn't die as Albus promised in his rare, occasional visits. He always told her to be optimistic; to hope for his survival.

He often said You-Know-Who was powerful, callous, feared and inhuman, but there were rules he could never bend, yet never explained or told them what these rules were, or why he was so confident Harry would survive. All he mentioned was that You-Know-Who's inability to love would soon lead to his demise.

As she watched her son sleep, something inside her told her that he was right; power would diminish and fade after generations—only its nearly worthless historical remains would be left, while love would only continue to grow and spread far and wide, lasting eternally in one form or another.

Infact, she almost pitied You-Know-Who. A heart without feelings of warmth and compassion wasn't a heart; it was a bleak cavity. A life without love was no life—it was the darkest and coldest of voids even a thousand candles with vibrant flames could not light. It was a hopeless, colorless, emptiness time could never erase. Lily couldn't even imagine how it felt to step in such a hole.

If her son were to live, she knew he'd have loving friends and family, wonderful memories, and a peaceful, warm home where he'd be welcomed with open arms and kind smiles. He had a place he belonged in, but even if she were to die and her son was to lose, he would still have nothing. No family, no friends, no home, and no love. How could someone not be sorry for him?

But if one thing could defeat You-Know-Who, it was something he never had, and because of that, her son would survive. As long as love remained, You-Know-Who's power would crumble and her son would live. Perhaps, if she and James were fortunate enough, they could see their little child flourish and thrive.

Watching her son sleep, she knew he would survive and live what she hoped would be a happy life, even if she and James died, as love alone would always remain.