Chapter Text
31ST OCTOBER, 1981 THE TRAGEDY
POV:JFP
James Potter, never thought he would miss fighting. In his youth, he was used to little fights or wrestling with his friends but in this case, it was war. He was always against a war but in this case, he wanted to go out there, fight with the order and make sure all the people he loved were safe infront of him but for now he had to stay locked up here, for the safety of his son.
It felt so unfair that his son who was born last year was already in danger because of a power hungry dark wizard. Maybe he was overthinking this, as everyone were in danger.
'Dada', he was pulled out of his thoughts on hearing Harry's voice and saw lily entering the room with him in her arms.
'Happy Halloween, Harry' James exclaimed trying to bring back the Halloween excitement he once used to have, but he realised his failure when he looked up at lily.
But she smiled anyway.
'Let me take him, you can go rest a little, merlin knows you need it.'
'Thanks, love'.
And with that she left the room. They have been together for years yet he still folded immediately at that nickname.
'You know Harry, your mother is a genius, she knows I would do anything when she uses that nickname on me.'
'Dada', was the only reply he got.
Time passed quick when he was entertaining Harry with some magic tricks. Precisely the same ones his dad had shown him and later taught him. Seeing his son's toothless laughs and those little green eyes made him forget everything he was thinking about. He created puffs of coloured smoke from his wand and a laughing harry was trying to catch them in his tiny fists.
He didn't even notice lily enter the room. 'James, you have to let harry sleep now.. oh stop those tricks or he won't come with me or sleep without a tantrum.'
'Okay, okay you can take him, I'll stop' he gave harry to her and as they left he felt exhausted, and dropped on the couch, with his wand on the other end of the couch.
That's when his stag senses kicked him. His instinctively got up to check who was at the door. Maybe he was overthinking, it could be Peter or sirius or even Mrs bagshot but his senses were saying it was neither of those 3 people.
And they were right. It was voldemort. Peter had betrayed. Their wormtail had betrayed.
'LILY, TAKE HARRY AND GO! ITS HIM! GO!RUN! I WILL HOLD HIM OFF'.
Come on James, think. The wand was on the couch, getting it would take time. He would be here. There has to be another solution. He couldn't let this monster win tonight. His body had froze still and he had to act fast. Voldemort entered the house slythering in with the grace of a snake. His expressions said it all. He knew the helpless situation they were in and he was enjoying it thoroughly. This just infuriated James more. He had to do something for lily, harry and their unborn children.
He heard a distinct 'Avada kedavra'.
No. He released himself and jumped away before the killing curse could hit him. He missed death by a fraction of a second but the jump costed him a hit on his head.
By the time he came back to his consciousness he realised that he had wasted time. Voldemort had went upstairs. James grabbed his wand and ran as fast as he can. He could hear lily pleading,
'Not harry, not harry, please not harry..'
'Stand aside, you silly girl..stand aside now..' came the cold voice.
'Not harry, please no, take me, kill me instead-'
'This is my last warning-'
'Not harry! Please...have mercy..have mercy...not harry! Not harry! Please- I'll do anything-'
'Stand aside - stand aside, girl-'
He barged into the nursery to see Voldemort pointing his wand at lily who was holding harry tightly. He had no time to think, he could only fight right now.
'Lily go, take harry and go! Now!' But the duel broke out before she could move.
James had to keep going because 1 wrong move would cost someone's life. At the same time 1 perfectly executed right move could cost Voldemort's life, and that's what he wanted. That 1 right move.
'Don't be foolish, James', his cold voice ran in their ears 'you can't win against me, nobody can. Join me, and my cause.. I'll make an exception for your muggleborn wife, you just have to obey me... give me your son and I'll spare both of your lives'.
'NEVER! you will never win with your coward ways of war.. attacking people in their house where they don't have their guards on? COWARD! I swear at this rate, you will be the cause of your own death!'. James couldn't stop himself now. Months of frustration of not being able to fight and having to hear the death of thier friends, was now coming out as anger directed towards this very man.
The duel was getting pretty intense and he could see lily hugging a crying harry in the corner of the room and he wanted some time to get them out, to safety. He took a split second decision to gain time and instead of the usual defense spells he yelled 'ignaro' and with a blast Voldemort fell unconscious. The spell was something the maruaders had come up with to make someone unconscious for atleast 60 seconds.
It was enough for him to run to lily and lift her up. 'Are you okay? And harry? You should leave, it's not safe.. I don't know how long that spell will keep him-'
'James, we can't leave without you.. he will kill you! Come with us and-' She couldn't complete her sentence as he had risen again and this time he casted a killing curse at harry directly and- BOOM!