There was no movie night.
But what happened in the next 24 hours felt to James like his own horror movie.
When he and the boys returned home, alarm bells immediately rang. The front door was wide open, and Harry could be heard crying. James went upstairs, shaking with fear, his best friends close behind.
To this day, anyone in Godric's Hollow will tell you that James Potter's screams that night will haunt them forever.
"Oh my god Prongs. Oh my god." Sirius seemed to be at a loss for words when he and his friends ran upstairs to find Lily's limp body on the floor of Harry's nursery. James was on his knees, sobbing into Lily's stomach as he leaned over his wife.
Sirius was too stunned to react. It didn't seem to register in his brain that any of this was real.
Remus was crying quietly behind Sirius, barely within the doorway of the nursery.
She was gone. And the world would never be quite okay again for any of the four people currently occupying that small nursery.
"Oh James... I'm so sorry mate." Sirius mumbled, turning around to hold Remus in his arms. James couldn't stop his desperate cries, and his friends had no idea if he had even heard their remark.
James cried for another 20 minutes as his friends sat next to him. The marauders always did everything together, including cry over the death over their honorary fifth member.
Except Peter. But that's a detail for later.
"Love, go call Minnie. She'll know what to do" Remus sniffs, James finally getting up to comfort his crying son. He lifts Harry out of his crib and sits back down onto the floor next to Lily.
"Mama?" Harry asked, sniffling.
"Yes Harry. Mama." James says, allowing his son to curl up next to Lily for a moment before Sirius comes back into the room.
"Professor McGonagall will be here in ten minutes." Sirius says, tears running down his pale, freckled face. It seems the reality of the situation hit as he was telling Minerva what was happening. "She says to pack some things for you, Harry, and Salem-" Lily had thought it would be hilarious to name their black tabby Salem, she found amusement in the irony. "And to wait downstairs. She doesn't think it's good for any of us to spend much more time in this room. James, you and Harry can bunk with Rem and I for awhile. I'm so sorry, mate." Sirius hugs James, scooping Harry up in his arms and hugging him as well, while Remus acts as a human blanket. Nothing was okay. But, in that moment, the four boys cuddled close, it felt to all of them that maybe it could be okay again, someday.
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The next 3 weeks were a complete blur. James spent about 70% of the time in bed, Salem cuddled up next to him. Sirius's heart broke every time Harry asked for Lily, until Remus sat him down and explained death as best he could to a toddler. Harry stopped asking.
Remus and Sirius tried to be the best uncles possible for Harry. James was too upset to do much in the way of parenting, and the boys understood. Peter was mostly absent, which was strange. One day during these weeks, Remus stormed into the kitchen, furious.
"what's wrong, babe?" Sirius asked, setting down the bowl of oatmeal he was feeding Harry.
"THAT FUCKING TRAITOR" Remus yelled, pacing.
"what- who- Remus, what?"
"Peter! He was their secret keeper! You know why he hasn't been around? He felt guilty!"
"About what?" Sirius asked tentatively, not sure where this was going.
"HE'S THE REASON SHE'S DEAD, SIRI!"
"....How?"
"He turned them in! He was cornered by You-Know-Who, and instead of just fighting like a man, he fucking turned them in! Lily is dead because of Wormtail! She's dead because that backstabbing little coward would rather betray his friends than risk the wrath of Moldy! I'm leaving to go find Peter." Remus glares at the wand in his hand and smiles darkly. "I'm gonna have a talk with the little shit."
Sirius stood there stunned. Remus could practically see the gears turning, realizing that this was the only possible explanation, and he grew furious as well.
"Let me grab my coat. Though, Re, there might be more than talking if I go with you."
"Good. little bitch deserves it."
Two hours later, The boys came back to James watching tv with Harry. He was still grieving, but doing better.
"Where've you lot been?" He asks, barely looking up from the episode of Sesame Street.
"Out." Says Sirius darkly. He throws his coat and wand on the table and James finally looks over to his best mates.
"Why are you covered in red, Siri?"
"I was taking care of something. On an unrelated note, don't expect to hear anything from Peter again"
"Sirius Orion Black, what the bloody hell have you done?"
Sirius tells James what has happened as Remus sits in a corner with Harry, building a block tower.
"He's not dead, James. My boyfriend failed to mention that we've just royally fucked him up. Then we turned him in to the ministry. Also, how does one remove human flesh from clothing?" Remus says, looking at the hem of his jumper in disgust.
"Mate, what the fuck?"
"No really. This is my favorite jumper"
YOU ARE READING
The Boys Who Lived
FanfictionA fic in which James Potter lived on The Night, and raises Harry along with Sirius and Remus
