Astrophile [J.P]

Chapter 53

~ If I didn't know you, I'd rather not know,

If I couldn't have you, I'd rather be alone. ~

***

With the war at peak, the happiness from James and Lily's wedding was short lived as Voldemort and his Death Eaters struck again. An attack had happened at the Order's headquarters during a meeting so most of the members had been present at that moment.

Though the Order had resisted and retaliated with full force, the masses of Dark creatures under Voldemort's control were not that easy to ward off. Benjy Fenwick had been missing ever since along with one or two more wizards that were not part of the Order. With a week passing without any news of them, there were speculations that they were either dead or being severely tortured by the Dark Lord.

However, with that incident, disappearances of witches and wizards became common and a wave of terror gripped the entire wizarding community.

The Order of the Phoenix was trying its level best to ward off the evil caused by Voldemort and his followers but to no avail. War had broken out and no one was safe anymore.

That night the Marauders and their friends however were to be gathered in the Potters' household for what seemed like their last time meeting each other. 

Apparently, a prophecy had been made regarding a savior born to those who had defied the Dark Lord thrice and that savior could be their only chance against Voldemort. And with that recent attack at the Order headquarters, two couples were most at risk as both had defied the Dark Lord thrice.

James and Lily as well as Alice and Frank Longbottom. And the fact that both were expecting a baby around the same time period did not help the fact either. The two were given the option of going into protection earlier by Dumbledore. With Alice and Frank being experienced Aurors, they had refused the offer while James and Lily had taken the option upon Dumbledore's insistence.  

So right before they had to go into protection, the two had decided to gather their friends to spend one last night together.

None of them knew the reason why the two were on extreme risk from Voldemort so James had decided to tell the three of his best friends and Felicity about it that night. He could trust them with his life and vice versa so he did not want to keep the truth a secret from them.

Besides one of them was supposed to be their secret keeper with the information about their current location sealed inside him using the Fidelius Charm so taking them into confidence was absolutely necessary.

James glanced at the clock that indicated that all of his friends would be there soon. Euphemia and Fleamont had left for America a few days earlier so aside from him and Lily, no one else was at home at the moment.

Lily was in the kitchen tending to the dinner she had made herself for all of them when James stepped in, arms gently encircling her from the back. A smile broke on to her features as she softened in his embrace, tilting her head slightly to look at him.

"Need any help in setting these up?" He asked in a soft tone, lips gently touching her cheek in a kiss.

"No, everything's done. Now all that's left to do is wait for them to arrive."

"They'll be here soon."

James noticed the slight trace of worry creasing her features and he knew that the current turn of events was worrying her a lot. They were newly married, expecting their first child and yet life had piled a lot of problems on their heads already.

With the war clouding their happy lives, there was a constant fearful shadow weighing them down. And also with the prophecy Professor Dumbledore had told them, it only added to the troubles.

"What are you thinking?"

She took in a deep breath, closing her eyes as if exhausted, "James... I can't help but think as if something extremely bad is going to happen to us." 

He did not interrupt her but he made her sit down on the chair, bending down on his knees in front of her still holding her hands in his in a reassuring grip.

"I know that with everything that's going on, all of us are in danger and it's rather obvious... But... I feel terrible. I can't find the words to properly explain it either..."

Her voice trailed off but he understood exactly what she was trying to convey. His hazel eyes glimmered in concern upon seeing her like that; his lovely Lily flower getting anxious about what the future held for them. But then she was right, ignoring the fact that they were all standing at the very edges of death would be stupidity in itself.

"Lily, I understand," he squeezed her hands gently, "all of us are worried to some extent. But that does not mean I would let you take so much stress. You know it's not good for the baby."

"I know..."

He gently cupped her face and her beautiful green eyes looked down in his soft hazel irises, "I promise, I will stay by you till the very end. No matter what happens, I'll be with you. You have my word on that."

Her hand gently closed on to his wrist but the doorbell rang so James stood up. 

"I guess they have all arrived."

She nodded, taking in a deep breath, "yeah."

But before going out to open the door and receive his friends, James offered her a loving smile and kissed her gently, "my sweet Lily flower, I am sure by the end of this night you will forget most of what was troubling you earlier."

"How so?"

"Because my bro sense is telling me that Sirius and Remus have something to tell us and so do Fel and Marlene. And I can't help but predict that whatever news they have is going to be enough of a distraction."

A smile graced her features as she replied, "I hope it's good news. We get very little of it these days."

James winked, his dazzling smile lighting up his features, "oh you bet... Calling it merely a good news will be an understatement."

The doorbell rang again so she stood up as well pushing him out of the kitchen, "go on, open up before any of them hexes the door down. The last thing we want tonight is to have to fix a broke door."

"As you say so, my lady."

"James, they're waiting!"

He chuckled, approaching the door at last, "I know. Hey guys, I'm coming, calm yourself down a bit, will you?"

But the series of bell rings sounding shortly after indicated that James's statement had either not been heard or not given heed to. Lily watched as he pulled open the door and was tackled into a hug by his three friends, all of them having joyful grins on their faces.

And for that short moment, she felt as if James was right. The whole world could be coming apart but with their close friends at their side, nothing else seemed to matter that much. 

They would all make it through the war together. Or at least she hoped from the very depths of her heart.

***