James hardly cared anymore what happened to him in this war, so long as he could keep those he loved and cared about safe. Lily being in danger was the last thing that he wanted to think about, especially when she was pregnant. It wasnât to say that he didnât believe his wife could defend herself, as he knew that she could manage that well. But ever since they had found out they had been expecting, he had been reading a lot of parenting books âmuggle and wizard alikeâ that suggested that too much stress on a woman during pregnancy could affect the health of the baby.Â
âIt could be a coincidence,â James offered, though he didnât really believe it to be true, and doubted that Lily did either. She had gotten one thing right he was sure of, though, that had it actually been the dark lord, they likely wouldnât be standing there alive at the moment. James shuddered at the mere thought, shaking his head.Â
It was easy to tell by the look on Lilyâs face that for a moment she had been unsure if he was serious in his suggestion. While James felt like it was a cowardly move to run from the problem at hand, at times the more courageous thing to do was to admit youâre out of options. Being honest took a new level of bravery, and the best thing for them and their child at that moment was to find a better home. Besides, James hardly thought that they were going to stay in a flat forever.Â
âI know itâs not ideal, Lils, but weâve got to think of whatâs best. Iâm not going to lose you over something like this.â Pressing a kiss to her forehead, James let out a slow and shaky breath, wrapping her in a hug. âThings are going to be different now, but weâll have each other.â
There was no doubt in her mind that order members were always walking targets. Lily had known it all along, sheâd seen her worst nightmares happen at her own wedding because of it and now, it seemed increasingly clear that target had followed them to this flat. Lily didnât like to pity herself, but she was damn near resentment at the least.Â
She tried to shake it off; all the anger, fear, sadness. It came with the territory, but for just a moment she almost wished it wasnât like that all. Lily wanted to invest everything in this. What she hadnât accounted for was a baby. A family, with James, something sheâd wanted more than anything and now she had. She knew James must feel similarly. The two of them were balancing two opposing lives and for just a moment Lily feared it might be too much.Â
Lily let her arms fall at last, realizing she was a million miles away when she should be here, in this moment, with James. Lily fell into Jamesâs embrace, âYou know how much I hate it when youâre right.â She tried to laugh, not daring to pull away from him yet.
âAnd Potter number three.â She added on to James last sentence.Â
âThank you, James.â She finally loosened her hug, âI guess weâd better get house hunting...â Lilyâs eyeâs momentarily darted to where the body had once been, now nothing more than blank pavement again. âFast.âÂ