Chapter Text
James grinned, running up the stairs with a brilliant idea. He knew Lily would love the challenge, charms being her specialty of course, but also the assurance and reminders for Harry that he’s loved.
“Lils!” He called out. He skidded to a stop in front of the nursery where Lily hummed delicately as she finished decorating the room. The walls were a light yellow and the crib was pushed against the wall. A wardrobe stood next to it, where James had jokingly put stuffed animals on the top as a prize for when Harry learns to ride a broom, and lamps were scattered around to lighten the ambience. Lily waved her wand and the birds on the baby mobile start moving above the crib. “Lils!”
She turned, raising an eyebrow at his wide smile. “What are you so excited about?”
James ruffled his hair with a hand, a nervous tick of his, before starting. “You know how you were worried we would miss the biggest moments in Harry’s life?”
Lily’s smile dimmed at the thought. “Considering we’re in hiding, it’s a valid thought.”
“I know. I didn’t mean it wasn’t.” James clicked his tongue, trying to find the words. “What if we didn’t though? What if we were able to celebrate his milestones without having to be there?”
“And how would we do that?”
James grinned. “Howlers!”
Lily giggled before erupting into full laughter. Her hand went to her belly, just a small bump at four months pregnant, but it made her look just as beautiful as she did in her wedding dress in James’ eyes. “You want to send our son Howlers for every achievement of his life?” Her incredulous look had James almost ashamed. Almost but not quite.
“Enchanted Howlers.”
“James-”
James walked to her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Lily, this war…” he wanted to turn away but her eyes captivated him and he can’t. Not with this vulnerability. “We can’t guarantee our safety, much less our lives. On the off-chance that we don’t make it but he does, I-”
Lily smiled and wrapped her arms around James’ neck. “I didn’t say I disagreed.” James lowered his hands to her hips and they swayed in a slow motion around the room. “But we’ll definitely have to figure out what milestones are worth sending a Howler to.”
James tilted his head and ponder. “Well, his first tooth is a must.”
“James!” Lily slapped his chest and he laughed with her.
“I’m joking!” Lily’s raised eyebrow had him saying, “maybe. My family considers losing your first tooth a milestone to being a Potter.”
Lily shook her head and he couldn’t stop grinning at her. To think he was so lucky to marry such a good woman…
“Starting Hogwarts would be a good Howler moment.” James barks out a choked laugh at Lily’s suggestion, and the image of professors groaning at their shouts had James gleeful to get started.
“Wedding day as well if we’re going big!”
“Graduating Hogwarts!”
“Getting his first job!”
“Passing his NEWTS.”
“Well, if we’re going there, getting onto the quidditch team.”
“How is that an important milestone?”
“How is passing his NEWTS an important milestone?! Might as well send him a Howler for passing his OWLS as well.”
“Maybe we should!”
James’ heart stopped at the smile on Lily’s face, the pure joy that painted it. He rarely saw it anymore due to the war and the stress that they’ll be found, and he can’t help but allow it to stay there longer.
“Getting his first official broom.” Lily laughed at that, her nose scrunching and lips widening. “Making his first friend, going on his first date, proposing to the lucky person he’ll want to marry.” Lily’s eyes crinkled, almost shutting close. “Getting his first O in a class, winning his first Quidditch game, casting his first spell!”
A tear hanged on his eyelashes and the thought that he and Lily won’t be there for his son’s firsts had wishing he took his mother’s advice and ran off to America.
Silence filled the solemn air.
Lily was the first to break it. “So what spell do we use to create these enchanted Howlers anyway?”
James’ hand twitched as he laughed nervously. “Well, that’s, uh, one of the things we have to invent.”
Lily stopped the motion of their swaying before swiveling her head to James’. “You’re telling me we need to create a spell for this to work?”
“A Charms spell to be exact.” James saw the glint go off in Lily’s eyes and knew she’ll find a way to make it work.
“We’re going to be surrounded by our shouts for weeks.” Despite the dreaded words, she sounded all too gleeful and James laughed at the tone.
He knew she’d like the idea.