"That was just in case there was an emergency," James insisted. Merlin knew what kind of emergency, but that wasn't the point. Still, her next comment made him grin. "Well, how about you spend a few weeks cooped up in Gryffindor tower with them all before you go making wild promises. You might be sick of the company by then."
Still, he couldn't resist leaning in and giving her a quick kiss. The touch was so familiar, so very much Lily that it made his chest hurt. He'd missed her so much, he'd almost grown accustomed to the aching, panicked pressure her absence had caused.
Pulling back, because he already knew where that could lead if he let it, James hesitated.
He really didn't want to tell her. He didn't want to see her face. He didn't want to be the one to do that to her. But them he didn't want anyone else to, either. He didn't want any of it, full stop. It was all so unfair.
"I know he can. It's not that, I know you'll be great. It's..." he searched her face anxiously, latching onto that incredible green gaze.
"Lils, He finds us."
She'd know what he meant. It had been both of their worst nightmares ever since learning of the prophecy. James took a breath, willing his voice not to shake. "He finds us and we both... Harry didn't grow up with us."