In some fanfics, James and Lily survive and start to work on a new form of magic that could be used to defeat Voldemort once and for all. They collaborate with the wizarding world's greatest minds, and their survival gives hope to everyone. This changes the mood of the story from one of loss and struggle to one of hope and determination.
Well, a really interesting 'James Potter alive' fanfic I've read is 'James Potter: The Resurrection'. In this story, James is brought back through a complex magical spell gone wrong. It's full of action as he has to deal with dark wizards who want to use his resurrection for their own evil plans. Then there's 'Living James Potter' where he has to hide his identity at first because the wizarding world believes he should be dead. It's a really cool concept as it shows how he tries to reconnect with his loved ones secretly.
Well, if James and Lily are alive, Harry doesn't grow up an orphan. He has his parents to guide him. For instance, he might not go to Hogwarts with the same sense of longing for family as he does in the original. His character development would be different as he has a loving family environment.
There are fanfictions where James and Lily alive means that they are part of a time - travel plot. Maybe they are sent back in time to before Voldemort rose to power. They then use their knowledge of the future to prevent the dark wizard from ever becoming a threat. In this kind of fanfiction, they would interact with younger versions of their friends and family, and have to be careful not to disrupt the timeline too much. This creates a really interesting and complex story.
There's also 'Lily's Journal'. This fanfic gives a unique perspective as it's told from Lily's point of view. It delves deep into her feelings for James, from initial dislike to growing love, and how she copes with the events around her.
One great 'lily and james fanfic' is 'The Lily and James Chronicles'. It delves deep into their relationship, from their Hogwarts days to the challenges they faced against the dark forces. Another one could be 'Lily and James: Love Beyond Time' which has a really interesting take on how their love might have transcended different timelines. And 'A Lily and James Love Story' is also quite popular as it shows their story in a very heart - warming and detailed way.
In some fanfictions, if Lily and James were alive, they would play a huge role in the fight against Voldemort. They could train Harry and other young wizards in secret. Maybe they'd form an underground resistance group using their knowledge of Hogwarts and the wizarding world to outwit Voldemort and his followers.
A really interesting plot could be that James and Lily, alive, work with Dumbledore to create a new school of magic. This school would focus on teaching students how to defend against the Dark Arts in a more practical and hands - on way. Harry would be one of the first students there. They could also develop new magical artifacts that could help in the fight against evil. And the family could have adventures all over the world to find the ingredients and knowledge needed for these new creations.
One interesting plot idea could be that Lily and James, alive and well, decide to train Harry in magic from a very young age. This would make Harry an even more powerful wizard earlier on. They could also use their influence to reform the wizarding world, starting with Hogwarts. For example, they might introduce new courses that focus on both light and dark magic, teaching students how to defend against the dark arts in a more comprehensive way.
One plot idea could be that James and Lily go into hiding with Harry instead of being killed. They could raise him in a secret location, teaching him magic away from the prying eyes of Voldemort. Another could be that they fake their deaths and then work secretly to undermine Voldemort's forces. For example, they could use their knowledge of the Death Eaters to expose their plans and turn some of them against Voldemort.
In one fanfiction, they outsmarted Voldemort's followers. James used his invisibility cloak to spy on their meetings without being detected. Then, Lily used her magical charm to make one of the followers believe she was on their side. They got valuable information this way and were able to warn the Order of the Phoenix. Another example could be when they were students. They outsmarted a group of bullies by creating a magical maze in the school corridors that only they knew how to navigate, leading the bullies to get lost and embarrassed.