She flew up the stairs, her long, auburn hair whipping around her face and her green eyes wide with terror. She prayed to God that James was right behind her. Prayed to God there weren't as many of them as it had seemed. Prayed to God they would make it of this alive. She reached the top of the landing and ran towards the newly furnished nursery.

She knew James wasn't behind her.

She knew the Death Eaters outnumbered them ten to one.

She knew the Dark Lord was right on their door step and that it was more than likely she, her husband, and her new baby boy would die this night.

The nursery door was cracked to let in a small sliver of light from the hallway. She could hear tiny whimpers coming from inside. Lily ran through the door and slammed it shut behind her, casting spell after spell to make it as impenetrable as possible. The muggle in her came out and she turned the lock for good measure.

Finally, she turned to regard the tiny occupant of the large, white wooden crib. Jet black hair, already thick and unruly just like his father's – less than a year old and he was the spitting image of James. But his eyes…his eyes were pure Lily. "Harry," she breathed, rushing towards the crib. She picked him up and cradled him in her arms as he clung to her, grabbing thick handfuls of her hair in his chubby baby hands. She rubbed his back and whispered soothing nonsense. "It's going to be okay, my love. It's going to be okay, shhhh, shhhh-shhh. Daddy's coming, and then we'll go stay with Uncle Sirius for a bit? How does that sound?" She continued to rock him, ignoring the streaming rivulets of tears down her face as she listened to the sounds of battle below.

It had happened so suddenly. Harry had been fussy all day and she and James had sniped at each other as they took turns trying to soothe the upset baby. Looking back, it was obvious they could all sense something was terribly wrong…

But she and James were newlyweds with a new baby and housebound with the threat of death hanging over their heads. This wasn't the first time they had all been a little stir crazy. She had finally gotten Harry to bed and come down stairs to have it out with James when they felt that first tiny push against their wards. They had frozen, waiting silently as they hoped it was an animal of some kind, just too dumb to recognize the tinge of magic. But the push got stronger and stronger until finally the magical barrier protecting their house and its three occupants broke completely. The release of magic was so strong as it ricocheted through the house that picture frames fell and dishes broke as the walls shook. Lily had clutched her head in agony; her mind feeling like it was on fire as the blood wards were shattered. There had been no time to send off a patronus to warn the Order that Voldemort had found them at last. As soon as the shields were down dozens of masked intruders were throwing curses through winds and at the front door, trying to take down the smaller spells still protecting their residence.

Her eyes still watering from the pain, Lily had drawn her want, prepared to fight for her family and her home. But James had rushed towards her, arms outstretched to clutch her to him. "Lily!" He shouted above the roar of magic and spell casting. "Upstairs! The nursery!"

"Wh-What?" She gasped.

"The nursery! Harry! Its Harry he wants. You have to protect Harry!" His dark eyes, so different from hers and Harry's were wide with panic but she saw the determination in them.

"But – but what about you? You can't defeat them all by yourself!"

His lips tightened and he reached inside his jean pocket for his wand. He started wearing jeans because me…they don't wear them in the wizarding world…was her distant thought. "You go upstairs and protect Harry. I'll hold them off until the Order gets here. Dumbledore will have felt the barrier break – he'll know we're in trouble. Go!"

Her eyes were watering again but it wasn't because of the spell. "But – "

"GO, Lily." His eyes softened and his mouth crooked into that trademark grin. The grin that was pure James. The grin that had first made her notice how handsome he was. "Go protect our son."

Setting her jaw she nodded. She rose up on her toes and gave him a fierce kiss before turning and running up the stairs to the nursery. Her last image of James was of him turning slowly towards the smashed front door.

Upstairs with Harry, Lily heard the sounds of battle abruptly stop thought she could still hear James showing obscenities. A chill swept through the house and she knew the Dark Lord had arrived. Another voice, softer, joined James' and then, quite suddenly, the only noise was a large thud as something heavy hit their wooden floor.

Lily choked on a sob, burying her head against Harry's back as her body trembled. James…

She heard the stairs creak and had the strange, gleeful thought, Not even Lord Voldemort can come up those stairs quietly. The creaking had always driven James crazy and she knew if he were here he would have been just as amused.

She sniffled, hugging Harry tightly to her, sharing in the sorrow he didn't feel yet. "It's going to be okay, my love," she whispered. "Mommy won't let anything bad happen to you." She carefully set her son back in his crib, his cries growing louder as his mother's warmth left him. She stroked his face a few times, smiling through her tears. "I know you'll grow up to be brave and strong. A true Gryffindor. And everyone will say how handsome you are. I know you'll be loved." She kissed his forehead one last time. "Mommy loves you very much." She stood and turned towards the door, her wand resting in her right hand down by her side.

The knob turned slowly and the door was gently pushed open.

This was the first time she had laid eyes on Lord Voldemort. She was quite disheartened to see how handsome he was. He had thick chestnut hair and warm brown eyes, and he was tall, with a strong jaw and broad shoulders. His black velvet robes swept the floor gracefully behind him as he entered the room. He regally inclined his head towards her in greeting. "Mrs. Potter," he murmured. He glanced behind her towards the crib and his chocolate eyes lit up in delight. "And this must be young Harry, such a handsome boy. He looks just like his father." The Dark Lord glanced between the two of them quickly before adding, "Except his eyes. He has your eyes."

Lily gripped her wand tighter. Her rage wanted to lash out at the man for daring to speak of the husband he had just murdered but her fear only let her open her mouth to whisper, "Please leave."

The Dark Lord shook his head as he stepped closer, raising his wand. "You know I can't do that," he said, regretfully. "Step aside."

"No."

He shrugged. "So be it."

The force of the Killing Curse threw her in front of the crib and her last thought was for her son.

Mommy loves you very much, Harry.