A/N: This is a trial story and we'll see how far it gets. But review will definitely help! So leave them, please. Good or bad. I want to hear your views.

A shriek shattered into a horrid dream. It was like a miracle, awakening him from the nightmare he had been experiencing. Quickly, he sat up, pushing thick black locks out of his eyes. A small, round face was about an inch from his when he blinked blearily. The face shrieked once more, reaching out to grab ahold of the man's hair.

"Morning, love."

The man couldn't help but to smile, reaching up to pull his red-haired beauty closer and into a kiss.

"Did you have another nightmare?" The woman sat down on the bed next to her husband, pulling the laughing baby into her lap.

"Yeah." He planted his feet on the floor, rubbing at his tired eyes. For having a full night's sleep, he felt extremely unrested. It was like he'd been awake the whole time. It felt that real... Shaking it off, he stood to pull on his robe.

"Did you see Harry? Doesn't he just look adorable?" Lily held the baby up, showing off his special holiday outfit.

The man looked the boy over and couldn't help but to smile. It was cute, in a cheesy sort of way. "He's a pumpkin, Lily. Why is my son a pumpkin?"

"Today is Halloween!" Lily pressed her lips to Harry's cheek. He burbled at her, apparently extremely happy in his new outfit. "I thought I would go a little festive with it."

"He looks dashing." The man took his wife's hand, leading the family out to the kitchen. "Now, come make us breakfast?"

With a laugh, Lily set their child down in the high chair and turned on the stove. They were silent for a while, the sound of crackling bacon the only sound lighting up the tense air. Though she wanted things to be okay for just one day out of the year, there was no mistaking the mood her husband was in. He was always worrying about something. More like he was stewing. It hurt her that she couldn't talk to him about something that was eating him up. But that's how he'd always been. Just, for some reason, it had gotten worse lately. "Would you like some coffee?" She had the time to scramble eggs and pour them in the pan without a single reply. She didn't know whether he didn't hear or...

Slowly, she turned to look at her family. "Severus?" He was worrying her, staring at Harry like that. His eyes were so vacant. It was scary. "Severus, are you alright?"

Like he was half-alive, Severus turned slowly to look at Lily with those empty eyes. "Hm? Oh...yes. Please."

"You're very far away, Sev," Lily muttered. She didn't know what else to say. Seeing him like this was hard. It hurt deep down. But most of all it was uncomfortable.

"Sorry, my love." The man stood, crossing to his wife and kissing her very gently. He was ever so sweet. This was why she had married him. "That dream... It distracted me." With a soft sigh, he pulled away and returned to his spot at the table. After pulling the Daily Prophet up to hide his eyes, worry settled back onto his face.

It wasn't just a dream. There was something else bothering him. Something that went beyond anything he could see in his sleep.

Oh, if only it really were a nightmare.

A large part of Severus wanted to warn his wife of the coming events. He wanted to tell her so she and their child could be safe. But what was the point? It would happen anyway. The prophesy said so. And wouldn't that just be putting them in more danger? Right now, the two were green-eyed beauties of his life were happy. That was all he ever wanted for them.

After tonight, maybe they could start all over. If Lily were to ever forgive him, that is.

Breakfast went by in a hazy blur. It was uneventful and a little quiet. But after the dishes had been cleared away, Lily was ready to make the most of the day. "They have a hay ride going through the village. I thought I would take Harry. Doesn't that sound fun? Would you like to join us?" She picked the boy up, both smiling in a way that made Severus' heart ache. The horror of his dream was quickly becoming a reality he could not stand.

"You two go. Spend time together. I have...a few things to do around the house." Severus did his best to smile. The thing was, though, he couldn't quite make it real. No matter how hard he tried, the light would not come on in his eyes.

Whether Lily noticed or not, she nodded and took their son out for the day. The house was quiet for the remainder, which helped a little to calm Severus' nerves. Without the two around, he was able to focus on something else. Just for now.

Dinner was slightly awkward. Severus was even more sullen than he had been that morning. The interaction through the meal was only Lily fighting Harry to eat his mashed peas. He wasn't too fond of them, apparently. This became such an ordeal that he was covered in green slop by the time his wife gave up. After that she bathed their son and then put him to bed.

When Lily came to find Severus, he was seated in the sitting room, staring out the window. He was waiting for everything to happen. The best he could hope for was keeping Lily close to hold her back. Maybe things would go alright and he wouldn't be missing two of the best things in his life. Just one.

As soon as it started, everything was a blur, however. He couldn't stop her. At the first sign of an invasion, Lily was at Harry's side. He couldn't even stop her if he had tried. The reality of the situation paralyzed him from even attempting. And before he knew it, a green flash was emanating from the nursery. The Dark Lord's laugh was soon to follow as he closed in on the only thing standing between him and absolute success.

A hot thread of a tear rained down Severus' cheek, but he couldn't make himself go any closer to that room. He couldn't do it. Couldn't see her like that. Couldn't witness the death of the last thing he had in this world.

Another flash of green let him know it was over. But where he expected the Dark Lord to come out in victory, nothing happened. More tears trekking their way down his face as he waited. Seconds, minutes, could it be hours? went by.

Something was wrong.

Like he was completely mindless, Severus made his way to the room. It felt like he had walked miles before he was finally nudging the door open. He avoided looking at the floor because he knew he would lose it then. Instead, he focused on finding his leader. But Lord Voldemort was nowhere to be found. It wasn't a large room to begin with and amongst all of the infant-style colors, he would be easy to spot. But there was no sign.

Slowly, his gaze shifted over to where Harry should have been lying motionless. He wasn't. Instead, the small boy was up and active. He was happy, like nothing had happened. Had anything even happened?

The moment Severus looked towards the floor, he knew something had. He was on his knees, clutching to his wife's lifeless body, not holding back on the tears before he knew what he was doing. He had been expecting at least one death tonight, but this was not the one he had braced himself for.

As his sobs died slowly, he looked back up at the wrong survivor. Those stunning, haunting green eyes were staring at him. Questioning him.

"This is your fault," Severus muttered to the boy, standing but not releasing Lily. The love of his life, no longer living.

Harry only continued to stare, making hands towards his father for attention. The first thing the man noticed about his son was the odd shaped mark upon his forehead. Frowning, he leaned in for a better look. The boy grabbed at Severus' hair, pulling him in and begging to be held. Eyes narrowed and cold, the man loosed the grip and pushed Harry's unruly locks aside. "What happened...?" he couldn't help but musing as he traced the lightning bolt shape with his thumb.