There was smoke and fire everywhere. Hot, stifling, and stinking of dead, burning bodies. There was nothing more pungent than the smell of burning flesh. You would think after all these years of fighting he would be indifferent to the smell but it still bothered him. Maybe because he knew it was the smell of his friends or his family burning. That after he finished here he would have to go home and take a head count to see who they had lost today. There was always a loss…

As James Potter looked around him he realized that this is what he joined the Aurors for and why he fought with the Order of the Phoenix. So that hopefully one day his son wouldn't have to endure seeing his world crash down around him. As he surveyed the damage around him one last time, James realized that his Lily Flower was lucky to escape with only minor injuries today. They had battled the dark lord for the third time today and they had managed to survive. Along with Frank and Alice Longbottom they were able to hold him off while the families that had been hiding here escaped. The order had sustained losses but at least the Muggleborn families were safe. As he turned to apparate James Potter hoped that this war ended soon.

Lily Potter simply stared at the healer with a horrified look on her face.

"What do you mean I'm pregnant?" she sputtered.

"I mean Mrs. Potter that you are going to be welcoming a son towards the end of summer. Without a more thorough fetal checkup I couldn't tell you the exact day unless you can recount your periods for me?" the healer answered for the third time.

"My periods? Are you crazy? We are in the middle of a war. I'm an Unspeakable for Merlin's sake. Of course I don't know my last period. I haven't had one since I joined the… well since the fighting really started. I thought it was stress and the strain on my body" Lily explained.

"That is perfectly normal Mrs. Potter. Most women would be in the same situation as you right now. In fact your friend that came in with you… a Mrs. Longbottom… she might be able to help you cope right now. Would you like me to get her for you?" the Healer asked kindly, easily sensing that this was not the time to bring up the numerous plans that would need to be made in preparation for the little one on the way.

At Lily's nod the Healer scurried out to collect the young woman's friend. As soon as Alice came into the room both women clung to each other and cried. They cried for joy and yet they cried mostly in fear and deep sadness at the thought of bringing young, innocent lives into a hate fueled war. For Lily Potter and Alice Longbottom knew, as much as their husbands thought the war would be over soon, the hate that had started the war would continue for many years. Not every enemy they were fighting was looking to fight with hexes and curses. Most of them, those with the name Malfoy and Black, liked to use their words and money to put their heinous beliefs into law. But this was not the most prevalent thought running through the women's minds. Mrs. Longbottom and Mrs. Potter were both wondering how in the world they were going to inform their husbands of their impending fatherhood.

Lily Potter always liked to look back on the last few months and think about how far they had come. She laughed when she thought about James' face at the announcement of their little boys impending arrival. The shock on his face had quickly changed to delight but it was definitely a close call for the healer that was prepared to cast a Cushioning Charm in case he fainted. But he powered through it and Lily had a surprise herself when she realized that Alice was making the same announcement to her husband. No wonder Alice had been so supportive!

But that was almost seven months ago and the women were both due any day now. Although the general consensus was that Alice was going to go first. Their boy Neville was much bigger than Hadrian. At that thought Lily rolled her eyes. Even though the Potter family had come along way from most traditions as far as the Pureblood Supremacists were concerned there were some traditions that were not going anywhere. Such as the naming of heirs. But she would get her "Muggle" traditions such as they were in there too. Harry would be his name one way or another. Lily just smiled and continued to rock and direct her wand at the yarn shaping it into a pair of knitted booties. Her progress stopped when she heard and owl tapping on the window and she painstakingly pushed herself out of the chair, cursing whoever had sent the owl. The curse changed to a happy squeal when she realized that it was from Frank and it was a missive to let her know that Alice had given birth that afternoon.

Neville was healthy and both mother and son were doing well. They should be ready to go home tomorrow afternoon! Lily only hoped that her Harry came soon. She wasn't sure she could make it through much more of this heat not to mention the back pain she had been having the last couple of hours. Maybe she should just go take a short nap and see if that helped ease the pains.

Another grueling contraction coursed through Lily and she again cursed the day she had allowed James Potter to touch her. The healer telling her it was okay to push really wasn't helping matters either. But she powered through bolstered by the thought that soon her son would be here. With this happy thought giving her strength she didn't know she possessed she pushed again only to feel the pressure ease and a loud wail filling the room. The healer quickly cleaned baby Hadrian before handing him to his mother for the first time. Lily didn't know how to feel. A part of her was in shock, almost unable to comprehend the fact that she had actually had a child. Another part was so overcome with this sudden burst of love all she could do was cry. And looking down at her son and then back to her husband, who was also crying, Lily realized that no matter what happened in this war as long as she had her boys everything would be okay.

Little Harry toddled around the sitting room looking up at the adults. Lily and James could not be prouder of their little man. He was walking rather well considering it had only been about two weeks since he figured it out. Neville was trying to copy him and looked like it might happen any time now. Both boys were progressing nicely and if you had looked in on this group of friends or family really you wouldn't know that their lives were going to be changed forever with the arrival of an elderly wizard they all knew well.

James answered the door and welcomed the headmaster inside, "Dumbledore! What brings you to Godric's Hollow?" The older wizard simply shook his head and swept into the living room and greeted the group. All without his signature twinkle in his eye.

"James, Lily, Frank, and Alice I'm sorry to say that I have come across a rather disturbing piece of news. Apparently Voldemort has put a hit out on you all. This includes your sons. Our only theory is that he seeks to completely eliminate the Potter and Longbottom lines," the old wizard informed the family.

"You have no theories at all as to why he would do this now?" questioned Alice.

"Unfortunately, my spy within his ranks isn't high enough in the organization to know the exact reasons. Just be glad that we got this information before it was too late," Dumbledore responded gravely.

"What do we do James?" Lily asked quietly.

"We can go the Manor. I had it repaired after the accident. But its completely up to you," James replied.

"I think we need to sit down and think about it. If we move now we lose the home we have here. Let us talk about it tonight and go from there," Lily responded and turned to the headmaster, "Was there anything else Dumbledore?"

"I only wanted to invite you all to a meeting next week I am having with a few people to talk about some things we can do to protect ourselves in these troubling times. Please owl me if you are going to be able to make it and I will give you the location," Dumbledore informed them all and then took his leave.

"Maybe we should go home as well, Ali," Frank said, "The boys both need to be put to bed soon and we all… well we need to figure out what we are going to do".

"Yes- James, Lily thank you for having us over. I'm sorry that it didn't end better," Alice mumbled softly as she packed away Neville's scattered belongings.

"We will owl you all in a few days. I think that we need to all discuss some things just in case you know?" Lily told them as the family walked to the door.

"Yes, I agree. Given that we are all being targeted then I think that we should definitely have a plan," Frank agreed while Alice nodded over his shoulder. With that tentative plan in place the family left.

Lily immediately went and picked up Harry. James followed her and watched as his wife held their son and wept.

"We will go to the manor tonight. Even if we don't stay permanently I will feel safer with the goblin wards that are already in place," James told his wife.

Lily sniffled and tried to pull herself together. She needed to be strong for James and Harry.

"The manor for the night sounds amazing. I bet that's where Frank and Alice are going tonight despite Lady Longbottom being in residence still," Lily said through her hiccups.

With that James gathered Harry and his wife into his arms and apparated to the foyer of his families ancestral home.

"Master is home?" a squeaky voice echoed around.

"Milly?" James called.

"Milly is here Master James," the squeaky voice came this time from a small house-elf clad in a pale pink lace eyelet dress.

"Milly please prepare our rooms. Then send one of the young elves to the cottage in Godric's Hollow to gather some clothes for us. After that please lock down the manor. We are officially going into safe mode, " James ordered.

"Yes, Master James. Right away Master James," the elf squeaked out and popped away to do her master's bidding.

As James and Lily slowly wound their way through the halls and up the main staircase of the large manor home they were both silently thinking of how to keep their little family safe. They stopped outside the nursery door and were surprised to see an exact replica of the nursery that they had at the cottage. Shaking his head at his family's house elf staff and their desire to please they put little Harry to bed. He snuggled down into his crib and James and Lily both just watched him sleep for a few moments.

"What are we going to do James?" Lily whispered.

"I think it is time to enact some of the more archaic Potter traditions," James replied quietly so as to not wake his son.

Lily turned and looked at him carefully, "Are you sure James? You know what this means… if anything were to happen to us… or even worse if we do this and nothing comes from it… we are talking about your son's future."

"Lily all I have been thinking about is how to make the best of any given situation. If I do this at the best he will have us to help him. If we aren't here this gives him protection," James replied. At this he took his wife's hand and led her out of their room. Milly was waiting in the hall and simply nodded at her master. James nodded back and proceeded to take his wife to bed.

Lily was almost in shock as she went through the motions of getting into bed. Being Muggleborn she never really understood the pureblooded society. Thankfully the Potters were very tolerant. But despite their tolerance Lily was the first Muggleborn in the family. James' parents had welcomed her with open arms. Dorea had been a godsend when it came to learning everything she had needed to know upon marrying into a truly Ancient and Noble family. Especially when it came to the history and traditions of the Potter family. And that's why Lily knew that what James was suggesting was risky. While it would ensure their son's continued protection if they were not around she worried it would alienate him if this threat ended up being unfounded.

The silence was deafening and finally James couldn't stand it. He rolled over and gathered his wife into his arms.

"Lily Flower I know you don't like this but its time. For too long I have been reluctant to put a price on our heads and utilize the political power of my family. That combined with my parent's accident made it easy for me to ignore my duties. The Potters have always had a lot of respect. As a First Family we made a promise and with that promise came protection. I am only intending to utilize that for our son. Can you really blame me?" he asked.

"No, I suppose not. You just have to remember that while your mother and Lady Longbottom did an amazing job with teaching me all these things I did grow up on the muggle side of things. The plans you have made would have been not only frowned upon, but also illegal in muggle society. I agree with you and I will do my part. But tonight I don't want to think about it. I want to fall asleep in my husbands arms and not be afraid," Lily responded effectively ending the conversation. While the husband and wife finally drifted into sleep, the house elf named Milly stepped from the shadows. While normally elves did not listen to their master's private conversations the elf was concerned when Master James ordered the house into safe mode. Milly silently snapped her fingers and appeared in the young master's room. He was sleeping but she could just reach his forehead with her finger and as she did so a beautiful soft green glow encompassed the child.

"Young master must be safe. Milly wills protects you with all Milly's powers. Sleep little master while the elves stand guard," Milly whispered until the glow faded. With that she popped of to the kitchen to give final orders to the night staff before she popped to bed herself. The old ways always took a lot out of her. She couldn't remember the name of the last matriarch in her line to have invoked the special protection for a young one but she knew the previous protected one had grown up to be a great man. Powerful, strong, and a natural born leader Ignotus had surprised everyone. The third boy who had stood to inherit nothing ended up being the only one to live. But as the old house elf drifted off to sleep she remembered the special cloak that sat in the family safe. Maybe she should get that out and give it to Master James… oh well it could wait until tomorrow.

Many miles away the elderly headmaster of Hogwarts was finally sitting down to a hot cup of tea. While he regretted not being as forthcoming with the Potters and the Longbottoms, he rationed that it was for the greater good. After all these years he knew best after all. Just look at what had happened with Gellert. Yes, it was better if Dumbledore controlled the amount of information getting out to the people. He finished his tea and headed to bed thinking of how to best control the Potters. Their family fortune and contacts could be very valuable to the little group he was forming. He would have to formally request a meeting with James Potter. The poor lad didn't even know of some powers he had at his exposal.

The next day was busy. The Potters had a lengthy discussion about where to stay. After much conversation and even more arguing James and Lily decided that they would stay at the cottage until Christmas. Harry would be almost a year and a half so the transition would be a little easier. Also they could have the holidays with their friends turned family and not have to compromise the manor. While their friends Sirius and Remus would obviously know about the manor, and the Longbottoms would obviously have an idea being an older family as well, everyone else would just think the Potters had up and disappeared. Returning to work after Harry turned a year would be out of the question but their family's safety was absolutely the priority. So, both James Lily sent letters with a manor owl to their respective employers saying that they were not going to be returning for the foreseeable future. After a busy morning getting affairs in order they readied for the return to the cottage for a meeting Frank, Alice, Sirius and Remus. They had not received a reply from Peter but they weren't surprised. His mother hadn't been doing well last they heard so it was probable that he would be busy with her for a while.

The Longbottoms arrived first with little Neville. Lily got them settled in and the boys playing as Sirius and Remus arrived. Once everyone had a cup of tea and was comfortable, James began to go over what they had been thinking and doing since Dumbledore's ominous late night warning. James explained some of the Potter family's more obscure procedures and fail safes in the worst possible scenario. The Longbottoms were shocked but not so much so that they didn't realize that this was helpful to both boys. Longbottom house was a protected house under the Potter Family traditions that James was calling on so it was definitely a benefit for them. As long as Neville grew up understanding what was to be expected of him then it shouldn't be a problem. The boys being friends also helped situation immensely. It would be different if it were a family like the Weasleys. Both Lily and Alice had tried to set up play dates with the youngest boy Ron but he was a mean spirited little child. After he had hit Neville for the fourth time both mothers had left without a backwards glance.

The Potters also discussed how they would like to stay at the cottage until after the holidays. Starting in the New Year they would move to the Manor and take up permanent residence there until further notice. They invited the others to join them at Potter Manor. The only catch was that nobody would be able to work if they lived at the manor. The Longbottoms declined citing the Lady Longbottom's desire for them to move home to Longbottom Hall for the duration of the war. They were waiting until just before the start of the holidays before making the move. However, Sirius and Remus both accepted knowing that it would be the safest option during this struggle. Until then Sirius wanted to ask Dumbledore about putting up a new experimental charm called the Fidelius around the cottage. No sense in not taking precautions before the move as nobody relished Christmas being interrupted by an attack. With all the hard stuff hashed out the group decided to meet up on the boys birthday weekend for a small party.

The boys' birthday party went without a hitch as far as the little group was considered, however, as far as Dumbledore had been concerned it was an unmitigated disaster. He was planning on meeting the Potters tomorrow to put the Fidelius on the cottage and as far as he was concerned that was the worst thing that could happen right now. After all as long as they couldn't be found then the prophecy couldn't be fulfilled and more people would die. Dumbledore had no doubt that the prophecy was talking about the Potter child. While the Longbottom boy was strong he wasn't in the league that Harry was. What was one boys sacrifice compared to multiple lives? The Potters were young and would have many more children. He would just have to see about compromising this new charm that Black had found. It was a new and experimental charm. There were bound to be problems.

The next day Dumbledore arrived at the cottage and was surprised to see quite the group gathered. The Longbottoms, Lupin, Black, the Potters, and the tagalong… Petty? No Pettigrew was his name. He seemed jumpy and nervous around Dumbledore. Pettigrew greeted him and didn't realize until too late to not look him in the eye. In that split second Dumbledore saw the initiation for becoming a Death Eater and saw that Peter had found a bigger protector than James Potter. With that Dumbledore broke into a smile and formed in a split second a plan.

"James, Lily I have been thinking about this charm. I think it will be a great protection for you but I think that once word gets out that your cottage has disappeared that people will begin to suspect Sirius. Maybe we could make it another of your friends. Remus is out obviously because of his affliction. I am not sure how a Light spell like this will react to his lycanthropy. Do you have another candidate?" Dumbledore asked innocently.

"Peter would you be willing?" James asked, "If only because with your mother being sick you wouldn't be coming over that much and the charm works better if the secret keeper isn't in the protected domain for very long or very often".

Peter smiled and agreed to be the Potter's secret keeper. Dumbledore performed the spell and as he sat down to a cup of tea in his office an hour later he couldn't help but think about how everything had come into place just so. Soon Tom would attack the Potters and little Harry would die but what was one life in comparison to thousands? Why should one little boy's life be worth more than the lives of many people? Fawkes watched sadly as his oldest friend began his descent into evil.

The birthday party at the cottage went off without a hitch on the morning of July 31st. With Neville's birthday the day before they decided to celebrate on Harry's birthday and have a cake for each of the boys so as to not to have either of the boys feel left out. The boys had fun and made a mess of their clothes with the icing from the cake so James and Frank decided to help their wives out and gave the boys a bath. Both mothers thought there was probably more water on the floor than in the tube in the end but the rooms were filled with the laughter of the boys. After the bath the families cleaned up the rest of the party mess and said their goodbyes. Little did they know that it was going to be one the last times they would be able to get together like this. Al because of one fateful night at the end of October…

Lily Potter smiled as she got her son ready for bed. It had been Harry's second Halloween but the first where he actually got to enjoy the holiday. Somehow Lily had convinced James to go into the village where other children were trick-or-treating. James head been a little reluctant to participate in the Muggle holiday but Lily had been insistent. If James was going to use the Potter family legacy then Lily was going to ensure, as long as she could, that her son understood the Muggle heritage he had as well. Singing a little lullaby and turning out the light, Lily was thinking of her son's future and how he may be better off with a little sister to help him out. Her smile got wider as she came down the stairs and saw that James had gotten out a bottle of wine and lit some candles. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who was thinking along the lines of a Potter sibling.

James smiled at his wife and thought that they only had to make it until Christmas and then they could ride out this was in the safety of Potter manor. He had the elves working around the clock making it as comfortable as possible. They were laying provisions and making it more Muggle friendly for Lily. He had a few surprises for Christmas that he couldn't wait to show her. Hopefully the elves would be done soon; he told them to notify him as soon as they were so that he could inspect the manor. As he poured his wife a glass of wine he wondered when they would be able to give little Harry a little sister. His train of thought was never voiced because at that moment there was an explosion that rocked the house.

"Lily it's him! Take Harry and run! Quickly go to the manor and I will hold him off!" James shouted at his wife. Lily looked at her husband with wide eyes for a few moments trying to convey how much she loved him and then turned to run up the stairs to Harry's room. When she got there she quickly gathered her sons things.

"Milly!" Lily shouted.

The house-elf appeared and took one look at Lily's horrified face before popping away with a cry of "Master James!"

Lily was panicked. She didn't get a chance to meet any other elves at the manor so she was stuck. She had been hoping Milly would pop away with Harry and she could help James fight. Now she could only barricade the door and hope for the best. So that's exactly what she did. A quick colloportus and a personal charm she had been developing for work, Lily gathered her strength and took her stance in front of Harry's crib. She was as prepared as she was going to be.

It was a war zone downstairs when Milly popped in. She saw Master James on the floor trying to keep his shield up as Voldemort bombarded it with magic. She quickly threw some elf magic at the evil wizard and ran to her master's side. She grabbed Master James' hand and popped him to the manor. She called one of the other elves and told them to tend to him and then moved to pop back for the Mistress and little Master. But some evil magic was blocking her. Milly quickly realized she would have to pop back as close as possible and break down the wards before she could get them away safely; so away she went.

While Milly was working on the wards, Lily was fighting her own battle at the cottage. Voldemort was attempting to overcome her personal ward that she had put up and as it drew directly from her magical reserves it was taxing her. She knew that she would not be able to keep it up much longer. She had a decision to make. There was an experimental ward that she could place on her son but it would cause the barrier ward on the door to fail and the trigger would mean her death. Lily only had a split second to decide if she had enough magic left in her to put the ward on Harry. After a moment of indecision she flourished her wand over Harry and began the long chant. Thank goodness it was a silent casting because no sooner did she start than she felt the barrier begin to fall on the door. She had mere seconds…

"Step away girl, and I just might let you live," an angry voice hissed from the doorway.

"Please! He is just a baby! Take me instead. Please!" Lily pleaded with the man, hoping to appeal to any humanity he may have had left.

"Step aside girl or I will kill you where you stand!" the man raged.

"Then you will have to kill me. I will not leave my son!" Lily Potter shouted back as she turned to face her son and finish the ward by kissing him on the forehead and pushing her very life magic into it. She felt the impact of the killing curse and then nothing.

"Such a waste. Oh well. Let me have a look at this supposed savior," Voldemort hissed.

As Voldemort looked into the crib at the toddler he wasn't aware of the magic that had been invoked by Lily Potter. After all what kind of power hungry killer cares to research or understand sacrificial magic? If Voldemort had looked at this type of magic and if he had truly understood the power behind being a truly Ancient and Noble Family such as the Potters, maybe just maybe he wouldn't have attempted to kill its scion this Halloween night. But he hadn't researched and so he did attempt to kill little Harry Potter. It was a bright flash of green light that lit up the sky right as Milly the house-elf brought down the final ward at Godric's Hollow. The fear was strong in her heart as she popped to the nursery.

There was the mistress and Milly hurried to check her but she had already gone to the next life. Closing the Mistress' eyes, Milly turned to the crib that housed the quiet little Master. Fearing the worst, Milly took a deep breath and checked to see if the little one had survived. With a happy cry, Milly gathered the little master and took a final look around the room.

"Billy! Minnie!" Milly called out sharply.

"Yes, Milly? What can we do for you?" the elves popped in asking.

"Clean the house for the Masters. Cleanse this room and seal up the house. Put up the elfish wards. We need to protect the Potter family as we always have. This little Master is important. I know you can feel the bad mans magic is still in the air. He will come back for the little Master. I don't know when I just know. I know because… because I have invoked the protections of the Family," Milly finished telling her seconds in command.

Billy and Minnie gasped in surprise. There were stories of elves who invoked the protections of the Family back in the days of 'olde magick' when wizards and witches learned magic from their mothers and fathers. Before the elves were the dregs of society; before the Great Rift. Billy and Minnie did not know of any elf that had lived to tell the tale of the Family Magic. They only knew that Milly had staked her life on the young Master. They bowed deeply to show Milly the respect she deserved for her dedication to the Potter Family. They popped away to carry out her orders as Milly took the little Master back to the Manor.