Lily was on the couch beside James, holding his hand and resting her head on his shoulder. He was reading a book and lightly stroking her hand with his thumb. She had just put Harry down to bed and was relishing in the quiet. The little boy was rambunctious. At one year old he had already learned to run and had made it his mission to terrorize the family cat. It didn't help that Harry showed such an aptitude for magic.
Lily marvelled at how her son was using magic constantly. Harry's ability for magic also made Dumbledore's eyes light up. She remembered how when Dumbledore originally met Harry, Harry had changed his robes from blue to pink with flowers which exactly matched the curtains on the window. Lily had been mortified but Dumbledore and James had just laughed loudly. Dumbledore had later said, as he watched Harry levitate his toys, that he had rarely seen such a large amount of raw magic used in such a small amount of time, and with such purpose. Of course, it was to the purpose of a one-year old whose main objective was discovery and play, but the purpose was still there. James, of course, puffed his chest at such praise.
James was incredibly proud of his son's magic and was certain that Harry was destined to be the greatest wizard in history. Lily was more concerned at just being able to stop the house from collapsing than Harry's grand future. Her little boy was levitating objects as he wanted them, was making things disappear and reappear at will, he would start little tornados or fires in the house when he was upset and would be constantly changing her sofa cushions into animals like birds and mice. Sometimes when he was happy he would start emitting a soft heat and glow faintly. He mostly did this when she or James held him but had done it for Sirius as well when he visited.
Thinking of Sirius made her equal parts worried and frustrated. Worried because he was family and like a brother to her and her husband, and at this moment he was out fighting a dangerous war against a powerful dark wizard. She worried for the entire order. They were out there risking their lives every day. Some had given their lives, like Gideon and Fabian or Dorcas Meadowes or Edgar Bones and his family. They were fighting for liberty, for equality, and for people like her who were muggle born. And that was the crux of the other emotion. She wanted to be with them, to have their back and to help protect them. She wanted to fight for her rights to magic like they were, but thoughts of her little black-haired green-eyed boy, who was sleeping peacefully upstairs, tempered this emotion. Her frustration at being left out was overruled by her desire to protect her son. She understood that her greatest fight was here in this house. Making sure that the terrible prophecy that started this mess never came to fruition.
Her husband was a bit different and although he understood that he was needed here, he had a harder time tempering his emotions on the subject. There had been a few fights at the start of their time in hiding that had strained their relationship. It was so hard for her brave and loyal husband to be left behind while others fought on the front line, to protect them. They had gone back and forth on the subject and he had been so close to leaving at one point a few months after they went into hiding. But his love for them had persevered through his frustrations.
He had calmed down some since then, but she could see that old frustration swell up at certain times, especially after Order meetings when they would learn a bit more about the outside world. She could see the frustration on his face as they left meetings and would know that he would be moody that entire night. It was rare that her man, or herself for that matter, were so calm and happy like they were at the moment.
The frustration was one thing, but the stress of hiding was another. It kept them on edge and she had noticed that her husband was showing signs of premature ageing. There was also the quiet fear. Voldemort was out there, he wants their son dead. She remembered the cold dread she had felt as Dumbledore explained to them and the Longbottoms the prophecy how they had to go into hiding. No, it would never be so, she would not allow it.
Despite the fear, today had been a good day. It was Halloween, and they had enjoyed letting Harry try some candies, then spent the day playing games. This mostly just consisted of them running after Harry as he chased bats they had conjured. This was followed by a rousing game of catch Harry on his mini broomstick that Sirius had bought him for his Birthday this summer. James was proud as punch that Harry did as well as he did on that little broomstick and even she was shocked that Harry adapted to that so quick. She knew that in the future that she would have to resign herself to being scared shitless as she watched her little boy doge bludgers and quaffles. But at the very least she wouldn't have to worry about that till at least fifth year in Hogwarts. They had managed to tire Harry out enough that he had passed out early. This allowed her and her husband to get a little couple time in which they didn't get much of. And so, here she was enjoying her husbands' calm company at the moment.
With that thought, she reached up and gently stroked his face. He turned to her with questioning eyes as she lifted her head and turned her face to look at him. She smiled then leaned forward and kissed him softly, he responded with lightly kissing her back with a smile on his lips. As the kiss progressed it became more heated until they were snogging like they had done when they were teenagers and many times since. He pulled her legs over his until she was on his lap. His arms were tight around her with one hand coming lightly to rest on her ass. She smirked in the kiss, knowing that he couldn't resist and that he was particularly fond of that feature. He was becoming even more passionate alternating between kissing her deeply and peppering her neck with kisses. Hands gripping tighter at her and pulling her more flushed against him. She laughed at his eagerness and slowly started to slow them down. Until finally they were again softly kissing.
Breaking apart she smiled then softly said: "I love you, James Potter."
He smiled wide and responded, "and I you, Lily Potter." His smile then changed to a smirk, "shall we take this upstairs to the bedroom darling wife?" She giggled and stood up to do just that.
Then everything changed.
There was a whoosh behind her, coming from the fireplace, she started and turned around to see Dumbledore emerging from blue flames.
Gone was his wise but good-natured demeanour, his amused twinkling eyes and kind smile. In its place were thunder and determination. A man ready for war. He did not stop but moved forward to the front of the house. As he did he spoke, "Voldemort has found you, he is coming, PREPARE!"
While saying this many more whooshes sounded in the fireplace as the grime faces of Sirius, Remus, Frank Longbottom, Alice Longbottom, Madeye Moody, Dedalus Diggle and Emmaline Vance also emerged in their living room via the floo network. The Order had arrived right in time.
Lily didn't get the chance to see everyone who came through the fireplace as at the moment that Dumbledore shouted 'prepare' the house groaned and there was a sharp crack that rent the air. The shield was down. This was followed by a boom as the front of the living room exploded inward. They were saved from the shockwave and heat by Dumbledore who erected a shield then blew the shield outward sending the force of the blast back from the way it came. It was those three seconds from the explosion to the counter explosion that allowed the rest of the order to come through the fireplace, that allowed James to stand in front of her with his wand out, and for Lily to reach for her own wand. Then there was pandemonium and the battle began.
Immediately, through the smoke and dust, hexes began flying on both sides. The Order surged forward and some apparated through the smoke. Sirius ran forward with Remus on his heels flashing a look to the Potters as he ran past, dodging curses. The only ones who stood their ground in the house were Lily, James and Alice Longbottom. Silently agreeing that Harry came first and placing themselves in front of the stairs, in front of Harry. They were together blocking curses and sending them back at the death eaters that they could see through the smoke. Lily, who was very familiar with both James and Alice's fighting style immediately felt her confidence grow, these were people she knew how to fight with. Fluidly and seamlessly they worked together as a cohesive unit, creating a barricade that none could pass. She felt this confidence waver as she saw what they were up against when the dust and smoke had mostly cleared. There were around thirty Deatheater's on her lawn.
Taking a quick surveillance of the yard, she saw that everyone from the Order was taking on at least two death eaters each. Sirius with his mastery of duelling was fighting unmasked Bellatrix and Rudolphus Lestrange and another masked one she could not make out. Sirius was fierce as he was spinning and sending counter curses in all directions grinning in the face of a challenge much, to the annoyance of Bellatrix. Remus had never looked as wolfish as he fought near Sirius. Taking on Walden Mcnair and Travers. Scanning the Deatheater's there were a few faces she knew but didn't know where Deatheaters like Rookwood and Barty Crouch Jr.
The true centre of the battle was happening around Dumbledore who was surrounded by ten death eaters. If she hadn't been so focused on her own attackers, she would have only been able to stand in awe. She didn't know wands could move so fast and the magic he was creating seemed beyond comprehension. Dumbledore had curses and counter-curses flying from his wand while also seeming to control great eagles made of fire that he had conjured. There where roots from the ground springing up and trying to catch and trip the Deatheaters, as well as a great wind swirling around him causing debris to tumble through the air and sending curses askew, leaving the Deatheaters dodging. The ten death eaters that took him on only seemed to be able to defend in the face of the true power of the great Headmaster.
Lily noted that James, Alice, and herself were currently taking on five Deatheaters. The battle was fierce. She was sending and defended in a unified fashion with her husband and friend. Their faces grim and determined. Her wand work was fast as she dodged and parried. It was the most dangerous of dances, but she would not let them get by her to her son.
In her singular focus on the five death eaters in front of her, she nearly missed what happened next. Standing to the left of James with Alice on his right, she was the only one who saw it coming. From her position, she saw him out of the corner of her left eye. His pale, snake face was vicious as she looked down the length of his wand, which was pointing at the three of them. She put the spell of protection in front of them just in time and blue lightning exploded from his wand striking the shield and blowing them, and the Deatheaters they were fighting, sideways and away from the stairs.
She flew back, landing hard on the ground and her hand opened. It took a second to get her bearings as the wind had been completely knocked out of her, but she was still the first to recover. She lifted her head just in time to see Voldemort mount the stairs. She couldn't hear anything except the pounding in her ears, her lungs screamed for air and the pain in her back screamed as she moved to stand. But it didn't matter, she had to get to Harry. She realised as she was halfway to the stairs that she didn't have her wand. It didn't matter, she had to get to Harry. She dimly heard James yell her name, but it didn't cause her to hesitate, it only fueled her. She took the stairs two at a time and desperately sprinted down the hall. Through the open doorway she flew and found herself with her arms stretched out, and standing unarmed in front of the cruel smirk of Lord Voldemort. The only thing between him and the small toddler who was standing in his crib looking with wide green eyes at the scene.
Her lungs screamed, her mind whirled, her body ached, but she stood between them tall and unflinchingly. She knew she was going to die, but all she had to do was buy time. Dumbledore would get here. Voldemort's cruel smirk turned into a look of disgusted hatred and he slashed his wand at her.
Pain, sharp, hot and beyond words sliced at her lower abdomen. She collapsed to her knees in shock and her arms instinctually wrapped around her belly. It felt as though she was looking through someone else's eyes at the large gaping cut across her stomach and the river of blood that poured forth from it. It was so out of body; her mind couldn't process the pain and the sight. She at this time asked herself why he did that. But the answer came immediately he was playing with her, torturing her, wanted her to watch him kill her baby and then die.
No, it was never going to happen. She stood then, slowly on wobbly knees. Everything in her vision seemed to be hazy except for Voldemort's image in the centre. She focused on it, she had to stand, she had to buy time, she had to die first. She was not afraid of death in that moment, all she could focus on was her family. All the love she had for them pored from her like her blood pouring from her wound. Protect, live, love, love, love. It was on a loop in her head and in her heart. It was sent to her small family. She would die, but she would die for love, and that was everything. Serenity took her features as she stood in front of Voldemort. She saw the anger, disgust, and mostly hatred on his face as he observed her. And for one brief fleeting moment, she thought that she pitied him. He raised his wand but before he had a chance to cast his curse something happened that neither was expecting.
A small hand touched the middle of her back and she felt a half second of vertigo before she focused again. She was still in the room. She was still standing. She was still facing Voldemort. The difference was that she now stood behind the crib. Her baby boy was in front of her with his tiny arm outstretched. He was facing Voldemort, with nothing between them.
Horror gripped her as she saw what had happened. She saw Voldemort laugh in triumph and lower his still raised wand slightly to point it at Harry. She tied to jump but her body didn't obey her, she had lost too much blood and was in too much pain. Instead, she fell forward towards the back of the crib as Voldemort yelled, "Avada Kedavra!"
The curse hit Harry as her knees hit the floor. Then he was enveloped in a pure light for a quarter of a second. Then the curse shot back with the force of a hurricane.
Lily's back hit the wall as the force of the counter curse knocked her backwards, through the blinding green light she could see the outline of Voldemort. It looked like he was being shredded into pieces, but she was sure of nothing. A horrible screech that sounded like what she imagined pure agony to sound like was heard. Then through the slowly dimming green light, she thought she saw something hit Harry. In the next moment, Harry let out a scream of someone experiencing true pain and evil. Harry himself twisted and arched back. She watched in horror as his little body twisted and shook. He then began to glow, that same glow he let out when he was in her arms. It became brighter and brighter so that she could barely see. Then with a bang like a sonic boom, he vanished.
It had taken all of a second to happen, and now she was staring at an empty cot with the far wall and roof completely blown apart. It took some seconds to register, then despair, pure agonizing despair hit her. The pain, she thought, the pain is too much. Harry, her little boy, it was too much. Harry, I love you, her fading mind thought. She briefly recognized James sprinting through the doorway, seeing her then running to her side. He was yelling in her face. His handsome face pinched in concern and misery. He was yelling at her, but it was like hearing everything through water. Just muffled sounds. A hazy image. I am so sorry James was her last thought as everything went black.