Holly Potter cooed in her mother's arms as she was raised in the air.

Lily Potter smiled once more as she looked upon her precious daughter, waving her arms.

Setting her in the crib, Lily tickled Holly's nose. Then she felt a wave of sadness overwhelm her. With the way the war was running, it would be quite some time before the wizarding world could reach a somewhat stable modicum of peace. There was a very good chance that she and James might not even live to see Holly's second birthday.

Lily frowned. The Prophecy hung over their heads like an impending storm. Perhaps it was simple paranoia, but she didn't quite trust Peter anymore. He had made so many excuses to leave on the weekends that Lily couldn't help but feel something might be up. Were they truly safe with him as their Secret Keeper?

However, no one but James knew her backup plan. Even if they somehow died, Holly would be safe. She and James had been donating blood daily to the protections and runes Lily had painstakingly carved onto Holly's cradle. Blood Magic and Dark it may be, but for her daughter, she knew she'd do anything. All Holly had to do was be in the crib, and the protections would stay with her for the rest of her life, keeping her safe and protected.

If she and James did die, it would only make the magic stronger.

She sighed, and wrapped a blanket around Holly, her precious jewel. Lily kissed her daughter's forehead, and went to her bed to sleep.

O.O

Samhain, an ancient night of magic, where the Veil would be at its thinnest between worlds.

They had been playing with Holly in the living room, James making bright lights and wisps of colored smoke shoot out from his wand.

Then, the door had been forcefully opened with a burst of red light.

"He's here! Lily, He's here!" James had yelled.

Now she was rushing up the stairs, Holly clutched tightly in her arms.

James had ran out into the hallway to meet him, and then there was an incantation and a burst of green light.

Lily struggled not to choke on a sob, hurriedly pushing open the door and setting Holly gently down in the crib, she waved her wand and then started chanting quietly under her breath.

... Ut Thanatis Dominum meum sanguinem, anima mea, et vita mea. Domina Hecate, ut hoc sacrificium de magicis meis pro benedictione...

She had closed the door, but she could still hear Voldemort walking slowly up the stairs, like nothing was wrong at all.

But everything was going wrong. This wasn't supposed to happen at all. James would have laughed about excess paranoia when they came out of hiding.

Lily knew that she'd have to time this perfectly, and yes, the areas where she had drew and carved runes when they had first gone into hiding had begun to shimmer with faint golden light.

And then the door was opened, a swish of robes, black whisps at the peripheral of her vision.

Lily knew then that she was going to die. So quickly, she stepped lightly, as so not to disturb the magic, inside the circle of faintly shimmering magic, so that she might be used as a sacrifice.

A yell, and the pointing of a wand. Avada Kedavra!

Her only thoughts as the jet of glowing green light speeded towards her was that she would love her Holly. Always.

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