Prologue: October 31, 1981

James Potter went pale. Lily's blood went cold as she watched the color drain from her husband's face. She had just come back from putting Harry to bed when she'd sensed that something was wrong.

"Lily. Remember what Albus said? I think he's here. Voldemort's here," James said, keeping a wary eye on the front door.

"But James...we should fight him together. It's two against one-" Lily began but James cut her off.

"We don't stand a chance against him. The only chance we have is for you to get Harry and Apparate someplace safe. Please don't argue!" James exclaimed upon seeing his wife open her mouth in protest.

"But..." Lily wasn't quite ready to give up. Both she and James had both agreed to Albus Dumbledore's suggestion about what to do if Lord Voldemort ever showed up at their doorstep. They all knew Harry, little baby Harry who was barely a year old, was the most important person in this war. It was imperative that he remain safe and protected, even if that meant that others had to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Lily had offered to stay behind and keep Voldemort at bay but James wouldn't hear of it, even when she had tried to get him to see sense. James was bigger than Lily. He would be much better at keeping Harry safe and raising him. But in the end she, Albus, and James had agreed that James would be the one to hold Voldemort off as long as possible while Lily and Harry Apparated away.

"Lily." James turned to face her, placing his hands on either side of her face in a warm and gentle, yet urgent gesture. Lily didn't want him to let go. "We have to do this. We can't let him get to Harry. You are an amazing mother and you're going to do great. We'll be together again. But right now you need to get Harry and get out."

Lily's eyes filled with tears. "I'm not ready to say goodbye, James."

James Potter's brown eyes became moist as well and he hugged his wife tightly to him. "Me either. But the time has come. Just remember to tell Harry how much I love him, okay?"

Lily nodded into his chest, knowing they would have to let go soon.

It seemed like no time had passed at all when James reluctantly pulled away. "I love you," he said.

"I l-love you t-t-too," Lily sobbed, her voice breaking.

"Go!" James urged, and Lily's heart began racing as she heard footsteps just outside the door. "Go!"

With one final sweeping glance at James, Lily hurried up the stairs, repressing her urge to go back and fight alongside her husband. She ran into Harry's bedroom, the last one on the left and closed the door, locking it behind her. She knew it was a pointless gesture, but if that was the only thing she could contribute, then she'd do it.

She hurried over to Harry's crib, her heart breaking at the sight of her son, sleeping peacefully on his back. She hated to wake him up, but she bent over the crib and picked him up, wrapping him quickly in the blanket.

A scream came from downstairs, and Lily knew that James was probably dead. She couldn't allow herself to realize the full magnitude of that. Instead she cleared her head and thought of the destination she, James, and Albus had chosen for she and Harry to go. The familiar feeling of Apparating overcame her body and a second later they were standing on the porch of a dark house on a dimly lit street, hidden from the view of Muggles.

Number twelve Grimmauld Place.

A/N: I know that the Black house wasn't used for headquarters during the original Order of the Phoenix. It's all part of the plan. Remember this is only the prologue, the chapters to come will be longer. Rating may go up for future chapters.