Chapter 1

"So how's my little man doing?" James Potter said as he leaned on the door frame. He had a slight grin on his face as he watched his wife put a tired, yet fussy, fifteen month old into his crib.

"He's exhausted, even if he doesn't know it," Lily Potter said as she finally placed Harry onto the mattress. He was out almost the instant he hit the sheet.

"As is his mother," she continued as she plopped into the rocking chair next to the crib, "I would have never had guessed that he would be that much of a handful with only one of us watching him," she turned her head to look at her husband, "So what did Albus have to say that took him three hours?"

James' grin shifted to that of a weary frown, but to Lily perspective, it seemed that he went from holding up the door frame to the frame hold him up. She knew such a drastic shift didn't bode well, and she prepared herself for the worse.

"It's getting bad out there, Lily. More and more people have disappeared, and the Death Eaters' activities have increased nearly ten fold. It's like…"

"It's like they're looking for something," she whispered, though James could hear her clearly, "looking for us."

"That's what Dumbledore thinks as well," James said. Lily noticed that he had used the Hogwarts headmaster's last name. Usually that meant they had argued, and that he had grudgingly accepted the man's decision.

"What's wrong, dear?"

James sighed as he pushed himself up and started to pace the room. He knew he couldn't hide anything from Lily. She knew him too well.

"I just feel guilty that while everyone else is out there fighting and dying, or probably worse, to stop Voldemort, I'm sitting here doing nothing," he said.

Lily gave him a hard look, "So you'd rather go out and fight than stay here and protect your son?"

"No!" James protested, then he cringed at his raised voiced and glanced over at Harry. Thankfully the boy hadn't even stirred. He sighed as he slumped against the wall, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses, "No, I don't. But, at the same time, I also want to fight, which just makes me feel even guiltier."

Lily sat there for a second and watched her husband. She had never seen him seem so exhausted before, not even after the incident at the Shrieking Shack back in school. This was harder on him than either of them had thought. She sighed.

"I know James, I know. It's just…"

KRACK!

They were both instantly on their feet, wands pointed at the nursery door.

"What was that?"

"I don't know," James said as he made his way to the door, "but I'll check it out. You stay here."

"James," Lily called, but he had already stepped out the door. She sighed, and then glanced over at Harry. She was surprised to find him awake and sitting up in his crib. He smiled at her, oblivious to any possible danger. Before she could say or do anything, she heard an explosion downstairs, followed by indistinct shouts. She could feel the magical bursts as spells were cast. Lily heard footsteps on the stairs shortly before James burst into the room, his right arm and gash above his eye bleeding.

"James!"

"He found us, Lily," James said, breathing heavily, "Voldemort found us."

She gasped, "But… how… Peter…"

James shook his head, "That doesn't matter right now. The barrier spell I cast won't hold long. When he comes up the stairs, I'll distract him. You grab Harry and run. Take a broom, floo powder, disapparate, I don't care, just go!"

Lily barely had time to comprehend what James was saying when they heard a shattering sound coming from down the stairs. With a determined look on his face, James turned towards the door. Lily grabbed his arm.

"James, wait! There has…" Lily was cut off as James kissed her, fiercely and deeply. He pulled back and looked into her green eyes for the last time.

"I love you, you and Harry, always and forever," he said before he turned and ran out the door.

"James!" Lily yelled, but she knew she was too late. The tell-tale flash of green was enough to tell her what happened. As silent tears came to her eyes, she turned to grab Harry and make their escape.

"Immobulus!"

Lily froze, mere inches from grabbing Harry, despair filling her heart. She knew that voice.

"Now, now. We can't be having you leaving with the guest of honor," came the hissing voice of the Dark Lord, "Not before I can… pay my respects."

Lily felt her body being pulled into an upright position, arms straight at her side and legs locked together. As she was turned around, her gaze fell upon the inhuman visage of Lord Voldemort, the most powerful Dark Wizard since Grindelwald.

"Please," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper, "please don't do this. He's just a baby."

"Ah, but alas, I have to," Voldemort said with a grin made all the more evil by his appearance, "I can't have young Harry growing to oppose me, now can I?"

"Please," Lily continued, "take my life instead, just don't hurt my baby."

Voldemort turned to glare at her, "Don't tempt me, woman. Feel lucky I even decided to heed the plea to let you live."

"Please..."

"Bah, I don't have time for this. I have a child to kill," the Dark Lord said, flicking his wand toward the wall. With a violent jerk, Lily was flung sideways, her head smashing into the wall before she crumpled to the floor. She tried to force herself up, to stop Voldemort, but as the darkness closed in around her, the last thing Lily Potter remembered was a flash of green light, an inhuman scream, and her baby crying.