AN: So this is my first fanfiction, I've had the idea for awhile now. It is inspired by a challenge I came across while reading Lily Potter's Biggest Secret by StrongHermione. Because of this, especially in the beginning while things are being set up there will be similarities. I'm not sure how often I'll update, I'll try for at least once a week. Please rate and review and let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy it. - Doves

Chapter One - Passing a Message

October 7th, 1981

Lily Potter paced her sitting room in Godric's Hollow, back and forth she went and on her fifth pass the guest sitting on the couch broke Lily's anxious contemplation.

"Calm down Lily, come sit down and tell me what is going on child, has something happened between you and James? You said in your owl he could he not be here, why? You should not be putting so much stress on yourself. Especially so soon after…" the older witch trailed off not sure how to handle the clearly stressed red head in front of her.

With a sigh the young witch lowered herself next to her former Transfiguration teacher and current friend Minerva McGonagall, tension in her shoulders and a quiver in her hands as she reached for her teacup "James doesn't trust me any more Minerva. That is why he couldn't be here, he can never know why I asked you here, otherwise things would get worse than they already are."

Minerva lifted an eyebrow at the statement. Seeing her hand quake Minerva waited for Lily to take a drink before removing the teacup placing it back to the table and putting a comforting hand on the shoulder of the normally vibrant girl.

Concerned and confused Minerva questioned her, "What is going on Lily? Why wouldn't James trust you?" Then with a sudden thought the older witch got a fire in her eye and asked in a more concerned, slightly harsher tone, "he doesn't blame you for the miscarriage does he?"

'An heir and a spare, that is the minimum of what every pureblood family wants in regards to children. Many are looked down upon if they fail to produce a second child. If James has instilled fear into this wondrous young woman for losing a child I will flay him alive.' Minerva kept the ranting thoughts locked in her as she tried to offer comfort and safety.

Lily turned her attention to the older woman, her emerald eyes growing heavy with tears, begging even before she spoke, "Minerva, I just have this horrible feeling that something is going to happen. I just don't know what to do, there is so much I need to get done but I feel my time may be cut short. HE is looking for us, this won't end well and I can feel it. That's why I need to ask you to do something for me, Please Minerva I need your word that you will carry a message for me, so if something were to happen to me I will know that…"Lily broke off and again with her sad green eyes pleaded "please will you do this for me Minerva?"

"What message my child, please you are worrying me, I will help you any way I can, you should know by now I would do much anything for you, you are like a daughter to me." Minerva responded.

"You don't understand what I ask of you Minerva, this information could be dangerous to you, very dangerous. That is why should I reveal the truth to you, you must not remember it unless certain circumstances commence, I would need to remove the memories and put them under a specialized locking spell, only to open should the criteria be met, and perform powerful a memory charm on you so you remember nothing, not even the imprint of a memory for the protection you and Harry, and…" she trailed off again looking down as a sob went through her frame, "and the protection of someone else. Someone that above all deserves the truth but for their protection I can never tell them. Not with the way things are. But should the need arise and I am…" another sob shook her body.." and I am no longer here" another sob, "I need the peace of mind that someone knows the truth and can pass on messages if the need should arise. It may be better if it never did..." more sobs rocked Lily's petite frame "for everyone involved it may best if this information never see the light of day, not if it means endangering them."

Minerva looked at a distraught Lily with trepidation. Her head spinning with questions that may never be answered, should she accept she would have her memories altered and she was unsure if she should allow this. However, looking down at the upset witch in her arms, whom she trusted implicitly, she knew she wouldn't ask if this was not of the utmost importance.

Looking back into the tear filled eyes of the woman who sat beside her, for a moment she couldn't help but remember the sweet wide eyed girl she once was as she had first come to Hogwarts. A small twelve year old only looking to belong into a world that was not her own and who at thirteen had scoffed at the most popular boy in school when he pursued her and mocked her oldest friend. She couldn't forget the beautiful eighteen year old who had blossomed into a young woman marrying the boy she had spurned for many years. Looking into the eyes of twenty-one year old Lily Potter Minerva saw a conviction there that she had never before seen in the girl, along with a sadness that somehow didn't fit the recent sadness the Potters had experienced in the death child who had yet to live. It was a different sorrow she saw deep in Lily's gaze. After another moment of looking into her eyes Minerva nodded. "Alright Lily, I will do as you ask. I will listen to the truths you have to tell."

The redheaded witch sighed and look as if a boulder had been lifted off of her as some of the tension was removed from her frame, with a new determination and hope in her voice she began to speak her truth "The child Minerva, my daughter, she wasn't James's and she is most certainly not dead."

January 16th, 1981

Lily had put a five month old Harry to sleep upstairs in a spare room of the third temporary 'public'(for Order members anyway) safe house. The Potters had been moved to and fro while waiting for the permanent, private safe house to be finished with it's extensive warding, put under the Fidelius Charm, and ready to be inhabited. The Longbottoms were moved to a permanent safe house a few days prior and soon the Potters would be in their own.

With a sigh Lily straightened the pillow and blankets that rested on the couch. James had slept down in the drawing room the past two days while the house was full after a skirmish with the Death Eaters. Usually James slept in one of the spare bedrooms rather than the room Lily inhabited. Ever since Harry had been born James had become more and more distant, even going as far as sleeping on the couch in favor of sharing a bed with his own wife.

It had seemed that shortly after Harry's birth James had lost interest in Lily and all of his devotion went to his new son, whom he adored. The kiss she had received after his birth being the last real kiss she had received from the man. Yes, there had been a a few on the cheek and a rare hug, but beyond that James physically avoided Lily like the plague.

Lily sat before the hearth and drank a glass of Firewhisky to try and get the chill of loneliness out of her bones, the chill that even the happily crackling fire could not ward away. Sitting with her thoughts Lily drank one glass, then another, and filled the glass again finishing it just as the grandfather clock in the hall began to chime midnight.

Lily had chosen to marry the boy she had thought would love her forever, but on nights like this the cold outside could also be felt inside herself as the overwhelming sense of loneliness seemed every present. A chill that had been growing inside the young witch for a long time now and not even the warmth from the fire within the hearth and the slow burn of Firewhisky could take it away. No on cold nights like this with only her thoughts to keep her company Lily was only ever too aware of the ever present cloak of loneliness. Not even the chime of the clock indicating the late hour could draw the attention of the witch whose green eyes. once sparkling like an emerald, now looked dead, no her once emerald eyes could now only be described as a more dull and sickly killing curse green.

The only thing that could draw the young witch's attention, whom was well on her way to being pissed, was the banging of the front door and the ever familiar voice of her once best friend, deeper than last she heard but still recognizable as he cursed at the very air, "Bloody doddering old fool, with that damn twinkling eye. I have no clue why I continue to listen to him. I cannot believe he would jeopardize everything.." the man continued to mutter incoherently,.. "get caught, mole, Merlin forsaken fool, all for nothing" the words kept coming broken by incoherent mumblings as the young man continued to rant to no one in particular.

Just as Severus had disturb Lily's inner ramblings, the young witch disturbed his ranting by stepping into the entryway whispering a quiet, 'Severus', while keeping a tight hold on her wand held between them. Just as soon as Severus had heard the soft spoken voice he turned and could not keep the small smile from forming on his face, seeing her eyes light up again with the life that had once been the dominant feature in her face.

Severus sighed happily at her bright eyes "Lily, is anyone else here? I need to keep out of sight."

Lily remembered speaking with Dumbledore and hearing him talk about his Death Eater spy. Severus had taken off his coat when entering and through his white long sleeve shirt Lily should see the outline of the Dark Mark on his forearm.

"You're our spy aren't you Sev? That's why you know about this place, why people can't know you are here."

Snape nodded. "Quick as always Lily. I trust you to be discreet, no one can know I was here. I have a message for the Headmaster and tonight is my last chance to pass it to him before I am to remain at the Dark Lord's side for the foreseeable future. Dumbledore wasn't at our meeting place and I am given occasional updates about where I may find someone to give my message if Dumbledore can not take it, this place was the current drop point given."

Looking into onyx eyes Lily nodded and gestured for Severus to follow her back into the drawing room where she passed him a glass of Firewhiskey as she retrieved parchment and ink.

"What is the message Sev? I'll make sure Dumbledore receives it."

"The spy He has in the Order knows the Longbottoms were moved, knows what part of the country, and was given a list of five possible Secret Keepers they might have. Dumbledore was on the list of possibilities along with the Prewett brothers, Benjy Fenwick, and Caradoc Dearborn. He is going to make a move, I don't know when, and I don't know if it will be against you or the Longbottoms, but he knows the first two lines of the Prophecy and wants the possibility of a child defeating him removed. There are also whisperings about a planned attack on Hogsmeade for the next weekend students are allowed in the village. As for my absence, the Dark Lord does not appreciate the fact that I was given the Potions position over that of Defense Against the Dark Arts and wants to make that known to Dumbledore by… "extending" my holiday."

Severus finished off his Firewhiskey and rose, Lily followed suit. As Severus made to walk out the door he paused and turned back. In three strides he was back before Lily and pulled her into his arms.

"I am so sorry Lily. So sorry for so many things, for calling you that horrid name that day, for losing your friendship, for believing the words of this megalomaniac. For more than I could ever tell you. Please forgive me of my sins against you sweet Lily." Severus pressed a kiss to the top her head.

Lily had consumed a fourth Firewhiskey as Snape had delivered his message and was now basking in the warmth of his arms, the comfort of having someone hold her. Without thinking Lily stretched on her toes and kissed Severus and at his gasp of surprise took advantage to deepen the kiss. Relishing a connection to another person Lily soon found both herself and Severus laying on the couch sans clothing as Severus entered her. Through a steady rhythm both of them took their pleasure. But what had been the best night of young Severus' life came crashing down when he saw horror seep into those sparkling eyes as the effects of the Firewhiskey slowly began to fade and Lily realized what they had done. She had betrayed her husband and broken her vows.

"Lily…" Severus began but she just shook her head as she pulled on her clothing leaving the room and going upstairs to check on her son. That was the last time Lily ever saw Severus Snape.

Two months later

Lily had been feeling ill for several weeks, she told anyone who asked that it was nerves. In a week they would move to their permanent safe house whose location had been moved again after a possible leak, all the arrangements were almost finished and all that was left was to place the Fidelius Charm. Lily would have been happy if a sense of dread didn't fill her as to her suspicions .

This suspicion is what lead her to be staring at herself in the mirror, a potion in her hand that was clear and upon a few drops of her blood would either turn yellow or grey. Her family in danger Lily prayed to every God and Goddess she knew the name of that the potion would turn grey. What should of been prick to her finger turned into a slice with shaking hands and three drops of blood later left Lily with a yellow potion and worry for the child she was carrying. There wasn't a way for her to hide this.

That night Lily put the vial of yellow potion in front of James, saying two words that threw him into a rage as she refused to answer his questions "I'm pregnant."

James demanded to know the father, when this had happened, how she could do this to him, and Lily just let him yell. James ranted and raved, demanding about the father again and again until he started accusing people, "You spend a lot of time alone with Remus" and "Sirius stays with you and Harry was it him?" Lily denied him blaming his friends, and he never guessed the true father of the baby.

Perhaps the worst though was James demanding that she "rid herself of the vile thing", claiming that You-Know-Who would just try to kill it anyway along with the rest of them. This statement caused a light to shine back into Lily's emerald eyes a light of fire that hadn't been there since a night with too much firewhiskey.

No, she wouldn't bend to James' demand. Lily was adamant about keeping this child, claiming she would protect it, she would find a way to hide it. James scoffed at her being so naive, forgetting that Lily was a very clever witch, often times thought of the brightest witch of her time. No Lily knew she could hide the child, and she was determined to do so. She would hide this child to protect it, protect it's father, she would hide it from You-Know-Who, from the Wizarding World, and even from James.

Thus Lily set ink to parchment and began the process she had already began mapping in her mind.

Broderick Bode was an Unspeakable, and in his work happened to get injured in odd ways quite often. Lily had been training to be a Healer and had treated Broderick often and made a friend in the older man. She remembered the last time she had healed him he mentioned the only commonly known place in the Department of Mysteries, the Time Room. One could apply to them for a short span time-turner, but Lily knew she needed more than an hour or two to hide her child.

The day after telling James of her pregnancy Lily wrote to Broderick begging him for help, for a time-turner that she could use to hide something in the past where it would never be found. Broderick gave in to Lily's plea and six days later she received a nondescript owl with a heavy envelope.

Smuggled it out, It's Medium Strength.

2yrs is the max, 104 turns, don't try to go further.

Be careful.

I doubt they will notice it gone, don't contact me for awhile though

just in case, can't let them get on to us now can we?

Stay Safe.

-B

Lily slid the weight from the envelope into her palm after reading the letter. A two year time-turner, she wouldn't be able to use it to protect Harry - what she was doing was highly illegal and Harry was known to many, it was too late to protect him this way, but it was just what she needed to make this child safe.

AN: I already have several chapters written that have been beta'd but my beta isn't able to edit much any more do to new job he got, I've tried reaching out to some people on here but recieved no response so I thought I'd see if anyone was interested by leaving a note. So if anyone is interested in beta reading please message me. - Doves