Halloween night in Godric's Hollow was usually peaceful, despite the rambunctious teenagers egging nearby houses. Children would knock on doors, yell: "Trick or treat!" and receive free candy. It was usually a fun sort of bliss.
It was around seven o'clock, and on any normal day, Lily and James Potter would put their one-year-old son, Harry, to sleep. Not tonight, though. They seemed more relaxed than usual, and why not let the child stay up? He rarely got to, anyways.
"It's Halloween," James had told her when Lily opened her mouth to object. "It's supposed to be fun, Lily."
She finally gave in to her husband's casual, yet loving, tone.
"Oh, fine," she said with false anger, setting down the bowl of cookie dough. "But no later than eight-thirty."
James grinned that charming grin Lily knew as a child and planted a kiss on her lips.
"I thought you might see it my way," said James, grinning with an air of mischief and carelessness that Lily both loved and hated.
The night pressed on and Lily baked cookies for James and Harry, who had all of them consumed within 45 minutes, James, obviously, eating most of them. That evening, even without Sirius, Harry's godfather and who seemed to be most fun in the family, was a blast. Lily loved the relationship between Harry and James. They seemed like best friends, even though Harry was so young. Lily knew that Harry would look almost exactly like his father- the resemblance was uncanny- and probably act like him, too. But Harry had Lily's eyes, green and almond-shaped. A very handsome combination, if you asked either Lily or James.
Now James was making puffs of smoke with his wand, amusing his tiny child. Harry laughed and tried to grip the smoke with his little fists, only to find them puff out of the side of his hands. The child's laugh was so sweet, so young.
Lily entered, looking at a grandfather clock.
"James, it's time for Harry to go to bed," Lily said gently. James scooped Harry into his arms and handed him to Lily, who went into the hall and up the stairs. He tossed his wand on the sofa and stretched, yawning.
James heard the gate creak open. Probably just late-night pranksters, James thought to himself, and recalled how he and Sirius were such troublemakers in their school years.
Suddenly, James heard the door burst open. He sprang up quicker than he thought was possible and ran into the hallway to find Lord Voldemort himself at the threshold. James forgot to pick up his wand….
"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!" James screamed frantically to his wife. Voldemort laughed before casting the fatal spell.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Green light burst from his wand tip, illuminating the cramped hallway. James Potter fell with a thud, dead.
Above, Lily heard and she knew what happened. She let out a horrified shriek, but forced herself to continue barricading the doorway to Harry's room. She had no wand upon her, either.
The door was forced open with a lazy flick of Voldemort's wand. Lily dropped Harry into the crib and spread her arms wide, as if to shield the child. As if it would help….
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" Lily begged.
"Stand aside, you silly girl… stand aside, now," Voldemort said coldly.
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead-"
"This is my last warning-"
"Not Harry! Please… have mercy… have mercy…. Not Harry! Not Harry! Please- I'll do anything-"
"Stand aside. Stand aside, girl!"
Voldemort had had it, Lily could tell, and green light filled the nursery. Everything was gone.