The Little Things is a series of Harry Potter "What If?" stories. Seen in chapter on are a few roots that could have been taken if even the slightest change to the beginning of the series were made.

***

"Lily, take Harry and run!" yelled James. "He's almost here!"

"No! What about you?" she called back. "He'll kill you!"

James laughed to himself. "Maybe he will. But if I die protecting my family, I'd say that's a good way to go. Now go hide!"

Just as Lily left the room, the front door was blown off of it's hinges. There stood He-who-must-not-be-named himself. Voldemort had found them once again.

"Potter, it needn't be this way. All you must do is either join me…or die trying to protect your son. The choice is yours."

James scoffed and pulled out his wand. "I'll never join the likes of your Death Eater scum, Voldemort."

Voldemort bowed his head slightly. "Very well," he said, before whipping out his wand and casting his curse. But James was fast, too.

"Avada Ked--!"

"Langlock!"

Voldemort's eyes widened in surprise and amusement at the use of a juvenile spell. It was the last look his face had.

James sneered at Voldemort. "Leave my family alone. Avada Kedavra!"

***

Lily Potter turned her back to the door as it was blown off of its hinges. She soothed her baby. "Sh, sh, shh…don't worry, love. It'll all be okay when Daddy gets back."

She placed the baby in his crib, then turned to face Voldemort. "So, have you finally decided to kill us, or are you on another recruiting mission?"

Voldemort tsked at her. "You don't have to go through with this. Potter merely got in my way. You do not need to die for this child. Simply step aside so I can kill it."

Lily got between him and the crib. "No! You will not harm my son!"

Voldemort hissed in disgust. "Such devotion to a half-breed. You will move aside. Imperio!"

Lily grunted with the effort of staying in front of Voldemort until she collapsed to the floor, unable to move.

Voldemort laughed. "That's a good girl. Now, then, before I kill the child…what is his name?"

Lily spat at him.

"Crucio!"

She shrieked in pain. "His name…is Harry." she struggled through pain and trying to fight the Imperius curse.

"Harry…Harry Potter. Well, my dear, I shall do you the kindness of killing the boy elsewhere. As for you…if only you hadn't defied me, you could have lived. Avada Kedavra!"

***

Rubeus Hagrid looked up in surprise as a young man approached him. "Who's that?" he called out.

The man showed himself. "Hullo, Hagrid. Is that…is that Harry?"

Hagrid nodded sadly. "Found 'im all alone in the ruins of his home. I don' understand why Vol…He-who-must-not-be-named would go after a baby."

The man shook his head. "We may never know. Hagrid, do you think…I…could take him? After all, I am his…his…"

Hagrid patted his shoulder as the man started to cry. "I understand, Sirius. But Dumbledore asked me to bring him to Privet Drive as soon as I could."

Sirius nodded. "Okay, then…take my motorcycle, it'll get you there faster. I have some business to attend to just now. It was good to see you, Hagrid."

"You too," Hagrid replied, then prepared to mount the motorcycle. Then he stopped and looked back. "Hey, wait! Sirius!"

Sirius turned back, something like a look of fury leaving his face. "Yes?"

"Tell you what. I wouldn' go against Dumbledore, but if you decide to go on ahead and be his guardian over these …"

"Yes?"

"…you can find him at 4 Privet Drive."

Sirius grinned. "Thank you, Hagrid, I'll be certain to remember that."

The two men said their goodbyes and parted. When Hagrid and Dumbledore left Privet Drive that night, so did Harry.

The possibilities for deviation from the plot are endless. All it takes to change the fate of the wizarding world…is the little things.