Prologue

Lying on a bed surrounded by four glaringly white walls and the tell tale smell of antiseptics used to create an atmosphere of undeniable hygiene, lie a woman with a small bundle wrapped in her pale arms. From within the bundle tiny green eyes opened up for the first time peering up at a woman with long fiery locks of red hair running down her back, and tear filled emerald eyes shiny with joy. The small green eyes moved from the young woman to the face of a man, with untamable locks of black hair and hazel eyes, who was leaning over her shoulder. The green eyes blinked and the two people broke out in identical smiles, looking at the owner adoringly.

"Hello, Harry," said the sable haired man in a voice laced with pure excitement at the exploring green eyes.

"Well isn't he adorable? Prongs, you and Lils did a good job." spoke a man with long shaggy locks and an aristocratic face from the doorway of the white hospital room they were in.

"Yes, he is. He has got Lily's brilliantly striking green eyes and what looks like James' unruly hair, from the little tufts that I can see sticking out. Poor kid," responded a man with lightened brown hair, and a soft smile.

"Hello, Sirius, Remus. Come have a closer look at our son Harry. We've decided to make Sirius his godfather", greeted the redheaded woman named Lily, speaking first to the man with shaggy locks, then the lighter haired one, before addressing them both. "I hope you're not disappointed too much Remus. It's just with the laws against werewolves and the war going on right now, I just can't chance Harry here going to my sister Petunia and her despicable muggle husband."

"It isn't a problem Lily." Remus responded, before James interrupted them with, "Besides when the war is over, we can name him godfather of our next child right Lils." A few seconds later before anyone could answer back, a small tiny cry broke into the air, drawing attention to the Lily and the small blue bundle in her arms. What were once open green eyes were now scrunched up in displeasure, while a cute little mouth was open letting out small cries increasing in strength.

"Congratulations, Lily, James, how is he?" spoke the newest addition to the room.

"He is well. He looks adorable. His name is Harry. Harry James Potter. Our little bundle of joy," spoke Lily, a proud look on her face.

"Albus, will we be needing to go into hiding now that Harry has been born, since the Dark Lord is hunting down children born at the end of July?" James asked quietly, while looking at his newborn son.

"I'm afraid so. You and Lily will have to choose a secret keeper for your house rather soon, so that all of you will be safe," said the elderly man, now identified as Albus.

"Okay we will discuss it later, as soon as we have gathered everyone's opinion on who should be made the secret keeper. We will inform you once we have come to a decision," James said back, with a slight frown tugging on the corner of his lips, the only sign of the fear he was feeling for his wife and child.

"Of course James. I believe I will take my leave now. Before I go Sirius, Remus, I have some things that I wish to discuss with you, when you are done visiting Lily and James. I will be in my office when you are ready." after speaking those words he was gone leaving four adults, and one sleeping infant, to contemplate and discuss what he had announced.


Three days later James Potter briskly walked through the magic laced hallways of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He intently ignored the moving portraits along the stone castle walls pointing at the young man, then whispering to their equally noisy loved the spreading of gossip. Especially the latest bit of news regarding the young Hogwarts alumni as he made his way to Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's office.

As James moved down the castle corridors, he paid no attention to the greeting he got from his old Transfiguration Professor, Minerva McGonagall. Further along as he drew nearer to the stone gargoyle guardian of the headmaster's office, he glided past a short man, the size of a goblin, who attempted to greet James in a cheerful tone and smile on his face.

The only time the newly made father even acknowledged anyone on his journey was to sneer out the word "Snivellus." at a tall imposing man covered in black, with long greasy hair and a perpetual scowl on his face, heading from the direction of the headmaster's office toward the doors of the grand school.

Moments later a determined James was in front of the imposing gargoyle statue guarding the stairs leading up to Dumbledore's office. "Lemon Drops." he spoke aloud to the statue. Nothing happened, so he spoke once again, "Sugar Daddies" and at once, the stone gargoyle moved aside to let him walk past and onto the moving stairs. As James stood on the stairs bringing him closer and closer to his destination, he thought about the decision he and his wife had come to regarding their secret keeper and if the choice they made was the right one. Deep down in his gut he felt as if what he were about to tell Albus was the wrong one and instead of protecting his family he would in turn doom it instead.

What felt like hours, but in all actuality was minutes, James was standing in front of the door, hand poised to knock, about to utter the words that would change the course of the war.

"Come in James."

"Hello Albus, we've made a have decided that the secret keeper of Godric's Hollow should be..."


"Hello my most loyal followers, one of my spies has brought me some interesting news. First, I have narrowed down the possibilities of who the prophesied child could be. They are Neville Longbottom, child of Alice and Frank Longbottom members of that blasted Order of the Phoenix, and Harry Potter, child of the mudblood Lily Evans and James Potter who are also members of Albus' pathetic order. Second, the Potter's have been placed under the Fidelius Charm and it just so happens that their secret keeper is one of our own, and has divulged their location to me. Lastly, I will be taking a group of you to Godric's Hollow to be rid of the blasted child as well as another group to kill the Longbottom child, to make sure the right child has been dealt with. Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastion and Barty Crouch, you will form the team that takes out the Longbottom heir, failure to do so will result in removal of every bone in each of the fingers on your wand hand, I will then bind your magic permanently, snap your wands, inflict a generous amount of Crucios on your person, before casting you out into the muggle world to live as one for the remainder of your pathetic lives. Understood?"

"Yes, my Lord." spoke the aforementioned Death Eaters, determined to not fail their master and lord, knowing the consequences should they fail to achieve their mission. All hid the barely there that drifted through the bodies at the idea of their magic being bound leaving them no better than useless squibs and the inferior muggles they killed daily.

"Good. Rabastion I want you to lead this mission, get me a detailed plan involving how you will execute your mission. Do NOT underestimate the Longbottoms, if I suspect they have the prophecy child then so does Dumbledore. Knowing him he will have increased the defenses around Longbottom manor. Dismissed. The rest of you are also dismissed. Lucius, Severus, and Dolohov stay behind." The death eaters not told to stay immediately vacated the room in which they occupied. A room that was almost entirely made out of cold charcoal grey stone with green and silver inlays. In the middle of the room stood a black granite throne that had emerald and silver charmed snakes that appeared to be sliding up and around the entire the base except for the area where their Lord's feet rested. The padded cushions of the throne were a dark, almost black green, with threaded silver basilisks fangs bared to the world all along them. Sitting on the throne was the wizard who had been dubbed their Lord. A man only known as Lord Voldemort, to the public, a fearsome Dark wizard, who was merciless in his annihilation of those who got in his way. Feared for the power he held and the destruction he had already caused within the world. Although feared the man drew followers like a moth to a flame. Whether it be through mutual goals or for the way he was able to persuade one to believe in what he was doing with honey laced words, and the natural charisma he possessed.

"For those of you that remain, I have a very important task to bestow upon you. Failure is not an option, is that understood?" announced Voldemort, to the three men in front of him, in a deceivingly calm and soothing voice.

"Yes, my Lord" rang from the three men, covered in black ankle length robes and various bone white masks covering each if their faces.

"Good. You three will be assisting me when I go to Godric's Hollow, to kill the Potter child. Dolohov and Lucius you two will dismantle the wards surrounding the Potter home then erect wards to keep them from escaping. This will also prevent them from contacting the rest of Dumbledore's order. At the same time Rabastion's team will be enacting their plans against the Longbottoms. The rest of the death eaters a few minutes later, will be attacking an area near Ottery St. Catchpole, to distract the Order from our true goal of the night. Severus, once the new wards have been erected, you will then knock on the front door, and take out the person who opens the door. Once they are taken care of, I will then make my way into the home to end the future threat of all the hard work we have accomplished. Does everyone understand what their role is in the upcoming attacks?" queried Lord Voldemort.

"Yes, my Lord," the three men spoke once again, knowing not to say anything unnecessarily, or else risk punishment.

"Good, I will call you when it is time. You are dismissed." A few moments after Voldemort's death eaters had left him, he quietly spoke aloud in a sibilant tone to, a large snake slithering towards him. "Nagini, I think I will have the attack take place on..."


A few hours later, a lone death eater sat bent over his knees with hands on his face, eyes closed, on a faded oak chair alone in his hated worn down house inherited from his witch mother and dreadful muggle father, located on Spinner's End in muggle Cokeworth. While he remained in that position, his mouth moved slowly, forming soundless words as if he were speaking aloud a prayer to the muggle god. If someone were to see the mouthed words he made, they would see one word used repeatedly, that of which resembled the name Lily.

And it was this word the man repeated soundlessly over and over again, as he made a decision, that could cost him the woman he held dearly in his heart, the one woman he would give his life for, and the only woman to capture his bitter heart in its entirety. He quietly prayed to every deity in his mind, to spare the woman he loved, from the one choice he would always regret were she to perish from his lack of foresight. The man also silently begged his master to keep the promise he once made, that fateful night he had delivered to him the overheard prophecy. In turn, he would silently repent for even thinking of going to Dumbledore with the information he currently held, as a way to save the fiery redhead he'd known since childhood. He'd chosen not to, putting faith in his Lord and master, he just hoped that it would not be thrown back in his face in return.


Miles away Albus Dumbledore sat in his office at Hogwarts filling out countless pieces of paperwork, when he felt an unmistakable chill run down his aged spine, and thought: change is on the wind, whether it is good or bad, only time will tell.