Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince-

Prologue- The Night

A knock sounded on the door startled James Potter, who was puttering around the house, wishing he was able to leave, but he knew that he could not leave his son and his wife. He made his way to the door knowing that it could only be one of four people. Being cautious, James took his wand out. He opened the door and saw Dumbledore standing there in his white robes.

James put his wand away and allowed Dumbledore enter the house. A smile immediately crossed James face. The smile was not returned. James knew that there was a problem. He led Dumbledore into the living room. Lily, who had just down the stairs with Harry in her hands, smiled with welcome. Seeing the expression on Dumbledore's face she ceased. Harry let out a laugh that seemed obliterate the gloom. Dumbledore for the first time since entering the house smiled.

Dumbledore motioned for Lily to join James in the living room. James and Lily took a seat on the couch. Dumbledore took the big chair seated directly across from them. Harry immediately reached out to be held by Dumbledore. Lily smiled at her son, and she looked across at Dumbledore as to ask if that is what he wanted too. Dumbledore stood and took young Harry from his mother. He held him and smiled a gentle smile down at him. Harry was the only one to see the sadness that filled his eyes as he smiled down at him. When he looked back up at the Potter's no trace of the sadness was there.

"A prophecy was told last nigh. It is the key, we have been waiting for," Dumbledore said.

"Does it tell who will bring him down, and how?" asked James who was trying to keep the excitement out of his voice. He thought soon we all might be safe.

"Yes," Dumbledore replies, "it tells who might be able to stop Voldemort. It has to be one of two babies."

"Which babies?" Lily asked dreading the answer.

"It is either Harry," Dumbledore looking down at the baby in his arms who was contently playing with his beard. "Or it is Longbottom's son Neville. For both meet what the prophecy states."

James and Lily stared at each other in shock. During this time, Harry had gotten quite unaware of the undercurrents of the room. Harry tugged on Dumbledore's beard with all his might. Dumbledore let out oomph for it was expected. Harry let out another laugh snapping James and Lily out of their shock.

"What do we need to do?" asked James after a moment looking at Dumbledore.

"Nothing," said Dumbledore, "just be on your guard. Have you seen Sirius lately?"

"Yes, we just saw him a few days ago. We told him to go hide in a safe place."

Dumbledore nodded. He knows that Sirius could take care of himself. He also knew that he was the first person that Voldemort would look for as a possible secret keeper. He wished that the Potters had allowed him to be their secret keeper, but he had understood why they had not. Dumbledore stood, and he gave Harry back to Lily.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" asked Lily more by route than anything else. She knew that he would refuse just like he had done all those other times she had asked. Dumbledore met her eyes and said,

"No I have to see the Longbottoms."

"So, Voldemort does know about the prophecy. Does he know the whole thing?"

"No we stopped him from learning the whole thing, but he knows who the two babies are that maybe able to destroy him. So, you need to be extra careful." Dumbledore left without another word.

James stared at Lily while she played with their son with love in her eyes. Lily sensed that James was staring looked up to meet his eyes. James knew that he would give his life to protect his wife and his son.

"Should we have told him that Sirius is not our secret keeper?" asked Lily.

James placed an arm around his wife saying nothing. Harry let out a cry drawing their attention. Both of them knew they would give up their lives to protect their son.

"Where are the Potters and the Longbottoms? Why haven't you found them?" asked Voldemort raising his voice on each word.

The Death Eaters looked at each other in fear. "Dumbledore has them hidden well. We do not have a clue where they are. No one is talking even under torture," said Lucius Malfoy.

Voldemort pointed his wand at Malfoy, and said, "Crucio." Malfoy started to wither on the ground.

"My lord," said a voice in the back row, "I know where the Potter family is."

The Deatheaters parted to allow the speaker to pass. A smile crossed Voldemort face.

That night the door on the Potter's cottage opened with a crash. A figure draped in a dark rope stood in the doorway. James, who had come down stairs at a run with his wand out, saw the figure. He knew who had come. He pointed his wand at the figure and yelled,

"EXPELLIARMUS!" The figure easily blocked the spell.

"Do you really think that you can stop Lord Voldemort?" Lord Voldemort said in a menacing voice. He pointed his was at James and said, "Avadara Kedavra." James knew that he had failed to protect his wife and his child for he was trapped with no where to dodge the spell. He knew this was the one time his reflexes and wit would not be able to save him. A red light flashed from Voldemort's wand and James knew no more.

Voldemort stepped passed James like he was no more than a nuisance, and he made his way up the stairs to the child's room.

In her son's room Lily knew that James had not been able to stop Voldemort. She had sent a message for help, but she knew that they would not get here in time. She kissed her son's head and placed him in his crib where he would be the safest. She knew they had been betrayed by their friend.

The door to the nursery crashed opened. Lily spun around to confront the intruder and to plead for her son's life. "NOT HARRY, NOT HARRY, PLEASE NOT HARRY! TAKE ME INSTEAD!" A wail came from the crib cut into the night.

"Stand aside you silly girl…stand aside now…I will let you live," Voldemort said. He pushed her aside with a flick of his wand. "NOT HARRY, PLEASE NO, KILL ME INSTEAD," Lily continued to plead.

Voldemort glanced at Lily like she was worth nothing to him. He pointed his wand at the now silent baby ignoring Lily's pleading. He said the incantation that had killed his father. Lily stood between Voldemort and her baby at the last moment taking the spell. She died instantly still trying to protect her son.

Voldemort looked at Lily Potter, and said, "Silly girl nothing will stop Lord Voldemort." He pointed his wand at the baby once more, and he said, "Avadara Kedavra," one last time. The citizens of Gordic's Hollow saw a large flash of light on the hill.

Dumbledore and Hagrid were outside of the Potter's house. They had just arrived when there was a flash blinding him for a moment and pushing Hagrid back. Dumbledore took a look at the rubble and disapparated leaving Hagrid behind.

It took a moment for Hagrid to gather his bearings. He heard a loud sound overhead drawing his attention. He knew that Sirius had come in his motorcycle to the Potter's cry for help.

The motorcycle landed near Hagrid. Sirius took off his helmet and looked at the house. He looked at Hagrid with stricken eyes. Neither one of them said a word. They just stared at the rubble. Then a cry broke through the air.

Hagrid could not believe it. He walked towards the sound with big steps stepping over the debris easily. He saw James's body before he saw Lily's. Lily's body was covering her son's like she would protect him even in her death. Sirius, who had come to stand beside him, lifted Lily's body for Hagrid could pick up Harry. Sirius went over to lay Lily next to James.

Hagrid walked over to Sirius and handed before he could object. Harry quit crying suddenly. Sirius looked down at Harry for a moment, and then looked up at Hagrid. He gave Harry another long glance like he knew that it would be a long time before he saw him again. He noticed the lighting shape scar that was now on his forehead. The scar seemed to glow for a second and then fade once again. A sense of purpose filled Sirius. He knew what he had to do. He also knew that the cost be would probably be his wife. He looked back up at Hagrid.

"Where are you going to take him?" Sirius asked as he handed Harry back to Hagrid. He knew that Dumbledore would have a plan in place that would keep Harry safe.

"I am taking him to his Aunts," replied Hagrid.

Sirius grimaced slightly, because of what he knows about Lily's sister. He could not argue where Harry was staying till he got his revenge for the Potters murders. So he did not complain about the choice. He figured he could get Harry back if he survived. They walked back to where Sirius had parked without saying a word.

Sirius took out his keys and handed them to Hagrid. A surprise look crossed Hagrid's face. He knew how much Sirius treasured his bike. Hagrid started to protest, but he was cut off with a gesture.

"I won't need it anymore, and it will be easier to transport Harry in it," said Sirius. He disapparated without another word.