Where it all Begins
Two figures stood in silence in a small room, a nursery of a toddler to be exact. The room was painted in sky blue, with the roof overhead charmed to look like the night sky, charmed by the godmother of the child as a birthday present. The moon peeked from behind the charmed clouds, illuminating the room in soft silvery light. One of the figures bent over the cradle starting to draw tiny peculiar symbols. The child who slept peacefully as content smile graced his innocent visage, his godmother carried on with her work all the while crooning a soothing melody.
"Is it going to be enough?" asked the other woman who maintained a vigil by the door.
"I don't know. I can't really test the theory, but according to the theory, it should work. I just hope that we never have to find out," the woman who continued to work by the cradle paused to answer. It wouldn't do to have a concentration falter, but she also had to assuage her friend's worry, as much as her answer could.
"It might be too much to hope," said the other women maintaining her vigil.
"But hope is all we have. I just hope Remus is doing fine. Daniel can be difficult at times, not as much as Harry, but still," the woman by the crib replied.
"How is Harry doing?" the woman by the door asked.
"Harry doesn't know much about what's going on. He senses we are worried but other than that he is as happy as a three-year could be. But I swear he hates Sylvester and now he has picked up the annoying habit of calling me, Lily," Lily said trying to sound grouchy, but had a fond smile adorning her lips.
"You know you could have brought him here," Lily's friend suggested.
"He is visiting Euphemia. That's how we could leave Daniel with Remus, he could handle a child, but handling two is not something I think he can do, especially Harry. I am thankful for all she does for helping with the boys but sometimes I fear Euphemia is spoiling Harry too much. You remember what James was like at school?" Lily said.
"At least you get along with your mother-in-law. Not everyone is as lucky as you," Alice complained.
"What did Madam Longbottom do this time?" Lily asked her friend.
"Nothing she hasn't done before. It's not like the woman has a problem with me working, but she had been in hinting at that I take a sabbatical from work. The old dragon even offered to serve Auror Corps in my stead, if that's what took me to take a break," Alice said trying to keep her voice from rising, lest she disturbed her son's sleep.
"She would certainly be able to hold her own against the Death Eaters, but I don't think she will like the paperwork any better than you do," Lily said in an amused tone.
"I think it's her reputation that has dissuaded the Death Eaters from attacking the Longbottom Manor," Alice said sharing in her friend's amusement.
"Seems like we are done here. Remember for the magic to work, someone has to sacrifice their life in this room, and Neville should be placed in the cradle. I hope this doesn't get tested, but it's better to do everything we can to protect the boys," Lily said getting up.
"I just wish there wasn't any need to. Dumbledore isn't even telling us what the prophecy states, just that our lives are in danger," Alice said complaining.
"Tell me about it. But Dumbledore has got what he has to do, and we have to do what we can do to protect the children," Lily said trying to sooth her friend. She agreed wholeheartedly with Alice, but there wasn't much she could do to convince Dumbledore otherwise.
"And I wish we could tell other's about the protection," Alice said with a displeased face.
"Believe me I too wish that. But, it's better if they don't learn for a while, maybe once this war is over," Lily said to her friend. She didn't like the secrecy herself, but it was necessary, James and Frank still put a lot of stock in Dumbledore, but Alice and Lily had begun to have their doubts. Losing so many friends could shake anybody's faith. And if Dumbledore learned of their plan, he was likely to disapprove and try and persuade them to abandon it. Lily and Alice were of the mind that they weren't going to leave the fate of their children to a prophecy they didn't know and had no reason to believe in.
"Let's get back to the men. I don't want to fathom what James and Sirius could do to your sitting room if left unsupervised for long," Lily said as she hooked her arm with her friend.
"You are saying as if Frank is any better. I swear it's contagious," Alice said grinning at her friend as they both walked down.
XXX
"Bellatrix, you are to lead this raid. It is imperative that you succeed," Voldemort said as he sat in the dining room of the Malfoy Manor. Across him were standing with their heads bowed were Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, with Crouch Jr. forming the quartet. He had called his most skilled and fearsome death eaters, he was sure that while they held the numerical advantage, the foe they will be facing was not to be taken lightly. The bothersome couple had defied him thrice, same as Potters. He would deal the Potters himself while his trusted minions would go after the Longbottoms. He would have liked to attack both the possible children of prophecy himself, but he couldn't be at two places at once and there was a chance the other couple can go into better hiding.
Bellatrix bowed her head in supplication, "Your will shall be done, my lord."
"It seems you have some doubt. What is it?" Voldemort asked. Anybody else and he would have cursed them in a heartbeat. But Bellatrix was his most loyal and fanatical follower, if she had something in her mind, he was certain it wasn't due to her doubts regarding her loyalty.
"My Lord, I share your concerns. I shall do your bidding. But wouldn't it be better if we went after both the targets. There is no need for you to concern such insects with. We shall crush all your enemies," Bellatrix said with fervour.
"Ah! Worry not Bella. It wouldn't be any different for me than taking a stroll. It is for the best that I am seen to take the field every now and then. Lest it breeds discontent," Voldemort answered with a charming smile.
"My Lord, one more query," Bellatrix said her head still bowed.
Voldemort considered cursing the woman but curbed that impulse. He gave a nod for her to continue.
"Wouldn't it be better if you attack the Longbottoms yourself? After all, the Potter brat is just a filthy half-blood," Bellatrix said making a disgusted face.
Voldemort smiled in dark amusement. He found it extremely amusing how the purebloods debased themselves at his feet, a half-blood, a bastard child of a muggle and squib of a witch, yet espoused pureblood superiority. If only they knew, if only, he was certain that a number of them would die of an aneurysm.
"It's just a little indulgence on my part. Now I have indulged you for far too long, you have your orders, do not disappoint me," Voldemort said dismissing the quartet. His reasons to go after the Potters personally were simple that the brat was a half-blood and he himself being a half-blood felt that it was likely his prophesied nemesis will be one too. How he cursed Severus for getting caught before he could hear the whole of the accursed prophecy. Severus was a potion master of superlative skill and his duelling ability was better than most. Severus too was a half-blood and it reinforced in Voldemort's mind that a half-blood was a more likely stronger foe than any pureblood.
Gaunts were an example of what pureblood fanaticism could do to the legacy of the most powerful of Hogwarts founder. A family reduced to hissing squibs and dimwits. Blacks weren't much different, Bella for all her skill with a wand, had a couple of her screws loose. And let's not get started on Crabbe and Goyle, they appeared more like a cross between a human and a mountain troll than wizards of respectable lineage. So it wasn't a surprise that Voldemort believed that a half-blood would pose much more of a threat than a pureblood.
XXX
Bellatrix and her company arrived at a copse of trees, not far off in the distance they could see the light coming out of a cottage. For a family in hiding the place sure looked lively, Bellatrix crackled in the excitement of what was to come. Blood traitor they might be, but the Longbottom couple possessed skill. This was the reason that she didn't object when her lord decided to send four instead of her alone.
"Barty, bring the wards down, one the count of three," Bellatrix raised three fingers as she intently watched the house. She was sure that as soon as the wards were down, there was going to be a battle.
No sooner she dropped her last finger; Barty went to work and not before long the wards were down. Most others raid began with casting anti-portkey and anti-apparation jinxes, but not a raid led by Bellatrix. She revelled in the terror she brought and if anyone was too much of a coward to face her in battle, she happily let them go to spread word of her prowess, and if someone was foolish enough to come to her targets aid, she was more than glad to add more of the cretins to her tally.
In concert, they moved, with Bellatrix leading the group closing on the house.
"Alice, quick the wards are down," Frank said in a worried tone. As soon as the words left his mouth the other occupants of the room withdrew their wands. Five wands were drawn as they stood in a defensive position. They didn't have to wait long as the door was blasted off its hinges and in stepped Voldemort's most feared lieutenant.
"Come, come, little fat bottom. It's time to play," Bellatrix said in a baby voice.
"Greetings cousin, it's not polite to visit people at their homes uninvited. What will Aunt Druella say?" Sirius said nastily as he twirled his own wand and action mirrored by his cousin.
"Oh! I didn't know that I will get to kill the blood traitor tonight. I will happily erase the blight on my family's name," with that Bellatrix engaged her cousin. A cruciatus curse leaving her wand, Sirius used a conjured brick to stop the spell. Dodging and deflecting spells was not a prudent strategy when fighting in such an enclosed setting with so many people involved, the risk of a stray curse hitting one of their own was very high.
Frank engaged Rodolphus, while his wife took on Rabastan, James and Lily had to contend with Crouch Jr. The Death Eaters had come expecting to hold the numerical advantage but it wasn't to be so. Bellatrix and Sirius were evenly matched while Frank and Alice were also in a dead lock with their opponents. James and Lily held the advantage as James focused on defence while Lily attacked; Barty hadn't been able to do more than just defend. James also protected his other friends as best as he could, being a master of transfiguration had its advantages when fighting multiple opponents and those opponents had a preference for more dangerous curses.
"Expelliarmus, Petrificus Totalus, Incarcerous," Lily's incantations left her lips. She could do silent casting but in the heat movement she couldn't help but yell her spells. In short order, Crouch Jr was disarmed, petrified and bound.
With the numerical odds improved, Lily joined her friend Alice while James went to Frank's aid. The Auror couple had kept their opponents matched, but were unable to gain a definite advantage.
James now with a greater freedom as he didn't have to concern about defending others as well took to transfiguring various things in the vicinity. Rodolopus had a hard time defending against the onslaught of Frank and James's transfigurations. Rastaban, on the other hand, was having trouble fighting the two witches who worked in nearly perfect sync. Lily would levitate objects to shield or throw against her opponent while Alice's swift and fluid spell casting kept their opponent dancing.
Even in such an enclosed setting Sirius and Bellatrix were in a world of their own. Both of them had a maniac grin on their faces while their eyes alight in maniac delight. Sirius had an arm bleeding while Bellatrix sported a gash marring her beautiful face. Even in injury, they didn't have a pained expression. The blood of Black ran true in their veins and even under such restrictions they didn't hold back on the magic. Their side of the room was much more destroyed and broken debris littered the vicinity.
"Just hand me your wand and let me kill you, you blood traitor," Bellatrix snarled.
"That's not appropriate. Your husband is over there and yet you want another wizard's wand," Sirius said with a smirk.
"Your juvenile humour does not amuse anyone, you filth," Bellatrix growled.
"Damn! Has anyone ever told you that growling is sexy?" Sirius said with a roughish grin even when he case a particularly dark curse aimed at her.
"Shut your filthy mouth, you blood traitor," Bellatrix sidestepped the spell and cast a blood freezing hex of her own.
"Tell me Bellatrix, how is the pureblood cause going? Have you bred any purebloods lately?" Sirius taunted.
Bellatrix growled baring her teeth.
"Oh! That's right. You can't. You are married to a poof. Tell you what cousin, I would rut with you if you want. Think about all the pureblood children you can have then and the best too with Black blood running through their veins," Sirius didn't relent.
Suddenly Bellatrix's expression changed. It morphed into a sultry smile leaving no trace of the loathing and anger from before.
"Is that so? Tell me little cousin do you find me so attractive that will forego your revulsion of the family values? Just for little old me," Bellatrix said as her free hand cupped her breast and gave it a squeeze.
Any ordinary person would have been horrified by the cousins' taunts, but the two Blacks didn't appear to be aware of the fact or simply didn't care.
"Nah! Forget it that I even suggested it. You are hot and all, but any children you bear will have to content with a mad mother. I know what that feels like and I don't wish that cruelty upon any one," Sirius said has he waved her off and shielded from her spell while casting one of his own.
Sirius's spell connected with Bellatrix and she screamed in pain, her scream was enough to draw the attention of her husband and brother-in-law who themselves were overcome by their opponents due to their distracted state.
Alice went to check upon Neville while Frank called the Auror Office.
XXX
Voldemort walked the quaint neighbourhood in solitude, a gaggle of children going around dressed up for the Halloween. One little runt dared stop him asking for treats, Voldemort waved his wand and didn't even utter the words of the curse of death as the child fell lifelessly to the ground. The house now visible to him, there was only a dim light lit. Perhaps the Potters were asleep and had only kept a dim light in the children's room. Voldemort sneered at their stupidity to have put faith in friendship, it was power that mattered, and both the Potters had wasted their power. He remembered the three times they had fought him and three times they had escaped with their lives. But not tonight, for tonight the element of surprise was on his side. The Potter's hadn't been seen on the battlefield for past six months, perhaps the inaction had made them lax. The lack of security measures indicated as much. Or perhaps they really believed that their friends will keep them safe.
With a silent blasting curse, he blasted the door off its hinges. There was no one; they had yet to detect his presence on their property, pathetic. He walked towards what he had been informed was the nursery, the light he saw earlier also confirmed as much. He blasted the door to the find a person he had not expected to see tonight holding his wand aimed at the door.
"Lupin, wasn't it? Step aside; you are Greyback's to deal with. I have come for the child," Voldemort said, his face didn't give away his surprise at not finding the Potters but their werewolf friend. It didn't matter to him if he had to kill the cur, but he always felt dark delight when people did his bidding at mere sight of him. To be able to inspire such fear in the minds of people capable of altering the very fabric of reality by mere wave of a stick was intoxicating, much more than to terrorise clueless muggles.
"You will not harm, Daniel. I will not let you get to him," Lupin said, Voldemort was impressed that his voice didn't quiver.
"Is that so? Why bother? Do you really think you stand a chance?" Voldemort said appearing curious.
"As long as I live you shall not harm, Daniel," Remus said in a determined voice as he looked around to use anything to his advantage. There wasn't much he could do, he kept Daniel to his back, determined to keep his godson safe for as long as he could. He hoped that James and Lily returned soon, they were supposed to be back by now.
"That's easily remedied, Avada Kedavra," Voldemort said in a conversational tone. Remus didn't even get to react before the green light of the killing curse struck him, extinguishing his life.
Voldemort sneered as he looked at his prophesied nemesis, as far as babies went, the boy didn't look any more remarkable than Lucius's brat, except for black hair instead of blonde. Voldemort observed the sleeping child, he wondered if he should torture the child, but he was certain the child wouldn't be able to comprehend he was being tortured. Perhaps a gruesome death, he was sure Bellatrix would create a spectacular masterpiece out of the corpse of the Longbottom brat. He could appreciate Bellatrix's taste for sadistic things, but in the end, he decided efficiency was the better way. The efficiency of his actions and his leadership was the reason why the victory was in the grasp of his movement. Dark Lords came and went, but he was the one who could actually taste the sweet victory. In a few weeks, the Ministry was bound to fall to his might. There after he would spread his movement to the rest of the world once he was done restructuring Britain in his image.
"Avada Kedavra," Voldemort said the words of the killing curse softly like lovers' whispering. A cruel smile formed on his lips as the curse reached its target, but it didn't last long as the unexpected happened. The crib was awash with light as runes glowed around the crib and the spot where Remus's corpse lay. The curse was reflected back at Voldemort and he didn't have the time to react before his world was filled with pain. He could feel himself being torn apart as agony so intense that he almost asked for death struck him. Through the pain he fled, his wand forgotten. It would be a long time before he realised and come to the realisation that he had been disembodied.
XXX
Alice had brought in a bottle of Firewhisky to settle their nerves as the Aurors flooed back. They had planned to send a message to the Order once they were in better grips of themselves.
"I think that's enough excitement for one day. Shouldn't you be heading to Godric's Hollow?" Sirius said in a cheerful manner, his tone not reflecting the fact that they all had been fighting for their lives just a few minutes ago. As soon as the words left his mouth, his visage morphed in an expression of horror. His expression mirrored by his best friend and wife.
"Jamie, the Fidelius is gone," Sirius said as he got up to leave, James and Lily hot on his heels.
"Meet us at the Longbottom Manor. It's not safe here," Frank called after them.
They apparated to the Potter Cottage and found a side of the roof blown off. It was the nursery, all three hurried the stairs. They all breathed a sigh of relief when they heard wailing of a child. Daniel was sitting in his crib crying, there was a fallen cloak with a wand not for off. They found the body of their friend fallen to a side. James and Sirius went to check on their friend, while Lily checked on her son.
"He is safe. A little bleeding from the forehead that will leave a scar, but it's better to get him checked by Madam Pomfrey," Lily said apprising them of Daniel's condition who had stopped crying as soon as he was back in his mother's arms.
"He's gone," a teary-eyed James informed his wife of their friend's state, he himself couldn't believe the words leaving his mouth. Sirius sobbed by his friend's side.
"Peter, it was Peter. That rat betrayed us. I am going to kill the bastard," Sirius said with a snarl.
"Padfoot, not now. We need to make sure Daniel is fine and we also have to check on Harry. We will hunt the rat once we inform the Order," James said in a firm but soft tone.
They went to the Longbottom Manor, where they were greeted by other Order members. James and Frank brought all those present up to speed as Sirius angrily stalking in the background. A hunt for Peter was organised with Frank going to inform the Aurors while Dumbledore went to investigate Godric's, Hollow.
Lily and James went to his mother's. Euphemia had gone to sleep after putting the children off to sleep. The door was opened by Adelaide Greengrass who had been visiting her Aunt with her own daughter, Daphne, for a play date with Harry.
"James, Lily, is everything alright?" a concerned Adelaide asked as she ushered them in. Both of them appeared distressed.
"Voldemort attacked Godric's, Hollow. We weren't there, but Daniel and Remus were," James said tying to suppress the rising emotions.
"Is Daniel alright?" Adelaide asked as she offered them water.
"He is fine. He's sleeping at the Longbottom Manor. We just came to check on Harry," Lily informed her. She couldn't bring herself to say that Remus was dead, the loss still heavy on her mind and she didn't want to call James attention to the fact, it was hard for her she could only imagine how harder was it for James.
"He is asleep upstairs with Daphne by his side, they fell asleep playing. Should I get him?" Adelaide offered.
"No, please don't disturb them. We just came to check. I will go upstairs for a bit," Lily said as she moved past their host. She had to see for herself, she knew Harry was safe, but she needed to see it herself.
"How's mum doing?" James asked Adelaide.
"She is doing fine. You should visit more often. There are only so many times I can come," she told him in a reprimanding tone.
"I know. I know. But with the war, it's difficult to visit here without drawing the wrong kind of attention," James said running his hand through his hair.
"Wars can wait, not family," she glared at him.
"I think I will have more time now. We are not sure, but Dumbledore thinks Daniel somehow defeated olde snake-face," James informed her.
"I should hope so. The children notice the tense atmosphere," Adelaide sighed.
"I think things are going to get brighter from now on. It won't be easy, it won't be the same, but I hope it gets better," James said in a solemn voice. Nothing could be the same for a man who had lost two of his closest friends, one murdered and the other turned a traitor. But he hoped with Voldemort gone, there wouldn't be any more fear. It will take the time to rebuild but he was certain that they could and they will.
"Take care of Euphemia, James. Losing Fleamont was hard on her; it's only Harry that kept her from withering away," Adelaide said softly to her cousin of sorts. James was the only son of Fleamont and Euphemia Potter, while she was the only daughter of Charlus and Dorea Potter.
"And you and Daphne. I will, but I will need your help," James said with a tired smile.
"Don't you always," she grinned back.
"I will check on my wife and son. Don't mind to sneak a peek at my daughter-in-law too," James said with a grin.
"You sound like those old aunts at every social gathering. Just don't be disappointed when they don't marry. You weren't there when I announced my engagement to Euphemia; she expected the two of us to get married," she said with an easy smile, aware that James wasn't feeling the humour he was trying to find. Something dire must have happened, what it was she didn't know, but she wasn't going to force James to talk about it if he didn't want to.
"Don't tell Lily, but every time I put him to sleep I sing to him that he must marry Daphne," James mock whispered.
"James, stop it. Go to your wife, she needs you," Adelaide said. Today wasn't the day to banter; they will have other opportunities to do so.
"Adelaide, thank you," after a grateful smile James left to find his wife and son, he too needed to be in Harry's presence.
A/N: Yes, this is one of those fics where Harry is the older brother of BWL. As you can read, Harry wasn't even present at the time so there is no question of it being a wrong BWL.
I don't like the cliché where Harry is discarded in favour of his famous sibling. Parents are not bad to one child and good to another, either they are good to all their children or bad for all of them.
Read and review.
I changed the chapter a little. Instead of God-siblings, I made James and Adelaide cousins of sorts. JKR threw quite a curve ball when she named Harry's grandparents. Charlus and Dorea had been assumed as the grandparents by fans and there are a number of fics which still maintain that.