Chapter One
With a few days left before Sirius' birthday, his friends gathered around to finish making their plans without him in the loop. They took turns asking each other what they each bought him, brought conversation to James' and Lily's children and what they would be dressed up as for Hallowe'en. Each suggestion for the costumes grew sillier and sillier every time the men uttered an idea. The conversation fizzled out into soft laughs and heavy breathing as the night winded down, happy with the night's success and with the prospect of survival in the war. Nobody suspected the occurrence that would take place right where they were sitting in a few mere hours.
"Listen, lads, I'm glad you all came over, but it's nearly dawn at this point-"
"You're, ungh, dawn," Peter slurred out before erupting into a fit of giggles with Remus. Rolling his eyes at his friends actions, James gave each of them a hearty pat on the shoulder. Both of them lurched away as if anticipating their predictable friend, only to fall into another round of giggles. "If I'm dawn, than you two are drunk," James declared, before nudging them towards the front door. Peter tripped again, and James frowned at his friend.
"Are you two gonna be okay apparating home? It's no bother-"
Remus quickly interrupted him, stating "We'll be fine, Prongs, we a-always are. You just worry about, uh, about yourself, mate."
"And your family!" Peter chimed in with a drunken smile, before pitching himself down the steps. Watching him, James and Remus shared a quiet look as they thought about the current predicament the group was in. James and Lily, along with their children Natasha and Harry had ended up going on the run. Their cottage was placed under the Fidelius charm -an advanced spell that leaves the dwelling unreachable for those without the Secret-Keepers permission - in an attempt to hold off Voldemort, and just before the drinks began flowing that evening they switched around their Secret-Keeper in a last ditch effort to keep everyone off their trail. Truly, they only meant to share a drink or two in celebration of the Potter's security, but as one drink flowed into another, they all quickly became intoxicated with the effects of firewhiskey.
Remus broke the moment by coughing, clearing his throat before quietly muttering "Listen mate, I think you'll be alright, right? Nothing to worry about," turning and watching Peter trip over the pumpkins on the front walkway, Remus finished. "Nothing to worry about at all."
"I'm not worried," James spoke. "Not for us anyway."
The silence of the night came back through their conversation for a few moments before James carried on his explanation. "We're probably in the most secure house in the entirety of Godric's Hollow, and you guys are just out there by yourselves. Sirius doesn't even have a home anymore, and you- well, you don't exactly have a home either."
"Neither does Peter, but we'll be fine, Prongs, we always are." Remus fastened his jacket before walking down to Peter, making sure no one was watching before the two intoxicated men crept out of the charms zone before disapparating into the night. James watched the empty street before sighing, his breath disappearing into white puffs of air.
"I hope so, Moony."
And with that, James turned around and walked back into his home, the hope of survival at the front of his mind.
"Avada Kedavra!" Lily heard the Unforgivable used downstairs, as she rushed into Harry's room with Natasha in her arms. Quickly placing her into Harry's crib, Lily turned around and warded the room with several curses and charms leaping to mind, trying to ignore the thought of her dead husband lying downstairs having paid the price for trying to protect his family. Locking charm, sticking charm, protego maxima, which runes were protection again, the curse barrier, the block barrier charm, Lily quickly cast each charm and spell she could think of layering on jinxes and curses as well. You could use the sacrificial protection charm. She almost vomited as she remembered where she learned this wonderful charm. Having remembered the secret sacrificial ritual in the first place worried her. Hesitating at the thought,Lily knew the consequences of the charm. Her children would be guaranteed a survival, but at the cost of her life. A cost she was willing to pay. Placing as many barriers as she could think of, Lily pushed through the pain. At least you'd see James again soon, her mind breathed, depressing thoughts quickly following the last as they raced through her mind. Oh lord, the boys, Sirius, Remus, Peter, what are they going to do, will they be okay, are they okay now? Oh Godric, what if they died, what if VOldemort sent Death Eaters after them and they're all dead too. Tears flowed down Lily's face, and she began sobbing as she heard the Dark Lord making his way up the stairs and tearing through the traps James set up last week. James…
Casting one last shield barrier around the crib, her children gave her curious looks as Lily picked them up one last time.
"Oh Harry, Natasha, everything's going to be okay," Lily started crying harder, and she placed Natasha in the crib.
"Mommy, what's wrong," Natasha stared up at her mother with her big green eyes, and Lily held back a sob.
"Oh sweetheart, everything's going to be okay, mommy and daddy are leaving for a bit, that's all, and then you'll see us again later, okay sweetheart? Oh Natasha, sweetheart," Lily sniffled, "I'm so sorry this happened."
Lily let out a cry as Voldemort began tearing through the room's enchantments as fast as he could, desperate to kill the children in the room. "Everything's gonna be okay, I promise Natasha, it'll be fine-"
The bedroom door exploded open, and Lily screamed out, clutching Harry tightly before dropping him into his sister's arms.
"Watch him, Natasha, you hear me?!" Lily cried out before twirling around to face the wizard.
"Step aside, mudblood," Voldemort threatened. Lily's tears began flowing down her face faster as she gasped, "No, no, not my children, kill me instead, please!"
Voldemort snarled at Lily's defiance, raising his wand towards her. "Move, and you will be spared," he snapped at her. "Now!"
Shaking her head no, Lily stood her ground and looked Voldemort in the eyes. "No."
Furious, Voldemort screamed out the Killing Curse - "Avada Kedavra!" - and watched as the burst of striking green left his wand, striking his target and efficiently killing Lily Potter. Inhaling deeply, he moved his eyes from the unmoving corpse to the two children settled in the crib. Young Harry, just a few months over a year old, clinging to his older sister through the blankets, dark hair puffing out of the top. He was curled inwards, towards his sister's arms, and Voldemort watched as Natasha pulled Harry closer. Slinking across the floor, clutching the wound James had given him, Voldemort crept up to the crib, crouching down and staring at them through the bars.
"Well, hello there."
Natasha blinked at him.
Voldemort bared his teeth at the child- no, nothing. No reaction at all.
"I'm sorry for killing your mother." Falsely apologizing, he watched as the girl analyzed him.
"No you're not," Natasha countered. Grinning grotesquely, he agreed.
"You're right, I'm not. I'm also not sorry for this either," He spoke before swiftly standing up and brandishing his arm towards the siblings.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The thud that echoed around the room wasn't a result of the children hitting the crib bars; no, no it was the sound of the Dark Lords rapidly cooling body hitting the floor, leaving the children crying in pain as newly formed cuts erupted on their foreheads. Harry's, a lightning bolt, centred in the middle of his forehead. Natasha's, blending into her hairline surrounding her upper right temple, seemingly matching the one of her brothers. Both scars acting as a permanent reminder of this fateful night.
Orphaned at a young age, scarred for life, the remaining Potters held each other and cried in the crib.
Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore could not fathom the destruction that came across the cottage. Warned by the wards surrounding Godric's Hollow, he came as fast as he could. Arming himself with his wit and his wand, Dumbledore steadily crept into the dwelling, secretly hoping to himself that the Potters managed to make it out safely, even though the wreckage proclaimed otherwise. Creeping through the living room, he found himself next to James' body in the kitchen, wand thrown across the room in two pieces. Dumbledore waited a moment to gather himself, tears growing in his eyes, but he pushed through and ventured up the stairs. At the top, he could see the nursery room door had been blown open, possibly due to the excessive force Voldemort had used, but he could also see something else - red hair on the ground. Moving closer, Dumbledore could see that it was Lily lying on the ground, and after entering the room it was proven that she had died willingly, trying to save her children. Hearing them cry gave the Headmaster some brief hope, but it wasn't until he raised his eyes from Lily's body to see the room that he fully understand the incident. Lily had died near the crib, in between the door and the crib, and Voldemort lay dead right next to her, eyes unfocused and nose clearly broken. Quickly, Dumbledore set to work. Calling his friend in the Auror department and secret group called the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore made sure that the scene was left untouched. Grabbing Natasha and Harry was a slight struggle, as they refused to let go of each other, and he quickly gave up and levitated them downstairs to the front foyer. A quick spell later and he conjured some blankets for the two to be wrapped in. Oh Godric, Dumbledore thought as he watched the still crying children. Lily and James…
Pops could be heard around the neighborhood, and soon members from the Order arrived to help assist. It was clear that they were all expecting a battle, but everyone stopped and watched cautiously as Dumbledore walked out of the cottage with the two children.
"James, and Lily," He called out, stopping to clear his throat before announcing, "are dead."
Alastor Moody's eye went crazy as he checked the house for any threats, and coming up empty he holstered his wand. "It's true," He spat. "They're dead. So's Voldemort."
Gasps ricocheted around the group, and quickly after hearing the news a few members disapparated into the night. The rest that remained casted a lumos and began the slow walk into the cottage yard. Minerva McGonagall approached Dumbledore first and asked quietly "Is it true?"
Albus lowered his eyes from her worn face and brought the children closer, clutching them in his arms.
"Albus," she demanded, "Is it true?" Her voice shook, and tears began to well up in her eyes. Dumbledore couldn't bare to confirm the deaths, not while thinking about James and Lily's time in Hogwarts, so he chose to wipe the blood from Harry's face.
After a moment, he spoke, "Yes Minerva. They're gone." Adjusting the children, he glanced at Minerva and offered her Natasha. She scourgified the blood from Natasha's skin, and silently conjured up a bandage to cover her wound.
"What about them, Albus? What happened?"
He sighed before giving her a short response. "I don't know, the wards in my office went crazy and I came here as fast as I could. The door was blasted in, so I went inside to check-"
A loud crash was heard from inside the house, followed by a string of curses. "It was just me," Alastor shouted. "Don' worry!"
Albus shook his head before continuing. "I checked the rooms, and I went upstairs to the nursery. The door was blasted apart too, and I saw Lily before seeing Voldemort and the kids. I'm not sure how, but the children killed him, Minerva. Lily was dead before he was, I'm sure of it."
Slowly bouncing Natasha on her hip, Minerva began shaking her head."That's not possible. There is no possible reason that the kids could survive him, or- or kill him, Albus."
"There is a way," He prodded. "You and I both know the only way they survived. Lily…" Shifting Harry, Dumbledore moved down the steps of the doorway and cleared out of the way for other Order members to enter. "Lily was aware of the sacrificial protection spell." Looking into Harry's eyes, Dumbledore grew sad as he recognized the eyes of his favorite pupil.
"Here," Dumbledore began, passing Harry to Minerva as well, lifting his hand to quiet her protests. "Take them somewhere safe, I will be in touch soon."
Solemnly, Minerva walked down the pathway with the two children in her arms, setting off into the eery street. Albus trusted Minerva, and he knew that she would protect them with her life if need be. Hopefully, they won't need it, he thought. Not after Lily's sacrifice...
Turning around, Albus set foot into the cottage and immediately ran into Alastor. Alastor grumbled for a moment, quickly speaking "Voldy here is going to be brought to the Department of Mystery. No if's or but's about it, we need to figure out how this blasted man has survived so long." He shook a miniature box in his idea before stuffing it into his pocket.
"You transfigured Lord Voldemort into a matchbox?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, his half moon glasses shifting ever so slightly.
"'Course not," Alastor let out a gruff cough. "I redicio'd the body and conjured a box for it."
Humming, he nodded in approval, and shook Alastor's hand in thanks. Alastor cleared his throat before excusing himself. "Just because the Dark Lord is gone, doesn't mean his Death Eaters are." And with that, he left the house with Voldemort in tow.
Dumbledore sighed as he watched a stretcher be taken outside with James' body on it, and squeezed the bridge of his nose before setting to work. This is going to be a long night…
Carefully placing Harry next to Natasha in the basket, Dumbledore stood up and took out a letter from his robes. Number 4 Privet Drive was the home of Harry and Natasha's extended family, where they would be safe. The blood wards he had just placed would keep both of them safe until they came of age, and called this place home. Minerva placed the box of items next to the basket and let out a weary sigh.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Minerva's lips flattened into a small line, clearly upset at the arrangement. It took every fibre in her body not to whisk the children away and take them to safety, bring them to her own extended family where she knew they would be safe. "I've watched the Dursley's all day, and they don't seem like the best kind of people."
Dumbledore turned towards her, still playing with the letter, and looked at her over the rims of his glasses. "They will be just fine, Minerva, and besides, the main point is that they're safe where they are." He bent down and placed the letter in Harry's hand, smiling when Harry's grasp tightened and crinkled the envelope.
"Very well, Albus," she sighed and walked down the steps, jumping off the last stair and transforming into a cat. The grey animal paced to the end of the garden and jumped onto the garden wall, turning around and keeping watch of the children.
Dumbledore watched as she did, and followed down the walkway. "Have a good night, Minerva," He called to her. There was no response as the cat laid down and rested her head on her front paws, still visibly upset with the events, and Dumbledore sighed as he walked away.
It's for the greater good… he thought, Minerva will see that eventually. And with that on his mind, he gave a slight twist of his body and disapparated into the night with a small pop.
Minerva was gone by the time the Dursley's came outside. Vernon Dursley, a whale of a man whose steps seemed to thunder, was the one to discover the Potter children on his front step as he reached for the paper. He stared at them, shocked, for a moment, before he started glowing red with anger with the thought of those freaks sitting on his deck; he could remember all too well what had happened at the wedding, and he refused to associate with the Potters. Roughly grabbing the basket, he staggered back into the house, slamming the door before bellowing out for his wife.
"Petuni-a-a-a!"
Quick steps were heard in the coat room as Petunia dashed downstairs, clearly not suspecting the possible situation.
"Vernon? What is it?" She called down as she ran, her legs stumbling for a moment as she lost her balance.
"That freakish sister of yours dumped her freakish kids on our doorstep!"
Petunia ran into the hall, tying her bathrobe closed as her manic eyes scanned the area. Her murky green eyes froze on the basket, and she whispered a mumbled "No.." as she bent down to pick up the letter before Vernon could, jerking the letter to the side as Vernon made a grab for it, soft compulsions weaving from the letter. Bony fingers opened the envelope as deftly as possible, and she tossed the wrapping to the side as she greedily read the letter. Once, twice, thrice now she quickly read the note left to her but Petunia still could not believe the contents. Somewhere upstairs, Dudley Dursley, their first born child, older than Harry by a few months, gave out a distressed cry. Petunia shooed Vernon off to their child as she read the charmed letter once more.
To Petunia Dursley
I am sorry to leave the children at your doorstep with no warning whatsoever, but drastic times call drastic measures. Last night, October 30th to clarify, a dark wizard by the name Tom Riddle, or Lord Voldemort if you prefer his alias, attempted to stop a prophecy that controls the future of the wizarding world. If Tom had won the war, the world would have been under his control, and darkness would ensue till the ends of time. Fortunately, he met his demise at the hands of your niece and nephew. Tom Riddle is dead, but in the events leading to his death, he killed your sister's husband, and your sister. Lily and James Potter are dead, Petunia. And it is of utmost importance that the children grow up with you. They need to grow up in a normal home, with no knowledge of the wizarding world. There will come a time where they will one day become a part of it again, but that mustn't happen anytime soon. There will be a monthly allowance sent to you to assist with the expansion to your family, but the money must be spent for the children. They will need clothes, food, parents, Petunia. Please take care of what's left of Lily. I'm sorry for your loss.
Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore.
P.S. Lily would have been ecstatic to hear about your child.
Petunia felt a hot tear roll down her cheek, and she muffled her sob with her hand. Wrinkling the letter with her other hand, she sat down on the ground and let out a few loud cries. Lily is dead, she realized, and she left her children here. Repeating the mantra a couple times left Petunia upset. She left her children here. Her sadness gave way to anger as she realized the full extent of the letter. She left her children here. Petunia could not handle being second best to one freakish sibling, she couldn't let Dudley feel like that just because she left her children here. She refused to keep both freaks here. She left her children here. They would bear the consequences of their mother's actions. She left them here. With fury on her mind, Petunia called down Vernon and began planning on how to get rid of at least one of the children. She would not tolerate freaks in her home. And she knew exactly how to get rid of Natasha.