Lily Potter was standing in her son's bedroom standing over his crib watching the little boy sleep silently and peacefully. She was marveling at what a good baby he was and how much, even at the age of one, he looked like his father. The mop of messy black hair on his head was already such a mess that she could never make it stay flat, and it tended to stick up in the back just as James had done. As she stared at her son, Lily felt a tear slide down her cheek. She knew Voldemort was after him, and she so feared for his life.
Gently Lily ran her hands through little Harry's hair and said quietly, "Why should you have to live your life in hiding and running away from Voldemort? What did you ever do to him?" Sighing, Lily wiped away another tear.
You who I cradled in my arms
You asking as little as you can
Little snip of a little man
I know I'd give my life for you
You didn't ask me to be born
You why should you learn of war or pain?
To make sure you're not hurt again
I swear I'd give my life for you
Lily turned her back on her son's crib and walked to the rocking chair that was in the corner of the room. As she rocked back and forth, Lily thought of her wedding to James and how wonderful a night it had been afterwards. James was the love of her life but he was gone now. But she would not let Harry leave her, too.
"I will not let him take you from me, too," Lily whispered to herself. "I will do whatever I must to keep you in this world, to give you everything you deserve to have. I must protect you so you can have a chance to be who you will be."
I've tasted love beyond all fear
And you should know it's love
that brought you here
And in one perfect night
when the stars burned like new,
I knew what I must do
I'll give you a million things I'll never own
I'll give you a world to conquer when you're grown
You will be who you want to be
You, can choose whatever heaven grants
As long as you can have your chance
I swear I'll give my life for you
Though her conviction grew stronger and stronger, tears came flowing down Lily's face. "I will not wake up in the middle of the night and not find you here, like I do with James. I will not wake up and reach for you and realize you're not there."
Lily stood up and walked back over to the crib.
"Oh, Harry, you don't know how many nights I have woken up wondering if my few short years with James were just all a dream. And you have no idea the relief I feel when I come here and see you lying there asleep, looking just like him."
Sometimes I wake up
reaching for him
I feel his shadow brush my head
But there's just moonlight on my bed
Was he a ghost was he a lie?
That made my body laugh and cry?
Then by my side the proof I see
his little one, gods of the sun,
bring him to me!
"I will make sure that you live to go to Hogwarts and that you live a long and healthy life. I will not let Voldemort destroy your life like he has your father's and mine. I will not let it happen!"
And in that moment Lily Potter knew exactly what she had to do to keep that promise.
You will be who you want to be
You, can choose whatever heaven grants
As long as you can have your chance
I swear I'll give my life for you
No one can stop what I must do
I swear I'll give my life for you!