Prologue

A shadow had been stalking the Potters for the last 4 years. It was a subtle nag at the back of their mind, that they had done their best to ignore, and so far they had done just that - but nothing is forgotten forever sooner or later someone remembers and the danger becomes just that again.

James Potter was a successful Auror and with his partner, his best friend Sirius Black they had put away some of the worst criminals that had been around in the wizarding world for years. By them doing this they had both gained some enemies that no one would want. They were the families of all the old families with the big vaults and the old lines- very much like James and Sirius themselves. However these criminals were the ones that believed in blood purity and status that most people had discarded with the moving times

Lily Potter was a Healer who was slowly moving up the ranks. She specialised in children and she was very popular with both the staff and the patients. Lily had the right temperament to be a Children's Healer - she was kind, patient and always wore a smile. Even if she was upset or tired or just fed up she never showed it because it was common knowledge, within the practice, that children had a sixth sense when it came to these things and could easily pick them up

Together they were happy and their young son Harry was the icing on the cake. They lived in a comfortable house in Godrics Hollow that had been in James' families for hundreds of years. It was on the 11th July when James' past finally caught up with them.

He stood outside the Potter's house. The longer he stared at it the more he loathed them and their pathetically perfect life, the loving mother, caring father and adorable toddler. He hated it and he hated them especially James Potter. Even in his head he spat the name. That man had made him rot in his cell for 10 years - 10 years to plan his revenge to take his life just like he had taken his. Who would want to associate with an ex convict now? No one that's who.

He slowly walked towards the gate not wanting to attract anyone's attention. His navy rope hood pulled over his face would attract little attention as Godrics Hollow was know as one of the many wizarding villages. The gate opened silently and he crept to the front step looking left and right before he murmured "Alohamora". The door unlocked and he pushed it open. 'Stupid man' he thought, 'an Auror should have better sense then to leave his house unwarded and not have his door protected against magic' - this thought made the man smirk a dead smile.

He silently entered the house. It was a cosy hallway painted a warm brown with pictures - both magical and muggle, lining the walls. A door to his right was ajar and he entered not even bothering to cast a dissolution spell - he wanted his face to be the last one Potter saw before he left the Earth for good. Luck was on his side, Potter was sitting in an arm chair facing the door. He looked up with a smile on his face expecting some one else put it soon fell when he glimpsed the face under the hood.

"You!" James exclaimed
"Surprise, did you miss me?" before James could move let alone move the man had him disarmed and bound with a silencing charm placed on him as not to alert his stupid wife. Everyone knew she was a skilled duelist - 'for a healer anyway' he thought. The man had wanted to kill Potter and leave but in a twisted stroke of inspiration he decided to kill his filthy mudblood wife and his bastard son - they were both an insult to the pureblood name. He wanted Potter to be broken and alone when he finally took mercy on him and ended his sorry excuse of a life

The door opened and Lily entered the room carrying a mug and a plate of biscuits and was saying "James I made you a cup of tea and I thought we'd give these new biscuit's a try bec…." she trailed off when she saw the scene before her. Quick as a flash the man spun around and murmured the two words no one in the wizarding world wanted said to them "Avarda Kedarva". The green jet of light flew towards her fast as lightning and hit its mark and Lily dropped lifeless to the floor. The cup and saucer hit the ground just before her with a loud smash and her lifeless green eyes stared unseeing at her husband.

The killer turned around slowly revelling in the thrill of the kill and the satisfaction of the look of sheer pain and horror on Potter's face as he just stared and stared at his wife unblinkingly, like this was all just one big dream and Lily would wake up. The man had no words for him - well no words that Potter would want to hear. His words involved the painful, hurtful spell kind of words. He was going to make Potter wordlessly scream and plead for death after he had also murdered the child. He directed a cruel smile towards James that showed him all his intentions and by the renewed horror in his eyes the killer knew he understood. He began to walk to the door ready to go up stairs when he heard a sound that he wasn't meant to hear - the sound of the floo. The voice that followed the sound made his blood boil even more

"Hello, James, Lily? Anyone in?" Sirius Black - he should have known. He was panicking now this wasn't what was meant to happen, knowing that he wouldn't be able to fulfil his plan, he quickly spun towards Potter and shot the killing curse at him, after all this had been is main aim, he would at least do this before he fled. Potter relaxed dead in his chair still bound, and the killer spun on his heel and disappeared just before Sirius entered the room and saw his two friends dead.

The killers only thought when he arrived back at his home was that he would be back for that child even if he had to bide his time and wait years, he would kill him and finish the work he had started .