Heyyy guys. It's been a long time since I've written anything thanks to grad school! Nearly finished though (I graduate in May!) so hopefully I'll have more time to write. Well, until I begin my PhD in the fall, but I am rather optimistic for now. Also, no beta, so pardon me for any mistakes!
The Reverberations of Choice
"I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell."
Macbeth (II, i, 62-64)
Prologue
They were supposed to be safe. After months of running, of moving from one house to another, from one safe location to another, they had finally acquiesced to Dumbledore's wishes and allowed him to cast the Fidelius Charm. He had assured them—had promised—them that it would hide them completely.
Of course, nobody counted on Peter's betrayal.
Neither of them moved for several long seconds after the wards fell. They both exchanged a look of horror before James breathed out one word.
"Peter."
Then, panic kicked in.
James brandished his wand and moved towards the entry hall. He attempted to erect a number of different wards, none of which would take. Finally, he turned to a still horror-stricken Lily. "Take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off."
Lily jumped up, jostling little Harry who had fallen asleep on her lap, and causing him to cry.
With one last look at her husband, Lily ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. She had to move fast—there was no time to waste—she couldn't be interrupted.
James may have placed all of his trust in Dumbledore, but from the moment Lily Potter had heard that her son was in mortal danger, she had thrown herself headfirst into research, searching for a way to save her son. In her search, Lily had traveled along a dark, dangerous path, but she did not care one whit. What good were her morals, her soul, if something happened to her son? She couldn't bear the thought of something happening to him. So, she had searched, and finally, against all hopes, she found a solution.
The second she was in the nursery, Lily threw the strongest locking spells she knew at the door. She took a deep breath and looked down at her screaming son. She wished she had time to soothe him, but she didn't.
"Mummy's going to make everything better," she promised him, her voice breaking, as tears began to fall down her face. She pressed a kiss against his sweaty brow.
She flicked her wand, causing the rug that covered the nursery floor to go flying across the room. Beneath it, on the hardwood flooring she had picked out with James only a month before their marriage was a ritual circle.
A bang downstairs let her know that time was running out. This had to work. It was the only way—the only thing she could do to save her son….
She placed Harry in the middle of the circle before placing her wand on the activation rune. Then Lily pulled the ceremonial dagger that she had carried around in her pocket for months, unshrinking it as soon as she removed it. She closed her eyes and slit one of her wrists and then the other.
Trembling, she drew the first rune on Harry's forehead with her blood, beginning the ritual.
"Commutent spiritum meum…"
