Chapter One: Arrival

Lily woke suddenly, mind spinning, searching for anything other than the static that filled her head. She was on the floor, and it was cold. She turned slowly, and felt the hard floorboards beneath her, and the saw the sky above her. Where was she? In confusion, she sat up quickly, only to lay back down again clutching her aching head. She closed her eyes, and tried to think of the last thing she remembered.

James. And Harry! They were downstairs about to get ready for bed, when the alarm went off, alerting them of someone breaking the fidelius charm! It was Voldemort! She had run up the stairs, clutching Harry in her arms, trying to escape; but she had forgotten her wand downstairs, and now there was nowhere else to run. She tried to barricade herself in the nursery.

He had killed James, she was sure of it when the sound of a struggle ceased, ending with a thump as something heavy hit the floor. James was dead. Her husband, and best friend. And now that monster was coming for her child, and she couldn't let that happen!

She whispered a last prayer, and spent her last moments comforting her son as she heard slow, deliberate footsteps climbing the stairs. There was nothing she could do but spend every last breath in defense of Harry.

Lily sat up again, slower this time. She remembered now. She remembered the uttered curse and the flash of green light. How was she not dead? And where was Harry?

She began looking around her again, realizing she was still in the nursery. The roof was blown off, and the room looked as if something had exploded. Her heart sank, and tears leapt to her eyes. Harry was gone. She had failed. Harry was surely dead, and for some reason she had been left alive. But why?

Suddenly a familiar voice was calling her name.

"Lily? Lily! Where are you? Harry! Are you alright?!" James frantic calls came closer and closer until she felt his arms wrap around her, pulling her to her feet.

"Lily! Lils, what happened? Are you hurt?"

Not looking at him, she shook her head. Tears continued to stream down her face, and she clutched James' arm like a life line. It took only moments for him to understand why her face held such sorrow, and that realization was followed by his own mirrored expression of dread. This too was followed by tears and cursing as James' sorrow turned to anger: anger at Voldemort, anger at whoever or however they were discovered, anger at Dumbledore for forcing them into this stupid plan of his, and his promises that they would be safe. And lastly, anger at his own weakness for allowing Voldemort to defeat him and kill his only son.

They sat there, staring at the empty crib holding each other for what seemed like hours, completely overcome.

Finally, Lily wiped her eyes, and spoke with a monotone voice; like one of resignation.

"We have to kill him. He has to die for what he's done."

"Believe me, he will. I'll kill him myself." James responded in that same tone, as if surrendering to their new fate of revenge. They sat in silence again, contemplating their decision. Then Lily spoke again.

"Where is the portkey?"

"It's downstairs. Do you think anyone knows what's happened yet?" James replied, beginning a labored rise to his feet, pulling Lily up with him.

"If they did, they would be here by now. I'm surprised Dumbledore isn't here already, actually. I thought he knew everything." There she paused, as if contemplating. "Apparently not." She paused again before continuing, "He was a fool. And we were fools to trust him."

Together, they left the nursery and made their way down the stairs to the living room. In their despair, the thick layer of dust went unnoticed, as did the missing photos, banister railings, and other knick-knacks that normally adorned the walls and furniture. After retrieving their respective wands, they found the phoenix feather that Dumbledore had given them in case of emergencies. Many members of the order had one, or something like it, which would allow them to immediately portkey to either Hogwarts, or if Hogwarts was no longer safe, to the Order Headquarters.

Mumbling the incantation, James and Lily Potter felt the familiar tug behind the naval, and were enveloped in blackness.