A/N – (I don't own Harry Potter or the characters in any way. All credit goes to J. K. Rowling.)

Double Miracle

Narrator's P.O.V. (Third Person)

Hagrid made his way through the rubble that surrounded the top floor hallway. He had just passed the figure of James Potter which was frozen. His eyes were open and unseeing, his glasses still rested upon his nose, and his hair dishevelled from the chaos that cost him his life. Silently, and slowly, Hagrid closed his eyes, bowing his head for a moment in respect of the fallen.

He did not expect, however, to stumble onto anything living, for surely he-who-must-not-be-named had killed everyone here. But he was wrong, entirely wrong, for as he stepped over the boundary into a child's nursery, two figures remained, very much alive.

A woman with luscious auburn hair sat quivering in the far right corner of the room. Stifled sobs made their way from her mouth even though her hand was placed over it. She was surrounded by rubble and debris, her face covered in dust, along with her clothes. Her scared, green eyes were brimmed with tears and she clutched a small blanket in her free hand.

"Lily?" Hagrid's voice seemed deafening in the sickening quiet that blanketed them.

The woman, who we now knew the name of, sat there staring into nothingness. All she could do was nod at the huge man standing in the doorway.

He seemed to tiptoe over as Lily tried to stand. She fell as soon as she was erect, for the grief was too much to bear on her young shoulders.

The boy in the cot cried out, "Mama!"

Lily's head shot up, and for a split second a renewed fire raged in her emerald eyes, even though they were still glassy. She forced herself up to the baby's cot, scooping him into his arms, and eventually breathing him in. She placed feathery kisses everywhere she could as the boy clutched onto her shirt, his tiny fists never wanting to let go.

"Harry," she breathed. "Oh, Harry." Harry's head was rested on his mother's bosom as she bounced him in her arms, tears still falling.

"Lily, come on," Hagrid whispered. "It's not good for yer 'ere." Lily shook her head, increasing her hold on the small child, yet her eyes, her innocent eyes, looked panicked.

"I...c-can't," she sobbed. "I c-can't leave J-James." The half-breed dropped his head, looking at the floor, tears shining in his own eyes.

"I know yer can't," he replied as softly as he could. "But yer need ter be safe."

Hagrid extended his huge hand to Lily's quivering frame, which she shakily accepted.

Balancing her baby in one arm, Hagrid led her down the stairs, where thankfully, James had been removed. They both knew that seeing James would cause Lily's complete breakdown, and right now, she just couldn't handle that. No-one could.

Everything happened in a blur after that. Lily couldn't register what was going on. She was a shell in a destroyed world, and the only thing keeping her going was her baby boy. Harry Potter.

He too, was affected by tonight's events. Physically, it was clear, but mentally, Lily was still unsure. His forehead held a red scar in the shape of a lightning bolt. It was sore and blistered, but the boy, however affected did not show any fright. His small face held a smile in spite of all he had faced. His big green eyes sparkled with an unsure light, and his hands clutched onto his mother's top.

"Lily, we're here," Hagrid whispered softly.

Lily opened her eyes – unaware that she had closed them – to face a strangely familiar street. Privet Drive. Two figures stood next to the bike, heads bowed. She didn't need to look twice. Professor McGonagall stood sombrely next to Professor Dumbledore. The usual spark in his blue eyes gone, his brow crinkled in sympathy for Lily and Harry's loss.

"Lily," Minerva sighed, pulling her into a hug.

Lily's arms wrapped tightly around McGonagall's body in a one armed hug; Her own body finally giving into the grief that weighed upon her.

"He's...g-gone, Min...Minerva!" She sobbed, her chest heaving. "J-James is g-gone!" Her past teacher had her own tears falling as she rubbed Lily's back.

"I know, Lily, I know."

Their secret keeper had betrayed them. Sirius had betrayed them!

"Lily," Dumbledore said gravely. "How?" He hated to place this on her now, but he had to figure out if his theory was correct or not.

"I...I don't k-know," Lily sniffled in reply. "He, he came to our h-house and..." Another batch of sobs claimed her and she had to sit back in the passenger seat of the bike so that she wouldn't fall. Minerva squeezed her shoulder in support as Lily breathed in and out slowly and deeply to regain her composure.

"James," her voice was uneven, but she carried on. "Was downstairs; he wasn't ready and Voldemort..." McGonagall flinched along with Hagrid. "...Just burst in, he told me to r-run," her voice cracked and she had to clear her throat before finishing. "And then, through the door, with Harry in my arms, all I could see was a bright flash of green light and a scream and...and..." Lily buried her face in her hands before she could let the sobs claim her again.

"He came for you," Dumbledore finished off.

Lily nodded, her red hair falling over half her face from behind her ear.

"What was the last thing he said, Lily?"

Minerva, Hagrid and Lily looked horrified at the Hogwarts' Headmaster's request.

"I need to know," he pleaded.

"You know!" Lily shrieked. "You have to know!"

"Avada Kedavra," Albus whispered solemnly.

Again, Lily nodded. "Yes," she squeaked.

"But you survived," he replied almost too quickly.

"But...how?" Lily responded in a barely audible tone.

Dumbledore placed a gentle hand on her other shoulder, mirroring McGonagall.

"That, my dear, is something we still have to discuss. But for now, we have more pressing matters to attend to." He gestured to the now sleeping Harry in Lily's arms and her hold increased.

"No!" She cried.

"Lily, listen to me." Albus alternated his looks between Lily and her son. "Voldemort-

"Is gone!" She was nearly screaming. Her heart pounded hard and fast against her rib cage as she scanned Dumbledore's face for some answers.

"Yes, Lily, he is, but he will return, and when he does, your boy will be in terrible danger." Lily's eyes welled with tears as she kissed her son's hair. "We need to protect him, if it is made obvious you are still alive, Lily, it could cause great problems. By doing this, we are offering him the protection he needs."

The woman looked frantically between the three figures. Did no disagree?

"Minerva?"

The transfiguration teacher looked ashamed at which side she was taking, but didn't deny it. "It's for the best, Lily."

"No, it not!" Lily retorted in a harsh, low tone. "Petunia? Petunia? Dumbledore, please, Hagrid...you know he needs a mother's love! I'm the only one left...the only one left who cares, that is."

McGonagall wiped away a tear, but kept her eyes on Lily. "I'm not saying you are unfit as a mother, Lily, but Dumbledore is right. He needs protection-

"Which I am able to give-

"Yes, but with risk of detection from dark forces. Please, Lily."

The red head's chest fell and her son wriggled in her arms.

"I can't let him die," she sobbed tearlessly. "But I can't watch him grow up alone either!"

"We know, darling," Minerva replied gently. "But you want to do what's best. I can see it in your eyes."

Another useless tear fell.

"You promise me, now. Promise me he'll be loved; promise me he'll remember me!"

"I can't make promises like that Lily. The only promise I can make is that he'll be safe!"

Lily's resolve was weakening. It wasn't until her baby uttered "Dada," that she knew the answer.

"Take him." She passed the small child into Minerva's arms, hugging herself as she let go. She had never felt so bare before. "Before I change my mind," Lily warned.

Hagrid led her away, hurriedly after one final kiss and a "I love you," to keep the pain at bay.

All Lily knew now, was that tonight had caused her to lose everyone close to her. She was alone, her baby was alone and James was dead.

Life would never be as she knew it ever again.

A/N – The first chapter of my AU Harry Potter story...

This chapter was harder than expected to right, but if you enjoyed it, Please Review!

Thanks, Katie1995 :)