AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hello to all of my readers! I am so excited about this story. It is my first fanfiction that I've written so I'd really like to know what everybody thinks. Please review, PM me, anything! This idea came to me a few months ago and I've been trying to get it down on paper. I finally had the inspiration and once I started I just couldn't stop the words. I have no idea how long this story will eventually be but it is definitely going to be LONG. I don't have a posting schedule simply because I only have 3 chapters written so far plus the prologue. Anyway here is my debut fanfiction! Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER

I do not own any of the characters, plot, or anything else you may recognize. Everleigh, the rest of the Garrison family, and all other OCs are mine and any resemblance to real people or situations is not intentional.

October 31st, 1981 – Godric's Hollow

Please stay asleep. Please stay asleep.Please stay asleep. Lily thinks to herself while closing the door to her daughter's room. At that moment she hears a loud shrieking laugh coming from down stairs. She quickly throws up a silencing charm at the nursery before walking downstairs into the sitting room glaring at her husband. He is entertaining their one-year old son, Harry James Potter, by creating bursts of color with his wand, and her son is showing his delight with ear splitting squeals.

"James," Lily hisses, "I finally got Everleigh to sleep. Maybe entertain Harry with something a little quieter, yeah?"

"Sorry Lils," James grins, and gets up to give his wife a kiss setting his wand down on the coffee table. "Is she doing okay?"

Sighing Lily says, "She's still a little fussy but she is finally sleeping. I don't know what's wrong with her today. She is normally so quiet unless she's hungry."

"Don't worry. She'll be fine. And if not Padfoot said he'd come over in a few days. She always settles down for him," James reminds her.

"Oh joy! Looking forward to three days of tears and screams," Lily retorts sarcastically. "Next time she gets up, you're taking care of her."

Laughing James responds, "Yes dear. You know now that I think about it, I feel like I should be concerned my daughter is already falling for the charms of someone like Sirius."

Lily snorts, "You're JUST starting to realize that? I've been worried since the day she was born and stopped crying the second she was put in Sirius's arms. Anyway, I'm going to make dinner. Don't wake up Everleigh," bringing the conversation full circle.

Lily walks into the kitchen thinking about her little family. Despite the laughing and joking around she can't help but worry. They have been in hiding for over a year but earlier in the week decided it was time to cast the Fidelius Charm. Even with this extra protection, Lily had a nagging feeling something was going to go wrong. In correlation with setting the charm she and James set up a plan to get their children out of the house if the worst should happen and Voldemort found them. Harry and Everleigh will be portkeyed to a childhood friend's home and when they could Lily and James will go get their children. If the worst happens and Lily and James don't make it out of the fight, Sirius Black, James's best friend, is the only person who will know where to find Harry and Everleigh. They haven't even told Peter Pettigrew, the secret-keeper for their Fidelius Charm about this plan. Lily and James know there is a spy in the order so Lily convinced James that it's best to spread the information between people. And even then, only people the two of them implicitly trusted.

At that moment there is a loud bang and James shouts, "Lily! It's him. Take the kids and run. Go! I'll hold him off!"

Lily runs into the sitting room, grabs a crying Harry, and dashes up the stairs into Everleigh's room after catching a glimpse of James dueling with Voldemort. Lily slams the door and grabs the journal that will serve as a portkey off the dresser. She barely registers that Everleigh is awake and screaming as well at the noise.

Placing Harry and the journal in the cot next to Everleigh, she makes sure Harry is gripping it and puts Everleigh's hand on top as well. Tears streaming down her face she charms the portkey to go off in the next minute and kisses both of her children telling them how much she loves them.

"Avada kedavra," a cold voice yells and then a thump.

"JAMES!" Lily screams and starts barricading the door with everything she can find.

"Mumma!" Harry is yelling.

Looking back Lily sees that Harry has let go of the journal and is standing holding on to the railing. Before Lily can get Harry to touch the journal again a blue light fills the room. There is now only one baby screaming and Everleigh is gone.

Lily's eyes go wide and all she can do is think how her plan failed. Her one comfort is that while Harry is still there, Everleigh is safe for now. Lily runs to pick Harry up to try and apparate out despite knowing her efforts are futile, though holding her son close gives her some comfort. The door blasts apart with shards of wood cutting into Lily's back. Putting Harry back in the cot, she tries to block him from Voldemort.

"Please! Not Harry! I'm begging you," she pleads.

"Stand aside! You don't have to die tonight. Give me the boy and I will spare you," the dark wizard hisses.

"No! I will do anything. Kill me instead! Please! Just don't kill my son," Lily continues begging.

"Fine. If that is your choice. Just know Lord Voldemort did offer mercy. Avada Kedavra!"

And with those last two words, Lily Potter was no more; her brilliant green eyes now dull and staring lifelessly at the ceiling. Stepping over the body of the witch, Voldemort turns his wand to the one-year old with tears running down his chubby cheeks. For the third time that night the Dark Lord utters the killing curse, the green light leaves his wand, and then an explosion leaving nothing but a pile of black robes, the bodies of James and Lily Potter, and a one-year old black haired boy with eyes just like his mother and a lightning bolt scar.

October 31st, 1981 – London, Garrison Residence

At the same time as the attack on the Potter's, in London Michael Garrison, an American ex-pat working for the US Embassy, is on his way home with his three-year old son, Jason, from a kids Halloween party at the Embassy. Michael, originally from the Upper East Side in Manhattan decided to study International Relations at Cambridge. During his tenure there he interned with the United States Embassy and upon the completion of his studies was offered a full time position. Once he was living in London full time, Michael met Charlotte. The moment he met her, Michael knew Charlotte was who he was going to spend his life with. The young couple was married within the year and had their first son shortly after that.

"Love! We're back!" Michael shouts to his wife as he walks in the front door.

"We're in the kitchen!" Charlotte Garrison shouts back.

Father and son head into the kitchen to find Charlotte burping the newest addition to the Garrison family, eleven-week old Lucas.

Charlotte looks up smiling, "How was the party? Did you two have fun?"

Her oldest immediately perks up in his father's arms, "It was so much fun! There was so much candy and games! And they played a movie with a vampire and I wasn't even scared!" Jason yells.

Laughing Charlotte leans over to kiss her son's soft blonde curls, "Well it sounds like you had a great time, but let's lower your voice a little. Your brother is almost asleep. Did he eat actual dinner or just fill up on sweets?" Charlotte addresses Michael.

"They had mini homemade pizzas for the kids but I haven't eaten yet."

"Okay, well I'll put Lucas down and heat something up for you," Charlotte says with a smile walking out of the room and heading up to the nursery. She is able to settle her son down without much fuss, turns his nightlight on, and closes the door as she leaves. Once downstairs she pulls the leftover roast she had for diner to heat up for her husband and sets it on their kitchen table. Looking out into the sitting room Charlotte spies Michael cuddled on the couch with a rapidly fading toddler, reading a story. Deciding dinner can wait a few minutes, she settles on the other side of her husband, who wraps an arm around her, and the young family finishes the book. Both parents stand up and Charlotte picks up a now sleeping Jason. She leans up to give Michael a kiss, "I'll go put him down. Your dinner is on the table. I'll be there in a minute."

"Sounds good," Michael responds.

Charlotte heads upstairs for the second time that night and repeats the process of tucking her son in for the night, turning his nightlight on, and closing the door as she leaves. Back in the kitchen Charlotte joins Michael at the table.

Smiling at her husband, "So I know Jason enjoyed himself. How was your night?"

"It was good. Very loud," Michael responds laughing, "But it was nice seeing Jason playing with the other kids for Halloween. I know it's not a big deal here but it was always my favorite holiday. And growing up in New York there were always so many places to go trick-or-treating and different parties."

"Well I'm glad that the Embassy has things like this so you can share that part of your childhood with Jason and Lucas."

"Just wait until Thanksgiving. You won't believe all the food. I'm sure the caterers will go all out," Michael laughs.

"I know you miss the States," Charlotte sighs, "Why don't we consider going to visit your parents for Christmas. I'm sure you can get time off from work, and the boys would absolutely love Christmas with their grandparents in New York. Jason would go crazy for that big tree in Rockefeller Plaza. And while Lucas is a little young to travel, we'll manage."

Standing up Michael pulls Charlotte into his arms, "This is why I love you. I'll call my parents next week and see if they already have holiday plans." Michael then pulls his wife closer giving her a deep kiss. Before things can get any more heated between the couple, they hear the muffled wailing of a baby. Sighing they pull apart with one last kiss. Assuming it's Lucas, Charlotte offers, "I'll go get him if you take care of your dishes."

Michael nods, and Charlotte leaves the kitchen heading into the hall to go upstairs. Upon entering the hall she realizes the crying isn't coming from upstairs but rather from outside. Curious Charlotte opens the door and immediately screams, "MICHAEL!"

On their front step is a screaming red-headed infant clutching a small brown book for dear life. Charlotte looks around quickly to see if she can find the person who just abandoned this little girl. Not seeing anybody she picks up the infant and the book to try and calm her down as Michael runs into the hallway at his wife's scream, "What's wrong?" he worriedly asks.

Not knowing how to even begin to answer that question Charlotte simply turns around with a terrified look on her face and a baby that is most definitely not their own in her arms.

"She's freezing. Heat up a bottle quickly!" Charlotte instructs her husband as she hurries back into the house and closes the door. As she walks into the kitchen cuddling the little girl close she notices the infant is starting to calm down. With some of the shock wearing off Charlotte takes the time to really look at her; deep auburn hair already with the most beautiful hazel eyes she has ever seen shining bright with tears. Remembering the book in her hands she gives that to her husband and takes the bottle he is handing her.

"Here, read this. Maybe it will have some clue as to who she is," Charlotte instructs Michael not taking her eyes off the sweet little girl.

Slowly lifting the bottle to the little girl's mouth, she immediately latches on and begins drinking the warm milk. "There you go. It's going to be okay little one. It's going to be okay. We'll take care of you."

"Ummm…..Charlotte. You may want to take a look at this. Don't you have an old friend named Lily?" Michael interrupts.

"Yeah, I haven't seen her in about a year or so. Though we write to each other every few weeks. Why?" Charlotte responds distractedly still staring at the little girl in her arms.

"I think she's the one who left her. It looks like the girl's name is Everleigh, but the inside cover is engraved with the name Lily Potter."

"What? That doesn't make sense. Lily would never just abandon her daughter anywhere. She adores her children. They are practically all she talks about in her letters."

"You really need to read this. I just skimmed the first few entries but well...I don't think she was all there."

"What?" Charlotte asks confusedly. She gives Michael Everleigh and the bottle, and takes the book. In it are the ramblings of someone who has clearly lost her mind; being in hiding, dark wizards, charms, spells, and prophecies. None of this can be real, and the more she reads the more her heart breaks for her childhood best friend. How could she not realize what was happening with Lily? All of her letters seemed so normal; that of a young mother and wife so focused on her family. With tears in her eyes Charlotte looks at Michael, "What do we do?"

"We'll contact the police. See if we can find her or her husband. And didn't you say she has another child?"

"Harry."

"See if they can help us find any of them. Make sure they are all safe, and then get her the help she needs."

"And Everleigh?"

"What do you want to do?"

Looking down at the now drowsy infant, Charlotte can't help but smile at the image of her husband protectively cradling the sweet girl. She absolutely adores her sons but always wanted a daughter. She actually was planning on talking to her husband about having another baby once Lucas was a little bit older. It would be nice to have another girl in the house until Lily was ready to be a mother again.

"We'll look after her," Charlotte finally responds after a long pause.

Transferring Everleigh back to his wife's arms, Michael calls 999 and within 30 minutes there are two detective inspectors as well as a member of social services taking the statement from the Garrison's about how they came to find Everleigh, who her parents are, and any other information they can provide. After much discussion it is agreed that the Garrison's will be allowed to take care of Everleigh for the time being. Social Services will be checking back in on them every few days throughout the investigation to make sure Everleigh is being taken care of. The inspectors and social services leave with the promise they will be in touch over the next few days with any new information they find or if they have any other questions.

After the long and stressful night Charlotte and Michael make their way upstairs and decide to put Everleigh in the same cot as Lucas until they can go buy another one. Once Everleigh is settles, they peek in on Jason to find that he slept through all of the commotion as well before finally making their way to their room where the young couple passes out with exhaustion.