Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling. I will never be as talented or successful as Rowling. None of these characters or places are mine, nor will they ever be. This is all JK Rowling and I just want to use her characters to tell a part of a story she did not.
Author's Note: This story used to be called Lily's Last Day with Her Baby Boy, but I changed it. I wrote this story a long time ago, and rereading it, I had more to add. So, I did. I have changed the title to something more fitting. I got the inspiration to re-write this story after hearing the song "Never Alone" by Lady Antebellum.
Never Alone
Lily's Last Day with Her Baby Boy
October 31, 1981
"Shhh. Harry, its ok, it's just Mummy." Lily Potter says to her fifteen month old son. She picked him up and cradled him in her arms and went down stairs. She placed him in his muggle high chair, and got him his Sippy cup. She filled it with milk and handed it to Harry.
"Here you go sweetheart."
Harry picked up the cup and looked at it. He furiously threw it at the wall, and yelled "No, No cup! No! Bottle!" Lily walked over to the pantry where his cup landed and picked up. She went over and placed it on the tray.
"Come on honey, you need to learn how to use cup before you turn two. Just try it. For Mummy? Please?" She placed it on his tray.
"No!" Harry crossed his arms.
"Harry, come on, please?"
"No!" he flung his arm, knocking the sippy cup off the high chair and onto the floor, making a mess every where.
Lily saw red. She waved her wand, cleaning the floor. Refusing to let the antics of a fussy toddler get to her, she refilled the sippy cup, and placed it back on the tray, and crossed her arms. Harry mimicked her movements. They stared at each other for a moment.
Harry picked up the cup, looking at it. The he looked back to his mother, shaking his head. "Harry," Lily warned.
But Harry pouted, and covered his eyes with his face. Lily was starting to get frustrated. "Harry James Potter, you are going to try the sippy cup, whether you like it or not-"
Lily stopped. Harry was looking at her with those precious, green almond shape eyes. Just like hers. And his messy hair he got from his father. He had his lip out like he was going to cry. Lily had to admit, all Harry had to do was bat his eyes and all was forgiven. "Fine, no cup today. But tomorrow, we are doing sippy cup okay?" Harry giggled and clapped his hands. Lily poured the milk into the bottle and handed it to him.
Harry - 394; Lily - 0.
Lily glanced out the kitchen window, in her home at Godric's Hallow, watching the leaves go by in the wind. The glanced to her son, who was eating his baby cereal, sipping his bottle, and watching their cat at the bottom of the chair. She smiled a sad smile.
She didn't know what it was, but something was off about today. She mentioned it to James earlier this morning, when he insisted he needed to met with the Peter about something for the order today. She expressed her feelings of how she didn't think it was a great idea.
Earlier that morning...
"James, come on. You know we are not allowed to leave Godric's Hallow. At all." Lily was brushing through her hair, as James was brushing his teeth.
"Lils, his owl said its important. It's about The Order. I"ll just pop over, find out what it is, and check in on things."
"James-"
"It's The Order, Lily. We have been in this house for almost three months now, and nothing has happened. I'll just aparate there and right back. I promise."
"No, James! Did you ever think that nothing has happened because we have followed orders?" Lily snapped at her husband.
James sighed. He loved his wife and son more than anything, but he has had a serious case of cabin fever, looking for any excuse to get out. When he got this owl this morning, it was his chance.
"I understand, love, but it's just Peter. I won't be gone long. Then when I get back, we can watch the muggle telly, and dress up in costumes." He kissed his wife's lips. "Celebrate today like we used to."
"You won't be long?" Lily frowned, pulling her cut jumper over her head.
James tied his last trainer, and stood up. He walked to his wife, kissed the her bare shoulder, the one that was reveled by this new trend of muggle clothing, and then kissed her lips. "I'll be back before tea."
"Okay." Lily gave in, wrapping her arms around her husband, trying to give him a reason for him to stay in bed with her all day. It wasn't until she heard their son crying, did James and Lily stop each others advances, to take care of their other priorities and start their day...
When Harry finished his breakfast, Lily needed a distraction. She picked up her son from the high chair. "Well, let's see what to day is? Shall we?" Lily and Harry walked over to the calendar, nearly tripping over the cat, who ran off into the other room. "Oh no!" Lily said in a baby voice.
Harry gasped and put his little hands to his cheeks. "What?"
"It's Halloween! And you don't have a costume for our party!" Harry gasped again and went to the fireplace and said "Sirius! Sirius!" then he put his thumb into his mouth; as if on cue, Sirius poked his head though the fireplace.
Looking surprised to be called by his godson, he turned his attention away from his business matters with Lily, and gave Harry his full attention. "What is Mini-Me?"
"No costume! Uh, oh!" Harry putting his hands on his cheeks.
"No!" Sirius mocked Harry's horror. Harry nodded. "Sirius Black requesting access into safe house." Sirius said to Lily, who rolled her eyes.
"Access granted" She said, waiving her wand. This is how anyone can get in and out of the Potter's home. Their fireplace is not connected to the Floo Netowrk anymore. The only fireplace that is still connected is the one through the fireplace at the Order Headquarters.
Sirius floo in, and picked up Harry.
"So, no costume?" He asked Harry. He shook his head.
"NO Way!" Sirius said gasping.
"Yes!" Harry said again.
"Well that means I will have to get you one, won't I"
"Yep." Harry said getting down and running into his mother arms. Who laughed at their conversation and picked him up.
"You two get along great with each other." Lily commented.
"What can I say? We have a special bond. Don't we Mini-Me?" At Sirius's comment, Harry nodded.
"Sirius, how can you get his costume? It is not safe for anyone to go out anymore…" Lily whispered
"Lils, we went through this, as of last week Peter is you keeper now. The only way I can still get in, is because I know the password still." He explained, as Lily rolled her eyes. "Don't be this way. We needed to change keepers so Voldemort wont know. Everyone knows I'm your guys' best friend." Sirius said in the same hushed tone of voice.
"Fine, you are right. I still don't want you going out, so I'll just make him one my self. Better safe than sorry." Lily said.
As the day went on, Lily took her son to the park to look at ducks, made Halloween cookies, and to laugh at the pictures of her nephew Dudley Dursley, that her sister had sent her. Personally, Lily thought he looked like a round beach ball. But Lily knew that this day might be the last day with her precious son. Lily even had time to make him a costume, by temporarily shrinking one of James old practice uniforms. She really wished James would be home soon.
Recently, Lily didn't like the thought of Peter as their Secret Keeper. He had suddenly become very distant, and wouldn't look at James or her in the eyes. He wouldn't even come for the little party that she and James had prepared for Harry. It is not like it was something special, just Remus and Sirius were coming by. But, for what ever reason he just keeps avoiding any contact…and this is why Lily didn't like Peter being Secret Keeper at all.
When the came inside from playing in the garden, Lily tuned on the muggle television to a cartoon for Harry to watch. She sat back at the table with tea and cried. She didn't know what it was, but today is different. Her gut is telling her that something is about to go really wrong. Biting her lip, she looked at Harry. Shaking her head, realizing how silly she must be, she stopped crying and pulled herself together. She fixed her hair and makeup and went to the living room to see Harry sleeping. She thought she would wake him up for he had been asleep for a half hour.
Just as she was about to wake up, an owl tapped at the window.
Trouble with Voldemort. I can't make it. Stay home, don't leave…every thing will be alright. Have find the Moony and the rest of the Order. I'm sending Prongs home. I think Wormtail might have done something. I hope he didn't betrayed us…
-Padfoot
Lily started to cry again…She needed to come up with something to take Harry's mind off Halloween, and helping her fix dinner would do the trick.
"Hi baby. Daddy will be home soon, do you want to help make him dinner?" She gently stroked Harry's cheek. He opened his eyes looked around and nodded.
She thought that she would make her famous pork chops for dinner, and let Harry throw in the ingredients into the pan. She laughed and kept kissing her baby boy on the forehead, and his little nose.
When it was time to set the table, she placed the plates out. Then without questioning it, made Harry a bottle.
She had just turned off the stove when, she heard the door open.
"I'm home!" She heard James call from the living room.
"Daddy!" Harry called running to his father, bottle forgotten.
"Hey, Buddy!" James said picking up his son. He held him tight. James started throwing him in the air and catching him.
"James be careful, what if you drop him?" Lily said, placing her wand on the counter and looking worried.
"Aw, Lil's, I won't hurt Harry!" He grinned walking over to his wife. He leaned over and kissed her, squashing Harry between them. Making a little squeaking sound, Harry tried to push his parents apart. He didn't appreciate being stuck between his parents like a human sandwich.
James pulled away from his wife and looked down at his son. "Yea, I never hurt my little buddy! Nor would I ever let anyone hurt him!" James started tossing Harry in the air again, Harry giggling with joy.
"Yeah, well thanks to your and Sirius's brilliant idea, he might as not be your little buddy much longer!" Lily started shouting without meaning to, she was so upset. Falling to the ground in complete despair, tears pouring down her face, she was all to upset to take it.
James raised his eyebrow, "What? Lost me there, Lily." He turned and saw his wife broken down on the floor. His heart broke a little. Lily really isn't okay.
"Hey, sweetie." He sat down on the floor with Lily, Harry sitting in his lap, "What's going on?"
"What do you mean, What's going on? Didn't Sirius send you home?" Lily asked though her tears.
"No, I didn't get a chance to see him. I just met with Wormtail and picked up a few things."
Lily shook her head. James really didn't know. "Remember what Dumbledore told us? That someone was passing information about us to Lord Voldemort?" She was trying to keep her voice from shouting.
"Of course, that's not something easily forgotten, knowing someone wants to kill your son." James put his arm around Lily, she was crying madly.
"Sirius thinks that it is Peter, that awful Peter! That he was the one who was passing information! I think, no… I KNOW that he betrayed us, James!" Lily pulled away from James, and handed him the owl Sirius sent. Needing a minute to herself, she ran to her study, in complete tears.
James was stunned. He kept rereading his letter. He didn't get to see Sirius. Peter said it would be best just to head home. He had to agree, considering what happened last week to their friends, the Longbottom's. James' brilliant plan to keep his family safe, was a horrible plan.
Lily was right. He should have never left the house this morning. Something was going terribly wrong. If his gut was right, his family might be in grave danger. He might never see Harry grow up, or be able to teach him how to ride a broom. He would never see him go off to Hogwarts, or be able to teacher him how to play the sweetest pranks (without his mother knowing). He would never see his second birthday, even. One of his best friends decided that he and his family weren't worth saving… Everything James ever wanted, a real family, a son to teach, a wife that loved him, all washed away. The rug was yanked out from under his feet, and it was him that yanked it.
James hung his head; he was a horrible father and husband. He had sent the two things that meant the most to him to their deaths, when all he tried to do was protect them.
Harry snuck away from his father and opened a cupboard. Pulling out the box of baby cookies, he went over and sat beside his father. Seeing his daddy was sad, he pulled out a cookie and held it up to his father, "Daddy?"
James smiled and took the cookie from his son. One look at the cookie then turned back to Harry who had just shoved a cookie in his mouth, "I don't think cookies can solve this, bud." He ruffled the little boy's hair.
"Ookies everything!" Harry smiled with his mouth full of cookie crumbs. He danced and moved his his feet, like he always did when he was happy. He grabbed another cookie out of the box and shoved it into his mouth.
James shook his head and took a bite out of the cookie. Harry in his small view of the world, seemed to have a cure for everything. Most of them seemed to have something to do with cookies.
"What are you two doing?" Lily said coming in, with her mascara ruined and streaked on her cheeks.
Harry threw his small arms in the air, "OOKIES!" he laughed his cute laugh before shoving another one in his mouth.
Lily put her hands on her hips, "Does it matter at all where I hide them?" Harry giggled and put the box of cookies behind them and smiled up at his mother. As though saying you will never get them from me.
"Apparently not." James said, pulling Lily into his lap. Harry looked at his parents, complete disgruntled that James would prefer to hold his mother instead of him. Harry cried to be picked up, holding his arms up towards his parents, with the cookie box in his right hand.
Lily picked up her boy and snuggled him to her chest. He yawned largely, and then stuck another cookie in his mouth. Lily took the box from Harry, causing him to burst out into a fit of furious tears.
"ME ANT OOKIES!" Harry screamed flapping his arms around hopelessly. Before giving up and leaning against his farther, thumb in his mouth.
Tears still streaming down Little Harry's face, his father ran his hand over his little hand. Harry looked up, and smiled slightly.
James smiled sadly as he stroked his son's head. In the silence, James leaned against the cabinets, Lily leaned against him, and Harry leaned against both.
James muttered softly under his breath, tears stinging his eyes, "Harry, no matter what happens tonight, please, remember forever that I am very proud of you. I love you. And you and your mother are my world."
Lily laid her hand on James' shoulder, before beginning to cry, too. Then, with both his parents crying, Harry begun to cry.
Lily had just put Harry to bed when James caught her from behind and kissed her neck. She sighed.
"Happy anniversary, Love." James said hugging her and giving her a bracelet.
"Awe, James its Beautiful. I love it. Just as much as I love my boys." He placed it on her wrist, and she examined it into the artificial light. Stunning. She turned to kiss him again. They sat down and turned off the outside lights, to that the other muggle trick-or-treaters won't come to the house.
Lily and James spent their night acting as though nothing was wrong…as long as Harry was smiling, they were okay. After a while, they even believe that maybe it was going to be alright. Nothing further came from Sirius. James kept looking at the window and the fireplace, fidgeting.
"No news is good news, right?" Lily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
James forced a smile. "Right." And for the first time in his marriage, he believe that this time, Lily was most likely very wrong.
Anyways, after the Potter's finished their dinner, they baked more cookies, letting Harry have as many as he wanted. Lily even let him lick the bowl.
Afterwards, Lily let James and Harry ride his broom around the house nearly killing their cat.
When it got close to Harry's bedtime, Lily gave Harry his bath, and for the first time in a while, James helped her. Then they gave Harry his bottle, tucked him into bed, and read him a story.
Lily couldn't help but cry when she watched her baby boy sleep. James just held her close. She seemed to calm down about ten o'clock, and decided that it was time to celebrate her and James anniversary. Even though it has been three years, this one just wasn't the same.
They were on the couch drinking a little wine, cuddling and watching the fire. James was stroking Lily's hair, and she was almost asleep when suddenly the door breaks down. Lily wakes up and she and James start to panic.
"Lily Run! It's HIM! Go! Run and take Harry with you! Get out of the house! I hold him off! GO! NOW!" James screamed pulling out his wand.
Lily was so frightened. She didn't know what to do. She ran up the stairs into Harry's room. He was still sleeping soundly. She picked him up and cradled him to her chest. She tried to open the window, but it was jammed shut. She placed Harry back in the crib, as she desperately looked for her wand, only to realize that she left her wand down stairs.
She feared for her family's lives. She needed her wand, but summoning it would be like an open invitation for Voldemort to know which bedroom was Harry's.
Down stairs she heard James trying to fight off Voldemort. She couldn't stop crying. She wanted to be down there, helping fight off Voldemort. Just as they had fought together all this time. But she couldn't. She knew that James wants her to be here, with Harry. This is where she is needed now. She needed to protect her son, save him at all costs.
And then she heard it. James' scream and his body hit the floor, the last shred of hope she had, has just died. Lily didn't allow herself any time to process her soul mate dying. She needed to get out of this bedroom. She had to jump out this window and hope for the best. But it wouldn't open!
Voldemort's cold laugh sent chills up her spine. Lily felt her heart rip. This is it. This is how she would die. She held the door as Voldemort tried to open it. She need to give Harry his best shot at surviving. Voldemort magically opened the door, throwing Lily across the room, hitting the wall.
Shaking her head, she quickly got up and put herself in front of the Dark Lord.
Lily looked into his eyes with fear, and then stood in front of crying Harry's crib. The more seconds she stared, the more her fear turned into hatred.
"Step aside, mudblood." Voldermort said.
"NO! YOU CAN'T HAVE MY BABY! TAKE ME NOT HIM! PLEASE, NO!" Lily screamed.
"There is no need for you to die. Move! get out of here." He said.
"NO!" Lily blocked her son from him.
"I am warning you, you filth. Now is you last chance. MOVE!" He boomed.
"NEVER! YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH ME TO GET TO MY SON!"
"Fine, Avada Kedarva!" Lily chest hurt so badly.
But suddenly felt warmth as she saw James holding out his hand for her to take. She smiled and took it as she walked with him into the warm light...
Lily's body hit the ground with a thump that made Harry cry more.
Voldemort sighed. He attempted to do as Severas had asked. Oh well. "Harry, nice to meet you…"
November 1, 1981
Remus watched as they took his friends away on stretchers, their faces covered. Their little boy off to live with Lily's horrible sister. To be a werewolf, was to live a sad life.
Walking into the ruins of the small house in Godric's Hollow, he saw papers flying everywhere. a few broken pictures lay ruined on the floor. Walking around for the last time, tears begin to stream down his young face. Memories of birthday parties and Christmas' flashing before his eyes.
Life isn't fair. His two best friends are dead, leaving their son in the hands of a man who is accused of murdering them, along with their other friend, Peter. Remus can't believe it. Because now, with Sirius Black on his way to Azkaban to await trial, Harry has to grow up in a muggle world. The authorities won't let him raise Harry because Sirius is his legal godfather, since he is incapable of fulfilling his duties, Harry has to go live with relatives. His last known relatives is Lily's dreadful sister.
Remus kicked the wall in frustration. Turning to walk down the hallway, he distracted himself with happier thoughts. He remembered the day when Lily and James bought this house, and helping them move in. It was a bittersweet time, because it meant that there was one less person to share the rent, but more time with Lily. It was in this very living room that the four of them had consoled Lily after her parents died in a car crash.
But as time passed, Lily healed. They hosted plenty of parties full of good food, a ring, and tears of happiness. Months passed and soon James and Lily were married, and the reception was in the living room. He had never seen it so packed.
Remus remembered the day he, Sirius and Peter walked in on Lily and James shagging on the kitchen table. Lily was furious and James pretended to be mad. But soon the were forgiven, and ended the night joking in the garden with a bottle of fire whisky.
And then nine months later Harry was born.
Oh little Harry. When came long, he had never seen his friends more happy. Them the parties were for him, just like this past July for his first birthday. You would have thought that the Minister of Magic had just asked James to be his right hand man, in they way they threw that party for Harry. Long and happy memories brought more tears then smiles to the werewolf's face.
Turning into Lily's study, he came across a man he hadn't seen since graduation. "Severus."
The greasy hair man jumped. Wiping his eyes, he handed Remus a letter. With a curt nod, the wizard disaparated. Remus didn't have time to question the man's presence as to why he was here in the Potter house, because when he looked at the date, it on the letter, it had been written yesterday, the day they died. It was addressed to Harry.
Picking it up, he read the sad, sad letter.
Friend, please give this to Harry when you think he can handle it.
Harry, My dearest Harry,
Today, October the 31st, was our last night with you. And if you survived and we didn't, I hope you know how much I love you. I hope that this letter finds you well, and somehow brings comfort into your life. But what I hope most of all, is that you never have to read it. That your father and I are still in your life, loving you and cherishing every moment with you. That we somehow found a solution to this problem that lets us be your parents and raise you.
But if not, if for some reason we had to leave you, please know that I will spend every moment of where ever I am going, watching over you.
Please know how proud your father and I are of you. I hope you are healthy and doing good in school. I terribly regret that I was never there to kiss your cuts and scraps better. I regret not seeing you off on your first day of Hogwarts.
No matter where you are, and how far apart we are, Harry, your father and I love you more than you ever will know. Please forgive me for not being there, but there are some things in life you cannot stop.
In life you must learn to forgive. Let the little things go, and enjoy the simplicities of life. They tend to bring the most joy. Life is short, so please live life, like every day is your last. I know that one day you will find a girl and love her with all the passion and love you are capable of, because if you are anything like your father, you will end up loving one person with your whole heart. Once you find that kind of love, hold on to it.
On that note, please though, if you are like your father, make friends who will help you in your troubles like he did. Also find some who make better grades, though. I love your Uncle Sirius, but other than Remus, your father and him...well…you will understand one day.
I guess what I am trying to say to you in this letter is this:
Harry, may the angels protect you, and trouble neglect you, and heaven accept you when its time to go home. May you always have plenty, your glass never empty and know in your belly you're never alone.
May your tears come from laughing, you find friends worth having and with every year passing they will mean more than gold. May you win but stay humble, and smile more than grumble and know when you stumble, you're never alone.
But I have to be honest. As much as I want to, I'm not going to promise the cold winds won't blow. So when hard times have found you, and your fears surround you, wrap my love around you. You're never alone
Please, please know this Harry. You are never alone. I'll be in every beat of your heart when you face the unknown.
Wherever you fly, know this isn't goodbye. My love will follow you, stay with you, Harry you're never alone.
It is so hard trying to express a mother's love in a letter. But this is my shot. I must be going now, because I can hear you crying for dinner.
Please just forgive me and your father for not being there when you need us the most. I love you so much. More than life itself, Harry.
You are never alone,
All my love and more,
Lily, your Mother
Harry wiped a few tears from his eyes and he finished with the letter. Today is his seventeenth birthday, and from Remus he had gotten this letter. The only thing he had of his mother. Her words and advise are what is going to keep him going. His love for Ginny, his friends, the wizaring world, is going to give him the strength to continue fighting and looking for the horcruxes. But for now, there is a wedding to attend, the last bit of happiness, in the darkest of times. He reread the letter again, and He truly believes those words, his mother wrote. He is not alone.
Harry sits up and walks over to the window of Ron's room from the burrow. He looked out at the window as a star shot across the sky, and whisper, "I love you, Mum."
A.N. Part 2. Let me know what you think. As always, Read, Review, Enjoy. Love from Louise