A/N: Hey, this is a revised prologue. The first was written when I had no real experience in writing ans so I hope to go though the rest of the chapters as well and fix them up a bit. This one fits with th plot that I didn't have together at first. Which is good, no? :)
Disclaimer: not mine, Jk's, no infringement intended.
Prologue of Emerged From Sorrow:
"Nothing to fear," James Potter soothed his son softly. The house was being pummeled by rain, the sky roaring with a furious storm. He ran his hands tenderly over his son's messy locks, the baby's large green eyes curious and the twitch at the corners of his mouth indicated that he was almost finding the sound of lightning amusing.
"That's my brave little champion." James grinned.
"Da-da," Harry said excitedly as the house trembled, his little finger pointing out the window.
"I see it, Harry. Look, rain makes Mama go night night."
Giggling, Harry played with the locket hanging from his mother's neck, his back resting against his dada's chest.
Sadness fell into his eyes as he watched his child, knowing that war was raging outside the magically guarded walls of his safe house in Godric's Hollow. For these brief and cozy instances, he could imagine the world safe for his son; however, Harry was in the worst danger imaginable. Voldemort had sentenced him to death for a prophecy he hadn't even heard to its entirety. James had no idea how long his family could be allowed a harbor from the danger erupting in the world due to Voldemort. He worried endlessly that what he was doing to keep his baby boy safe wouldn't be enough, that staying out of the fight was the right thing to do, and that all he had to do was not think about those dying in his place.
More than a year ago, he had been told by Albus Dumbledore that danger would pursue his son before he was even born. Lily had been eight months pregnant at the time. They had been twenty at the time, scared enough about being new parents, and then being told about the burden their child would carry one day if he survived.
His delicate mask of control that had once commanded the attention, strength, and affections of his fellow Aurors had crumbled as he wept in the Headmaster's office with his broken wife. It had pained him to cry for the distraught Lily and for his infant son who might never even reach his second birthday. Lily had been consumed with terror, anger, and sadness that had made her tremble until she had been forced to drink dreamless sleep potion and a substantial amount of calming draught.
That day, sacrifices had been made, and for his son, he had left the comfort of Potter Manor to live away from all he had ever known. James and Lily had only dared to venture out of their new domain a few times a month. Occasionally, the Marauders, his best friends from school, would visit them, but they usually brought grave news about endless deaths that only made James feel worse about having a safe haven from the terror that was Voldemort's rein.
Suddenly, as if to awaken him from his wandering thoughts, the most dreaded sound he hoped never to hear sounded. James and Lily sprung to their feet at once. The magical wards surrounding their home were being countered one by one; the alarms had all been triggered. Their worst fear had come true.
Voldemort himself was making his way to the house at the very moment.
Fear lingered for only a second before his adrenaline pushed it away. There was no time for weakness. They both closed their eyes and kept a firm protective hand over their confused little boy and waited for the feeling of being squeezed out of a too small tube to overcome them, but they seemed to be unable to Apparate.
Lily led out and exasperated cry. "What's happened James?!" Her eyes were wide with panic and here face had pale, allowing her flowing dark auburn hair to stand out vividly.
"I don't know Lils; we should be able to Apparate until the last ward has been removed. Hold Harry! Let me try something," said James, his features set in determination. He successfully Apparated by himself to just outside his home, and he returned as soon as he had come. He glanced at his wife and saw that last bit of hope leave her eyes as a single tear trekked her cheek. It crushed him to see it.
They were going to die.
Peter Pettigrew, who had been made their Secret Keeper for the Fidelus Charm, had betrayed them. And worst, their last chance had been stolen by him two days ago, when Peter had visited their home looking his usual nervous self (they had attributed his strange behavior to the pressures of the war) and they had allowed him to feed Harry his bottle. Harry had apparently been given an anti-Apparation potion by Peter. James and Lily could leave but Harry would be left behind.
The only option had been swiped from the table without their knowledge. Trembling, James took a deep breath and drew his wife to his chest. "I love you," he whispered, "I have always loved you." He kissed her, tenderly, her response desperate. Caressing her cheek, he told her in a voice rough with emotion, "Gods, you're beautiful. I must be the luckiest man on earth."
Lily laughed, "Did Sirius give you that corny line, Potter." She buried her face in his neck. They had spoken those words on their honeymoon.
"Shut up, put down the bloody books, and get to bed." James whispered back, his voice cracking with anguish at the memory.
Looking up, Lily's emerald eyes met his and she sent him a trembling smile before a sob escaped her, her fingers entwining within his tightly. She breathed out, "I love you so much, James" into his chest as her hands supported their son between them.
As the house trembled announcing that the last ward had been destroyed, James looked down at his son, and his eyes brimmed with tears as he realized that his next words would be his last. That he would never speak to his little boy again. Holding down a sob, his wife grasped his hand so tightly that it allowed him to steel himself. "Harry James Potter I have never loved another person as much as I love you," he choked as Harry looked up at him and placed a tiny hand over his cheek, a grin spreading over his face.
Having to bring himself to finish, he grabbed his son's tiny hand and held it within his own, bringing it to his lips for a kiss as Harry smiled. "Remember that I love you; don't ever forget that, not when they tell you why we aren't there with you. No matter what happens, know I'd always be proud of you, my son." he closed his eyes and his last words came out so softly it was almost a whisper, "Stay strong, sport."
With a painful step back, Lily grabbed their son and ran for Harry's nursery just as the front door was blasted off its hinges by the evil hand of Lord Voldemort.
As an accomplished Auror, James knew he could only last minutes against the ill-gained Dark magic of one of the strongest wizards in the world. "Why don't you and your wife spare yourselves James and leave? There is no reason for both of you to die today," hissed Voldemort in a cold, inhuman voice.
"I would rather die in a battle defending my family than live a coward's life of a man who couldn't even protect the son he loved," answered James fiercely.
Cruel laughter filled the room. "James Potter, you are a fool!" He lifted his wand. "So be it your end." The evil wizard sneered unnaturally before hurling a set of complicated and lethal spells in James' direction. James managed to deflect most of them, but a powerful Cutting Curse tore at his right shoulder and splattered blood on the wall behind him.
James groaned in agony, his jaw tensing, and his face growing white as his wound bled freely. With determination, the Auror shot a myriad of spells in rapid succession: Stunners, a Severing Charm, and the strongest hexes he could think of.
Voldemort managed to put up a shield for most of the stunners, but the other spells were so strong they shattered it and he had to step to the side hurriedly as the Severing Charm flew slightly past him.
"Reducto!" James cast on the vases behind his nemesis, the shards of glass getting deflected away and reappearing on James' wand hand. Holding back a scream, James fought to keep his aim steady, his hand aching with pain. In a last ditch effort, the ground around James grew hot and he brought his injured arm forth, gritting his teeth and fueling the area with all his power. Instantly, his arm flamed with magical energy and he swung back and tossed a massive fireball at the inhuman monster.
Voldemort, not having expected the attack was grazed as his late shield refused to expand at a faster rate. The smell of burning flesh permeated the air and James' eyes glowed with bravery.
Growing angry, Voldemort attacked James with the Cruciatus Curse. The proud former Gryffindor fell to the floor and convulsed in excruciating pain as he felt every muscle in his body tear and his insides squeezed. After several minutes, Voldemort removed the spell, and before James could recover his breath, Voldemort sent a strong Cutting Curse that instantly covered the man in his own blood. The prone man gagged, blood pouring onto the floor, and his eyes glassy.
Even through this, James raised his shaking wand and yelled "EXPELLIARMUS!" with the only strength he had left. Voldemort was thrown against the wall, and his wand flew away from him.
In horror, James watched as Voldemort used wandless magic to fly his own wand back into his hand. With a red fury in his eyes, Voldemort yelled "AVADA KEDAVRA!" tragically ending James Potter's short life.
Lily had heard Voldemort enter as she made her way up the stairs to Harry's nursery. Ready to defend him with her last breath, she ran in and put Harry in the crib. It was only a matter of time before Voldemort took her husband's life and made his way to her. She held her wand in the direction of the door and watched Harry play with the toy Snitch that was charmed to fly around his crib. He laughed and grabbed at it, unaware of the events folding out before his very own innocent eyes.
With trembling hands, she ruffled her son's messy hair, and observed his handsome features. The baby looked so much like James. No, she wouldn't think about her lover. She had to be strong.
Her mind ran wild with all the things they would never get to do with their little boy again. Life was so cruel at times. Softly she began to sing the lullaby she and James sung to Harry when he was having trouble sleeping; the old Scottish folk song always calmed and relaxed Harry.
"Hush, hush, time to be sleeping Oh, hush, hush, your dreams come a-creeping ,"
You know you're terribly off key," James had commented, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Your dreams of peace and of freedom,"
"He loves it all the same; at least someone appreciates my valiant efforts," She had responded, smirking.
"So smile in your sleep, lovely baby."
"I appreciate many of your 'efforts', Lils…Just not this one."
She had swatted him in the arm. "You sing then," she had said as she placed their son in his arms.
"Now's the time to be dreaming, let our love keep you from peeking."
"You terrible voice made him fall asleep already." James had laughed, tenderly kissing his sleeping son's temple and placing him in the crib. Swiftly, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, taking her breath away.
"Hush, hush, time to be sleeping."
Harry stopped his pursuit of the toy snitch and gazed at his mother with a smile on his face as she sung his favorite lullaby, his little face frowning slightly at the tears on her cheeks.
"Harry, I love you sweetheart," she said to the baby as she heard the approaching footsteps. The door was immediately pulled outwards from its frame and Lily readied herself in a protective stance over her son.
Voldemort approached; sore at the force he had struck the wall and his now burned leg. He was amazed at how James had even managed to strike him.
"MOVE!" he commanded savagely. Lily stood her ground and managed to block the Cruciatus Curse Voldemort had aimed at her. She wasn't fast enough for the disarming spell that threw her against the crib and her wand out of reach. Voldemort's patience was wearing thin and he took aim at Harry, ready to end the infant's life in an instant, and just as he sent the spell, Lily got up and leaped into its way, screaming for her son.
"HARRY!" she screamed as the green flash of light hurdled towards her son and into her instead. As Lily's limb body fell to the floor, Harry let out a startled cry, scared for the commotion around him and the scary being slowly approaching.
With a masterful precision, Voldemort stretched his wand out, aimed at the child's head, and now furious at the resistance he had met, screamed "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Blinding light encompassed the entire house. Harry was thrown back against his crib, bleeding from a spot on his head. Voldemort screamed as he felt agony reap through his body. And a few seconds later, his body had disintegrated into a dust, his life essence extinguished like a flame.
The house lay in ruins, the roof had collapsed, and the walls had crumbled at the force of the magic it had just endured. Lightning ripped through the night, marking the day, and as the rain began to fall upon the remaining heaps of wood, it drenched the only living person in the house.
Crying uncontrollably, Harry Potter cried out for the soothing of the parents who had given up their lives for him, not knowing he had been left alone. He had become the last Potter and the new hope of the entire magical world in less than half an hour. Rain fell heavily onto the infant and washed the blood off his aching and fresh lightning-bolt shaped wound.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
October 31st, 1981, Headmaster's office
"Albus, I fear we are using our resources inefficiently; the Order of the Phoenix members as of now are unsubstantial. I was never one to question your methods, as I hold you in the highest respect; however, we are losing this war ..." Minerva McGonagall was frustrated for good reason: they were losing, and if this was in fact true, it would mean the end of all that was good.
Remus Lupin nodded his head in agreement. "Our members are being killed one by one and we have reason to believe there is a traitor in our midst."
Albus Dumbledore listened at his desk as the two fired off questions he could not answer. War did indeed entail misery, death, sorrow, and difficult unanswerable questions. He kept an impassive expression, no less worried than they were about the current war situation.
"Minerva, Remus, I only ask that you ..."
Dumbledore stopped mid-speech; he had just noticed that the quill on his desk was glowing a bright red, indicating the Potter's safe house's protective wards had been removed. A look of panic had befallen his gentle features. He had no idea how long the pen had been in its current state--it could have been hours for all he knew. Dumbledore stood up abruptly, startling the other occupants of the room.
"What is wrong, Albus?" McGonagall was bewildered at the actions of the Headmaster; he had been headmaster since 1956 and she had never seen such an expression cross his face, even since Lord Voldemort had started his reign of fear in 1966.
Dumbledore briskly strode across his office, picked up a sculpture of a centaur said, "Portus!" He looked at Remus and Minerva as if he had never noticed them. "Both of you take a hold of this Portkey. I will explain when we arrive. Stay on your toes and be cautious, we might be walking into grave danger. Quickly!"
They both complied and felt the familiar pull at their navels before they landed on a small village street. A sign on their left read 'Godric's Hollow'.
Lupin's eyes widened in horror when he realized where they were. Something must have happened to Lily and James. With that thought, he sprinted towards the safe house, following right behind the Headmaster, who was running unusually fast for his old age. McGonagall was right behind them, oblivious to where they were and wondering what dangers would lie ahead. She came to a stop as she saw the other two were looking straight ahead with sorrowful expressions.
Lupin and Dumbledore stopped and looked at the house that lay in ruins before them. They didn't even seem to realize the rain drizzling upon them as they looked at the horrendous sight ahead. Remus closed his eyes as if to will the sight a figment of his imagination.
Dumbledore ran into the house, followed by the others. He started to frantically move boards of rubble out of the way with his wand, levitating the rubble away with Remus and hoping to find any member of the Potter family. Dumbledore adopted a determined and sad expression, while Remus was struggling to hold his composure, trying desperately not to break down.
Off to the side, McGonagall observed the crumbling house. Most of the walls had collapsed and the roof was absent. The staircase stood, missing its railing and several boards, the second floor of the house was miraculously still there, although there were giant holes on the floor displaying views of the rainy night. "Who lived here, Albus?" she asked, horrified when she heard a loud sob coming from Remus. She looked behind her and automatically rushed to his side.
"Oh, dear Merlin!" Remus had just overturned a large beam and what he saw would haunt him for the rest of his life. His best friend James Potter lay before him covered in blood with a disembodied appearance; some of his limbs were twisted in the unnatural shape of bones that belonged to a Cruciatus victim.
He had died a horrible death
The impact of seeing it crushed him, causing a loud sob to escape his throat. He felt someone touch his shoulder and before he could pull away, he realized it was McGonagall. They both turned around when they heard someone running into the ruins of the house and instinctively raised their wands.
"What's happened here?! Sirius Black was in a panic. "I came here after receiving word on a brutal attack on the Longbottoms." Sirius's face fell as he inspected the damage further, eyes searching frantically for his friends, his family. "No," he denied, shaking his head, "please, no." With a sinking feeling, he spotted Remus with tears running down his cheeks and looked down at the crumbled body of his only family, his brother in every way but blood. "James!" he screamed.
"I'm sorry Sirius." Remus stood and tried to keep his friend from looking at the body. "Let me go, Moony!" Sirius screamed. His heart twisted painfully when he saw James' eyes open and blank with death.
"He's dead, Sirius…" Remus said in a trembling voice. "There is nothing we can do…" Sirius ripped himself from Lupin and kneeled over his best friend. He placed his hands on the bloody corpse's cheeks, having to feel if it was real. "Dammit, James, you promised you wouldn't." He hugged the body and sobbed, covering himself in blood, "we were brothers always, remember." When he felt Remus grasp his shoulder in support, he scooted away from the body, and stood angrily. "DAMN YOU, JAMES!" he shouted before he clasped a hand over his eyes.
On shaky legs, he stood and faced Lupin, meeting his equally anguished eyes and feeling unbearable guilt erupt in his chest.
Remus knew at once it hadn't been him, that he hadn't been the keeper. But who had?"
Sirius' face became stony, his eyes the only thing betraying his current state. But he was ready for action. "I am going to kill that son of a bitch! I am going to KILL him!" He said with a voice that clearly wasn't trying to hide his hatred and detest of the man. He allowed his temper to cool before he asked in a more subdued voice, "What of Lily and Harry?" Fully believing them already dead also.
Rubeus Hagrid stood at the doorway; he had accompanied Sirius to the house. He stood there observing the scene before him. Finding it unbearable to watch, he turned and walked out to the Potter lawn, placing his hands over his giant face and weeping into them. The disaster before him was something he had never wanted to see. He had been hired as a gamekeeper by Dumbledore and remembered when little Lily Evans had first come to Hogwarts in 1966; she had always visited and talked to him. It was as if she had taken in upon herself to not be taken back by his appearance and become his friend, she had always had such a big heart. Lily didn't deserve to have this fall upon her family.
/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Having turned away from the lifeless body of James Potter, Dumbledore carefully ascended the unstable staircase. Suddenly he heard the unmistakable cry of an infant, and hope sprung back into his light-blue eyes.
As he had entered the house, he had been bewildered by what he had felt. He had felt the powerful magic that had befallen the house: a signature of very dark magic in the air, but what baffled him was the abundance of very powerful light magic.
He reached the top of the staircase, his wand out, ready for any danger. The first thing he saw was Lily Potter sprawled on the floor. Dead. Next to her was a large scorch mark. The older wizard approached the source of the crying and looked upon the infant.
Little Harry was drenched from head to foot, his scar aching from the water entering his deep wound. Dumbledore reached into the crib and dried the baby's clothes and a nearby blanket using his wand. He placed a Warming Charm on the blanket and wrapped it around the boy, gently picking him up as the infant looked up at him and began to calm down. The fifteenth-month-old was breathing heavily from his crying and let out only the occasional crying sound.
"You're okay now, little one. I will make sure of that," he soothed softly. Dumbledore held the infant against his shoulder, rubbing circles into his back as he slowly made his way downstairs.
Sirius, Remus, and McGonagall were just about to go upstairs, having realized that Dumbledore was no longer with them. They halted when they saw the Headmaster descend the steps with a bundle in his arms. They all stood there waiting for him to speak with their eyes wide not knowing what to expect.
Sirius and Remus raised their eyes in question about Lily's state.
Dumbledore shook his head with downcast eyes, and the pair's faces immediately fell. Sirius fisted his hands at his sides, fearing that if he let himself grieve again, he would never be able to stop. Remus just stood there with a dead look in his wet eyes; he appeared defeated. Dumbledore pulled back the blanket so they could see Harry was still alive, which offered an exhale of relief for such a miracle.
"What happened here, Albus?" asked McGonagall as she reached out for the baby and repeated the Headmaster's actions of soothing the boy.
Albus was ready to formulate the answer he knew he would have to give the magical community. "From the feel of the magic in this house and from what we can all see, I can speculate Voldemort entered this house, dueled with James, and I can assume that Lily took the Killing curse for Harry. The curse must have rebounded when Voldemort attacked Harry, effectively vanquishing him."
"You're saying Harry did this?! He killed Voldemort himself… How is this possible? " Remus said taken aback.
Staring at the infant in amazement, the Deputy Headmistress asked, "Is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named truly dead?"
Shaking his head in the negative, Dumbledore dreaded to say, "No, he is not dead. Voldemort was a very powerful and dark wizard. I have reason to believe Voldemort has gone further than anyone has ever dared to venture into the dark secrets that would help him achieve immortality." Gasps of horror could be heard at the abomination. "As for Harry, I think the rebounding of the curse has more to do with the magic Lily Potter made possible by sacrificing her life for him."
McGonagall furrowed her eyebrows in deep thought. "What of Harry now? There is no doubt this story will spread. The name 'Harry Potter' will be known by every magical person and creature alike. There will not be a child who will not know of his fame. Not to mention, there are still Death Eaters out there that would do anything to avenge their fallen master."
Dumbledore looked at Sirius who had been made the Harry's godfather, and saw him look away from the group with an angry expression.
Peter Pettigrew had changed the concept of being a godfather and the realization of it angered Sirius. The overwhelming guilt of making him keeper made him feel responsible for avenging his godson's parents.
"The magic that protected Harry tonight is very powerful and ancient; it entails the willing sacrifice of a loved one to protect another. I know of a spell that can strengthen this, and I can use the blood that runs through Harry, Lily's blood to be exact, so that he can live without a threat of danger. To accomplish this, Harry will have to live with his only remaining family. The estranged sister of Lily, Petunia Evans, or as I have now learned, is Petunia Dursley."
Remus shook his head. "You can't be serious, Albus! They hate everything having to do with the magical world. She told Lily she hated her before she severed all the connections to the only family she had left. Who knows how they will treat him? There must be another way," said the werewolf adamantly. He cast a look at a still Sirius.
Dumbledore thought for a moment. "I fear there is no other way, Harry will be safest this way. Hagrid can take Harry for tonight and protect him while I make some arrangements for tomorrow."
At this, McGonagall frowned. "Are you sure we can trust Hagrid with such a task?"
"Minerva, I trust Hagrid with my life," Dumbledore answered with a twinkle in his eyes.
Sirius took a few steps out of the house before saying, "Moony, if Albus says he can do this to protect Harry, than we should accept it, at least he will live," over his shoulder.
"Sirius, don't be so rash." Remus caught his friend's arm. "Don't do this, Sirius. Fight for him."
Faltering, Sirius gazed back at his precious godson, staring back at Remus. "How could I look into his face or hold him in my arms, knowing what I took from him, knowing that I didn't do anything to catch the righteous little coward that signed them over to that bastard," he said softly to his friend. "Don't come with me, Remus."
Remus bowed his head, letting him go, his body tense. "Tell me who it was, Sirius."
Sirius shook his head. It would destroy him to see the werewolf break apart over what he himself was about to do. "If you don't take him, make sure he's safe," the animagus said dismissively.
And Sirius, knowing his nephew was safe now, stormed out of the house ready for revenge. He tossed the keys to his flying motorcycle to Hagrid and said, "I trust you will protect my godson with your life," before Apparating away in search of a certain Marauder.
Hagrid hurriedly wiped his eyes as he heard the others approach him; he had heard their conversation and knew of his current orders. McGonagall, who had been given Harry to hold, reluctantly pushed the bundle into his arms, showing where he was to place his hands to support the infant. The groundskeeper sadly looked at the boy. With the war going on, he hadn't had the chance to see Harry in more than a year because the Potters had gone into hiding. Gazing down, he saw the eyes of Lily Potter staring curiously back at him, and James' handsome features accompanied by a bizarre lightning shaped wound. Harry let out a sneeze and shivered. "It's gonna be k' now, lil' guy. Hagrid's got ya." He opened his large coat and held the baby to his chest in order to warm him.
Remus had been given a Portkey with orders to drink some Calming Potion before he was to go and help the other Order members in catching the Death Eaters who were fully aware of the demise of Voldemort and were now attacking unorganized and erratically. McGonagall was to alert the Order of the Phoenix members of the situation and stand guard over the students of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore gave Hagrid his instructions and watched him disappear into the clouds with Harry. The Headmaster had a very long night ahead of him; he would have to speak to the Ministry, arrange for the burial of Lily and James Potter, and make the preparations that would ensure the well-being of their only son.