Chapter 1

October 31st, 1981

James considered himself the happiest man on the world. Even with a war going on outside, he couldn't help but feel blessed for all that he got: the girl of his dreams who apparently forgave him for being a git, great friends and a pleasent house.

"Heaven must be very much like this" he confided to Sirius the day he got married to his Hogwarts sweerheart Lily Evans.

"Funny," Sirius said while adjusting James' bowtie "I thought you would be a pile of nerves by now."

James grinned. "But I am. I am terrified actually."

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Is that so?"

"Yes," said James while smoothing his tuxedo "I'm afraid I might wake up." Sirius and James laughed, and then Sirius patted him in the back.

"This is it, mate. You truly are marrying Lily." In Sirius' voice there was some pride noticable. James and Sirius hugged tightly for quite a while. After they broke from each other, Sirius mouthed "go" and James nodded. He could've swore that Sirius was about to cry... which was highly unusual for Sirius. As he stood at the end of the aisle, waiting for Lily to walk it he looked around. Save for some people from Lily's side, he knew pretty much everyone. His mum was wiping her tears on handkerchief, while his dad was trying to console her but looking quite amused himself. He looked over to the bench where Lupin and Pettigrew were sitting. Lupin gave him a thumbs up and Pettigrew was waving widely. Some of the Hogwarts staff was present like McGonagall, Flitwick, Slughorn (who looked tremendoulsy excited) and even Hagrid, who wasn't able to contain his tears, even though the wedding hasn't started yet. James looked around for Lily's sister Petunia and her husband but they were nowhere to be found. "Figures..." he thought. They had such a big grudge for them that they wouldn't even appear at the wedding. All because of a petty prejudice. Sirius joined him after a while, taking his part as the best-man.

"What took you so long?" James whispered to Sirius.

"I dunno about your bladder, mate but when a guy gotta go..." Sirius said. But James noticed his puffy and still shiny eyes.

"Were you crying?" James asked, quite amused.

Sirius looked embaressed. "Me? N-no... I never cry!"

"Sure" James said, smiling from ear to ear.

Dumbledore was taking the role of the minister and was smiling warmly to James.

"Thank you for doing this Professor. I really appreceate it." James said turning to Dumbledore.

"My dear James... it is my honor to get such a part in your union with Miss Evans." At the sound of that name, James looked at the watch and was smiling no more.

"Well, looks like "Miss Evans" is late" he said, feeling like he swallowed a handful of led. A surge of panic took over him all of a sudden. "She ran away because she is afraid I'll become a git again. She still hates me... She still bloody hates me." Sirius was surprised and alarmed of this turn of attitude from James.

"Now, now James... she wouldn't do that. She loves you, she has told you so..."

"But she might've changed her mind... look" James was showing his watch to Sirius. Granted, she was almost twenty minutes late. Sirius was sort of at a loss of words, because she was indeed taking a little long.

Still he managed to say "You know how girls are James... they have to be perfect for everything and they might take hours for that. Right, Professor?" But Dumbledore didn't need to answer, as the doors opened and a bright light invaded the chappel. Inside the light he saw the outline that James could've swore as belonging to an angel. The figure stepped inside the chappel and James noticed that she (he was sure it was a she now) had fiery red hair and was smiling broadly at him...

James found himself all of a sudden lying on a bed. He looked to his side and saw that same angel sleeping peacefully next him. He stroke her hair, and she smiled even on her sleep. Bent on not waking Lily up, he got out of bed carefully and approached a cradle that was set on that same room. Inside, a little black haired boy, barely a year old, was sleeping as well... sighing softly from time to time.

"'Morning Harry" he said in a whisper. James sometimes found himself looking at his child for hours, still quite not believing that he was responsible for such a miracle. He relutanctly left the room, but nature was calling him. After doing what he had to do, he went downstairs and found an owl on the table with several letters at its feet. James picked up the letters and was about to look through them when the owl squealed. It cleary wanted a treat for bringing the letters.

"Alright, alright..." James said slightly annoyed. He looked through the cabinets to find some sort of owl treat, but he wasn't able to find anything. "Where does she keep those damn treats?" Finding a box of cookies he turned to the owl and asked uncertain "Do you like oatmeal?"

"Owls hate oatmeal... they're carnivores" said a female voice coming from the stairs. James looked and saw Lily in a silk robe grinning at him.

"Then what should I give him?" James asked, a little exasperated.

"You are never able to find anything anywhere... Check the second cabinet from the right, behind the rice." Lily said, still grinning.

He opened the said cabinet and there it was, Herbert Lowell's Best Owl Treats. James snorted, and turned to Lily. "That's why I have you with me." He gave the treat to the owl and it flew away, carrying the treat in its beak.

"Oh really? That's why you married me, then?" Lily said mischievously, climbing down the stairs.

"Yep. You're my know-it-all." James said, while they embraced and kissed each other passionatly. Their bliss was shortlivedthough, when a cooing sound coming from upstairs announced that little Harry was awake.

Lily sighed. "I'll go check him." And with another kiss, she climbed the stairs up on her way to the bedroom. James turned his attention to the mail, and grabbed the Daily Prohpet first. Right under the date which read October 31st, 1981, there was a picture of a dark mark hovering over a house that James, fortunatly he thought, didn't recognized. But that didn't avoid the fact that the war had claimed yet another victim. The war seemed to be so far from being over as ever. Suddenly, James was distracted by something scratching the door incessably. He opened the door and looked down to find a huge black dog wagging his tail and tongue hanging out. James rolled his eyes.

"Why are you turned into a dog?" James asked, arms crossed. In a second, the dog turned into a handsome, black haired man.

"It's my Halloween costume. And I know how much you love dogs..." Sirius said.

"Funny... Peter brought you?" James asked.

"Yes, but he said he couldn't stay. Got things to take care of, apparently."

"Peter seems to be quite off lately, hasn't he?"

"Well, since you made him Secret Keeper, he has been looking over his shoulder." Sirius said, laughing.

James shook his head. "Poor Peter... he is overestimating Voldemort. Where are my manners, come in." As Sirius gets in, James notices him scratching behind his hear.

"You didn't bring fleas in, right?" he asked, highbrow raised.

"Hope not... remember last time I had them?" said Sirius, when he finished scratching.

"I just don't want Harry to catch fleas from his git of a godfather" said James, but a bit amused.

"Yeah, sure... He'll be fine." dismissed Sirius. "He got the Potter blood in him.That in itself seems to draw fleas away." He paused for a minute and James saw Sirius' face grow ashen. "I came here though... because I am worried about something." He sat down at the dinner table.

"Sirius what's wrong?" James asked worriedly sitting down as well.

"James, remember those bad feelings that sometimes we got when something is about to go wrong?"

"Yeah, I get them all the time. Especially since Dumbledore ordered us into hiding... But Sirius, that doesn't mean that they're supposed to mean anything. We're not seers."

"I know, I know. But there were loads of times my instincts were right and this... time is gripping me more than ever." Sirius insisted.

"Sirius..."

"Just be cautious today" he interrupted, a little desperate "I want to be wrong on this."

Steps were heard coming from the stairs after a long and unconfortable pause, and both men looked at it alarmingly. It was just Lily carrying Harry on her arms. Sirius breathed with relief, and James looked annoyed at him.

"You were able to make me scared too"

"Hi Sirius." Lily said, turning to the child on her harms "hey look Harry, it's your godfather!" Harry smiled and stretched his arms to Sirius on cue.

James saw Sirius' face softening and picking Harry up. It seemed that Sirius loved Harry as much as he was his own son.

"How's my favorite godson doing?" said Sirius to Harry. Harry started touching Sirius face as an answer.

"But Sirius, he is your only godson!" said Lily, amused with Sirius' behavior.

"Well, huh... he would still be my favorite anyways."

"What if we have another boy?" Lily asked.

"Another!" James cried. Lily raised an eyebrow at him. "Well... I love Harry dearly, but he's enough work as it is!"

Lily just rolled her eyes.

"That doesn't mean that I won't want another one eventually..." James added quickly.

Sirius gave a short laugh and turned to Harry. "Your mummy and daddy love each other, don't they? Yes they do! Yes they do!" said Sirius in baby talk, while tickling baby Harry who was enjoying it accodring to his laughter..

Both James and Lily blushed at Sirius' comment, but got closer to each other... with James putting an arm around Lily's waist. Sirius then set Harry on the floor and was encouraging him to walk towards him under the Potters' proud sight.

The clock in the living room struck seven in the afternoon, when Lily called both father and son to dinner.

"Let's see what your mum made for us, shall we?" James asked Harry, and he cooed as an answer.

When they got to the kitchen there was a roasted chicken and mashed potatoes set on the table, as well as wine, pumpkin juice (for Harry) and bread.

"You've put a lot of work on this one. Any special reason?" James said, putting Harry on his baby chair.

"It's Haloween, remember?" Lily answered smiling.

"Oh yeah, that's right..." James came closer to Lily and embraced her. "It's been more than an year, but I still can't believe I'm with you. After the stuff I did during Hogwarts, I can't believe you, would actually want me too."

"Well you wised up on our seventh year. And your courage and willingness to do the right thing ended up winning me over" she said and then giving him a short kiss.

"It's the Gryffindor spirit, love"

"Still a wee bit snotty though..." Lily added with a grin.

"Merlin how I love y..." James never finished that setence as all the lights turned off in their house. They looked around confused, they didn't live out of electricity to have the lights to go out like that. Harry started cryng softly, looking scared. James ran to the window and what he saw made him feel like his heart was ripped through his mouth. A cloaked figure was approaching the house at a hasty and menacing pace. The moonlight reflected on the figure's face and it was revealed to be of the most dreaded wizard in the world: Lord Voldemort.

"Lily..." James said with a hoarse voice "...get Harry and go upstairs."

"Who is it, James?" Lily said, sounding terrified.

"It's Him." James simply said. Lily's face went from pale to snow-white.

James felt rage taking over him as he realised what Lily "Bloody Traitor..." he said with clenched teeth. After a short pause in which James imagined a thousand curses to strike Peter with, he said "Go now."

"I'll fight too" Lily said sternly.

"No! You must protect Harry! He is all that matters. You know what Dumbledore said..." James insisted.

"But together..." Lily desperatly pleaded.

"No we can't and you know that." They looked at eachother for a long and painful moment.

"Why us?" Lily finally said, a note of great sadness on her voice.

"Because Harry is the One... our only purpose in life was to give birth to him and let him do Great things for this world" James said with great conviction and pride. "Now go, please."

Lily grabbed Harry and shed a tear. "Goodbye, James."

"Goodbye, Lily" and, as she turned to climb the stairs, the front door burst open allowing Voldemort to get in. James without missing a beat cast a shield charm that deflected the Expelliarmus that Voldemort threw at James.

"Ah, I see that you were ready for my entrance... I underestimated you" said Voldemort, with that icy voice that still gave James the chills.

"After being able to escape you three times you should know by now what I am or am not capable of doing" James taunted, knowing that he might be daring a little too much.

"Why should we talk about my failures, when I am about to succeed tonight?" said Voldemort, with malice and arrogance dripping from his voice.

"What makes you sure?" said James, still daring.

Voldemort laughed, his laugh raising the hair on the back of James hair. "Come on now... you know as well as I do that you have no chance against me."

Sadly, James thought, this is true. He could never defeat Voldemort... but could just give time...

"For Lily and Harry to save themselves?" Voldemort finished for him.

James looked at him surprised, but was reminded of Legilimancy. Didn't make him a bit more confortable.

"Potter, Potter... I value your attitude. Like a true Gryffindor. However it is greatly foolish. You could be spared, as well as your wife, if you just turn in the child."

James was agahst with Voldemort's request. How could he expect for him...

"Give me the child or you'll die!" Voldemort was sounding furious now.

"No!" James yelled, and with this Voldemort sent him a spell that knocked James off his feet. However James threw almost instantly spells back at Voldemort, who deflected them at ease. Voldemort got close to James, wand pointing ao his neck.

"If you don't give the child, then your wife will. She will give in when I'll give her the choice of death."

Now it was James' turn to laugh "You are underestimating Lily as you underestimated me." This infuriated Voldemort even more and, with a swish of his wand, sent James flying against the kitchen counter. James screamed with pain as his back slammed against the edge of the counter.

Voldemort drew closer once again with his wand pointing at James.

"I'm expecting your wife to be smarter than you." said Voldemort, his eyes gleaming with rage. "And now, you will not delay me anymore" and with a flick of his wand he cried the two words that James was expecting but afraid to hear. "Avada Kedavra!"

He saw the green light approaching, and the sound of wings flapping all over him, but it seemed to be in slow-motion. It seemed like an eternity, and he had time to remember his whole life... His childhood with his parents, the years at Hogwarts with the Marauders, the day he fell in love with Lily, the day he finished school, the day he married Lily, Harry's birth, and then Lily holding Harry right that morning. As soon as he got back to the faithful moment he was living in, time seemed to speed up again and the last thing James Potter felt was a burning sensation on his chest, and an extreme heartache for his family.