Disclaimer: Basically everything is J.K. Rowling's, I just embellished it a bit :)

It had been a quiet night. They had looked on at the young (and not-so-young) children dressed up for Halloween. Harry still didn't understand it, and there would always be more Halloweens. As it was, they had received some candy from their friends, and they had spent an enjoyable evening eating it with Harry. It was late now, though, and Lily thought it was about time Harry got some sleep. Even with all the sugar he had consumed, he was tired.

"James, don't be too long, and don't you dare eat the rest of those sweets tonight, or you'll be sick!" Lily told him as she picked up Harry from the floor, and made her way towards the stairs leading up to the second floor.

"Aww, come on Lily, you take all the fun out of everything!" he teased. "But alright. I'll be there shortly, I'll just clear some of this up."

"I knew there was a reason I married you," she smirked at him over her shoulder, already halfway up the stairs.

James had just thrown down his wand when he heard the unmistakable sound of the front door being unlocked. He knew there was only one explanation for this. Despite all their planning, He was here.

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's Him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!" James yelled upstairs as he ran towards the front door. Too late, he realized he had left his wand on the couch.

He knew it was too late. He knew it was over. He knew nothing could stop what was about to happen. So he stood straight and proud, prepared to defend his family from the maniac who had torn apart so many others'. The man in the cloak standing in the doorway shouted two words, and James Potter fell down, dead before he hit the floor, trying to save his family from the most evil wizard alive.


Upstairs, Lily Potter was trying to block the door to her son's nursery. She had just reached his room when she had heard James' shouts. She knew that her worst fear was coming to pass, but she kept a cool head, had put Harry down in his cot, and started moving the furniture. It had become nearly impossible when she heard that high, cold voice say those words, and though she knew what it must mean, she didn't think about it, or she knew she would no longer be able to think rationally. Instead, she started shoving whatever her hands came into contact with in front of the door. She piled boxes high, but she knew in her heart that it would do no good. As he came bursting through the door, she pleaded with him not to take her son, but instead to take her.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"

"Stand aside, you silly girl … stand aside, now…"

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead –"

"This is my last warning –"

"Not Harry! Please . . . have mercy . . . have mercy . . . Not Harry! Not Harry! Please – I'll do anything –"

"Stand aside – stand aside girl –"

She tried, but knew it was no good. She saw him raise his wand, shout those words which had claimed the lives of so many, that had ripped people's families apart, and which were now destroying another. Her last thought was that somehow her son could be saved, and if that didn't happen, at least they would all be together again. Then a flash of green light and Lily Potter knew no more.