October 31, 1981

Lily and James Potter sat quietly on the couch in the living room of their comfy cottage in Godric's Hollow. Their son, Harry, was already fast asleep in his crib upstairs, and the Potter parents could faintly hear their beloved son snoring, lost in dream-land.

"James, dear, it's already 8:30," said Lily. "Why haven't we had any trick-or-treaters come for candy? I bought nearly 300 chocolate bars today!"

James thought for a moment. He knew that Lily may not approve of what he had done, but James certainly had good intentions. In James' eyes, that's what mattered.

"I cast a charm on the house, dear. The muggles can't see us." Mr. Potter had a hint of fear in his voice. You might be thinking that it's okay, that the little wizarding children would still be able to see the Potter's cottage, and Lily could still enjoy her beloved second favorite (or maybe even first favorite) holiday. Alas, these were dark times. Lord Voldemort and his death eaters were stronger than ever, and they were bloodthirsty. Countless wizards and muggles alike had been brutally murdered or seriously injured by The Dark Lord's orders over the past while, so no wizard parents would let their children roam around at night, with or without supervision. Lily, of course, knew this too, which is why she was so upset.

"Oh, James! You know Halloween is my second favorite holiday! Heck, maybe even my first favorite!" Lily exclaimed. "I just love when the adorable little children knock on our door, filled with excitement and proud of their cute little costumes. Did I ever tell you? Last year, a little muggle – she couldn't have been more than 6 – knocked on our door." Lily explained. "I opened up, ready to hand her candy, only to notice that she was dressed in a witch costume! Of course, witches don't have green faces – at least not in our world - and not all of them carry broomsticks, but it was still refreshing to see the way muggles think our kind looks like."

James had a large grin on his face. Lily always went off on tangents when she got excited about something. It was one of the things he loved about her.

"I'm sorry, dear, but don't you think a night to ourselves could be fun as well?" James said. "I mean, since Harry was born last year, we've barely had time to sit down and share a drink together. Not to mention this awful war going on. Look, I had good intentions, honest. I hope you're not too upset…"

This time, it was Lily's turn to smile.

"James, I love you sweetie," Lily said softly. "So much."

James chuckled. He leaned in and gave Lily a nice, long kiss on the lips. "You too."

James continued, "hey, why don't we go outside and look up at the stars. It's a nice night."

Lily took her husband's hand. "That, my dear," Lily remarked, "is a magnificent idea."

James was right, the night was a nice one. Beautiful, in fact. For a while they sat, gazing into the stars, and each others eyes. Both were at peace. How could you not be, anyway? At that point, it seemed to both of the Potters that they had a perfect life. Perfect house, perfect son, perfect couple. They truly were living the dream. Lily and James looked over at each other. They both closed their eyes, and slowly started leaning in for another kiss. Then they heard something. It was a very quiet creaking sound, barely loud enough to catch their attention, but in these scary times, everyone was always alert. Lily and James didn't want to admit it, however, but it seemed their worst nightmare had become reality.

Lord Voldemort had just entered their house, and Lily and James were certain that he was not there to trick or treat.

Until the day they died, Lily and James never made it through a single night without having petrifying nightmares about what took place in Godric's Hollow on that fateful Halloween night. Some nights, it was the sickening cries of their helpless one year old son, threatened by the appearance of the most powerful dark wizard of the age. Others, it was the blinding green flash of light that signified the end of a life that had barely begun. And some nights, it was all of it.

Lily and James stood glued to the spot for a moment trying to process what was happening. It was James who first leapt into action, trailed closely by his wife. They dashed across the yard and into their cottage, knowing full well that their lives were in great danger, but more concerned about their one year old son. Voldemort, who was already halfway up the stairs leading to the bedrooms in the house, including Harry's turned around.

The Dark Lord was tough to look at. His pale, ice like skin seemed to made him look as if someone had doused him in white paint. His snake like eyes were red and filled with hatred, and where his nose should have been were two thin, vertical slits.

"Potters," he spat. "My least favorite wizards."

"Voldemort - " James started, intense loathing in his voice. But he was cut off by the foul dark wizard.

"Silence!" sneered The Dark Lord. "You, James, are not worthy to speak my name. You are a disgrace to your bloodline. And you, Lily, should be ashamed that you spend your life with this man, never mind your muggle born status."

James was furious. "You back off of her, you little - "

"James!" cried Lily. "Stop, don't make him angry."

Harry must have been awoken by all the commotion going on on the level below him. James, Lily, and Voldemort could hear the miserable crying of the infant.

"Ah," started Voldemort. "The reason I came. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get rid of you two, as well. Perhaps, maybe just one of you, so that the other will be lonely and depressed. I quite like that idea actually." Voldemort quickly drew his wand, but Lily was quicker. Looking back on it, Lily knew she should have cast the disarming charm. Perhaps, without a wand, The Dark Lord would not have been able to do the damage that he did that night. Alas, it was a moment of sheer desperation, and Lily spoke the first incantation that came to her mind.

"Reducto!"

Voldemort flew up the stairs, his body slamming into the wall, creating a substantial hole. It took Lily only a fraction of a second to realize that she had just helped the evil wizard get closer and closer to her child. James started up the stairs, overflowing with rage.

"GAHHHH!" he shouted, prepared to tackle Voldemort.

"Expelliarmus!" yelled Voldemort with a flick of his wand. James had been disarmed, but that didn't stop him. He continued up the stairs and tackled The Dark Lord as if they were playing a game of football.

The two men – if you can even call Voldemort a man – wrestled for a while, Voldemort unable to cast a spell. Lily wanted to help, but she was afraid that she would hit James instead. It was too risky. Instead, she started to run up the stairs, hoping to make it to Harry's room and secure her boy in her arms. Voldemort, realizing what was happening, managed to push James off and throw him into Lily, sending the Potters crashing down the stairs, hitting the bottom with a heavy thud. Dazed, and with blurry vision, Lily tried to get up, but searing hot pain shot up her left leg. Her femur was definitely fractured, and it hurt like nothing she had ever felt before. It appeared that James had been knocked out.

"Expelliarmus!" she cried, with her last bit of strength, but the spell missed her target, and Voldemort got up, seemingly unharmed, even after his ordeal with James.

Voldemort laughed a horrid, evil laugh.

"It seems, Potters, that you have lost, just like anyone else who tries to face me. Your efforts are commendable, but you have struggled in vain." Voldemort walked in to the room where Harry Potter lay awake, still crying, and surely mystified at all the noise that coming from outside of his bedroom. Voldemort studied the boy. He had brilliant green eyes and messy, jet black hair. James and Lily's kid, no doubt about it, thought Voldemort. The Dark Lord raised his wand, ready to accomplish what he had come to do – kill the boy. Then, he had a thought, a horrific, disgusting, evil thought. He picked up the baby who was now screaming, sensing something wasn't right. Voldemort walked back out into the hallway and looked down the stairs.

Lily was still trying to stand up, but her leg would not allow it. Tears streamed down her face like a river. James still lay on the ground, unconscious and most likely concussed.

"P-please…please don't…an-anything, I'll do anything.." said Lily, in between bursts of tears.

Voldemort smiled wickedly. "Filthy little mud blood," he said insultingly.

James stirred, and managed to open his eyes, just a little bit. The sight he was met with was terrifying. His voice wouldn't work, he didn't have a wand. He was powerless. Lily and James had never felt so heartbroken.

Lily tried once again, her vision still foggy with pain.

"Please…I'm b-begging you…Harry…"

Harry looked at his parents, both injured and crestfallen at the sight of their boy in the clutches of The Dark Lord.

"Mama?!" cried Harry. "Dada?!" the baby shrieked again.

It was unbearable now. Those were Harry's first – and last – words. Had it been a regular night, James and Lily would have burst into tears of joy and picked up their son who had just spoken for the first time ever. The Potters would have been upset that they hadn't gotten it on video. Of course, this night was anything but regular. All that James and Lily could do was sob, and they were not tears of joy, that is for certain.

"Goodbye, Harry Potter," muttered Voldemort. He raised his wand, and spoke the most dreadful incantation, casting the most dreadful spell known to wizard kind, the killing curse.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The last thing that Lily and James remembered from that night was the blinding green flash of light, the sudden silence, and then the sound of Voldemort disapparating away. The Potters then passed out. They did not wake up for several hours.