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WHAT IF…

Chapter 1 – Beginning

It was a very peaceful night in Godric's Hollow. A young couple, along with their children, were celebrating Halloween night at home, having fun, talking, and joking around. Suddenly, the peace and quiet was broken by an unusual noise coming from outside of the house through the wards. The man that lived there, known as James Potter, went to the window and looked outside in confusion. What he saw caused him to stare with wide eyes, and his heart constricted. He quickly turned back towards his wife, anxious to get her away.

"Lily, take the children and go!"

The woman, known as Lily, looked at him with a confused gaze.

"It's him! Run, Lily! Get the children out of here, now! I'll hold him off," he continued urgently, hoping that his wife would understand.

Lily nodded hesitantly and took the children from the rug in front of the fire where they had been innocently sleeping, then ran towards the nursery down the hall. The two boys suddenly woke up, aware of the foreboding atmosphere, and started crying, feeling their mother's fear as she held them.

"Sssh. Please be quiet," Lily desperately pleaded with them.

The younger twin, named Harry, immediately stopped crying but his older twin, Justin, continued bawling in, if possible, a louder tone. Lily put Harry in the crib while she continued her attempts to calm Justin. Lily listened intently over her child's cries to the yelling from downstairs until everything went quiet. Lily began to feel a cold dread creep upon her body. Suddenly, the door banged open and a tall, ominous figure entered the room at a leisurely pace.

It was the Dark Lord -- Voldemort.

He smiled cruelly at Lily, his eyes flickering from her to the two children in the room. He slowly raised his wand, and within the blink of an eye, fired a spell at the woman in front of him. Lily watched with wide eyes as a purple stream of sparks flew towards her. She was too numb and scared to move out of the way, and before she knew it, she fell to the floor, unconscious.

Voldemort grinned wickedly and looked at the boys. Justin was still crying, the presence of the dark wizard frightening him more, while Harry was calmly looking at him, no fear in his emerald eyes -- eyes that looked so much like his mothers. Voldemort, seeing the calm of the younger child, ignored the other toddler for the time being, and pointed his wand towards the one known as Harry.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" He shouted.

A bright green light flew towards Harry, who quite suddenly erupted in a blinding white light. Voldemort stared, wide-eyed as the killing curse was stopped by the white shield around the boy and was then rebounded, its course now focused on the Dark Lord himself. He quickly put on the ancient shield spell that he had learned long ago that would prevent him from dying because of the curse, but to his surprise, it didn't completely protect him. He didn't have any time to move out of the way as the green jet of light slammed into his body, forcing himself backwards. He was vaguely aware of the swooshing sound around him as his soul was swept from his body. From that moment on, the Dark Lord was nothing more than a shadow of his previous self.

After the hollow body of Voldemort hit the floor, Harry fainted due to the lack of energy that had formed the shield around himself. As the younger of the children fell into the blissful feeling of unconsciousness, Justin stopped crying and was staring at his brother in wonder.

xxxXXXxxx

Half an hour later, Lily woke up with a huge headache. She slowly raised her head from the floor and looked up, only to see the unconscious form of Harry and the finally quiet Justin who was still staring at his brother. At that same moment James Potter and an old, wizened man known as Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster to a wizarding school named Hogwarts in Britain entered the room. James rushed towards Lily when he saw what state she was in.

"Lily, are you okay?" he asked.

"What? Oh, I'm fine... I just have a headache," she answered groggily as James helped his wife to her feet.

In the meantime Dumbledore was looking at the scene in front of him. He turned back to Lily and James, his eyes twinkling infernally.

"Lily, James, do you know what happened?" He questioned them.

"No, I was unconscious, and I believe that James was too. He wasn't in here when... H-He came. Neither of us saw what happened," Lily whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Dumbledore spared them a sympathetic look before turning towards the oldest twin and said, "I think that Justin defeated Voldemort. You might wonder why I think this, but Justin seems to be awake, unlike Harry. When Voldemort tried to curse Justin, the spell must have rebounded and the backlash caused Harry to black out."

James looked suddenly happy about something but Lily was just glad that her children had survived.

"Is Voldemort really dead?" She questioned after a moments silence.

"No. I don't think he is. I believe he is currently barely living as a shadow somewhere. Voldemort wouldn't just allow himself to die. He is nothing more than a weak spirit now," Dumbledore answered her truthfully.

"So there is a chance that he will come back?" Lily fearfully asked, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Yes," came the simple reply.

"What happens when he comes back?" She asked, afraid of hearing the answer, but fearing that she must know.

"Then my little Justin will get rid of him again!" James arrogantly cried out, raising his arms towards his eldest son in praise.

Lily shot James a death glare.

"I believe that is what will have to happen." Dumbledore agreed, causing Lily's glare to rest on him instead.

"Explain!" She hissed dangerously, eyes flashing.

"There is a prophecy about a boy who will defeat Voldemort. It says:

THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES...BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES...AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE THE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT...AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LOVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES...THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES...

I believed that Justin was the boy mentioned in the prophecy, and it is only now confirmed. I think that Voldemort has marked him with the killing curse," the old wizard said.

"What about Harry?" Lily asked suddenly.

James stared incredulously at her as if she had grown another head. He got a weird look on his face before he said in a dry voice," What about him? He's just, well, a normal brat. He's nothing compared to my perfect Justin!"

Lily was startled at first, but soon looked at him in disgust. She couldn't believe that James would ever think that. Scowling at him, she walked over to the crib and picked up Harry gingerly, "That's ridiculous!" she told him in a deadly whisper before she walked out of the room with baby Harry in her arms. James stood there, looking after her with a stunned expression. After a moment, he just shrugged and picked Justin up.

"Headmaster, do you need anything else?" He asked happily.

"No. That was all I needed. I hope you don't mind if I visit sometime?" Dumbledore questioned as he re-adjusted his hat.

"Of course not. You are always welcome here, sir," replied James.

"Excellent. Goodbye my dear boy. Take care."

"Goodbye Headmaster."

And with that, the Headmaster left. James looked proudly at the tired child in his arms, then walked over to the crib and placed him lovingly down in it and covered him up. He waited until Justin had fallen asleep before he walked out of the room to talk to his wife.

xxxXXXxxx

Meanwhile, Lily had carried Harry to her room. When she entered the room, she gently placed Harry on her bed and then collapsed on the floor from both mental and physical emotion. Her shoulders shook with every sob that she emitted. It was twenty minutes before she had calmed down and was able to think straight. When she was able to control herself, she got up and went into the bathroom to wash her face. Just as she returned to the bedroom, James entered with a large grin on his face. He spared Harry a glance before he went to sit in a chair across the room.

"Lily, I want to talk to you," he said.

"Talk then," came her reply as she sat on the bed next to Harry, then stared at the man in front of her, "What do you want to talk about?"

"Well, Justin is a hero and I think that he should have his own room now. He is special and he shouldn't have to share a room. He needs to grow up with his own personal space and Harry will only be in the way," James told her matter-of-factly.

Lily looked at him horrified, "So you would have Harry out of their room by tomorrow morning? How can you say something like that? Harry isn't even awake yet and you want to kick him out of his room? He's only a child!" Lily started to yell hysterically.

"Yes Lily. He is not anything special, like Justin. He would just be in the way of things. Justin is famous now, love, and if Harry's around, he'll just get jealous. They need to be separated," James grinned as he spoke, as if what he said explained everything.

"That's not true James. Since you seem think that, Harry and I will be staying in the Blue room. When you've realized the truth, you can come and talk to me."

It was obvious that Lily didn't agree with James. She took Harry into her arms with as much care as she could muster and went out of the room.

She quickly walked towards the room she stayed in before she was married to James; the one she had labeled the 'Blue Room'. She changed Harry into his pajamas and put him in bed, looking lovingly at the child. She couldn't believe that nobody seemed to care whether Harry is alright or not. Nobody else noticed that, while he was unconscious like they were, he hadn't woken up yet. Lily didn't understand it, and soon, her mind drifted towards the words of the prophecy.

'It says that the boy will be born as the seventh month dies. Dumbledore probably thought that both Harry and Justin fit the requirement, but I don't think so. Justin was born at 11:37PM in the last day of July but Harry was born right as the seventh month died. He was born at 11:59PM and his first cry was heard exactly on midnight. Dumbledore also said that Justin was marked by Voldemort. It is possible but not probable. Emotional scars fade with time. When Justin grows up he won't remember anything and then he won't be connected to Voldemort anymore.'

She walked to Harry and looked over him.

'Harry has a strange scar on his forehead. That could be the mark Dumbledore mentioned. And he is also unconscious. Not even an Enervate spell can wake him up. That is a sign of magical drain. I think Dumbledore is mistaken. Justin isn't the boy of the prophecy; Harry is,' she concluded.

She put a warm blanket over Harry and hugged him close to her body before falling into a deep, troubled sleep.

xxxXXXxxx

The next morning, Lily woke up to find Harry lying awake on the bed near her, playing with his toes. He smiled at his mother when he noticed that she was awake. She stood and gently took him into her arms.

"Morning, Harry! I'm glad you're awake. Are you feeling alright now, sweetheart?"

"Good mama! Feel good," Harry said and clapped his little hands to prove his point.

Lily laughed.

"Well then, are you hungry?" Lily asked. She was relieved to see her son perfectly alright and healthy.

Harry nodded his head and grinned happily at her.

She dressed him and changed his diaper before taking him to the kitchen where she warmed up his bottle and gave it to him. She then sat him down in his highchair and was helping Harry eat his cereal when James entered the kitchen with Justin in his arms.

"Lily, Justin is hungry. Give him some food," James told his wife with a commanding tone.

"I'm feeding Harry. The milk is in the fridge. You can warm it up yourself. It's not that hard. You just have to say the warming charm," was her calm reply.

"But Justin is more important then Harry. You're supposed to take care of Justin first," James said in disbelief.

Lily turned towards him and frowned.

"What gave you that idea? I know you gave Justin his bottle last night. Harry wasn't conscious then so he didn't eat. Currently, he is more important than Justin. Justin can survive waiting for the next ten minutes!" She explained in a still calm voice.

"So what if Harry hasn't eaten? Justin should always come first, no matter what! The wizarding world needs him," James argued.

"That's ridiculous James!" Lily cried. She took Harry into her arms and started to leave the kitchen. She didn't want to argue with James when he was in one of his arrogant moods, "Come find me when you come to your senses."

James stood there, gapping at his wife's retreating back. What was with her?

xxxXXXxxx

A few hours later, Lily left the house to get the groceries and she left Harry in their new room. Harry was bored and he wanted to play with someone so he went to find his Daddy and his brother. He found them in the living room sitting and playing together. He crawled towards his father.

"Dada, me want to play!" He exclaimed.

"Not now. Go over there and sit quietly," James absently waved a hand towards a corner.

Harry, not wanting to anger his father, did what he was told to do. He quickly grew bored of watching his father and his brother playing together without him. He eyed a teddy near the older man and silently moved towards it.

When James next looked up he saw his younger son playing with Justin's toy bear. He was furious. He stalked towards Harry and lifted him in the air roughly.

"You ungrateful little brat! Didn't I tell you to SIT there and be quiet? I certainly didn't tell you to play with my son's favorite toy," he yelled at the poor child.

Harry was frightened. He didn't know why his father was behaving like that.

"You are NOT to touch anymore of Justin's toys! IS THAT CLEAR?" He asked while shaking Harry, who was still high in the air. The only reason he didn't fall down already were his father's arms that held him tightly. They gave him no feeling of security. Harry whimpered quietly, unsure of how to react. At that same moment, Lily entered the house.

"JAMES! What are you doing?" Lily cried hysterically, taking Harry from his arms.

James looked at her, anger and hate evident on his face, "I'm doing what needs to be done. I can't have him touch Justin's things without permission!"

"James, some of those toys are Harry's!"

"Not anymore. Everything here belongs to Justin, these were in his room."

"I can't believe you, James!" Lily yelled, tears in her eyes. She shot him a hurtful glare and left the room knowing that if she stayed, she might do something she'd regret later on.

She didn't even dream that that was the first of the abuse Harry was going to receive from his father in the next couple of years…

A/N: Hello everyone. Here is the story I promised. Please review. This chapter is quite long. Don't expect all chapters to be this long. I don't know when I will have time to update next. I hope that I will be able to update over Christmas holidays. Please tell me what you think of this story.

I planned on Harry and Lily leaving the house. What do you think? When should they leave?

Do you want Lily to fall in love with Severus?

Please give some ideas!

THIS WAS BETAED! THANK YOU, xScenex

Annie