Prologue: The Boy Who Lived and The Girl Who was Lost
It was a dark and gloomy night in Godric's Hollow. Young Harry Potter was playing with his father in the living room when his father noticed something was off. James Potter, young and naïve, realized they made a mistake in trusting Wormtail with their secret and grabbed Harry. With fear in his eyes, he rushed Harry up to the bathroom to warn Lily about the incoming danger. The fear was momentarily replaced with adoration at his lovely wife who was bathing their second child, Dahlia Potter. Unknown to most, the Potters had had twins. Dahlia looked up at her father with joy in her hazel eyes and splashed happily in the tub.
"Dada!" She screamed out, her first word dancing gracefully from her lips. Lost in the moment, James laughed and leaned down to kiss his daughters' soft forehead.
"That's right sugar plum! I'm dada!" He exclaimed and Lily's bell-like laughter rang through the bathroom. Lily gently took Harry from James and started to tickle the small boy. James crinkled smile shined brightly for a second while he watched his family, then remembered why he'd come up to the bathroom in the first place. His entire being changed, tightening at the oncoming storm. "Lily…" He trailed off, having to almost scream above the constant stream of dada's coming from Dahlia. Lily stopped at the fear clear in James voice and looked up at him.
"What is it, James dear?" She questioned and heard the front door jiggling downstairs. Her eyes widened at the realization of what was happening. "You take Dahlia. I'll hide Harry." She commanded and he nodded tightly. Lily kissed him passionately then ran off. James quickly wrapped Dahlia in her towel then pulled out his wand.
"Silencio." He muttered and, even though Dalhia's lips were moving, she was making no noise. He let out a deep breath, opened the cupboard, tucked her inside, and shut the door after kissing her forehead lightly. "Daddy loves you Dahlia." He almost yelled, putting his hand against the cupboard. After saying his goodbyes, he held his wand against the door and said "Colloportus," after hearing the lock click in place, he placed a disillusionment charm on Dahlia then left the bathroom after turning the light off. He passed the childrens' room and heard Lily muttering incessantly to Harry. He entered the room and went to get his 'I love you' out to Harry when the front door swung open. His heart dropped, Lily turned and looked at him with fear in her eyes, and he nodded tightly. Without a word, he stalked out of the room with his wand in tow. When he was at the top of the stairs, Voldemort rounded the corner to go up the stairs.
"Where's the boy?" He demanded and James felt the too-keen penetration of the Cruciatus curse in his bones. James grunted and struggled to stay on his feet.
"You'll have to kill me first." He groaned through gritted teeth. Voldemorts cat-like smile slithered onto his face from under his hooded cloak.
"Gladly… AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort exclaimed and the last thing James saw was a flash of green before he died. Voldemort heard the screaming of a little girl start to crescendo like turning up a stereo. He sneered victoriously and decided he'd take care of the boy before he grabbed his trophy.
Lily realized it was too late to hide Harry so she tucked him safely in his crib then leaned down to look him in the eye. "Harry momma loves you… Dada loves you…" Lily whispered to her dear son as she saw the dark shadow of her enemy creep into the room.
"Move out of the way Lily Potter." Voldemort demanded and she turned on her feet, putting her arms out defiantly in protection of her son.
"Not in a million years." She spat at him.
"You stupid girl! Move now and I'll spare you and let you help me raise that daughter of yours the right way." Voldemort offered and Lily scoffed.
"I'll die before I let you lay a finger on either of my children!" She screamed at him and he sighed.
"Fine then." He growled, and for the second time that night he used the killing curse. He knew of the repercussions that would ensue when it comes to Severus Snape, but at the moment he didn't care. He wanted to rid the world of the Potter boy that would try to destroy him. As Lily fell, Harry started to scream and Voldemort sneered. He lifted his wand and released the curse, and with that, the Dark Lord fell.
After receiving the dreaded news that Voldemort was going after the Potter family after getting the information about their whereabouts from that oaf of a boy Peter Pettigrew, Severus Snape raced to the Potter household. His heart pounded in his chest and his eyes stayed open wide in dread of what he might find there. He knew he would beat Dumbledore there because Dumbledore would get the news through the Order while he felt it in his heart what had happened. When he apparated in Godric's Hollow, it took everything in him to turn and look at what he knew he'd find. What confused him, though, was the hole in the upper part of the house. Normally, the Dark Lord would just destroy the entire house. He knew something was completely wrong both in his heart and his mind. His heart told him his beloved Lily was in danger, while his mind told him there was an absence of his master. He ignored his mind and ran into the house, pushing open the shattered remains of the front door. His heart pounded in his chest as he rounded the corner and saw the unmistakable figure of James Potter hunched up on the floor at the top of the stairs. He took the stairs two at a time and rounded the corner into the remains of the childs's room and felt his stomach drop as he saw sweet Lily's figure laid out on the ground.
"No! God no!" Snape screamed and ran up and pulled her into his arms, ignoring the screaming child two feet from them. After mourning over her lifeless body for over half an hour, he realized there was the sound of two crying children, not just one. He looked up at the toddler in front of him then stalked out of the room, following the sounds of the second set of lungs. He got to the bathroom and listened at the door of the cupboard, unlocked the door, and slowly opened it. A small girl that was the spitting image of Lily laid on one of the shelves. He gingerly lifted the child and she slowly started to calm down.
"Dada! Me dada!" She whimpered and his heart shattered for this poor girl.
"I'm so sorry child… I'm so sorry." He sobbed and heard someone entering the house. He yanked out his wand and shielded the girl with the rest of his body. He stuck his arm out of the bathroom, then his head and saw the familiar pointy hat.
"Hello Severus." He heard the scratchy voice of Dumbledore and relaxed.
"Dumbledore… They're… They're dead." He stated in a defeated tone.
"I know… Although, their children remain unscathed. Curious, isn't it?" Dumbledore mused and Snape felt the familiar hatred for the powerful wizard resurface.
"What's your point you old buffoon?" Snape snapped and Dumbledore lit up the room with his deluminator.
"Do you not feel the presence of your master diminishing? Do you not have an absence of his call? Think, Severus. The boy destroyed Voldemort." Dumbledore explained simply. Snape looked down at the girl resting peacefully in his arms.
"We must hide her." Snape started. "The boy will be famous, there's no point in even trying to hide him… But I didn't even know about the girl. She must be hidden and hidden well. Voldemort wanted her as his pupil. There's no doubt in my mind that the Dark Lord's followers… My kin… Will try to find her and make her like us." He sneered in disgust at the last word and Dumbledore nodded grimly.
"I agree, Severus. She will be put in hiding for now. I have already made arrangements. She will be hidden in plain sight. There is a muggle family that is about to move into the house next to the Malfoy Manor. They have agreed to take her in as long as all the proper protections are put in place. I need you to take her there before Hagrid gets here for the boy." Dumbledore explained and Snape narrowed his eyes.
"Next to the Malfoy Manor? Have you gone mad Dumbledore? They loath all muggles. What makes you think they'll let them live there?" Severus questioned.
"I've promised them immunity from Askaban for their crimes." Dumbledore answered simply.
"What about the boy? Can you guarantee their safety?" Snape continued.
"He will live with his Aunt and Uncle in Little Whinging… And about their safety, that's where you come in. I want you to come work at the school. That's the only way I'll promise their safety. Now, if you want who she is to remain a secret, I'd leave with the girl – her name's Dahlia by the way – now, Hagrid is approaching on the motorcycle as we speak." Dumbledore stated finally without giving Severus the opportunity to oppose. With a flip of his cloak, Snape disapperated to the Malfoy Manor and waited patiently for the muggles moving truck on the doorstep of the small house next to the Malfoy Manor.