And so begins Harry's new, rightful life.

Chapter Warning: OOC-ness, character death, and sadness

I only own the plot of this fic. All cannon characters are products of the brilliant imagination of J.K. Rowling.


[July 31, 2000]

James and Lily Potter were in a room at St. Mungo's with their friend, Sirius Black. In Lily's arms rested a sleeping newborn baby boy with dark hair already taking the shape of unruly curls.

"He's just gorgeous Lily. I can't believe we finally have our son." James said trying hard not to cry.

"He looks like his father." Lily beamed up at her husband.

"The first Maraudlet. I can't wait to start teaching him all our tricks Prongs!" Sirius smirked with a mad gleam in his eye.

James gave the same smirk and Lily rolled her eyes fondly.

"If you two are planning to corrupt my baby boy, I'll have to take care you're never alone with him."

Both men gave sheepish chuckles and had the decency to look so.

"Aw c'mon Lil's, it's all good fun." Sirius said.

"Yeah, we won't teach him anything serious and damaging." James agreed with his friend as he took his son into his arms "At least not until his third year at Hogwarts."

"James!" the redhead scolded.

Her husband chuckled again and went to Sirius, "What to hold him?"

Sirius took a step back holding his hands up, "No. Do not hand him to me. No thank you."

"Then I guess you don't want to be his godfather." The new father shrugged.

"Wait what?" Sirius perked up.

"Yeah. We wanted you to be his godfather." On the inside James was smirking in victory.

"Well hand me the little Prongslet! Don't hog him!" Sirius held his arms out as James and Lily laughed.

James decided not to torment his friend any longer and gave him the baby; they all smiled at how quickly the infant settled into the man's warmth as the magical bond between them formed.

"So Padfoot, will you be our son's godfather?" James asked.

"I accept." Sirius answered not taking his eyes away from his new godson.

The room door opened and two more men entered. One slightly hagard looking with sandy blond hair and amber eyes, and fading scars on his face, the other at first glance looked dower and indifferent with black eyes and hair but both were smiling warmly at the sight of their friends and the baby.

"Getting in practice for motherhood Padfoot?" the sandy blond teased.

Sirius childishly stuck his tongue out, "Keep laughing Moony. I have every right to hold my godson."

"Lily you doomed your son to corruption." The darker man shook his head in mock dismay adding a helpless sigh for dramatic flare.

"That's it! You're on the couch tonight Severus Snape!"

James and "Moony" laughed while Lily shook her head in fond exasperation Severus rolled his eyes.

"Every adult in this room knows that would hurt you more than me."

"Ironicly since all it's a common stereotype that the dominant partner dreads forced celebacy." James stage whispered.

"I think Sev's the only one it doesn't apply to." Lily added in the same manner.

Sirius was nearly fuming by now and turned to "Moony", "Remus, some help here please."

"Now Siri, you'll just have to grow up and accept the truth."

"Not you too!"

The others laughed as Sirius sat in a corner still holding the baby.

"Looks like you're my only friend Pronglet..."

Severus' laughter was reduced to fond chuckling as he went over to his lover and kissed his head, "You know we love you, especially me."

The older of the couple was unable to help the smile that softened his face, "Yes, I know. And I love you too." Then he smirked "Even though I question my sanity in doing so."

Severus once again rolled his eyes fondly and went over to Lily, "So Lily-Flower, what is our newest edition's name?"

"We named him Harry. Harry James Potter."


[October 31, 2001]

The small town of Godric's Hollow was quiet and calm, the only sounds outside were the leaves rustling in the gentle autumn wind, and slow footsteps on the road. A cloaked figure with his hood pulled up far enough to hide his face made his way through the streets unnoticed by any who glances out their windows, to a lone house at the end of the road with only two windows illuminated.

Inside the home Lily Potter had just finished dressing her precious baby boy after giving him a bath before he would go to bed.

"Let's go say goodnight to Daddy." She said in an excited voice drawing squeals of delight from the toddler as she picked him up and took him downstairs.

In the living room James sat on the couch watching a muggle sitcom Halloween special when his wife and son came in. Lily smirked and gestured for Harry to stay quiet then had to stifle an adoring coo when the boy covered his mouth with his hands; she slowly crept up behind her husband as he laughed at comic bit from the show and carefully stood Harry on the back of the counch behind him. Harry bent over and plopped his stomach onto his father's head with Lily holding him steady.

"Whoa what the?!" James exclaimed at the sudden weight on his head making his son laugh "Oh it's just you Harry."

Lily laughed as she lifted Harry off her husband's head and into his arms, "Bambi wanted to say goodnight, right darling?"

Harry gave a toothy smile and planted a baby drool kiss on James cheek.

James kissed the top of the baby's head and hugged him tightly, "My precious boy. I love you Harry."

The tender moment was interrupted by knocking at the front door. James handed Harry back to Lily and ushered her towards the staircase as he went to the door; he looked through the peephole of the door seeing a cloacked figure and a chill raced up his spine. He backed away slowly waving Lily on.

"It's him. Take Harry and run." He said quietly.

Nodding she quickly and quietly went up to Harry's room. They had planned ahead for this and had their needed supplies kept in their son's room to make their escape faster; she put Harry in his crib and went over to the window opening it. She raised a hand to the sky and the gold bangle bracelet with a moonstone in the center hummed with her magic.

"Qui Mandas."*

A pale, blue light shot from her palm and a lily flower appeared against the clouds for an instant before dissipating in the air, hopefully it was seen by a friend...

She turned away from the window noticing a bronze chain necklace with Garnet stone sitting on the toy chest and gasped, it was James' conduit! Grabbing it she ran for the door only to stop when she saw a green flash illuminating the lower landing followed by James' body hitting the wall then falling face down to the floor.

"JAMES!"

Harry, having been started by her scream, began to cry breaking through his mother's shock. Lily took one more look at her husband and slammed the door shut then cast holding charms to delay the intruder... Hopefully long enough for help to come.

"Oh Harry..." She went over and immediately began to calm him "Don't cry Bambi, mummy's here. You are always loved...so loved..." She paid no attention to the tears streaming down her face "Don't cry my little lion..."

The door was suddenly blasted open and Lily jumped up shielding her son.

"You won't take him!" she said firmly glaring in defiance.

"You cannot go against me and my cause, you know that you foolish girl."

Lily shook her head, "Why must you do this? All this blood shed it's meaningless! All for something that will only destroy our world, not improve it!" Lily pressed to buy more time.

"Collateral damage, all necessary. And why do you complain so? I gave you and your husband a fair chance to join me, you declined. So you will now perish." The intruder raised a wand pointing it at her.

Lily shivered in fear and her tears fell anew but she still stood firm, "Harry, I love you..."

"Avada Kadavra!"

She screamed as the same light that took the life of her husband took her own life leaving her precious baby, her only son to cry as the intruder advanced on him.

"Lily?! James?!"

"Damn...!" the cloaked man cursed upon hearing the new voice. He needed to leave, without Harry; his plan would have to wait, but he could at least...

Severus rushed up the stairs praying to find one of his friends. He'd seen Lily's signal and his heart had been hammering nonstop since; how were they found? The plan was fullproof!

He came to the first landing and saw James' body lying there feeling his panic rise as he continued up to where he heard Harry crying.

"Lily? Lily?!" He got to the threshold of the nursery and nearly collapsed.

In front of Harry's crib lay his best friend and sister in all but blood. He rushed to he side and turned her over still daring to hope... Only to have his heart crack more when he found no pulse, no light in her eyes, no signs of life.

Harry still cried wanting comfort. His father hadn't come, his mother wasn't moving,, and the new man had yet to acknowledge him. He was scared and confused, he needed someone! And the stranger had hurt him leaving a cut bleeding on his forehead; he didn't understand!

"Oh Harry... You poor little boy.." Severus stood and went to the crib picking up the boy holding him close "I'm here.. I'm here... Shh..."

Though he was crying himself Severus had to think of Harry right now.

It took but a few minutes for Harry to calm before Severus heard the sound of someone appirating outside.

"Lily! James!"

"Sirius?" He called recognizing the voice of his lover.

The sound of running footsteps on the staircase echoed in the hall coming to a sudden stop on the landing where James lay.

"No..." They continued and Sirius froze at the thresholds like Severus had taking in the terrible scene "No...!"

Severus went over to his lover and handed Harry to him, the baby immediately clinging to the man he knew since the day of his birth.

Sirius let out a sob holding his godson tightly, "Oh Harry... At least we still have you..."

"We'd better go. He shouldn't be here any longer." Severus said.

Outside the house more sounds of people appirating was heard causing Sirius to jump. Severus went to look out the window seeing a group of seven standing outside the fence, one he recognized trying to undo the wards around the house.

"Dumbledore is here with an Auror team."

"That bastard...! Sev, there's something I need you to do for me. It's for Harry's sake." Sirius said.

"What is it?"


[November 5, 2001]

Severus stood around a grave plot holding a sleeping Harry, beside him stood Remus who was an utter mess, and many others stood with them. Lily and James were to be buried side by side with one headstone to mark their graves; it was raining in Godric's Hollow today. Severus sighed wishing Sirius could be here to say goodbye, but the Aurors had taken him away and the Ministry sentenced him to Azkaban for what he knew to be false charges, if only he could prove it... Then Dumbledore wanted to take Harry to live with Lily's aweful sister! Thankfully Sirius passed on his rights as Harry's godfather to Severus ensuring the baby would be cared for properly, and the laws of Gringotts upheld the transition so Severus would be the one to raise Harry. He planned to raise Harry away from the madness that would come thanks to Dumbledore's rediculous exclamation that Harry survived the Killing Curse with only a scar.

The poor boy needed love and stability, not praise and worship from strangers!

Once the funeral was done Severus and Remus, along with a small group of others, went to Malfoy Manor, the home of Severus' dearest friend Lucius Malfoy.

The wizard lord had offered his home to Severus and Harry when he'd heard about Lily and James' deaths; he didn't know them as well as Severus had having only associated with them when they visited Remus who he'd employed as an Au Pair for his son Draco. But he understood what it was like to lose a beloved friend so suddenly having lost his wife, Narcissa when she gave birth to Draco, so he offered his support.

While Remus took the boys to Draco's room the others went to the lounge; Lucius and Severus took the armchairs while the couch was taken by the Lestranges, Rodolphus, his wife Bellatrix, and his younger brother Rabastan. Bellatrix was more of a mess than Remus; she had changed after Narcissa died being the most effected as they were close sisters, but Lily was a close second. When Narcissa died she would just mutter to herself about old memories as if she were talking to her sister, but when she heard about Lily she just seemed completely shut down consciousness wise and began running on auto pilot. She only really responded to her husband and the boys; when either of them cried she was there in a second singing soft lullabies and cooing at them. With Harry she muttered about how he had Lily's eyes.

"Severus, what do you plan to do with Harry now?" Lucius asked.

"I will raise him away from this hype. I'll have to go to Spinner's End." The dower man answered.

"It was a good move on Sirius' part to pass his rights as Harry's godfather to you. From what I heard of Lily's family her sister is an atrocious person, can't stand magic." Rabastan said.

Severus nodded, "And with Sirius being in Azkaban... We're all he has. I will teach him all he will need to know, and when the time is right we will protect him from becoming a pawn."

"How often will we see each other?" Rodolphus asked.

"I think it will be safer if kept to a minimum. Send gifts and letters as you like, but we must be careful. Dumbledore is still trying to get to him."

"No!" Bellatrix suddenly exclaimed "Not Lily's baby, her precious baby! Precious Harry..."

Rodolphus put an arm around her as she started to rock in place slightly, "Don't worry Bella, we won't let him."

"We will stay only a little longer Lucius, for Remus and Bella. But after we will not really see each other until he goes to Hogwarts." Severus sighed.

"What about when you must teach at the school? Who will care for him then?" Rabastan asked.

Severus thought a moment; who would he have take care of Harry?

"Andie." Lucius said.

"Andie? You mean Andromeda?"

"Yes. I know she would be happy to have Harry while you're at Hogwarts."

"Yes, yes she would be perfect. She lives as a muggle and so can help keep him hidden. Thank you my friend, I'll owl her tonight."

With the plan finalized Severus mentally prepared himself to raise Harry. He had time off before he needed to return to Hogwarts so he would use it wisely. At least the up-all-night phase had been long over.


And so it begins. Next chapter will jump to Harry's eleventh birthday, perhaps some flashbacks depending. The more reviews I get, the more compelled I am to write! So leave me some lovely ones please~

More than one-liners are appreciated.

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