Hi guys so again just reminding you this is a year after the prologue. All rights belong to JK Rowling.
One
Lily stared at her figure in the bathroom mirror of Godric's Hollow. She traced her fingers over her stomach and scrunched her eyes up tight waiting. A kick. She squealed with delight and James came running into the doorway with a panicked expression on his face. "What's wrong? Is it time?" He gasped, "Can you apparate? Is that safe? Or we could go by broom but then we don't want an airborne baby... what am I thinking!"
Lily reached out to pull his arm toward her round belly and she shook her head with a sigh. "Harry's kicking. It's not time yet, and I was thinking of having the baby here, you know, a home birth. Bathilda is coming to help you know, so don't worry about a thing. She said I have at least a week to go."
James face went blank and then he grinned, "Cheeky bugger."
"A little Marauder." Lily whispered as James winked and kissed her on the ear.
"So you sure you don't need anything, anything at all? I'm meeting Sirius, Remus and Peter like old times tonight at the Leaky Cauldron. And Dumbledore wants to meet probably another Order meeting, I don't like leaving you alone at times like these."
Lily nodded calmly. Voldemort was still at large. Wizards and Witches were disappearing all over the country. Giants were ripping up towns and killing people - muggles and magic-folk alike. Dementors were doing Voldemort's bidding and everywhere they went the Potters looked over their shoulders in fear. Dumbledore and a select few who could be trusted were part of the Order of the Phoenix – created to fight against evil and triumph bringing good back into the world.
She pulled down her muggle maternity shirt her mother had bought her and nodded to James. "Of course, when have I ever said no to your friends? Just be careful and be home before dark." James grinned and agreed. "And tell Sirius not to go gallivanting around on that motorcycle of his. No joy rides! I don't want any broken bones, thank you."
James laughed and reassured her they were just meeting for drinks. She reassured him she would be fine resting by the fire, and though heavily pregnant she was still a fully trained witch. "Well I'd feel safer still if you had somebody with you."
"I do, I have Harry." Lily grinned as James rolled his eyes. "And Bathilda next door."
"She's ancient!" James gasped, flabbergast.
"Don't be rude dear. She's only in her eighties." Lily said absently, soothing her stomach as Harry had just started kicking again. As James grabbed his robes with a mutter about Dumbledore needing to return invisibility cloak soon, he gave in. "Fine, I'll ask her to co me in and look after you until I come back. I would rather you with Alice. Bathilda could drop dead at any moment."
"Oh James." Lily scolded. "As much as I love Alice, that wouldn't do, she is as pregnant as me!"
Lily heard the door click and she sighed, sinking carefully into the rocking chair by the fire and singing a soft lament to her son. As she drifted to sleep, her hands resting on her belly protectively over her baby, she dreamt of a boy with a hooked nose, and two girls playing on a swing in a muggle park. One girl had dark hair and a sorrowful expression and the other was laughing, with rosy red cheeks and vibrant red hair.
Lily smiled in her sleep.
0o0o
Severus waited by the Hogs Head, his cloak billowing in the wind. His tired eyes were narrowed and his long hair hidden beneath the hood of the cloak. Lucius was beside him murmuring about another disagreement he'd had with his wife Narcissa. Severus was barely listening, though he was sure Narcissa was doing the best job possibly in raising his son - he could feel Voldemort's presence as though he was standing right behind him, hissing orders into his ear.
Find Dumbledore. Ask for a post at Hogwarts. Spy for me and you will be rewarded beyond your dreams.
"You're not listening to me." Lucius muttered frustratedly.
"I am. You said you are not interested in fatherhood." Severus said in a rather exasperated voice.
"Not right now, how can anyone raise a family...under these circumstances."
"So you are trying to protect her?"
"Us, I'm always thinking of us! It's her sister that started it all and yet I'm getting blamed."
"Bellatrix?" All Severus had to do was provoke his friend and that was enough for him to start his rant again. Severus nodded in the appropriate parts and murmured words of comfort in others providing possible ways to go around it, to avoid his friend being banned to the couch yet again for another night. His mind wandered at the mention of the baby's strange fascination to flowers, particularly lilies and Severus' remembered her.
It wasn't hard not to with her wavy red hair and fierce green eyes. She was beautiful, kind and talented. Since he'd met her, that day, on the swing-set with her sister, he'd known they would be friends. It was then he'd told her that she was witch. Despite, being sorted into competitive houses, they still managed to be friends, it wasn't until things turned sour for Slytherins and anyone associated to the house or having interest in the Dark Side was it difficult.
Severus remembered the time, they had last been together, it was when they had conceived Draco, when everything was crumbling around them; Voldemort was putting his plans into action, the Death Eaters were formed and anyone who got in the way would simply perish. Despite their different beliefs, Severus loved Lily and Lily loved him and he'd remember that night for eternity.
"Sev-I know you've stopped listening. AGAIN?" Lucius punched his friend in the arm and Severus ignored him. Dumbledore had just apparated, hurrying quickly up the alley toward them. Severus, pulled Lucius aside and they turned their backs on him.
"Filthy muggle-lover." Lucius sneered.
"Not now." Severus hissed, raising his hand. "Wait here."
"But it's cold..." Lucius said eyeing the warm tavern inside, and wanting a Firewhiskey.
"So cast a fire, you're a wizard after all, aren't you." Lucius pouted and cast a spell, Severus didn't hesitate to watch, instead he opened the door to the Pub, and followed Dumbledore up the stairs to the second floor, practicing his speech, willing he would be accepted as the next Defence Against The Dark Arts Teacher.
When he reached the landing, he saw the door was shut.
Curiously, Severus went to twist the door handle but stopped, there was another voice in the room.
A hoarse, bloodcurdling voice, "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..."
Someone cleared their throat behind Severus and he jumped, the owner of Hog's Head was standing right behind him with a suspicious look on his face. Severus didn't catch his eye, he had nowhere to go but back down the stairs. Before he could move, the door swung open and Professor Trewlawney bid him good day in an airy voice and Dumbledore was staring at him with his mouth ajar. Severus, pushed past the owner and hurried down the stairs, this information must be passed on to the Dark Lord. He blew out of the pub and yelled at Lucius they were leaving, as he apparated he caught a glimpse of Dumbledore's eyes penetrating his from the upstairs window.
0o0o
Voldemort rose from the table, the room was silent as the other death eaters, including Lucius watched in fear. Severus repeated what he had heard in the Hogs Head and Voldemort pondered his words carefully.
"You are sure." He hissed, pacing back and forth in front of the Death Eaters. Severus nodded, though he knew not the consequences of his actions at the time, it had to be done. The alternative would have been much worse. "Thank you, Severus. You will be rewarded. Now, who does the Prophecy refer to... born to parents thrice defied...born as the seventh month dies...the Potters."
Severus froze, he looked up at Voldemort's red eyes and he knew he had done wrong. Without, causing any suspicion he subdued his facial expression and clenched his teeth. He had to do something to warn her. She could not die.
0o0o
"You have been useful, what have you for me, my little spy?" Voldemort whispered when he was alone, only accompanied by his faithful Nagini and the Animagus Peter Pettigrew.
Peter looked up at his master, his hands trembling as he opened his mouth to speak, gulped and then answered, "The Potters are in hiding. She has had the baby but I am not the Secret Keeper, I cannot tell you anymore and nobody can enter without this information."
"We will wait. Whether it be a few days or a few weeks, they will tired and let something slip and then I will have you and it will be done." Voldemort laughed his high-pitched shriek and Peter looked down at his feet wringing his hands nervously.
0o0o
"Please my Lord. I know I may be speaking too much, but Lily Evans...please..." Severus pleaded, begging on his knees in the dirt near Spinner's End. Voldemort eyed him with no remorse. Voldemort read Severus thoughts, though none of their illegitimate son Draco, only of the memories they had shared as children, and Voldemort sighed, "You want me to spare her life? Why?" Severus stared at the cobbled stones and opened his mouth but Voldemort did not need an answer, he had already read his thoughts. "I cannot promise you anything." Severus felt his heart cringe at the thought of losing Lily. All he had left was hope.
0o0o
Severus wrung his hands together; he couldn't believe he had endangered Lily. Everything was such a mess. If Voldemort knew what he was doing he would sure to be killed. Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder, reassuringly. "You have done the right thing coming to me, Severus. I will protect you but you must do something for me." Severus agreed, he would do anything to have Lily safe. He still loved her so much, despite watching her marry James Potter when she already had a family, with him. "I will offer you the post of the Potions Master at Hogwarts if you swear you will help us. Swear you will spy for the Order of the Phoenix, you will go undercover and Voldemort will call you his most trusted and faithful Death Eater but you will report back to me and do exactly as I say?" Severus nodded, he had no other choice. "Do I have your word?"
"Yes."
"Then it is time to warn the Potters." Dumbledore called Fawkes to his side and whispered something Severus couldn't make out but he watched the Phoenix soar through the window of Dumbledore's office and out into the mist with aspired hope. Severus sighed; his life had gotten a lot more complicated. He actually agreed with Lily now, that sacrificing their son Draco to Narcissa was the best thing for him. At least he would have a real family, one that loved him and could keep him safe. His life was no place for a child and Lily had a new family, one which was thanks to him, now in jeopardy.
0o0o
James Potter rubbed his eyes exhaustedly. Harry's crying had kept him awake for weeks now. He yawned widely and jumped when the familiar face of Peter Pettigrew, their long time friend and fellow Marauder popped up in their fireplace. "Thank Merlin." James smiled gently at his friend. "Voldemort's looking for us, and I fear he will go after Sirius. I know this is risky but Sirius and Lily think it best to entrust you as Secret Keeper as it will be less obvious. Peter, our lives are in your hands. Be safe and I hope we all survive this somehow." James showed Peter a piece of parchment, he was very pale, though James thought this could have just been the light and the fact that he hadn't slept properly in days. Peter nodded his face screwed up in concentration and James sighed, touching his wand to the parchment and it catching alight. "Life was much simpler when we were in school Wormtail, I'd never have thought things would turn out like this." Peter shook his head in agreement and James thanked his friend before watching him fade away.
0o0o
Voldemort's cloak flapped in the breeze. A muggle child skipped past him wearing a blanket on his head and carrying a bucket of candy. Voldemort reminded himself he was only in Godric's Hollow for the Potters, thanks to his Wormtail's information, they would not know he knew, they would not know he was almost at their front door. They would not hear him. They would soon be dead. The threat would be gone and Voldemort would be forever feared – the Darkest Wizard of all time.
He unlocked the door with a swish of his wand and he heard James yell, "Lily, take Harry and run!" Voldemort sneered, the man was wandless and no match for him. He flicked his wand and James Potter fell to the ground in a flash of green light. Voldemort ascended the stairs to the nursery and there Lily Potter stood, her son in the cot. Voldemort offered her freedom (he knew Snape had a soft spot for her) if she would only give up her son but she refused. "Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead —"
"This is my last warning-" Voldemort drawled, if it had to be the other way then it would be.
"Not Harry! Please ... have mercy ... Not Harry! Please — I'll do anything..."
Voldemort raised his wand and there was another flash of green light. He pointed it next at the baby with a small hiss of Avada Kedavra. Aflash of greenand then...he screeched, his body was being ripped into little pieces and he was hurtling through time and space until...everything went black.
0o0o
Lucius slammed the door to Malfoy's Manor and Narcissa jumped, having just put Draco in the cot. She narrowed her eyes and pulled the door almost shut. She needn't have moved for Lucius was suddenly there, his sweat-ridden face ashen and he threw his arms around her and wept. Narcissa wasn't sure what to think. Perhaps he had lost his mind? She watched as he gave her a tight squeeze and when his eyes met hers he whispered, "He's gone. Dead." Before Narcissa could speak, he'd planted a kiss on her lips, his fingers swept through her locks and it had been so long. Their arguments about Draco and the Darkside had kept them apart, but now were not important. She had her husband back, and Narcissa melted against his tight embrace until the door opened and a small voice said, "Mumma, Da?" Lucius broke off suddenly and Narcissa smiled, "Coming darling." Lucius held up his hand. "Allow me."
0o0o
Severus fell to his knees in grief. Lily Potter was gone, forever. He had not been granted his wish. She had been murdered. He let the tears roll down his cheeks, his breathing ragged as he clasped the letter tightly between his fingers. It was the only photo he had managed to find of her, the letter written to Sirius with her other son Harry swooshing about on a toy broomstick. How had it happened? Sirius was the Secret Keeper. He had betrayed his best friend? Severus couldn't believe that despite the Ministry of Magic arresting him and sending him to Azkaban. Peter Pettigrew was also at the scene, the timid boy who sculled behind James and Sirius and laughed when they humiliated him during their school years – he had yelled that Sirius had betrayed the Potters but Severus knew it couldn't be true, not Sirius, Potter and Black were like brothers. Like Blood. As for the Dark Lord, Lucius had heard he had gone, died...but this...was this true? Could he be gone forever? Bellatrix had not believed it because otherwise she would not have risked her life and that of three other Death Eaters to torture the Aurors Frank & Alice Longbottom for information on his whereabouts. They did so ruefully and with no remorse until both members of the Order of Phoenix lost their minds. Severus knew they also had a son, who now would have to grow up without parents. Severus peered at Lily's signature on the letter and he wiped away his wet face. She would never know either of her sons. Would she have wanted their secret to die with her? He could not ask her ever again if they had made the right choice. All he had of her was his memories.
Hey y'all, hope you like my story so far. Please review.
Thank you - CrAZychicke.
