Chapter 2

The Potters'

Lily sat restlessly on the couch, Harry had been put to bed an hour ago and now she watched James as he paced back and forth in front of the window.

'James, come sit down. You'll wear a path in the carpet if you continue to pace.'

He stopped and reluctantly sat beside her, 'I'm sorry Lil, I know your worried too, I just hate all this waiting.' Seeing the look of grief in her eyes, he added softly, 'but you were right, we needed to do this for Harry. I don't want that madman anywhere near our son anymore than you do.'

Lily leaned into him and nuzzled her head into his neck. They were stuck here at Godrics Hollow, under the Fidelus Charm, hiding from Voldemort, all because of some crazy prophecy. And if that wasn't enough, Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard alive felt they shouldn't know what it said. IT WAS ABOUT THERE SON!! BLOODY HELL!!!! She screamed inside, but didn't let James know she was so worried, he needed her level headed right now.

They were both resting on the couch when they felt the air in the room become energized, the feeling of strong magic was growing, the short hairs on their arms beginning to stand up. James tensed beside her, then a soft gray glow formed in the middle of the room, they could just make out what looked like two rolls of parchment floating mid-air across the room from them. It looked almost like a ghost does, semi-transparent and misty, but then they heard phoenix song.

'Is that Fawkes? James do you think Albus is sending us a message?'

James frowned but replied, 'Well rather odd way to do it, but since he isn't the secret keeper, I guess he can't just stop by. Maybe, lets wait for the parchment to finish ummm, whatever its doing and find out.'

They both stood and waited. The parchment began to materialize and glow brighter, then a golden aura appeared around it, slowly growing, starting about the size of a quaffle with the parchment at its center. They noticed two bright beams inside the aura, both connected to the paper, one tilted right and raising up, the other left and almost level. The aura continued to grow in size, now almost as large as the whole front window of their home. Then they both were shocked to see wands and hands attached to the beams, a small pale hand on the right, an eerie white hand with long spidery fingers on the left.

'Go get Harry and get out of the house, go to Hogwarts, I don't think this is from Albus anymore, even if it does sound like Fawkes.' He began pushing Lily towards the hallway, but she was transfixed on the sight before her. James followed her eyes and his heart felt as if it was breaking. Standing there, was a young man that looked almost exactly like him, but he had Lil's nose, and some of her chin as well, but his eyes were blazing green like his mothers. James knew without a doubt that this young man was his son, Harry, but from when was this spell being cast? He exhaled the breath he didn't realize he had been holding, Lily leaning into him for support, as he glanced at her he realized that she knew it to be Harry as well. He then realized that the white spidery hand belonged to something close to a monster, white skin with red glowing eyes, and a flat nose with slits like a snake. The monster seemed to be shaking with effort to control the magic, but Harry seemed unaffected. They heard a gasp and noticed a woman opposite them inside the glow. Although she was much older than the last time they saw her just a few months ago, there was no doubt that Petunia Dursley was standing in their living room.

'Harry, what did you do, was this suppose to happen?' Petunia screamed.

'Ummm, was this supposed to happen Tom?', Harry asked flippantly.

The monster sneered, 'Potter we don't have time for this. They need to summon the parchment, I don't think they can enter the sphere of magic.'

James was bouncing on his heels, itching to do something, but unsure what that something should be.

The young man looked at him, then motioned towards the stack of parchment between him and the monster he was sure was Voldemort, 'Dad, summon that parchment. One is for Tom,' the monster became agitated but said nothing as Harry continued, 'the other is from me to you and Mum, it will explain a little. I didn't have time to explain everything. Just get the parchment, get baby Harry and get out of here.'

James seemed to be shocked at this statement, so Lily waved her wand, 'Accio parchment'. She stared at the scratching, it almost looked like nonsense, but she understood that it was written in something that only Voldemort could read.

'But I don't understand, how could you trust him? This could say anything,' she pleaded.

'No Mum, I have read it already, its written in Parseltounge, so I can read it.' James and Lily both gasped. 'Yes, I am a parselmouth. That doesn't make me evil.' Lily could see the hurt and agitation in Harry's eyes, she knew he had experienced the same reaction before.

Lily found Harry's letter and began to read but was interrupted, 'There's not enough time, Voldemort, well the past him, will be here soon to kill you and baby Harry. You have to leave now!' She could see the fear and hurt in his eyes, what had happened to her boy that he would conspire with Voldemort himself.

'Wait Potter! I want to tell you something first.' The monster seemed to be regaining some strength, he didn't seem as weakened by the constant strain of the magic needed to keep them in this time. He began to laugh, a cold evil laugh that Lily knew quite well. Then she heard another laugh, behind them. It echoed thru the house filling them all with dread. James spun around to face the past Voldemort and whom he thought to be his loyal friend, Peter Petegrew. Voldemort held baby Harry close to his chest with his wand pointed at the baby's heart. Lily screamed and had to forcibly hold James from attacking Peter.

'How could you Wormtail? We trusted you!' Peter simply hid behind his master, to afraid or maybe to ashamed to speak.

'Now, now Potter. That's no way speak to a close friend.' Again the cold laugh echoed thru the house. Voldemort held baby Harry like a shield, letting his future self begin to explain.

'You filthy bastard,' Harry screamed, 'I will kill you. I don't know how, but I swear I will!' Both Voldemort's simply laughed harder.

The future self motioned to the past self, 'How do you think I knew this would work, Potter? I sent a message to myself. Of course my past self knew to kill you first, but I wanted to see the look on your face as you watched yourself die. Truthfully, I was wondering what would happen to us when baby Harry died. Would we cease to exist, or maybe we would only exist in this time bubble? I think its time for us to find out, don't you?' And with a flourish, young Voldemort waved his wand to cast the killing curse.

James and Lily both screamed 'NO!!!' But it was the future Harry who attempted to stop it. He reached out with his left hand, 'Accio Harry' Baby Harry flew thru the air headed towards future Harry, future Voldemort screaming 'NO' now. Past Voldemort sent the killing curse at the still air borne baby. James and Lily both tried either summoning or banishing items to intercept the curse as it flew towards both their sons. Jame's chair and Lily's pot plant both missed by a fraction from stopping the curse. Future Harry watched in horror, it was evident he couldn't do anything to stop the curse without breaking the spell that was keeping him in this time. All eyes tracked the killing curse as it inched closer to the baby. Time seemed to slow down. Just as baby Harry reached the outstretched hand of his future self the curse struck, both baby and young man screaming in pain, but the curse rebounded flying twice as fast back at it's sender.

Now both Voldemorts tried to scream 'No!' But only one succeeded, as the spell flew so fast that the past self only got out 'NNNNN…..' before his lifeless body fell to the floor. Everyone stood motionless, minds trying to process what had just happened. Harry had survived the killing curse. James couldn't quite comprehend what he had just seen. This was impossible, unthinkable, yet he had just seen it with his own eyes. And not only that but a killing curse from the most powerful dark lord ever. Lily's eyes never left her baby, but a voice, the voice of her son broke her from her stupor,

'Mum, Mum!! Summon Harry and get out of here. Read the letter and get somewhere safe!' Lily smiled slightly, 'Accio baby Harry,' then ran from the house. She didn't see James stalking towards Peter, who was still frozen in terror at what had just happened. She barely heard the odd squelching noise, but the lack of golden glow behind her made her believe that the time bubble was gone now. She didn't hear the magical explosion that was Tom's soul being ripped from his body. All she cared about was getting her baby, her precious son somewhere safe.