A/N: Too excited, here's the next.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Lily Potter nee Evans was the brightest witch of her age. Everyone said so. But she's so naive its practically a handicap.
It wasn't her fault, she gave everyone the benefit of the doubt. Despite what her grandmother told her.
"You're born as a woman in this world," she said sternly. "That puts you at a disadvantage. Everyone wants to see you fail, so make sure you don't give them any fodder."
But her parents always said that Lily had stars in her eyes.
"You're wrong," she replied, shaking her head. "Not everyone is like that."
Her grandmother had a vicious smile on her face, "You might be right, but how will you separate the liars?"
Lily felt tears begin to well in her eyes. She should have listened, since she arrived in Hogwarts she didn't want to believe that people would judge her based on her blood status. She believed that people only cared about your ability to get the job done, and that by working hard you would be a peer to those who were born in this world.
There were a few, like James, who saw and respected her growing understanding of Wizarding culture and did see her as an equal. But she noticed the majority of their classmates didn't see her that way. Granted, most weren't downright horrendous as Death Eaters, who go out of their way to make sure you would not mistake yourself as an equal. But it would be a careless thought, or general ignorance that would always remind you that you didn't belong, they can never understand.
How much time had she wasted on people who wouldn't waste it on her? Why was she such a control freak that she couldn't get over her own ego? Just because something seems illogical, doesn't mean it isn't real, she thought bitterly. She should've listened to Sirius, to her own doubts, but she was too proud. Only an idiot would believe that rubbish, she recalled saying. When she finally began to prepare- just in case- it was too late, and James was blowing apart the house.
James…
He fought valiantly, forcing himself to continue on until she could grab Harry and get away. He told her to run, she didn't want to listen, but her pride got her into this situation, she wasn't going to let it be her undoing.
James…
He looked otherworldly, as he blew apart our home in Godric's Hollow, reminding her of a muggle smoke grenade. She knew he was more powerful than he'd let on, she could feel it crackling around him when he passed her in the halls or passing homework to her to give to Professor McGonagall. He'd come from a very well of family, she expected his connection to magic was refined before he even turned eleven.
She didn't have her wand. Maybe that was for the best.
If she had it she would've stayed, tried to fight. She would have been standing in Harry's nursery, desperately trying to cast spells she had only read about in hopes it would at least protect her son.
But if Voldemort made it past James... she knew she didn't have a chance. And that would mean leaving Harry by himself.
That would be unacceptable.
So she ran, upstairs to get Harry, and then past the living room and bolt through the kitchen to the back door. A wall came down as she passed, blowing debris everywhere. A brick flew and hit her head, making her vision swim, but she pushed forward.
She knew the exact moment James fell.
The bond that had grown between them, solidified on their wedding day as the ribbons tied their hands together, snapped. She felt it flailing, like a live wire pulsing with electricity.
She was untethered.
A sob ripped from her throat before she could help it. She clasped her hand- the one what was resting on Harry's back- over her mouth and bit back the rest.
Later, she thought. I've got to get us out of here.
She heard a maniacal laugh streak through the air. She felt cold fear race down her spine. She didn't have a wand.
She kept running.
She began running in a zig zag, hoping beyond hope that those muggle action films she watched might pay off. She felt magic just miss her many times, stumbling when it got too close. She breathed out a soft disbelieving laugh.
Then there was nothing.
She came to, sprawled across their lawn. Her whole body ached, as if she was just hit by a train. She rubbed her neck.
Harry...
Her eyes snapped open, scanning the rubble of their home, heart breaking as she passed over photos and heirlooms.
Where was Harry?
She heard him screaming, once the ringing in her ears died down. She dragged herself over to the sound, never feeling so relieved to hear him crying. She tore through the pile, flinging remnants of their house of to the side, his screaming getting louder. She choked on her relieved sob, scanning him for injuries. He's fine, she thought. Maybe a few bruises, but nothing he wouldn't get from rough housing with Sirius.
Sirius.
She needed to find him before he found James, before he found Peter. Cold fury swept through her.
She needed a plan.
