CH 9 : THE ATTACK
James Potter and Lily Potter alongwith baby Harry were sitting in the living room of their home in Godric's Hollow, resembling for all, a normal looking happy and wonderful family, since they were currently laughing and playing with their lttle one year old son, seemingly celebrating Halloween.
But anyone who knew them really well would know that this wasn't the case.
James' shoulders were tensed and his body posture was too stiff to be considered relaxed. Lily's face was paler than normal and her beautiful green eyes whch were usually so alive and full of laughter looked dull and were filled with dread and anxiety. Baby Harry was looking happy per usual but even he had a touch of sombreity in him. Maybe it was just a side effect of having tense parents, but it almost seemed like he knew that something bad was going on.
Anyway, to all it seemed like a happy family Halloween celebration. Well apearences could be deceptive; clearly demonstrated by the snivellng little traitorous rat - Peter Pettigrew. A person taken under the wing of the most popular guys in the school out of pity. Considered a friend, a Marauder by his mates. A person who was so used to being a part of the most-awesome-group-of-guys-on-earth-who-ruled-it, that he couldn't cope with the reality of being pushed into a world where no one gave two shits about them. A weak and pathetic person who couldn't cope with said reality that in order to getting reflected fame and pride from the strong, he joined the self proclaimed Dark Lord Voldemort. A traitor who gave away seven years of best friendship and the life of his so called 'best friend' and idol to a master to get nothing but a few less crucio's. A miserable coward who sent another one of his 'best friends' to hell-on-earth - Azkaban and spent twelve years living as a rat, just to save his sorry arse. An ungrateful wretch who almost killed his 'best friend' when he sentenced one of his friends to death and the other to hell and a life of sorrow and betrayal.
This pathetic person was currently peeking in through the window of his best mate's home waiting for their executioner. He looked in and saw them looking happy and smiling. A pang filled his heart as he understood that this was the last time he was going to see James alive. But then he quickly replaced that solitary thought with others like how much glory he was going to get and how happy he would be. He had always resented the fact that James and Sirius got everything - grades, fame, girls.. they had everything! And he was always the tag along. Even Remus, a werewolf, had a better life than him! Once he had gotten the Dark Lord's offer, he had been surprised that the Lord wanted someone as worthless as him. But on recognising the benefits he had accepted. It had been the best decision he had ever made in his entire life. Now he was waiting on the windowsill of his best friend's house - waiting for his Lord to arrive and finish the job. He didn't exactly know why his Lord wanted to kill his best friend and his family, but there would have been a perfect reason. And after all who was he to question his Lord's decisions?
Suddenly there was a swish and a tall figure in black robes appeared beside him.
"Wormtail.." he hissed.
Peter hastily jumped off the sill and transformed.
"M-My Lord! Th-they are in my lord! You c-can do the job.."
"Shut up Wormtail! Don't tell me what to do or what not to do!"
"Y-Yes My Lord."
Then his Lord walked, no he glided, over to the front door and Peter turned back into a rat for safety. He looked at his best mate's famly once more feeling a little sad but only a little. After all it was James' fault that he was gong to die - he had chosen Sirius over him, and that had led to Peter becoming weak and he remembered how much Sirius used to make fun of him and it hurt (though he didn't know it) and he wasn't about to forgive James now.
Then there was a bang as his Lord opened up the door and he heard James shouting. Peter realised that even though he had sent James to his death he had no desire to see him die. So he scurried away and waited a little further where he couldn't see or hear clearly.
There was a bang and James and Lily shared a grim look of understanding. Then James started shouting as he had seen in the memory.
"Run Lily.. Its him! Take Harry and go! I'll fend him off! Run.. Go Lily.. Go somewhere safe!"
Lily nodded and snatched Harry who looked confused and tore up the stairs.
James turned around to face Voldemort who seemed amused at his proclamation that he would 'fend him off'. James reached for his wand which was kept at a side table fortunataley and just as he reached it, Voldemort fired a spell. James snatched his wand and tranfigured the couch into a mirror sending the spell bouncing back. Voldemort looked surprised - he hadn't expected him to retaliate. James hadn't expected him to fire a different spell though and he panicked now - what if the protection was removed after getting struck with one spell? He didn't know the intricacies of the runic protection after all. He hadn't paid attention to Rowena, not that he would have understood everything even if he had paid attention to her. He cursed and sent a "Stupefy!" back at Voldemort.
Voldemort laughed. "Oh so you want to fight? Me - The Dark Lord? Haha.. Do you really think you and your mudblood wife would remain safe today? You stand no chance against me blood-traitor, your skills have rusted away as you consorted with muggles and muggle-lovers."
James clenched his fists. I do know we'll survive this battle and you'll not. But he couldn't very well say that. So he replied with a mocking laugh, "Yeah Voldemort, my skills rusted away. Those exact same skills with which me and Lily have 'defied' you and your pets three times."
Voldemort's jaw tightened - if you could even call it a jaw, calling it 'the patch of skin beneath the slit of a mouth' would have been better. He looked furious and muttered the spell that anyone else would have dreaded but James had expected.
"Avada Kedavra."
James saw the green light blossoming out of hs wand and he seemed to be hypnotized by it. Time slowed and all James could see was the mesmerising streak of light that rushed towards him and suddenly enveloped him.
One moment all he could see was green light and the next, nothing.
Lily had taken Harry up and put him into his crib and was trying to control her frantic heart which was bursting due to worry for James and Harry.. especially Harry. She knew that the future of their world rested on Harry's little shoulders and she couldn't help but feel apprehensive. Even though Rowena had done her best to assure them of the plan being foolproof, she was concerned since they couldn't exactly test it by casting an Avada Kedavra.
Suddenly the exact same words that she was thinking about reached her ears and she immediately understood that Voldemort had delivered the Killing blow. Even though she knew logically James would be alright, she couldn't help the scream that burst from he mouth. She heard the bastard's cruel laughter and held her breath. She kissed Harry who was looking scared now and took a deep breath. Then the door banged. And thre stood Voldemort in all his snaky glory.
"Please don't.." Lily cried.
"Stand aside you stupid girl.. Stand aside.."
"Please have mercy..mercy.." Lily begged.
"Stand aside now or I won't give you another chance.."
Lily shook her head resolutely and Voldemort laughed his cruel laugh.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The fatal green light rushed towards her and Lily stood fearless in its path. She prayed that their plan had worked and prayed to every deity available that they keep her Harry safe. As the green light enveloped her in its non-existent arms, her last conscious thought was of her family.
Harry looked at the laughing man in front of him. His laugh wasn't happy like his dad's or his Uncle Pa'foot's or even quiet and smiley like his Uncle Mooey's. It was different.. and it made Harry feel scared. He wanted his mummy and daddy to pick him up, but his daddy was downstairs and his mummy was lying on the floor. He didn't quite know what she was doing there, but he knew she wasn't there by choice.
Suddenly the bad man raised his head and smiled. It wasn't a nice smile, it was scary.
"Harry Potter.." he hissed like a snake.
"I've waited for this moment... Harry Potter.. You were supposed to be Dumbledore's secret weapon - one who could kill me, the Dark Lord! And yet here we are.. opposite each other and you are defenceless, a poor baby who is about to join his parents in heaven.."
Harry cocked his head to the side. He didn't understand anything except the word 'parents'.
"Mama and dada?" he asked.
The man laughed. "Yes, mummy and daddy.." his snaky voice said.
"Avada Kedavra."
Harry watched as a streak of green light came rushing towards him and struck him. It tingled and Harry didn't like it. He suddenly felt a vibration from the design his mama had drawn on his crib and then there was a BANG! And then everything was quiet.
