This is the second part of the Epilogue. It actually made me cry, hence the splitting of the epilogue. This way, I can pretend it all ends happily and just forget about chapter nine (i.e. this one).
This is the last. The ride's over. Thanks, everyone. I'm sorry about the heart-breaking end. It honestly did make me cry my eyes out. I've never really dwelled upon what happened to Lily and James and how they would feel. Now I know why.
NOTE: There is a little swearing right at the end. Sorry.
Epilogue: Have Mercy
One night, years later, Hallowe'en of 1981, Lily Potter sat reflecting, smiling despite the precarious condition she and her family had found themselves in following the birth of son Harry James.
"How our family has grown," Lily mused, smiling at her husband, the man who had once been her enemy at Hogwarts.
He grinned at her, the same grin that could still warm her heart and make her smile.
At once, another noise came and a pounding feeling of foreboding dread came over Lily, who sat up immediately, eyes seeking out her one-year-old son and husband.
"That son of a bitch sold us out." It wasn't a question.
James gripped her by the shoulders. "Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off –"
Lily stumbled across the room, grabbed Harry and held him to her, before turning to the stairs and scrambling away. "James!" she called. "Your wand!"
He turned. "I left it upstairs." Then he was gone.
There came the bloodcurdling sound of pitiless high-pitched laughter.
Lily cried out, there was an unbearable pain in her chest. Clutching Harry close to her heart she turned to wait, unable to Disapparate, unable to Floo, unable to escape the fate that was approaching gradually with only one goal in mind.
To kill.
Suddenly…there he was. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Standing in the doorway, a dark figure approaching. Fear consumed her. Clammy fingers wrapped around her heart, her breathing increased, she felt tears building in her eyes at the thought of this creature cold-heartedly murdering her husband downstairs before turning to his one-year-old son.
Destroying the family she had built.
No! Lily thought fiercely. James is gone; he pleaded the safety of his wife and child. I won't let him take Harry!
"Move, girl," the voice came, sending chills through her body.
"No!" Lily cried, her voice foreign to her own ears.
Voldemort trained his wand at the crib beyond Lily. "Move, girl!" he shouted.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" Lily cried, blocking the crib with her body, tears pouring down her face.
"Stand aside, you silly girl…stand aside, now…"
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead –"
Voldemort advanced, eyes gleaming, mouth twisted in anger.
Lily became frantic, desperate, pleading. "Not Harry! Please…have mercy…have mercy…" she cried out.
Voldemort stared at her with red eyes, his stare unwavering.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Lily screamed; a shrill voice laughed cruelly.
THE END.
I hope you enjoyed it, though it doesn't seem to me possible to enjoy reading such a thing.
I thank those readers who stuck with me and read the last two chapters, not to mention the entire story. Thanks to you all. I loved writing all but this last part, but overall I think it made the piece. The story is over.
Please review, and good luck.
Thanks,
Acelinn.
