A/N: Hey, everybody! This marks my first foray into the Harry Potter fandom. I have taken over this story from my fellow writer counselorofcabinsix, the link to whose profile is on my profile. She writes fantastic stories for the Percy Jackson fandom. I encourage you to check out her profile. I have just given more detail to her already existing chapters. My story will largely follow hers till Chapter 5.
Reviews and PMs are welcome.
I thank foreal26 for pointing out an error, which has since been rectified.
James and Lily Potter were playing with their one-year-old son, Harry, in the sitting room of their cottage in Godric's Hollow, as soft moonlight streamed through the windows. Even though all forms of contact with the outside world were denied, this was the one and the only form of contact which even the persuasive Albus Dumbledore was forced to give in to.
James took it upon himself to enchant a carved pumpkin in front of a giggling Harry. No time was too early to celebrate the Halloween cheer. Cheery, however, would have been the last word to describe today.
A shadow, dark and stunted, slowly came into view, casting itself on the inviting futon. It was only fitting to the owner of this shadow, who was of very stunted character himself.
James didn't need to look twice to decipher the identity of the person at the door, as did his wife. His heart sank. A million questions ran through his mind, but now was only the time to get Lily and Harry to safety.
"Lily. Take Harry and run. I love you both." told James.
"I love you too, James." replied Lily, as they briefly kissed for the final time, after which Lily rushed out of the room, clutching their son in her arms.
It was wishful to think that nobody would die today and that Voldemort would miraculously disintegrate, but James would not go down without a fight.
The chain of death would end with James Potter.
James remembered that Dumbledore had his invisibility cloak, but James was not one to cower behind a corner in wait for Voldemo- no, Riddle.
Dumbledore had told him how powerful names were. To say he was right would be an understatement, as all of the British Wizarding World quaked in fear of Tom Riddle.
For James, however, the battle was not between one of the world's most dangerous wizards and a distinguished auror. It was simply a human and another human.
James was ready, his trusty wand in hand, with just enough distance from the door for broken wood splinters to not touch him, but at the right distance to engage an adversary.
"Alohomora." hissed a voice, as the door creaked open. Perhaps Riddle decided to take a gentler approach. However, what followed was anything but gentle.
No sooner had the door opened, than curses flew.
James was battling the hardest he could. Lily needed time. And, he'd give them as much of it as he could.
At first, Voldemort was firing weak spells that would do little else but delay. However, this didn't faze James, who fired back stronger spells, also making sure that he didn't exhaust himself as Voldemort ramped up the strength of his spells.
"That's not bad, James! It's a shame you didn't accept the offer to join us. You could have been in my Inner Circle. Right alongside Bellatrix and Snape. The offer still stands, you know." stated Voldemort, as though a discussion of dinner choices was taking place.
"For all of your impressive Legilimency, it's a shame you still couldn't see that the answer is no, Riddle. It will never be anything but." picked up James, a smirk plastered on his face.
Anger the enemy, and their weaknesses will show.
"You dare call me by my filthy Muggle father's name?" roared Voldemort, nostrils flaring.
"That's another thing that distinguishes you, Voldemort. You may be sprouting all of this pureblood mania, but, deep down, you're still as human as we are." finished James, the grin on his face never fading.
And, just like that, the ferocity of spells increased.
James was going to hold out as long as he could.
As the battle progressed, James slowly inched upstairs, closer and closer to the nursery. Lily could hear the spellfire getting progressively louder, and the voices seemed to be closer.
"Harry, Mama loves you. Dada loves you. Be brave, sweetheart." said Lily, as she placed Harry in his crib.
It wasn't long before Lily heard the thump of a body hitting the floor, no doubt from the killing curse.
Lily's eyes welled with tears.
The feeling of James's lips on hers seemed as though it was a lifetime ago.
She'd had her wand in hand, and shut the nursery door unconsciously, in a vain attempt to delay Riddle.
Riddle cut right to business. No sooner had he entered the room, than he disarmed Lily wordlessly, her wand flying in a neat arc through the open door of the nursery.
Lily then fell to her knees, begging.
"Not Harry, please not Harry. Take me instead. Please, I'm begging you." Lily pleaded.
Voldemort's lips curved in a smirk, not replying, as he strode over to the crib and saw Harry Potter's face, smudged with tears.
The boy, however, stared right back, defiant. His manner, reminiscent of James Potter, angered Voldemort to no end.
He slowly willed himself to calm down, as he turned his attention to the inconsolable woman, who had, by now, walked shakily to the crib and had wrapped her arms around Harry.
"Silence, silly girl! Or, I'll make this more painful to both you and the boy than it has to be." threatened Voldemort, which did nothing to deter Lily.
Riddle worldlessly silenced and bound Lily, who had slid to the floor. Harry's death would be the end of not only Harry, but herself, as well. There was no use living a life without her family.
Riddle, however, had decided to induct Lily into the Death Eaters, as such talent in Charms and Potions was rare to come by, with the exception of Severus.
He was tired of dealing with all the dunderheads in his service.
She would obviously have to be kept under the Imperius Curse, which he would have a Death Eater perform.
"And now, with the prophecy child dead, all of Wizarding Britain will bow at my feet." stated Riddle, as he cackled maniacally.
He now aimed his wand directly at Harry.
The boy was still staring defiantly at him.
Riddle wouldn't admit it, but something about this boy unnerved him.
Brushing it aside, Riddle said the words that ended his possession of a mortal body for many years henceforth.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A/N: If you are interested in Kung Fu Panda, Cars 3, or the Shadow Children series, please check out my profile.
