A/N- hello! Thank you so much for deciding to read my fan fiction! Okay, so, I know that the title sort of gives the ending away, but I think it really betters the story, sort of gives the reader an anticipation and tension.

Anyways, enjoy the story, and please review!

Chapter 1

October 31st, 1981

"Lily! Take the twins and go!"

Lily Potter raced up the stairs with her twin babies in her arms. She could hear Voldemort laughing and her heart broke as she heard the thump of James Potters body hitting the floor.

Tears rolled down her face as she activated the protection runes on the nursery door. She placed the babies in their cribs and tried to soothe them, but having no such luck with Holly, who would usually only calm down for James.

Suddenly Voldemort appeared in the doorway. He broke the runes and entered the room, holding his wand out.

Lily jumped in front of the cribs, screaming. "Please, no! Don't take them! Please!"

"Step aside woman."

"Please! Kill me instead, just don't kill my children! Please!"

A flash of green light silenced the pleas of Lily Potter.

Voldemort stood over the cribs, looking down at the red headed girl with hazel eyes, who was crying softly, and then at the dark haired boy with piercing green eyes, who stared up at him and started to cry.

He decided he had better kill them both, as they were twins and both threats.

"Avada Kedavra!" He aimed the curse at the boy, but was suddenly filled with an incredible pain and a feeling of loss.

He realized his body was dead, but the horcruxes were keeping him alive. He eventually struggled out of the wrecked cottage and retreated, swearing to destroy both of the Potters, even if it killed him.

Ten years later

June 15th, 1991

Holly Potter woke up to the shouts of Dudley and the shrieks of Aunt Petunia. She sat up in the small bed that she occupied in the spare room.

She rubbed her eyes and sighed. Another day of putting up with her family. She knew she should be grateful to them, but she hated them more every day.

When she and Harry had been younger, they had been beaten and starved, but Holly had put a stop to most of it, threatening to do 'her special talent.'

She had discovered this when she had gotten angry at a bully at school, and then the bully was suddenly screaming as ropes appeared around him, one around his throat.

She had learned how to harness this, and had decided it was magic. She and Harry could both do it. Holly had also decided that Harry's scar had something to do with magic, although she hadn't told him.

She quickly got dressed and stumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen, only to be grabbed by the arm by Aunt Petunia. "Why did you take so long?" She said through gritted teeth.

Holly raised an eyebrow and glared at her aunt. "I was tired and it took me a little longer to wake up. Now unhand me before I lose control."

Petunia let go and stepped back, fear creeping into her eyes.

Holly smiled and looked over to the stove, where her brother stood in his oversized clothes, cooking bacon.

Holly walked over to him and hugged him tightly. "Good morning."

Harry smiled and handed a spatula to her. "Mind cooking the eggs?"

Ten minutes later they sat down to eat breakfast. But before anyone could take a bite, a knock came to the door.

Uncle Vernon grunted to Holly, who rolled her eyes and went to get the door. She flung it open, feeling quite annoyed with whoever was on the other side. She found herself face to face with a tall woman in green robes and a pointy black hat.

She stared at her. She could feel the magic pulsing from the woman. A witch.

The woman smiled. "Hello. You must be Holly. I am Professor McGonagall."

Holly stared at her. "How'd you know my name?" She said suspiciously.

McGonagall smiled with a bit of sadness. "I knew your parents. I taught them in school."

Holly was startled. No one ever talked about her parents. The strange woman continued. "I'd like to come in and talk to your aunt and uncle."

Holly opened her mouth to reply but was shoved to the side by her uncle, who had somehow appeared noiselessly. McGonagall looked surprised and a little angry at the rough way Vernon Dursley pushed his niece around.

"Hello Mr. Dursley. I would like a word with you and your wife about your niece and nephew, concerning their schooling."

Vernon glared at her, but relented after spotting the thin wooden stick in her hand. A wand. Holly thought to herself with growing excitement.

McGonagall was escorted to the living room. "Go get your aunt, girl." Vernon barked at Holly.

McGonagall watched in alarm as the girl rolled her eyes at him again and turned to leave but was grabbed by her uncle, who shook her violently.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, girl." He slapped her across the face.

Minerva McGonagall could not watch James and Lily Potters daughter be treated like this. "Petrificus Totalus!" She said, waving her wand at Uncle Vernon, who immediately let go of Holly and fell to the ground unable to move.

Hollys stared in amazement. "Whoa."

Minerva cleared her throat. "Holly, would you mind taking me to your brother?"

Holly nodded, still staring at her uncle on the floor. She led the way to the kitchen, and quickened her pace when she heard the yells coming from it.

A cry of pain caused Holly to run. She turned the corner and was stunned to find Harry laying on the floor, cowering underneath his aunt, who was brandishing a wooden spoon and was hitting him repeatedly with it.

Minerva gasped and quickly immobilized Petunia. Dudley yelped and hid under the kitchen table.

Holly knelt next to Harry. "Are you okay?" She said urgently. Harry nodded, standing up with a slight groan and rubbing his side.

Minerva looked at the boy in growing shock. He was wearing oversized clothing that only made his thin body look thinner, and his arms were covered in angry bruises, along with a few cuts running along his wrist. She glanced at Holly and realized she was just as thin and battered. She quickly made a decision.

"Children, collect your things. I will not have you spend another minute in this horrid place."

Harry stared at her, noticing her for the first time. Holly pulled him along to the stairs, whispering in his ear. He nodded and, to Minervas horror, opened the cupboard under the stairs and started to gather his things.

Minerva calmed herself and went to the kitchen to speak to Petunia. "I will be taking these children with me. They will get proper care and schooling, and will be loved. You obviously have no idea how to properly raise a child." She finished, glancing at Dudley, who was still under the table.

She cast the counter curse and Petunia sat up slowly. Minerva looked her in the eye. "Are we understood?"

Petunia nodded. Minerva left.

Holly and Harry were waiting for McGonagall outside the kitchen door, each holding a dirty and patched backpack, and looking very excited.

Minerva led them down the corridor, releasing Vernon Dursley from the body binding curse without even glancing in his direction.

Once they were outside, Minerva walked a ways down the side alley and then stopped. "Hold on tightly to my arm."

Holly and Harry grasped tightly, and they Disapparated.

xx

"So...our parents were killed by Voldemort?" Holly asked as she sipped butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks.

"Yes child. And please call him He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Minerva said gently.

"Right. Do we have a godfather or a godmother? Our parents must have had several friends and relatives."

Minerva was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected Holly to have this many questions, especially ones like this. She must handle this carefully. "Yes, you do have a godfather. But he is in no position to care for you."

Holly frowned. "Is he in jail?"

Minerva stared at the red headed girl who reminded her so much of Lily, and smiled at her. "Yes dear."

Harry spoke up for the first time since arriving at the pub. "Why is he in jail? And when did he get arrested? We've been at the Dursley's for as long as I can remember."

Minerva felt so terrible for having to tell these children the whole story of what had happened during the war. "He was arrested before the war ended."

"But why?"

"Another time dear."

Before the twins could ask another question, a ginger haired woman appeared beside their table. "Minerva?"

Minerva stood up and greeted the woman. "Molly! Thank you so much for coming on such short notice."

Molly smiled brightly. Holly liked her smile, it was tender and kind.

"It's no trouble. Lily and I were pregnant at the same time...oh it's so terrible, even eleven years later."

Holly looked at her curiously. She knew our parents? Or at least our mother.

McGonagall spoke again. "It's only a temporary arrangement. Until I can get in touch with Remus."

Molly lowered her voice. "Is it safe? For Remus to take them?"

"Yes. There is a potion now, he's harmless." McGonagall said in an equally low voice.

"Yes, of course. Is he in a good position?"

"Yes. And the children's inheritance will be more than enough to provide for them until they graduate."

Inheritance?! Hollys mind was whirling with questions.

Molly took a step further away and leaned closer to McGonagall, her voice now at a whisper.

"Minerva, if you don't mind me asking, why are they here? They were at their aunt and uncles, weren't they?"

"Molly, it was terrible. They were being starved and abused. I can't believe I left them there for ten years...James and Lily's twins..."

"It wasn't your fault, no one could have known."

"I suppose.." Minerva turned back towards the children. "Holly, Harry, this is Molly Weasley. You will be staying with her and her family until we find another place for you to stay."

Molly smiled at them, and Holly felt it was quite motherly, but she wasn't sure. No one had ever smiled at her like that. At least she couldn't remember.

"Come along children! We'll meet the rest of the family and get some dinner."

Holly and Harry Side-Along Apparated with Molly and arrived at a small house in the country.

When they got inside it seemed to be much bigger than it looked. Holly felt immediately at home, but a small part of her stayed alert, ready to protect her brother at any moment.

Molly introduced the twins to her family. First there was her husband, Arthur. Then she told them about Bill and Charlie, the two oldest Weasleys, who had both graduated already.

Next was Percy, who Holly thought looked very bookish and sort of nerdy, to use a..muggle..term. I'll have to get used to that. Muggles.

After Percy, there was Fred and George, the two mischievous looking twins. Holly liked them especially.

Then Ron, who was the same age as her and Harry. And then the youngest, Ginny. Holly was glad there was another girl in a house full of boys.

They had dinner and then got ready for bed. Holly was sleeping in Ginnys room, and was laying on the cot Molly had set up.

"Holly?"

Holly was surprised to hear Ginny. She hadn't said anything to her since they had arrived. "Yes?"

"I'm glad you're here. And I'm sorry about your Mum and dad."

Holly was quiet for a bit. "Thanks Ginny. No ones ever told me...that they were glad I was there. I'm used to being yelled at to leave."

"Mum and dad won't do that. They would never do that unless it was important."

Silence.

"Goodnight Ginny."

"G'night."

xx

Two weeks later

June 29th, 1991

"No. Absolutely not."

Minerva frowned. "Remus! These are James and Lily's children we're talking about! They've nowhere else to go!"

Remus Lupin glared at her. "I thought they were with Lily's sister."

"I went there to make arrangements about Hogwarts, as I knew their relatives would not have told them anything. It was terrible Remus. They've been starved and beaten. They made poor Harry live in the cupboard under the stairs! Please Remus. You're all they have left."

Remus turned away. His eyes grew wet and he struggled against the painful memories that were flooding back. "What am I supposed to do with them during a full moon? I can take the Wolfsbane potion, but if something happens.."

"Molly Weasley had agreed to keep them for the one night a month."

Remus closed his eyes. He could see himself holding the little babies who were spitting images of their parents, the girl with red hair and hazel eyes, the boy with dark hair and green eyes. He saw James and Lily smiling at him. "Fine. I'll take them." He said quietly, his voice tight with emotion.

Minerva beamed. "I knew you would." She paused. "Er, Remus. Be careful with Holly. She has powerful magic and a score to settle with the world. We don't need a second Tom Riddle."

Remus looked her in the eye. "Do you really think-"

"I am simply taking precautions."

Remus swallowed. "Alright. I'll be careful."

xx

Holly considered the man standing in front of her. He looked about thirty, his face had a few small scars, he was wearing long sleeves even though it was summer, and he was staring at them with a sad smile on his face.

McGonagall cleared her throat. "Children, this is Remus Lupin. He was a good friend of your parents and is going to care for you now."

Holly nodded slowly and glanced at Harry. He looked excited. Holly felt a bit apprehensive about the whole thing but decided to trust McGonagall.

They went inside the London townhouse and Holly was taken aback by how nice it looked and how at home she felt.

Remus took them to their rooms and helped them unpack. Holly noticed he was very quiet but very gentle and kind.

They ate supper, which was very delicious Chinese food, and then Remus got them to bed, as the day had been very tiring.

Holly fell asleep right away, hoping Harry would be okay in his new room.

At about three in the morning Holly sat up and screamed, the images of her recurring nightmare fading into the darkness. Ten seconds later Remus came rushing in. "What's wrong?!"

Holly started crying. "He killed them! I saw them die!"

Remus sat down and held her small body in his lap. "Who died?" He said softly, already knowing the answer.

"Mum and dad." She started crying again.

Remus hugged her and let her cry. "Shhh. It's alright." He stroked her soft red hair and choked back his own tears. "It's okay."

"Why did they have to die? I need them. I..I miss them." She said quietly.

Remus swallowed. "I don't know. I miss them too."

She pulled away from Remus and lay back down. "I can't cry. I have to be strong. For Harry. I have to protect him. People want to hurt him."

Remus smiled. "You don't have to protect Harry anymore. He's safe here. You're safe here."

Holly looked at him, surprised and not quite believing him at the same time. "Okay. What should I call you? Remus is too...too formal."

Remus grinned. "How about Uncle Moony?"

Holly grinned back at him. "Perfect."

xx