Halloween, 1982- Lily

Lily was still reeling from the news that her son was now a squib. Dumbledore strongly believed that Harry's magic had acted as a shield between him and Voldemort, and had been drained as a result. He kept assuring James and Lily that in time, their son would recover, but Lily feared he would not. She was depressed, and scared for Harry. She was in no mood to socialise, and yet Euphemia and Fleamont were forcing a party down her throat.

The elder Potters had insisted on throwing a celebratory ball in honour of the one year anniversary of Voldemort's defeat. Lily was less than thrilled- she did not particularly feel like celebrating the event that had robbed her son of his magic. But Euphemia and Fleamont Potter were strong willed, and the costume party was to take place tonight. Lily was surprised; neither of the elder Potters had been pleased that she and James wanted to continue raising Harry at the Manor.

'He won't belong! He won't be able to go to Hogwarts… where on earth will you send him?' Euphemia had argued, wringing her hands. 'No magical school would accept a squib!'

'Oh, there are good muggle schools,' James informed her casually. 'What's that posh one called, Lils? Wheaton?'

'Eton,' said Lily, equally as casual.

But Lily was worried. If Harry's own grandparents wouldn't accept him, what about the rest of the magical world? So far, Harry's lack of magic was a secret from everyone except family and Dumbledore. She was confident that it could remain a secret until it was time to go to Hogwarts. They would have to cross that bridge when they got to it.

She tried to put it out of her mind as she got ready for the ball. Tonight she would be dressed as Persephone, the goddess of spring, and James was going as Hades, the god of the underworld. Her dress robes were pure white chiffon, and she wore crown of flowers, while James was dressed in black and red robes decorated rather luridly with skulls. She glanced unhappily at her image in the mirror, dissatisfied with what she saw. Her robes were expensive, and from a Parisian wizarding shop, yet they looked cheap on her. Her hair was dull and lank, and her skin a little too pale from worry and a lack of sleep. She hadn't managed to lose all the baby weight after having Jem, and she felt frumpy. Lily dreaded seeing all the elegant pure blood witches who the Potters would have undoubtedly invited tonight. A ball was a chance for the Potters to display their wealth and house, but Lily had never felt less like showing off. At least Jem and Harry looked sweet. She had dressed them as little cherubs, and thought that they had never looked more adorable. Harry didn't agree; he wriggled around fussily, objecting to the silly wings. Thankfully, he wouldn't have to wear them for long as he would be put to bed at his usual bed time while the adults enjoyed the ball. Lily wondered irritably if James would stick around or wander off with Sirius. He had hardly been at home lately, and she felt quite lonely. At least Petunia was coming to the ball and would keep her company.

The clicking of heels in the corridor outside her room heralded her sister's arrival. Petunia burst in, the scent of apples and autumn following her. She was dressed as Cinderella, the blue gown bringing out her eyes beautifully. Lily's heart lightened considerably as her sister cheerfully greeted her. Perhaps she might actually enjoy this ball.

A few hours later- Lily

She did not enjoy the ball. Just a few hours into the night, Lily was ready for the party to be over. Several of her school friends had attended and fed her lies about how lovely she looked. She stared at Marlene McKinnon's slender figure in envy. She wore lacy robes over a tight red dress, with horns adorning her hair- the muggle devil. Lily had always been confident that she was prettier than Marlene, but now she felt quite the opposite. James' eyes had widened when he saw their school friend; undoubtedly he too found her attractive. Fine, then, he could entertain her, Lily thought waspishly. She was at the end of her rope having endured far too many thinly veiled bigoted conversations with pure bloods who condescendingly congratulated her on her successful duels with death eaters.

'You've done a wonderful job, for a muggleborn!'

'Who would have thought someone raised by muggles would be so good at magic!'

Lily got a short break when she and Petunia went to put Harry and Jem to bed, and dallied a while, pretending that the boys needed calming down after such an exciting evening. Eventually they had to return to the hall, leaving Topsy to watch over them.

She and Petunia were suffering through yet another rude conversation with an elderly witch who couldn't believe that a muggle had been allowed to attend the ball, when the hall was lit by a bright flash of white light, accompanied by a deafening crack. Lily searched the room frantically for the source of the interruption, and saw a small crowd gathered around something. She rushed over and found poor Topsy, her nursemaid house elf, lying on the floor. Topsy had apparated but was terribly injured, which explained the unusual flash of light and the loud sound.

'Mistress Lily… Topsy tried to stop bad lady… Topsy tried.' The little elf breathed her last.

Lily jumped up and desperately looked for James in the sea of shocked faces. He wasn't there. Of all the times to have disappeared, she thought angrily. She jumped up, calling for her husband and dashed up the steps to her children's rooms. Her heart was pounding and she could barely hear anything except for a panicked roar in her ears. Her worst fears were realised as she entered Harry's room and saw a wild haired woman standing over the sobbing child, wand raised.

'Well, well, look at the ickle baby, all alone,' the witch cooed menacingly. 'Just a silly old house elf to defend their precious babies, how foolish.'

'Bellatrix!' shouted Lily. 'Stop! Leave him alone! Petrificus Totalus!'

Her spell missed, but it distracted Bellatrix long enough for Lily to snatch Harry out of harm's way. Soosa, her personal house elf, appeared as soon as Lily called, and apparated with Harry out of the danger zone.

'Avada Kedavra!' Bellatrix wasn't hesitant to use an unforgivable curse. Fortunately, it missed Lily. 'You'll pay for the destruction of my Lord!'

'Expelliarmus!' screamed Lily, the red light jetting towards Bellatrix, who leapt out of the way.

'I'll get you and your squib brat! Crucio!'

Lily gasped in shock- how had Bellatrix known of Harry's condition? Distracted, the torture curse hit her and sent her into a spiral of horrific pain. The pain ended and Lily flung several jinxes at the death eater. She desperately wondering where James was. As Bellatrix hurled more curses at her, she wondered how long she would be able to hold her off. Finally, a memory of curse that she knew Bellatrix would not expect came to her.

'Sectumsempra,' Lily hissed and made the slashing motion that Severus had showed her years ago. He had told her that he would never teach this terrible curse to anyone but her, and she hoped he had kept that promise. As Bellatrix's throat opened, and blood sprayed out, she knew he had. The death eater had not expected that curse.

James came running into the room. 'Lily! I just heard someone hurt Topsy, what's happen-'

He stopped as he saw Bellatrix on the floor, dead in a widening pool of blood. Lily sank to the floor, too exhausted to snap at him for not being there. She ignored James' apologies, and wondered what would happen now. Harry was not safe.

New Years Eve, 1982- Petunia

After the Potters' disastrous Halloween party, Petunia had hardly seen Lily. She and James had sequestered themselves in Potter Manor and barely saw anyone, including James' friends. Petunia had visited once since the ball for Christmas and found the mood quite sombre. Her nephews were too little to notice, but the entire manor lacked its usual opulent decorations. Lily had only put up a small tree in their rooms and had the house elves bring up a roast to celebrate. She had gotten some small presents for the boys, and Petunia had brought them some books. The atmosphere was unusually subdued. Even James, who normally loved Christmas, was strangely quiet, and he didn't crack a single joke. Petunia assumed that they were still recovering from their terrible scare, but she hoped that they would soon snap back and enjoy the peace that they had worked so hard for. The death eater who had attacked Harry was dead, and there wasn't anything for them to worry about... was there?

On New Years Eve, Petunia planned to ring in the new year with some of her coworkers from the village school. She had formed several friendships and enjoyed working with them. Her life was quiet, peaceful, and now quite predictable, and she appreciated it. As she got ready, she heard the tell-tale pop of someone apparating in her garden. Peeking through the window, she saw Lily holding Harry's hand.

'Lily! What a surprise! Come in out of the cold.' Petunia welcomed them in, pleased to see her sister. Lily, however, looked drawn and tired. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her nose was swollen; she had been crying.

'Tuney…' she began, and her eyes brimmed with tears.

'Lily, what's wrong?' asked Petunia quietly, a cold fear coming into her heart. Had something happened to James and little Jem?

Lily inhaled deeply and steadied herself. 'James and I have decided that it's too dangerous for Harry to stay in the magical world.'

'What? What do you mean?'

'I mean… we're giving him up,' said Lily miserably. 'Bellatrix's attack on him shows how vulnerable he is. She knew somehow, that he didn't have magic. Others must know as well. They'll come for him. They won't stop until they kill him. Until they get revenge for Voldemort.'

She continued despondently, 'Tuney, will you take him? You're the only person I trust to ever love him as I do.'

Petunia gaped at her. 'But what if the death eaters come here? I don't understand how that will protect him.'

'We'll tell the wizarding world that he… that he died,' whispered Lily, staring down at her hands. 'It's all been decided. Harry Potter won't exist anymore, but Harry Dursley will. And he can grow up happy, and safe.'

'Lily, you can't do this,' exploded Petunia. 'He's not a doll you can just palm off on me when you've got tired of it! He's your son!'

'Don't you think I know that?' sobbed Lily. 'I HATE this! I hate that I can't keep him safe! If you won't help, we'll just find someone else. It has to be done.'

Petunia watched as her sister cried in anguish for a few minutes. 'Lily, I won't pretend to understand this. If Harry were my child, I'd do whatever I could to hang onto him. But you are my sister, and I would do anything for you. Of course I'll take him.'

'Thank you, Tuney,' said Lily quietly, holding Harry close. It was clear to Petunia that Lily did not want to do this. 'After I leave him here, we can never see him again. It must be as though he is dead.'

'Who else knows about this?'

'You and I, James' parents and Dumbledore. Everyone else will believe he's dead.'

'I see. And what should I tell him as he gets older?' asked Petunia, realising dismally that this would be the last time she ever spoke to her sister.

'Tell him that we loved him. More than anything in the world. Tell him that we died.' Lily's voice cracked with emotion. 'He mustn't come looking for the magical world.'

Petunia made the terrible promise. She also gave her word that she would not try to contact Lily and James, her heart breaking as she did it. No matter what she did, she always seemed to lose something. From now on, Harry would be dead to the wizarding world, and it would be dead to Harry. Petunia wanted to shake her sister angrily, but stopped herself as she read the agony in Lily's eyes. Petunia knew what it was to lose a child.

The Daily Prophet, January 1st 1983

Boy Who Lived, Dead!

by Worth Spindle

It is a sad beginning to the new year as we write of a terrible tragedy. Lily and James Potter have announced that their son, Harry, succumbed to Dragon Pox this winter. Harry, who turned two in July of last year, is known for his defeat of the Dark Lord. According to Mr. and Mrs. Potter, he was given the best treatment possible, but sadly did not recover. He passed away in the company of his parents, grandparents and brother. It is believed that he was weakened from the Dark Lord's attack, and could not fight the disease. He was interred at the Potter Family mausoleum. According to Fleamont Potter, it was a quiet and beautiful ceremony.

Healer Hemrick Ewyn, the head of St. Mungo's Hospital, stated, 'It is a true tragedy and a great loss to the wizarding world. We must work on a vaccine for this terrible illness.' His words have been echoed by many, who grieve the death of the boy who saved us all.

Rest in Peace, Harry Potter.