A/N: Since everyone reviewed, I was so happy I decided to post the next one early!! Thank you guys!!

Some of you have been asking: What does the title have to do with the story? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. Oh yeah, and to Jean, who reviewed my last: I'm glad to know you think it's improving. ;) ALSO, IMPORTANT: If you are offended by the word "damn," used in conjuction with Voldemort, do not read. But the rest of you, Read! *warning: sad part*



Hermione was pitched headfirst. She had no time to scream; in a second, she was sitting in Dumbledore's office again, only this time two real live people sat across from Dumbledore's desk and Dumbledore himself was young with auburn hair.

One of the people across from Dumbledore was Lily Potter. The other seemed to be almost a perfect replica of Harry. James Potter. They were holding hands.

"Professor," James said. He was young, and his face was full of brightness. Hermione decided she must be in the past, perhaps a memory of Dumbledore's. "We've decided to do it. We're getting married."

The young Dumbledore nodded slowly. He got up, and said pensively, "Lily, James, I know I have mentioned things in the past, but we must go over this now. Before you decide, hear my warning.You have both taken Divination?"

James nodded. Lily grimaced. "Yes. Professor Trelawney. I remember her. It was 'cause of her that I quit. She was driving me nuts, wouldn't stop predicting my doom."

Dumbledore half-grinned beneath his beard. "Yes, I know she isn't exactly the best choice for the job. The thing is, that Sybil Trelawney really is a Seer, yet she doesn't know it."

Lily and James exchanged confused looks.

"Several years ago, before she began as a teacher, I happened to have a brief encounter with Lord Voldemort. He mistakenly told me that he could never be defeated. I hit him with a Truth Spell. And he told me that the one who would predict his doom would be Sybil Trelawney. So, naturally, when Lord Voldemort slipped through Ministry custody again, I hired the young lady.

"She did eventually make her prediction, although I do not believe she even knows she made it. When Sybil Trelawney makes a real insight, she is in a state of half-consciousness, and I wrote the words she said in her trance and have interpreted them."

He pulled a piece of paper from a desk drawer. "I did not want to show you this," he said sadly, "but when it was clear that you two were meant for each other, I have no choice but to tell you now.

"I am afraid," he said, "that as you know, you two are the most powerful witch and wizard in the school, perhaps even in all of the world. Excepting perhaps Lord Voldemort. Are you planning on children?"

Lily nodded eagerly. Her hand tightened on James', and he gave her an excited grin.

"I was afraid so. I am afraid that in the case you two have a child, both your powers will be transferred to him and he will probably the most powerful wizard in the world, perhaps in history."

"But that's great!" James said, hugging Lily. "Just think - our own son!"

"Son?" Lily said, punching James playfully in the arm. "What makes you think it's going to be a son? Why not a daughter?"

"But in the case that you do have this powerful child," Dumbledore interrupted, "he will be Voldemort's first target .. and you, as his parents, will be standing in the way."

There was an uncomfortable silence. James and Lily looked at each other. Then, as if in cue, they both leaned forward.

"We're going to do it, Professor."

"We have to do everything we can against Voldemort."

Dumbledore paused. Then, slowly, he got up, came around his desk, and gazed down at the two seventh years, his eyes sorrowful.

"I am glad," he said softly.

Hermione felt a sinking feeling, and it wasn't just because the scene was changing again, into a dark corner of a living room. Harry .. they were talking about Harry. Marked from even before birth to be persecuted by the Dark Forces .. Hermione felt tears come to her eyes, and then hurriedly wiped them clear so she could see the next scene.

Dumbledore's voice suddenly spoke into Hermione's ear, and she jumped.

"This scene is not my memory. It is one that Harry allowed me in his fifth year to take from his mind. He has no conscious memory of this, and so far you and I are the only ones to witness it."

Hermione tensed, and looked around. There was a peaceful scene. In front of a fireplace, a young man and a young woman with red hair sat together. The woman was holding a baby. Hermione glided over and peeked as a spirit over the young woman's shoulder, and looked into the bright green eyes of Harry as a baby.

Hermione melted, seeing him so young and cute. He was sleeping peacefully, and there was no scar on his forehead, and she suddenly had a horrible premonition of what this memory was going to be about ..

There was a sudden flash of light outside. James Potter leapt to his feet, and Lily got up quickly, holding Harry close.

Hermione's stomach dropped into her feet. Oh, no..

"Lily!" James yelled, pulling out his wand. "It's him! I'll hold him off! Take Harry and go!"

"No, James!" Lily said, starting to cry. Harry began to wail.

"GO!" James yelled, and he turned and gave them both a shove towards the staircase. "I love you, Lily!"

Lily's tears streamed down her face as she turned and stumbled up the staircase, holding the crying baby close to her. "I love you, James!" she screamed.

Hermione's eyes prickled, and she felt tears welling up. So peaceful a scene, and now ..

The door burst open. Thunder crackled outside and outlined a tall, slender figure in the doorway, rain whipping his slick black cape around him. Hermione's blood went cold. Voldemort ..

A low, cold laugh sounded from the doorway.

James raised his chin and faced Voldemort resolutely. His hand shot up and he brought the wand up to face the figure in the doorway. "Expelliarmus!" he cried.

Voldemort raised a black-gloved hand to ward off the bright red spell. Eerily, it bounced off his hand and disintegrated in a shower of sparks.

"You'll have to do better than that."

The voice was high, icy with contempt - Hermione could tell the horrible mocking tone in his words.

"Avada Kedavra!"

James leapt to the side and dodged the spell. It blasted the whole far section of the wall into smoldering rubble.

Voldemort growled and raised his wand again. This time Hermione didn't recognize the incantation he shouted - but a purple bolt shot out of his wand and James wasn't fast enough to dodge it. He yelped in pain as the bolt struck him on the shoulder and stumbled sideways into the couch.

Hermione could not watch any longer. She ran from the room, stumbled up the stairs, to another refuge that would soon no longer be safe - to Harry's room.

She couldn't help but start to cry again as she looked at the walls, the lovingly-installed blue and white wallpaper, the little baby toys, the blankets piled so neatly against a wall. Oh - it wasn't fair! How could Lily and James spend so much time and love on a place that would soon exist only in Harry's distant memories?

"Damn Voldemort!" she screamed, balling her fists. No one heard her.

Lily was crouched behind Harry's crib, crying and holding Harry. No, she was singing softly to him, her tears slipping off her cheeks and splashing on his face. What was that song? Hermione could not remember. It seemed familiar, though. She wished with all her might that she could undo this night, undo the horrors of the events soon to come, undo what Harry had to face alone in the years to come.

She knew, in that moment, that it was a good thing Harry hadn't seen this memory, culled from his mind, in the Pensieve. Even herself, a notably docile person, was seething to search out Pettigrew -- it was his fault, all of this! -- and beat him to a pulp for ever betraying Lily and James.

From downstairs, there was a scream and then silence. Lily shook uncontrollably, holding Harry tighter than ever, and waited. Oh, it was horrible, that moment of waiting, not knowing ..

And then slow, heavy, dreadful footsteps. Here. Voldemort was coming here. He was coming here, after Lily, after Harry, with James' blood already on his soul.

Lily stopped crying. She wiped her face and took a deep breath. Hermione admired her more than anyone else in the world at that moment. She knew what had to be done, and she was going to do it.

The door swung open. Voldemort's figure stood there, a silhouette. He cast his terrible red gaze back and forth, sweeping the room. Hermione could almost feel Lily's heartbeat.

"Come out, girl," said Voldemort, in his bone-chilling voice.

Suddenly, Lily sprang up. She stood facing the dark wizard, her lip trembling with emotion.

"I don't care! You're never - never - going to get Harry. And I don't care if you kill me because .. because .. then I'll be with James!"

Voldemort towered over her.

"Stand aside. I don't have to kill you. Let me get to Harry, and I'll let you live."

"I WON'T!" she screamed.

And Voldemort killed her.

Hermione went limp. Oh, no, oh, no, Harry, Lily, James --

The echoes of his scream of "Avada Kedavra!" still echoed in the silenced room. Lily lay crumpled on the floor behind the crib, her body shielding Harry even in death.

In three quick strides Voldemort crossed the room and pulled Lily's body away from Harry's crib. He lifted his wand.

Hermione screwed her eyes shut.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort whispered.

Green light flashed. And Hermione was whirling again, whirling through time to another scene.



A/N: Sad!! I almost cried when I wrote this. Poor Lily! Poor James! *sniff* Should I continue? *people scream in the background* OK, then, if you wand me to continue, be a responsible reader and review! *~Crystal Music~*