Morning Has Broken

Muggle sirens pierced the early morning silence in Godric's Hollow. The few Muggles who lived there insisted that they have their own system to deal with emergencies. And they gladly shared with the wizarding community when necessary. Police milled around the rubble of one ruined house. A doctor and a medi-witch were huddled over a lone figure in the ruins.

"It looks like the Killing Curse." The doctor whispered.

The medi-witch nodded. "It is that indeed. Albus will be so upset."

"Who was he?"

Poppy Pomfrey smiled sadly, "His name was James Potter. He's only been out of Hogwarts for three years now."

The doctor placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Poppy."

"So am I."

Yelling caught their attention as one of the three police officers started grabbing at wooden beams that used to be part of the roof. Poppy stood up and ran to where it seemed that the rescuers had discovered another body. "Oh, Lily…"

A redhead was just visible from under dust and debris. Her hair was caked with blood and her hands were clenched into fists. The doctor knelt beside the woman as the officers cleared space around the body. "His wife?"

"Yes," Poppy wiped at her eyes. She wanted to believe it was the dust, but she knew it wasn't. "Oh, Lily." She ran her hand through the bloodied hair. "It must not have worked."

"What?"

She wiped Lily's forehead carefully and closed her eyes. "She was trying to find a way to defeat the Killing Curse. She must not have finished it in time. At the meeting…" she paused. "James implied that it was finished. We believed him."

"Come along, Poppy. The Aurors want to take them away now. Let them." The doctor helped Poppy up and then guided her to the tire she had used as a Portkey. His own wife was a witch and he knew that Apparating now would be next to impossible for the grieving woman. "Go and tell Albus what happened. He'll have enough trouble in the next few days."

"But how did Harry do this?"

The doctor shook his head, "I don't know, Poppy. But let's be thankful he did." He handed the tire to Poppy who vanished after a few seconds. He turned to watch the Aurors carry the man's body away. "But what a cost…"