James could hear Lily singing Harry a lullabye from the next room. The baby seemed to love just listening to his parents' voices, as if he knew that this was all he would ever know of them. Before they'd left, Lily had given Hagrid the photo album, asking him to give it to Harry when he entered Hogwarts. The giant man had looked confused, but had promised, hugging her close.

Wind banged the window open, letting in a rush of cold air. Harry started to cry suddenly. As he closed the window, James heard Lily saying,

'Harry, what's wrong? Don't cry, sweetie.'

There was a thump on the stairs. Filled with an awful sense of the inevitable, James walked out onto the landing, watching as Voldemort ascended the steps. The Dark Lord smiled, a ferociously grim smile as he raised his wand. James was flung back against the wall, his body falling lifeless to the carpeted floor.

Lily heard the crash. She spun around to face the door, Harry cradled protectively in her arms. It swung in quietly, reminiscent of the last time she had met with the Dark Lord. He stood in the doorway, silent as death, gazing at the defenceless mother and child. His wand came up, pointed not at Lily, but at Harry.



Lily whipped her wand from her pocket, but instead of using it, she threw the slender wood at Voldemort's face. He flinched, giving her time to place Harry back in his cot, forcing a smile for the tearful child. She turned back, and was flung aside by a Hurling hex. Voldemort advanced on the cot. Lily struggled to her feet.

'Please,' she pleaded, 'not Harry. I'll do anything, please. Not Harry.'

Her pleading grew hysterical as the wand was raised again. Lily threw herself in front of the curse, her scream filling the house. She crumpled, limp and un-moving. Voldemort bent over the baby. Harry gazed up at the face of the man who had murdered his parents. The wood was inches from the boy's nose.

Voldemort laughed, a cruel evil laugh of satisfaction, as green fire shot from the wand . . .