Disclaimer: All works here and in the next chapters are Fanfiction and anything you recognize does not belong to me (shocking isn't it?), but to the Goddess of recent fantasy writing, J.K. Rowling and all her peoples. If you've never seen it before, then it's mine, and if you take it without asking, I shall bite you. HARD.

Synopsis: "Born to those who have thrice defied him…." Lily and James relationship was far from simple, but with some help from their friend's things change. A series of vignettes from their school years, the evolution of L&J as explained to Harry by one of their former teachers. Nobody ever said growing up was easy.

Prologue to: Thrice Defy

(Naturally Amazed reborn)

Harry Potter, age 15, sat in the most peculiar kitchen he'd ever been in. It was clean, but very brown since everything in it was made from wood and stone, save for the marble basin he was now looking in. He wasn't exactly sure where he was, but that according to Dumbledore he'd be safe and the woman (who looked extraordinarily young for someone who was supposed to be ancient) sitting across from him was trustworthy. She sat in rapt silence, scanning him with her black eyes. Harry squirmed, wondering if he'd made the right decision in coming instead of sticking it out with the Dursley's. The fact that he had actually asked that made Harry think that either he was going insane, or that he was in serious danger.

"Pronglet," she said suddenly, making Harry jump. "You're here, in my home, to learn something. Of magic I plan to teach you, yes, but also of your parents, of your past. I think that it will do you good. But what I believe doesn't matter, does it?"

It took Harry a moment to realize she was actually asking him a real question. "I don't really know," he said, feeling like he had already failed something.

She got out of her chair and went to the cubbard over the stone sink. "It doesn't, in this matter anyway. If you aren't ready, if you do not feel open to learning the truth, which I should warn you isn't always pleasant, then I see no reason to waist the scarce waters of Galadrial's fountain on you…." She turned around, holding a liquid more clear than Harry had ever seen, if it hadn't been bubbling a little, Harry would have thought the cup was empty. There was something about the look on the woman's face that made him think that, ready or not, if he didn't take his chance now, he may never get it again. And that meant never understanding why his Dad hated Snape or why his Mum ever married his Dad.

"I'm ready," this time he seemed to startle her, "What will it do?" he asked, looking into the glass of bubbling water.

"It will give us moving pictures to watch, like, what do muggles call them? Films?" Harry nodded. "I'll explain the events as we go."

"How much do you know about my parents?"

"Everything. I was there." And with that, she let two miniscule drops fall into the empty stone basin, and the two drops joined and grew. And then it began a current, until finally the basin was full. Then the images started to flow across it. The woman next to Harry mumbled a few words in a language that he didn't recognize and then began to talk to him in his own. Settling down comfortably in her chair, she said, "Now Pronglet, I do hope you like long stories. This could take a while."

Harry nodded, too entranced by the sudden image of his eleven-year-old mother in the basin, waiting to get on the Hogwarts train.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Lily Evans. The life she led from this day on, changed the world…"