Title: A Different Sacrifice

Rating: PG

Summary: In an alternate world, Lily survived the Killing Curse because at the last minute one of the Death Eaters accompanying Voldemort took the curse for her. And the curse, instead of rebounding off of baby Harry, rebounded off of Lily instead--destroying Voldemort's body and scattering his soul.

Author's Note: I'm going to go ahead and post this because I'm looking for input on it. I do have a definite plan for this story. It kinda snuck up on me, the idea did, so I wrote up a prologue and here it is!

Prologue: October 31, 1981 - The Sacrifice

On October 31, 1981 Lily and James Potter were in hiding in their home with their son, Harry. On that night, their entire world changed.

James was downstairs overseeing a cleaning spell of their kitchen. Lily was upstairs finishing Harry's bath and getting him ready for bed. They'd had a peaceful evening together discussing the war they were currently embroiled in and what may have been happening while they were hidden away.

James was thoughtful as he oversaw the cleaning. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong--but he didn't know what. James trusted Peter with his life, after all, wasn't that why they had made Peter their secret keeper?

He hurriedly enchanted the dishes to put themselves away before going upstairs. Suddenly he just had the urge to be with his wife and son. Lily met him on the stairs. She held a half-asleep one-year old Harry in her arms. "James," she greeted him with a smile, "we were just coming to say good night."

James smiled tightly, and that was when Lily noticed that something was worrying her husband. She shook her head and frowned, "What's wrong, James?"

James ran a hand through his hair and adjusted his glasses. "Nothing, I'm sure," he replied lightly, "something just feels off."

Lily leaned over and kissed him gently before smoothing down his hair. "We'll be fine, James," she said, trying to reassure him, "nothing can reach us here. Peter will keep us safe, you'll see."

"You're right, of course, Lily," he replied. But the worry still hadn't left his eyes as he smiled at her.

"We'll be fine, James," she repeated. "Now," she pushed Harry into his arms, "why don't you say good night and we can have a quiet night together?"

Her eyes held a promise and he smiled at her. "Of course, Lils." He took his son and began to walk with him to Harry's bedroom.

And that was when it happened. James and Lily turned as one towards the sound of their front door opening and they could feel the magic of their wards pulsing. Lily's eyes widened with fear and James pushed Harry back into her arms. "Peter..." James' voice was tight with anger betrayal.

"Go Lily," he urged her, "take Harry. I'll hold them off!"

"But James--"

"Go!" his voice allowed for no further argument.

Lily swallowed and blinked back tears. "I love you, James," she said before turning away and running.

"I love you too, Lily..." James voice trailed off sadly as he watched his wife run with their son. His eyes took on a determined look as he pulled his wand into his hand and went down to meet his murderer.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Lily shut her eyes as she heard the shouted spell. 'James...' she thought in anguish.

The next moments passed in a blur. The door exploded under the force of a Reducto spell... she held Harry tightly to her... Voldemort was there... in their room... he was demanding that she give Harry to him. Lily refused... Voldemort raised his wand...

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort shouted with his wand pointed firmly at Lily.

And that was when something completely unexpected happened. There was a Death Eater accompanying Voldemort. His mask fell as he rushed forward, and it wouldn't be until later that Lily would see who it was. "Lily, no!" the Death Eater gave an anguished cry as he rushed forward. "No!" he shouted again as he rushed directly in the path of the Killing Curse.

The distinct green light of Avada Kedavra filled the room. "I love you, Harry," she whispered as she held her son tightly to her chest, fully expecting to die.

She never fell. The Death Eater had taken the curse for her. Voldemort was momentarily stunned. He had suspected the man, but this? He had never suspected a betrayal of this magnititude.

His lips thinned with anger and he again pointed his wand at Lily who was frozen with shock. "No matter," he said coldly, "a few seconds he bought you, no more, no less."

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Again the green light filled the room. But it wasn't Lily who died. She felt intense pain as the spell hit her, but it rebounded. And instead of killing her as it was supposed to, it hit Voldemort.

Lily couldn't see what had happened. Later she would say that the light was simply too bright and she had closed her eyes against its onslaught. She held tightly to Harry, who still hadn't cried, and she waited for her world to end.