Chapter Fifty
October 31st, 1980
"I just feel useless, like you don't trust-"
"Shut your mouth, Sirius. That's not the truth and you know it." James said viciously.
"I know, James, but damnit, I just feel so useless." Sirius said grumpily, slouching in his chair.
"Sirius, we're doing this for your safety." Lily said gently.
"I know, but you shouldn't be worrying about my safety, you should be worrying about your own, especially now that you're here in Godric's Hollow and Voldemort is looking for you!" Sirius erupted.
Lily was suddenly angry. "If Bellatrix ever found you, you'd be tortured to no end. Do you want us to live with that on our conscience if she killed you when you didn't tell her our whereabouts? Or if you cracked - "
"I would never!" he yelled. "Damn, I feel like I'm being treated like a child with a stupid little secret."
"Sirius," Jamesbegan quietly. "If there was any risk of me dying, wouldn't you do the same thing?"
"Hell yes!" Sirius said. "But I told you to marry Lily and that's just as bad as a death sentence."
Lily gasped and narrowed her eyes at this comment.
"You know the prophesy, James. You knew the risk involved when you married her, and you did it anyway. I'm doing the same thing, willing to risk my life for the ones I love."
"Sirius -"
"It would be better it you left me as secret keeper, that way I would die with my secret, instead of slipping... Is that what this is, a test of my loyalty?" he spat bitterly.
"You know it's not, Sirius." James said. "We just don't want you to die for our sake."
"Even though I risk it willingly?"
"Yes."
"I wish you didn't make such a big deal out of this, Sirius." Lily said. "We're just thinking about you."
"And I'm just thinking about you three." he said.
"But you'll make the switch?" Lily said hopefully.
"Yes," he muttered. "I don't respect your decision, but I'll go along with it."
"Thank you, Sirius." Lily said, hugging him. "This means a lot to us."
"I know, I just wish I could do something more for you," he said, sighing regretfully.
"You've done enough." James said patting him on the shoulder.
"I'm going to get Harry, I'll be right back." Lily said, running up the stairs.
"Don't take too long, love. Peter will be along shortly." James called after her.
Lily made her way into the baby's room and smiled. It was always such a calming and heartwarming scene. She looked around the room, from thecrib and the rocker to the little chest of drawers. There in the crib, was little Harry, peering mischievously over the edge of the crib. When Lily walked into the room, he giggled and ducked underneath the blankets.
"What are you up to, little Harry?" Lily smiled down at her son and removed the blanket. In Harry's drooling mouth she found his little pocket watch.
"Oh, your father." Lily shook her head and took the watch away, and Harry began to whimper.
"Now, now. None of that, son. I've got to preserve this watch if your father wants it to last." Lily said, eyeing the watch. "How about some magic?"
Then pulling her wand out of her hair, she grinned wickedly. Harry began to giggle again and watched his mother steadily. "See, I knew you'd like that. Now what was that conserving spell I learned the other day in class...?" She paused thinking for a moment, and Harry watched with large green eyes as his mother raised her wand.
In a very smooth, firm voice she said, "Aeternus Prohibeo."
A tiny white spell shot out of her wand and into the pocket watch. It shook in Lily's hand for a moment, then began ticking again. Shiny and pretty as ever, it looked as good as new.
"Perfect." Lily said with a smile, quite pleased with herself. Then she set the watch on the desk and picked up baby Harry out of his crib, placing a kiss on his head.
"Ready to go change our secret keeper?"
Harry smiled and cooed at his mother, holding onto her neck affectionately.
"I guess that's a yes."
It was later that night that Lily found herself pacing the bedroom floor. The whole incident gave her a bad feeling in her stomach. Sirius was too devastated and Peter too eager to accept this responsibility. Something just didn't seem quite right in Lily's mind. But Lily's mind wasn't the only thing still awake. Harry was also distressed about something. He wouldn't stop crying. His wails could probably be heard down the street. All the muggles in Godric's Hollow would surely hate them by morning.
Not to mention James was off again. There had been a sighting of the Dark Lord Voldemort not too far from the Hollow after they had changed Secret Keepers and administered the Fidelius Charm. James, being an official Auror and well respected member of the Order of the Phoenix, was sent to search for details. Lily always worried when he was out chasing that mad monster of a man, if he was even there at all. And Harry's screaming wasn't helping to ease her mind any.
"Come on, damnit, it's two o'clock in the morning!" she yelled suddenly, all her worries and stress exploding. Harry looked up at his mother in shock, then cried harder.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, darling. I didn't mean to shout." Lily whispered. She moved to a little rocking chair by the window, staring out to the stars, humming a little tune to her son, trying to rock him to sleep.
"Shhh, shhh, don't cry, you'll be all right..." and in her rhythmic rocking and humming, Lily suddenly lost all sense of time and place. She didn't notice her eyes close slowly. The words came out of her mouth, as if they weren't even formed in her mind, but they flowed from her lips, quietly, gently, firmly:
"Harry James Potter,
You fill my heart with joy.
And no matter what may happen,
You'll always be my little boy.
Though you may live through perilous times,
You must be bold and brave.
And if you learn to live for love,
Many lives you will save.
The greatest power I possess,
I pass it on to you.
So that you may live
And you may love,
Just as I love you."
Then she sealed it with a kiss, the unrecorded prophesy of Lily Evans Potter.
Asher eyes fluttered open, she saw Harry smiling up at her. "Yes, that was a sweet little lullaby, wasn't it?" she grinned, her own words unknown to her. She gave her son an Eskimo Kiss, and his eyes began to close...
Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open. There stood James, sweating and breathless.
"James, what's the matter?" Lily said, her tone worried.
"He's coming, Lily." he said in a heaving breath. "He coming here. Now."
She slowly laid Harry in his crib and moved towards her husband. "Who?" Lily asked, not daring to believe.
"Voldemort."
Lily gasped and her heart sank.
"Somehow, he found Godric's Hollow, and he knew that we were here. Someone's ratted us out." James said bitterly, his pun far from funny at the moment.
"But Peter would never..."
"Sirius would never. Peter might, if he was playing both sides." James said regretfully, running a hand through his hair nervously.
She watched helplessly as James picked up the mirror he shared with Sirius and desperately yelled "Sirius!"
Almost instantly, she heard Sirius' voice. "Hey, Prongs. What are you up to? You ready to see my bike now? It's been waiting for you to come take a ride-"
"Sirius, Voldemort is on his way here now." James said quickly.
"What the-? You mean Peter-"
"Yes, I mean, Peter." James shook his head slowly.
"Damnit! That slimy, little piece of-"
"Pad, I need to you take Lily and Harry and get them out of here."
Lily heard Sirius let out some muffled words before he said, "I'll be right over."
James put down the mirror and looked up at Lily. There was fear in her eyes, and they were swimming in tears. He walked up to her and took her by the shoulders, looking into the depths of her emerald orbs, trying to help her understand.
"I knew we never should have trusted that slimy, two timing bastard..." Lily said, suddenly vicious and hateful.
"There's no time for that now, Lily." James said, grabbing her by the shoulders to get her full attention. "Somehow, he knows about the prophesy, and he decided it's not Neville. He wants Harry."
"But why? I don't understand..." Lily whispered, suddenly scared and fear taking over. "He wants to kill my son, but he's just an innocent little baby... why..."
"I don't know, Lily flower." he said, taking her into his arms quickly. "But you've got to be strong right now. You've got to get him away from here, Lily." He pulled back and looked at her. "You understand, Lily? He's coming here now, so you need to take Harry and leave."
Lily nodded.
"You can't apparate to Hogwarts, but it's the safest place to go. Dumbledore knows what's going on, he'll understand. Sirius is coming, he'll follow you to make sure you stay safe. Take Harry and apparate to Platform 9 and 3/4. Then use my broom and fly to Hogwarts as fast as you-"
"James, you know I can't fly well without you." Lily stammered, suddenly nervous and near hysterics. "And while carrying Harry, I can't go fast. James, I-"
"You have to, Lily. If you want to save Harry's life, then you have to."
Lily looked over at the baby, happily teething on the pocket watch again. She breathed in a deep breath, determination filling her. "Yes, of course."
"I'll go downstairs and stall. You take Harry and get out of here."
"Yes," Lily said, but she didn't move. She looked up at James, fear and tears evident in her eyes. James couldn't leave her like this, not when everything was so unsure.
He took her in his arms and kissed her, lovingly but quickly. Then he pulled her into a hug, not daring to believe what might shortly take place.
"I love you, Lily flower." he told her, his own voice failing him. "Don't ever forget how much I love you."
"I love you too James." she said, holding him closer for one more moment. "I love you so much."
Then he suddenly, pushed her away. "Go, get some clothes together." Lily ran to a chest of drawers and began throwing clothes into a bag, as James moved to the crib and picked up his son. His strong, happy son, Harry James Potter. He held the baby close to his chest, and Harry's tiny arms went naturally around his father's neck.
"I love you, little Harry." James whispered, not bothering to wipe the tears from his face. "How I love you, my son..."
Suddenly, there was a sound downstairs that made Lily give a little scream. The front door had been burst open.
"He's here." James said firmly. He lay Harry gently back in his crib and covered him with a blanket. "Lily, get out of here!" Then he ran from the room with wand in hand, locking the door behind him.
"Ah, cozy little house, isn't it, Wormtail?" said Lord Voldemort as he entered the Potter house. "Wormtail?"
He looked back to see Wormtail standing outside the front door, shuddering in fear, tears on his face.
"Ah boy, you are such a coward." he said with pity, shaking his head at the young man.
"Get out of my house, you monstrous bastard!" came a voice from the stairs. They both turned to see the very angry face of James Potter, storming down the stairs. "You defile my house with your twisted wickedness andyou dare to threaten my family. I swear you will not live to see the light of another day. By my hand, you will die!" James said in a blind rage, pulling out his wand.
Voldemort simply laughed. "Ah, James Potter. What am I to do with you? How ever did you handle this reckless young man, Wormtail?"
"May you burn in hell, you treacherous rat." James hissed viciously.
"James, how could I-" Peter began.
"Oh come now, can't we all just get along?" Voldemort interrupted, with a wicked smile that sent shivers down James' spine.
"Because you're here to kill my son." James whispered.
"Indeed I am." Voldemort nodded.
"You're not killing anyone here tonight." James said firmly.
"Oh, but I am young Potter." Voldemort said, raising his wand slowly. "Simply starting with you."
James did not know fear at that moment. He only knew that peace would soon come.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A thin red light shot out of Voldemort's wand. It hit James directly in the heart, killing him instantly. Laying on the floor lay the dead body of James Potter.
"Up the stairs now, Wormtail." was Voldemort's quick order, swiftly moving up towards and up the stairs.
The confused boy that stood in the doorway was Peter Pettigrew, and he had tears streaming down his face as he looked at the lifeless body of her best friend. "Please, my Lord... isn't there any other way?"
"Are you backing out, Wormtail? Just when you have proven yourself to me?" Voldemort said.
"Never, my Lord..." he whimpered.
"All right, then. Up the stairs, my boy. The night is young." he smiled wickedly as he blew down each bedroom door until he found the one that held what he wanted.
"Ah, Lily Marie." he nodded towards her solemnly. "Come Wormtail, the task is at hand."
"May you die a thousand deaths for your betrayal." She spat at Peter, as she stood in front of the crib where Harry lay.
"Now, now, must we result to name calling?" Voldemort tsked her. "That's what Potter did and now he's dead."
Lily felt her heart stop for a moment at the thought. Hopelessness and a wave of tears overcame her, sobs shaking her shoulders.
"Why must you resort to murder?" she cried. "Please, not my son. Leave Harry alone. Take me, I'm the one you wanted."
"Oh, but you see, now I don't need you anymore, Lily Marie. Now I need only kill my one threat - your son. So just hand him over and no harm will come to you." Voldemort said, holding out a hand.
"If you want him, you'll have to go through me first." Lily said with venomous eyes.
"See, I hoped you wouldn't say that, but let's just get this done and over with."
Lily watched with large eyes as he lifted his wand, awaiting the blow of death.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Lily's petite body fell to the ground, now lifeless and cold, and Peters whimpers could no longer be controlled. "Lily, I'm so sorry..."
"Shut your mouth, you damned boy!" Voldemort shouted. "You should be proud you're among the few chosen to be by my side."
"But my friends... I was their secret keeper...I betrayed them..." Sobs overcame Peter as he nearly collapsed to the floor, realization finally sinking in. "Oh, what have I done...?" he muttered.
"Get out of here, Wormtail. You're no use to me right now. I'll deal with you later." The Dark Lord hissed. Peter, still consumed with regret and misery, disappeared from the room with a "Pop!"
Voldemort turned and stared devilishly at a little crib, where a baby boy with messy black hair and emerald green eyes was peeking over his blanket with a smile.
"Now it is your turn to die, little Harry Potter..."
Aeternus Prohibeo - Latin for 'Eternal Preservation'
Epilogue to follow
