EPILOGUE

Lily poked her head around the doorframe and felt a slow smile creep across her face at the sight before her...James was sitting in the rocking chair with Harry in his arms, and they were both fast asleep. She reveled for a moment in the peaceful silence of the scene, and then tiptoed into the room, careful not to make too much noise. She'd left her book in there earlier, and wanted to get some more reading done before she went to bed. Before she could get across the room, however, James' eyes flew open and he blinked a couple of times at the light streaming in from the corridor. Lily felt guilty for having woken him, as they'd both been so exhausted lately, and whispered,

"I didn't mean to wake you...I was just getting my book."

He stared at her for a moment, as though his mind was still waking up, and then glanced at the book in her hand and smirked. "I should have known to leave it outside the door."

She gave him a fake, silent laugh and turned to walk back out. As she was reaching for the door, he stood up as well, careful not to jostle Harry. She shook her head and protested quietly, "Oh, no...you don't have to, James. You looked comfortable there."

"He needs to sleep in his bed, and I need to sleep in mine," he whispered back, and then shot her a grin, "Or...if not sleep..."

She raised an eyebrow at him and fought the urge to laugh, even though she knew he was perfectly serious. "Make sure you leave his little bear with him...he hates it when he wakes up in the night and it isn't there."

"I know," James replied in mock irritation, then muttered, "You'd think I've never put my son to bed before."

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm going to get back to my book."

"Don't get too far into it," he warned suggestively, "You're going to have to put it down in a minute."

She waved her hand to show that she didn't take him seriously, even as her stomach did a little flip and her face flushed. Rather than walk to their room straight away, however, she stood for a moment on the other side of the half-closed doorway so that she could listen to what was happening in the room without being noticed. She heard Harry give a little whimper as James laid him down in his crib...this was always the hard part. After a minute of silence, she heard James begin to whisper.

"You've got to go to sleep, I'm afraid...and I've got to go and put Mummy to bed now."

Lily rolled her eyes again, putting her hand over her mouth to stop the laughter from escaping. James went on, "Listen, Harry...let me give you something to sleep on tonight. Whatever else you do in life...make sure you end up with a redhead. You'll never regret it."

Even though the circumstances of his saying it were completely silly, Lily felt oddly touched. Before she could think more about it, though, he finished, "Goodnight, Harry…I'd better go. Mummy's waiting for me right outside the door...she must be impatient for something."

Lily jumped slightly, then smiled and turned away. Padding down the corridor, she went to open the door to their bedroom...and then stopped, listening. She could have sworn she heard something...something strange. Frowning, she walked over to the stairs and leaned on the banister, straining her ears. Presently, she heard a twig snap just below the window...and something about the noise frightened her. Turning, she walked swiftly back toward Harry's room and got there just as James was closing the door behind him.

"James," she said in a low voice, "I heard something outside."

He looked at her and his brows drew together. "What?"

"A noise...it sounded like a prowler."

He stared for a moment, then shook his head. "No, that's impossible. Probably just an animal or something."

She sighed, knowing he was probably right but unable to shake the feeling in her stomach. "I think we should go and see. I don't know why...it scared me."

He regarded her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright...I'll go look. You stay up here, and I'll be right back."

She nodded, feeling silly but somehow justified. James walked past her and went downstairs, leaving her upstairs alone. She knew she should feel completely secure in that house, with all the protections it offered...but she didn't. It made her nervous to stay there...as though they were isolated. That had been the point, she knew, but...it also made her feel miles from aid if needed. Suddenly, she heard James running back up the steps...and she knew something wasn't right. Before she could ask, he bounded up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him!"

She felt her blood turn to ice, and she could do no more than stand there with her eyes wide with fear. James didn't even have to say his name...she knew who he meant. This couldn't be happening. He shook her a little and said urgently, "Go! Run!"

"What are you going to do?" she asked, although her voice came out in a mere choked whisper. He shook his head and replied, as he grabbed her arm and propelled her towards the door of the nursery,

"I'll hold him off."

She could feel her heart about to jump right out of her chest, and she thought she might be sick from the panic. As she reached for the doorknob, she looked back over her shoulder at James...and found him looking back at her as he pulled out his wand. In his eyes was a look she'd never seen before. There was fear there, yes...but it wasn't fear for himself. It was determination...he knew what he had to do, and he was prepared to do it without a second thought. Lily realized with a sickening jolt, as she heard the lock being blown off the front door, that this was probably the last time she would ever see him. Tears welling uncontrollably in her eyes as she drank in his beloved features, she said in a surprisingly clear voice,

"I love you."

His eyes softened for a brief moment, and she felt their souls connect for the last time. They both knew what needed to be done...a single thought existed in their minds. After a pause, he replied, "I love you, too. Now go...hurry."

Her heart breaking, she turned the handle on the door, knowing that there was no time to spare. She had to get her son to safety...it was all that mattered. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the dimness as she looked around, the room lit by a single nightlight...and then she saw that he was already awake. The yelling must have woken him...but he wasn't crying. He was just sitting there, quietly sucking on the ear of his already-ratty stuffed bear.

A huge noise erupted from downstairs...a screeching noise, followed by a flash of green light that invaded the dim room through the cracks in the doorway. Then there was silence...and she knew she was alone. He was gone. She'd never hear his voice again, never see his grin...never again feel his arms around her.

He was gone.

Pushing the crushing grief away, knowing she didn't have time to think about it, she ran to the window and pushed aside the light blue curtains so that she could see into the garden below. Gazing out into the night, she tried to make out an escape route...and then her throat closed as she caught sight instead of dozens upon dozens of black-robed figures standing in the darkness below. Death-eaters...they were surrounding the house. There was no way out.

Heavy steps now resounded on the stairs...he was coming. There was no time to escape, no time to hide...and, panicked, she went for her wand.

Suddenly, she felt a tug on her hair. Looking down, she was met with the sight of Harry...his chubby little fist was holding a handful of her red hair, and his green eyes were bright as he shoved it in his mouth. He regarded her with a complete childlike innocence, unaware of the danger that was just outside his bedroom door. As she gazed at him, she suddenly knew the true meaning of the word fear...any fear she had ever felt for her own life was nothing compared to this.

Slowly, she slid her wand back into her pocket. She knew what she had to do...fighting wasn't the answer. James had fought...he had been beaten. If James couldn't hold him, then Lily knew she didn't have a chance in hell...and if she fought, if she did not give her life willingly, it wouldn't work. Lily needed it to work...Harry needed it to work. This spell, the thought of which had kept her up many nights. The one she had prayed she would never have to consider. She'd read about it long ago, in some dusty old book at Hogwarts...this ancient protection that a mother could offer her child when all other hope had failed. Recently, she'd gone in search of information about it and, though it was scarce, she had found it. Now it was the only hope she had of saving her son.

She had to let Voldemort kill her.

Closing her eyes tightly, she snatched Harry out of his crib and held him to her. The tears were coming fast, but she was not afraid to die...she was only overwhelmed with regret that she had to leave him alone. This was the last time she was ever going to hold him...she would not be there to share in the little triumphs and failures that he would experience throughout his life. She was going to be missing everything, and he would never know her. Pressing her lips against his head, she whispered, "I'm sorry, Harry."

He made a small noise at the back of his throat, and she looked down at him. He was grabbing for her necklace. Kissing him again as she heard the footsteps stop right outside the door, she silently begged the powers-that-be to make this work...to keep him safe.

"I love you, Harry," she said, and then she screamed as the door exploded from its hinges. Her heart beating frantically, she took one last look at Harry and then turned around to face her fate, her wand still resting in her back pocket where it would stay.

FINIS

Please Read Author's Note and Farewell Here

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The Hidden Tower