Chapter 2: Narrow Escape

Young Harry Potter was almost the spitting image of his father, James. His baby-fuzz hair was the same jet black and the longer it grew, the more it took on the wild, untamed look of his father's hair. Even at his young age, Harry was showing signs of having of blurry vision (another thing he shared in common with his father). But it was this same pair of near-sighted eyes that also set Harry apart from his father. Harry had the most striking green eyes, which could only have come from his mother, Lily.

Now, those vibrant green eyes were focused on the happy face of Sirius Black, the Potter's most trusted friend. Harry giggled softly and tried to touch Sirius's face with his hand outstretched and each one of his chubby baby fingers reaching out.

"Sirius! We just managed to get Harry to go to sleep and you've disturbed him!" a pretty, young red-haired woman scolded as she entered the room.

"I'm sorry Lily but I just can't help it. He's too cute! Koochy koochy koo!" Sirius cooed as he tickled the bottoms of the baby's feet.

"For God's sake, Sirius, talk like a man!" James Potter laughed at his friend but he, too, couldn't help melting with pride as he looked down at his first son.

With great reluctance, Sirius finally placed little Harry back in his crib. As though it had a mind of its own, the blanket tucked on the bottom of the crib instantly came to life and wrapped itself snuggly around the infant. In a normal household this kind of behavior from a blanket would have sent the family running and screaming from the house but this was not a normal household. The Potters and their friend Sirius were wizards; they carried magical wands and spoke enchantments and even brewed potions on occasion. With a lifestyle like theirs, they had become were quite accustomed to seeing ordinary objects doing extraordinary magical things.

Unperturbed by the moving blanket, Sirius gazed fondly at his godson, "That's the most adorable and amazing baby I've ever met. Mark my words, Lily, he'll be famous when he gets older."

"Honestly! The way you fawn all over that boy, you'd think he were your own child!" Lily sighed.

"Well, he is my god-child, after all," Sirius responded proudly.

"Yes, and you haven't let us forget it since the day we gave you that title," Lily gave Sirius a look of annoyance but the upturned corners of her eyes revealed her hidden amusement.

James Potter sat down and began leafing through the Daily Prophet. Lily slowly walked up behind him and began scanning the headlines over his shoulder.

"Any more attacks from You-Know-Who?" Sirius called from his place beside Harry's crib.

There was no need for Sirius to explain of whom he was referring. Despite the blissful, worry-free attitude that the three adults appeared to have, the reality was that they were living in dangerous times. The war between good and evil was well underway and evil was winning, led by a dark wizard so vicious and cruel that his name was seldom said because it brought terrific fear among any who heard it.

"No, things have been unusually quiet lately, "James answered. "It almost makes me worry. You would think that there would at least be a report of a Death Eater terrorizing some poor muggle family but the Daily Prophet seems completely void of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

At that moment, the door to the main entrance flew open and a gush of wind rushed into the house. Sirius instinctively grabbed the dozing Harry and pulled him protectively to his chest. The self-animated blanket automatically drew tighter around the baby to prevent him from being chilled from the cold wind.

A tall figure stood in the doorway, his face completely shadowed by the brim of his pointy wizard's hat, which, added much to his already rather impressive height. The wizard ducked under the doorway as he made his way into the room.

"Dumbledore? What a pleasant surprise! I wish I knew you were coming, I only made enough dinner for one guest," said Lily.

"I'm awfully sorry to rush in like this, my dear Lily, but there are matters of the utmost urgency that need to be tended to." He paused for a moment. "Sirius? May I have a word?"

"I… Well, of course!" Sirius responded while returning Harry to the crib.

Lily and James exchanged looks of worry and curiosity as Sirius followed Dumbledore out of the room.

"What do you suppose that is about?" Lily asked her husband.

"You-Know-Who. It has to be. I've never seen Dumbledore look like that," said James, his dark, untamed hair standing unusually erect.

"Like what?" Lily wondered.

James swallowed hard before answering, "Like something terrible happened… and it scares him."

The couple remained silent for the rest of the time that Dumbledore and Sirius talked in the other room. Lily began pacing the room nervously, every once and awhile glancing at the crib to make sure Harry was still sleeping peacefully inside it. James resumed reading the newspaper, keeping a more careful lookout for articles about Lord Voldemort.

At long last, Sirius and Dumbledore reentered the room. Sirius's face was unusually pale and he seemed to have trouble finding his voice.

Dumbledore spoke with great ease, though his expression remained grave, "James, Lily, grab Harry; you're coming with me." James opened his mouth to speak but Dumbledore immediately cut him off. "No time for questions now, James, too much time may have been wasted already.

James could do nothing except nod to show his understanding. He watched Lily hastily gather Harry in her arms, taking care not to wake him or cause alarm. Without a word, the three Potters left their home, Dumbledore trailing behind them.

In a few moments the only person remaining in the house was Sirius black who stood, dumbfounded. He watched through the window as the Potters and Dumbledore vanished into thin air.

Finally, Sirius regained control of his voice but the next words that were uttered did not come from him.

"Hello, Sirius."

He didn't even need to turn around to recognize the icy voice of his cousin. "Bellatrix?"