Epilogue Three: Lily and James

James lay in bed for hours not being able to sleep. He was too nervous to sleep. The threat of Voldemort loomed closer than ever. He hoped that Sirius was right about letting Peter be the secret keeper. Suddenly he heard a howl that sounded familiar, like he heard it somewhere before.

'It's just a stray,' he thought to himself. A few minutes later though he heard the front door creek open. James locked the door every night; no one could get in unless, of course, they were a witch or wizard. He jolted up.

"Lily," he said shaking her awake. "Lily wake up."

"What is it James?" she asked groggily.

"Lily I think it's Him."

Lily looked at him and saw the panic in his eyes and heard it in his voice.

"James what are you talking about?"

"I think it's Him, Lily. I just heard the door open."

"You're just imagining-" But before she could finish they heard something fall with a clatter downstairs.

"Imagining things?" James questioned. "Get Harry and be prepared to get out as soon as possible."

"What about you?" she asked as he got out of bed.

"I'm gong to try to hold Him off."

"James, no! You'll be killed!"

"I've got to Lily." He kissed her real quick and said, "I love you. Now go get Harry."

"I love you too. But-" It was too late, James had already left the room.

James walked down the hall. He felt anxious and he was gripping his wand very tightly. Everything felt oddly familiar and he felt as though he had been here before. He sped up knowing what lie ahead was getting closer. Turning the corner he stopped dead. Right in front of him stood Lord Voldemort.

"Why, hello James, fancy meeting you here," he said smiling maliciously. James' voice got caught in his throat. "Tsk, tsk. This will never do, James. Where are your manners?"

James found his voice. "Stay away from my family!"

Voldemort laughed a cold and merciless laugh, "Too late for that James. Crucio!" James felt ultimate pain as the curse hit him. When it was raised, he tried to shoot a curse back at Him but it was counter attacked easily, along with every spell after it. Once again Voldemort yelled, "Crucio!" and James found himself in complete pain again. When the pain subsided, James found Voldemort looking down at him with a malicious smile on his face as he lay helplessly on the floor.

"Hmmmm, what to do, what to do? I could easily control you and make you kill your precious wife and child yourself, but no. No, I'd rather do that myself. There seems to be only one more solution to this. I just have to kill you, James Potter." James groaned. "Oh yes, you knew it would come sooner or later. I killed your entire family and now I'm going to kill you."

Suddenly James remembered. It was all clear to him now, he had dreamed this very moment years before. He was going to die and he knew it. 'If all this is true' James thought, 'if I am going to die, then I shall die like a man.' Then, to both Voldemort's and James' surprise, James stood up.

"I will not let you kill me or my family that easily."

"Oh, so brave, and yet so very foolish," Voldemort gave one last cruel laugh before shouting, "Avada Kedavera!"

James saw a bright green light and this time instead of pain he felt absolutely nothing. The last image in his head before he died was of Lily, his loving wife, and Harry, his only son. 'Get out Lily' was his last thought and then darkness.

Lily waited upstairs in Harry's room with the door locked, cradling the baby in her arms.

'Everything will be fine,' she thought. 'James isn't going to die.' She looked down at her one year old son and smiled. Suddenly she heard footsteps outside the room. 'That's him now,' she thought. 'It was just Sirius being an idiot like always and this is James outside the door now.' The door burst open and it wasn't James standing there but Lord Voldemort.

"Ah, Lily, how nice to see you," he said.

"What'd you do with James?" Lily asked, tears in her eyes.

"I did exactly what you think. Your husband is dead."

Lily didn't want to seem weak so she held the tears in.

"Now you needn't be harmed. Just hand over the boy."

"Never! You can't have Harry!" She placed him in the crib behind her and stood in front of it to protect her only son.

"Now Lily, don't try my patience," his voice sounded angry but Lily didn't care.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" her senses left her and she let the tears flow.

Fully angry now Voldemort said, "Stand aside you silly girl… stand aside, now…"

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead-"

"Stand aside!"

"Not Harry! Please... have mercy… have mercy…"

"AVADA KEDAVERA!" Voldemort yelled. Lily heard his cruel laughter in her ears. She screamed as she saw a green light flash before her eyes, then she felt no more.

A/N: Obviously that one portion is from the third Harry Potter book when Harry is falling off his broom.