DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER.

It had now been a week ever since Sirius and Amelia had started dating. James and Lily were going to get married on the second of September and wedding preparations were already underway. There were still some things to be arranged, such as the groomsmen and the bridesmaids. James and Lily had asked Dumbledore to officiate the ceremony, and Severus had decided to walk his sister down the aisle as her father would have done for her.

Meanwhile, Moody's training, although quite vigorous, had further enhanced his students' dueling skills, and James and Sirius had captured their first Death Eater in a raid that occurred in Edinburgh that week. Severus had also captured one by himself, in the next raid which took place in Manchester.

That evening, Lily, James, Severus, Marlene, Sirius, Amelia, Remus, Peter, Alice and Frank as well as several others were in Greengrass Manor, where an order meeting had been planned, As they were waiting for Dumbledore, suddenly, they saw young Benjy Fenwick, a member of the order and a friend, rush into the dining room, white faced.

"Westminster is under attack, and Westminster Bridge is swarming with Death Eaters," Benjy shouted, "Worse still, You-Know-Who's there himself!"

Some members gasped at that. Andrew asked, "Merlin's Beard! What must we do?" Marlene responded, "We have to do something! We can't just sit about and wait for Dumbledore to show up."

Moody, who happened to be present, motioned to his students to stand near him and said, "Some of us will go, and the rest will wait for Dumbledore. All aurors or experienced fighters must come with me to Westminster." Many members, including Moody's students, Remus, Lily, Marlene, Amelia, Edgar, Andrew and several others stood by Moody and they all stepped outside the manor, and once they were past the gates, they apparated to Westminster.

Sure enough, there were Death Eaters everywhere in Westminster, near and on the bridge. The area around Westminster Abbey was also under attack. Aurors from the ministry had already arrived directly but the situation was still grim. The group split up into two teams, one headed for the bridge, led by Moody, and the other one headed for the church. The second group, led by Edgar, consisted of James, Lily, Severus, Marlene, Sirius, Amelia and several others.

As the group entered the vicinity of the church, James and Lily saw an ornately dressed figure, presumably the priest in charge, being mercilessly held under the Cruciatus curse by two Death Eaters. Nearby, a group of women and children screamed as they watched in horror. James and Lily rushed forward as fast as they could and both cast stunners. Their stunners made their mark and the two Death Eaters fell down, unconscious. James and Lily were quick to tie them up using binding charms before turning to the priest and the women and children to ask if they were alright before getting them inside the building which had been cleared of Death Eaters by aurors and order members.

Just as they stepped out of the main entrance and closed the doors, placing some locking charms on it to protect everyone inside, they saw a figure approaching, cloaked, with snake like nostrils, red eyes and ghostlike skin; Lord Voldemort.

Voldemort smiled evilly as he approached James and Lily. James and Lily moved closer to each other and held their wands at the ready as they beheld the Dark Lord for the first time.

Voldemort spoke, "Ah, well hello, James Potter and Lily Evans. You two must be courageous to defy me. Such a pity that a member of the noble house of Potter would fall for a mere Mudblood!"

James spoke in response, "Lily is more than you think she is! You will never win, Voldemort! One day, Dumbledore will kill you!"

Voldemort said, "Such noble bravery, worthy of a Gryffindor, to even say my name. But you could be so much more than just that."

And then, he turned to Lily and said, "I have heard of your talent. Power is meant for those who do deserve it, the strong. Don't you want to be recognized as a smart witch? I can give you more than just that, if only you will join me."

Lily's eyes widened in shock and she stared at him. Had he just tried to recruit her?! Sure, he had tried to tempt James, understandable as he was a Pureblood, but her, who was an abomination in his eyes because of her birth parents being Muggles?! But then, she looked at him with determination and declared, "I will never join you, Voldemort!"

Voldemort smiled evilly and replied, "You are quite brave to defy me, but you have made the wrong choice. Prepare now, to fight me and be defeated!"

And then, he pointed his wand at James and shouted, "Crucio." James managed to step to the side just on time and the curse missed by an inch.

And so, a fierce duel began between James and Lily on one side and Voldemort on the other side.

James cried out, "Incarcerous!"

Voldemort dodged and shouted, "Incendio!"

James stepped to the side just on time and Voldemort's spell missed him. However, it set a part of the church on fire. As James pointed his wand to extinguish the fire crying out, "Aguamenti", Lily cried out, "Confringo!"

Although Voldemort managed to dodge the spell, it hit the ground near him and he was blasted back by at least half a meter. Although James and Lily were both blasted back as well, they were not injured and managed to get up from the ground and stand on their feet, bruised but just fine.

Voldemort got up and went closer to James and Lily, and said, "You are quite skilled. It is a pity that you refused to join me! Imagine the pain your parents shall surely feel when you both die by my hand!"

Lily angrily spoke, "You killed my parents! You and your Death Eaters see me as an abomination. Why on earth would you ever try to recruit me?! I would never ever join someone like you!"

"It's me he wants Lily! He just wants to use you to make me join him!" a voice spoke from behind Voldemort. He turned around to see Severus Snape, who immediately went and stood by his sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law.

Severus continued, "If you think you can win me over, you're mistaken. It's because of you and your followers that I lost Lily once. I have gained her back, not just as my friend, but as my sister, and I will never join you! If I have to die for my family, then so be it!"

James looked at Severus in amazement. It felt heartening to hear that. Severus had just referred to both of them as his family!

Voldemort, for a moment, looked shocked as he stared at Severus, having just heard him call a Mudblood 'sister'. But his eyes narrowed with rage and disgust and he said, "Then you will all die by my hand! A painful death! Crucio!"

This time, the curse hit James and he fell to the ground in agony. Severus instantly cried out, "Sectumsempra!"

That distracted Voldemort enough to make him stop torturing James. Although he managed to dodge, the spell hit another Death Eater nearby, and Snape saw him fall to the ground, blood oozing out from his wounds. Lily rushed over to James and lifted him up on her shoulder, knowing that there was no time to waste. Severus shouted, "Lily, James, get away from here and get Dumbledore. I'll fight him myself."

But just as he had spoken, another voice spoke from behind, "That will not be necessary Severus. Good evening, Tom!"

Severus, Lily and James saw Dumbledore, who had just spoken, approaching Voldemort with his wand pointed towards him.

Voldemort snarled and said, "How dare you use my filthy muggle father's name! They may have survived tonight, thanks to you, old fool, but they will die by my hand, painfully, one day."

And then, Voldemort and his Death Eaters nearby disapparated even as they noticed several aurors and order members approach them.

Dumbledore turned to the trio and said, "Are you all right?" Lily replied, "We're ok Dumbledore. James was tortured briefly but Severus managed to save him."

James got up and turned to Severus. He took his hand and said, "Thank you. I owe you my life." Severus replied, "You saved my life once, even as an enemy. Now you are all my family and I will die for you if I have to."

And so it was, that James and Lily had defied Voldemort and lived. But they were not the only ones to do so that night.

For, Severus, Lily's brother in all but blood, had also defied Voldemort and had lived, to protect his sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law.

NOTE: Dear readers, thank you for all the reviews that I have received for this story so far. Everyone, please post your reviews on this story. There haven't been that many. Thank You.