Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is J.K. Rowlings. The rest is mine.
Summary: What if Harry had a little sister at the time of Voldemorts attack? What if, due to unforeseen events that she and James wasn't there that fateful October night but visiting Sirius at his hide out? Lily still sacrifices herself to save Harry and He becomes the Boy-Who-Lived. How will the Potters cope with the fame and Prophecy of the Chosen one? More so, how does Juliette cope when she's thrown into the snake pit?
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED GONE AT LAST?
For over a decade wizarding Britain has been at a state of peril and despair at the hands of the Dark wizard You-Know-Who and his dark forces. The Ministry of Magic's proud Aurors and the vigilante force known as The Order of the Phoenix has been working tirelessly against the darkness that has gripped Britain. For many months now, some would say too many months, it has looked rather bleak for the side of good, as the rise in Muggle attacks and even wizard killings have sky rocketed; don't forget that even our fellow wizarding creatures aren't safe, see The Daily Prophets previous article: 'Dark Mark sighted above Goblin home - Death eaters kill Goblin family.'
Only, as many wake up this morning, news had already spread of the events that took place last night at the famed town of Godrics Hollow, best known for being the birth place of Godric Gryffindor himself. Sources of the Daily Prophet state that last night around eight p.m the dark wizard himself turned up at the Potter household - which was believed to be under the protective enchantment the Fidilus charm - with the intent of killing the young family. The Potters, a well-known pure-blooded family who goes back generations, and a respected name in the circles of Potion making, has been mysteriously quiet since the death's of Fleamont Potter and his wife and not much has been heard from their only child, James Potter. The Potter manor in Snowshill looks decidedly empty, reports friends of the late Potters and has done so for quite some time now; could the Potters home in Godrics Hollow be the reason? The Daily Prophet thinks so, as do our faithful sources and its believed they, like many went into hiding to avoid the darkness You-Know-Who spread. James Potter now aged twenty-one, married Muggle-born witch Lily Evans, a few weeks after graduating from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry three years ago and surprisingly, already have two young children together, Harry James Potter aged fifteen months and Juliette Cassiopeia Potter aged three months old.
As it turns out, Sources from the Ministry state that the Potters went into hiding with the full knowledge that You-Know-Who wanted to kill them, reasons unknown to the Daily Prophet and last night on Halloween, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named finally tracked them down; unknown to him that only Lily Potter and fifteen month old Harry were in the house at the time. It was there in the historic town that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named reportedly lost his powers, killing the young mother before turning his wand onto the young infant.
The Daily Prophet can conclude that James and his newborn daughter Juliette Potter was with Sirius Black, who is rumored to be the godfather of Harry Potter, at the time of the fateful attack upon his home and unfortunately, was the first one to the scene thereafter.
No one is entirely sure what took place but it has been established that Harry James Potter survived The Killing Curse, mystifying both the Ministry and many experts in the dark forces and no doubt the rest of the wizarding world at large. The proof of such a curse was seen by Healer Aceso, who is a well respected healer at St Mongo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. It was Healer Aceso who treated the young boy not long after and reports that the boy had a very curious lightening shaped cut on his forehead which proved impossible to remove. An expert from the Dark Force Defense League has informed the Daily Prophet that it is possible that the scar is indeed the physical proof that Harry Potter is the only person to live after being hit by the Killing Curse, the expert going as far as to say that the boy quite likely defeated You-Know-Who -"
James Potter pushed the newspaper aside and fisted a hand through his jet black hair. He was dog tired, his eyes blood-shot and puffy from exhaustion and the amount of crying he had done. Now, he was in a state of numbness - shock. He had yet to sleep and he didn't see himself getting any either.
For the past couple of hours, Ministry officials had been flooing in none stop - throwing all respect for another wizards privacy out the window. How they found out he was back in his childhood home didn't worry him, not really - the children were safe from Voldemort or so Dumbledore had explained to him. He was still processing it in truth and Sirius had gone back to his, with the intent of searching the Black Family Library to find proof of the ancient magic Dumbledore claimed to have taken place last night.
James had been subjected to give various reports, Sirius too, and then, against James better judgement, was forced into presenting Harry to the Ministry - first the Minister, a fierce sort of man with a reputation to go with it. When it came to Death Eaters and Voldemort, the Minister was of the opinion to fire first and ask questions later and it was him that had Healer Aceso look at Harry. After the Minister, he was bombarded by Aurors seeking answers to questions that James simply didn't have. He didn't know where Voldemorts body was, but he had a feeling that his body got destroyed in the explosion that ripped his home apart. Voldemorts wand was also missing, which send James into a panic and Sirius had to pull him out of the room to make him see sense. Dumbledore was sure he was gone. Peter Pettigrew was missing, his hideout from what Sirius told him showed no signs of struggle, as if he had willingly fled. James knew that was the case, his master was gone now and he was the one who sent him into the Potter house - James was almost glad that the little traitor might be killed by Death Eaters. He had heard stories of Bellatrix Lastrange, once Black, and knew she would think Peter betrayed the Dark Lord.
They were already searching for the weakened Voldemort and rounding up his followers, making quick success especially since the Ministry was flooded by Wizards and Witches, many of whom seemed to be victims of the Imperius curse. It seemed the second he fell, the people he had under his control became free. One Auror had grimly pointed out to his superior was that they now had to find the liars from the victims. James knew some would get away but who, wasn't on his mind. So long as Pettigrew was killed or caught, only then he could find some peace.
Others from the Ministry came, like the head of the Department of International Magical Law, with the news that he had secured Lily Potters body from the Muggle Police who had swarmed not long after they left Godrics Hollow.
A burial could be held at anytime, he had said, when and if James was ready. Remus had dealt with him after that, for James tuned him out and quickly left the drawing room in search of his children, seeking the strength they gave him. He found them in his old nursery being watched by the Potter family house-elf, Pippin.
They were both awake, Harry seated on the plush Gryffindor themed rug playing with building blocks and Juliette gurgling happily in the crib Sirius had conjured up. It was there he hid himself away with the children, leaving his friends to deal with the officials.
James was struck by the innocence of his two children, Harry especially. It was unlikely he would remember the events of last night in ten years time, he was fifteen months old and as much as children soaked in knowledge, these events would fade, if they hadn't already but the wizarding world would remember. He was already being called The boy-who-lived and Dumbledore had warned James that Harry's name will be famous, books would be written about him, every child in our world will hear of the baby who defeated Voldemort and his lightening bolt scar.
Said scar seemed to glare at James, both an achievement to his survival and in a way, Harry's last gift from Lily. Albus said Harry lived because she had given herself for him, to save Harry. Voldemort, not understanding how deep a mothers love went, still turned his wand on Harry not realizing that when Lilly gave her life, she had done what was needed to save their son from Voldemort. He could not touch him and that was what truly broke his powers.
James wasn't sure how he should feel about that. It was so Lily, she wouldn't think twice about her life if the children were at stake, and James felt the same. He knew if he had been stood there, that he would've done the same. There was no question about it, they were his children. His life.
And yet, there was anger brewing beneath all the numbness and grief. Anger at Voldemort, anger towards the Prophecy, at Peter and the person who informed Voldemort of that darned prophecy. He was angry at them all and the world. Why his Lily-pad? She was good and kind and gifted - she cared about others - she gave her life for her son, unknowingly, but it was her love that done it; her love that saved him.
She would miss out on all the things she and James had talked about, the milestones Harry and Letti would take - Harry's second birthday, Juliette's first Christmas, her first words and steps, the first time they used accidental magic... the list was endless, and it pained James to dwell on it but how could he not? Ignoring it seemed impossible.
The prophecy still loomed ahead. Dumbledore had stated one day Harry would face it but for now he was perfectly safe. Despite everything that happened, nothing had really changed. The clock was still hovering over Harry's head and James felt somewhat cheated. He had lost his wife and the threat against his sons life was still there, only just awaiting his chance.
James swore never to let it happen, Voldemort wouldn't hurt his family again.
Seven days later was the second most painful day of James life; Lily Potters funeral.
James stood dressed in black dress robes at the front of the church in Godric's Hollow, clutching tightly at the pile of folded parchment in his hands, Lily's smiling face beaming up at him as she waved. Inside were a few hymns for the guests to sing. Sirius stood to his left, clad in black dress robes and even though James knew it would make The Evening Prophet, was holding Harry; who wore a somber expression as if he knew just what was happening. Remus wore slightly shabby black robes, which James noted were the ones he had worn to his wedding to Lily and like Sirius, he held his goddaughter Juliette.
It was the perfect place to lay her to rest, James thought, Lily had loved Godrics Hollow, she loved the history it had and even loved the haunted church. She claimed it was exactly how she pictured a wizard graveyard to look, the feeling of souls that lingered in the grounds, the sensation of someone or something watching you.
Soon, guests started to turn up, some James recognized from The Order of the Phoenix and friends from their school years or Ministry officials but a lot James didn't recognize, wizards and witches of all different ages that spoke of Lily as if they had known her, spoke of her sacrifice that had somehow became public knowledge before staring at Harry as if he were a hero, trying to glimpse at the still red scar on his forehead. Sirius hid him well, keeping Harry's back to the guests and sometimes pulling back when it came to particularly eager guests.
James wasn't sure how he got through the surface, one minute he was nodding dumbly at the Priest and the next he watched as the coffin was brought up, the faces of the men that carried her didn't register in his mind, he didn't hear a word the priest spoke or the songs that were sung. Then, before he was sure he was ready, it was over and Lily was taken back down the isle.
James had decided that the children would go home whilst they laid Lily to rest, as much as it pained him, he knew some things were better left unseen.
It was much later that James came back to the world, mentally anyway. Darkness had fallen and he realized he was back in Godric's Hollow, there had been a wake for close friends and family and James was sure Sirius and Remus would notice his absence and take over for him.
James ignored the ruin of his home as he Apparated in the same spot as he did on Halloween night and walked towards the town centre where he knew the Muggle Memorial stood engraved with the names of dead soldiers from their wars. Once there, James fished his hand into his dress robes - he realized he was missing his cloak but the cold didn't bother him and pulled his wand out.
The spells he needed were on the tip off his tongue and the magic seemed to flow from him. It was surprisingly easy despite how complicated it was, first he put a spell to hide his work from the Muggles in the town, so that only Wizards would see his work before he began to use a complicated Transfiguration spell, turning the memorial into a statue of a family that would form only in the presence of wizards. The Muggles would still see their Memorial. It was effortless, the magic was not as advanced as some of the magic he had preformed before. Becoming an Animagi at fifteen and the map he and his friends made being among the best. Later though as James examined his work, and made sure it worked as he wanted, he would say he was wrong, that this was his greatest magical feat so far.
It was a statue of the Potter family, Lily curled into James arm smiling down at Harry, who was sitting contentedly in her arms. Juliette was tucked up in the crook of James arm, both children bundled up with blankets. It was the picture of a perfect family, one that was torn abruptly apart.
James knew if he wanted to keep what remained of his family safe, he needed to stop acting like a Hufflepuff. Lily was gone, along with a piece of his heart but his children would need him.
They had a prophecy to deal with after all.
Next chapter will be up soon! There will be a small time skip and several changes to the story but I hope you like them! Let me know what you think and thanks for reading!