What a difference a cloak makes

By: Jamnaz79

Notification: I do not own Harry Potter, I do not own the characters, story movie or anything else. I make no profit not want any. I only write for the hell of it and hopefully someone gets a small enjoyment from my thoughts.

One of the greatest treasures of the Potter family was held loosely in the hands of James Potter. He stood before Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts and Lord of the Light. The man seemed to covet the family heirloom and had asked to borrow it. Of course an invisibility cloak would be useful in the war for the order. The magical items were considered precious and often would only last a few years despite the extreme amount of expensive items required to acquire one. Now James knew this cloak was different than other cloaks. He had been told by his grandfather that supposedly it had been passed down through the family for five centuries. No cloak should last that long! Not to mention that it was not able to be detected or seen through by any normal magical means. Sure, someone could place charms to track it, see disturbances in the air around it when raining or even smell and hear the occupant of the cloak but no magical means could see the person under the cloak when it was worn.

That brought James to the present, he stood before the Headmaster in Hogwarts's private chambers as the man held out his hand with an easy smile and twinkling eyes. "James, remember you will be safely under protection so you will not need it. After all with the Fidelius charm in effect nobody will be able to arm you. The cloak could be put to use spying on the enemy. We need all chances to acquire information on their possible strikes. This cloak could save lives."

The man did make a good argument. After all nobody knew that Peter was their secret keeper, jut changed by ritual the night before so Sirius could be a distraction and keep them further safe. While he hated to put his friend into the bad position that possibly could see him harmed he knew that Sirius would do anything to protect his godson. They should be safe, there should be no concerns. But, instead of feeling safe James couldn't help but feel the cloak would be needed.

James raised his eyes to meet the gaze of the Headmaster about to speak and tell the man no thank you. But, he stopped as he could feel a light touch to his mind. The ring invisible on his left hand that nobody knew about warmed up. The Head of House Ring for the Potter family was old before the Wizengamot was formed. Actually it was old before the time period of the Roman's coming to the shores of the Isle. It was a piece of bronze decayed and discolored with runes that nobody could identify written inside and outside of the band. But, it held power, one of those powers was acting up right now. It could stop anyone from entering the mind of the wearer. He had not previously worn the ring, He had decided earlier today on a fluke to acquire it. But, he felt as his father and mother had passed after their murder he felt it might give some strength and protection. Anything that could would be helpful in the days ahead. It seemed now that thought was paying off. The Headmaster had just tried to enter his mind with legilimency! He fought back a growl and wondered if this had been the first time ever? Or had this man often done this? How many of his past decisions were his own? It was better to keep this quiet for now till he could think over what took place. This wasn't the time for the Gryffindor, but instead like his mother always said the cunning of House Potter to come out instead.

He shook away the thought then forced a smile, "No Headmaster. I am sorry but the Potter family cloak will stay with us. But, I did acquire from the bank five thousand galleons that I will donate to the Order's war chest. I am sure it might help in acquiring a few votes."

The Headmaster's face flickered faster than a muggle movie. First it looked annoyed before a bit of confusion before finally turning to a smile. The man to James' eyes didn't seem to understand what happened so logically this was not the first time that the Headmaster had acted like this. At once alarm bells went off in the head of James, if this man had been going into his head then who knew what else he was capable of? Suddenly the words, "For the Greater Good" came to mind and a frown almost touched the lips of James. Instead he kept the forced smile as he happened over the large sum of money. One Galleon was commonly traded for fifty pounds of muggle money. So that pouch contained two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. That was not a small sum of money. In fact it most likely could bribe not just one but multiple members of the Wizengamot to their side. Hell it would pay for five Aurors for the next year on its own! It could actually purchase an invisibility cloak most likely with that amount of funds! The question though in James' mind was if Albus' side really his. His thoughts were broken up as the man reached out and took the sack, "Thank you James, that is very kind of you to give that donation. I will respect your wishes on the cloak. But if you change your mind please pass it along, it could save lives."

"I understand Headmaster. I feel that the cloak shall stay with the family, but you may use the funds to acquire one for the Order's use perhaps. I should get back though Lily gets fussy if I am gone too long. May I use your floo?" James forced a polite smile at the old man who had just tried to mind rape him.

"Of course James, Please keep yourself safe. It is vitally important that Harry is kept safe as you know due to the prophecy either he or Neville will someday become very important." Albus gave his best grandfatherly smile to the younger man.

"Indeed, I only hope this war is long gone before it comes to that." James forced another sad smile at the ancient wizard before he used the floo to return to Godric's Hallow. There he stumbled out of the floo, yes despite being a pureblood and one of the most elegant men around with skills as a Quidditch chaser that could marvel he never seemed to land correct out of the floo.

James stood up and brushed himself off before looking around the main chamber of the Godric's Hallow residence. He saw nothing and frowned, "Lily where are you?"

The daylight had faded away as it was deep into the night now on this October 31st. He looked around then heard her voice from upstairs calling down to him, "I am up here with Harry dear. He had woken up with a bad dream."

James took the stairs two at a time till he reached her. She was sitting there in an old rocking chair before the window. Their son in her arms as she slowly rocked back and forth under the moon and starlight. It was a sight that warmed the heart of the young man. To James' eyes this was the most beautiful woman in the world to his eyes holding his own offspring, his son and heir. His father always told him that the happiest moment in his life was when he first saw his mother holding James. Now he truly understood what his father had meant. The sight was breathtaking and beautiful; it was something he would need to end though sadly. "Dear, I don't believe we are safe here."

Lily stopped rocking for a second and turned to look at him in surprise. A touch of concern filled her voice as she spoke up, "What do you mean James?"

"I went and visited Albus, he wanted to use the family cloak. I was going to let him and went to get it from the vaults today. But, when I was there I picked up the family Head of House ring and some galleons for the war effort." A slight frown crossed the face of James. His wife knew how much being stuck in the house while others were fighting was bothering the young Auror. James was always a fight first, defend what you care about type of person. But, now after the wards placed on this house they rarely would leave for now on. It made him feel useless.

He let out a sight and brushed his fingertips through his windswept Potter hair, "When I was there with Albus he tried to invade my mind to force me to give him the cloak. What is more I don't think this was the first time he has done this. I know there is very few ways of knowing from the past if he has been there but once is too many in my opinion. What if we cannot trust him? I mean we left the family manor to come here were the wards are far less than home at his suggestion."

A grimace came over the lips of the young man as he started to pace slowly but then he stopped and looked up meeting the gaze of Lily, "Why didn't we just cast a Fidelius charm there?"

Lily could see the concern filling the eyes of her husband and frowned. It was a good question and one she wasn't certain why they didn't do that. The manor House for House Potter was ancient, it was filled with wards that neither of them fully knew what they did. Now that James had taken over Headship he could easily though control the wards and enact whatever he would like. He could lock down the house and make it secure as a fortress. She was a charms mistress she most likely could fast the Fidelius charm herself. Plus if anyone ever did find the location of this House they would only discover that nobody was here. Still it was a concern why neither of them had considered this option before. "I do not know why we didn't do that. Perhaps we can do that tomorrow. We will move back there safe and sound nobody the wiser. Everyone believes we are here in Godric's Hallow for the Order. It would make a second layer of defense for us."

James stepped forward and placed a kiss on the forehead of his beautiful wife, "It is a wonderful idea my dear. We should pack…"

What he was going to say was stopped as he felt a pull on his magic. It was impossible, it should not be happening but somehow the wards at Godric's Hallow were weakening. The shock must have shown on his face as he felt himself paling at the thought. His eyes looked up and met the gaze of Lily, "They are here. They have found us."

"You need to get Harry out of here." He pulled out the cloak which he still had in his pocket then pushed it into her hands. Next he slid off the Head of House ring and pressed it into her hand, "I will find a way to give you time dear. We will meet at the Manor."

Lily was in a panic but she had learned over the years one fact. Trust James Potter. Their son was who they were after, it was all the mattered to find a way to keep him safe. So she nodded quickly standing up and pressing her lips firmly onto those of her husband perhaps for the last time. She could feel tears burning at the edges of her emerald gaze, "I love you James Charlus Potter."

He returned the kiss then started to walk away at once. He paused at the doorway after her words and gave her a wink and mischievous grin, "I know."

It would be the last time that Lily Potter would see her husband. He would distract the Dark Lord long enough for them to get away. In fact he would fight like a man possessed, so determined to protect his lover and child that he would tear the very walls of the building apart in transfigurations that would have the Aurors stunned at the vast spells that lingered on his wand. He would harm the Dark Lord in ways that the man would not think possible, scaring his face, body and even magi. At the end it would not be enough, for despite how strong the wizard was he was still a man. The Dark Lord due to rituals had become something far worse than a man, and closer to a demon.

Still for a young woman it was enough time even if paid with a price far too high. She placed on the cloak, taking Harry into her arms under it and flew out of the window on a broom. She had never been a good broom rider but she was able to stay on one when necessary. She flew out into the night away from the darkness, from the prying eyes of Death Eaters that had surrounded the residence. In fact she flew for a mile before she landed and sent a patronus charm to the ministry for help. After she did that she got back on the broom and continued to fly off. It was not safe to apparate with a very young child and with the sacrifice that her husband was making she would do everything in her power to keep their child alive. She would do just that as Lily Potter nee Evans would disappear behind the wards of the Manor for House Potter and not be seen again in public view for close to a decade.

Author Note: This was another idea that was cooking around in my head for a while. Why does the Potters go to Godric's Hallow? Why in gods name if you were being hunted would you give up an artifact from the family to be used by others? Some questions always bugged me with that part of the story. This story would have a Harry raised by Lily who is not the boy who lived but instead the future Lord Potter. What would Harry be like if he was from a loving guiding mother who would teach him of both the muggle and magical world? He would know his family and their legacy and learn about the wizarding world so he wouldn't just be a pawn. Voldemort could either be alive still or instead Neville Longbottom could be the boy-who-lived. An angry dangerous perhaps a little insane Ms. Potter and a smart knowledgeable perhaps Ravenclaw Harry Potter could be a fun story to right. Your thoughts?