Prologue

Halloween 1981 –

The night was dark and still as Lilly Potter put her twin sons to bed, her mind heavy with the weight of the ongoing war in the Wizarding world. She couldn't help but think about the prophecy delivered by Sybil Trelawney, the one that had changed her life forever. It had been a dark omen, foretelling of the fall of the Dark Lord, and Lilly couldn't shake the feeling that it had been a curse rather than a blessing. She knew that her husband James had taken the prophecy to heart, and it had consumed him. He had become more and more distant since the prophecy was delivered, and Lilly couldn't help but think that the prophecy had been the root of the change in him.

As she tucked her boys in, she couldn't help but think about the secret keeper switch that had been made, a decision made by her husband James. She had never trusted Peter Pettigrew, and her mistrust had only grown since the switch. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about him, and it made her uneasy. She had voiced her concerns to James, but he had been insistent that Peter was the best choice for the job. Now, as she lay her boys to sleep, she couldn't help but worry about the decision that had been made.

Lilly's thoughts then turned to James, her husband. She remembered how he had changed since the prophecy was delivered, becoming more and more distant and distant. He had become consumed with the need to protect their family, and it had strained their relationship. She had attributed it to the stress of the war, but now she wasn't so sure. Something else had changed within him, something that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She doubted that their relationship would last much longer, if they even survived the war at all.

As Lilly sat lost in her thoughts, she was abruptly interrupted by Harry's sudden awakening. His eyes had opened wide, as if he had sensed something ominous approaching. She couldn't shake off the feeling of impending doom that seemed to be creeping up on her. Just as she was trying to make sense of it all, the entire world around her began to shake violently. The protective wards that surrounded their home crumbled instantly under the force of the attack. She rushed to the window, only to see the unmistakable figure of Voldemort striding confidently up the garden path, headed straight for the front door.

James' voice echoed through the room, urgent and commanding. "Lilly, stay away! Ward the doors! Protect the children! Call Albus!" Without hesitation, Lilly leapt into action, following his instructions to the letter. She quickly set up every defensive ward she knew, frantically layering spell after spell on the thin barrier of wood that stood between her and her children and certain death. Some of the spells she used were considered dark in nature, but in that moment, she didn't care. She would do anything to keep her children safe, even if it meant crossing lines, she never thought she would. With each spell she cast, she could feel determination and maternal love fuelling her actions, knowing that her children's lives were at stake.

After putting the final ward in place and casting the Patronus spell in a desperate call for help from Dumbledore, Lilly stood firmly in front of her children, her wand clutched tightly in her hands until her knuckles turned white. The sound of James' screams filled the air, followed by the approaching footsteps towards the nursery. Her heart ached for James, knowing deep down that he was most likely dead. Despite their recent rift, she still loved him dearly. But there was no time to dwell on her grief, she knew she had to stay focused on protecting her boys. She silently prayed that her wards would hold strong until help arrived, every muscle in her body tense, ready for the inevitable confrontation. She was their mother, and she would do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

Alas, her wards were not enough. With practiced efficiency, Voldemort melted through them like butter, stepping into the room with a sinister swagger. The very air around her seemed to swirl with malevolent energy as he stood menacingly in the doorway, as if relishing in the moment. Lilly felt her heart pounding in her chest as she stood frozen, staring down the most feared Dark Lord in wizarding history. She didn't know what to do, her mind blank with fear and shock. She could feel the weight of his gaze upon her, as if he was measuring her worth as an opponent, a small part of her hoped that he would spare her and her children, but deep down she knew that this was the end.

Voldemort didn't strike her down as she feared. Instead, he opened his mouth, his voice cutting through the air like a knife, sending shivers of primal fear down Lilly's spine. But despite the overwhelming terror she felt, Lilly knew she had to be strong, for the sake of her boys. She stood her ground, her wand held steady in her trembling hand, her eyes locked onto Voldemort's as he spoke. She could feel the weight of his words bearing down on her, each syllable like a physical blow, but she refused to give in to the fear, instead, she stood tall, determined to protect her children at all costs.

"Stand aside, foolish girl," Voldemort sneered, his wand raised and pointed at Lilly with deadly intent. "If you do not stand aside, you will lie dead at my feet. I am not here for you."

But Lilly refused to back down. She knew that her children's lives were at stake, and she would do anything to protect them. "You will not have them," she said, her voice shaking with determination and fear, sweat beading on her forehead.

"Then you die," Voldemort sneered, his wand still pointed at Lilly's head, the air around him crackling with dark energy.

Without hesitation, Lilly screamed "Avada Kedavra!" mustering every shred of hatred and desperation she had for the man who would take her children from her. The curse left her wand in a sickly green spiral, but to her shock, Voldemort twisted his body in an unnatural way, avoiding the spell with a twisted smile on his face. She had thought she had done it, protected her children, and ended the war, but no, she had not.

"Avada Kedavra", the world slowed as the curse lurched toward her with deadly force. Too late to move, Lilly felt as though she was floating for a moment as the killing curse hit her. She could feel the searing pain as the curse made contact, her body convulsing with the force of it, feeling as though every inch of her was on fire. She could hear her children's cries and Voldemort's laughter ringing in her ears as darkness consumed her vision and she took her final breath.

Peter watched in horror as the wards crumbled and Voldemort marched relentlessly toward the Potter's door. His stomach churned with unease, as if it had been twisted into knots. Was it guilt he felt? No, he had made his choice, and there was no going back now. He had joined the winning side, believing that the end of the war was near. Finally, it felt as though true power was within his grasp, but at what cost? He couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that settled in his gut as he watched the Dark Lord approach the Potter's home. He knew deep down that his actions would have dire consequences and he would have to live with the guilt of his betrayal forever.

Voldemort blew the Potters door off its hinges and marched through, the force of the blast sending splinters of wood flying in all directions. Peter watched in dismay as lights lit up the small cottage, every colour imaginable seemed to light the night air. He could hear vague voices from inside, one sounding like James yelling to Lilly. Another knot coiled in Peter's stomach as he realized the gravity of his actions. Suddenly, an unmistakable scream emanated from the house. Peter knew the voice well, it was James, and it seemed as though he was dead. A sadness threatened to take hold of Peter, but he pushed it aside. "Goodbye, old friend," he sniffled, tears streaming down his face as he realized the true cost of his betrayal. He knew that he would have to live with the guilt of his actions forever, and there was no going back.

As Voldemort tore down the wards that Lilly had put up to protect the Twins, one of which was his godson, magic vibrated out of the house with a deafening intensity. The air around the cottage seemed to thrum with the force of the spells being cast, as if the very fabric of reality was being torn apart. Peter could feel the magic in the air, it was palpable, it made the hair on his arms stand up. A sadness washed over him as he thought of his godson. He tried not to dwell on it, but it was hard to shake off the feeling of guilt and regret that settled in his gut. He knew that his actions had led to this moment and that he would have to live with the consequences of his betrayal forever.

Peter was jolted out of his thoughts when the unmistakable flash of the killing curse shone from the Nursery where the twins were located. "It's finally over then," he thought, as he assumed that Lord Voldemort had killed the child of prophecy. But he was shocked from his musings once again when another flash of green emanated from the house. The Dark Lord had previously told him that the killing curse was to be avoided, as to not alert Dumbledore to the attack until it was too late, and that made him curious. He assumed that Lord Voldemort had simply changed his mind in the moment, but as another burst of green lit up the night air, followed by an immense explosion and bursts of magical energy that knocked even Peter over despite being stood a fair distance from the cottage, he realized that something was not right.

Peter's heart was pounding in his chest as he made his way towards the smouldering ruins of the Potter's cottage. Despite not being a brave man, he knew that he had to find out what had happened, even though the thought of what he might discover filled him with dread. Every step he took towards the cottage was a struggle, his legs felt like lead and he could feel the sweat beading on his forehead. The smell of smoke and burning wood was overwhelming, and he could hear the crackling of flames from inside, it was a symphony of destruction. He made his way through the debris, trying to avoid the fallen beams and broken glass that littered the ground. The sight that greeted him as he entered the cottage was one of utter devastation. The furniture was overturned and the walls were blackened with soot, the once-cozy home was now nothing but a shell of its former self. Amongst the Rubble Peter found James unconscious but breathing. Something was definitely wrong, the Dark Lord should not have left James alive, his guilt was crushing as he realized that he had played a part in this tragedy. But as he looked around, he knew that he had to focus solely on his own survival, his guilt and conscience could wait for another day.

As Peter gazed down at James, lying unconscious among the rubble, he felt a wave of fear wash over him. He knew that if James were to wake up, he would learn of his betrayal and the role he had played in this tragedy. He felt a knot of guilt and shame form in his stomach as he thought about how he had sold out his friends for the sake of his own ambition.

Peter cautiously stepped over the motionless form of James, his heart heavy with dread as he approached the nursery. The sight that greeted him was one of utter devastation. The once-cozy room was now a scene of chaos and destruction, with debris scattered everywhere and the walls blackened with soot. As he scanned the room, his eyes fell upon the lifeless form of Lilly, her eyes still open and staring blankly ahead. A wave of sadness washed over him as he realized the sacrifice she had made to protect her children. In the centre of the room lay the remains of Voldemort, reduced to a pile of ash, his wand lying beside him, abandoned. Without hesitation, Peter snatched it up, slipping it into his robes. But as he looked around the room, he saw something that left him both confused and horrified - the twins were alive, lying in their cribs amidst the destruction. How had mere babies defeated the Dark Lord? It was a mystery that left Peter trembling with fear and uncertainty as he contemplated his next move.

James could not know the truth, Peter knew that.

He had to change James's memories, but he knew that a simple obliviation spell on its own would not be enough. He needed something more powerful, something that would be undetectable. That's when he remembered the potion given to him by another member of the Dark Lord's inner circle, specifically designed to allow memory charms to go unnoticed. He raised his wand towards the unconscious form of James, and with a flick of his wand, he cast the spell "Obliviate!" The memories of James were manipulated, twisted and reshaped. Every memory of him being secret keeper was removed, and the only thing left was the memory of Sirius being the secret keeper. He even implanted a deep, malicious hatred for Sirius, for his supposed betrayal. "Sorry old dog," Peter thought, smirking as he stepped away, satisfied with his handiwork.

As Peter surveyed the destruction that surrounded him, he knew that he needed to make a quick escape. He couldn't stay there, not with the evidence of his treachery all around him. His mind raced as he considered his options, and he knew that he needed to track down Sirius and turn him over to James as the traitor. Just as he was about to make his move, he heard the tell-tale pop of Apparition from outside the cottage. Startled, he apparated himself and felt his body twisting through the void. He knew that he needed to act fast if he was going to survive this night and secure his own future. He was determined to do whatever it takes to make sure that he comes out on top, no matter the cost.

Dumbledore stepped inside the cottage, his heart heavy with dread as he surveyed the destruction before him. The once-cozy home was now nothing but smouldering ruins, with debris scattered everywhere and the walls blackened with soot. The smell of smoke and burning wood filled his nostrils, and he could hear the crackling of flames from inside. He made his way through the debris, trying to avoid the fallen beams and broken glass that littered the ground. As he searched for any sign of life, he heard rugged breathing coming from the Nursery, he quickly strode toward what had once been a door. James who seemed to be in and out of consciousness held Lilly in his arms.

Dumbledore knelt beside James and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "James, what happened here?" he asked softly.

"He...he killed her," James croaked, tears streaming down his face as he looked up at Dumbledore. "Lily...he killed her to get to the boys. But Charlus...Charlus survived. He killed the Dark Lord."

Dumbledore's heart ached at the sight of James' pain and the loss of Lily. He gently pried James away from Lilly and laid her down on the floor. He cast a spell over her body, closing her eyes, and making her appearance peaceful.

"I need you to tell me everything that happened, James," Dumbledore said firmly.

James took a deep breath and began to recount the events of the night. As he spoke, Dumbledore listened intently, piecing together the puzzle of what had occurred.

"And the twins, are they both alright?" Dumbledore asked, looking towards the cribs where the twin's lay.

"They're alive," James said, his voice filled with both relief and confusion. "I don't know how, but they're alive, Charlus, he was struck by the killing curse and yet…"

Dumbledore stood up, a sense of hope and determination filling him. "We must protect them at all costs," he said firmly. "They are the key to defeating Voldemort once and for all."

James nodded, still in shock and mourning the loss of his wife, but knowing that their children were the only hope for the wizarding world.