An: This chapter is slightly boring. It's mostly James finding out about what happened with Voldemort.

Chapter 3 Explanations

After arriving at Hogwarts, Hagrid gave Dumbledore's password to James before heading back to his hut. James made his way towards Dumbledore's office, lost in thought. Lily and I first got together here. We fall in love here. James thought about how he fell in love with her. The passion she had for defending what was right and her friends and they were at odds at times because of Snape; but how Lily found him funny, even then. Lily watching him play Quidditch and cheering loudly with everyone else. And how becoming head boy and how he spent more time with Lily because of that, leading to her giving him a chance. And everything about Lily, the amazing girl, women, he fell in love with and married. The person he wanted to spend the reason of his live with. And how a person so full with live was gone. James didn't want to think about that.

Thankfully, he had arrived at Dumbledore's office now. Saying the password, he climbed the stairs. Hopefully, he would get some answers from Dumbledore. James knocked.

"Enter," entered came from within. James took a deep breath and entered.

Dumbledore looked up from his writing, shocked to see James.

"James, you're alive?" Dumbledore looked more surprised than James had ever seen him.

"Yes, I'm alive. And I would like to know what's going on." James demanded, determined to get some answers.

Dumbledore sigh, this was going to be hard. "I know. And I have some as well, James. Primly, how are you alive?"

"I don't know. I barely remember what happened. It was quick. One minute I was yelling at Lily," it hurt to say her name, "to get out, the next I was on the ground waking up to the house destroyed." James failed. He didn't give Lily enough time to get out. "What happened in between? With Voldemort? And why did he leave Harry alive? And just…" James couldn't finish, overcame with grief.

"I'm so sorry, James. Lily was a great witch. And if my theory is correct, she is the reason Harry's alive." Both looked at the sleeping baby in James' lap.

"You're saying that Harry's alive because Lily…you know." Dumbledore just nodded. "But how?"

"I believe that Lily was given a choice to stand down and let Voldemort kill only Harry."

"And she didn't. Of course, she wouldn't. Lily wouldn't let anything happen to Harry." James said ferociously. Lily would do anything for her loved ones, which part of why he fell for her. "But what does that have to do with Harry being alive." James wanted to know.

"Since Lily didn't move out-of-the-way, Voldemort killed her." James winced. "And he turned his wand at Harry."

"What?!" James nearly jumped up. His son almost died—his baby boy.

Dumbledore continued like James didn't just interrupted. "But, because of Lily's love for Harry, the spell backed fired, hitting him instead."

"You mean, Voldemort's gone. He's gone! Just like that!" James was shocked. Harry, Lily, destroyed Voldemort.

"I'm afraid that it's only temporarily, that Voldemort may return. For now, you are safe from him. But, I'm afraid, that you are still in danger. The Death Eaters are going to be angry about their master's death and are going to blame it on Harry."

"I'm not going to let him get hurt. He's going to be safe. I'll make sure of it." James clutched Harry tightly to his chest—he wasn't going to lose Harry.

"I know you will, James. But I know a way that would make him even safer." James looked up at this.

"How?" James wanted to know.

"Lily's death, her love for Harry, has given Harry a special protection, a blood protection. As long as Harry is with someone who shares Lily's blood, he would be safe from anyone who desires to hurt him. I'm sorry James but it would be safer if Harry stayed with Lily's sist-"

"NO!" James yelled before Dumbledore could finish. "Harry's not going there. She hates magic. Hates it. She'll hate Harry." James knew it was a bad idea to send Harry there. And what is Dumbledore thinking, asking him to give up his son.

"I'm sure she won't hate Harry, James. Harry's her sister's son. Besides, James, he would be safer there. I have even writing a letter to explain everything." Dumbledore held up the parchment that he was writing on when James walked in.

James just stared at Dumbledore in disbelief. He really expected James to send Harry to Petunia-to give up his son. "A LETTER! That's not going to help at all. Petunia isn't going to be happy. She's not going to be willing to take in Harry. And I'm not going to give up my son. I'm going to raise him; he stays with me. Is that clear?"

Dumbledore realized there was no arguing with James. "Fine, I won't argue with you. But Harry would be safer there."

"And he would be with me. I'm not going to let anything happen to Harry." James held his son closer. He was not going to lose him.

"I know, James. Just be carefully." Dumbledore said, worried about the remaining Death Eaters. "Why don't you go get some rest? And we can discuss more later. After some rest. We'll discuss a safe place for you and Harry to stay and the best protection possible."

At the mention of rest, James realized just how tired he was. It was nearly morning now and this night has been a long one. "Ok. Thank-you."

"Not at all, James. Come now, let's get you some rest" Dumbledore said, leading him out of his office to an extra room. "We'll talk in the morning. Get some rest, James. And I'm truly sorry for your lost." Dumbledore left, leaving James to his thoughts.

"Everything be ok, Harry. We'll make." James whispered, climbing in bed, holding Harry close, hoping for his words to be true. Those were his last thoughts before falling asleep.

An: There isn't going to be Dumbledore bashing but his actions are going to be question at times. I think Dumbledore means well but looks to much at the big picture and not at people as people at times. Like, here, I believe he is concerned about Harry's safety but really doesn't understand Petunia and Lily's relationship and how it would affect Harry growing up in that household or that James isn't going to just let his son live someone else, being raised by someone else, especially after Lily's death. And Sirius will be in the next chapter.