Chapter 1 - Everything

Lily Potter promised herself she wouldn't cry – not again, not in front of Harry, not in front of him. Lily Potter promised herself that she would be brave.

"Take the boy and follow me."

The staircase felt like a thousand miles long. Harry was quiet in her arms, sweet as always. He had little idea what was going on. Maybe it was just a game … Lily had her hands over her son's eyes so that he wouldn't see –

And then she saw – James lying on the ground; James' wand still in his hand; James' eyes staring up at the ceiling, empty. Again her tears fell like a silent waterfall until he turned around.

"We don't have much time, Potter – your precious little Order is coming."

Lily Potter had just lost everything.

The burden she was carrying suddenly felt like lead. Her frozen brain registered walking to the door but her legs might as well moved on her own accord. The howling October wind was scratchy and biting into her skin but she didn't feel it. The ringing in her ears wouldn't stop. She wondered what it would feel like to lie among broken wood, dead and empty and – and free. For one moment, it sounded enticing.

Then a pair of tiny hands grasped hers, tugging, soft but insistent. She moved her hand mechanically and, all of a sudden, she was staring into two pools of emerald green. It was like looking into the mirror. Harry smiled – he always did liked to see, liked to know what was going on – as if he was happy to see her. He was happy to see her and the whole messed up world was right. At that moment, she knew, clear as day, that she hadn't lost everything after all.

Her husband's killer slashed down with his wand once and their wooden cottage burst into flames sky high and she screamed – but only in her head. Strong hands clasped her shoulders and turned her on the spot and her life as she knew it was well and truly over, but she just held her son tighter and she didn't struggle and she didn't break.

Lily Evans knew she wouldn't cry any more.

A/N: Another short one, but I thought I'd just put it out there as a first look into Lily's thoughts. The next chapter will be much longer, and we will get into Lily and Harry's peculiar new life. Also our favourite house elf will make his entrance! I haven't decided if this story should end "happily" yet. Thoughts?