"Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged"

- Henry Scott Holland, Death Is Nothing at All

"Lily!"

Lily jumped from her spot at the curtains she had just been gazing out of a moment beforehand, her paranoia was slowly getting worse but that was to be expected with their current situation. She clutched Harry to her chest tightly, squeezing him as if he was going to disappear in a moment's notice. James walked through the door, his heart dropping as he caught sight of his wife and their young son, the pain of not being able to see their son grow up and become a wonderful wizard was overwhelming. He had never truly dreamt of becoming a Dad until Lily told him he was pregnant, but since they had Harry his life truly felt complete. He had his family and that's all he needed.

Lily and James' eyes connected, a sad longing look passed in their eyes as they realised what they must do. They had to protect their son, they had to make sure his future was set. They knew Dumbledore would arrange everything for the, however who Harry was going to stay with was a sore point for Lily, as much as she loved her sister to death, they were all too aware of Petunia's stance on magic.

Lily took a deep breath, not allowing her tears to fall as she clutched onto Harry. "Is it time?" She asked James, her voice barely a whisper.

James gulped but nodded. "It is" He sighed and walked over to his family, enveloping them in a tight embrace as they shared what would be their last few moments with their son.

"When will we send it?"

"In a moment" James pecked her hair, "I want to share these last few minutes with my family. I want to remember all the good times together, us getting married and then finding out we're pregnant with Harry. Every single bit of it"

A silence fell between the two, the only noise coming from an unaware Harry who was currently sucking on his thumb as he was cradled by his Mother. Lily felt the fear begin to rise and she couldn't help but let the tears fall. "I don't want to go James" She cried. "I don't want to leave Harry or you. I want to stay here, with my family. I don't want to go"

James pulled her into a tight hug, shutting his eyes as his own tears threatened to fall, he rocked them gently and when Lily fell silent he spoke. "I know, I don't want to leave either. But there's nothing we can. He would find us anywhere we went. Dumbledore done his best to hide us, but it wasn't enough. Harry will learn when he's older what his parents died for, and why they done it. He'll make us proud"

Lily sniffed and nodded, "You can go send it now"

James nodded and set off to the kitchen, he pulled his wand out of his back pocket and conjured a patronus to send to Sirius Black, one of his closest friends since his Hogwarts days. "Sirius, by the time you receive this message it'll be too late. He's coming. We're sending Harry to stay with his Muggle relatives, a choice not taken lightly. As his Godfather, when he comes of age and learns of his heritage we want you to train him, take him under your wing and guide him. We'll always be watching. Watch over him for us Sirius."

With another flick of his wand the patronus darted through the window and off into the black of night. He knew that Sirius would try and come in time to stop this from happening, but James knew in the pit of the stomach by the time he got here it would be too late. Their fates had been sealed and no one could change that.

James had to be brave, not for him but for his family. With a deep breath he went back into the living room, finding Lily peeking out of the curtains again. A look of fear in her eyes, she turned to face James, her face now a sickly shade of white. "I...I heard a noise. It sounded like someone apparated"

James nodded, taking a quick look out the window and immediately stiffened "Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! I'll hold him off! Take Harry upstairs, lock the door and barricade yourselves in. I know it won't stop him, but it might delay him. Go. Go!" James yelled

Lily held onto Harry tightly as she headed for the living room door, before she went she pulled James into a searing kiss, putting all of her emotions and love into that one kiss. James pulled away with a hint of a smirk on his face before the situation hit him again. He placed a gentle and caring hand on Lily's cheek and smiled, "I know. I love you too, and I love you Harry" James kissed his son on the head, taking one long look at him as he said goodbye. "Daddy loves you Harry, always remember that. Your Mummy and I will see you again"

Lily held back the tears as she ran from the room with one last look at James, he was now standing at the bottom of the stairs making sure they got up safely. He took a deep breath and looked at the front door. Everything was silent, he couldn't hear any movement from outside but he knew that Voldemort was there. He was here and everything was about to change. James grabbed his wand from his back pocket, mentally thinking of all the curses and spells he could think of even though he knew they were going to do him no good.

It was when he heard the upstairs door shut that everything changed, it had stayed silent for a moment before the handle on the front door slowly began to turn, James braced himself as the door swung open, revealing a dark and hooded figure. James raised his wand, his eyes narrowing at the figure before him, but before he could utter a single curse, the hiss like voice of Voldemort rung out into the night air.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A flash of green light headed straight towards him before hitting him square in the chest, his eyes widened slightly at the sudden contact but then James went still, his lifeless body falling onto the foot of the stairs. As Voldemort glided past his body, a single tear ran down the cheek of Harry Potter's father.

Lily could hear the commotion downstairs, she held in a sob as she placed Harry in his cot, making sure to lock the door even though that would do no good. She bent down on front of the crib and stared at her son was staring at her with a look of concern, almost as if he knew what was happening.

"Harry. Harry, you are loved. You are so loved. Harry, Mama loves you. Dada loves you. Harry, be safe. Be strong" Lily kissed her hand and then placed it on her son's cheek, just hoping that Harry would always know just how loved he was. With one final look at him, she stood up and turned as the door blasted open. The hooded figure of Voldemort glided into the room, Lily threw her arms out to the side, shielding Harry from what she knew was about to happen to her.

"Not Harry! Please... have mercy... have mercy... Not Harry! Not Harry! Please — I'll do anything!"

But Voldemort didn't listen, after her helpless pleas he raised his wand and uttered the dark curse once again. "Avada Kedavra!"

The green beam of light hit Lily Potter directly in the chest, and just as her husband had, she fell to the floor with a thud. Harry glanced down at the unmoving body of his mother, although he was too young to understand what had happened he begun to cry for his Mother, longing for her to hold him again.