28 May 1980, Upper Flagley

Lily sat at her desk in the cosy home she shared with James in Upper Flagley, her attention focused on the intricate runic array she was meticulously working on. Her large belly, a testament to the life growing inside her, made her position uncomfortable, but she persisted. The array in front of her was far from perfect. Sure it had worked once already when she had been in a pinch, but the more she pored over it, the more it seemed like that was some kind of a fluke. Or there was some other factor present then which wasn't now, but it's not like she got the witness her design actually working that night since she passed out from magical exhaustion before the array could fully activate so she couldn't even begin to take a guess what that might be. In either case, her goal now was to create a powerful blood ward, one that would protect her soon-to-be-born son, Harry, from the ever-growing threat of Voldemort.

The war had only intensified since she and James had left Hogwarts two years ago. They had both fought bravely as members of the Order of the Phoenix, having actually defied Voldermort in combat twice now, but everything had changed when Lily became pregnant and the prophecy regarding the one who would vanquish the Dark Lord had come to light. The prophecy described a child born at the end of July who would have the power to defeat Voldemort, and Harry was one of the two children who fit that description. Except, Alice's unborn son fit the description better at the moment since the Longbottoms had three encounters with the dark wizard, and that was another stipulation of the prophecy. Just to be on the safe side, Dumbledore had asked both couples to go into hiding.

As she worked, Lily's concentration was broken by the persistent sniffling she couldn't seem to control. She paused, wiping her nose with the back of her hand, and tried to refocus. The lines and symbols of the runes seemed to blur in front of her eyes, and she realized she was on the verge of tears due to her frustration. Damned pregnancy hormones.

A knock on the door brought her back to the present, and she heard James's familiar voice. "Lily, love? Are you alright in there?"

Taking a deep breath, she called out, "Yes, I'm fine. Just working on this blasted array."

The door creaked open, and James stepped inside, his expression softening as he saw her. "You've been at it for hours. Why don't you take a break?"

Lily sighed, setting down her quill. "I know, but I'm so close to figuring this out. If I can just get it right, it could protect Harry."

James crossed the room and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know you want to protect him. We both do. But you need to take care of yourself too. Come on, let's have some tea and you can tell me all about your progress."

Lily allowed James to help her up from the chair, her movements slow and careful. They walked to the kitchen together, James's arm around her waist for support. As they sat down at the table, James poured them both a cup of tea, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Tell me about the runes," he said, his tone encouraging.

Lily took a sip of her tea, feeling the warmth spread through her. "It's the same array I used that night with Remus. I've been trying to refine it, to make it more powerful and stable. If I can harness the blood magic properly, it could create a ward strong enough to keep Voldemort out. Indefinitely."

James nodded, his expression serious. "I have no doubt you'll get it right. You're brilliant, Lily."

She smiled at his words, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "I just want to make sure Harry has the best possible protection. If anything were to happen to us…"

James reached across the table and took her hand in his. "Nothing will happen to us. We'll do everything in our power to keep him safe. And we have the Order to help us."

Lily squeezed his hand, taking comfort in his presence. "I know. I just can't shake this feeling of urgency. Like I need to get it done now."

"Then we'll work on it together," James said, his voice filled with resolve. "Whatever it takes, we'll protect our family."

Lily wanted to say something, to express her gratitude and love for James, but suddenly the urge to sneeze overtook her. She quickly turned away, covering her face with her hands.

"Bless you," James said with a chuckle, gently rubbing her back as she sneezed again and handed her a handkerchief.

Neither of them noticed the vase then one of the picture frames in the hall changed colour right at the same time as those sneezes happened.

"Thanks," Lily replied, her voice slightly muffled by the handkerchief before she blew her nose. She sniffled once more, feeling a bit embarrassed by the sudden interruption. "Sorry about that. Must be all the dust from the old tomes I've been poring over."

James shook his head, still smiling. "No need to apologize. We've both been working ourselves to the bone. Maybe it's our bodies telling us to slow down a bit."

Lily nodded, appreciating his concern. "Maybe you're right. But I just can't shake this feeling of urgency, James. I need to get this right. For Harry."

"I understand, love," James said, his tone gentle. "But we can't help Harry if we don't take care of ourselves too. How about we take a break, and get some fresh air? It might clear your head and give you a new perspective on those runes."

Lily considered his suggestion, realizing that a break might indeed help her think more clearly. "Alright," she agreed, standing up slowly with James's assistance. "A walk sounds nice."

Unfortunately for them, going out wasn't such an easy task. They were in hiding, so a generous amount of glamour spells were required if they were to leave the house. They would have gone with Polyjuice, but Lily's condition didn't allow for that.

James helped Lily into a comfortable chair while he prepared their disguises. He cast a series of careful charms, altering their appearances subtly but effectively. James's hair turned a sandy blonde, and his eyes a pale blue. Lily's hair became a deep auburn, and her eyes changed to a soft brown. They both looked like completely different people.

Once the glamours were in place, James offered Lily his arm. "Ready, Mrs Evans?"

They were living here under the false identity of their middle names and Lily's maiden name: Monty (after Fleamont) and Jane Evans.

Lily smiled, taking his arm. "Ready, Mr Evans."

Lily more like waddled than walked with her seven-month belly, but it felt nice to get her joints moving a bit after that amount of sitting. Though she could do without the phantom feeling of her womb and intestines falling out between her legs.

As they stepped out of the house, the fresh air greeted them with a gentle breeze. The village of Upper Flagley was peaceful, the early summer sun casting a warm glow over the quaint houses and blooming gardens. Despite the slight discomfort, Lily felt a sense of relief as they moved through the village.

"See? Isn't this nice?" James said, his tone light.

Lily chuckled. "Yes, it is. I almost forgot what it feels like to just be outside. Even if walking feels like I'm carrying a Quidditch Quaffle between my legs."

James laughed, squeezing her hand gently. "We'll just take it slow. No need to rush."

They walked in companionable silence for a while, taking in the serene beauty of their surroundings. As they passed a small park, James noticed a bench under a large oak tree and guided Lily towards it. They sat down, enjoying the simple pleasure of being together in a place that felt safe, even if only for a moment.

Lily sneezed again. This time, in the trees, a bird's nest turned into a birdhouse.

James looked at her with concern. "Bless you. Are you okay?"

Lily sniffled, rubbing her nose. "Must be allergies."

James frowned, clearly puzzled. "What now?"

Lily laughed softly. "Do wizards seriously not know what allergies are?"

James scratched his head. "I mean, I've heard of them I think, but they're not common in the magical world. What are you allergic to?"

Lily shrugged. "Could be pollen, dust, something in the air. It's pretty common for Muggles. I guess being Muggleborn does have its drawbacks if we are still more prone to it."

James looked thoughtful. "I suppose it makes sense. Even magic has its limits."

They sat in silence for a few moments, enjoying the warmth of the sun filtering through the leaves. Despite the occasional sneeze—each marked by some small change in the environment that still eluded their attention—Lily felt a sense of calm she hadn't experienced in weeks. The quiet rustle of the leaves and the distant sound of children playing were a soothing backdrop to their thoughts.

James turned to her, his expression softening. "You know, I think it's kind of amazing."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"That even with all the magic in the world, there are still things that remind us we're human. Allergies, sneezes… it's like a little reminder that we're part of both worlds."

Lily smiled, squeezing his hand. "I never thought of it that way. But you're right. It's a nice thought."

Their nice outing was cut short by a quick spring rain coming out of nowhere. The sudden downpour caught them off guard, and they scrambled to their feet, laughing as they tried to cover themselves with their hands.

James looked around for a moment, then pulled out his wand and cast a quick Impervious Charm over them both, causing the rain to slide off them as if they were covered in an invisible shield.

"We should head back," James said, still smiling despite the rain. "Don't want you catching a cold."

Lily nodded, her hair already damp but her spirits high. "Let's go home."

They walked back to their cottage, hand in hand, enjoying the rain and the brief escape from the pressures of their world. As they reached their doorstep, the rain began to let up, leaving the air fresh and clean. James held the door open for Lily, and she stepped inside, grateful for the warmth and comfort of their home.

"Let's get you into some dry clothes," James said, gently guiding her towards the living room. "And maybe a warm shower followed by a cup of tea?"

Lily smiled, feeling a deep sense of contentment. "That sounds perfect."

29 May 1980, Upper Flagley

The next morning, Lily woke up feeling like something was amiss. She had slept very uncomfortably, though that was not a surprise in her current state. Uncomfortable was the new norm. But this time she felt like her nose was clogged up all the way to her brain, and she could barely squeeze a sliver of air through it. No wonder her throat was so dry—she must have slept with her mouth open. Geez, did she snore? What would James think?

Speaking of James, he was nowhere to be seen. Glancing at the clock, Lily realized how late she had slept, which was uncharacteristic of her. James must have gone to work already, as it was Monday. The Auror Corps had a lot to do these days. As she took a second look, she found a small note on the pillow left for her.

Unfolding the note, she smiled at James's familiar handwriting:

Morning, Love,

You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to wake you. I hope you got some rest. There's breakfast on the table, and I've left some tea for you as well. Take it easy today. I'll be home early.

All my love, James

Lily's heart warmed at the thoughtfulness of her husband. She slowly got out of bed, feeling the weight of her pregnancy in every movement. Padding barefoot to the kitchen, she found a plate of scrambled eggs and toast covered with a cloche to keep it warm and a steaming pot of tea beside it.

As she ate, she pondered over her current project—the runic array she had been working on. She had made some progress but felt there was still something missing. The thought of providing the ultimate protection for her soon-to-be-born son filled her with determination. She needed to get it right.

After breakfast, she decided to go back to her workroom. Her nose was still stuffy, and she sniffled as she settled into her chair, pulling the plan of the array towards her. She had been tinkering with the design for weeks, moving runes around, adding more, swapping out others, trying to perfect the blood ward protection.

"Alright, Harry," she murmured, placing a hand on her belly. "Let's figure this out together."

Hours passed as she lost herself in the intricate details of the runes. The occasional sneeze interrupted her concentration, but she pressed on, driven by the urgency of the task. She was so absorbed in her work that she didn't notice the door opening behind her.

"Lily?" James's voice broke through her focus.

She looked up, surprised to see him home so early. "James! You're back."

He walked over, concern etched on his face. "You shouldn't be working so hard, love. Are you feeling alright?"

Lily sniffled and gave him a tired smile. "Just a bit congested. Must be those allergies again."

James frowned, placing a hand on her forehead. "You don't have a fever, but you should rest. This can wait."

Lily sighed, knowing he was right. "Alright. But I'm so close to figuring this out."

"We'll figure it out together," James said, helping her up from the chair. "For now, let's get you comfortable."

They settled on the couch in the living room, Lily resting her head on James's shoulder.

"By the way, I like what you did with your studio," James said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Very inspired design choices. Almost all of your knick-knacks are a different colour now. And did you transfigure the lamp as well?"

Lily frowned, lifting her head slightly to look at him. She hadn't even touched her willow wand today. "What are you talking about?"

James raised an eyebrow. "Even the vase and the picture frames in the hall. They're all different colours. It looks like you've been busy redecorating."

Lily blinked, realization dawning on her. "I didn't do any of that, James. At least, not intentionally."

"Accidental magic? At twenty? Kids grow out of that by the time they go to Hogwarts," he said, half-jokingly.

Then, just to prove her point, Lily sneezed again, a really big one this time, and the coffee table changed from a simple wooden one to an intricate glass and stone piece.

"Oh no, it must have been me. Whenever I sneeze, something changes colour or shape," she said, putting the clues together.

James looked both amused and concerned. "Well, that's a new one."

Lily shook her head. "It must be the pregnancy. I've read that magical surges can happen sometimes, but this is... unexpected."

James chuckled softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Unexpected, but not unwelcome. It's like living with a very talented but random decorator."

Lily laughed, feeling a bit better. "I suppose there are worse things. At least it's just colour changes and not explosions."

James nodded, his expression growing serious. "Just promise me you'll take it easy. At least until this cold or allergies or whatever passes. I don't want to take any chances with either your or Harry's health."

Lily placed a hand on her belly, feeling a gentle kick in response. "I promise."

James kissed the top of her head, holding her close. "Good. Now, how about we spend the rest of the day relaxing?"

Lily smiled, leaning into him. "That sounds perfect."

They settled into a comfortable silence, enjoying the peace and quiet of their home. James fetched a soft blanket, draping it over them as they snuggled together on the couch. The warmth of the fire and the gentle crackling of the logs added to the cosy atmosphere.

Lily's eyes began to droop as the fatigue from the past few days caught up with her. James noticed and shifted slightly to make her more comfortable. "Rest, love," he whispered. "I'll be right here."

Lily nodded, closing her eyes and letting out a contented sigh. The warmth of James's embrace and the steady rhythm of his breathing lulled her into a peaceful sleep. James watched her for a while, his heart swelling with love and protectiveness. He placed a gentle hand on her belly, feeling another soft kick from their unborn son.

"We're going to keep you both safe," he murmured softly. "I promise."

As the afternoon sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow through the windows, the house remained a sanctuary of calm amidst the turmoil of the world outside. For now, they had each other, and that was more than enough.

29 May 1980, Department of Mysteries

Under the streets of London, in the cavernous underbelly of the Ministry of Magic—more specifically on the second-lowest level, Level Nine—was a room within the Department of Mysteries that had one purpose: to monitor magical activity within the British Isles. It was mainly used to identify Muggle-born children and to detect any other activity that might compromise the Statute of Secrecy. Reports of such readings were sometimes provided to the DMLE or the Obliviators, depending on the nature of the incident. Sometimes no action was needed at all, for example, if the signature occurred in a magical community.

On this night, Augustus Rookwood was on monitoring duty from the Unspeakables when he noticed something strange. High-concentration, almost beacon-like magical signatures were occurring over and over from one specific place each time.

There was no rhyme or rhythm or quite frankly any kind of pattern to it, but it still piqued his interest. The signature was too strong to be a child's, too random to be intentional magic, and did not match any known signature of any spell known to wizardkind. For all intents and purposes, it seemed like an adult having bouts of accidental magic.

Intrigued, Rookwood performed a location spell, identifying Upper Flagley as the source. Upper Flagley was a village with a significant magical population, so he was not surprised to find that the signatures came from within a house marked as a magical residence. There was no apparent reason to alert anyone, and he should have probably left it at that, but his professional curiosity was piqued.

Who was emitting this signature, and more importantly, why?

Rookwood decided to investigate further. He scanned through the logs to identify the residence. It was registered under the name of Monty and Jane Evans—names that didn't ring any bell in the magical community. Yet the magical surges emanating from their residence were impossible to ignore. This immediately raised his curiosity further.

He jotted down the details and prepared to leave the monitoring room. The Unspeakables were known for their secrecy, but they were also known for their thoroughness. He couldn't simply ignore an anomaly of this magnitude, even if from the perspective of the Ministry it was a non-issue. The Dark Lord always welcomed intelligence. Information was power.

Rookwood decided to conduct a covert observation. Apparating to a secluded spot near Upper Flagley, he walked cautiously towards the Evans' residence. The village was quiet, the usual calm of the magical community undisturbed by the chaos of the outside world. He approached the house, a modest dwelling with a well-tended garden, and positioned himself discreetly to observe.

As he waited, his eyes scanned the surroundings, noting the unusually high amount of magical defences. There were layers of protective enchantments surrounding the house, each more complex than the last. This level of security was uncommon, even for well-established pureblood estates. It only served to deepen Rookwood's suspicion and curiosity.

Through a small gap in the curtains, he caught a glimpse of a woman with vibrant red hair. His heart skipped a beat as recognition set in—Lily Jane Potter neé Evans. It all made sense now. The alias, the heightened security, the powerful magical surges. She was known to be in hiding, but he hadn't expected to find her here.

Rookwood's curiosity turned into a determined focus. The Dark Lord would reward him greatly for any information involving the Potters. He had taken a great interest in the couple and their unborn child along with the Longbottoms but no one knew why.

As he continued to watch, his mind raced with possibilities. Then he noticed the redheaded witch sneeze, a powerful and sudden motion. His eyes widened in surprise as he observed the immediate aftermath—a small table in the room changed colour from dark wood to a bright, unnatural pink.

Rookwood's curiosity deepened. This was no ordinary magic. The magical surges were causing changes in the environment, and they were directly linked to Lily Potter's condition. This revelation added a new layer of intrigue. Why would such powerful and unpredictable magic be manifesting in this way?

Another sneeze followed, and this time, the curtains shifted from a heavy velvet to a light, airy fabric allowing him even more view into the room. Rookwood watched in fascination, noting the intensity and unpredictability of the changes. The implications of this were significant.

There were theories that powerful magical children could perform accidental magic even from the womb through the symbiotic relationship with their mother's magic. The sneezes must be startling the child, causing the magical outburst.

He was sure Lord Voldemort would be very interested in a powerful child like this.

Hours passed, and just as he was about to retreat when he noticed who he assumed was James Potter under heavy glamours returning home, scanning the area with a wary eye. Rookwood held his breath, blending into the shadows. James looked around cautiously before stepping back inside and closing the door behind him.

Rookwood knew he couldn't linger much longer without raising suspicion. He had gathered enough information for now. Silently, he made his way back to his apparation point, his mind already working on how to utilize the information for maximum benefit. For himself that is.