Starting Anew

Prologue

It was Hallowe'en, and Lily couldn't be happier.

An affectionate smile graced her lips as she watched her husband of 2 years interact with her baby of one-year-old exactly. It was just after dinner, and they had left the dining room in favour of Harry's bedroom. Harry much resembled James, and anyone who had met the little tyke would remark that he indeed was his father's son, in both mannerisms and appearance, except his green, almond-shaped eyes that were plain as day his mother's. Loud peals of laughter rang out from the infant as James made a face at him over the edge of his crib.

"You're the best little boy, aren't you, Harry? You're going to grow up to be just like me, your father," James cooed at his son, ruffling the latter's black hair, which already started to resemble the sizeable messy mop on James' head. This elicited happy gurgles from Harry, and he raised his chubby arms to grab at his father's hair in retaliation.

James shrieked as Harry's little fist closed over a chunk of James' hair and tugged, hard, yanking his head towards the side of the crib. Lily barely had time to react before a loud thunk reached her ears. Harry giggled gleefully at the shock evident on both his parents' faces, looking extremely pleased with himself.

"Did Harry just do what I think he did?" Lily asked weakly, glancing at her equally astonished husband. All was silent for a second before James let out a hearty guffaw, lifting Harry out of his crib to kiss him excitedly, yelling something along the lines of Harry growing up to be a real prankster. Shaking her head in disapproval, Lily couldn't hide the fond grin from taking over her face. Despite the many times she stopped James and his Mauraders from teaching Harry their childish ways, it seemed that she had not been successful in her efforts to prevent her child from being the horror that James was in school.

Her face darkened almost instantly at the thought of her son attending school. That was, of course, if they managed to get out of this war alive and unscathed.

"Lils? C'mon, let's have some family bonding time," James called, shaking her out of her thoughts. Harry, too, was looking at her expectantly, as if to say What are you waiting for? Come on!

"Okay, okay," she acquiesced, making her way from her spot near the window. She hoisted Harry from James' arms, putting one hand on his back and the other near his bum to stabilise him. Lily met James' eyes, feeling warmth surge in her at the sheer amount of adoration in those beautiful, beautiful hazel eyes she had grown to love. Sending him one of her trademark Lily smiles, she received one back, before James' arms slid around her waist and held both her and Harry close to him.

No words could describe the loving atmosphere that surrounded them. Lily was sure it was the happiest she had ever been in a while, especially with the war raging on around them.

Suddenly, a loud bang came from the first floor of their house, and James and Lily both turned to face each other with unadulterated terror on their faces. She could literally sense it. Since the wards were tied to her and James, they knew when someone unexpected had shown up by merely feeling for the wards and feeling their magic intrude into their house. This time, the magic that she had felt was so evil, she instinctively shuddered. There was only one person, or entity, who could possess such a Dark and malevolent aura...

Voldemort.

In a second, all her worst fears had come true.

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!" James roared over the sounds of the heavy storm. Springing into action, Lily barely had time to consider what it meant if James really went to face You-Know-Who head on. She pressed Harry close to her as she slammed the door behind James, casting a series of complex spells and enchantments to lock out You-Know-Who, her only thought to protect her son and get Harry the hell out of there. The charms weren't guaranteed to keep the monster out, but Lily hoped it would stall him and buy some precious time for their escape.