Prologue

November 1, 1981 - 1:27 am

"JAMES!" A voice cut through the silence of the night. James shot upright in bed, searching wildly for his wife. His hand brushed her sleeping form, and he let out a sigh of relief. He started to settle back down, thinking he was just hearing things. Just then, a yell screamed outside. "LILY!" Lily jumps awake, and the pair sat quietly on the bed. They listened closely and heard a motorcycle rumble outside. Not a second later, someone began pounding on the front door. The couple was out of be in an instant. James sprinted out into the hallway and cast a spell to hide Harry's nursery door from view. Lily had come up behind him, wrapped in a flowered colored robe. Lily patted James' arm with a shaking hand. Lily gently kissed the wall where the door had been moments ago.  

"I love you, Harry." She whispered softly. James brushed back her hair and took her hand in his. Together, they went quietly down the stairs. The pounding on the door had barely ceased. Halfway down the staircase, James paused.

"Wait here." He said. Lily nodded and pulled him into a quick, but passionate kiss. James continued down the rest of the stairs by himself. Lily watched him reach the bottom. She realized just a moment too late and cried out for him to watch out. James stepped loudly on the creaky floorboard. James froze, and so did the pounding on the door.

"For Merlin's sake, Prongs!  I know you're in there. Let me in!" A tired voice called in. James ripped open the door, revealing a bedraggled Sirius. His clothes were dirty, and he looked like he had barely gotten any sleep. James wasn't going to take any chances and held his wand up against the man's throat.

"What did Dumbledore take from me a few months ago?" James asked, knowing that Sirius had been the only one there other than Dumbledore. Sirius sighed weakly.  

"Your invisibility cloak. Can I come in now? It's freezing." Sirius said with a shiver. James swiftly pulled Sirius into a brotherly hug and led him inside. James switched on a lamp, and Lily went to make some warm coffee. A few minutes later, she was handing out the hot cups.  

"What's happened, Padfoot? You must be here at two in the morning for a reason." James asked as Lily sat on the couch beside him.  

"He's gone." Sirius said with a finality. Lily gasped, and James almost dropped his cup.  

"He's gone? What? How?" Lily stuttered. Sirius looked at them with sudden sad eyes. "Sirius?"  

"We got a call late at night at the auror office." Sirius started. "Something about a house blowing up, and it was the Longbottoms' safe house. When we arrived, the house was in shambles. Just inside the door, we found Frank laying lifeless in the hallway, a suitcase lying open beside him. We guessed that they had been trying to leave. I went upstairs with a few others. The door to the nursery was blasted open, and Alice was found beside the crib clutching a small hat."  

"And their boy, Neville?" James asked.  

"Fine. Almost perfect really. All he was left with was just a small lightning bolt scar on his forehead." Lily brushed away her tears.  

"So you're sure he's gone?" She asked, thinking about I her won son sleeping above them. Sirius nodded, and the room felt instantly lighter.

"His wand was found on the floor of the nursery, and his followers have gone into hiding. He's truly gone!" In a moment of pure happiness, Lily kissed James passionately. "Okay, that's gross." Sirius said standing up. The couple paid no attention to him as he grabbed a quilt and lounged on the other couch. "Seriously stop." Lily pushed away from James with a giggle. James pulled Lily onto his lap, and they snuggled together.  

"We're finally safe. You, me, and little Harry are going to be fine." James said softly.  

"You just might have to add another person to the equation." Lily stated quietly.  

"Padfoot is not part of our family, Lily." James joked. Sirius grunted, his eyes shut. Lily punched James gently.  

"That's not what I mean." Lily blushed and pointed to her stomach. "I'm pregnant." Sirius and James' eyes opened wide.  

"Really?" Lily nodded, and James hugged her close. "Even he or she will be safe. You just wait. I bet our kid will be awesome at quidditch like me."  

"Or be good at her schoolwork." Lily scolded jokingly.  

"It could have my good looks!" Sirius laughed, and the couple joined in.  

"I'll bet it will be just perfect." James smiled as he and Lily kissed once more.  

"My eyes!" Sirius groaned. Soon, Prongs and Padfoot were wrestling as Lily laughed from the couch. Their life would be peaceful, for eleven years at least.  

Everything started back up again when their daughter started her first year at Hogwarts.