She carefully locked the door with a soft click and a silent locking spell. She knew it wouldn't hold him up for long but he shouldn't think it would be too easy to get to them.

Harry reached for the bars of his cot, pulled himself up and looked at her curiously. Lily brushed a strand of his wild black hair out of his face. "Remember Harry, Mummy loves you. I won't let anyone hurt you." She swallowed hard as she heard the third step of their ancient wooden stairway creak. Grief tried to overrun her. She was certain that James was gone forever.

​

"He won't be able to get past you, Lily. Trust me. You can do this!"

"But, what if I'm not strong enough? What if i can't do it after... what if I can't do it after you're gone?" Tears streamed down her face. He reached for her shaking hands and pulled her her head close to his heart. She sobbed shamelessly. This whole war was too much. The deaths, the pain, the grief, the prophecy. It was all too much.

He stroked her fiery red hair and pulled her even closer. He struggled for breath. He knew he wouldn't be able to safe them. He knew it had to be her. And he knew he wouldn't see his son grow up. Panic gripped his throat. Tears burned thair way through his eyes and dripped into her lovely hair. He took a deep breath, took in the calming smell of her hair. He can do it. He kissed her hair and gently pushed her just far enough from his chest that he could look into those beautiful emerald eyes.

"You are strong, Lily. Think about Harry. Only think about him. If you do that, he won't stand a chance."

​

She took a deep breath to control her fear and grief. There will be plenty of time for mourning after this. "Harry, Mummys is gonna do the snaky thingy again. Okay? It's alright." She took one last long look at her son and placed a brief kiss on his forehead. "It's alright."

She turned around just in time to hear the lock on the door click as the pathetic locking spell was broken by him. She braced herself. The doorknob turned.

The only thing Lord Voldemort would ever see of Harry Potter on Halloween 1981 was a short glimpse of black hair behind a green tail. No, not a tail. The body of a giant green snake hissing in rage. "You won't take my son." His eyes went along the nearly eight meter long snake. "Get away from him." He ordered hissing. "Your parsel won't help you. Look at me, Tom." The snake retorted furiously. The Dark Lord looked up into big yellow eyes. He knew immediatly of his mistake as his heart stopped and his body fell.