Author's Note:
The quotes at the end are taken off the Harry Potter Lexicon. More specifically, it was an essay tiled:
What really happened on the night James and Lily were killed? A timeline and commentary
2) I would be very happy, if you'd leave reviews. Reviews are the only way an author gets feedback from her readers, so I would be very happy if I received some. Constructive criticism, praise and comments highly appreciated. And without further ado, I present Lily's Sacrifice.
*
Lily was nervously cleaning the kitchen, using all sorts of advanced charms to wipe the dishes clean and put the cups away, all the while keeping a sharp eye out for Harry.
He had taken to showing up in unusual places lately. Now he was sitting in his chair, forming spit bubbles rather enthusiastically and banging his little plastic cup loudly.
Lily reached over to wipe the spit off his chin and to clean his bib from some bananas he had eaten earlier.
After making sure he was safe and not about to fall off the high chair, she settled down at the table, sipping her mug of butterbeer and anxiously glancing at the door from time to time. James was out on some private business, in which he had assured Lily everything would be fine and that he was to return before nightfall. Still, she couldn't help but feel troubled.
Just last week, they had switched their Secret Keeper from Sirius to Peter. It made Lily more worried, for she realized how much they were worth to Voldemort - how much Harry was worth to Voldemort. She agreed it was for the best. No one would suspect that someone as quiet and unnoticed like Peter would be assigned the role of Secret Keeper.
Lily knew that the odds of something going wrong were slim, but she wrung her hands all the same. Glimpsing up at the old grandfather clock, which read nine o' clock, she put down the newspaper she had been skimming and washed her empty cup manually.
Something didn't seem right. Something felt wrong. The very air was charged with electricity and fear. Lily's nerves were strung high and she felt like she was about ready to explode from all the worry. She didn't know why she was so scared…there was no reason for her to feel so. Was Voldemort going to attack tomorrow? No. Was James going to die? No. Was their house going to burn down? No.
Lily set about cleaning the kitchen again, even though it was already immaculate. She had to do something. She surveyed the small house grimly. Godric's Hollow was a two-story cottage. The two bedrooms were upstairs, as well as Harry's playroom. The kitchen and living room were on the first floor. Lily and James hadn't brought many of their belongings to the Muggle community, because they speculated they weren't going to live there for a long period of time. With Voldemort pursuing them, they assumed they would have a few hiding places.
Lily heard a crash, coming from upstairs. The noise added to the already built up tension in the house and Lily jumped. Arching her eyebrows anxiously, she walked over to the staircase and peered up into the dimness. There seemed to be no movement and it was silent. Relieved, but not confident she strolled over to Harry, who's head had inched forward and who was fast asleep.
Lily smiled dreamily at him. He was such a joy to behold - such a beautiful baby boy. James and Lily were proud of him, he was their life, their everything. Picking him up cautiously, Lily walked over to the couch and sat down, Harry in her lap. She made sure the curtains were closed so no one could see them. Night had fallen, and it was pitch-black out. They were not in a particularly settled area, so there weren't any street lamps.
Lily leaned back, relaxing her sore muscles and closed her eyes for a few seconds. Realizing what she was doing, she briskly opened them again and stared around the room promptly. She must stay awake. She must keep watch. She must wait for James to come home.
Even though they were in a secluded area and very few people from the Wizarding World knew their whereabouts, Lily didn't overlook the dangers that were directed towards them. Voldemort was not stupid. He was ingenious, skillful and many underestimated his power. Lily didn't know what she'd do if anything happpened to Harry.
Looking back down at the sleeping form in her arms, she traced the outline of his rosy lips, his small bump of a nose and his eyes that were fringed with dark lashes. Lily's eyes. A small dusting of freckles were spread over his nose and cheeks, barely visible.
Lily finger-combed his dark curls, who already had the reputation of being stubborn. Gently, she got rid of the various knots in his hair.
When Harry was born, it was the most painful and joyful time of her life. They had a baby boy! She couldn't wait to see him grow up and possibly play with his future brothers or sisters.
But Lily had had a strange foreboding, one only mothers could have. She didn't know where it came from. As she looked at her newborn son, a wave of pain and recognition swept through her. His future wasn't safe. Their future wasn't safe. And there was nothing they could do about it. It was fate.
She had mentioned it to James, but he had scoffed in his lovably arrogant way, and had given Harry a mild piggy-back ride through the house. Lily couldn't help but stand there, knowing the consequences of his birth. And when Dumbledore mentioned the Prophecy, when he told them they had to go back into hiding, her worst fears were confirmed. If only they had perceived it sooner.
Lying there peacefully with Harry in her arms, the tea kettle whistling almost happily in the background, all the troubles seemed far away. One look in Harry's direction could do that. But deep down, in Lily's heart, she knew they were not safe. As soon as James got home, she would tell him to contact Dumbledore, to voice her concerns, to -
A sharp knock echoed on the front door. Lily looked up in alarm. Lightly placing Harry down, she walked tensely over to the front door.
"W-Who is it?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"It's me, Lily. Open up the door," James' familiar voice rang out. Relieved, she opened the door and immediately flung herself into James' open arms. James looked surprised at her sudden outburst of emotion, but hugged her back tightly.
"What's wrong, Evans?" he asked her affectionately. He had never seemed to be able to stop calling her by her maiden name, and Lily didn't object.
"I'm scared, James, so scared. I keep worrying about Harry, about you. What if-"
"Now, Lily, we already had a talk about this. We're fine. Nothing can happen. You're worrying about nothing," he assured her, taking off his cloak, and eyeing her apprehensively.
Lily glanced up into his face, and saw quite a different story. James looked more haggard than ever before. He had circles under his eyes, and wrinkles of worry had seemed to pop out of nowhere. He looked drained and distressed. Lily decided to let the matter drop and bring it up again when he was well rested.
"I trust you won't be going on any more 'business trips' in the future, will you ?" she said, quickly slipping back into her normal personality. Pouring James a hot cup of tea, she took his bags and ventured upstairs into the bedroom, as James settled down beside Harry.
It was dark upstairs, and too placid. Lily clenched her jaw hard as she moved to their bedroom, shaking any thoughts of attacks or hidden Death Eaters from her mind. Moonlight reflected off the paned, glass window, and cast a lighted shadow on the oak floor.
She stopped suddenly, peeking out the window, where she saw a tiny flicker of light. She stared at it, dumbfounded. Never had she seen lights at night in the tiny village. There were no street lamps and no one would light a lamp so late at nighttime. She saw it twinkle and then extinguish into the night. Furrowing her brow, she took one glance out the window, seeing nothing more and hastily walked back downstairs, into the comfort of her husband and Harry.
James lay sprawled out on the couch, his black hair as untidy as ever. Typical, Lily thought, laughing to herself.
James looked up to her and a tired smile appeared on his face. Lily walked over as James moved over to make room for her, flinging an arm over her shoulder.
"How was your day?" she asked him smoothly.
James grinned."The usual. But nothing James Potter can't do," he bragged. Lily grinned. No, James hadn't changed at all.
Looking into his brilliant eyes, she felt truly blessed that she had such a wonderful person as a husband. Leaning over, she gave him a small peck on the lips.
James arched an eyebrow." Is that all I get after such a long day?" he asked playfully.
Lily only smiled.
Leaning over again, she met his lips more heatedly this time. A wave of passion swept through her, as she put her hands around his neck, weaving her fingers stealthily through his raven hair.
His tongue traced her bottom lip, and she let him in. She kissed him brutally, forcefully, with so much ardor and desire, as if it was their last kiss.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest, and ripples of warmth and lust raced through her aching body. She felt dizzy, feeling his hot breath on her neck.
A small cry awakened them from their kiss. Harry had stirred.
Stumbling off James, Lily reached out and cradled Harry in her arms. His cries ceased quickly, but his eyes remained open. James had moved over and was looking down at his son proudly.
Harry reached out, mumbling a nonsense word and tugged on Lily's red, long hair. Both parents laughed.
"You're going to be bald within a year," James exclaimed jokingly, standing up and stretched, yawning. He looked pleased and satisfied.
"Let's go to bed," Lily replied. Taking Harry, she walked up the stairs and into Harry's playroom. Various toys were strewn about the floor and Lily carefully walked across the room, as to not stumble. Putting the sleeping boy in his cot, she whispered, "Good night, Harry, " and shut the door.
Glancing hesitantly around as she went back down to join James, she wondered if she ought to tell him about the flickering light. Making her way into the brightly lit up kitchen, she smiled again at James, lounging on the couch. She remembered the days back in Hogwarts, when James was an arrogant, spiteful, annoying boy who asked her out at every opportunity that he could get. Reminiscing, she busily started making coffee for both of them, when a dull roar echoed throughout the house, causing them both to look up.
James jumped up warily from the couch. Brandishing his wand, he walked over to the window, and peered out. Lily saw his face tighten and go pale. He whirled around, shouting commands at Lily as he ran to the door.
"Lily, take Harry and go! It’s him! Go! Run! I’ll hold him off -".
It was as if everything turned to slow motion. Lily stood there, rooted to the spot, her heart beating like a drum in her chest. Her feet wouldn't move, her brain wouldn't think, her mouth wouldn't scream. It all happened in the blink of an eye. The door burst open and Lily looked up into the sickly, gaunt face of Lord Voldemort.
*
She didn't know how she got up the wooden stairs. She didn't know how she made her way to Harry's crib. The image of James - her James - standing proudly in front of Voldemort was scorched into her mind. She only had one thought in her head - to save Harry. Suddenly, the blurry fog that had clouded her thoughts and actions lifted. She could see clearly; think clearly. She heard a roar from downstairs and a sob wrenched her body. Wiping away traitorous tears that had obscured her vision, she reached into the cot and grabbed Harry. Stumbling past the toys littered on the ground, she ran towards the door, only to have it burst open in front of her.
A horrible sound reached her ears. Voldemort was laughing. He trained his wand at her, his nostrils flaring.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" Lily moaned, setting down Harry on a chair and standing right in front of him. Not Harry, not Harry, not Harry… She would do anything for that cruel monster to not kill her baby boy. Tears welled up again and this time, Lily let them flow. She stared at the sickly grin, the menacing red eyes, the bald head, mentally chanting, pleading with him to save Harry.
"Stand aside, you silly girl … stand aside now." His voice was gravely, snake-like, just like his personality, Lily thought bitterly. Shielding Harry from his view, she cried out again.
"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead! Not Harry! Please … have mercy … have mercy… "
He was close now…so close. Lily felt her body burning, her throat was clenched so tight, she couldn’t breathe… and that vile brute - he laughed. Laughed.
Lily screamed again as Voldemort smiled mischievously, his wand pointing to Lily's chest. She stood protectively over Harry, her hands outstretched, to cover him from sight from Voldemort. She would never see her baby boy again. She wouldn't see the way he laughed. She wouldn't see the way his green eyes sparkled. She would never be able to hear him say a full sentence. In the midst of all that fear, of all that frustration and disbelief, there was a fire, albeit small, in Lily's heart. It gave her a bit of strength. Strength to protect Harry ; to save Harry. Somehow, it assured her everything would be all right.
She gave one more backward glance at Harry, feeling the hot tears stream down her face. Then, turning back to Voldemort, she wiped away her tears, and squared her face slightly, before Voldemort raised his wand at her and shouted:
"Avada Kedavra!"