Chapter 1
It's the year 1981. Harry Potter has just been born, and the Potters, desperate to escape the growing darkness, have made a chilling discovery.
Hidden from them by Dumbledore, a prophecy has surfaced that warns of their son’s possible death, leaving them with no choice but to flee England.
As the evening darkened in mid-August, a distinguished figure sat in his neatly arranged office, his pale features illuminated by the glow of candlelight. Lucius Malfoy, with his high cheekbones and long silver hair, was deep in thought, holding a sealed letter bearing the Potter family crest. His mind raced as he wondered why his long-time enemy, James Potter—the so-called “golden boy” of the wizarding world—would send him such a letter.
Lucius hesitated before breaking the seal, his thoughts swirling. With each word he read, his shock deepened, and his brow furrowed. The letter was a request from James Potter, invoking an old debt between their families. James was asking for Lucius’s help to escape the war—an escape from Britain that would protect his family from the danger now closing in around them. The letter was a desperate plea for sanctuary.
"Dobby!" Lucius called, his voice deep and commanding.
"Yes, Master?" came the faint voice of the house-elf as it appeared before him.
"Find Narcissa and bring her here," Lucius ordered, and within a moment, Dobby had disappeared.
Moments later, the door opened, and Narcissa Malfoy entered. A striking woman, with long, silvery-black hair that cascaded down her back, Narcissa had recently given birth to their beautiful son, Draco. Despite the toll the traumatic birth had taken on her, leaving her unable to have more children, Lucius remained as devoted as ever to her.
"You called?" Narcissa’s voice was composed yet filled with quiet authority.
Lucius wasted no time, outlining the situation with the Potters and the letter he had just received. Their conversation stretched long into the evening, as they debated whether helping the Potters would be an unforgivable betrayal of their Dark Lord. After hours of discussion, they came to a reluctant agreement: they would assist the Potters in their escape. Though it was a decision that weighed heavily on them both, it was one they would carry out for the sake of their own family’s future.
Lucius penned a letter to James Potter, assuring him that they would help him escape Britain, all while keeping it hidden from the Dark Lord's prying eyes.
Meanwhile, across the country, the Potter household was abuzz with quiet tension. James, Lily, and their closest friends—Sirius and Remus—waited anxiously for any sign of hope. The arrival of a beautiful soot-black owl was the signal they had been waiting for. As the owl perched on the windowsill, James rushed forward, eagerly pulling the letter from its leg.
He quickly ripped it open, his hands trembling, and read aloud, “Dear Mr. Potter, I hope this letter finds you well. I write to tell you that I have accepted your request and will help you escape Britain.”
Tears of relief welled up in James's eyes as he ran to Lily, sweeping her into his arms and spinning her around. "Lily! They said yes! They're going to help us get out!"
Sirius and Remus, who had been waiting with bated breath, let out a collective sigh of relief. The weight of their fears and doubts began to lift. This was their first step toward freedom.
"Oh, thank Merlin!" Lily exclaimed, her voice full of gratitude and trepidation. “We need to pack, get everything ready. We’re leaving, we’re actually leaving.”
There was a brief, quiet pause as they all remembered the tiny bundle sleeping upstairs. Harry.
"I'll go to Gringotts tomorrow," James said, thinking quickly. “I’ll withdraw everything we have to make sure we have enough to get things started once we’re gone.”
“I’ll do the same,” Sirius chimed in, his face hardening with resolve. “I don't want my money anywhere near that greedy bastard. I have an account abroad, one my father set up. We can transfer the funds there.”
"That’s a great idea," Remus added, his voice steady. "That way we won’t need to carry so much with us.”
The once calm and somber cottage now buzzed with activity. The urgency of their preparations filled every corner of the room as they rushed to gather their things, knowing that this would be the beginning of a journey far more dangerous than any they had yet faced.
But it was their only chance to survive, and they'd do whatever it took.
They had to run.