The Tragedy at Godric's Hollow
08:00 P.M.
Potter's Cottage, Godric's Hollow
31st October, 1981.
Lily and James were sitting on the couch of the dining hall, with young Hadrian James Potter tucked in between them. Born fifteen months ago, Hadrian had the unruly jet-black hair of his father and striking emerald eyes of his mother. Lily was rocking Hadrian in her lap when her mind went on to the protective measures they had undergone to keep Harry safe.
They had found out an old ritual in which an exchange of life wilfully will provide protection to the one intended. Lily and James both decided to undergo the ritual so that if neither of them lives, then the protection will activate and keep Harry safe till he is of age. They had talked with Sirius about the Fidelius Ward. Sirius brought out a point that he is an easily predictable target since everyone knew James trusted Sirius and would make him the secret keeper. So, he suggested to switch with Peter since no one would suspect him to be the secret keeper.
Lily also thought about the tracker on Hadrian's body. This was a solution brought up by Dhiraj Patel, one of the unspeakables in Department of Mysteries, who regulated the branch of Battle Magics. He took a vow to protect Hadrian. Dhiraj and Lily had taken on quite some assignments together and the man was a nothing but trustworthy. Born in North India, trained in South, he showed exceptional magical prowess which magical India boasts of. James was a bit miffed about sending their son to another country to train, but, in the end, he caved in.
They almost dozed off in their thoughts when an unearthly crash shook the foundations of the cottage.
Flashback Scene 1 Begin:
10:30 A.M.
Department of Mysteries, Ministry of Magic, London
30th October, 1981.
Lily was seated in her chair waiting for her companion to come along, while little Harry was lying on her lap, sleeping peacefully, when the door to her office opened. In walked an Unspeakable, the body showed no signs of being male or female, their body adorned with black robes and their head covered with a hood with a magical effect that made it impossible for anyone else to make out a face. And then the figure spoke in a warped voice, "Hello Unspeakable Potter, I have looked for ways to help with your situation. I came up with training young Hadrian in Magical India till he comes of age to attend Hogwarts. In case something happens to you and your husband, I could place a tracker on Hadrian's body with a spell to mask its presence, so that I can reach him at the earliest. Will this be acceptable for you?"
Lily thought about it. Leaving Harry out of Europe? She was saddened by the fact that he would have to remain isolated and far away from his home but if it means Harry will have a means of survival, then she's all for it. However, she would definitely ask Unspeakable Patel for an unbreakable vow to protect his son till the time he is ready to go to Hogwarts. Making a decision, she spoke, "Unspeakable Patel, I would accept your terms if you would give an unbreakable vow to protect Harry till he comes of age."
Dhiraj was not surprised to hear such conditions from Lily. He knew Lily well enough to be fiercely protective of her loved ones. This is not a matter of trust that she asked for an unbreakable vow, she already trusted him well enough to convey her delicate situation to him, it was a method of insurance, one which he was happy to fulfil. Dhiraj nodded and took out his wand, "I, Unspeakable Dhiraj Patel, hereby swear on my life and magic, that I will protect one Hadrian James Potter till he is of age to go to Hogwarts, with the fullest of my capabilities."
A golden glow on him signified the completion of the vow. "Now then, shall we proceed to place the tracker?" asked Dhiraj. Lily gave a nod in reply
"Vis Indagare", intoned Dhiraj. A soft silver glow marked the completion of the spell. "Semper Abscondere", intoned Dhiraj. A pale translucent glow covered Hadrian's body.
"There you go, the tracking and masking is complete."
"Thank you a lot, Unspeakable Patel."
Flashback Scene 1 End.
Flashback Scene 2 Begin:
12:00 Noon,
Potter's Cottage, Godric's Hollow
30th October, 1981.
James was seated taking in the words of Lily. He was absolutely unhappy that his son would not grow up in his homeplace. But he could not deter his wife in her decision. Moreover, James had always trusted Lily's decision. Between the two of them, James would happily agree that his wife is wiser and smarter when it comes to dire situations. But now was not the time to think about this. They found out an old ritual that would be helpful to protect his son. Hence, they were here, in the basement, where Lily was busy drawing the runes for the ritual.
Taking one drop of her blood and one drop of James', she intoned "Miscere Aeque". Both the drops of blood started to go apart exactly one centimeter in diameter, then started to spirally converge into the centre. After five seconds, in the centre was a single blood group, glowing a faint red. Then she touched the tip of her wand to the blood drop and said "Expandi Manus", the blood dissolved into the tip of her wand and stayed there. Then Lily took the tip of her wand and started drawing two diamond symbols one after the other, connected by a circle in the centre and at the farthest edges of the diamonds, drew two circles on two ends respectively. The blood spread out as a thin red sheet and settled on the markings of the runes. Placing Harry in the centre circle, Lily and James sat on the peripheral circles. Both took out their wands and casted: "Volens Sacrificium Vita Commutationem Praesidium Aeternum".
The runes glowed deep red, giving a low thrum as they saw particles of blood going into the centre circle. Both felt a sharp tug on their magic and gasped a deep breath. After full ten seconds, Harry's skin took on a faint red hue, glowing and marking the success of the ritual. They looked at their son and felt a pull. They smiled softly knowing that they were connected to him in a very deep way.
Flashback Scene 2 End.
Flashback Scene 3 Begin:
07:30 P.M.
Potter's Cottage, Godric's Hollow
30th October, 1981.
James and Lily were seated at the dining table waiting for their guest to come, when they heard a knock on their door. James went to open the door. Outside stood a man with a balding patch of hair on his head.
James pointed his wand at the throat and asked, "What did I say when I first met you on the Hogwarts Express?"
"You did not even meet me at Hogwarts Express. We met at the Gryffindor Table because I accidently dropped pumpkin juice on your robes in the first night at Hogwarts", replied Peter.
James smiled and said, "Come on in Peter. We were waiting for you."
Lily welcomed Wormtail into the drawing room. Standing at three corners of a triangle, Lily took out her wand and pointed it at Peter.
"Fidelius Occultum Incipiam The Potters live at Potter's Cottage in Godric's Hollow Fidelius Occultum Finio".
A glow emanating from her wand entered Peter. James' face became confused after the Fidelius Ward took effect. So Peter spoke to James, "The Potters live at Potter's Cottage in Godric's Hollow." Clarity came back to James and he gave a nod to Peter.
"So Peter, why don't you eat dinner with us and then leave for your home?"
Peter smiled, "No problem Lily."
Flashback Scene 3 End.
08:00 P.M.
Potter's Cottage, Godric's Hollow
31st October, 1981.
The whole cottage shook due to the sickening crash. James and Lily stood up in complete attentiveness. Someone was attacking their home, which shouldn't be possible. It would only mean one thing. That rat, that sickening scoundrel sold them out. They both arrived at the same conclusion when the hinges and the entrance door blasted away.
In the doorway, stood a figure. His body lean, his eyes red, his hands long and skeletal and his skin chalky white. He walked with an aura of power, of overwhelming evil and untold horrors. He was Lord Voldemort, the greatest Dark Lord to ever live.
"Hello James and Lily, how nice of you both to keep your son ready for me", smirked Voldemort.
Lily talked through narrowed eyes, "You were always egotistical Voldemort. In your extreme arrogance, you overlook the simplest facts and it results in magnanimous failures. Even today as you stand before us, failure will greet you like a dish served cold."
James spoke next, "We have something which you do not know and even if you know, you will never understand. If you think we will go down without a fight, you are far more foolish than you already seen to be."
Voldemort said coldly, "Is that so? Very well, then, let's see who perishes and who triumphs."
With that all three brandished their wands and started casting. Voldemort started by throwing a reductor curse towards them both which was stopped by a Protego shield by Lily, soon the chairs in the hall were transfigured by James to wolves which started attacking Voldemort with nary a gesture from James. Voldemort flicked his wand and turned them to dust and cast a wandless cutting curse to Lily who barely dodged it. However in the process, James cast Scourgify on his eyes. His vision momentarily hindered, Voldemort stumbled. Without wasting a second, James conjured a blindfold over his eyes while Lily got up and shot fire arrows at Voldemort. The sheer speed of the arrows pierced through Voldemort who gave an unearthly scream. Raged, he let out a pulse of magic which resulted in both James and Lily landing on their backs. Voldemort then cast a Incendio which was stopped by a Augamenti from Lily while James threw a Bombarda at Voldemort's feet. Voldemort dodged in the nick of time but fell to a Piercing Hex from Lily.
He was enraged that these two were managing to hold him down. In a moment, he focused his attention to the child behind them and cast the killing curse at him. James'eyes widened at that who jumped in front of Harry and took the brunt of the curse. Lily looked at her dead husband and smiled sadly. 'In a moment James, I'll join you within a moment but before I need to complete my part to give Harry the ultimate protection.'
"Not so confident now are you Lily? How did you like that? Your blood traitor of a hus-" whatever Voldemort was going to say stopped since the next moment, he staggered to his knees, blood bursting out of his ears and nostrils, the ground around him crushed in a one meter circle. Voldemort looked up at Lily to see her holding her wand at him with a fierce calmness on her face.
"You dare talk to me about my husband? You dare insult him? You? You noseless cretin?" spoke Lily in a deathly coldness. She used a special gravity effect spell which increases an area's gravity by ten times within a radius of one meter.
Voldemort was stunned to see the mudblood actually having the gall to insult him. Dwindled with rage, he thought about Snape's request to spare her. 'Definitely not going to spare her Snape. This vile mudblood is unworthy of existence. But first, I'll kill her child and I'll make her see it.' In a split second, he pointed his wand at Harry and cast the killing curse but Lily was well prepared as she jumped in front of Harry to take the curse.
Voldemort snorted at the pathetic attempts of both of them to save their child. Not so much of an use now, is it? Voldemort then looked at the child and the unblinking emerald eyes stared at him in defiance. 'This toddler is supposed to vanquish me? What a disgrace to my power.'
With wand pointed to Harry, Voldemort summoned all the hatred possible in him and shouted "Avada Kedavra!"