Out of Time and Memory

Chapter One - Lullabye

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Lily ran the soft bristled brush though her son's dark locks of hair. Harry gazed up at her with his bright green eyes and giggled, showing her his brilliant smile, with teeth just beginning to come in. James would say he was showing her that he would have his fathers grin. Lily smiled at the thought and even though James would be sure to tell her it was no use to do so, she smoothed down the hair on her son's head, still damp after his bath, but already showing signs of trying to stick up in an untidy fashion - the lopsided grin hadn't been the only thing young Harry had inherited from his father. Bath time was their time together, just Lily and her son, and she would waste all the time she wanted smoothing down his hair, just to let Harry know that she was there. Lily picked her son up in her arms, letting his head rest against her shoulder as she began to rock him to sleep, singing their favorite song as they walked to his nursery

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Lay your head down
And sleep on my shoulder
Lay your head down
And start a new dream

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She pulled back the soft knitted blankets that had been lovingly created by his Grandmother Evans, and began to turn down the sheets in his crib with one hand as she kept slowly rocking and singing her son to sleep. She could feel his breathing becoming deep and regular, and looking down, she could see the green eyes becoming heavy.

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And for tonight

The moment is over

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James stood in the doorway smiling as his wife took her wand and lit the mobile that hung over Harry's bed. The mobile was enchanted to look like stars softly glowing and rotating in the night. Little Harry reached out for them with his tiny hand; even in his sleepiness, he was still held spellbound by the stars dangling above him.

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Drift in a lullaby
Here where the stars reside
And angels are always seen

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Lily laid Harry in the bed and pulled the blankets up and over him, his green eyes glazed over as he continued his drifting into dreamland. Lily pulled the railing of the crib up, still singing softly to her son.

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And lay your head down
The stars they have whispered
Hear what they say
And know that it means

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Lily leaned over the rail to trace a finger against Harry's soft cheek. She saw her son smile, his small sweet smile. She never got tired of how beautiful this creation of her and her husband's love was, and every time she saw his smile at her touch, she vowed anew that she would protect her child forever.

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The moon is your guide
The stars they have kissed her

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Lily kissed the top of his head as he fell into sleep. She walked quietly to the nursery door, and flipped the light switch to the off position. James shifted aside to allow her to stand in the doorway beside him.

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As she goes gently by
Light as a baby's sigh
Safe on a fairy tale stream

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Lily turned around and, as she and James looked back over to where their tiny child lay sleeping, she finished her lullabye.

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And start a new dream

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Before she left Lily used her to wand turned the mobile stars off, then softly she closed the door, not knowing that tonight was the last time she would sing her child to sleep.