I Will Always Love You

It was Halloween night and a couple named Lily and James Potter were sitting in the living room with their one-year-old son, Harry. They hardly wanted to be away from Harry because they knew their time with him was limited. But it was pretty late, so Lily decided to put Harry in his crib.

James turned around and watched as she head up the stairs with him. "Goodnight, Harry."

"Night-Night," said Harry sleepily.

James turned back around and looked thoughtfully into the fire.

Yeah. Goodnight Harry. That may be the last time I ever say those words again. Voldemort could come and kill me tomorrow morning! Sometimes I think it would be better that way though. Sometimes I wish he'd just come and get it over with. We can't even take Harry outside anymore! The whole family's cooped up in this house all day. But if Voldemort would just come and kill me, Harry could be free to do what he pleased! I know Sirius would take great care of him if Voldemort got to me.

But no. We have to be put under the Fidelius Charm for God knows how long and be trapped in here.

I feel as if I've imprisoned my whole family. I know this isn't true, but I feel like this is all my fault...

James shivered as a certain song came into his head that half described his feelings about life and his son, Harry...

If I should stay

I would only be in your way.

So I'll go

But I know

I'll think of you each step of the way!

And I will always love you!

I will always love you!

A tear rolled down James' face as he closed his eyes and continued to think about his life and when it became so complicated...

Lily walked up the stairs and thought about the plan to ensure Harry's safety. James didn't like the plan because he didn't want Lily to die. But he didn't want Harry to die either.

So in the end, James agreed. Lily knew of an ancient counter-charm to save someone's life from the Killing Curse. But a human sacrifice was needed for it. Not many people knew of this counter-charm.

When the person was about to get killed, you needed to stand in front of the victim and think, with all your heart and soul, about your love for that person.

If the counter-charm is successful, when they kill you to get to who they originally wanted to kill (if they choose to kill you in the first place, which, Lily knew, Voldemort would) an invisible forcefield will be put around the person you died for so that when the murderer turns to kill that person, the spell will be reflected and shot back at the person who cast it.

This was the plan that was sure to work. Lily laid Harry down in his crib, careful not to wake him up. Unfortunately, he did awake and started to cry softly.

So she sang a song that she could relate to in hopes to put him to sleep:

"Bitter sweet memories

That is all I am taking with me!

So good-bye.

Please, don't you cry.

'Cuz we both know

I'm not what you need.

And I will always love you!

I will always love you!"

Harry had fallen asleep, so Lily said 'Goodnight, Harry' and kissed his forehead. She didn't leave though. She just stood there watching Harry and thinking.

Yeah...goodnight, Harry. That may be the last time I ever say those words again. Voldemort could come and kill me tomorrow morning! Sometimes I think it would be better that way though. Sometimes I wish he'd just come and get it over with. We can't even take Harry outside anymore! The whole family's cooped up in this house all day. But if Voldemort would just come and kill me, Harry could be free to do what he pleased! I know Sirius would take great care of him if Voldemort got to me.

But no. We have to be put under the Fidelius Charm for God knows how long and be trapped in here.

I feel as if I've imprisoned my whole family. I know this isn't true, but I feel like this is all my fault...' Lily shivered as a tear rolled down her face.

A couple minutes later, she heard some commotion downstairs, so she went to investigate.

When she got to the foot of the stairs, she saw James standing with his wand out in front of him. He looked very alert and you could see a trace of fear in his eyes.

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off-" James obviously still didn't like the plan or else he would have told her to just guard Harry, instead.

So Lily turned to go upstairs, but turned back. "James?" she said.

His eyes were fixed on the door but snapped up to look at his wife.

"I love you." she said as her eyes started to water.

"I love you too, Lily." She turned around and ran up the steps into Harry's room. She went in to find Harry sleeping soundly. She felt bad to have to wake him up, but she did anyway.

By the time Lily had Harry out of the crib, she was already crying. She only got to be with her son for a year. That wasn't nearly enough time. So she hugged Harry as tight and close as she could without hurting him. Harry, who say his mommy crying threw his little baby arms around her neck and gave her a big hug. This only made Lily cry more. She was about to turn around and head for the door when she heard it burst open.

She spun around and what she saw made her heart stop (A/N: Not literally...) It was Lord Voldemort and he was pointing his wand at Harry, who was clinging to Lily tightly.

She set Harry down on the diaper changing table and stood in front of it, sobbing and shaking. Then Voldemort told her something that made her feel faint: "I finally killed your beloved husband." he stated with a twisted smile. "Now move aside so I can finish my business here."

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" she said frantically.

"Stand aside, you silly girl...stand aside, now..."

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead-" Her words were somewhat slurred, but they were still audible.

Voldemort didn't look like he wanted to play around, so he pushed her out of the way and laughed as Lily hit the floor.

"Not Harry! Please...have mercy...have mercy..." she rambled, trembling. Then she did something that took even herself by surprise. She backhanded him with all the strength she could muster.

Voldemort stumbled back with his hand on his cheek, gawking at Lily.

Lily took his shock to her advantage and grabbed Harry, but stayed facing the wall with her back to the Dark Lord.

It was time to put her plan into action. She started thinking, with all her heart, about her love for Harry. She refused to let her mind wander anywhere else as she held her son like her life depended on it. She heard Voldemort say something and sigh, but she didn't bother to figure out what it was. She kept her focus on her son until she saw a bright green light and knew no more.

The next thing she knew, she was standing in front of her house with James on her side.

What she saw made her gasp. Her house was completely destroyed. But what she heard made her grasp James' arm. It was the sound of a baby crying its lungs out. It was the sound of her baby crying its lungs out.

"You check that side." James said as he pointed to the left side of the rubble . "And I'll check this." He said while walking to his right.

After a few minutes of what seemed like endless searching, James found Harry and Lily ran over to them with a tearstained face. James handed Harry to her and then slid his arms around them both. "You did it." he whispered in Lily's ear before kissing her head then bending down to kiss Harry's.

Harry stopped crying and looked up at his parents. They were a little see-through and had an odd glow to them. Harry's thoughts were interrupted by his father's singing. His mother seemed to be echoing...

James- I hope life

Lily- I hope life

James- Treats you kind

Lily- Treats you kind

James- And I hope you have all you

Both- Dream of!

Lily- I wish you joy

James- I wish you joy

Lily- And happiness

James- And happiness

Lily- But above all this,

Both- I wish you love!

And I will always love you!

I will always love you!

I will always love you!

I will always love you!

Lily found a blanket in the debris and wrapped her son up. She and James gave Harry their final hugs, kisses, tears, and coos.

Once they saw a flying motorcycle in the sky, they set Harry gingerly down with one last ''I love you, Harry" from both of them and made their way up to heaven...together...