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Without thinking, Lily's wandless hands reached out instinctively to grab onto James' shirt to keep him close, but he had moved so quickly in reaction to the presence of danger that her fingertips barely grazed the fabric before it rushed away. She felt herself choke on her own despair, because she knew--she knew it like it was the only thing she knew at all--that that tiny bit of fabric was the last bit of James she would ever touch. His frantic yells, which rang through her head, were the last words she'd hear him speak. Her husband, her best friend, the love of her life, her James was rushing to his death and she was useless to do anything to stop it.

Not if she cared at all about her son, upstairs and oblivious to the way his world was changing forever just down the steps. Their beautiful, innocent baby boy who looked so much like his father, who would soon be the only thing of him left in the world--and not for long, if she didn't go now. Voldemort was after Harry... Harry was the Chosen One who had to grow up and destroy him. If he was not protected, there was no hope for anyone. And James was giving it all for that cause.

She was the only one left. She was the only one left who could make sure Harry lived tonight.

With one last tear-blurred glance at the horror taking place in the entry way, Lily forced herself to sprint, as fast as she could, up to the second story of Godric's Hollow. A heavy thump rang out just as her fingers curled around the doorknob to the nursery, and Lily closed her eyes and let out a choked scream. Shuddering legs collapsed beneath her and her weight pushed forward, opening the door into Harry's room, where the baby now stood wide-eyed and alarmed in his crib, gaze locked on his grieving mother. One hand pushed the door closed, as she half-crawled, half-stumbled pathetically across the room to where he was, whispering "Harry---Harry---come here, Harry we--we have to---"

Just as she had grabbed onto the railing of the crib to pull herself up and reached over to grab the baby boy, another set of thuds... then a quiet creak... Lily Potter's blood ran cold.

"Lily, Lily, Lily..."

Time was up. She didn't have her wand, there was no way to get out--even if she tried to Apparate now, she could not do it faster than he could send off a curse. This was it. Too impaired by grief to act in time, she had failed James, and now Harry too. Lily stared down into the identical emerald eyes below her, trying to apologize somehow for what was about to happen to them--to him.

"You know, Lily, this isn't really necessary..." The voice was so sickeningly casual it sent chills up her spine. "If you would just step aside, hand over the boy... Well, I don't see why you can't still live."

No, no, he--- "Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" Lily spun around instantly, ripping her eyes away from her son's, to face this monster for what she knew was the last time. And he didn't even want her now... but he couldn't, he---she was frantic as she shook her head, as if in denial.

Voldemort's brow creased and he scoffed. "Stand aside you silly girl... stand aside now." His final words were injected with a sudden anger at her defiance--and a final warning. He would not tell her again.

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead---!" She didn't even know what she was saying anymore, she just knew that if there was any way that she could convince him that her life was worth more--there was no question, Harry would not die before her--if she could die in his place, she could think of nothing better that could come of this. "Not Harry! Please... have mercy... have mercy..."

So this was how she was choosing to go. It was almost regrettable, such a waste of life. To think, if only she had chosen differently.. he could have used her talent. Then again, if she was throwing her life away for the sake of another, maybe Lily Potter was not as intelligent as she was thought to be...

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Lily's vision flooded with green and somehow she knew her mouth had opened in a scream. But all she could hear as feeling drifted out of her body were the terrified sobs of a baby who in a matter of seconds had become completely and utterly alone in the world.