1 Prologue

October 31st, 1981 - Godric's Hollow, Halloween

A young boy slept peacefully in his crib, small hands tucked beside his chest as he lay on his stomach with his left cheek resting against his pillow. Thick black lashes framing his heart shaped face fluttered every so often as the babe dreamt about nothing and everything. A small sigh left soft lips that puckered into his mouth now and then, content.

Suddenly a loud crash echoed from within the house, followed by muffled sounds of shouts and screams that caused the child to whimper and for his eyes to blink profusely before revealing glittering orbs filled with confusion. He sat up slowly, his chubby left leg rubbing against the arm of another beside him.

The door to the room burst open with a slam as a young woman rushed to pick up the child and his counterpart. Her fiery red hair flared out behind her as she hastily flung a thin material over the tops of their heads, internally wailing as the hallway she had come from flashed a vibrant blue before a quiet thud reached her ears... And then silence. A bitter, foreboding silence.

Until she heard it. The unmistakable sound of laughter that came closer and closer with every heavy step, until it was right outside the door. She muttered a few words under her breath, but was cut off as the daunting sight of something unimaginable entered her vision. It's wand was raised threateningly towards her and the instinct to step back was strong, but she refused. It's watchful gaze burned her, seeming to analyse every part of her very soul before a predatory grin settled upon its lips.

"Move now." Its smooth voice pierced the thick atmosphere. "This is your only warning."

The woman stood straighter, an air of defiance rolling off of her magic at his words. Her own wand raised in her trembling hand as tears spilled down her flushed cheeks, anger, resentment and desperation lacing her every word. "Please... Please, not my children. Not my children. Take me if you want, but do not harm them!" Her voice began to waver. "I'll even submit to you, as long as you do not hurt them! Please, anything but my babies!" Her tired eyes widened merely a fraction before she was knocked unconscious, the horrid creature making its way to a crib being the last thing she saw.

The creature tilted its head in curiosity, rubies clashing with emeralds and a feeling of harmony settling in the air. It gazed at the two beings in the crib, sensing something powerful and much too precious taking root in itself. Loving warmth flooded it before a coldness like no other appeared before it as it stared deeply into the knowledgeable and understanding irises of the child that was sitting up, his head peeking out of the cloak as a mop of messy black hair covered most of his features.

The thing suddenly hissed and quickly uttered two unforgivable words, those two words changing the future of the world in so many different ways that neither could've imagined...

"Avada Kedavra!"

A blinding stream of green magic raced towards the babies in the crib, when all of a sudden a thundering crack sounded out and its course changed, heading straight back towards its sender. The creature's eyes bugged out in such a manner it could've been deemed comical, however it was only for a moment before the being disappeared with a scream of agony.

As the light diminished and the room was surrounded in darkness once more, the muted cry of an infant broke out. The two children were both sitting, bleeding, and left with a wound that would never heal and would change the future of both the wizarding and muggle world. The first child had a small wound on his right shoulder, a wound curved at all ends and bleeding heavily. His eyes were full of tears and his small wails were buried in the shirt of the second child as his hands fisted the material. The second child had a small wound on his forehead, a jagged wound covered by his curly locks and bleeding immensely. Silent tears trailed down his cheeks as he hugged his brother, eyes staring at the area the creature had stood just moments before.

It was at this moment that Lily Potter awoke, eyes blearily searching her surroundings and certain events being recalled swiftly if her panicked call for her babies was anything to go by. She quickly stood, reaching the crib and picking up her children before shakily flooing to Hogwarts in a daze.

October 31st, 1981 - Hogwarts, Halloween

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was sitting at his desk with a lemon drop in his mouth and looking over the progress of the current first-years when all of a sudden his floo began shimmering and the face of a woeful Lily Potter appeared. He stood up immediately and rushed to aid the girl in walking to the chair across from his as she almost collapsed from exhaustion. "Lily dear, what in Merlin's name happened to you!" Albus sat her down and only then did he realise the two bleeding babies in their mother's arms and the missing presence of James Potter.

"Dumbledore," she cried. "He came for us tonight."

As soon as those words left her lips, Dumbledore was casting spells to heal the boys, and included a silencing ward around them. "What happened, my dear? Tell me in detail, do not leave out a thing, my child."

And so Lily began to tell the headmaster everything that had transpired just hours ago, even going as far as to provide him with the memory.

"Knowing Tom, he'll find a way to come back. This won't be the last we'll see of him," the Headmaster said gravely. Lily Potter clutched at her babies helplessly.

"Jamison Potter is the one who defeated the Dark Lord!" There was a moment before the headmaster spoke once more. "I'm afraid that he'll need your uttermost attention, my dear. And we don't want poor Harry to become jealous of his brother's fame or to feel neglected. I think it'd be best if you send him away for a while and then retrieve him once we know that he has enough magic to enter Hogwarts."

Lily stilled. She had to send her baby away?

Dumbledore inwardly smirked. Lily Potter was always the hardest one to manipulate, but this time he had the advantage. With James supposedly gone, Lily would believe that she isn't fit for parenting, at least not for two children without the fear of neglecting one of them. She'd play right into his hands...

And thus began the complex trap set by Albus Dumbledore for decades to come.

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