All Hallows' Eve 1981; it would be the second Halloween I had spent essentially under house arrest, after a prophecy had marked my baby son as rival to a psychopath wizard so feared that most didn't dare say his name aloud. It seemed ludicrous when you thought about it like that. How was this my life?

I just wanted to be normal. I wanted to be able to leave the house, to have friends around for dinner parties, to be able to go to work, to go out for a date night with James, to take my son to the park… Stop that, I told myself firmly. Thinking like that doesn't help anything.

I crossed the room and twitched the curtain aside. The streetlights were coming on and the gleeful sounds of children trick or treating drifted into the cottage at Godric's Hollow. I smiled to myself, remembering happier times when I would dress up with Tuney and canvass the neighbourhood for sweets. It felt like a lifetime ago but really it was only 11 years since my last Halloween at home, before I went away to school.

That Halloween I had gone as Minnie Mouse. Mum had made my outfit and I remembered being terribly pleased by the result, never minding that the red dress and bow clashed horribly with my dark red hair. The family dog Wally had even been dressed up as Goofy to fit the theme.

Petunia had been adamant that she wasn't going. After all, she was a teenager now. Much too grown up to get excited by dress-ups and chaperoning her kid sister and her friends around the neighbourhood. On this occasion she eventually caved and donned a generic witch costume to accompany myself and the other little girls and boys who lived nearby.

I wonder if she was out trick or treating tonight? Her son – my nephew, was Harry's age after all. I nearly snorted out-loud at the picture in my head – that would be the last thing I could imagine my brother-in-law doing!

I glanced down at the sleepy toddler lying on the blanket beside me and although I knew I shouldn't, I allowed myself to daydream about the future - a time when it would be safe to dress up for Halloween with my young husband and happy baby. We would be dressed in theme of course and all James's mates would be involved somehow. Without question the marauders would go all out, especially Padfoot. They'd dress up Harry's pram as well and use it to store their haul. Of course 21 was an unusual age to be trick or treating, but we would use the excuse of a toddler to have some fun and be silly again.

I was startled out of my reverie by baby Harry starting to fuss and move about.

"Tired little fella?" asked James. "Here, I'll take you up."

"No I'll take him - I thought I remembered you saying you'd clean up the kitchen tonight." I grinned mischievously and scooped up little Harry. "Don't think I'd let you get away with that one James Potter!'

He groaned and made a show of getting to his feet but then grinned good-naturedly and reached for Harry.

"C'mere tyke, lemme say goodnight." I passed Harry over with a smile and collected his blanket off the floor. James started to tickle Harry and managed to crack a grin out of him. He then lifted Harry's shirt and blew a big raspberry on his tummy.

"Dada!" squealed Harry, and squirmed, kicking his legs. James laughed and ruffled Harry's mess of black hair that was just like his, before planting a kiss on his forehead and passing him back.

He idly tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I'll bring up a cuppa?"

"Thanks Jim, I…"

BOOM!

Oh god, that was the front door. He's found us. My breath caught in my throat and I froze with dread.

James was already moving.

"Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! Go! Run! I'll hold him off!" His voice spurred me into action and I made a dash up the stairs clutching Harry to my body.

Behind me I heard those dreaded words – 'Avada Kedavra' and I couldn't help risking a glance backwards from the top of the stairs. All I saw was a blaze of green light.

James is dead. I felt numb; my brain couldn't process it. My body seemed to be acting on its own accord as I sprinted up the hall to Harry's room. A million thoughts were flashing through my head. It felt like I was in a nightmare. He was here. How? James, what do I do? I fished for my wand with my free hand and my heart felt like it turned to ice as I suddenly realized it wasn't with me. It was sitting uselessly on the couch downstairs. I barged into Harry's room and locked the door behind me, as if that would make a difference. Futilely I tried to calm down and concentrate as I closed my eyes and made an attempt to apparate, but I felt the resistance that meant there were anti-apparation wards in place. I deposited Harry in the cot and glanced madly around the room. I started to grab furniture at random to barricade the door while Harry watched quietly. I could hear footsteps making their way deliberately up the hall. Oh god, is this really happening? I knelt down in front of the cot and started to croon softly.

"Harry. Harry, you are loved. You are so loved. Harry, Mama loves you. Dada loves you. Harry, be safe. Be strong." The door burst open showering debris everywhere and I turned to shield Harry from it.

He laughed to find us standing there so vulnerable.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"

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

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead… "

He gestured impatiently with his wand for me to move.

"Not Harry! Please … have mercy … have mercy… Not Harry! Please – I'll do anything!"

He raised his wand and a powerful wave of magic hit me right in the chest; it was the most excruciating thing I'd ever felt and the world went dark as I was blasted backwards against the wall.