Authors Note:

This story marks the return of my writing after a good 4-ish years. I had been working on it for a couple months before I got up the courage to post it.

This story was one that I had wanted to read about, but since I couldn't find one that seemed to satisfy me, I decided to start my own!

I hope you enjoy Willow's journey and, by extension, my journey as we go through The Heir together.

Happy Reading!

October 31

James Potter closed the door as Sirius and Remus left, smiling over at his wife who was holding their two children, Harry and Willow Rose. Born at the same time, they looked almost exactly the same, alabaster skin, silky raven hair, and green eyes. Harry's eyes were a bit duller that Willow's but still just as beautiful and Willow had so much magic running through her that her skin took on a bluish undertone. That's where their similarities ended. Their personalities were both very different. Harry, born first, was loud and curious. He absolutely loved being the center of attention. Remus, the sweet old werewolf, and Sirius seemed to live to spoil him. Willow, however, was practically Harry's opposite. Never one for attention, she would often refuse to be picked up or even coddled. She was surprisingly independent for a one-year-old child. She never really cried and was concise about what she wanted or needed.

James recalled an instance when Willow had grabbed one of her favorite books, handed it to Remus, and then just sat there. She wanted him to read it to her and it took him a moment or two to realize that. In fact, James remembered, she took the book opened it, and handed it back to Remus as if Willow was showing him what she wanted. She was nothing if not tenacious.

When Lilly stood up to take the children to bed James took a moment to admire his wife. Her red hair was up in a messy bun, and even though her green eyes betrayed how tired she was they looked at him with love. They smiled at each other for a brief moment. She walked up their wooden stairs and James slumped into their worn gray couch, basking in the quiet and serenity. It was at that point that the door blasted open. The door, flying off its hinges made way for a cloaked man.

Voldemort.

Panicked, James yelled to alert his wife. He lunged towards the other end of the couch where his wand lay in an attempt to grab it. It was too late. The green light hit him and James was dead before he even touched his wand. Voldemort stepped over the man in disgust, some great wizard James Potter was. He was a fool. They were lulled into a false sense of security by Dumbledore.

Anyone who put any faith in that manipulative old man was a fool, Voldemort thought to himself. His black cloak swirled around him as he walked up their stairs. A feeling of triumph coursed through him at the thought of being so close to getting rid of the one thing that could possibly stand in his way.

He hoped Lilly was smarter than James, at least for Severus's sake. He had promised Severus that he would try to spare her, and he would do his best, especially for loyal followers like him. He walked up the stairs only to find the nursery door barricaded.

She didn't have her wand either it seems, Voldemort thought incredulously as he blew through this door as well.

Wood shards went everywhere and the furniture that held the door was as good as gone. To go anywhere without the core of their power was ridiculous. He looked over at Lilly. There she was, in front of the children, eyes wide, and looking as if she'd charge him at any moment. He scoffed and he rolled his eyes. He didn't have time for this.

"Stand aside girl, you'll be spared as long as you hand over the children." She shook her head violently, red hair moving rapidly and green eyes filling with tears.

"Please! Not them, not Harry or Willow. Kill me instead."

"I'm only going to ask once more, stand aside. If you do, I'll be merciful and let you live." That was a good deal, he was showing mercy. This was something of which he was not known for.

"No, I won't," tears streamed down her face, "There must be another way. Not Harry, not Willow, Ple-"

The green light hit her before she finished begging.

It was really too bad. She was good with magic, but apparently a fool, just like her husband. He looked into the crib and shuddered in disgust. That little boy, Harry, was screaming. It grated on his nerves. It'd be so easy to kill him right now.

However...

He could wait Voldemort decided. He turned to look at the tiny girl as she use the bars of the other crib to stand up. She looked at him with interest in those bright green eyes. They glowed and the color swam in her irises like a spell. In fact, they were the exact color as the spell that he just used on her parents. He leaned closer, until he was face to face with the child. He refused to touch her.

He hated children, and it was laughable that one of them could cause his demise. Willow, it seemed, had other ideas. Avada green eyes met his red ones and she reached out a chubby pale hand and touched Voldemort's face. Too startled to move, he stood still and was taken aback when she laughed. Would she laugh if she realized that he had just killed her parents? Her laughter had died down some, but she was still smiling when she reached for the wand he was holding.

He wouldn't kill her, he decided, not today anyway. She was far too intriguing. Killing her would be a mercy, those orphanages would be terrible. He was not one for mercy. So she would live.

I'll keep a close eye on you though, Willow Rose.

She fascinated him, even as a small, helpless child. The prophecy was another issue though. Voldemort pulled away from Willow and turned to Harry. He stared at the still screaming boy, unimpressed. He pointed his hooked wand at the boy and cast the spell with the purpose of stopping that ridiculous prophecy in its tracks. Two things happened simultaneously as the Avada Kedavra hit Harry. Voldemort collapsed, dying, and Willow Rose was hit with the remnants of what seemed to be Voldemort's soul. She cried out as it hit her shoulder and neck, and watched accusingly as the nearly dead man disappeared.

A couple of hours later found Dumbledore looking at the children incredulously. It admittedly took him a minute to process the fact that neither child was dead. In fact, Harry was unharmed except for the lightning shaped scar on his forehead. Dumbledore paid no mind to the other child as he picked Harry up to ensure that the Boy-Who-Lived was alright. From the other crib, green eyes stared at him accusingly, almost as if the owner couldn't believe that he was just ignoring her, the other orphaned child.

He continued to hold Harry as the rest of the Order showed up. The headmaster had decided that the best course of action was to send them both to Lily's sister, Petunia and her husband, Vernon. They loved Harry, and hopefully would be willing to take Willow as well. Minerva McGonagall showed up first, followed by Alastor Moody, and Rubeus Hagrid, the latter pulling up in a bike that had some room to put the two children. Dumbledore explained the plan and McGonagall became increasingly disgruntled, unsure if this plan had any merit at all.

"What about Willow?" she asked, worry laced throughout her tone, "will they accept her? I know the Dursleys like Harry, but they hate magic. To have two magic children in their house…"

Everyone heard what she left unsaid.

Minerva watched as Dumbledore stroked his long white beard, seemingly in thought. To everyone's astonishment however, Dumbledore waved her words away, telling her, and the rest of them, not to worry. Everything would be fine.

McGonagall narrowed her eyes but trusted the Headmaster and didn't press the issue.

She would later regret that decision.