In Love and War

Lily sat in her rocking chair up in Harry's room, contemplating how she had come to be here in this situation, while breastfeeding her little darling.

It all had started with that blasted fertility potion. After that one night with Thomas, she had woken alone in that room, had found the bill paid, and had left for home. Of course another row had followed, because James had been terrified for her safety, had believed she had run into some Death Eaters, that she had been hurt or worse.

The sex that followed had been spectacular.

A few weeks later Lily had been sure that she was pregnant. And at the same time, she had known it couldn't have been James'. Even though she hadn't managed to bring James to accept the possibility that he was the reason conceiving took so long, she had found a charm in one of her books to simply test if a man was able to father children or not. She had cast the spell on her husband as he'd slept. She had hoped to be wrong, or to have a reason to drag him to a healer. Now that she knew that James wasn't the father, couldn't be the father, only Thomas remained as a possibility.

She still remembered quite vividly how her thoughts had run in circles that day and the following night. She had used a contraceptive charm while she was with Thomas. How was it even possible that she'd gotten pregnant that night? More research had followed, and she'd unearthed some information about fertility potions that looked as if it had been deliberately kept secret for quite some time.

What she'd found had made her furious. It seemed to be tradition to feed fertility potions to young married witches even if they didn't want to get pregnant just yet. That worked because the properties of fertility potions countered the effects of the charm. So the mystery of how she could get pregnant in spite of the charm was solved.

For long hours she had contemplated what to do. If telling James was a real option, or if she should try to pass off her child as James'.

In the book detailing the fertility potion was another, used to give an unborn child the likeness of a different father. It had been easy to brew the potion, to take it as often as was required and to banish Thomas from her mind. She didn't really know him. They had spent one evening together. There was no way she could make any guesses as to what living with him would be like, and despite that she often found herself speculating.

And now here she was her beloved Harry in her arms, so much bigger now than when she had held her miracle baby for the first time.

Over a year on the run because of a prophecy she had never heard. Because a spy had warned the Headmaster that her son was a possible target. Now hidden away behind a powerful spell, unable to leave the house.

James was close to climbing the walls because there was just nothing to do at this house. Harry was ecstatic that both his mommy and dadda were always there and playing with him. Her little boy loved his toy broom, toddled around the house chasing after the cat, and smiled all the time.

But Lily was frustrated. Hiding away while others fought felt wrong, and she had trouble accepting the necessity without a good reason. James, Sirius, and Remus all had tried to convince her to trust the Headmaster in this, without knowing the exact wording of the prophecy. But she felt frustrated with the old man's lack of trust in them. He always held information so close to his vest, never telling anyone anything if he could avoid it.

Lily of course understood the need for secrecy. But if something affected her life as much as this supposed prophecy, she felt she had a right to know. And she knew that she was able to keep something secret. They all suspected that there had to be a spy in their midst. Or someone who talked about things where he or she shouldn't.

It galled that she wasn't trusted enough to keep the information secret, but was expected to heed the words of the Headmaster without question. Maybe James kept nothing secret from his three friends, but she certainly would keep things even from James if need be. But she couldn't very well say that.

Hopefully the war would end soon. She hoped that her beloved son would get the chance to grow up in a peaceful world.

oooOOooo

Since the night that Severus had told him of that prophecy, Tom had pondered if he should act on it or not. Only one thing was sure concerning that piece of overheard hogwash: Dumbledore expected him to do something about it.

Of course he had hunted and attacked the Potters. They were paragons of the light. Fighting against him. Why should he avoid them, show mercy when they were fighting against him?

But killing a baby? Only on the say-so of the possibility that it might some day have the power to kill him? Even the common flu would one day be able to kill him. When he was old and grey, so a long time to come. But it would happen.

He still was working on making peace with that.

But now the Potters thought they were safe, and Peter had brought him the information he had needed to find them. Using the fidelius charm to hide them had been an unexpected move. But Dumbledore rarely acted in logical ways.

Severus had pleaded that he spare Lily Potter. An interesting request. Only begging for the mother, not the father. It was telling. But Severus' troubles were well known aspects, and the man's knowledge and ability in potions was invaluable. Tom planned to honour the man's request. Sending a stunner at the woman was as easy as sending a killing curse. Such an easy distinction to make to secure the loyalty of a useful man.

It was Halloween. Kids were running around, dressed up as witches, mummies, several different superheroes. His own appearance didn't stick out much. He had put on the glamours portraying the looks everyone was expecting. After he had stopped that dangerous experiment with the horcruxes, he had retained his good looks, and had only aged slowly, as was usual for wizards of a certain amount of power. But his snake-like appearance was hidden behind the hood and cloak he had thrown on over his robes, which in turn covered his trousers and tunic.

And there it was: the house of James and Lily Potter.

It was almost too easy.

A blasting curse to the door made the way free for him to enter the house. James called out to his wife to get Harry and run, then stepped into his way.

Tom snorted, the man didn't even have his wand.

In the background Tom heard frantic footfalls on the stairs, heavy things moved over the floor. And in front of him stood a frantic wizard, determination in his eyes, willing to die to buy his wife and son just a moment more time.

It was admirable, but useless.

Two words. A simple spell. And the body of one of his most troublesome enemies fell to the floor.

Tom took his time walking up the stairs. There was no reason to hurry.

Another blasting curse removed the obstacles Mrs. Potter had managed to pile against the door. Brushing back his hood Tom stepped into the room and saw the fierce mother dragon standing in front of a crib, her wand missing as well.

Tom didn't waste time on monologuing, it always was the downfall of the villain in any story everywhere. He simply send a stunner at the woman, interrupting her pleading.

Silence followed the sound of her body hitting the floor.

And then a high pitched voice asked "Mommy?" A toddler just a few months over a year old, hoisted himself onto his legs, using the bars of his crib as a handhold.

Green eyes focused on the still form, then wandered up to look at Tom. A moment they stood there staring at each other.

Then the little boy held his arms up to Tom in the universal gesture of small children to be picked up. .:Up:.

Shock traveled through Tom as he heard the hissing sounds of parseltongue falling from the lips of the small boy. How was that even possible? The Gaunts had been the last of Slytherin's lineage. Tom's mother had died with him as her only child. His uncle never had any children. And he himself always had been extra careful.

Casting the charm, only ever searching for the company of muggle women. Tom started to mentally calculate the age of the little Potter boy. Had he been with any woman back when the boy had been conceived?

He quickly came to the conclusion that he had been with Rose in that particular timespan. The muggle woman who had complained about her husband giving her some herbal stuff to bolster her… Red-slitted eyes flew to the woman on the floor. Lily, Rose… Could it be?

Tom never would have guessed, stories like the one Rose had told him were too common to make the connection. Peter had spoken about discord between Lily and her husband.

Had Lily Potter been Rose?

Tom quickly cast a paternity charm on the small child, who squealed in delight over the pretty light. Then that light formed the words Tom Marvolo Riddle over the child, and Tom began to curse colourfully in parseltongue.

Now what should he do? He had detected a number of wards as he had stepped into the house. And here near the crib he felt more, intricate, powerful wards. Someone had made a great effort to shield the boy from harm. There was not much time. He needed to decide what to do now.

oooOOooo

AN: I'm aware that probably many of you will be shocked when I say: and this is were this ends. Jordre and Jake for sure were and told me that I couldn't leave it here. Because there are so many possibilities this could go from here.

And that's totally true. And also the reason why I will not write more to this for the time being. A story were I don't know where to take it and where it will end is liable to never get finished. So I'll concentrate on "Benefits of Old Laws" and might come back here later.

If someone should feel inspired by this sketch of a beginning and decide to write a story, please leave me a link. I would love to see where someone else might take this!

Thanks to Jordre and Jake for helping to improve my spelling!