A/N: I've been a lurker on here fore quite a while and finally decided to upload a story of my own. This story will be novel-length and will feature a Harry raised by his father. This is not a strict divergence-fic, there are other elements that are AU, besides James Potter surviving Halloween '81. So I guess, it could be considered a parallel universe fic.

Summary: One choice can change everything. This story follows the epic adventures of Harry Potter and his contemporaries, through a universe shaped by one fact: James Potter decided to have his wand within easy reach the night Voldemort attacked. This story will eventually carry through the seventh year and beyond, and the scope will be much, much larger than just Magical Britain. As far as shipping goes, there won't be any slash and I don't think Harry/Ginny is going to end up happening, everything else is fair game.

Prologue

The quaint village of Godric's Hollow was quiet and peaceful on this Halloween night. That tranquility extended to an exceedingly well hidden cottage that seemed to reside apart from the surrounding tableau.

The heavens were clear tonight. The stars and the crescent moon shed their light upon the town. Remote and uncaring of the goings on of the world. Mars seemed to glow.

Inside the house James Potter, former Head Boy, semi-retired Auror, member of the Order of the Phoenix, Lord of House Potter, and Leader of the Marauders, was reclining in a rather comfortable chair reading an article from the monthly, Transfiguration weekly, in the midst of a well appointed living room.

The room had an air of comfort and was adorned in scarlet and gold, the Potter colors… which just so happened to be Gryffindor colors as well. Aside from the comfortable recliner in which he lounged, there was a plush couch, a coffee table, a love seat, another recliner, and a very special trunk with seven locks. Opposite him beside the front door, there was a small fireplace, that was unfortunately not connected to the Floo network due to security concerns, but nonetheless contained a crackling fire.

On the mantle were pictures of the young family and their friends. One picture was of Padfoot grinning proudly, his hair turned scarlet and gold by Harry's first bout of accidental magic. And there was Alice and Lily playing with Neville and Harry in the Hogwarts Infirmary, where both boys had been born.

In a place of honor was a large picture of all the Marauders gathered around Lily, who was holding newborn Harry in her arms. James smiled every time he saw the picture.

This Halloween had been fun, despite the tension of the war, and the fact that they were virtual prisoners in their own house. Lily had told him about the American muggle practice of wearing costumes and he had taken to it with gusto. James had transfigured the trio Vampire costumes, perhaps making Lily's a little more revealing than was strictly necessary, but she did have amazing legs. Lily had charmed some rubber bats to fly around and make spooky sounds. They had gloried in it. Harry had unintentionally made one of the flying bats engorge to the size of a small hippopotamus, which had then proceeded to chase the trio about the house, the young couple laughing too hard to undo Harry's magic.

At the end of the revelry, when Harry was all tuckered out, James had cleaned up with a few spells and replaced his wand in his duelling holster. He felt more than a little guilty for almost putting his wand down on the couch. The holster was a gift from the Senior Auror, Alastor "Constant Vigilance" Moody, and the paranoid bastard would have had his skin for even thinking about leaving his wand out of arm's reach.

Then his wife, the love of his life, Lily, had put Harry to bed and he could hear her changing out of her costume and into her night robes. For a second a grin crossed his features as he thought about going up to have some alone time with hi-

Boom!

The explosion shook the Potter's cottage, as the front door of the home was reduced to shards and blown across the foyer, along with parts of the surrounding wall and door frame. James Potter's head smashed into the wall as he was forcibly thrown out of his chair by the blast's powerful shock-wave.

His vision blurred momentarily, he shook his head to clear it, his years of Occlumency training allowing him to regain focus quickly. Damn he thought, He found Wormtail! As the enemy's wards fell in place, he could sense Anti-apparition and Anti-portkey jinxes. There was something else too, but it was unfamiliar and James couldn't identify it.

No time to think about Wormtail, now! James thought grimly, Only Lily and Harry matter now.

Ignoring the coppery taste of blood in his mouth and the aching of his shoulder. James glanced in the direction of the disfigured doorway, knowing, dreading, what he would see.

The only thing visible, through the haze of lingering smoke was a shadowy figure, clad all in black, red eyes glowing with malice and dark magic. The air seemed to thrum with the intruder's aura, his oppressive power exerting a force all it's own on the surroundings.

Death had come to Godric's Hollow.

Flicking his wrist, James' wand slid out of his wrist holster and into his waiting hand, the young wizard reflexively rolled to his feet, avoiding a silent Killing Curse.

Fluidly assuming a dueling stance, body quarter turn away from the enemy, knees bent, weight on the balls of his feet, mahogany wand angled toward the imminent threat, James, ruthlessly quashed the fear that threatened to consume him, steadied himself and shouted, "Lily, take Harry and go! It's him! I'll try to hold him off — just go!"

The immediate creaking of floorboards above his head, comforted James. Lily was always quick on the uptake.

Unhurriedly Lord Voldemort stalked through the still smoking hole, red eyes assessing measuring, serpentine nostrils flaring. Wand at his side and posture relaxed, the Dark Lord could have been out for a stroll. Except for the cruel smirk on his features.

"Potter, you could have been my right hand, a King of this Age. Instead, you're just another dead blood traitor. Avada Kedavra!" The dark wizard's wand flashed up, and the lethal green light burst forth from his wand.

As death came rushing at him, James relied on instinct and training. He had not been idle in the six days since they had taken up residence at Godric's Hollow. Marauder's were always prepared, and his Auror training had given him invaluable tools. James had set about partially Transfiguring every piece of furniture, so that if the time came, it would take minimal effort to complete the spells.

With a twist of his wand and his will, the plush couch was transfigured. A rather ferocious lion, golden mane gleaming in the light, roared as it jumped in between the wizard and death. Another twist of his wand and a non-verbal Protego produced a blue and white shield separating him from the lion and the curse.

Another explosion rattled the old cottage as the Killing Curse slammed into the transfigured lion. James' shield was strained by the blast, but he focused, furiously sending more power into the spell. The damage to the house itself was minimal, the walls and the ceiling had been reinforced by Lily's expert use of the Unbreakable charm.

No smoke was produced from the violent explosion, Voldemort and James stared at one another, from behind their respective shield charms. Shoring up his mental shields, James dropped the Shield Charm. Voldemort was one of the most skilled Legilimens in history, and James would be damned if that snake-faced bastard got inside his head.

Voldemort reluctantly nodded in what could have been respect and casually dismissed his own Shield Charm.

Faster than a striking Basilisk, the Dark Lord fired a brutal spell chain at the young Auror.

"Crucio! Imperio! Avada Kedavra!"

Stepping to the side he dodged the beam of red light and James, once again, twisted his wand and focused. Six lions were transfigured from the ruined furniture that lay strewn about the room. These were all female lions, agile and fierce. Lily had charmed them to be silent and resistant to supernaturally fast.

The pride began to silently circle Voldemort as James evaded the Unforgivables. Sneering, Voldemort's wand produced a rope of fire. One of the lions behind the dark wizard lunged at the dark lord's exposed back, trying to take advantage of the opening. The rope, brandished like a whip, cut the feline in two.

James, praying that Lily and Harry were on their way to safety, unleashed his own spell chain at the preoccupied dark wizard.

"Aquamenti! Bombarda! Stupefy! Arctis! ", the young wizard roared.

Incredibly precise, the Flame whip cut each spell out of the air. Not missing a beat, the whip continued to assault James and his transfigured allies. A lion's head was decapitated with a fluid slash from the dread wand. The fire spell was versatile and powerful, James was beginning to panic. If he failed, Lily and Harry were dead!

Fire! James thought urgently as he dodged yet another blow from the burning whip, What can I do about the fire! Anything I throw at him will just be burned away… that's it!

Viride Pix! James non-verbally conjured Pitch. The conjuration was one of his inventions, it had been unbelievably helpful when pranking Snivellus and the rest of the slimy Slytherins.

Highly pressurized lime green tar shot out of the mahogany wand, aiming to cover the dark lord. At the same time two of the transfigured pride attempted to maul Voldemort. The most feared wizard in ages smoothly bisected the pair of lions and turned his whip to meet the onrushing substance and it it ignited.

A torrent of fire surrounded and engulfed the intruder, James and his lions stepped back from the conflagration. The heat was intense causing the paint on the walls to bubble. James didn't think that would stop Voldemort for a second.

Marshalling both his will and his magic, as Voldemort put out the flames, James concentrated on protecting his wife and son. Coupled that with the rage that this monster wanted to destroy his family! The world would have been a better place if Voldemort never existed!

Bale Agnis, James cast spell non-verbally with a twist of his wand. A pure white bar of molten light burst out of his wand and sped towards the dark lord. James felt the spell tax his power, draining away his reserves.

He had never liked the Dark Arts, in fact he reviled them, but he'd do anything to protect his family. The Potter Grimoire held the knowledge of every Potter, ranging back before even the time of Hogwarts, and some of those ancestors had not been as high minded as James. One had worked in the Department of Mysteries and studied the intricacies of time and magic. When he had died, his knowledge had been sent to the Potter Grimoire. That's where James had found the forbidden and deadly spell.

A heartbeat later James non-verbally cast, Bombarda Maxima!

Perhaps sensing the power of the spell, Voldemort conjured a shining shield with a large S gleaming from it's center, just in time for the molten light to come crashing into the defense. The shield's colors seemed to invert and flash out of existence.

James would never forget the look of absolute shock on the dark lord's face as the shield was burned into nothingness. Then the other spell smashed into him and sent Voldemort flying into the wall behind him. Worst luck, James had missed the torso and had only managed to blow off the his enemy's left arm at the shoulder.

There was quite a lot of blood pooling on the hardwood floors.

Not stopping for a second James cast, "Confringo! Incendio!"

Incredibly Voldemort's wand flashed out blocking the spells and the dark wizard was pulled to his feet as if by wires. For the first time that night Voldemort was not smirking, his face showed… hunger.

A strange hissing sound came from Voldemort. Parseltongue, James thought disgustedly.

A look of intense concentration crossed the dark lord's face as he slashed his wand and a Black orb exploded towards James. The orb seemed to drink in light, pulling warmth from the cottage, guttering out all of the remaining fire.

"Reducto! Diffindo! Depulso!"

James desperately cast as he tried to halt the spell, but to no avail. The orb seemed to feed off of his spells making it stronger and faster. With a last effort of will and a flick of his wand James cast, "Protego Maximus!" and dove to the side.

The orb plowed through his shield as if it wasn't there, and turned toward him, making contact with his wand and then his hand. Then the curse seemed to collapse on itself, and James' hand was no more. There was no pain, just blood pumping out of his amputated forearm in rivulets.

With a flick of the hate filled yew wand, he was bound in thick ropes and silenced. Another spell struck his bleeding stump and there was blinding pain. It felt like little spiders from Hell were having a playdate on his arm. The flesh of his stump was knitting itself back together incredibly fast, and within heartbeats he was no longer bleeding.

"Nullum Magiae Licere." The Dark Lord said in a voice full of malice, followed by a complex wand movement which ended with the wand tip touching James' forehead.

A flash of black light struck James, and a feeling of wrongness seeped into every inch of his being. He tried to grasp his power and cast wandlessly, in order to strike at his foe, but he could no longer feel his magic. He felt naked, exposed, like a newborn babe. His magic had been there even before he journeyed to Hogwarts.

His eyes were inexorably pulled towards Voldemort, his arm seemed to be grotesquely regrowing itself. First bone sprouting with a sickening grinding noise; then muscle and finally the flesh with moist sucking sounds had reformed, and if it weren't for the tattered robe it would've seemed that James' spell hadn't blown the bastard's arm off. James was momentarily glad for the silencing spell, he didn't hear himself vomit, too bad he couldn't do anything about the smell.

Red eyes met brown eyes and Voldemort's serpentine features took on a hate filled grin, that made James want to vomit again. James felt the blade of thought, Voldemort's mental probe cut into his shields. It felt like the damn Knight Bus was driving around in his head.

Finding his last shreds of willpower, in the rage and hatred that he felt towards the monstrosity, James withstood the attack.

After a moment, that felt like a lifetime, Voldemort pulled back his probe and studied James with open disdain.

"Defiant still, I see. I was prepared to offer leniency and grant you a quick and honorable death, but your spell has piqued my interest. Such a powerful spell should serve a worthy master." Voldemort seemed to be enjoying himself now.

Let the bastard gloat. James thought, Every second he spends with me is a second that Lily has to run.

He twirled the wand through his long skeletal fingers, and then gleefully pointed it at his defeated opponent.

"Crucio!", the Dark lord said. An almost solid red light flew into James, and he knew pain. James world was pain, every cell in his body was going to combust. The moment stretched out for an eternity, and then the pain was gone.

As the echoes of James' piercing screams died out, Lord Voldemort was visibly buoyed by the pain and degradation that he was inflicting. His hellish eyes seemed to come alive as he said, "Perhaps as a reward for such an excellent duel, I'll allow you to witness the end of your line. Yes that sounds grand. 'The one with the power to vanquish the dark lord', we shall see." Voldemort seemed to be suddenly introspective.

"Now for your son." The word 'son' was filled with an astonishing amount of hate and contempt. "Don't worry, I'm sure he hasn't gotten too far.", Lord Voldemort said as he turned to the stairs.

James felt himself lift off the ground, felt himself hang vertically. The ropes biting into his flesh as he thrashed like a wild animal. Then the unmistakable feeling of the disillusioning charm fell over him

Voldemort ascended the stairs quickly and all too soon arrived at the door to Harry's nursery. The door slammed open without word or gesture from the dark wizard. James hoped that Lily had gotten Harry out.

Lily jumped away from the ajar window, as if startled awake, and whirled toward the door, eyes slowly refocusing, wand trained on Voldemort. Helplessly floating just outside the nursery, James thought he recognized the aftereffects of the Imperius or something very similar.

That bastard must have put up some kind of ward to inhibit anyone from running!, James thought frantically as he vainly tried to free himself.

Before getting pregnant with Harry, Lily had been a fighter, and a damned good one at that. Maybe she would succeed where I failed, James thought desperately. A solid blue and white shield sprang up in between her and Voldemort.

Faster than thought a red light shattered her shield and impacted upon the witch. Heart rending screams ripped from Lily's mouth as she lay on the floor engulfed in a world of agony.

Stop you snake-faced bastard! I'll rip your fucking head off!, James screamed silently as his body and mind convulsed in fear and rage.

The dark lord contemptuously ended the curse and disarmed her with a flick of his wand. He strode toward the child and as he drew close, Lily miraculously moved to block his way. The look of ferocity on her face made James' heart skip a beat.

A mother Lion protecting her cub

Voldemort halted, apparently confused by the display.

"Move aside, girl.", the Dark One said, voice full of irritation, deadly wand held at the ready.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!", Lily screamed, desperation radiating from her every cell.

"Imperio!" The curse hit Lily suddenly, but she remained unmoved, implacable.

That's my Lily, thought James both incredibly proud and profoundly sad.

"Stand aside you silly girl … stand aside now.", again he spoke, irritation turning quickly to anger.

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead - ", Lily's words were cut short by a green light and the sound of rushing death, then the dull thud of a body hitting the soft carpet of the nursery. Lily Potter nee Evans, the mother of his child, the love of his life was dead.

"Very well.", the dark wizard hissed scornfully.

James let out a silent scream as tears poured from his eyes. The tears and the despair did not obscure his view of the nightmare unfolding before his eyes, his eyelids were transparent. He had no choice, but to watch as Voldemort moved towards Harry. The infant must have been terrified because the entire cottage was vibrating, all the glass in the room had shattered, and Harry's wardrobe burst into flames.

The dark lord seemed undaunted by the impressive accidental magic as he strode forth wand upraised, predator seeking prey.

"Avada Kedavra!", roared Lord Voldemort. Green light instantly struck little Harry's crib.

And a heartbeat later there was an incredible explosion of green and white light and Voldemort's body was torn asunder by the incredible force of his hateful curse. James saw something leave the desicated corpse before the ropes binding him vanished and he was thrown backwards by the force of the explosion.

Lily and Harry!They're gone!

Lily and Harry! They're gone!

LILY AND HARRY!THEY'RE GONE!

James was almost catatonic, curled up in a ball sobbing in the middle of the staircase, when the high pitched cry of an infant broke through his despair. He was going mad! James thought, No one had ever survived the Killing Curse! They're Gone!

Another cry shattered his denial.

James marshalled his tattered will and found it unstable and amorphous, however the reassuring warmth of his magic had returned. He staggered to his feet, called on by the impossible, demanding wails. The stab of pain from his right forearm made him wince and glance down. The arm was badly burned. Must've been the explosion, James thought distractedly as he limped into the destroyed nursery.

Lily's charred corpse tried to draw James, but Harry's shrieks called for his immediate attention. If he stopped for Lily he didn't thinkf he'd ever get moving again.

All he could manage for his beloved was to drop his cloak over her corpse enroute to his son.

James peered at Harry in wonder and gently wiped away the blood from his son's forehead and took hold of the living breathing miracle with his good hand. He pulled the tiny boy into an embrace, his son.

"You're safe my boy. You're safe.", James repeated as a mantra to calm his son.

Alive! Harry's alive!

James didn't know how long they stood there, father and son, taking solace in one another's presence. Drawing strength from one another. Trying to heal one another.

CRACK!

The sound of apparition came from downstairs.

Death Eaters! James' tired mind screamed, I've gotta get Harry out of here.

James, completely drained and traumatized beyond anything he had ever endured, found the energy to shift Harry to his mangled right arm and reached for the toy snitch that Sirius had gotten Harry for his birthday.

The emergency portkey clutched in his left hand and Harry pinned against James stump and torso. James sorrowfully moved over to touch his wife's shrouded body. Carefully, reverently, he angled her mangled head into his lap as he sidled onto the floor.

I won't let your sacrifice be in vain, I'll raise him to be strong and good. James thought fiercely.

Remembering the wraith fleeing from the dark wizard's remains, he made a solemn vow, When that bastard comes back we'll be ready. Harry won't be alone or unprepared. This I swear on my Life and my Magic.

Regretfully the father of The-Boy-Who-Lived said the password, "Padfoot's Place."

A rough jerk behind his navel and James, Harry, and the corpse of Lily Potter were gone.

A/N: Please let me know what you think!