Harry Potter and the Exiled Heiress

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ...”

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It had been raining all day. People preferred staying inside in their cosy homes, and there were not many on the roads even when the rain stopped in the evening. A cold February night with an overcast sky, the moon was faintly visible.

It was well past three in the night, and every soul in this distant part of the West Country village, Godric’s Hollow, was asleep, but for him. How could he sleep, when he clearly realized, how much constant danger his family was in?

His wife had gone to bed after putting the children to bed. He could see her face under the dim lights from the fire. Good thing, she was asleep, he had been working all day, trying not to think about it.

He was sitting on the chair by the fire thinking about the past, his days at Hogwarts, friends, Lily, Miley and Harry – these constituted his happiest memories.

“You are up?” He came back with a start. It was Lily. She got up and came towards him.

“James, were you up the whole night? What are you doing to yourself?”

“That’s the problem. I cannot do anything, anything at all, to save my own family from him. You don’t understand how it is sitting inside this virtual cage waiting just waiting.”

“You are getting restless again.”

“I wish, I could finish this before, before he gets to touch my family.”

“But, we are protected James. We are guarded by the Fidelius charm.”

“I am not worried about myself.”

Lily could see the pain in his eyes; when he said that. She got on her knees beside him, and hugged him. “I love you James.” “All will be fine, Albus says the charm is impenetrable and Harry…H..a..rry will be fine.” She fought back tears while saying this.

“Its not Just Harry, its everyone – you, Miley and Harry. I am worried about all of you, because, he would not care about how many lives he claims.” “To him it does not make a difference. But to me, it makes all the difference.”

“Oh James..!”, He clung to her as someone clings to a lifeline and there was nothing as real as, her heart thumping beside his.

A red glow was visible outside the window across the sky. They could hear the distant chirpings of the morning birds. She straightened herself after what seemed like an hour.

“They will be up in an hour or so, just freshen yourself up and I’ll brew some coffee.”

“I will just go and check on them” and added, “Just to see if they are comfortable or not.” At her curious glance.

She knew how he would be feeling. She could understand he did not want her to see his tears. How hard he had tried, not to breakdown in front of her. He had had such a comfortable, peaceful childhood, and he could not bear to see his children facing the dark forms so early on. What parent does not want their child to be safe and happy? She could feel tears swarming up in her eyes and she cried knowing he would be doing the same.

She composed herself after a moment and went to wash herself. Making a mental note to owl Sirius and call him over, may be, that would distract him a bit, in fact both of them.