Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. This story is fanfiction. Therefore, characters are not mine. Everything proprietary belongs to JK Rowling.

The Life We All Deserve

Chapter 12

"Stop your pacing, Sirius," Lily quipped with an annoyed tone. She sent the man a glare, but he bravely chose to ignore her.

"I can't help it, Lils. What if something wrong happens? You know Riddle is not an ordinary wizard." Sirius rubbed his face in frustration.

"We all know that," Lily replied sharply. "Getting yourself up in knots is not helping at all."

"Calm down, you two. Hermione prepared us for this, so all we have to do is make it happen." James rubbed Lily's shoulders; they were at the Manor's library waiting for Remus to arrive from a last minute check around Godric's Hollow before they portkeyed over; they wanted to be at the house that morning of Halloween. Hermione had been charming the house to look like they had been staying there all the while. James and Lily would transport themselves over every once in a while for appearance's sake and when Dumbledore and Pettigrew's visited in order to avoid suspicion.

The change of secret keeper from Remus to Peter happened in the middle of October. Hermione insisted that they not change the events that happened so that they have the chance to get rid of Voldemort like before and allow them time to destroy the Horcruxes while the Death Eaters were without their leader. The knowledge that all Riddle's minions, the ones who weren't captured and sent to Azkaban laid low and pretended to be upstanding citizens after pleading that they were under the Imperious at the time of Voldemort's reign of terror, incensed the Marauders to no end.

Confident that they had the advantage, Lily and James agreed with her. Lily even worked with Hermione in finding a spell that would immobilize Riddle long enough for them to blast him with a fatal curse. Lily also made sure that the protection in and around Harry's nursery at Godric's Hollow was the best.

Lily fidgeted in her seat, fussing over Harry who was asleep on the couch, already bundled up for their journey to Godric's Hollow when the fireplace roared green before Remus stepped into the library. The werewolf shook the soot off his cloak before greeting them. She was still in awe at how Remus' appearance improved since the time Hermione suggested he let his wolf take over once every month. The man had bulked up in muscles and even looked younger and fitter than the other two males in the room.

"Everyone ready?" Remus asked, he made his way to the baby sleeping by its mother and took Lily's hand to help her stand. "I had to double back twice just to make sure I didn't miss anything," he told James.

"Thank you, Remus," James came to stand by his wife and helped her with the baby's cloak.

Remus only nodded and with Sirius by his side, he took out a book from his pocket and waited for everyone to take hold of it. In a moment they all faded from the vast room.

All four landed in the backyard of their house by the back door. It opened to reveal a worried looking Hermione.

"Get in quickly!" She opened the door wider and stepped aside to let everyone into the threshold. It had just started to darken outside, so they rushed in to make sure no neighbor noticed their arrival.

Hermione had already prepared tea for them, so she led them to the kitchen table and started pouring the beverage into waiting four cups.

Tippy popped into view with a tray of warm biscuits and set it on the table. Remus noticed the sullen expression of the house elf but missed voicing it out loud when the conversation started around the table.

Lily sighed as she took the cup Hermione handed her and sat down next to James. Tippy took Harry from her care, and brought the sleeping baby to his nursery away from the adults.

"So what happens next?" She asked around the table.

"We stand guard of course, just like we planned," Sirius said, his voice lost his usual playful tone.

James nodded, "I will take the front room and keep a watch out on the street while Remus will be stationed out in the back in his wolf form and Lily will up in Harry's room with Tippy. Hermione will stay in the room by the stairs, hidden until needed."

Everyone nodded, except for Hermione, she watched as the four took sips of their tea while she just fiddled with her own.

Lily noticed Hermione's unease, "What's the matter, sweetheart?"

Hermione had a hard time looking up at Lily; she fussed with her teacup, but all the adults had stopped and waited for her to speak.

Hermione cleared her throat, "Actually, I have erected a different plan," she rushed saying the next thing, "I need you, Lily and James with Harry to wait at the other house across the street, and I stay here."

"No!" Lily erupted, "I can't allow that," she looked at the other stunned faces. "We can't allow that, Hermione." Her voice firm this time.

Hermione grabbed her hand, "Hear me out, please," her eyes pleading for them to let her explain. When Lily tried to protest she squeezed her hand some more, "Please Lily, just listen."

"Let her talk, Love." James told Lily, his voice low with foreboding, he shook his head firmly when Lily opened her mouth, "She had thought it through, we trust her, remember?"

Lily sagged back into her seat, trying her best not to scream in frustration.

Hermione gave her a grateful smile, "I can't remain in this timeline and I also cannot risk any of you getting hurt," she held her hand up when Remus growled low in his throat, "I know, Professor. I know you don't need me to protect you," she smirked. " I had thought this through. It was the original plan. I have to face Riddle; it's me who gets to fight him, even still, I can't stay here, the chance of things happening that may be utterly catastrophic will get higher. The only reason I haven't faded away is that we knew how things are going to end up to this point and my presence hasn't changed anything. After tonight, if I continue to exist I may cause something we don't want to happen."

Lily whimpered and grabbed Hermione's hand. Hermione smiled forlornly and squeezed the hand back, "I am two years old in this timeline, Lily."

Lily burst into tears as she pulled the girl she considered more than a friend after all this time to her embrace. She sometimes considered Hermione to be a surrogate daughter, and nobody had the heart to tell her otherwise.

Hermione rubbed Lily's back soothingly, "I will be alright. Now that I can trust you with helping to destroy all of Riddle, my future will be better." She pulled away slightly to look at Lily, "We'll surely see each other again."

Lily nodded but pulled her back into a hug. "I'm sorry if I am too mushy, Sweetheart. I can't help it; I have just gotten used to having you around."

Hermione laughed, "Me too, Lily. I wish I can say I will miss you," she looked around the sullen table, "All of you, but I guess it will not be possible."

"Then we will miss you for you," Sirius says with an attempt at a mischievous smile but failed.

Hermione beamed at the mischievous Marauder, "I would like that, Padfoot."

They all tried not to be too morose, but the atmosphere could not be saved from it. The other four sat as Hermione filled them in on the plan. The Potters were to stay in Hermione's hideout across the street with Tippy popping them over as soon as Voldemort was spotted. They had to make sure the magical signatures of both adults and Harry be in the house until the very last moment so not to alarm the dark wizard of anything. Sirius was to be away as it was before, but ready to apparate outside the house the moment the fight finished. The Potters were to stay hidden in Hermione's house while Remus was on standby, ready for any contingency just in case Hermione failed. Tippy promised to help her mistress finish her task since elf magic was foolishly beyond the Dark Lord's radar; she was tasked with making sure Harry remained safe.

After showing them all the traps Hermione installed around the Potter house, and going everything over with the four to ease their minds that there was very little to no chance of failure after that, Hermione hugged Sirius and Remus goodbye.

Remus kept her in his embrace longer, "I wish there's a way I could take this burden from you," his voice thick with grief.

Hermione smiled at the werewolf tenderly, "You can help by destroying the Horcruxes, Professor."

Remus nodded, "I will do my best, Selene."

"Thank you, Moony. I hope I get to meet you next time." Hermione tried hard to keep her tears in check but failed. Remus squeezed her one more time before transforming to Moony and running out of the house.

"He was never good at showing his emotions," Sirius told Hermione about Remus' hasty departure as he wiped her tears grabbed her for his hug. "Thank you for coming to us, Hermione. Next time we meet, I promise, I'll talk Moony in letting you lead the pack for a night." He grins at the girl before ruffling her hair.

Hermione giggled, "I can't wait!"

Sirius laughs out loud to mask his sadness and winks at her before leaning down to kiss the top of her head and strutted out to the backyard to apparate.

~oOo~

James kept Lily calm as they stayed up in Harry's nursery while they waited for Voldemort's appearance. Hermione went to check the crystals she set around the house to make sure they were in proper working order.

James regarded Lily as she watched his son sleep with a somber expression on her beautiful face. He knew his wife had formed a deep bond with the time traveling witch and he too felt intense sorrow knowing that Hermione decided on the ultimate sacrifice. The only consolation was that she was not only doing this to save him and his family but also to get the upper hand against Voldemort and save their world. He knew that Sirius and Remus would be hell-bent in ending this war during their time instead of passing that responsibility on to Harry and Hermione and their generation. His friends couldn't deny how much they came to care for Hermione and he too felt compelled to keep their future lives safe from Voldemort's evil and ultimately too from Dumbledore's manipulations. It was the focus on making sure his family survived that had kept him and his friends from confronting their former headmaster, that and making sure Hermione remained hidden from his self-serving, pompous arse. They all had sworn that as soon as tonight blew over and they were successful, they were going to leave the Order and use all their effort on improving the future of wizarding Britain. Hermione had informed them of how backward their world was regarding blood status and the resistance to significant change; they would endeavor to correct it for her; it was the least they could do for her sacrifice.

Hermione tapped the crystal she placed by the front door, the one to activate the anti-apparition wards around the property. She had them placed in strategic spots around the house each with a particular purpose. One was set to send a volley of hexes towards Riddle the moment he walked past the foyer and another one to activate the furniture in the sitting room she had pre-transfigured to wolves to attack. All was to trick Riddle into thinking that James and Lily were actively fighting him, to buy her the time to take the stairs and activate the crystals she set up in the nursery. Satisfied that everything was working properly, she took a few minutes to herself. She sat on the last step of the stairs and gathered herself. It has been over two years since she opened her eyes to see herself standing in her mother's hospital room and finding dismay that her plans had been useless. Now that it was mere minutes when she could complete her objective she allowed herself to feel nervous. She was to face the Dark Lord on her own. She mentally went through all the hexes and charms she was to use just to reassure herself that she was capable of doing it.

"Care for a bit of company?"

Hermione looked up and smiled at Lily; she nodded. Lily sat on the same step beside Hermione and looped her arm around the other girl's arm. They sat there in complete companionable silence for a while.

"I have already said this a million times, but I feel I have to say it again," Lily leaned towards Hermione, "Thank you."

Hermione chuckled, "You don't have to thank me, Lily. You have done your part too." she leaned her weight back to the other woman.

Lily pulled away slightly and wrapped her arms around Hermione. "I am so proud of you," she kissed her temple, "so proud."

Hermione fought her tears; it had been a while since she felt a mother's kiss and with times like these, she was grateful that Lily was right there with her.

She smiled, "It was the least I can do for him," she sighed somewhat with regret, "It was all he ever talked about, he wanted his family with him; he would look at the Weasley's with sadness in his eyes. It broke my heart to see that he yearns for something that was taken away from him by two egotistical wizards. He deserves this; I'm just glad I was instrumental in making it happen."

Lily was quiet as Hermione spoke, things falling into place in her mind. She let out a long breath, "You love him." It wasn't an accusation but a statement, and waited for the girl's response and grinned wide when Hermione nodded against her chest.

"I did."

Lily felt that it was not what she wanted to hear, she kept her arms around Hermione but jostled her around to face her, looked her in the eye and asked.

"Did?"

Hermione let out a small laugh; she was discussing her previous love life with Harry's mother, how weird was that, but it felt right.

"Yes. I did." She smirked at Lily's raised brow; she sighed."It's a long story."

"Humour me," Lily insisted.

Hermione couldn't believe they were discussing this right this moment.

Voldemort could appear any moment for goodness sakes!

The look on Lily's face told her she could not get away from it, so she did humor her. She chuckled, "The gist of it is that he loves someone else and he only sees me as a friend. She's a redhead too, you know; some say she's just like you."

"Ewww! You mean my son has an unresolved Oedipus complex?" Lily's face contorted in disgust, but her eyes were shining in amusement.

Hermione giggled, "No, I don't think so. I believe he does genuinely love her, She's a year younger, a sister of his best friend, and everyone feel that they look good together."

At the end of that statement it was clear that Hermione did give up on being more than her son's friend and all Lily felt was the injustice of it all. "Well, that would have to change this time around," she declared.

Hermione looked stunned for a moment before she had this look of determination on her face. "Please don't, Lily, don't make decisions for him. He struggled so much because people want to control him." She had this faraway look in her eyes as she continued, "He had the hardest time trying to prove his worth. Harry would always blame himself for all the horrible things that happened to people around him. I had to convince him all the time that it's Riddle that's to blame, but he had a difficult time accepting that fact. He just wanted to be a regular boy. Just love him because he deserves it."

Tears flowed down Lily's face; moved by this young woman who wanted nothing more than to protect and love her son.

"We will, Hermione. I promise you we will."

Both fell into each other's arms as Lily wept and Hermione tried to calm her down. After the tears had subsided, they sat talking about mundane things. Lily was just about to offer to get them tea to relax when James came bounding down the stairs, a worried mask on his face.

"He's here!"

Lily gasped and gripped Hermione tightly.

Hermione moved from Lily's embrace, she looked James in the eye and gave him a hug before turning to Lily.

"It will be alright," she whispered. "We are doing these for everyone."

Hermione gave James the nod. He recognized the signal, and as he grasped Hermione's hand, he bellowed, "Lily he's here! Take Harry and go!" He grabbed Hermione and gave her a fierce hug before dragging Lily up the stairs as she protested and tried to fight him off but he prevailed.

Hermione watched as the couple went into the nursery and a minute later heard a faint pop as Tippy transported them to the house across the street. She took calming breaths as she gathered her wits about her and squared her shoulders. She took up the stairs midway so that she has a full view of the front door and then starts throwing spells at the crystals around the house and waited, her heart slamming onto her chest furiously. When the front door blew up from its hinges, she ran up the stairs and went into the nursery slamming the door behind her and stood by Harry's empty crib. She heard a shout as the dark wizard banished the transfigured beasts into splinters and return spells at the room housing one of her crystals. Then there was a long minute of silence before she heard footfalls coming up the stairs and then towards the nursery. She took deep breaths and forced her heart to slow down the moment she figured he was a few feet from the door she drew her wand, aimed and murmured the incantation at the crystal by the door and then waved it above her head and pointed to her face. She felt her glamour activate.

A dark figure paused as a voice whispered from inside the nursery sounding like a very fearful Lily, "James, is that you? Are you alright? Answer me!" Not a minute sooner the door was blasted off.

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Across the street, James and Lily huddled near the window facing their house. Lily whimpered as she saw flashes from spellfire that started from the front room of the house until it came from the inside of the nursery window. James held her tight since he didn't not trust her not to take action; she might try to bolt and save Hermione, and that was not possible.

"Oh, James how could we stand here and allow this?!" Lily moaned next to him. James leaned down and nuzzled her cheek, "Hush Love, it will be over soon, and we have to play our part correctly, Hermione expects that of us. We all love her, and she knows that. All we have to do is make sure her sacrifice was not for nothing."

Lily shook with grief as her husband held her tight, suddenly she let out a strangled cry when a bright flash of green covered the nursery window followed by a blood-curdling scream and a big blast reverberating from the nursery throughout the house.

James fought to keep Lily from running out and down the street. Her screams were ripping into his heart.

"Let me go! I have to get to her! James!"

James winced when Lily accidentally elbowed his ribs hard, "Wait, Love, please wait!" his pleading voice trying to get to her. Lily sobbed but moved to keep her eyes on the window. The other house was suddenly still and eerily quiet, and after a few moments, they saw Moony streak into the house.

As she saw the wolf run into the house, Lily broke away from James, and as she made for the front door, they heard an anguished howl. Lily screamed her agony and ran faster, in the next minute she went past the broken front door and was halfway up the partly singed stairs with James hot on her heels.

Lily found the dead body of Riddle shattered just inside the door of the nursery, but she just jumped over it.

Remus was on the floor sobbing, Hermione pressed onto his chest, rocking the lifeless body of the witch they all come to love in his arms. Lily grabbed for Hermione and started to plead insistently. Remus crumpled on the floor by her side.

"Please be okay, please be okay," Lily felt for a pulse in vain, her hands shaking frantically, but she knew deep down she wouldn't find one. She hugged the dead girl tight and started to moan in misery. James stood in the doorway completely numb; tears flowed as he watched the scene.

Sirius bounded up the stairs two at a time and stopped by James side, taking in the dead body of Voldemort and the devastated forms of Remus and Lily, the latter holding Hermione close to her chest. Immeasurable grief flooded his chest as he saw Hermione and Lily's pure pain, she was muttering something to Hermione in between sobs and it was more than he can take, he knew they had to move her away before Dumbledore, and the Aurors arrive. He hated this part, but it had to be done. He nodded to James and his best friend understood. They both made their way towards Lily and Hermione.

James crouched down beside his wife, and talked to her tenderly, "Let Remus take her, Love." He winced when Lily glared at him, "We have to hurry, Lily. Dumbledore will be here any moment. Remus will take her to the Manor, and we can take care of her then," with a nod from Remus he starts to pull Lily away from Hermione as Remus took the girl.

Sirius called for Tippy, and the elf appeared with the still sleeping Harry and gave the child to his grieving mother.

Tippy was crying as she stood by Remus and waited for her mistress to be secure in the man's arms before she popped them away.

Lily clung to Harry as she sobbed her grief. Her mind completely blanked out at what was happening around her. James was scared that she might blurt out something when Dumbledore arrived, so he performed a Sobering Charm on her.

As Lily slumped to James' chest, they heard a loud crack of apparition. Sirius stood by the nursery doorway as he saw Dumbledore walk into the house looking around the devastated interior, but didn't look even a bit shocked at first but then a fearful look appeared on his face when he sensed something else, a presence. Sirius finally moved so he came into full view of the new arrival and to meet the man, he almost sneered at the old wizard knowing that he was in for a bit of a surprise, and it did, Albus was startled to see Sirius at the top of the stairs and immediately bellowed in anger.

"Sirius! What in heaven's name happened?"

"Voldemort happened, sir." Sirius kept his expression calm as the former headmaster walked towards him with angry strides but the calm expression he had on stopped the man from raising his wand.

"They're in the nursery," he said and made his way back to the said room; he stepped aside to allow the older wizard into the destroyed room. He watched closely as the expression on Dumbledore's face went from anger to utter shock.

"James! Lily!" Albus exclaimed. He did not expect to see the two alive, when he didn't get a reaction from the clearly shell-shocked couple, he turned to Sirius since the couple seemed preoccupied. James had his arms around Lily and Harry; he was murmuring calming words to Lily while Harry, now awake, was looking around his room with bewilderment.

Sirius stepped into the room as well, "They are alright, sir. I was able to come right on time." The shock on the older wizard prompted him to provide an explanation, "We changed the secret-keeper to Peter a couple of weeks ago."

Albus failed to say anything when he heard thundering footsteps from downstairs.

Sirius moved to look down the stairs, relieved when he saw the right people rush in. He had contacted the Auror office to summon his colleagues as soon as Remus disappeared with Tippy and Hermione's body, he didn't have to contact the headmaster; he knew the old coot had been alerted the moment Riddle stepped through the house. Dumbledore turned to him at the appearance of the red robes, belatedly masking the irritation on his face but Sirius already noticed.

"I called them to come right away, Sir," Sirius said at the questioning glance from his former headmaster.

Dumbledore nodded, thoroughly masking his annoyance that he arrived at the most unlikely scene. He was not expecting this at all: he expected to walk into complete devastation and lifeless bodies of the elder Potters. He had designed it so that he was to be the first witness of the defeat of Voldemort. Yes, he walked into devastation, but the Potters looked unscathed. It was not how it was to be.

'What happened here?'

He turned to look at the Potter heir; the boy was safe in his mother's arms. He now wondered if it was the boy who vanquished the dark wizard or if it was his parents. He was boiling over with inquiries to satisfy his disappointment, but it was not the time to be indignant, he needed to be the caring leader of the light. Those questions would be answered later. And later he would graciously receive their gratefulness at his part in keeping them safe. It was too bad he would not have unhindered access to the boy. Had the child survived, which he first thought was unlikely, he would have had orchestrated his complete devotion and with that the easy access to the Potter family fortune. It's just too bad that the two adults survived.

'No matter. I have time to come up with another plan.'

Albus was not entirely convinced that Riddle was gone. He suspected the dark wizard had foreseen such circumstances and made sure his existence was guaranteed; he was too dark not to have come up with such plans. The books he had confiscated from when Riddle was in Hogwarts may give him an answer. For now, it was best to wait.

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After getting things sorted with the Aurors, James took his family home with Sirius electing to escort them. The Aurors allowed them to come to the ministry in the morning for their individual accounts of the event that night, as they took Voldemort's body away and the hunt for Peter Pettigrew started. Dumbledore tried to get himself invited into the Manor since he was not keyed into the wards, but James insisted that they let Lily and Harry rest. They promised the ancient wizard that they would let them accompany them to the ministry the next day.

When they got to the Manor, Remus was waiting for them and led them to Hermione's old bedroom where Tippy dressed Hermione in a periwinkle robe Lily gave her for her birthday and was now laid on her bed. There they allowed themselves to mourn properly. Lily wanted to bury the young witch on the property, in the Potter's crypt but Hermione had earlier requested to be cremated, and her ashes vanished. Lily wanted to keep her ashes, but when Remus reminded her that it was Hermione's final request that she leave no trace in this timeline, Lily broke down and refused to be comforted.

Tippy quietly cried as the family gathered around her mistress' bed. She was crying at the loss of the wonderful witch Lily allowed her to bond with two years ago and she would miss her sorely. She was going to mourn her brave fallen mistress, that she was allowed to do as Hermione's bonded house elf, her only consolation was that she still had a little one to look after. This Hermione might have passed on but her two-year-old version was still alive, and as far as Tippy was concerned, since they share the same magical signature, she was still bonded to the same witch. She was just not inclined to share that knowledge with anybody else; she figured the tea her mistress had served Lily, James, Sirius, and Remus when the five had been finalizing their plans, laced with a time-delayed Memory Potion would make sure of that, but you never know.

She had a mission to fulfill as she had promised she would and Tippy was a good elf; she always follows her mistress' orders.

~0~

Feeling that the family needed privacy, Tippy popped away to her quarters. Tearfully, she pulled out a box that Hermione had entrusted her with. Gingerly, she opened it and took out her mistress' precious journal. Oddly for Tippy, the book did not hesitate to open for her; she cried some more when she realized just how much her mistress trusted her, carefully she reached up and touched Hermione's name on the first page of the book.

Tippy gasped her surprise when she felt a certain pull before she was pushed back by a blinding flash. An exclamation froze in her throat; her mouth relaxed and closed her eyes just as she allowed her mind to open.

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"The past is for learning from and letting go. You can't revisit it. It vanishes." ― Adele Parks, Young Wives' Tales

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Beta: Mad Library Scientist