A/N: Thanks for clicking on this attempt at a Harry Potter fic! I'm not sure how well this is going to go: I've got exams in January to study for, and an essay due in 2 weeks, but that's Uni for you! It's just going to be something I write for the fun of it, although I have plenty of ideas, which I hope to write down in this story. It's a pretty basic concept, mostly explained in the summary, but just to add - this is going to follow The Other Potter's life: it goes into her childhood and upbringing, so you can see how her life will be affected by what happened to Lily, James and Voldemort on that fateful Halloween night. And won't focus on her journey through Hogwarts. If people enjoy it, I might decide to make a sequel starting with her in her 1st year. Enjoy!

THE OTHER POTTER

Chapter One: The Hidden Potter

It was a breezy afternoon in early August. Despite the impending doom that the Potter family felt – which had something to do with the fact that their son had been marked for death by a wizard feared by all: He Who Must Not Be Named – Lily and James Potter couldn't help but smile at their infant son Harry as he zoomed around on his toy broom, which he had received as a first birthday present from his godfather Sirius Black.

James had his arm wrapped around Lily, his hand lightly touching the baby bump protruding from under her maternity shirt. Chuckling as Harry chased their fluffy ginger cat on his broom, he looked down at his wife, and she looked up at him; her green eyes twinkling behind a smile.

"He's going to be as good as me," James told her.

"The best Quidditch player Hogwarts has ever seen," Lily agreed. "Oh," she laughed. "Seems like she disagrees,"

"Did he kick?" James asked excitedly. He pressed his hand delicately onto Lily's belly; trying to feel his baby kicking.

"I thought we agreed she was going to be a girl?" Lily asked; taking James' hand and putting it in the right place so he could feel the kicks.

"No, you and Padfoot agreed that. Me, Moony and Wormtail bet he's going to be a he," James corrected. "I can't feel him," he complained. He wrapped Lily into a tighter hug as he tried again to feel the kicks.

"That's because you keep calling our daughter a he," Lily laughed; moving his hand around a bit. "There," she said. "Can you feel her now?"

"Wow," James smiled. "She's a feisty one. Just like her mother," the baby kicked again, making Lily wince. James kissed her on the forehead, then moved down to her lips. "She's going to be beautiful as well. Just like you," he added. They shared a kiss, which was interrupted by Lily shouting –

"James! The vase!"

In his eagerness, Harry had flown his broom straight into the bookshelf and knocked one of Lily's vases off. Instead of charming the vase to stop moving, James attempted to catch it; and obviously failed, instead, play-wrestling little Harry off his broom and throwing him playfully up into the air, catching him easily.

"Oh no," he said with a silly voice. "Did you accidentally break Aunt Tuney's ugly vase?" Harry laughed loudly, and squealed as James tickled him.

"You could have saved that – you could have used your wand?" Lily snapped playfully – she wasn't actually annoyed; she hated that vase, but had kept it because it was from her sister.

"I'm teaching Harry not to rely on magic," James replied.

"Which is why you're letting him use a toy broom that flies around and wreaks havoc in this house?" Lily said; trying her hardest not to laugh, in order to be stern. James gave her a cheeky smirk, and Lily couldn't help but let her grin appear. "Come here, you," she said to Harry happily.

Harry crawled out from his father's arms and ran clumsily towards his mum; laughing and giggling as she hugged him.

There was a knock at the door. "That'll be the Marauders," James said as he stood up. He left to answer the front door, leaving baby Harry curiously prodding his mum's belly with his finger. James walked back in, followed by two of his closest friends, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.

"Moony! Paddy!" Harry squealed happily. He ran towards them both, and Sirius picked him up effortlessly.

"Alright Harry?" Sirius asked. "How's it hanging?"

"Where's Wormy?" Lily asked.

"He's had to talk to Mad-eye about something – seemed a bit down if you ask me," Remus replied as Harry clambered from Sirius' arms into his.

"This whole war is making everyone down, so it doesn't surprise me," James added. "Anyone for firewhiskey?" he offered. Sirius nodded, Remus and Lily shook their heads, although James already knew Lily couldn't drink because she was pregnant.

"How's she holding up?" Sirius asked; nodding his head at Lily's bump.

"She's annoyed that James keeps calling her he," she laughed.

"You won't know until he's born Lils – I could have been right all this time," James called from the kitchen.

"God help me if he's right," Lily muttered jokingly. Remus chuckled.

The four adults spent the afternoon gossiping, chatting and laughing, with Harry occasionally making enough noise to make them give him the attention he thought he deserved. It was well into the evening before any of them noticed the time and decided it would be best for Remus and Sirius to get back to their homes.

When they were gone, James struggled to round Harry up from the garden, and then carried him upstairs and to the bath. It took a while for him to give him a bath, because Harry kept begging James to charm the bubbles to grow bigger and bigger until they popped; soaking them both in soapy water, and resulting in Harry giggling so hard he nearly slipped backwards into the water. Finally, Harry was clean and put to bed, Lily and James went to sleep themselves. They were both exhausted.

~TOP~

Unfortunately, their peaceful night wasn't going to last long, because at precisely midnight, Lily woke up in excruciating pain. She cursed loudly and kicked James, trying to wake him up.

"Wha…?" he murmured in his sleepiness.

Lily cursed again and squeezed James' forearm tightly. "Baby. The baby's coming," she managed to mutter.

"Oh my god," James said; sitting up quickly. "I'm gonna call the midwives,"

"You mean Padfoot and Moony?" Lily said; breathing through her pain as she had another contraction.

"Yes," he replied. James' Patronus galloped off into the dark night to send a message to the remaining Marauders. "Do you think Harry will sleep through this or should we ask Batty to watch him?"

"I don't care, James – just get this baby out of me," Lily snapped.

Remus, Peter and Sirius arrived within minutes of each other, and Remus and James helped Lily get down the stairs whilst Sirius and Peter set up where Lily was going to give birth to a hopefully very healthy son or daughter.

Lily managed to get through her contractions for a couple of hours before Remus told her that it was time to push. She pushed once, squeezing one of Sirius' hands, and one of James' hands, and as she stopped screaming, they all heard a crying Harry upstairs. Desperate to give his hand a break from the constant squeezing, Sirius offered to go and get him to calm him down.

"Be quick. You don't want to miss the birth," James said as he rushed upstairs.

"Alright champ?" Sirius mumbled as he entered Harry's room.

"Paddy!"

He picked him up. "No need to cry, it's just mummy having a baby. This is a good thing – not a screaming thing," Harry gave him a watery grin and had stopped crying. "Shall we go downstairs?" Sirius walked back into the living room – where Lily was screaming once again.

"Mummy?" Harry mumbled.

"It's okay Harry, mummy's okay," Lily assured him. "Padfoot, do you really think bringing Harry downstairs was a good idea?"

"Maybe not my best," Sirius admitted as he soothed Harry. Peter had taken over holding Lily's other hand.

"Last push, Lily," Remus said. So, Lily pushed, and she screamed, although she tried not to be too loud, so as not to scare Harry, and soon there was a tiny cry coming from Remus' arms. He flicked his wand easily to cut the cord, and passed the baby to Lily. "You have a daughter," he told them.

"Dammit, I was wrong," James joked. Lily mock-glared at him as he crouched down next to her and kissed the top of his new baby's head. "She's got your hair," he said softly. He was right. On top of the baby's head was flaming red hair, and although it was only a small amount, it was clear what colour it was.

"She's beautiful," Lily mumbled; a tear trickling down her cheek.

Sirius put Harry down, and he clumsily made his way over to his mum and dad. "Baby," he giggled; putting his finger out and pointing at her. He poked the side of her face gently and laughed as the baby gargled.

"This is your sister, Harry," James told him. "You promise to look after her, no matter what?" he asked. Harry nodded importantly, and stared at the bundle in his mum's arms curiously. "What should we name her, Lil?"

"I like Isabelle," Lily said quietly. "It means strength,"

"I like that too," James replied; kissing Lily softly. "And her middle name is Lily – after the strongest woman I know," he added.

"Isabelle Lily Potter," Lily repeated happily. "It's perfect,"

"Issybel?" Harry attempted.

"Yeah," James replied; bringing Harry into his arms and kissing his forehead.

~TOP~

A couple of hours later, and dawn was breaking. All the Marauders were passing baby Isabelle around them as Harry sat in his dad's lap. Lily had gone back to bed, to try and get some rest after the hours of labour she had gone through, but none of the others had bothered, and there had been no use trying to get Harry back to sleep, as he was over-excited at his new sister.

However, Harry had finally fallen asleep in his father's arms, and James' knew this was as good time as any to ask his friends what he had been meaning to ask them since his daughter had been born.

"Do you think he knows? Dumbledore?" Sirius asked the guys, before James had a chance to speak.

"What makes you ask that Padfoot?" Peter asked.

"Just curious. You've deliberately been hiding the pregnancy… in case… and I can't help but think that Dumbledore knows," Sirius replied.

"Well, he's a smart man," Remus said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he does. And if he doesn't, well, I'd give him a few days and he'll be sending Lily a hamper,"

"Actually, guys… I had something to ask you… regarding that," James piped up.

"What's that, Prongs?" Remus asked.

"You'll look after her, won't you? And Harry. If something happens, if Lily and I –"

"Nothing will happen, Prongs," Sirius assured him. "That wanker won't find you – it's on me, isn't it? And don't count on me spilling my guts. I'd die before I did that,"

James looked grateful, but still glanced at Peter and Remus to answer his question.

"Prongs, if anything happens, we'll do everything in our power to look after your children," Remus replied seriously. Peter nodded in agreement.

"Make sure you look after Padfoot too," James joked; to try and lighten the mood. Remus smiled, and so did Sirius, but Peter looked glum at all this talk of something awful happening to his friends.

A/N: I really hoped you enjoyed the first chapter. If you did, it would be great if you could leave a review. Thanks!