Prologue: Mistakes Made

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger sat in the living room of the Burrow, watching as a storm brewed outside the window. For most of the summer, England had been blanketed in an endless torrent of rain. Thick silver sheets poured down from the sky, turning yards into mud, and boiling purple clouds plunged much of the country into an eternal night.

Today, as fat drops pounded against the ramshackle home, white streaks of lightning punctuated the darkness and highlighted the faint mist that circled the Burrow. After weeks of being housebound by the weather, and the mounting tension caused by Lord Voldemort's return, Harry, Hermoine and the resident Weasleys were beginning to get restless.

"So," began Harry, "I'd say quidditch is out of the question."

"How about a game of chess?" suggested Ron half-heartedly, the boy had easily beaten every occupant of the house at least a dozen times since the summer's start.

"Or," Began Hermoine with a bit more enthusiasm, "We could work on our summer homework." Hermoine was interrupted by the two boys as they groaned.

"I will do anything but that." announced Ron.

Mrs. Weasley, carrying an armload of laundry, passed through the living room. "If your just going to sit around all day Ronald I have some errands in the village that need doing. List is in the kitchen. Umbrella's are next to the door."

The three Gryffindors grimaced as they contemplated braving the outdoors, and slowly began the search for rain boots and cloaks.

***

On the outskirts of a small town, not far from the burrow, two shadowy figures appeared in the mist. The first one, smaller, and quite obviously female, held a squirming toddler in her arms, while the other, most likely a husband held out a map.

"Okay," he stated, "from here we can apparate to Hogsmeade, Do you think Charlotte can handle it?"

"She's be fine." Replied the woman, "As long as this is the last apparition."

Then, as quickly as they had come, they disappeared into the shadowy afternoon.

***

Less than an hour later, as Harry and his friends ran errands in the village, Dumbledore welcomed two of his past students into his office. His eyes twinkled as he surveyed them and there sleeping child over his half moon glasses.

"Lily, James," smiled Dumbledore, "How good it is to see you again. Welcome back to the world of the living."

***

14 years earlier

Lily Potter applied a coat of red lipgloss, before pulling a black wool jacket over a grey satin dress. She surveyed her altered appearance in a mirror. Dark brown ringlets fell softly around her face, and her usually green eyes had been dulled to a deep hazel color. Her face was rounder and her nose more prominent than she was used to, but it was a small price to pray for a night out.

For six months, Lily and her husband James had rarely left the confines of their Godric's Hollow home. As frustrating as these months had been, Lily knew they had made the right choice in going into hiding to protect their son Harry.

It had been their friends Lindsey and Richard Carter who had convinced them to take a night away. The two had agreed to watch Harry, and change their appearances to mimic Lily and James. To anyone who could enter the Potter home, it would appear that Lily and James were there, while the real Potter's used fake faces to enjoy a romantic meal.

"Ready to go, Vanessa?" He said as she entered the room with a sigh.

"Just nervous I guess," She replied, "Are you completely sure about this."

"I am never completely sure about anything."

After the insistence of their friends, Lily and James had enjoyed their night in London, and apparated back to Godric's Hollow shortly after midnight. The village was unearthly calm, and Lily shivered as they walked down the lane that led to their house.

"Oh God." James moaned as the house came into view. The entire top floor and much of the one below it, had been blasted apart. Bricks and wood littered the ground. From where they were standing, Lily and James could see into the kitchen at the back of the house.

"There's not Mark." Lily whispered. She felt frozen, her eyes saw the scene in front of her, but she could barely register the level of devastation. Her breath came to her in gasps. "Where are they?"

Next to her James was shaking, his normally steady handy trembling violently. Unable to speak he simply pointed at an area just past where the front door should have been. A leg, bent at an awkward angle, was visible from behind the debris.

The couple rushed over to Richard, who's face, still resembling James', was frozen in a look of shock and fear. Lily felt her knees give out and she collapsed to the floor.

"No." she whispered, "NO! He's- James. Voldemort. This can't be happening. He said- I WANT MY BABY BOY!"

"Lily calm down, it might be okay." James began, but he too was having trouble breathing.

"I WILL NOT CALM DOWN, I WANT MY BABY BOY! I WANT HARRY!"

The couple spent hours combing the rubble of their home. They found Lindsey, arms spread wide, and face charred after an hour of searching, but as the winter sun began to rise over the village, they still had not found any trace of Harry, nor any explanation as to what had happened. Lily lots all strength as the sun brought new light to the scene. She collapsed again to the ground, her body trembling as she cried for her sun. Finally, still disguised, James picked up Lily's sobbing body and apparated away

***

"I think you owe us an explanation Dumbledore." Began Lily, "Where is Harry? And how did he survive?"

"Sit down Lily and James, and I will explain everything."

For the next hour or so, Dumbledore spoke of how Peter had betrayed their location to Voldemort and had become a death eater shortly after leaving Hogwarts. He told them of how Voldemort had been defeated, and how he had risen again.

"And our son?" asked James

"He is fine," replied Dumbledore, "He has not lived quite the life your would have hoped for him, but he is happy and healthy. He is currently at the burrow, the home of the Weasley's. You remember Arthur and Molly?"

"When can we see him?" asked Lily

"Soon," replied Dumbledore, "I have contacted Molly and as soon as we receive her reply I will allow you to see him. I see young Mr. Potter has a sister."

"Her name is Kayla, Kayla Lily Evans."

"Two sisters, actually." Added James nervously, Dumbledore raised his eyebrow, and James continued, "When we first disappeared, we were unaware that Lily was a month pregnant. Our other daughter's name is Erin. She currently attends Beauxbatons, but we were hoping she could transfer here."

"I will talk to Madame Maxime." Dumbledore smiled as a school owl flew in his window, "But now, why don't you go see your son."