The Dark Knight Rises

Chapter 1: The Crusade Begins

The Dark Knight Begins

Chapter 1: The Crusade Begins

"Lily, it's him. Run! Take Harry and go! I'll hold him off! I love you and Harry..."

James would have continued were it not for the door beginning to be torn from its hinges despite the wards on it. Lily doubted her husband would survive the Dark Lord's wrath, but she had to ensure the survival of her child. And so... as quick as lightning she ran up the stairs, barricading herself in the nursery as she hastily cast every locking charm and protective wards on the barricaded door. And so, she began the ritual to ensure her progeny's survival.

Meanwhile, downstairs, James finally felt the wards shatter as the door was blown off its hinges going straight for him. With a vindictive smile he immediately transfigured the door into a bear to combat the Dark Lord. But the bear was quickly dispatched by the skilled Voldemort and transfigured back into a door with unnatural grace. "Good evening, Lord Potter," The abomination of a man greeted with a mocking bow. "I offered you a place among my forces, and you dared spit on my offer by refusing it. And for that, you shall die!" he continued.

James snarled and with a glare slashed his wand. A bombarda exploded from the end of the stick, moving with the force of a bludgeoner. The tension and magic in the air was palpable and for a brief second, James dared hope that it would be enough to down Voldemort. But it was not to be, as he merely caught the spell at the end of his wand. With an amused smile, Voldemort glanced at his wand and back at him, and quickly launched the spell back at him.

Having overcome his shock at the Dark Lord's ease at stopping his spell, he quickly conjured a shield, with a whispered Protego, that was barely able to stop the bombarda. He looked up at Voldemort only for his sight to be covered with the tell-tale green flash before he fell to the Killing Curse with a thud. "What a waste of Pureblood blood," muttered Voldemort with false remorse.

As soon as Lily heard the thud from downstairs, she knew her husband was no more, and she was about to follow him on the journey to the "Next Great Adventure".

A few moments later she heard light footsteps coming up the stairs, then quickly felt her wards being destroyed with ease. The Dark Lord slowly opened the door and walked into the room.

"Good Evening, mudblood," a start contrast from his greeting of her husband. "Step aside and I will see to it to have mercy on you and let you live." The Dark Lord continued.

"Please, not my baby! Take me, kill me instead. Please just spare him. He's innocent."

"You held some potential. Pity you chose the wrong side." Voldemort said pitifully.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A slash of his wand and a flash of green, and the pleading mother was no more.

Now onto the reason he came here. He glanced up and saw the boy, the prophesied child, standing up on the crib crying. "Quiet boy!" He exclaimed. "I don't normally kill children but tonight I will have to make an exception. It's a pity. I could have taken you as my heir, but I can't risk such."

By now the baby had stopped crying and was looking at him curiously, Voldemort pointing his wand at the infant, whispered the fateful words, "Avada Kedavra!"

The green light so like his eyes sped towards Harry. What happened next would forever be remembered by The Dark Lord, for the boy had done the impossible. Unable to move with awe and shock in his features the killing curse was rebounded back at Voldemort.

It was destiny that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would be vanquished that night, and for the legend of the Boy-Who Lived to begin.