The year was 1980, and in a small, cozy house in Godric's Hollow, Lily Potter was holding her newborn twins in her arms. James Potter, exhausted but beaming with pride, knelt beside her, trying not to cry at the sight of his children.
"They're… perfect," James whispered, gently brushing his hand over their tiny heads.
Lily smiled softly, asking, "Can I hold them, James?"
"Of course," James said, carefully lifting the smaller of the twins into Lily's arms.
The first-born, Harry, had messy black hair and striking green eyes that seemed to absorb all light around him. But it was the second-born, Lucien Aurelius Potter, with his deep crimson hair and sparkling amethyst eyes, who made Lily gasp.
Lucien yawned, a tiny, adorable yawn that seemed to stretch all the way to his little toes, and Lily couldn't help herself—she cooed and pressed his soft cheeks to her face. "Oh, my little angel…" she whispered, completely enchanted.
Even James, proud as ever, couldn't hide the stunned expression on his face. "He… he's gorgeous, Lily. Just like you."
A few days later, Sirius Black came to visit, striding confidently into the house. He had always been James' closest friend, but even he was caught off guard when he saw the twins.
"They… they're beautiful," Sirius said, squinting at the children. "Harry… obviously looks like you, James. But the youngest… those eyes! Amethyst?"
Lily puffed her chest proudly. "Yes! Just wait—he's going to make women fall head over heels for him."
Lucien, sensing his mother's teasing, let out a tiny chuckle that sounded like a bell. Before Lily could stop herself, she rubbed her face against his soft hair.
Sirius and James exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging the little twinge of jealousy in their hearts. "How… unfair," Sirius muttered under his breath, earning a smirk from Lily.
Over the next year, the twins grew quickly. First steps, first words, first giggles—they did it all. Lily adored her youngest, while James marveled at the way Harry's green eyes seemed to study the world. Life was simple, happy, and perfect.
Until the night everything changed.
Lord Voldemort discovered the Potters' hiding place. The house erupted in chaos as James and Lily fought to protect their children. Voldemort, merciless as ever, killed James instantly. Lily, with nothing but love and determination, threw herself in front of her twins. Her life was taken to shield them, leaving only her sacrifice and Harry's lightning-shaped scar.
Lucien, unharmed, stared at the destruction around him. For a moment, silence filled the room—until a shadow appeared. Severus Snape, who had come that night to check on the Potters, fell to his knees beside Lily's lifeless body. Tears streamed down his face as he hugged her tightly, his grief raw and consuming.
Then he noticed the twins. His voice cracked as he scolded them, "It's… it's your fault!"
In a rare moment of baby mischief, Lucien threw a small toy at Snape's head. Snape froze, blinking. His anger melted into something else as he looked at the children—Harry, with his mother's eyes, and Lucien, with Lily's hair and resemblance so uncanny it made his chest ache.
Snape knelt and hugged Lucien gently, tears falling freely. The tiny hand of the baby rested on Snape's face, a silent gesture telling him to be strong. And in that moment, Snape saw Lily in Lucien, and a determination sparked in his heart.
After one last, lingering look at the twins, he turned and left, carrying with him the weight of loss, grief, and hope.
The world had changed. But two children, so small and innocent, remained. And their story was only just beginning.