A/N: I do not own any recognizable characters, or anything associated with Harry Potter. *Sob sob*

This is a short prologue to set the scene for the coming fic. Hope you like it! :) RM

Flashback

Dumbledore surveyed the three persons before him. Two occupied the comfortable armchairs permanently placed in front of his desk, whilst the third sat on his mother's lap, gurgling contentedly at the various instruments situated around the cavernous office.

The adults' faces before him mirrored his own – worried, scared yet determined.

Albus sighed heavily, before starting what was sure to be a tense conversation.

"I assume you know why I asked you here tonight?' he enquired, quite certain of the parent's answers.

"Yes Albus," replied Lily firmly, the look of determination further etching into her face. James' reply was a short nod, his hazel eyes ablaze with the same determination as his wife, as he waited for Albus to continue.

"Indeed. Well, I shall not mince words then," he stated, the customary twinkle of his blue eyes nowhere to be seen. "I need you to tell me who shall obtain guardianship of Harry, should something happen to the both of you."

Although she knew it was coming, Lily still tightened her grip on her only son, as though doing so would ensure the protection of her small family. Her slight gasp at the words was audible, making James reach over to put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay Lils," he murmured, although it wasn't true. "We will get through this, somehow, I promise."

She smiled slightly at the blatant lie, knowing that he was simply trying to comfort her in what was almost certain death. That was her James, always trying to hope when there was no hope left. She nodded slowly, grateful that they were doing this together.

She swallowed her fear for the moment and began their chosen list of guardians. "Sirius. He is already so good with Harry, and he is his godfather. If we go… it should be him."

James squeezed her shoulder gently, and nodded his agreement.

A smile tugged slightly at his lips, as he thought of Harry being raised by Padfoot; he was by far the worst of the Marauders. "I daresay they would both enjoy that, although I can't say the same for Harry's teachers when he is old enough to attend Hogwarts."

The three adults shared a chuckle, as they each imagined what a child raised by Sirius would act like at school.

"And if Sirius is…unavailable?' he ventured slowly, as all three returned to the present. "As you know, it is likely that he will be… targeted as much as you will…"

"Remus," James stated firmly, bracing himself for what was sure to be Dumbledore's answer.

Albus slowly let out a sigh, and steepled his fingers in front of his face, wishing that he had a different answer for the Potters.

"Unfortunately, due to his condition, that wouldn't be possible. The Ministry simply wouldn't allow it." His eyes flashed for a moment, conveying his feelings on the subject perfectly.

Lily and James exchanged a glance, showing they already knew this, but had wanted to give it a shot anyway.

"We thought so," Lily grimaced, displaying her own distaste for the ministry's regulations concerning werewolves.

"That's why we came up with another candidate," continued James, taking a pause before the reveal.

"Oh?" replied Dumbledore, intrigued that they already had another person in mind.

"You, Albus," said Lilly simply, looking Dumbledore straight in the eye.

Surprise marred Albus' features, something that was extremely rare.

"Me?" he repeated slowly, as though he hadn't quite grasped her meaning.

"Yes, you, Albus," affirmed James. "Harry already views you as a surrogate grandfather, and we know that you will be able to protect him, should all else fail. Harry needs someone who will be able to love him and guide him carefully. If it can't be Lilly and I, nor Sirius or Remus, then it certainly should be you."

Albus gave the Potters an appraising look, as he weighed up the decision in his head. Pleased that he seemed to be considering his position as Harry's guardian, should the worst occur, Lilly took the headmaster's momentary silence as an opportunity to emphasise Harry's need for him.

"You know as well as we do Albus, that if Harry somehow manages to survive without us, that he needs someone that he is already familiar with to take care of him. We know of no one else. James doesn't have any relatives left, and my sister has since changed her views on magic from when she was eleven," scoffed Lilly, her eyes torn between the hurt and anger she felt at her sister's hand.

"She hates it with a passion, and I won't have my little boy given to someone who won't take proper care of him - blood wards or no blood wards," she finished, her emerald eyes blazing. She took to stroking Harry's hair in an effort to calm herself, before eying Dumbledore to gauge his reaction.

By the set of his mouth, James could tell that Albus had reached a decision, and was simply deciding how best to reveal it to them.

"James, Lilly," he began slowly, choosing his words with care. His blue eyes were twinkling brightly, giving the Potters hope that he would accept their request.

"I understand the importance that you place on Harry's safety, should both of you be unable to raise him, I would expect no less from two former Head pupils, such as yourselves," he smiled gently.

"It would be most unfortunate if his godfather could not take care of him, and I hope that never becomes the case. It is ill-fated that he has no other relatives that could possibly take care of him, as I firmly believe that they would be the most suitable candidates for Harry's guardianship."

A pensive look passed across his face before he continued.

"Be that as it may, I am honoured that you would choose me as next of kin for Harry. I do love the little mite as though he were my own grandchild, and so I must accept your offer, should it come to that," he surmised, his face breaking into a wide grin. He threw a loving glance at Harry's smiling face, before resuming eye contact with the Potters. James and Lilly exchanged their own smiles, relieved that Dumbledore would be there for Harry should they not be.

"Oh, thank you, Albus," exclaimed Lilly tearfully, before dragging the great wizard across his own desk to embrace him in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you accepted! I don't know what we would have done if you had refused!"