The knock on the door was unexpected by the inhabitants of the cottage. Sounds and voices from behind the door were silenced as he lowered his hand. He could sense, almost taste the fear of the inevitable that lingered in the air, that was absorbed by all those who had stood on this step before him and those who lived in the house, day by day, waiting and wondering just how many months, days and hours they had left until the next painful event, how much time they all had left before they would have to part with someone else forever. He heard footsteps as someone approached on the other side of the door and finally a woman's voice rang out, worry and anger etched in every word as she spoke.

"Who is it?"

He hated the idea that he had come only to bring more suffering and more worry into her life, into the lives of everyone that he knew to be gathered here tonight but he could see no other option but to offer them what he knew and hope that they still had the time that they needed, perhaps to protect themselves and escape a horrible fate or merely enough time to give them a chance to say goodbye to those who loved them.

"It is I, Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry and founder of the order of the phoenix. I have come here tonight to speak with Lily and James Potter and to those they count as friends..."

The door swung open at once and Lily stood back to allow him entrance as she greeted him politely, clearly attempting to mask the emotions that she was feeling. Three men rose from the small kitchen table as he entered and came forward to greet him in turn. James smiled happily as they shook hands and Sirius clapped him on the back in a friendly manner. It was the look on Remus's face that caught Dumbledore's eye as they nodded to each other. It was a look of concern that matched that on Lily's face even as James and Sirius chatted pleasantly at him.

"Come and have a drink with us Albus." James offered, taking his place at the table and lifting a bottle to fill another glass. Dumbledore watched as a golden liquid poured from it and then he turned to see where Lily had gone. She seemed to be hovering in the shadows by the door, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes on her husband as he refilled the glasses of all those around the table. Remus, observant as ever was watching her and Dumbledore knew that they both knew that he was here for more than a drink and a nice chat.

"Lily".

Dumbledore spoke her name and her head jerked towards him, her bright green almond shaped eyes meeting his, a question burning in her young face that he dreaded answering. The others had followed his gaze and all eyes were upon her where she stood in the dark corner, the dim light casting shadows over her face. As they all watched her she took a few tentative steps forward until she had drawn level with Dumbledore, her eyes fixed upon him once more.

"Where is Harry?" he asked her, having noticed that the child was nowhere in sight. He assumed however that he would be sleeping as it was quite late.

"He's asleep" James answered.

Lily made to turn back and leave the room but Dumbledore held out a hand to grip her shoulder and stopped her.

"He is alright for now, please sit" he said, gesturing to an empty chair across the table from where they stood. He, however did not take the chair in front of him but curled his long fingers over the back of it and gazed around at the silent group of people. All eyes were upon him now, noone smiled, every face showed only worry and fear at what he would tell them.

"I am afraid that what we feared has been confirmed" he told them in a quiet voice. "Voldemort has indeed set his sights on Harry Potter as the subject of the prophecy."

His eyes swept the table again as they each took in and understood what he had said. The faces changed as the implications of the news dawned on those assembled. James choked suddenly, his eyes wide and darker than usual, his worst fear reflected in them. Sirius cursed loudly as he hammered his friend on the back with one fist, a look of pure fury marring his usually handsome features, his eyes shooting daggers at Dumbledore as if it was he who had threatened the man's godson. Remus was staring up at the ceiling with his mouth open, his eyes vacant as if he was trying to see through the ceiling into what Dumbledore knew to be Harry's bedroom. Lily had her arms crossed over her chest again and she was staring at the table with a haunted look on her face and it seemed that she had heard only what she expected. He watched as Remus, who was nearest to her broke out of his trance, averted his eyes from the ceiling to Lily and reached out one hand to her, squeezing her shoulder gently in a reassuring sort of way. But a moment later she stood, Remus's hand fell away and she hastened from the room. Her footsteps could be heard on the stairs and then on the floor above them. As the others around the table seemed to regain their composure all eyes returned to Dumbledore.

"What should we do Dumbledore, what CAN we do?".

"You should go through with the plan. You will perform the fidelius charm right here."Dumbledore replied calmly, as if such an enchantment was performed daily and it was nothing out of the ordinary to suggest the use of it.

"We should have done it already-the moment that we suspected."

Sirius said it in a sharp, rough voice, all signs of his earlier happiness long gone from his face. Dumbledore noted that he appeared to be exhausted and much older than his twenty one years. Sirius especially had been working extra hard for the order in previous months and anyone who looked at him would know it.

"How much time do we have before he comes?"

It was Remus who voiced this question, a note of resignation in his voice that another horrible event might be taking place.

"We have some time I should think, not long, but enough time to do what we need to do, enough for you to pick a secret keeper and do things properly."He directed this last at James, who nodded and ran a hand through his messy black hair, reminiscent of earlier years.

"I must be going." Dumbledore told them abruptly as the clock on the wall chimed, breaking the moment of silence that had fallen. " I have many people that I will need to talk to. I dare say that the order will be doubling it's presence around Godric's hollow, at least until the spell is in place. I'll send an owl if I hear anything more." He turned and headed back to the door as voices rose again behind him in quiet discussion.

Another voice, closer and calmer than those at the table stopped him as he reached for the door knob and he turned to see Lily standing just beyond the kitchen at the foot of the stairs. Her long red hair was pulled over one shoulder and she cradled her son against the other as he slept.

"Albus" she said and he turned towards her and crossed the space between them.

"The fidelius charm?" she asked in a low, skeptical voice as he drew nearer and he nodded again as he had for James.

"Will that really be enough?" she demanded.

Dumbledore sighed and reached out one hand to brush a finger gently over the baby's dark head.

"I see no other option, we can only hope for the best."

He wished that he could take back everything that was happening, that he could shelter this young woman and her child from what would surely befall them, that he could protect her family and her friends at any cost to but he knew that there was nothing more that he could do for her that he had not tried, it was up to them now.

"Lily, do not trust too easily or bestow your faith in those that might betray you. In times like these even our closest friends become our enemies and our brothers and sisters would choose to strike us down, remember that. James trusts too easily where he should be wary , time does not determine loyalty".

And with that last warning he swept from the house with one last glance at the young men around the table before the door closed. Lily stood in that spot for some time clutching her child to her tightly until Sirius came around the corner to see where she had gotten to. He placed one hand gently on her shoulder and the other on his godson's small head and leaned his forehead against hers, his brown eyes boring into her green ones.

"I promise you that we will keep Harry safe, that he will grow up and make us all truly proud of him, that he will live." he said softly.

Then he wrapped his hands around her shoulders and lead her into the kitchen. James broke off speaking as they entered and he stood. He crossed the room in two long strides and wrapped his arms around his wife and child. Remus and Sirius stared at each other across the room, mutual fear for their friends reflected in both faces.

"I think that everything is going to turn out just fine." Lily said in a falsely confident voice as she looked down at her son.

"I love you so much." James told her, lifting her chin and kissing her.

He buried his face in Lily's soft curly hair and inhaled the sweet sent of her mingled with the smell of baby powder. Remus drained the glass in front of him and Sirius slumped down into one of the chairs at the table with his face buried in his hands.

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